Sermons and Biblical Studies

92. Were the Patriarchs Really As Old As the Bible Record States? Some of the "higher critics" claim that the ancient calendar of the antediluvians made the year really a month, or lunar period. Others, with somewhat more reason, assert that a year was a season of growth equal to three of our months. Hensler … Continue reading “092 – Were the Patriarchs Really As Old As the Bible Record States?”

91. What Were the "Bitter Herbs" Used at the Passover? Since endive, chicory, wild lettuce, or nettles, were important articles of food to the ancient Egyptians, it is likely that these were the bitter herbs of the Passover feast, more especially so, as they are at the present time eaten by the Jews in the … Continue reading “091 – What Were the "Bitter Herbs" Used at the Passover?”

90. What Were the Dimensions and Material of Noah's Ark? According to the directions in Gen_6:15, the Ark was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad and 30 cubits high. Bible students have been greatly puzzled over the length of the cubit, which seems to have varied greatly in ancient times. It is evident, however (from … Continue reading “090 – What Were the Dimensions and Material of Noah's Ark?”

89. Did Nebuchadnezzar Literally Eat Grass? We do not know any more on the subject than is related in the Bible. The natural inference from the narrative is that the king was temporarily deprived of his reason, and insane people often do things as unnatural as eating grass. There is nothing improbable in the Biblical … Continue reading “089 – Did Nebuchadnezzar Literally Eat Grass?”

88. What Was the Dispute Over Moses' Body Between Michael and Satan? The passage in Jud_1:1 :g referring to the dispute between Michael and Satan over the body of Moses, is regarded by Vitringa, Lardner, McKnight and other distinguished commentators as symbolical, "the body of Moses" being intended to represent the Mosaic law and institutions … Continue reading “088 – What Was the Dispute Over Moses' Body Between Michael and Satan?”

87. Why Did Moses Strike the Rock? The account in Num_20:1-29 very clearly shows that Moses disobeyed the divine command in striking the rock as he did. For the moment he apparently lost his faith, and his temper as well. He had been explicitly instructed to "speak unto the rock" (Num_20:8) instead of which he … Continue reading “087 – Why Did Moses Strike the Rock?”

86. Who Were the Moabites? They were the descendants of Lot and were neighbors of the Amorites on the opposite side of the River Arnon (Num_21:1-35; Num_20:1-29; Num_19:1-22; Num_18:1-32; Num_17:1-13; Num_16:1-50; Num_15:1-41; Num_14:1-45; Num_13:1-33). They were governed by kings and possessed many great cities (Num_21:28-30; Isa_15:1; Num_23:7). They were proud, arrogant, idolatrous, superstitious, rich, confident … Continue reading “086 – Who Were the Moabites?”

85. Who and What Was Melchisedec? It is in the fourteenth chapter of Genesis that Melchisedec is historically presented to us. The incident and its record, although so brief, and standing in such singular isolation from the thread of the history which it interrupts, is not only in itself most striking and interesting, but also … Continue reading “085 – Who and What Was Melchisedec?”

84. What Secular Evidence Have We of the Fate of Lot's Wife? The pillar which is mentioned in the story concerning the fate of Lot's wife, in Gen_19:1-38, is referred to by a number of writers. Josephus (in Antiquities I, II, 4) wrote that it still remained in his day, and he had seen it'97i. … Continue reading “084 – What Secular Evidence Have We of the Fate of Lot's Wife?”

83. Who Were the "Lost Tribes"? The "lost tribes," so-called, were the Jews carried into captivity by Shalmaneser (2Ki_17:36), and chiefly belonging to Israel or the ten tribes. Many theories as to their location and their descendants have been ventilated, and they have been successively located (by ingenious investigators) in Hindustan, Tartary, China, Africa, Great … Continue reading “083 – Who Were the "Lost Tribes"?”