A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
From Shabbat of the Full Moon: Early biblical laws demand a cessation of labor every seven days, but that was unconnected to Shabbat, which was originally a full moon celebration by Prof. Jacob L. Wright Summary: Two Separate Institutions The texts explored above suggest that the populations of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah commemorated […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 9/11/2025. This post contains four Prompts/Responses with the prompts listed below. Scroll down to read the responses. 1st Prompt – Are there any critical bible scholars who discuss if evil or satan actually exists, or is what we call evil the absence of God? 2nd Prompt – Why do critical bible scholars […]
Continue ReadingHere’s a bullet-point outline prepared by ChatGPT based on the archaeological portrait from Robert D. Miller’s Archaeological Views: Israelite Life Before the Kings published in BAR, 2013. Israelite Life Before the Kings (1200–1000 B.C.E.) 1. Villages & Settlement 2. Homes & Families 3. Agriculture & Economy 4. Social Life & Leadership 5. Religion & Worship […]
Continue ReadingBelow is from BAR here. The Bible records that the Phoenicians had a close relationship with the Israelites: Their royalty married each other; they traded with each other; and, significantly, they never went to war with each other. Who were the Phoenicians? Where did they come from? With whom did they trade? In this BAS […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 7/25/2025. Critical Bible scholars widely acknowledge that the name “Moses” (Hebrew: Mosheh, מֹשֶׁה) is likely of Egyptian origin and is related to the Egyptian word “ms” or “mes,” meaning “child of” or “born of,” commonly used as a suffix in Egyptian theophoric names. In Egyptian, the verb ms(i) means “to give birth,” […]
Continue ReadingThree Responses from ChatGPT 7/23/2025. In Hebrew and Aramaic, the terms “mishpat” (מִשְׁפָּט) and “tzaddik” (צַדִּיק) have deep and interconnected meanings rooted in justice, righteousness, and social ethics, especially in biblical contexts. 1. מִשְׁפָּט (Mishpat) – Hebrew 2. צַדִּיק (Tzaddik) – Hebrew In Short: Word Language Root Meaning מִשְׁפָּט Hebrew ש־פ־ט Justice, judgment, legal decision […]
Continue ReadingNote – There are many posts on this site that address Asherah, and they are tagged “Asherah”. Asherah and the Asherim: Goddess or Cult Symbol? Exploring the Biblical and archaeological evidence by Ellen White at BAS, July 19, 2025. White’s article in BAS is very interesting and cites potentially widespread worship of Asherah throughout the ANE. Below […]
Continue ReadingHachlili, Rachel. “Synagogues: Before and After the Roman Destruction of the Temple,” Biblical Archaeology Review 41.3 (2015): 30–38, 65. Church-of-the-Apostles-Found-on-Mt.-Zion-Pixner-BAR by Bargil Pixner. The PDF is also in his directory in Dropbox. The link is to the pdf at Tabor’s site and is recommended by Dr. Tabor. It contains great info about synagogues. Extracts listed below. Ryan, […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 7/14/2025. Prompt: In ancient Israel and Judah, what did the priests do with the body of the sacrificed animals? Cite all sources. [Below the response is a Follow-up Prompt – How did the priest make money from the skins and meat? Cite all sources.] In ancient Israel and Judah, the treatment of […]
Continue ReadingFrom BAS – This collection of articles paints a fascinating picture of Israel’s ancient neighbors, layering on fresh understanding of each ancient kingdom with archaeological evidence of what life was like for the biblical Iron Age societies of Ammon, Edom, and Moab. Read all these eye-opening articles and more from the pages of Biblical Archaeology Review and Bible […]
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