When Luke sets out to tell the story of Jesus’s life in his gospel, he includes a well-known description of his birth. The ESV (which I normally like!), reads: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius wasContinue reading “Animals and Babies, Homes and Barns: Why Modern Perceptions Conceal the Point of the Nativity”
Category Archives: Textual Studies
Recovery of Sight to the Blind: Luke, the MT, and the LXX
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4.18–19).Continue reading “Recovery of Sight to the Blind: Luke, the MT, and the LXX”
Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke (Angels, Wings, Stones, and Bones)
Bottacelli’s Temptation of Christ One of the most famous stories in the Gospels is Satan’s testing of Christ in the wilderness: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from his baptism at the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness for forty days, tempted all the while by the devil. He ateContinue reading “Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke (Angels, Wings, Stones, and Bones)”
Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke (Power and Authority)
One of the most famous stories in the Gospels is Satan’s testing of Christ in the wilderness (Luke 4.1–13). Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from his baptism at the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness for forty days, tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, soContinue reading “Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke (Power and Authority)”
Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke
Ilya Repin “Follow Me!” One of the most famous stories in the Gospels is Satan’s testing of Christ in the wilderness (Luke 4.1–13). Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from his baptism at the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness for forty days, tempted by the devil. He ate nothingContinue reading “Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke”
Dress Code Violations: Saul and David in the Cave
Egyptian Tomb Paintings Showing Captured Peoples One of the classes I teach at Florida College is an entry-level freshman survey called Old Testament History and Geography. Right now, we’re blitzing through David’s story and working our way toward the divided kingdom, where I spend more of my time. There are a lot of really fascinating,Continue reading “Dress Code Violations: Saul and David in the Cave”
Justice: Kings and Case Laws
Janet Shafner, ‘The Wise Woman of Tekoa’ In 2 Samuel 14, we read about the Wise Woman of Tekoa coming to King David to seek justice for her unusual situation. There, were read: When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage andContinue reading “Justice: Kings and Case Laws”
Rape in the Ancient World (Slaves)
Genesis 37 is one of the most famous texts in the Hebrew Bible. In this narrative we read that Joseph—having been sold as a slave to the Egyptians due to jealousy by his brothers—is very beautiful. Beautiful enough that his master’s wife lusted after him and wanted to sate his lust. Repeatedly she commands, “LieContinue reading “Rape in the Ancient World (Slaves)”
Rape in the Ancient World
In 2 Samuel 13, we read about the horrible situation of Amnon and Tamar, which we talked about last time. However, one aspect of the story bears a closer look. As Amnon begins to force his sister, she cries out: No, my brother, do not degrade me, for such a thing is not done inContinue reading “Rape in the Ancient World”
The Bible and Rape
2 Samuel 13 is one of the most disturbing and tragic texts in the Bible. In this text we read that King David’s daughter, Tamar, was very beautiful. Beautiful enough that her half-brother Amnon lusted after her and wanted to sate his lust, but he couldn’t because it wasn’t lawful. After fixating on it forContinue reading “The Bible and Rape”
Ben Neviim 