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What a Contrast – Malachi 3 and Psalm 1
The Old Testament lectionary reading today was from Malachi 3 and the responsorial Psalm was Psalm 1. When you read these two passages together, there is an amazing contrast and I wonder if it was purposeful. First, read Psalm 1 (NAB): 1 Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go…
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The Ninevites as the Model of Repentance
In today’s Old Testament reading from Jonah 3, we find the Ninevites as the model of repentance. Check out the perfect pattern of repentance here: When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. Then he had this…
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Free Bible Briefs – Exodus and Leviticus
Bible Briefs are not available for every book of the Old Testament, but these free short introductions are available for Exodus and Leviticus. The Exodus volume is written by Dr. Murray L. Newman Emeritus professor of Virginia Theological Seminary. And, the Leviticus volume is written by Prof. Kevin A. Wilson of Lithuania Christian College. …
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"Old Salts" in Jonah 1.5
In most English translations of the Bible, one of the words in Jonah 1.5 is usually translated as “sailors” or “mariners” (NRSV, ESV, NJPS, NASB, and others). I can remember discussing this in my very first Biblical Hebrew class under Charles Isbell at Lousiana State University. He uses the Book of Jonah (minus the poetry…
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Why Did Jonah Flee to Tarshish?
If you’ve read the lectionary reading for today, you know it is from Jonah 1. To give a little background, it is helpful to know a little about Tarshish. According to the Bible Background Commentary on the Old Testament: Tarshish was the farthest known geographical point. While its exact location is unknown, most believe it…
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Douglas Stuart's Exodus Commentary Introduction Free
Douglas Stuart’s commentary on Exodus is available in limited preview format from Google Books. You are able to read the entire introduction to the commentary HERE. This is Douglas Stuart of How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth fame. He is a prolific author on the Old Testament who is evangelical in his…
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Read Janzen's Commentary Introduction to Exodus Free
HERE is a link to Janzen’s commentary on Exodus at Google Books. There is a limited preview and the entire introduction is available.
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Read Fretheim's Commentary Introduction to Exodus Free
HERE is a link to Fretheim’s commentary on Exodus over at Google Books. It is available in limited preview format. The entire introduction to the commentary is available there. He along with Walter Brueggemann are two of my favorite Old Testament theologians. If you are interested in Fretheim’s other work you might consider checking out…
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Justin Taylor's Misuse of Genesis 18.25
This entire POST by Justin Taylor is problematic in a considerable number of ways. For example, there is no consideration of literary genre. Joshua is a narrative concerning ancient warfare. Descriptions of ancient warfare are not the most historically accurate literary texts in the corpus of ancient literature. Rulers often described their battles as far…
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Is the Heart Always Wicked?
Nope, at least not according to the Old Testament. Sometimes it is upright. I was looking at the Old Testament lectionary reading for the day. It is Baruch 1.15-22 (that’s in the Deuterocanonical books for you non-Catholics). The reading is very self-deprecating and very exaggerated, though surely the Israelites were wicked enough. “From the time…