Questions tagged [history]
Events in the Bible, the wider cultural background of those events, and the biblical text itself, all have a historical dimension.
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At the wedding of Cana, how large of a gathering was likely taking place?
Many people have a presupposition that the wedding of Cana would have involved such a large number of people that all of the wine, miraculously made, would have been consumed during the remaining days ...
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2answers
57 views
Why did Jesus' disciples believe in ghosts / disembodied spirits? [closed]
Luke 24:36-39 (NASB):
36 Now while they were telling these things, Jesus Himself suddenly stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened, and ...
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1answer
29 views
Evidence for the unity of Daniel
I understand that the book of Daniel is comprised of two languages: Aramaic from chapter 2:4 to 7:25, the narrative part, and Hebrew in chapters 8 to 12, the prophetic and apocalyptic part. I ...
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2answers
251 views
On which day of the week was Jesus crucified - Wednesday or Thursday?
My question does not involve understanding what the meaning of the Day of Preparation is. This is about which day of the week.
While there are contrary opinions on this, I believe all gospels point to ...
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2answers
130 views
What deeper understanding can the bible reader get from the 2 Samuel 8:2's account of how David killed off the defeated people of Moab?
( Just FYI, Related Question Posting: Was the use of a measuring line literal or symbolic in 2 Samuel 8:2? )
What deeper understanding can the bible reader get from the 2 Samuel 8:2's account of how ...
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3answers
88 views
What is the meaning behind Acts 2:44-45?
In Acts 2:44-45 (KJV) one reads
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men,
as every man had need.
Does ...
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4answers
104 views
What did Second Temple Judaism think about the Messiah/Christ?
“But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.””
Matthew 26:63
What is understood by the Christ? ...
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1answer
90 views
What kind of magic did Simon practice? Acts 8:9-24
Acts 8:9-24 (ESV)
9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid ...
asked Aug 11 '21 at 7:35
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4answers
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Who gives the word in Acts 9:15 the Father or Jesus?
Who gives the word in Acts 9:15 the Father or Jesus? Or even the Holy Spirit? And if it's one of them, how could I know the letter (LORD) refers to Jesus Or Father? I feel confused to explain it to my ...
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2answers
106 views
In Jonah (3:5-9), we see the great city of Nineveh repent of their wickedness. How might 8 simple words have such a dramatic effect on them?
Jonah spoke these few words:
Jonah 3:4b: "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown."
Can we understand how such a slight message would be enough to convince the entire population of ...
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Manuscripts and Minuscules
I came across the concept of minuscules quite recently. Wikipedia says that they are manuscripts written with small font sizes. How do they matter more or less than any other Christian manuscript? Is ...
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Does "turn the other cheek" refer to a court tradition, not general violence?
We often hear "turn the other cheek". However, recently I've heard that being slapped in the context of Matt. 5:39-42 is referring to a court setting, not general violence. I'm no advocate ...
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2answers
4k views
Was Benjamin born before or after Joseph was sold into slavery?
Genesis 35:16-18 NIV
16 Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. 17 And as she was having great difficulty ...
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2answers
309 views
Did Isaac die before Joseph was sold to the Midianites?
Genesis 35:27-29 NIV
27 Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. 28 Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. 29 Then he ...
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3answers
468 views
Was the Gospel preached to all nations prior to A.D. 70?
Matthew 24:9-14 (ESV):
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one ...
asked Jun 23 '21 at 18:03
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1answer
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What, if any, is the biblical basis to interpret prophecy to refer to historical and not just future events?
A possible example of prophecy referring to past events can be Joel's four waves of locusts, unless Joel lived even before the deportation of Israel, which is not entirely consistent with the rest of ...
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Why are passages in the Book of Joshua repeated in the Book of Judges (Jos. 15:15-19, Jdgs. 1:11-15)?
In these two parallel sets of passages, why is the Book of Judges merely restating that which was stated in Joshua 15?
Joshua 15:15-19, NASB: Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of ...
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8answers
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How did Jewish people living under Roman rule understand the role of a Paraclete?
John 14:16 (DRB):
And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete,
that he may abide with you for ever.
John 14:26 (DRB):
But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will ...
3
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3answers
127 views
Is there any interpretative room for considering the prophetic predictions of 2 Peter 3:3-13 as already fulfilled?
2 Peter 3:3-13 (ESV):
3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? ...
asked May 13 '21 at 3:43
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2answers
658 views
In what language did Peter most likely preach his sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41)? [closed]
We all know that the apostles and disciples miraculously spoke different tongues at Pentecost, that the foreigners around who were native speakers of those languages could understand:
5 Now there ...
asked May 7 '21 at 16:14
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1answer
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The Land of Israel Joshua 21:43-45
I was reading Joshua 21:43-45
Joshua 21:43(A)Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. 44 (B)And the ...
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2answers
274 views
Was stoning legal under Roman law?
From John 8:
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group
4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of ...
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1answer
82 views
Is there any evidence to support the "different calendar theory" often invoked to resolve chronological discrepancies in the gospels?
Is there any evidence that there was a confusion of calendars in the first century, such that dates reported within the NT might vary as to the "actual" date of an event, and some authors (...
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2answers
271 views
How did the Jewish exorcists of Acts 19:13 cast out demons before they undertook to invoke the name of Jesus?
Acts 19:13 informs us about the existence of iterant Jewish exorcists who, inspired by Paul, decided to undertake the practice of invoking Jesus' name to cast out demons, probably because they wanted ...
asked Mar 29 '21 at 21:57
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3
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1answer
95 views
Can history shed any light on the "secret arts" of the Egyptian magicians who turned their staffs into serpents?
Exodus 7:11-12 (ESV):
11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they ...
asked Mar 27 '21 at 3:55
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3answers
180 views
Is there any interpretative room for considering the prophetic predictions of Matthew 24:29-31 as already fulfilled?
Matthew 24:29-31 (YLT):
29 `And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the ...
asked Mar 23 '21 at 19:41
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3answers
496 views
Why does Matthew 26:17 seem to ignore/contradict the instructions and schedule of Leviticus 23:5-7?
In Leviticus 23, Passover completely precedes the Feast of Unleavened Bread, with the first day being a day of convocation:
[Lev 23:5-8 NLT] (5) "The LORD's Passover begins at sundown on the ...
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2answers
80 views
Was Barabbas released from prison temporarily?
It is generally understood that when Barabbas was released from prison, he was not required to return after the Passover festival. Why believe this was the case? Perhaps a more modest temporary ...
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1answer
179 views
Why were Pilate and Herod Antipas upset with each other?
In Luke 23 we are told that over the course of Jesus' trial, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod [Antipas], and after questioning & mocking Jesus, Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate.
Then we are given this ...
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What is the meaning of “ten thousands” in Daniel 11:12
Daniel 11:12 KJV
And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.
Most commentators connect ...
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1answer
616 views
Who was Pharaoh in Joseph's time?
In Genesis 40:2
Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
Who was the Pharaoh?
Note: similar question was asked about the Pharaoh of Ezekiel's time and an ...
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2answers
643 views
Which Caesar did Paul demand to appear before?
Acts 27:24a
and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar.'
The title "Caesar" was given to a number of Roman rulers. To which Caesar does the text refer?
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523 views
What do we know about tower of Peniel in Judges 8?
The text is:
He also pulled down the tower of Peniel and killed the men of the town. - Judges 8:17
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4answers
928 views
Who is the King of Babylon referenced in Isaiah 14:4 and 14:17?
[Isa 14:4, 17 NLT] (4) you will taunt the king of Babylon. You will say, "The mighty man has been destroyed. Yes, your insolence is ended. ... (17) Is this the one who destroyed the world and ...
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4answers
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Did Judah go to Babylon for captivity because of the error of Hezekiah or for the sins of Manasseh?
As I study the various accounts of the captivity of Judah, I have begun to encounter some difficulties over the remote cause of Judah's captivity in Babylon. Quite a number of commentators hold the ...
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1answer
138 views
How did Elijah know the woman of Zarepthath was a widow?
In 1 Kings 17:9-10 Elijah is commanded by God to go to Zarephath where God had commanded a widow to provide for him. When Elijah got there he saw a woman gathering sticks outside the city gates. How ...
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2answers
225 views
What evidence is there that boiling a kid in its mother's milk (Exodus 23:19) was a pagan practice?
In Exodus 23:19 (KJV), Jehovah tells the Israelites, "Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk." Searching online for a possible meaning, many suggestions are given, the most ...
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2answers
6k views
Were male shrine prostitutes homosexuals?
1 Kings 14:24 (NIV)
There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
Did these ...
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4answers
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Who is Jesus in Matthew 11:29?
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (ESV)
One interpretation I've heard is that Jesus is ...
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2answers
338 views
Are the Sea peoples referenced anywhere in the bible?
To better understand this question. And why i feel this is a good, rational question, i will spend a little time below, copying and pasting everything i can find regarding the Sea peoples.
When one ...
3
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1answer
58 views
Why did the Elders tell King Ahab not to agree to Ben-Haddad, King of Syria second command?
1 Kings 20:4
And the king of Israel answered and said, “My lord, O king, just as you say, I and all that I have are yours.”
1 Kings 20:7-8
7 So the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, ...
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2answers
251 views
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
People attribute the quote from the Book of Enoch 2:1. My question is how can this book be preserved over the great flood of Noah, span through the period of the Law of Moses, and to the period of the ...
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2answers
90 views
Was this a common practice for parents to leave their children in the temple as Hannah did when she dedicated Samuel by bringing him to the temple?
I Samuel 1:27,28 27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the ...
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1answer
442 views
What is the significance that Jacob offered to work for Laban ,seven years for Rachel ?: Genesis 29:18
Genesis 29:18 (NASB)
18 "Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years
for your younger daughter Rachel.”
And why not fewer years?
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3answers
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Isaiah14:12 truth of translation
Was Isaiah 14:12 not even about the devil, but just a king , when referencing the Torah but that early church council supplemented the devil for the king in the Christian bible based on motives of ...
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2answers
85 views
Were the "scribes" also clearly partisan as were the Pharisees and Sadducees?
IE: If we knew that someone was a "scribe" would we automatically know their religious bent as we do with Pharisees and Sadducees?:
[Act 23:8 NLT] (8) for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection ...
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339 views
When did the Levites say to their father and mother "I have not seen him" as mentioned in Deuteronomy 33:9?
When did the Levites say to their father and mother "I have not seen him" as mentioned in Deuteronomy 33:9 ?
And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom ...
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1answer
49 views
Who tore down the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah?
This is the verse in question:
"And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken ...
0
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1answer
950 views
In Esther 2:8-18, what would Ahashuerus' "harem" been like during the time of Esther's confinement?
I'm trying to understand the nature of the Harem's during the time period of the Persian and Median empire.
I'm Not trying to be uncouth/brash/offensive but was said Harem like some kind of sex ring?
...
1
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3answers
608 views
Wise Men from the East...but not Sheba and Tarshish?
So the two main Old Testament prophecies surrounding the wise men seem to be Psalm 72:10-11 and Isaiah 60:6:
Both of these passages state the kings will come from Sheba, and Psalms mentions Tarshish ...
