The celebratory altar on Mount Ebal
Tithing, curses and blessings: Deuteronomy 26–28 It started with collecting stones, setting them up on Mount Ebal (on the western …
Author Archives: Bible Blog Writer
Never forget
Rules, rights and regulations: Deuteronomy 21–25 In close, family-based communities, the rules for who would be in and out of the …
Don’t go back to Egypt for horses
Call for justice, guidelines for kings, wars and prophets: Deuteronomy 16:18–20:19 Egypt was a place no Israelite should ever go …
The seventh-year economic reset
The cost of idolatry, giving tithes and other rules: Deuteronomy 13–16:17 It’s hard to imagine a whole society with a culture …
It was touch and go
God’s requirements for obedience: Deuteronomy 10–12 Moses isn’t slow to remind the Israelites of just how close they’d come to …
The land by grace, not by works
Reminders of God’s provision and the Israelites’ constant rebellion in the wilderness: Deuteronomy 8–9 Consider it a warning: the Israelites …
Remember the ten commandments
Reminder of the covenant: Deuteronomy 5–7 Moses had a lot to say before he died and the Israelites invaded Canaan. …
They’ll think you’re wise
Moses’ first address to Israel recounts their journey: Deuteronomy 1–4 One ‘why’ of the Law: for Israel to be a light …
Murder pollutes the land
Setting boundaries and cities for the Israelites: Numbers 34–36 Murder wasn’t something God wanted to see in a community. Murder attracted a …
Trading wealth for destiny
Gad, Reuben and Manasseh stay, recounting the Israelite’s travels: Numbers 32–33 It’s hard not to see a parallel with Lot’s choice of …
Almost a scorched-earth approach
Making vows and revenge on the Midianites: Numbers 25–26 It wasn’t quite a scorched-earth strategy, but it was close. The …
Authority transferred to Joshua
Inheritance, Joshua and Sabbaths: Numbers 27–29 Joshua had been Moses’ assistant for more than 40 years. With Caleb, he’d seen the …
Food sacrificed to idols in Moab
Mixing with Moab and the final census: Numbers 25–26 We’re not entirely sure how it happened, but some Israelite men fell for …
A failed curse over Israel
Balak asks Balaam to curse Israel, blesses instead: Numbers 22–24 Israel’s start as a nation wasn’t all easy. Already the …
A bronze snake
Wandering in the wilderness, water, snakes, unexpected battles: Numbers 19–21 The story about snakes, and the cure for snakebite, is …
Hopeless
The Levites complain: Numbers 16–18 The reality of their situation was starting to bite: there would be no promised land for …
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