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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Boat's speed in Jesus days
In Mark's gospel we read about Jesus and his disciples moving in a boat from Capernaum to Dekapolis, to a place in the other side of the Sea of Galilee about 20 kilometers away south. They set out in ...
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Use of leap years in the bible
As we can clearly see, the bible relates to a month as a 30 days period: 150 days of the flood which are five month (genesis 7,8), the feast of Ahasuerus of 180 days that are 6 months and so on. We ...
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Why did David marry Ahinoam and Abigail?
David having no issues fathering children (2 Samuel 5:14-16; 2 Samuel 3:2-5) yet his first son not being born until his reign in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2) has me wondering why he took so many wives before ...
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Why was Ishbosheth absent from the battle that killed Saul and his brothers?
1 Samuel 31:6 states that all of Saul's men died:
So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.
So Ishbosheth surviving them would suggest he wasn't ...
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Why are there only four kings of Persia in Daniel 11:2? [closed]
Daniel 11:2,
Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia,
and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he
has gained power by his wealth, he ...
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2answers
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In 1st Samuel 17:55 how is it that Saul and Abner did not know who David was?
In 1st Samuel 16:13 Samuel anointed David with oil. There is no indication that he said anything upon doing that. Did anyone but Samuel even know it was a Kingly anointing? Why didn't Samuel give ...
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Did The Amalekites survive?
There seems to be a contradiction is scriptures. 1 Samuel 15:15 says:
And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the
people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to ...
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Is it possible that the soldiers near Pontius Pilate were less in number than the people in the crowd at Jesus' trial?
Matthew 27:24 KJV — When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but
that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands
before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood ...
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2answers
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Could Moses's instructions have indirectly lead to the bad report of the ten spies in Numbers 13:17-20?
Numbers 13:17-20 NASB
17 When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he said to them, “Go up [b]there into the [c]Negev; then go up into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like, and ...
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In Acts 26:1 why does Paul stretch out his hand before beginning his defense?
In a courtroom setting and facing serious charges before King
Agrippa II Paul is permitted by the king to make his defense. Luke says "Paul stretched out his hand" and began his defense:
[Act 26:1-...
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3answers
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Why was Jesus' message so attractive?
I'm just a beginner in studying origins of Christianity.
I know Jesus emerged in a Jewish state where people already believed in a monotheistic religion and one God. So my question is: What was the ...
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In Leviticus 15:8 why are husband and wife unclean temporarily after emission of semen?
We see in Leviticus 15:18 where the man and woman are unclean until evening after a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen. Why does this make them unclean?
[Lev 15:8 KJV] 8 And ...
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Who are the “tortured and refused their release…world was not worthy of them” people in Hebrews 11:35?
Hebrews 11
Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might
gain a better resurrection.
Still others endured mocking and
flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
They were ...
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1answer
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In Mark 14:43 what were the staves the mob was carrying?
[Mark 14:43 KJV] 43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
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Did the event spoken of in Jude 9 literally happen? [duplicate]
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. — Jude 9
This event ...
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In the First Jewish-Roman War (The Great Revolt of 66-73AD, aka “the Great Tribulation”) what percentage of Jews died?
According to Josephus, 1.1 million non-combatants died in Jerusalem and 100,000 in Galilee. He also tells us that 97,000 were enslaved.
Matthew White estimates the combined death toll[...
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In 2 Samuel 21:8-10 was Rizpah’s use of the sackcloth a sign that the land had repented of its sin?
[KJV]2 Samuel 21:
8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she ...
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3answers
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Why are there 12 tribes of Israel and not 13?
Why are we are told that there are 12 tribes of Israel when there are, in fact, 13 tribes!
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh?
...
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Job 9:13 and the word “Rahab?”
I’ve seen plenty of dispute over the meaning of the word “Rahab” in Job 9:13. (not Rahab the prostitute)
It can mean “haughty,” but it also can mean “sea monster” (like the word “Leviathan” in Job 3:...
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Why did Belshazzar, King of Babylon name Daniel as the third ruler of his kingdom?
In Daniel 5:7, Belshazzar promised that whosoever read and interpreted the handwriting on the wall would be made the third ruler of his kingdom. This promise was fulfilled in verse 29 when Daniel was ...
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In Luke 5:33-35 does Jesus imply that the Twelve are not part of the bride of the Lamb?
Update
I have been researching this and it appears that the whole matter hangs on the definition of "the sons of the bridechamber" which is not obvious to me:
KJV Luke 5:34 And he said unto them, ...
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In Exodus 32:6, what was the nature of the pagan revelry of the Israelites?
What sort of "revelry" did they indulge in while Moses was up on the mountain getting the 10 Commandments? (Exodus 32:6)
And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought ...
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The Mark of the Beast [closed]
I have been wondering if the Mark of the Beast has already happened. From Revelation:
“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave,
to receive a mark on their right hand or ...
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1answer
30 views
In Isaiah 59:21 are the descendants of the apostles (even today) likewise infallible?
KJV Isaiah 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the ...
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What did Jesus mean when he said, “…go with him twain” (IE: “go the second mile”) in Matthew 5:41?
From Wikipedia:
Matthew 5:41 is the forty-first verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This is the third verse of the ...
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1answer
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In Jeremiah 9:26 why are the Judaeans among the nations who cut the corners of their beards?
For some reason the LORD held great contempt for those who cut off their sideburns and plans them harm. In the list of the nations with whom he is angry about this is Judah:
NET Bible Jeremiah 9:
...
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1answer
35 views
In Judges 8:18 what suggested royalty to Zebah and Zalmunna?
KJV Judges 8:18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
...
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Should we do away with the designations Old Testament and New Testament? [closed]
Should we do away with calling the Bible books from Genesis to Malachi the "Old Testament" and the Books from Matthew to Revelation the "New Testament" and just call it God’s Testament to man?
Paul ...
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Is there a list of books where Jesus was witnessed not reflected in The Bible? [closed]
What other religious books or writings contain Jesus not found in the Bible? I understand there maybe many answers so maybe there is a list somewhere of writing documenting Jesus activities?
...
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In 2 Thessalonians 1:8 what does Paul mean by “obey the gospel”? [closed]
Does Anyone Know How to "Obey the Gospel?"
Paul and Peter use a phrase, "obey the gospel".
I'm looking for "how to obey the gospel or good-news" because I believe the gospel or good news is the ...
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2answers
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Acts 1 & 2 were more than the Apostles baptized in the Holy Spirit?
All the personal pronouns appear to refer to the apostles, so were they the only ones baptized in the Holy Spirit? Note Acts 1:26 and Acts 2:1.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/...
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Does the Didache dictate that the “Lord's Supper” was to involve a real meal?
A commentary I came across said that the Didache indicated that its audience would have a meal in conjunction with the "Eucharist" but when I looked for the reference it seems it is ambiguous (of ...
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48 views
Did God take the Samaritans out of Egypt (2 Kings 17:36)?
The origin of the Samaritans, as described in the book of Kings, is a group of people brought from Mesopotamia to Samaria by the Assyrians:
The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, ...
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In Ephesians 2:2 is Paul speaking of “the course” of the world or “Aeon of the world”?
NIV Eph 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
MGNT 2:2 ἐν ...
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In Mark 14:3 would breaking the box be normal?
Before pouring the expensive oil out onto Jesus' head she broke the box/flask:
BLB Mark 14:3 And of Him being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, of Him having reclined, a woman came having ...
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3answers
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Is Proverbs 25:20 about singing songs to an “evil” heart or to a “sad” one?
Proverbs 25: 20 (NASB, literal translation in bold)
"Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,
Is he who sings songs to an evil heart."
I didn't understand this when ...
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4answers
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In 1 Samuel 28:15 did the witch at Endor actually bring up the spirit of Samuel from the land of the dead?
When the witch at Endor conjured up a spirit through her sorcery to speak with King Saul, the Holy Bible actually stated thus:
"Then Samuel said to Saul, 'Why have you disturbed me by bringing me ...
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35 views
In 1 Corinthians 10:16 does Paul's mention of the “cup of blessing” suggest that the meal was a seder?
1 Corinthians 10:16:
KJV The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of
the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion
of the body of Christ?
MGNT ...
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1answer
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In Acts 4:7 what is the personal or family name of the captain of the temple guard?
What personal/family name or designation
(i.e. from Galilee or son of so-and-so)
did the CAPTAIN of the TEMPLE GUARD use
at the time of Jesus' trial?
A historical fiction book written by David K. ...
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In Matthew 26:7 is the costly oil with which Jesus was anointed by the woman the oil prepared by Moses?
According to Jewish tradition the oil Moses prepared in the wilderness was supposed to reappear in the days of the messiah (which means "the one smeared with oil"):
...The oil of holy ointment ...
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Is the Book of Job a parable or an actual account?
It seems there are so many instances in the Book of Job that could force interpreters to classify it as a parable/allegory.
Let me point out one of them here. There seems to be a sharp literary ...
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1answer
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Can Luke's use of κράτιστε be taken as his way of acknowledging someone who held the office of High Priest?
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of ...
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In Mark 12:36 is being seated at God's right hand a position of equality or dependence?
ESV Mark 12:36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “‘The Lord
said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’
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2answers
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What does wool signify in Ezekiel 44:17?
Priests are forbidden to wear any woollen clothing during ministering in the temple & the reason given here is perspiration.
Ezekiel 44:17 KJV
.17 And it shall come to pass, that when they ...
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1answer
260 views
Who is the King Darius in Haggai 1:1?
"In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of ...
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In Daniel 12 to what do the 1290 and 1335 days refer?
Daniel 12:11-12: From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the ...
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How should Luke 2:2 be translated?
Luke 2:2 in the King James Version says,
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
However, the original Greek text says,
αὕτη ἡ ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος ...
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A nose ring, earring, or other in Genesis 24:22?
Abraham's servant is on a mission to find Isaac a wife, and he is blessed in that work. Upon Rebekah's fulfilling of the sign conditions of the servant's prayer to YHWH (Gen 24:12-20), the servant ...
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In Genesis 26:18, historical reasons why Philistines might have filled Abraham's wells of water?
In Genesis chapter 26, there are a number of points noted about wells of water. Using the NKJV, particular points paint an odd picture. First, Genesis 26:15, 17-18 (NKJV, bold added):
15 Now the ...
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1answer
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To the fall of which towers does Isaiah 30:25 refer?
To what does "the towers fall" refer in this passage?
KJV Isa 30:25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon
every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great
...
