Could Jacob actually be considered more of the father of the nation of Israel than his grandfather Abraham being that he had 12 sons for the 12 tribes? Jacob is most directly the father of Israel because his sons are the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. However, many…
What is the “Lot” in Proverbs 16:33? “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” Proverbs 16:33 This proverb concerns the decision making process. The “lot” here refers to a decision-making device. Casting lots in the Old Testament refers to the practice of…
What food fell from the sky in the Bible? The food God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness for all 40 years of their wilderness wandering, well, even they didn’t know what to call it. The Bible calls it “manna.” But that is just a transliteration of the original…
Image by Eduardo Castro from Pixabay Why are “Judah” and “Israel” distinguished in many verses? Judah was one of the 12 tribes of Israel. And the word “Israel” can refer to the 12 tribes or to Jacob. The angel of the Lord changed his name from Jacob to Israel (Genesis…
In Romans 9:22, Paul is speaking about Pharaoh and Moses. What does “prepared for destruction” mean? Romans 9:22 is part of the first volley of Paul’s argument in Romans 9-11 concerning his people, the Jews, and how God has dealt with them over time. Calvinists love this chapter because it…
Why did God abolish the old covenant laws? I don’t know if “abolish” is the proper word for it. This may be a more recent term used by scholars and people who write books about the Bible. It may be a common term within systematic theologies as well. But it’s…