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Latest Questions

4 votes
1 answers
3463 views
How can Matthew 2:18 be fulfilled prophecy if Ramah is north of Jerusalem and Bethlehem is south?
Regarding the passage `Mt 2:13-18`. Joseph flees to Egypt with Jesus and Mary after being warned by an angel that Jesus’ life is in danger. Herod then kills all the male children less than 2 years old in and around Bethlehem (8 miles *south* of Jerusalem). Matthew calls this tragic event the fulfill...
Regarding the passage Mt 2:13-18. Joseph flees to Egypt with Jesus and Mary after being warned by an angel that Jesus’ life is in danger. Herod then kills all the male children less than 2 years old in and around Bethlehem (8 miles *south* of Jerusalem). Matthew calls this tragic event the fulfillment of Je 31:15: > A cry is heard in Ramah… Rachel weeps for her children… for her children are gone. However, OT verses and sources from bibleatlas.org point to Ramah being 8+ miles *north* of Jerusalem. How can the verses in Matthew and Jeremiah refer to the same place if they are 16+ miles apart? What am I missing? ramah-jerusalem-bethlehem
cb4 (216 rep)
May 8, 2022, 04:15 PM • Last activity: Jul 25, 2025, 11:33 PM
7 votes
6 answers
9696 views
Red Sea or Sea of Reeds?
I've heard a lot of religious chatter concerning what exact "sea" was parted by God to allow Moses and the Israelites to cross out of Egypt. Seems productions by the History Channel and other such sources have made statements about it but they also talked about the Mayan end of the world ideas. I kn...
I've heard a lot of religious chatter concerning what exact "sea" was parted by God to allow Moses and the Israelites to cross out of Egypt. Seems productions by the History Channel and other such sources have made statements about it but they also talked about the Mayan end of the world ideas. I know my bible says "Red Sea" but I've heard that could be a mistranslation. I was just wondering if there was any solid evidence to support either location? Such as archaeological findings or other sources. > "18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red > Sea." -Exodus 13:18
Tyler (362 rep)
May 23, 2014, 06:10 PM • Last activity: Jul 2, 2025, 03:21 PM
6 votes
2 answers
2754 views
What was the normal way to cross the Jordan River during first century in Israel?
Question: What was the normal way to cross the Jordan River during first century in Israel? Reading [John 1:28][1] it says that John was baptizing on the East side of the Jordan River and I've wondered how the people would get to him. And not just him but any travel that may require crossing the riv...
Question: What was the normal way to cross the Jordan River during first century in Israel? Reading John 1:28 it says that John was baptizing on the East side of the Jordan River and I've wondered how the people would get to him. And not just him but any travel that may require crossing the river. I'm sure that it could probably be crossed by swimming but it seems that hauling goods and possessions, families, or even the upper class like the priests this wouldn't have been the case. No where in scripture do I find mention of a bridge. Through different google searches the earliest bridge I could find was circa 700CE. ---------- Information on the river itself: The baptismal site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan (John 1:28) is near the southern end of the Jordan River, across from Jericho and 8 kilometres south of the King Hussein (or Allenby) Bridge. It is 40 minutes by car from the Jordanian capital of Amman. El-Ghor: "Twenty miles below Lake Galilee the river is joined by the important Wady el-Jalud, which descends through the valley of Jezreel between Mt. Gilboa and the range of the Little Hermon (the hill Moreh of Jdg 7:1). This valley leads up from the Jordan to the valley of Esdrelon and thence to Nazareth, and furnished the usual route for Jews going from Jerusalem to Nazareth when they wished to avoid the Samaritans." Deep and turbulent during the rainy season, the Jordan is reduced to a sluggish, shallow stream during the summer. The Jordan River only reaches 20 yards across in some places, and its deepest point is around 17 feet. From the Sea of Galilee , at the level of 682 feet below the Mediterranean, the river flows through a long, low plain called “the region of Jordan” (Matt. 3:5), and by the modern Arabs the Ghor, or “sunken plain.” This section is properly the Jordan of Scripture. Down through the midst of the “plain of Jordan” there winds a ravine varying in breadth from 200 yards to half a mile, and in depth from 40 to 150 feet. Through it the Jordan flows in a rapid, rugged, tortuous course down to the Dead Sea.
Tonyg (789 rep)
Apr 14, 2016, 01:20 AM • Last activity: Oct 20, 2024, 10:28 AM
6 votes
4 answers
15481 views
What prophets came from Galilee?
[This question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/19010/was-no-prophet-ever-came-out-of-galilee-sarcastic) talks about how in John 7:52, the Pharisees claimed that "no prophet comes out of Galilee." The accepted answer discusses how commentators often point out the Pharisees' mistake,...
[This question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/19010/was-no-prophet-ever-came-out-of-galilee-sarcastic) talks about how in John 7:52, the Pharisees claimed that "no prophet comes out of Galilee." The accepted answer discusses how commentators often point out the Pharisees' mistake, and N.T. Wright points out that "both the prophets Jonah and Hosea came from Galilee." In addition, I found [this link](http://storage.cloversites.com/makinglifecountministriesinc/documents/Did%20Any%20Prophets%20Come%20Out%20of%20Galilee.pdf) , which says that 5 prophets came from Galilee: Jonah, Nahum, Hosea, Elijah, and Elisha. BibleStudyTools.org has an [article](https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/11824/Hosea-as-Native-Galilee.htm) with a discussion about how Micah, Elijah, and Jonah being from Galilee, and how Nahum and Hosea could possibly have come from Galilee. **Which prophets are from Galilee, and how do we know?** An associated question, what is the source of the uncertainty surrounding this question? Perhaps I could word the question, what is the (Biblical and archeological) basis for saying that these 5 prophets are from Galilee? 1. Jonah from Gath-hepher >2 Kings 14:25 "He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant **Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher**." [Wikipedia on Gath-hepher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gath-hepher) says it is in modern-day Galilee (maybe that's what it is saying?). Joshua 29:13 describes more where this place is. 2. Micah from Moresheth >Micah 1:1 The word of the Lord that came to **Micah of Moresheth** during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. [BibleAtlas.org](https://bibleatlas.org/moresheth.htm) doesn't mention Galilee at all in the article on Moresheth, nor does [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moresheth-Gath) in their article on Moresheth-Gath. Wikipedia says Moresheth = Moresheth-Gath. 3. Elijah from Gilead > 1 Kings 17:1 "Now **Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead**, said to Ahab, 'As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.'" 2 Kings 15:29 actually seems to differentiate between Gilead and Galilee, which suggests that Gilead is not contained within Galilee. [Wikipedia on Gilead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilead) makes no mention of Galilee, and the [Bible Atlas](https://bibleatlas.org/gilead.htm) also seems to differentiate Gilead from Galilee by saying that in Gilead there is "the white chalk of the desert plateau, the same as that found in Samaria and Lower Galilee." 4. Elisha (I don't know the basis). 5. Hosea (I don't know the basis). I would like to see the basis for 4 and 5 (Elisha and Hosea) being from Galilee, and I would like to see how we can know 1-3 are actually from Galilee. I would also be interested if there are any other claims that additional prophets are from Galilee. My questions stems from the fact that none the verses say explicitly from Galilee, and I have seen almost nothing supporting the connection between the city mentioned and Galilee. Pardon my lack of knowledge in biblical geography. Perhaps it is obvious that these cities are contained in the region that is Galilee. There may also be a notable difference between the geographical boundaries in Galilee between the Old and New Testament timeframes or even within the Old Testament timeframe, which contains several thousand years of history on its own. I don't see how any denominational restriction will affect the answers, so I don't propose any.
Alex Strasser (1272 rep)
Jan 12, 2019, 09:59 PM • Last activity: Feb 17, 2023, 07:52 AM
0 votes
1 answers
130 views
Where can I get a topographical map of Israel / Transjordan?
As an aide in Old Testament study, I'm looking for a topographical map of Israel - both East and West of the Jordan. Specifically, I want a map with topographical layer-lines showing specific heights. I'm not looking for one of those "green is lower and brown is higher and mountainous areas look cri...
As an aide in Old Testament study, I'm looking for a topographical map of Israel - both East and West of the Jordan. Specifically, I want a map with topographical layer-lines showing specific heights. I'm not looking for one of those "green is lower and brown is higher and mountainous areas look crinkled" maps. I want the most precise and detailed map available. It would also be helpful if this map had major landforms (rivers, mountain peaks, etc.) labeled. Does anyone know where I can find one?
Truth (119 rep)
May 29, 2019, 06:31 PM • Last activity: Nov 29, 2022, 06:13 PM
16 votes
6 answers
14080 views
Was the cave of Abraham in Shechem or Hebron?
[Genesis 23:17–20][1] says: > So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. Afterward Abraham buried his wi...
Genesis 23:17–20 says: > So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of **Machpelah** near **Mamre** (which is at **Hebron**) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site. (NIV) Acts 7:15–16 says: > Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. > Their bodies were brought back to **Shechem** and placed in the tomb that > Abraham had bought from the sons of **Hamor** at **Shechem** for a certain sum > of money. (NIV) You may say that Jacob was simply buried in a different burial site. However, Genesis 50:12–14 clearly states otherwise: > So Jacob’s sons did as their father commanded. They carried his > body to the land of Canaan and buried it in the cave in the field of > **Machpelah** near **Mamre**. Abraham had bought this cave and field from > **Ephron the Hittite** to use as a burial place. After Joseph buried > his father, he returned to Egypt, along with his brothers and everyone > who had gone with him to bury his father. (NCV) It seems that both the location and the seller is off between the books. How can these passages be reconciled?
TheOne (363 rep)
Jan 16, 2015, 04:51 PM • Last activity: Feb 7, 2022, 04:50 PM
7 votes
4 answers
1087 views
Are there any remains/fossils after Noah's flood?
As its considered that the flood happened on a global scale at Noah's time and its occurrence; are there any human (considerable account) & animal fossils/remains (apart from the ship) that proves/suggests the occurrence of a worldwide flood. Please help me with your insights. P.S. Flood which occur...
As its considered that the flood happened on a global scale at Noah's time and its occurrence; are there any human (considerable account) & animal fossils/remains (apart from the ship) that proves/suggests the occurrence of a worldwide flood. Please help me with your insights. P.S. Flood which occurred at Noah's time should have created fossils, because such catastrophic events lead to creation/preservation of fossils (scientifically); like the formation of the Grand canyons (assumption)
Ashish Eben (109 rep)
Sep 13, 2021, 10:05 PM • Last activity: Sep 18, 2021, 10:40 AM
19 votes
4 answers
5525 views
What evidence is available that Mt. Moriah is actually the Temple Mount?
In Sunday school this week we discussed (among several other things) the sacrifice of Isaac. The teacher pointed us to a footnote that appears in several editions of the scripture. It seems that scholars think that Mount Moriah, where Abraham was told to go to sacrifice his son is now the location o...
In Sunday school this week we discussed (among several other things) the sacrifice of Isaac. The teacher pointed us to a footnote that appears in several editions of the scripture. It seems that scholars think that Mount Moriah, where Abraham was told to go to sacrifice his son is now the location of the Dome of the Rock, which makes it the historic location of the temple, and just a few hundred yards from the historic location of Golgotha. What historic, archeological and traditional evidence is available to confirm this theory?
wax eagle (7055 rep)
Sep 23, 2013, 02:01 PM • Last activity: Jul 28, 2021, 02:18 AM
2 votes
1 answers
370 views
2 cities called Caesarea?
This may be in the wrong forum but I’ll try. I google searched this at length yesterday but my search terms must be lacking something as the mystery got worse not better. We’re there more than one city or town in late 2nd Temple period called Caesarea? Caesarea, Caesarea-Philippi, Caesarea Maritimia...
This may be in the wrong forum but I’ll try. I google searched this at length yesterday but my search terms must be lacking something as the mystery got worse not better. We’re there more than one city or town in late 2nd Temple period called Caesarea? Caesarea, Caesarea-Philippi, Caesarea Maritimia? The geography is confusing as well as the names/descriptions. I know we have well credentialed experts here somewhere so while you’re chuckling at the dumb question pls help me 🤪
Richard7 (79 rep)
May 20, 2020, 12:56 PM • Last activity: May 20, 2020, 01:59 PM
3 votes
1 answers
1379 views
Which Prison Epistles are considered to have been written from Rome?
I recognise the modern challenges of traditional/specific dating of the NT books; and that this may suggest various answers. Are there any letters which are reliably recognised as having been written while under arrest in Rome?
I recognise the modern challenges of traditional/specific dating of the NT books; and that this may suggest various answers. Are there any letters which are reliably recognised as having been written while under arrest in Rome?
RevRunD (76 rep)
Feb 16, 2019, 01:39 PM • Last activity: Feb 22, 2019, 05:33 PM
0 votes
1 answers
204 views
Good Samaritan - Chronology, Geography
I'm currently studying the parable of the Good Samaritan, and I'm wondering why it was chronologically placed in Luke 10 which seems to indicate the encounter with the expert in the law occurred before Jesus entered Jerusalem as king. The question asked by the expert in the law is "What must I do to...
I'm currently studying the parable of the Good Samaritan, and I'm wondering why it was chronologically placed in Luke 10 which seems to indicate the encounter with the expert in the law occurred before Jesus entered Jerusalem as king. The question asked by the expert in the law is "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" and Jesus asks him what his interpretation of scripture is. The expert replies - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and "Love your neighbour as yourself". This is the same answer Jesus gave when asked what the greatest commandment was (Matthew 22:35–40 and Mark 12:28–34). It seems to me there is a connection between the two stories. In my mind I'd always thought Jesus was the one who originally summed up the whole of the Law in this way. It makes more sense to me that the parable of the Good Samaritan should sit somewhere in Luke 20 when the authority of Jesus is questioned. It would line up with Mathew and Mark better. Otherwise are we to assume that Jesus was quoting the expert when he gives his answer in Mathew and Mark? Doesn't it make more sense that the expert in the law in Luke's good Samaritan had heard Jesus sum the law up in this way - but he wanted more clarification as to who his neighbour was... Therefore the encounter in Luke is more likely to have taken place in Jerusalem? Or am I simply wrong in thinking there is a connection between these accounts?
user41260
Oct 21, 2018, 04:14 PM • Last activity: Oct 21, 2018, 10:14 PM
4 votes
1 answers
110 views
According to Jesus in the New Testament, where by name are the three places one ought to worship God?
Someone in The New Testament mentions two places where one ought to worship God. Jesus says that in the Messianic Era neither place will be where one ought to worship God. Which are these two places by name, and—according to Jesus in the New Testament—where will be the one place by name where the tr...
Someone in The New Testament mentions two places where one ought to worship God. Jesus says that in the Messianic Era neither place will be where one ought to worship God. Which are these two places by name, and—according to Jesus in the New Testament—where will be the one place by name where the true worshipers will worship God in the Messianic Era?
Lois Lauris (69 rep)
Apr 23, 2018, 11:07 PM • Last activity: Apr 24, 2018, 12:09 AM
-1 votes
1 answers
188 views
Actual days taken from Maundy Thursday to Crucifixion
What we currently know is that the Jesus was taken custody after the last supper (Maundy Thursday) and crucified on Good Friday, the day after the last supper. My Question is, can this be true? I mean can they do everything what it is said they did to Jesus in less than 24 hours before they crucifie...
What we currently know is that the Jesus was taken custody after the last supper (Maundy Thursday) and crucified on Good Friday, the day after the last supper. My Question is, can this be true? I mean can they do everything what it is said they did to Jesus in less than 24 hours before they crucified him. The list of activities they did to him: 1. start the trial 2. beat him nearly to the death 3. Tried by Pontius Pilate 4. Take him to Herod Antipas, and the list goes on In google maps, the distance between Judea to Galilee is nearly more than 100 kms. Check this link : How long would it take to walk from Judea to Galilee? **Note :** *I can understand that we are celebrating these incidents in consecutive days, but what would have happened in reality.*
Thush-Fdo (101 rep)
May 4, 2017, 08:43 AM • Last activity: May 4, 2017, 09:19 AM
11 votes
7 answers
42141 views
Where are Gog and Magog located?
>Eze 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him Which are the countries/locations mentioned here in this verse? When I heard some sermon long back, the preacher was comparing it with some countries. What is the authen...
>Eze 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him Which are the countries/locations mentioned here in this verse? When I heard some sermon long back, the preacher was comparing it with some countries. What is the authenticity of that? What present day countries are where Gog and Mogag are/were/will be, and how can we verify this?
Jomet (1295 rep)
Jun 29, 2012, 05:54 AM • Last activity: Jun 1, 2016, 09:21 AM
2 votes
1 answers
339 views
When was the name of Sinai first applied to the Sinai peninsular?
When was the name of Sinai first applied to what we now know as the 'Sinai peninsular'? Some modern scholars maintain that Mt Sinai = Mt Horeb = 'the Mountain of God' which is located in northwest Saudi Arabia. The volcanic phenomena described in Genesis support this hypothesis. So was the Sinai Pen...
When was the name of Sinai first applied to what we now know as the 'Sinai peninsular'? Some modern scholars maintain that Mt Sinai = Mt Horeb = 'the Mountain of God' which is located in northwest Saudi Arabia. The volcanic phenomena described in Genesis support this hypothesis. So was the Sinai Peninsular so named on the possibly incorrect assumption that this is where the Exodus events took place, or was it already known as Sinai before the Exodus?
Gordon Stanger (349 rep)
May 29, 2016, 01:07 PM • Last activity: Jun 1, 2016, 03:07 AM
11 votes
1 answers
720 views
Where was Jesus' tomb?
We can be pretty sure it isn't in [Japan][1]. The two most referenced sites are: * The [Aedicule][2] of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and * The [Garden Tomb][3]. However, both stake their claims by virtue of their proximity to [_Golgotha_][4]. (Proponents of the two tomb sites also disagree on th...
We can be pretty sure it isn't in Japan . The two most referenced sites are: * The Aedicule of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and * The Garden Tomb . However, both stake their claims by virtue of their proximity to _Golgotha_ . (Proponents of the two tomb sites also disagree on the location of Jesus' crucifixion.) However, I don't see anything in the Gospel texts that indicate where the tomb might have been in relation to the crucifixion site: > And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.—Mark 15:42-47 (ESV ) We know _who_ the tomb belonged to, but not where it was situated. In fact, I can see no reason for the tomb not to be anyone of Second Temple burial sites found around Jerusalem. Given the little we know about Joseph, I'd say the Sanhedrin Tombs 1 are as likely than any other candidate. More likely still, the tomb was used by Joseph's family and the connection to Jesus was lost.2 It may very well have been destroyed in one of Jerusalem's many rebuilding projects. Can we know where Jesus was buried? ---------- 1. Oddly, it's difficult to find good information on this site, which is practically neglected. I don't know, for instance, exactly how they got their name or what era they come from. So this suggestion ought to be taken with a shaker of salt. 2. This theory isn't surprising since according to the Gospels, the tomb would have been empty. There was nothing to see and no reason to visit!
Jon Ericson (9766 rep)
Mar 14, 2012, 08:27 PM • Last activity: Aug 16, 2015, 05:00 PM
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