Writings of ancient Israel held sacred by Jews and Christians.
35
votes
9answers
1k views
Who saved people before ~33AD?
The exact date isn't important but at some point about 2000 years ago Christ died on a cross. Since that point Christians everywhere have put their faith in Him. He claimed to be the Way, the Truth ...
19
votes
7answers
278 views
Who was Melchizedek
Melchizedek ("King of Justice" in Hebrew) is mentioned in Genesis 14 as receiving the dime from Abraham, and breaking bread with him:
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: ...
19
votes
3answers
757 views
To what extent does the Law of Moses still apply?
Matthew 5:17-18 (KJV)
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot ...
13
votes
8answers
3k views
Does the New Testament override the Old Testament?
Throughout the Old Testament there have been many laws laid down by the Lord, that are perhaps more harsh then we, as Christians, follow today. Many times in the New Testament it has been found to ...
13
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the significance of taking hold of the horns of the altar?
Hi all I was wondering why did Joab take hold of the horns of the altar in 2 Kings 28? Or rather, what is the significance of him doing that? What is he trying to do?
1 Kings 2:28-29 (NIV)
28 ...
13
votes
1answer
338 views
Who, and what, are the “chosen people”?
According to Deuteronomy 7:6, the Israelites are called the "chosen people". Who in fact are the chosen people, and does this include Christians?
What sets the chosen people apart, are there special ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
If God set the maximum age to 120, then how could Jacob be 130 years old?
At the time of Noah, God said:
Genesis 6:3 NIV
Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans
forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and
twenty years.”
...
12
votes
1answer
311 views
What is the origin of the moral-civil-ceremonial distinction of the Old Testament law?
This distinction is often called tripartite division of the law.
I ran across this series of blog posts:
http://maelandcindy.blogspot.com/2008/06/is-mosaic-law-tripartite.html
...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
Why did Abraham lie to Pharaoh about Sarah being his sister in Gen 12?
It says that Abraham feared for his life (Gen 12:12). Does this mean Abraham didn't trust God in spite of the NT view that Abraham was a man of faith (Heb 11:8-12, Gal 3:9)?
Why is the repeated ...
11
votes
5answers
3k views
What is the significance of the burning bush?
In Exodus 3, God reveals himself to Moses through the sign of a burning bush, which miraculously is not consumed by the flames. Here is Exodus 3:1-6 in the NRSV:
Moses was keeping the flock of his ...
11
votes
6answers
557 views
Why don't Christians celebrate the feast of tabernacles?
Although there are some who celebrate the feast of Tabernacles they are definitely in a minority.
A prophecy in Zechariah speaks of a time when all nations will have to keep the feast:
Zech 14:16 ...
11
votes
2answers
229 views
When was the OT canon as used by Protestants finalized?
At what date (and/or event) was the Old Testament canon currently recognized by most Protestants finalized? What is the earliest occurrence we have of it being referenced in it's current form and who ...
11
votes
2answers
99 views
What person(s) of the Trinity were the people of the Old Testament interacting with?
When a someone or groups of people were interacting with God, as recorded in the Old Testament, in general were they simply interacting with person of 'God the Father' within the Trinity? Or were they ...
10
votes
1answer
234 views
Are there Old Testament Scriptures that mention salvation for the Gentiles?
I'm wondering if there are any passages/prophecies about salvation for the Gentile world in the Old Testament. If you know any, please share.
10
votes
2answers
76 views
To what extent did God establish a law prior to the Mosaic law?
Genesis 4 has always bothered me. The story of God accepting Able's sacrifice and not Cain's has led me to wonder: How did they even know to sacrifice? Was this practice started by Adam? Or did God ...
10
votes
2answers
211 views
How much variation is in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament?
Is there a difference in the Hebrew between the earliest Old Testament books and the relatively newer books? In other words: are there linguistic differences (syntax, grammar, word usage) in older ...
9
votes
2answers
120 views
How do we reconcile the futility of Ecclesiastes with the reward of heaven?
There's no question that Christianity believes in heaven. We have a tag here heaven filled with questions about it.
Having said this, there are many places in the Old Testament that speak of the ...
9
votes
1answer
576 views
Old testament: where is Eternal Life and Judgement discussed?
When Jesus was teaching of eternal life (Rich man and Lazarus, also Martha and Mary's brother Lazarus being raised from death) the people listening didn't think it was a new and novel idea: your soul ...
8
votes
3answers
694 views
How does the Snake in the Desert foreshadow the coming of Jesus?
In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus referenced the story of the snake in the desert and indicated that it foreshadowed Himself. How exactly does this story foreshadow Jesus?
And as Moses ...
8
votes
1answer
773 views
Why are the first five books of the old testament named differently in some translations?
In my (norwegian) Bible, the first five books are titled the first through fifth books of Moses, instead of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, etc., which appear to be the common English names. The names of ...
8
votes
1answer
68 views
What is the religion of the Midian people?
In Exodus, Moses leaves Egypt and lives with the people in Midian for a few years (Exodus 2:15). I'm wondering what Moses' religious environment was like while he was living there. I know his ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
What does it mean “my God my God why have you forsaken me”?
What is the correlation between these two scripture?
Why Jesus felt forsaken if he knew what was going on?
Why was it mentioned in Old Testament as well as New Testament(in two places)?
Psalm ...
7
votes
3answers
123 views
According the infallibility of scripture, do ancient near east laws (ANE laws) really explain the derivation of the laws of Moses?
In the last 100 years, archaeology has discovered many ancient bodies of law including Sumerian, Babylonian, Hittite, Assyrian and Canaanite ancient laws. This has caused a lot of significant hoopla ...
7
votes
3answers
127 views
Does the Old Testament foretell the time in history in which the Messiah would come (the first time)?
I understand that the Old Testament prophecies many different things about the Messiah who was to come, including the virgin birth, His suffering, His resurrection, etc.
However, is there anything ...
7
votes
3answers
576 views
How was the Old Testament compiled?
While this question is similar to this question, I'm certain the answer will be very different, and far more complex....
How was the Old Testament compiled?
7
votes
2answers
81 views
Why do the Jews in the OT in Joshua, Kings, Chronicles always list their war spoils after each battle?
I have my doubts of the motivations, as we only ever hear of how great it was to fight enemy X and take their women, sheep and gold. Is this a fair statement? Why don't the Hebrews ever attack ...
7
votes
1answer
109 views
What happened to the Book of the Law?
2 Kings 22 (NIV)
8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found
the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan,
who read it.
11 When the ...
7
votes
4answers
922 views
Why did God create a new covenant?
Why did God create a new covenant? It seems as if he had a covenant set in place in the Old Testament and provided a means for Israel to follow the covenant and offer sacrifices to atone for their ...
7
votes
1answer
186 views
Were there provisions for salvation for non-Hebrews in the OT?
One of the significant points of Jesus ministry and the evangelism done by the early apostles seems to be their going to "gentile" nations and preaching that they too were recipients of God's plan of ...
7
votes
2answers
258 views
How could the Egyptian magicians do what God did through Moses?
In Exodus when God performed miracles through Moses and Aaron, the Egyptian magicians did the same things that God did, How is that possible ?
The first time:
Exodus 7:10-13
So Moses and ...
6
votes
2answers
123 views
Was “eye for an eye” law in the O.T. imperative or only permissive?
Was "eye for an eye" law in the O.T. permissive or imperative in its nature?
What I mean here is that if somebody took my eye in that time and I were one of the Israelites, then I could have taken ...
6
votes
3answers
108 views
Does extreme use of capital punishment in ANE & Mosaic laws attest to a universal recognition of God's wrath, or God's tolerance of universal cruelty?
If you read any of the ancient near east (ANE) codes such as Hammurabi's Code of Laws there is a strikingly similiar severity in the widespread use of capital punishment. This gives a similiar feel to ...
6
votes
2answers
277 views
Why did God become angry with Balaam?
Numbers 22:20-22 NIV
That night God came to Balaam and said, "Since these men have come to
summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you." Balaam got up
in the morning, saddled his ...
6
votes
1answer
46 views
To what are the scriptures referring when they speak of the books of the “chronicles of the kings”?
In the books of 1 and 2 Kings, there are quite a few places where the author refers to "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" or "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel".
...
6
votes
1answer
127 views
Why is Jesus the Son called the Father in Isaiah 9:6?
In providing this answer with respect to recognizing the Trinity in the Old Testament, I noticed that Jesus is called the Father which could be confusing when trying to understand the Trinity. In what ...
5
votes
3answers
469 views
Which are the parts of the Old Testament that point to Jesus?
I'm aware of the prophecy in Genesis about someone who will crush the serpent's head, as well as the parts of Isaiah, especially the Suffering Servant. Which other parts of the Old Testament point to ...
5
votes
4answers
3k views
Was the marriage between Abraham and Sarah incestuous?
In the comments to this answer to the question of why Abraham lied to Pharaoh about his relationship with Sarah, the following question which I am about to pose, appeared:
Was the marriage between ...
5
votes
4answers
652 views
Is the Old Testament a Jewish book?
Is the Old Testament a Jewish religous book and should it be discarded by Christians today? If not what does it add to Christians today?
5
votes
5answers
435 views
Do Old Testament individual, family and social laws and guidance apply to Christians or did Jesus come to discard OT laws and guidance?
If OT laws are to be ignored by Christians, does God/Jesus provide substitute laws in the New Testament texts? I.e., if God thought it important to provide laws (in addition to requiring certain ...
5
votes
2answers
205 views
How to tell if an old testament character prefigured Mary
I was at a Catechetical training seminar in my parish and the presenter on topic of the creed when touching on the Blessed Virgin Mary said that lots and lots of characters prefigure Mary in the old ...
5
votes
1answer
91 views
Did Jesus consider OT events to be literal history?
Did Jesus consider the historic references in the OT to be literal in the sense that people and events where historical as recorded or did he view them as symbolic/figurative or did he pick and ...
5
votes
1answer
179 views
Who is Ba'al from the Old Testament?
Judges 6:31 NIV
But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to
plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him
shall be put to death by morning! If ...
5
votes
1answer
45 views
Are there Old Testament references to the length of Jesus earthly ministry?
The Old Testament references Jesus death and resurrection.
I've always wondered why did Jesus have only 3 years of time (or 3 1/2 ) as a preacher and teacher. I suppose you could say the time was ...
5
votes
1answer
113 views
Did the ancient Hebrews believe that blood had unique spiritual properties?
I seem to recall learning at some point during an Old Testament study that they did, and that the belief explained things like the significance of the blood that was part of the animal offerings ...
5
votes
1answer
143 views
How was the earth divided? (Gen. 10:25)
Gen. 10:25
And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
Through some simple math, we know that Peleg ...
5
votes
1answer
78 views
How does this fit in with “we are incapable of following the law”?
While reading through the Torah, the following verses caught my eye.
Deuteronomy 30:11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too
difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Did God REALLY want to destroy the people of Israel?
When Moses led the people of Israel through the desert, there were two interesting occasions when God wanted to destroy the people of Israel and start over. (There may be more occasions that I don't ...
4
votes
4answers
350 views
Where was Jesus before the events of the New Testament?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son..
I only thought about this when recently explaining the difference between Old and New Testament to somebody.
Did the Son of God appear in ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
How old is the Old Testament?
How old is the Old Testament and, like the New Testament, are there multiple versions (i.e. - according to Matthew, Mark, Luke & John)?
4
votes
3answers
94 views
How could God's form be seen prior to His incarnation?
In a seeker's Bible discussion last week, I had explained that God created the physical world and, therefore, existed outside the physical world. I stated that He entered into the physical world in ...
