Doeg the Edomite is a minor biblical figure who appears in 1 Samuel 21-22. He was an Edomite man who worked as a chief herdsman for King Saul. Doeg is infamous for executing a massacre against the priests of Nob at the command of Saul. Here is an overview of Doeg’s story and significance in the Bible: Doeg in Saul’s Service The first time Doeg is mentioned is in 1 Samuel 21. When David was on the run from Saul, he went to the tabernacle at Nob to get food from the priest Ahimelech. Coincidentally, Doeg the Edomite was there…
Author: Emma Price
The question of why Jesus chose to heal people on the Sabbath is an important one for understanding Jesus’ ministry and relationship to Judaism. The Sabbath was one of the most sacred commandments for Jews at the time, who were forbidden from working on that day (Exodus 20:8-11). However, the gospels record several instances where Jesus deliberately healed people on the Sabbath, provoking controversy and condemnation from Jewish religious authorities. Looking closely at these Sabbath healing stories provides insight into Jesus’ motivation and rationale for violating traditional Sabbath restrictions. Jesus’ Sabbath Healing Miracles There are seven specific Sabbath healings mentioned…
The sixth day of creation marks the climax of God’s creative work during the creation week. On this monumental day, God makes land animals and mankind. The creation of humanity, in particular, is the pinnacle of God’s creation. Genesis 1:24-31 details the events of the sixth day: And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps…
Memorialism is the view that the Lord’s Supper (also called Communion or the Eucharist) is essentially a memorial commemoration of Christ’s death. This view sees the bread and wine as symbolic reminders of Christ’s body and blood sacrificed on the cross, but does not believe they become the actual body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation) or that Christ is uniquely spiritually present in them (consubstantiation). According to memorialism, when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper at the Last Supper, he intended it to be commemorative in nature, bringing to remembrance his sacrificial death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.…
Persecution of Christians has been a recurring theme throughout the history of the church, from the time of Jesus to the present day. The Bible contains many passages that speak about facing persecution for one’s faith in Christ. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible verses on this topic: Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward…
Maimonides, also known as Moses ben Maimon or Rambam, was a medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the most influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages. He was born in Córdoba, Spain in 1135 and died in Egypt in 1204 at age 69. Maimonides was a rabbi, physician, and philosopher who had a profound impact on Jewish philosophy and law. Some key facts about Maimonides: He was one of the greatest Torah scholars of the Middle Ages, renowned for his extensive commentaries on the Mishnah and the Talmud. His greatest work was the 14-volume Mishneh Torah, a comprehensive code of…
Why did God sometimes order the Israelites to hamstring horses? God gave the Israelites very specific instructions at times regarding dealing with their enemies and their possessions, including instructions to hamstring (cut the leg tendons of) enemy horses (Joshua 11:6, 2 Samuel 8:4). A look at the context helps explain God’s reasoning. First, God commanded that the Israelites destroy idols and false gods of the pagan nations they were conquering (Exodus 23:24). The horses and chariots of Israel’s enemies were often dedicated to false gods and were used in idol worship. So by hamstringing the horses, the Israelites were obeying…
Adversity is something that every person faces at some point in their life. From minor inconveniences to major hardships, we all must learn to overcome challenges and difficulties. The Bible has a lot to say about dealing with adversity, offering hope, comfort, and practical advice to those going through tough times. Here are some key Bible verses about adversity: Romans 5:3-5 “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts…
Chuck Smith (1927-2013) was an influential American pastor who was a key figure in the Jesus Movement in the 1960s and 1970s. He was the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, which began as a small church in Costa Mesa, California in the 1960s but eventually grew into a worldwide network of over 1,500 churches by the time of his death. Smith became a Christian in his late teens after struggling with alcoholism and a failing marriage. He started attending and teaching Bible studies at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, which was then pastored by Chuck Smith Sr. When the church…
Violence is unfortunately a common occurrence in our fallen world. The Bible addresses the reality of violence and provides guidance on how followers of God should respond. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages about violence and how Christians can pursue peace: Old Testament Verses on Violence The Old Testament contains many examples of violence, often showing the devastating impacts of war, oppression, and evil actions. Genesis portrays violence entering the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve: “sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin” (Romans 5:12). Violence persists through the generations…