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The Bible Today Monthly Newsletter, Issue #002, December 17, 2014 - The Battle of Jericho
April 17, 2017

Published Monthly
Issue #1
April,

King David



Welcome to The Bible Today Newsletter. Each month we list the latest news concerning the Bible, Israel, God and Christianity from history, archaeology, science, space, politics and world news. Please remember to whitelist this publication and the email address so you are sure to receive the monthly newsletter.

Additionally, each monthly issue contains a Featured Topic from the Bible which is closely analyzed, with various articles throughout. Always be sure to check out The Grab Bag for unusual and curious tidbits sure to intrigue.

This website is brought to you by www.israel-a-history-of.com.



WHAT'S INSIDE

I. Featured Topic: King David

Explore the life of David - from shepherd to King of Israel. He defeated the Philistine champion Goliath and went on to establish Israel as a world empire. King David stands as Israel's greatest king.


II. The Bible Past & Present

Interesting news and articles on the Bible in the past, as well as the present.

III. Digging in the Bible

The latest news in archaeology, both Biblical Archaeology and the science of Archaeology as as a whole.

IV. The Science Section

Can Science & Religion get along?






I. FEATURED TOPIC

King David: Israel's Greatest King

“Now the Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons” (1 Samuel 16:1).

Samuel, however, feared Saul’s reaction and complained to God that Saul would take his life. Thus, God devised a scheme for Samuel. He was to take a heifer with him and offer it as a sacrifice to God on behalf of the city. By doing this, Samuel’s pretense for visiting the city would not draw suspicion. As usual, the Lord provided a way around a difficult situation. Notice that Samuel simply told God his concerns, and the Lord provided.

In 1 Samuel 16:4, Samuel traveled to Bethlehem in search for a new king of Israel. Samuel had likely earned a fierce reputation as a powerful and mysterious man of God. The people likely whispered tales of the old prophet. They feared and respected his relationship with YHWH. He was the first prophet to appear in Israel in quite some time. His presence carried with it God’s message.

As Samuel entered the city in 1 Samuel 16:4 “the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and asked, ‘Do you come in peace?’” Samuel related he came to offer the sacrifices traditional for Israelite towns. The elders hurried to prepare, and Samuel makes special mention of Jesse's family being present. Thus it is from one of Jesse's sons Samuel shall choose a king. Starting with the eldest, each of them pass by Samuel without a word from the prophet. Scripture seems to imply that David was a mere afterthought in his family. Jesse had to be prodded to even mention his youngest son David. David hadn’t been present at the sacrifice because he was tending his father’s sheep in the field. This is a remarkably humble and insignificant introduction to the greatest king in Israel’s history. He was a young shepherd boy, the runt of the family.

Shepherds spent days and months alone with their sheep. They had to constantly monitor them and watch over them, much like an infant’s parents. Hours were passed in silence, or in David’s case, oftentimes with music as David was a skilled musician. David was also protective of his sheep. Wolves, bears, and other wild beasts threatened the safety of the fold daily, and the shepherd was responsible for warding off these dangers.

It was now clear to Samuel the future king of Israel was a shepherd of his father's flocks.

Excerpt from; Samuel the Seer by Shepherd Campbell (not yet released)




King David Jewish Virtual Encyclopedia

King David Images


ANCIENT COPPER-SMELTING SITE DATING TO KING DAVID






II. The Bible Past & Present

Explore the bible and its impact on mankind's history, as well as its continuing impact on our civilization today.

Jerusalem - The City of David

Israel Opposes UNESCO Resolutions on Jerusalem
BY DANIEL K. EISENBUD JANUARY 15, 2017




This Day in History

Easter, by Philip Yancey - Washington Post






III. Digging in the Bible

Fierce arguments flow when discussing the Bible in terms of Archaeology. What cannot be denied, however, is that the Bible has helped identify many locations and places for Archaeology; and conversely Archaeology has shed invaluable light on the people and places mentioned in the Bible. For instance, the Philistines were once thought to be a mythical people, created by ancient Israel. That line of thought was debunked when archaeology turned up evidence of the Sea Peoples, and their cities were exactly where the Bible had placed them.


Featured Topic

3000 Year Old Manure links to Kings David and Solomon




Headline News From Archaeology

King David-Era Jar Bearing Rare Inscription
Juan Paulino Cornejo , Design & Trend Jun, 18, 2015








IV. The Science Section


Are Science & Religion always at odds with each other? If one believes in Science, can one not also believe in God? Are the two so fundamentally different reconciliation is impossible? Faith is believing without seeing. Science is believing by seeing. Does middle ground exist?


Live Science: A Brief History of Israel
By Owen Jarus, Live Science Contributor | August 16, 2016


The Bible Today Monthly Newsletter

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