Bible Timeline Chart – Page 10 – Amazing Bible Timeline with World History

Posted on November 14, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — 3 Comments

Joseph and Mary

Joseph and Mary are Jesus Christ‘s earthly parents. Mary who was engaged to Joseph but had not yet married and was still a virgin was chosen by God to conceive by the Holy Ghost (Mathew 1:18) and care for Jesus. Joseph was described as a righteous man and proved it by being kind to Mary when he found she was pregnant before their marriage. Declining to follow the law which justified death for Mary, Joseph decided to ‘put her away privily'(Mathew 1:19). While he was thinking on this and wondering what to do, an ‘angel of the Lord’ came to him in a dream instructing him to take Mary as his wife for she had been called upon by God to bear Jesus. That he was sent to ‘save his people from their sins’ (Mathew 1:21).

‘Now this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”‘

‘Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.’ (Mathew 1:22-25)

Mary

The meaning of the name Mary is not clearly translated or recognized for something specific but a few definitions listed are: ‘sea of bitterness’, ‘rebelliousness’ or ‘wished for child’. It is thought to have originated from Egypt and related to ‘mry‘ or ‘beloved’, possibly ‘mr‘ meaning ‘love’.

Mary played a vital role all throughout Christ‘s life, she was there from the day he was born till the time of his death. Her bravery and faithfulness shone brightly from the very beginning at God’s call for her to conceive Christ although not yet wed. Accepting such responsibility and likely great criticism from others with the threat of death being with child before marriage showed an unwavering trust in God. Her passing is not mentioned in the Bible, some believe that she was taken into heaven and spared the pain of death. Hyppolitus of Thebes recorded that Mary was alive for 11 years past the crucifixion of Christ and died around 54 AD.

‘Sagrada Familia del pajarito, by Murillo’

Joseph

The name Joseph in Hebrew is translated into ‘Yosef’ which means ‘he will add’. He is part of Christ’s history on the Bible Timeline Chart around 1 AD. Not much is recorded about Joseph and his relationship with Jesus as he grew. The scriptures do tell us that he was a good man who was faithful to God and obeyed his words. It was clear that he was dedicated to God by how often he has lead his family out of danger after being warned and hearkening to God’s guidance. One particular occurrence was their journey to Egypt away from Bethlehem just in time to escape Herod the Great‘s massacre of male infants in an attempt to destroy Jesus.

The last mention of Joseph in the scriptures was when Christ was only 12. After that during Christ’s life as an adult Mary is spoken of in terms that indicate she was a widow. Joseph was not recorded in key events during those times that would have called for involvement on his part. He was not recorded to be standing there at Christ’s crucifixion and Jewish tradition would have placed responsibility on Joseph for the caring of Christ’s body after his death but this charge was undertaken by Joseph of Arimathea. Christ also would not have given Mary’s care into the hands of John if Joseph was still around.

References:
http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentpeople/p/josephprofile.htm
http://www.openbible.info/topics/joseph_and_mary
http://www.behindthename.com/name/joseph/wiki/Saint_Joseph
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus)
http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentpeople/p/marymotherjesus.htm
http://www.behindthename.com/name/mary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph#mediaviewer/File:Bartolom%C3%A9_Esteban_Perez_Murillo_003.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph#mediaviewer/File:Sagrada_Familia_del_pajarito_(Murillo).jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus)#mediaviewer/File:Eustache_Le_Sueur.jpg

Posted on November 4, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — Leave a comment

Persia Subject to the Assyrians

The first record of the Persians comes from an Assyrian inscription from c. 844 BC that calls them the Parsu (Parsuash, Parsumash) During this time and for the next couple of centuries Persia paid tribute to the Assyrians.

In Mesopotamia, the rise of Assyrian power began in 900 BC where it can be found on the Bible Timeline Chart, and it lasted until about 609 BC. It is during the time of this powerful empire that the Assyrians gained a high position among various other countries in the world including Armenia, Egypt and Babylonia. Thus, the Neo-Assyrian power held dominance in North Africa, East Mediterranean, Asia Minor and Caucasus. However, it was in 8th century BC when Tiglath Pileser made reforms that Assyria was able to strengthen its power.

The rise of Assyrian power came to be after the Middle Assyrian Empire and the Middle Assyrian Period, which were during 10th century BC and 14th century BC, respectively. Several scholars considered this empire as one of the earliest in history because of extensive improvements and advancements that were introduced during this time. Moreover, the empire had two different official languages at that point, which were the Aramaic and Akkadian.

In 1076 BC, Tiglath-Pileser died. This resulted in a decline of Assyria for the following 150 years. Hence, Near East, Mediterranean, Balkan regions, North Africa and Caucasus entered a dark phase. The people involved in mass movements and upheavals that further brought the empire down. Amid all these negative events, Assyria still managed to maintain its solid stature thanks to it’s tough warriors, which were considered as among the world’s finest. Although there were difficulties, Assyria still kept its good position among other rivals such as Babylonia, Persia, Urartu, Media, Egypt, Phrygia, Elam and Babylonia.

By 911 BC, Assyria’s period of melancholy and isolation came to an end when a new king was crowned. The king was named Adad-nirari II. His main goal was to strengthen and improve the areas under Assyrian control. In addition, the Hurrian and Aramean forces were conquered and eventually deported to various other places in the world.

subject_to_assyrians — ‘Assyrian soldier holding a spear.’

The great Adadinirari II attacked and created many parts of the empire, and he also defeated Babylonia’s Shamash-mudammiq. Hence, this allowed him to annex a huge portion of the land, and he also had further success during the period of Nabu-shuma-ukin’s reign. The next great ruler of Assyria was Tukulti-Ninurta II, which was in 891 BC. He was also responsible for consolidating the position of Assyria while expanding territories up the Zargos Mountains and Asia Minor.

In 883 to 859 BC, the next king was known as Ashurnasirpal II, who was famous for being part of various expansion programs in Assyria. Initially, he conquered those who are dwelling in the North until Nairi; which is found just near the Lake Van. Afterwards, Neo Hittites and Arameans were conquered, and the harsh rule of the king ended up in a revolt that lasted for two days. Ashurnasirpal II and his army won, and this enabled him to advance other places such as Asia Minor, Aram and Mediterranean to strengthen his reign.

The said Assyrian ruler also had some campaigns in modern-day Iraq’s Zagros Mountains. This helped him stop a revolt that was anti-Assyrians, which were led by the Gutians ad Lullubi. The king soon moved the location of Assyria to Kalhu, and it was here where various temples, palaces and other significant structures were built.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Assyrian_Empire
http://www.bible-history.com/maps/02-assyrian-empire.html
https://amazingbibletimeline.com/blog/rise-of-assyrian-power-beginning-1700-bc/
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Assyrian_warriors#mediaviewer/File:PLATE3BX.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Assyrian_warriors#mediaviewer/File:Assyrian_spearman_%C2%B7_HHWI469.svg

Posted on October 30, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — Leave a comment

Israel seeks alliance

The Mesha Stele, which is popularly known as the Moabite Stone, contained an inscription by the Moabite. The said stone was found in 1868, and this provided evidence of the different events that happened with the Moabites. One of these events was when three kings gathered and decided to plan for a battle against Moab. The Alliance can be found on the Bible Timeline Chart around 704 BC. As a background to this event, it helps to understand certain accounts prior to the battle. During the reign of Jehoram, he was engaged in evil acts, which displeased God. He also decided to get rid of the holy pillar of Baal made by his father. Jehoram was from a family that had issues during their own time of reigning the kingdom. For instance, Ahab, his father, was among the least liked kings in Israel. The same held true for his mother, who was not popular among the people. Although Jehoram had better traits than his parents, he still practiced sinful ways that caused problems with his kingdom. In terms of spiritual concerns, this man was rather neutral and undecided. Although he put away the statue that his father constructed, he still hardly become a believer of God. His main intention for removing the Baal may be either due to his fear of suffering the same punishment that befell Ahab, or the possibility that he tried to impress the Judean king to start an alliance.Israel. The same held true for his mother, who was not popular among the people. Although Jehoram had better traits than his parents, he still practiced sinful ways that caused problems with his kingdom. In terms of spiritual concerns, this man was rather neutral and undecided. Although he put away the statue that his father constructed, he still hardly become a believer of God. His main intention for removing the Baal may be either due to his fear of suffering the same punishment that befell Ahab, or the possibility that he tried to impress the Judean king to start an alliance.

‘He was tasked to pay Israel’s king as much as 100,000 lambs and 100,000 rams with the finest wool.’

The Rebellion of Moab The king of Moab, whose name was Moab, raised and cultivated sheep. He was tasked to pay Israel’s king as much as 100,000 lambs and 100,000 rams with the finest wool. However, during Ahab’s death, the Moabite king realized it was his time to flee from taxation, which was forced by the king of Israel. Hence, Jehoram went to Israel and Judah, so he could get more armies to stand by his side. He approached the king of Judah and asked if he would be willing to fight against Moabites together with his people. He sought for the advice and wisdom of the King of Judah because of the latter’s extensive experience in battles. Jehoram was advised to attack Moab coming from the south and into the dry desert of Edomites.

israels_alliance — ‘The statue of Elijah at the Saint Elias Cathedral, Aleppo, Syria.’

‘The statue of Elijah at the Saint Elias Cathedral, Aleppo, Syria.’

Along with the King of Edom and Judah, they proceeded to their route for seven days. While there was no food and water, the travel became more difficult for them. They kept their goal in mind, which is to attack Moab with more armies coming from the south.

Jehoshaphat was a God-fearing man, and he suggested that they consult God for help. Afterwards, one of the king’s servants said that Elisha is a great prophet that may be of help to them. Jehoshaphat and Jehoram believed in God as a redeemer and someone who could help them with their plan of battling.

Upon meeting Elisha, the three kings listened intently to his words. The kings were ordered to consult their mother’s and father’s prophets for advice on the best thing to do. Elisha wanted for these people to continue Elijah‘s ministry, which the kings tried to follow with the hopes of succeeding in the war.

References:
http://bible.ucg.org/bible-commentary/2-Kings/War-against-Moab/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moab
http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/1203.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesha_Stele#mediaviewer/File:P1120870_Louvre_st%C3%A8le_de_M%C3%A9sha_AO5066_rwk.JPG
http://pixabay.com/en/sheep-animal-livestock-wool-farm-55450/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah#mediaviewer/File:Saint_Elie_Statue,_Aleppo.jpg

Posted on October 24, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — Leave a comment

Shang Dynasty Care for Old and Polygamy

The Shang Dynasty was believed to have been established during 1766 to 1122 BC. However, some accounts claimed that the dynasty lasted for at least 500 years until it ended in mid-11 BC when the Zhou dynasty took over. It can be found on the Bible Timeline Chart starting around 1704 BC. Primarily, the dynasty remained in the Yellow River, although there have been 5 different occasions when the capital was moved. However, it was in modern-day Anyang when the capital remained for over 250 years. The move was made possible by Pan Geng, the dynasty’s great ruler in 1384 BC. The Shang was regarded for their sophisticated use of bronze materials, which they used in making bells, fish hooks, pins, and other valuable items that enabled the production of axes. It was also during this era that structures were made, and these had walls made of pounded earth reaching about 9 meters in height. Ceremonial centers were also built, and these areas were constructed around other sites such as animal pens, storage pits and shops.

care_for_elderly — They relied mostly on agricultural products.

They relied mostly on agricultural products.

Lifestyle and Practices

Since ancient Chinese people relied mostly on agricultural products, they were able to raise cattle, chicken and pigs for consumption. Moreover, they cultivated hemp for clothing while hunting was also practiced to make fur coats that helped the people survive bitter cold winters. As for the religion of the people in this dynasty, they believed mainly on worshipping ancestral spirits. They also considered Shang Di as their supreme God, which they also praised and worshipped through various rituals and traditions. In fact, decisions were often made with the help of the divine, and there were ancestral temples where people verified whether the choice they were to make would be a wise one or not. During this era, the king was considered as the ruler of the feudal system. This means, he had the right to call on other members of nobility for help once there is a need to fight against invaders. The culture practiced was also quite traditional. The oldest people were regarded as the ones closest to the great ancestors. Although the culture practiced was patriarchal, women can only become a matriarch in case she was the last and oldest survivor in her family.

China_polygomy — Kings in this dynasty had the right to marry several women.

Kings in this dynasty had the right to marry several women. Thus, polygamy was practiced by the nobles, although there were some kings who remained to be married to only one woman for the rest of their lives. Interestingly, there were oracle ones discovered that revealed a king who had 3 wives while 26 kings in the dynasty had just one wife until his death.

Care for the old was also practiced, as this was one way for the younger generation to show respect to their elderly. The people looked up to the oldest members of their family for guidance and wisdom, and the elderly people were offered deep respect and recognition as important members of the household and the society.

In the Shang, the culture and language of China developed immensely. There are also various pictograms and ideograms that showed the civilization of the people in this dynasty. Hence, the dynasty proved to be a great turning point in China’s history because of numerous contributions it made to the country’s unique culture.

References:
http://www1.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_22689.htm
http://www.history-of-china.com/shang-dynasty/
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Myth/shang.html
http://pixabay.com/en/elderly-woman-wrinkles-old-poor-450726/
http://pixabay.com/en/cows-cow-austria-pasture-sky-blue-203460/
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chinese_women_in_pink,_dancing_(2007-07-05).jpg

Posted on October 10, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — Leave a comment

Midianites Subdued Israel, The

This occurred around 1200 BC where it is listed on the Bible Timeline Chart. The children of Israel ‘did evil in the sight of the Lord’ (Judges 6:1) and from that God caused them to be taken over by Midian for seven years. During that time the Midianites, Amalekites and those from the East went against Israel and pillaged their lands; leaving nothing to salvage. From this, the children of Israel were sorely grieved and prayed to the Lord.

In response, God sent a prophet who told them of God’s mercy in taking them out of Egypt and protecting them. Because they had not obeyed, they were not kept safe. Then Gideon prayed and asked God for his miracles to return to be saved from the Midianites. The Lord then told Gideon to go and save Israel. Gideon was unsure of his strength and told God of his meek circumstances. God assured him that he would prevail. (Judges 6:16) After offering a sacrifice towards the Lord and seeing an angel Gideon felt comforted and knew he would not be killed (Judges 6:17-23).

Israel_subdued_by_Midianites — ‘Gideon and His Men Destroying the Altar of Baal’

‘Gideon and His Men Destroying the Altar of Baal’

Following God’s instruction during the night Gideon tore down the altar of Baal and replaced it with an altar for the Lord. Upon seeing this in the morning, the men of the city were angry and asked Joash for his son so they could kill him. In response, Joash stood and requested Baal to defend himself because it was his altar. Then he named Gideon Jerubbaal for throwing down the altar.

The Midianites, Amalekites and the ‘children of the East’ came together and put up their tents in the valley of Jezreel. Gideon (Jerubbaal) and his people woke early that morning and traveled along the well of Harod to keep the Midianites on their Northside. God then spoke to Gideon and told him his army was too great and would boast of themselves and not the Lord if they were victorious. So Gideon asked for those who were afraid to return and was left with 10,000. This was still too many for the Lord. So only those who came by the water and drank by bringing their hands to their mouth instead of kneeling down were allowed to stay and fight; thus bringing the army down to only 300 men.

Before their attack, Gideon needed his fears comforted once more and so God sent him down before the attack with his servant Phurah to spy on the host. The army of his enemies was so vast it was innumerable. Upon closing in at hearing range, Gideon heard a man speaking of a dream he had received. “Behold I dreamed a dream, and, lo a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.” (James 7:13) The comrade of the man who spoke his dream interpreted it to mean that Midian would fall into the hand of Gideon with God’s help. So Gideon felt assured of his victory and feared no more.

That night Gideon and his men surrounded the camp of the Midianites. They all carried trumpets and empty pitchers with lamps inside. So upon Gideon’s command blew the trumpets, broke the pitchers, held up the lamps and cried, “The sword of the Lord, and Gideon”. The men in the camp were frightened and turned upon each other and fled.

Gideon then gathered all his men to battle with the Midianites until victory and Israel were set free. He declined the offer to become King and upon his death Israel went back to idolatry.

References:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gideon_and_His_Men_Destroying_the_Altar_of_Baal_LACMA_M.88.91.429b.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Looting#mediaviewer/File:Blenda_uppmanar_-_August_Malmstr%C3%B6m_1860.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Gideon#mediaviewer/File:Gideon-South_African_War_Memorial.JPG

Posted on October 8, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — 3 Comments

Elon, Bible Judge

Elon, which also appeared as Ahialon in other translations, was one of the judges in the land of Israel. His name was of Hebrew origin, which meant “strong” or “oak”. In Latin, he was referred to as Ahialon. This judge served in Israel after Ibzan, and his successor was Abdon. According to the Book of Judges 12:11, Elon came from the Tribe of Zebulun. He also became a judge for a period of ten years.

Accounts on Judge Elon

In the Bible, Elon was a Zebulunite. The length of time that he served as a judge in Israel was ten years, which was from 1073 to 1063 BC where he is listed on the Bible Timeline Chart. When he died, he was burried in the land of Zebulunites, which was in Aijalon. Other than these details, there were not much mentioned about this man in the Bible. However, there were eight other men who also had the name Elon, based on the scriptures.

eblon_bible — Beautiful and strong Oak tree the meaning behind Elon

Beautiful and strong Oak tree the meaning behind Elon

According to the Bible, there were three great judges of Israel that helped shape the society during the time of their rule. Their goal was to maintain the society’s peaceful and happy state with their wisdom and ability to ensure justice in the lives of all the people in their land. Moreover, these judges aimed to live in harmony with others, as well as to be of service to the people around them. They also did their best to maintain a solid communion with God as they lived their life. This way, they could attain wisdom and all the right traits that would help them become of great assistance to the people.

One of the known judges in Israel was Jephthah, and he ruled for six years as a judge. He was a Gileadite, and he became notable for his wisdom in the tasks he performed. When he died, he was buried in Gilead, which was his hometown.

After the rule of Jephthah, Ibzan became the next judge of Israel. He was from Bethlehem, and he had several sons and daughters. He decided to send his daughters abroad, where they all got married to those who were outside the clan of Ibzan. The same fate happened to his sons who were also married abroad.

This great judge served Israel for seven years, and he was buried in his native land when he died.

Elon became the successor of Ibzan. This wise judge was a Zebulunite, and he became Israel’s judge for ten years. When he died, another judge took his place, and his name was Abdon, who was the son of Hillel. His successor was from Pirathon, and he became a wise and fair judge to the people of Israel.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon
http://www.bibleview.org/en/Bible/Judges/Elon/
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/Matthew-Henry/Judg/Ibzan-Elon-Abdon-Judge-Israel

Posted on October 5, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — Leave a comment

Lydia and Mycenae, Ancient Greece:

It was believed that by about 2000 BC, Achaeans or tribes of Indo-European Greeks set foot in Greece. Here, they gained control of the early inhabitants of the land and formed citadels at various sites including Mycenae, Athens and Pylos. The Achaeans were also referred to as Mycenaeans, and they have incorporated and developed the Minoan cultures. Although this group of people were warlike by nature, they excelled in trading.

Further Studies about the Mycenaeans of Ancient Greece

In a study by Heinrich Schliemann, the Mycenaean kings gained much wealth during their rule. As evident in the different archaeological finds including precious items made of ivory, silver and gold. Moreover, the royal palace located at Mycenae had impressive and vast storerooms, lavish audience rooms and elegant walls with fresco designs. There were also tombs that were made of cut stone, which also appeared as intricate and impressive as the other structures in the area. As the Mycenaean civilization progressed, colonies began to spread in the eastern Mediterranean. By 1450 BC where Lydians can be found on the Bible Timeline Chart, Knossos was also conquered when the labyrinthian Palace was destroyed by fire. However, this very same palace was reconstructed by the Mycenaeans, and Aegean civilization was transferred to mainland Greece.

Early History of Lydia

The Neo-Hittite kingdom handled the developments made on Lydia. After the empire of the Hittites reached its end in 12 BC. During the rule of the Hittites, Lydia was referred to as Arzaea, and it was dominated by people who spoke in the Luqian language. However, there was a Greek source that claimed the Lydian kingdom’s original name was Maionia. Also, Homer’s texts referred to Lydia’s inhabitants as Maiones. He also described the capital as Hyde instead of Sardis, although it was possible that Hyde was the district’s name where Sardis was situated.

Herodotus claimed that Lydians became the new name for the occupants of the land, based on the king’s name that was Lydus. As presented in the Book of Jeremiah, Lydians was the Hebrew term for the land, and it was believed to have begun from Lud, who was the son of Shem. It is also worth noting that in the Biblical period, warriors in Lydia were known as skilled archers.

The people of Lydia were involved in trading, and they were excellent in commercial tasks. They even had customs that resembled what the Greeks had, as they were among the first groups of people who succeeded in establishing and managing retail shops. They also invented metallic coins, which were used in trades and sparked the commercial revolution that had a huge impact on Greek civilization.

By the 7th century, the kingdom of Lydia had reached its peak under the rule of Alyattes, who also decided to broaden his rule in Ionia. There were even greater developments in the kingdom largely because of the rule of Croesus, who was the son of Alyattes. However, the Lydian monarchy soon reached its end because of the Persians under the rule of Cyrus.

References:
http://history-world.org/ancient_greece.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaean_Greece
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia#Early_history:_Maeonia_and_Lydia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaean_Greece#mediaviewer/File:MaskAgamemnon.png

Posted on October 4, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — 3 Comments

Jabin, Canaanite King

The name Jabin was based on the Hebrew language, which means “wise” or “discerner”. It is a Biblical name, which refers to the King of the land of Hazor, as mentioned in the Book of Joshua 11:1-14. Based on the scriptures, he was a part of the confederacy against Joshua. He was also responsible for the conquest of the land during that period, as stated in Joshua 11:21. Jabin can be found on the Bible Timeline Chart starting around 1354 BC.

It is also worth noting that there is another king of Canaan who was known to overpower the people of Israel in The North, about 160 years after the death of Joshua. Moreover, the king has kept them in subjection for 20 years. It was during this period that the entire nation was filled with fear and hoped to be redeemed one day.

In the Book of Judges 4:10, it was mentioned that Barak and Deborah inspired the people and helped gather as much as 10,000 men to try and become victorious over the army of Jabin. Thus, this was the very first successful attempts of Israel during the time of Joshua. Because of their victory, they had no reason to join and fight another battle against the people of Canaan.

Jabin in the Bible

Jabin was the king of Canaan, and he was noted to have rebuilt the capital city in the region of northern Canaan following the victory of Joshua in that land. He also had great control of the northern portion of Canaan.

In Joshua 4:2, it was apparent that Jabin was merely a title given to the kings of Hazor. In fact, there was one Jabin that Joshua was able to defeat and kill, as presented in Joshua 11:1. Based on archaeological finds, this confirmed the early destructions made by the people under the leadership of Josha, as well as the victory made under the rule of Barak.

There were several references made to Jabin, and archaeologists have successfully discovered three additional references other than the ones mentioned in the Book of Joshua and Deborah. With this in mind, it was indeed true that Jabin was only a dynastic title for kings instead of referring to only one king.

Based on archeological findings, Jabin King of Hazor once ruled in 1402 BC. He was mentioned in Joshua 11:1. In 1200 BC and the Book of Judges 4:2, another Jabin was noted, and it indicated that the Israelites were sold to a king of Canaan who reigned over them for a long period. Sisera was the army’s commander, and he was a resident of Harosheth-ha goyim.

It could also be possible that Hazor was one of the most significant cities in the region. According to Joshua 11:10, Joshua seized and killed the king with a sword. Joshua’s army killed every person in Hazor using a sword, and they successfully destroyed all people. Then, Hazor was burned through fire. Thus, the Bible used Jabin as a term for a dynastic title. The king of Hazor also ruled in long periods of succession for 500 years.

Lastly, there was a small portion of a clay tablet that archaeologists found with the text addressed to Jabin, who was Hazor’s king. While the Jabin mentioned on the tablet was not similar to the Jabins in the Bible, it aimed to negate the fact that Jabin was not a king’s title at Hazor.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabin
http://www.icr.org/books/defenders/1296/
http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-ibni-addad-yabni-haddad-qishon-jabin-king-of-hazor-joshua-deborah-barak-1700bc.htm

Posted on September 28, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — 1 Comment

Hercules

Known as a great hero in classical mythology, his name is of Greek origin that meant “in Hera’s service”. He was the son of Greek god Zeus and Alcmene, a mortal. Hercules is known for his enormous strength and his great adventures. He can be found on the Bible Timeline Chart around 1300 BC.

Background

The Romans decided to adapt this heroic Greek icon in their myths and literary pieces, as well as in the art. However, in popular culture and Western literature, the name Heracles was used less often than the name Hercules. This divine hero was also famous as a figure with contradictory traits.

There were several versions of the life and adventures of Hercules. However, it remained constant in various storytellers that the father of Hercules was Zeus, who was also the supreme god. Although he was mighty and powerful, he was not quite a good husband to Hera, who was his wife and the queen of the gods. In fact, Zeus fell for a lovely mortal named Alcmene, and the two had a son.

When Hera learned about this, she became enraged and was determined to harm the unborn child. Nevertheless, Alcmene was able to protect the child and gave birth to a boy whom she named as Herakles. This name meant “the glorious gift of Hera”. The queen of the gods became even angrier upon learning this, and she decided to send snakes into the child’s crib to kill him. However, Hercules was amazingly strong even as a baby, and he was able to strangle and kill the snakes even before they could hurt him.

This did not stop Hera from scheming ways to make Hercules’ life miserable. After all, she wanted Zeus to pay back for his mistakes and infidel ways. She was also angry at the fact that she lacked much power to stop Zeus from having a child with another woman.

Strength of Hercules

Heracles grew up to be a strong and great warrior. He also married Megara, and they were blessed with two children. Unfortunately, Hera continued to make Hercules suffer by killing his children and his wife. Devastated by his misfortunes, Hercules consulted Apollo for advice on how to free himself from these punishments from Hera. Apollo told Hercules to perform tasks that would cleanse him from his mistakes. Hence, he obediently performed 10 labors, which were eventually increased to a total of 12.

Afterwards, Apollo ordered Hercules to go to Tiryns, which was led by a ruthless ruler named Eurystheus. In myths, Eurystheus was a harsh and brutal king, and Hercules expected to receive much punishment from the king. Also, Hercules was tasked to serve the king for 12 years as he performed each of the 12 labors.

Upon completion of his tasks, he was able to fulfill his deepest dreams. Apollo told Hercules that he would become immortal. This means, he was spared from death, and that he would become like one of the gods who enjoyed eternal life and great powers throughout his life.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/hercules/a/Hercules.htm
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/bio.html

Posted on September 25, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — 1 Comment

Abraham in the Land of Canaanites

Abraham was faced with several temptations throughout his life, yet he was able to fight all of these to prove his immense love for God. One of his greatest challenges was when he was ordered to leave his homeland. This is listed on the Bible Timeline Chart around 1954 BC. It was a test of Abraham’s faith in God, although he had some fears about departing from his own land. In fact, he presented to God his worries, particularly the concept of leaving his father. However, God reassured Abraham and told him not to have any thoughts about what other people might think of him.

Abraham in the Land of Canaanites

So, Abraham obeyed God’s orders and left Haran. He travelled to a distant place called Canaan, and he had faith that throughout his journey, God’s blessings remained with him. The thought that God once told him that he will be the father of a great nation stayed on his mind, and this gave him a sense of comfort each time he started to have doubts about his decision of leaving his native land.

abraham_bible — ‘The Vision of the Lord Directing Abram to Count the Stars’

‘The Vision of the Lord Directing Abram to Count the Stars’

God promised Abraham that he will be blessed and that he will soon become a great man whom people will look upon. Among all of these promises by God, he held on to the thought that he indeed would be a blessing to all. In fact, it did happen that anyone who came across Abraham was surely blessed. It was his presence that brought wonderful blessings to the people he met, just as God has promised to him.

While Abraham was full of questions upon knowing that he was to leave his homeland, he tried to push aside his worries and anxieties. God had not told him initially where he was to go, and Abraham only went onward to trust the Lord and his plans. All God said was he would reveal himself to that land where Abraham was supposed to travel, and eventually, it appeared that this place was Canaan – the promised land.

Upon Reaching Canaan

When Abraham arrived in Canaan, he was still unsure that it was the land that God promised to become his own. Yet, Abraham was filled with great joy upon setting foot to this land. He even noticed that a number of people were devoted to cultivating the land and making it richer. Thus, he prayed that this land, even if only a portion of it, would soon become his own.

It was right at the moment when God told Abraham that this land was his when he began rejoicing and thanking the Lord for his blessings. Overwhelmed with happiness, Abraham decided to set an altar to show his reverence and gratitude to God. He also raised a few other altars in some places including Hebron and Ai, with the hopes that these places of worship would bring good tidings to the people of each land.

As Abraham lived in this new land, he was able to live in harmony with himself and the people around him. He continued to become a blessing to others, and God continued to reward him for his great love and trust to his commands.

References:
http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/lginzberg/bl-lginzberg-legends-1-5k.htm

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2012/20120618.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham#mediaviewer/File:Moln%C3%A1r_%C3%81brah%C3%A1m_kik%C3%B6lt%C3%B6z%C3%A9se_1850.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham#mediaviewer/File:Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld_Bibel_in_Bildern_1860_024.png