Biblical Background

Our series next brings us to 4:13 in the Qur’an:
Those are limits set by Allah: those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein (for ever) and that will be the supreme achievement (Yusuf Ali).
4:14 paints the opposite scenario:

But those who disobey Allah and His […]

Nadav Na’aman shows how the Amarna letters challenge archaeology. He acknowledges that archaeology illuminates not only the material culture of the site concerned, but also its economy, social relations, trade, religion and cult. However, he points out:
…in regard to political relations in a broader territory, the relative status of cities vis-a-vis their neighbors, as well […]

So-called revisionists (e.g. Whitelaw; Davies) question whether a united monarchy ever existed. For those who fully accept the Bible as God’s Word consideration of this matter may seem to be but an academic matter. However, faith in God’s Word does not justify a “head in the sand”, close-my-eyes-and-hope-for-the-best-attitude. Indeed, it is precisely our confidence in God’s Word that […]

A hymn to Atum, the sun god, honouring him as their creator and ruler, was sung by Egyptians in various forms from the time of the Old Kingdom (2575-2134 BCE) in Heliopolis to 400 BCE in Thebes. Genesis 1 is polemical in nature and stresses against such worldviews that God creates light and that he created the […]

The Book of Genesis, recording what happened before the Exodus, is written for a people who have already experienced the Exodus. Consequently, the creation account in Genesis 1 is written with prior knowledge of Egyptian thought and culture. It is therefore not surprising that when we read Genesis 1 we find forms of expression used that […]

In the Sinai desert are to be found Bedouin tribes. Their nomadic practices mirror many of those practised by the Israelites when they wandered through the wilderness. Apparently Bedouin tribes still observe the following practices:

Slaughtering a goat for the spring sacrifice and smearing its blood as protection
Eating unleavened bread baked quickly on open coals
Celebrating an […]