Kingdom of Judah

postexilic writing” (201). Because of this, the placement of this book is recognized in two separate times. According to Mickal, the Hebrew Bible places the book of Joel with the Minor Prophets, after Ezekiel & Hosea but before Amos, while the English and Greek Bible places it after Daniel and Hosea, but before Amos (2004). According to James L. Crenshaw, the prophet is addressing the kingdom of Judah (2008). This chapter focuses on the importance for the elderly to illustrate Judah’s past to the younger generations (Crenshaw, 2008). Crenshaw also explains how Joel is trying to get the people of Judah to fast and pray (2008). In addition, David Malick conveys the purpose of this book of Joel was his plea for the people of southern Judah to repent for their sins in order to prepare for the Day of the Lord, a day of destruction (2004). However, Malik does inform us that Joel brings hope to the people by letting them know that God will restore Judah in the future (2004). In the chapter of Joel, the book explains the terrible transgressions of the people of Judah. During this time the people of southern Judah experienced locust plagues in which there was an infestation of locust, people dying, and food shortages (Crenshaw, 13). Scripture from Biblegateway.com references, “How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering” (Joel 1:18, NIV). According to an article titled “About the Old Testament of the Bible” on…

However, before moving on there are certain things that need to be made clear about the fourteenth chapter of Zechariah. The first is that it is wholly prophetic. The other is that it has no prophecy which is being full filled in this present age. In other words it is speaking of the end of the age that ushers in the Kingdom. Many amillennialists teach that this does not actually speak of prophecy, that it is not literal, and that it can be fitted into the present age. Such interpretation merely…

Although 2nd Kings and 2nd Chronicles both relay the accounts of how Manasseh sinned against God, several key differences portray an alternate meaning for a separate audience and purpose. 2nd Kings 21:10 and 2nd Chronicles 33:9 both share with the audience how Manasseh’s wickedness surpassed all the Amorites who had ruled before him, and his role in making Judah sin with his idols. After this point, both divert in opposite directions with Chronicles adding how Manasseh was deported to Babylon,…

“in the south of Judah in the territory of Simeon.” (Freeman, 2005, pg 228) The message of the book of Nahum is considered a complement of the book of Jonah. Both books cover the same topic – the judgment of Nineveh. The book of Jonah ends with Nineveh’s repentance, while the book of Nahum ends with the joy that will arise over Nineveh’s destruction. Nahum delivered his message of impending doom to the cruel Assyrian invaders, led by the “barbarous Ashurbanipal.” (Freeman, 2005, pg 228) The…

being restored physically and spiritually. Chapter 37 is when Ezekiel is said to walk the valley of dry bones. This is a representation of Israel. God is restoring Israel even though it is dead with life and bringing hope and promise. The bones represent the entire nation of Israel, even though God has cast judgement he also promises to restore Israel and provide them with their homeland. Ezekiel 37: 1-14 is when mankind will have the opportunity to have salvation during the resurrection to…

Persia through Cyrus’ leadership, rise and fall God communicates with the At the time of the Syro-Ephraimite War (735-732 BCE) Assyria was the dominant world power, to prevent attack Syria and Israel formed an alliance and essentially forced King Ahaz of Judah to join with them. This alliance, however, was not enough. As a result, despite Isaiah’s advice to depend on God alone, Ahaz was willing to come to a resolution with the Assyrians (Harris, 165). Throughout this period Isaiah is…

The prediction of figure of the Immanuel in chapter 7 cannot be interpreted removed from the royal oracle of chapter 9. Using the name of Immanuel, the oracle depicts the ideal Davidic king to free and redeem Judah from her enslavement due to her sins against God. In connecting the two oracles, it is more likely that people understood King Hezekiah to be the one spoken of rather than a son of Isaiah for the Immanuel figure is of royalty. This king is described as having brought God’s people out…

existence of King David and the size of his kingdom. According to Merrill F. Unger, Archaeology and the Reign of David, as a result of an effective and compelling investigation, the discovery of the enormous borders of the City of David was questionable. However, sections of the Jebusite city wall and ramparts were thought to have included the acclaimed “Great Western Gate.” The Western Gate is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is a fairly small section of an extended…

During the years B.C. 598 to 587, an event took place called the Babylonian Captivity, and during this time, Jews were forcefully removed from the holy city of Jerusalem.(The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Babylonian Exile.) The text, “By the Waters of Babylon”, by Stephen Vincent Benet, the son of a priest visits an abandoned sacred city, which is most likely the city of Jerusalem. “By the Waters of Babylon”, Psalm 137, and two online sources tell important details about the loss of…

Rahab was a model of hospitality, mercy, faith, patience and repentance in her interaction with the Joshua spies. Salmon was a prince of the house of Judah, and thus, Rahab, the one-time heathen harlot, married into one of the leading families of Israel and became an ancestress of our Lord, the other foreign ancestresses being Tamar, Ruth and Bathsheba. Role of Rahab Rahab as we see from the Old Testament she plays an important role in the fall of Jericho. One of the roles is that she helps by…