THE SECOND group to return from Babylon to Jerusalem was led by Ezra the priest, who secured permission from the Persian king Artaxerxes in 458 B.C. It was a four-month journey, which the Jews undertook without an armed guard, something that was unheard of in a time when caravan raiders were likely to prey on unsuspecting travelers — especially a group loaded down with more than 30 tons of gold and silver!
Continue readingFiled under Old Testament, Virtual Meetings
AN ASTUTE listener pointed out that we skipped chapter 9 of Deuteronomy way back between studies #44 and #45, so we begin this week by correcting that oversight. (Thank you, Marilyn!)
We find a wonderful nugget in Moses’ directions to the Israelites, based on the intriguing link between the Hebrew word for “cities” and the Aramaic word for “Watchers.”
Then we move to the climax of the Book of Esther, in which Haman gets his comeuppance, which was more gruesome than you’ve been taught. (The Hebrew word translated “gallows” really means “pike,” or something similar. Think Vlad the Impaler, and you get the idea.)
Continue readingFiled under Old Testament, Virtual Meetings
THE STORY of Esther, a Jewish woman who became queen of Persia, is the origin of the Purim holiday, celebrating the salvation of the Jewish people from Haman, a key advisor to Xerxes, the king.
Continue readingFiled under Old Testament, Virtual Meetings
Derek and Sharon Gilbert, L.A. Marzulli, Pastor Carl Gallups, Russ Dizdar, Dr. Michael Lake, Pastor Paul Begley, Pastor Caspar McCloud, and more!
Derek and Sharon Gilbert, Tom Horn, Dr. Michael Heiser, Pastor Carl Gallups, Dr. Michael Lake, Josh Peck, Steven Bancarz, Donna Howell, Joel Richardson, Jim Barfield, Shelley Neese, music by Dino Karstonakis, and more!
Derek and Sharon Gilbert, Jonathan Cahn, L.A. Marzulli, Bill Salus, Jim Barfield, music by John Schlitt, and more!