A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
This post contains extracts from two great articles at BAR that provide a summary of information about the three kingdoms. Who Were the Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites in the Bible? Ancient Israel’s neighbors east of the Jordan at BAR by Megan Sauter, June 17, 2025. Her post has summary statements (extracted below) about the three kingdoms, […]
Continue ReadingWere living Children Sacrificed to the Gods? Yes. The thousands of individual burials, the several mass burials and the animal burials all demonstrate that these were sacrificial offerings to the gods. By Lawrence E. Stager, Joseph A. Greene This article at BAS is primarily about Carthage but acknowledges the Tophet at Jerusalem. Evidence from the Hebrew Bible. […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 6/7/2025. The Beit HaMikdash (Hebrew: בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, meaning “House of the Sanctuary” or more commonly, “The Holy Temple”) refers to the Jewish Temple that stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It is one of the most important religious sites in Judaism, both historically and spiritually. There were two main Temples in […]
Continue ReadingFor info on Teraphim, see https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/teraphim Explanatory Responses from Claude.ai Sonnett 4 on 5/28/2025 Prompt: Tell me the Hebrew Bible story and verses about after years working for Laban, Jacob decides to leave with his family and possessions. Unknown to Jacob, Rachel steals Laban’s teraphim. How do critical bible scholars view that story? The story […]
Continue ReadingTwo responses from Claude.ae Sonnet 4 in Explanatory Mode. Below prompt 1 are: Prompt 1: Explain the everyday aspects of slaughtering animals for food and sacrifice. Were animals sacrificed by the average family or did the killing and blood letting have to be by priests in the time of Jesus. Cite all sources. Let me […]
Continue ReadingThis page contains Comments and Responses to the post in BAR immediately below. Geographically Puzzled The article on Sodom (“Where Is Sodom? The Case for Tall el-Hammam,” BAR 39:02) was well reasoned and provocative, but it left me geographically puzzled. It is true that as Abraham and Lot looked down from the area near Ai and Bethel […]
Continue ReadingFrom Claude.ai. Prompt: What is Corban Practice (Mark 7:9-13; Matthew 15:3-9). Corban Practice in Biblical Context The Corban practice referenced in Mark 7:9-13 and Matthew 15:3-9 refers to a specific type of religious vow in Judaism during the Second Temple period. The term “Corban” (קָרְבָּן in Hebrew) literally means “offering” or “that which is brought […]
Continue ReadingFrom Claude.ai in Explanatory Mode What do critical bible scholars say about the two schools of Pharisees—the School of Hillel and the School of Shammai. Cite all sources? The Schools of Hillel and Shammai: Perspectives from Critical Biblical Scholarship The two schools of Pharisees—Beit Hillel (School of Hillel) and Beit Shammai (School of Shammai)—represent one […]
Continue ReadingBelow is my script for the CU Preaching Lab at the end of the Preaching and Teaching course taught by Rob Couch in Spring 2025. My chosen scripture, upon which the sermon is to focus, is Micah 6:6-8. 2025-05-21, 6 am Good evening. I’m looking forward to sharing with you what I’ve learned about my […]
Continue ReadingBelow are four responses from Claude.ai related to Pontius Pilate’s taking temple funds to build a southern aqueduct that ran from Solomon’s Pool, past Bethlehem, and was under construction during Jesus’ ministry. Taking the temple funds was protested and resulted in Pilate’s military killing many protestors. The Aqueduct Incident in Jerusalem Under Pontius Pilate The […]
Continue Reading