Have you ever heard of the word “diaspora?” It’s often used specifically to refer to Jewish people, but it means simply the dispersion of any people from their original homeland. We’ve seen that many Jews returned to Palestine with Ezra and Nehemiah, but what about those who decided not to? For the next four hundred …
Author: sheilaalewine
Read-Through-The-Bible [10.15.19]
We have finished reading the Old Testament. Today and tomorrow my chronological Bible reading consists of commentary about what is called the “Intertestamental Period” (between the Testaments). Did you ever wonder why the Bible is called the “Old” and “New” Testaments? The word testament means “covenant.” Everything we’ve read up to now has described the …
Read-Through-The-Bible [10.14.19]
Today we finish up the last of the genealogies in 1 Chronicles 1-9. The commentary in this chronological Bible suggests that these were compiled in the time period after the Jews had returned from exile and had rebuilt the Temple and the walls of the city. They were rebuilding not only their physical surroundings but …
Read-Through-The-Bible [10.13.19]
Today and tomorrow we are reading the portions of scripture we all like to avoid: historical genealogies. We wonder why God includes these long lists of names we can’t pronounce. It’s hard to see any spiritual significance to take for ourselves but we must remember that the Old Testament is essentially the history of the …
Read-Through-The-Bible [10.12.19]
Today I only read two chapters in Nehemiah (12:27-13:31). Nehemiah had served as governor for 13 years, and in 432 BC returns to Susa for an unspecified length of time. He receives permission to come back to Jerusalem and hold a dedication ceremony for the wall. When he returns, he discovers that during his absence, …
