"The Lands of the Bible Today" (Dave Branon)

TITLE: The Lands of the Bible Today: Experience 44 Places in Scripture and Photos
AUTHOR: Dave Branon
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: ODB Publishing, 2020, (192 pages).

The Bible is the bestselling book of all time. It is also ancient with many names, places, and cultures totally foreign to many modern readers. One of the best ways to get a feel of the Bible context is to physically go visit the Holy Land. For various reasons, not many people would be able to visit the places. It could be physically demanding or financially limiting. For the rest of us, the best way is remotely or through the print medium. This book is a powerful version of the latter. With beautiful and captivating pictures of 44 places in the land of Israel and beyond, readers are able to get a glimpse of the biblical terrains. The purpose of this book is two-fold: Firstly to help readers be more familiar with the knowledge of these places. Secondly, to make our reading of the Bible a little more personal and also to bring the physical locations alive to us when we read Scripture. For each of the 44 locations, one to two pages have been allocated to provide salient information for Christians interested to know more about the physical locations. Some of the features include:

• Name of the city or place and where is it on the map;
• Events that occurred there;
• Bible passages that referred or alluded to the specific place;
• Key passages that show us the significance of the location;
• Where we can find the location now;
• Some attractions that visitors can see;
• Beautiful photographs and maps;
• Buildings and monuments; as well as scenery;
• Historical background of the place;
• Favourite Site Reflection;
• and much more.

My Thoughts
As I was reading this book, I felt that the book could benefit three groups of people. First, for those who have been to the places mentioned, it would trigger memories of what they had seen or heard. There are times in which the tour guides give us so much information that we are unable to remember everything. We might also be so in awe of the places that we didn't pay attention to what the guide was saying. At the same time, the tour guide might not be familiar with how Christians read and study the Bible. They might not even be believers at all! Thus, the book helps one to link what they remember with the spiritual significance of the place.

The second group of people are the tourists or visitors wanting to make a trip there. While there are many other guide books to help us navigate the terrain, this book is a compact volume that provides brief and concise notes for us. Usually, we depend on the guide to do all the talking. However, not all guides are equally knowledgeable. With this resource, we can easily use it to supplement what we have heard or to ask more questions based on the knowledge in this book. Books like the "Christian Traveler's Guide to the Holy Land" would give us more information. This book is a good companion to that. We can even map out our own itinerary!

Finally, this book is for the rest of us who had never visited or not intending to go to the Holy Land. They would find this book a welcome guide to bring the holy land scenes to them. Not everybody have the privilege or the financial means to travel to such a distant place. It is also useful for professors, preachers, pastors, and teachers of the Bible, where they could use information in the book to teach their students or their congregation. My favourite part of the book is the many references to help me connect the place to the Bible, and to help my audience visualize the physical place. This would make this book a helpful teaching resource.

Dave Branon is a freelance writer for many years. For 18 years, he served as managing editor of Sports Spectrum magazine. Now he is an editor for Discovery House. He loves going on ministry trips with students.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Our Daily Bread Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Inspired" (Rachel Held Evans)

TITLE: Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again
AUTHOR: Rachel Held Evans
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: Thomas-Nelson, 2018, (240 pages).

One of the most debated issues in the Christian world is about the infallibility of the Bible. How we we understand the way Christians are convicted about the Bible being inerrant and inspired? How do we know when to read things literally and when not to? For theologians and scholars, one word that has become quite notorious for many conservatives is the word "myth." How could anyone who call themselves Christians dare label the stories in the Bible as "myths?" After all, there are many who struggle to understand things like:

• How could a serpent deceive Adam and Eve? (Gen 3:2)
• How could so many animals fit into an ark? (Gen 7:1-3)
• Is it possible for a donkey to speak? (Numbers 22:28)
• Did Lot's wife literally turn into a pillar of salt? (Gen 19:26)
• How could Jonah survive in a big fish for three days and three nights? (Jon 1:17)
• How do we make of God saying that man could only live up to 120-years age? (Gen 6:3)
• Is it really true that the sun stood still for a whole 24 hours? (Joshua 10:13)
• How about contradictions in the Bible?
• Can a Christian believe in evolution?
• ...

The way forward: Nuances.

"Hidden Riches" (Christopher B. Hays)

TITLE: Hidden Riches: A Sourcebook for the Comparative Study of the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East
AUTHOR: Christopher B. Hays
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014, (288 pages).

Many people have heard of how the Bible shines light on the lives of individuals. Modern authors let the Bible inspire them and write bestselling books. Scholars dig deep into the riches of Scripture and their research have blessed and benefitted people interested in all things biblical study. Teachers and preachers exegeted the ancient texts with some understanding of the original languages. Bible study groups use commentaries and other helps to discover the Bible more. What about other literature that shine light on the Bible? What about materials from the Ancient Near East that reveal more of the context of the Pentateuch (Torah), the Prophets, the Writings? What about primary texts that compare and contrast with the biblical texts that open up the hidden riches of the Bible? Inspired by a seminar that compared such ancient primary texts with the biblical texts, Fuller Professor and Presbyterian minister, Christopher B. Hays is convinced that bible interpreters not only must one be able to read in the original languages, they need to harness the resources of surrounding literature at that time to aid their interpretation. He is referring to cultural literacy, not mere language skills. The benefits of comparison are many.

• It highlights unique literary and theological features
• It brings out the relative complexities of complex concepts like justice, beauty, and goodness.
• It helps us appreciate more of the ancient biblical texts we have
• It enhances biblical scholarship.

That said, readers who would benefit most are familiar with ancient culture, skilled in literary interpretation, and able to handle the ancient languages, especially Hebrew. Meant to spur greater interest, it is hoped that this book can create more curiosity and interest in Bible interpreters, the importance of greater cultural literacy of the ancient near east. This means being able to deal with the ancient writings, paintings, artifacts, models, and literary devices used during that day. This is no easy feat as some of these texts need to be restored. There are decisions to be made with regards to which texts are to be used. Even the texts concerned needed to be understood in their specific contexts. This book aims to cut through the pile of material to give readers and students an initial push in the study of such literature. While there will be "trial and error" situations, it is hoped that with more discovery and research, there would be greater clarity for modern readers trying to understand ancient culture.

Comparison methods are not new. We need to beware of "hypercomparativism" and "parallelomania" which are comparative methods taken to extreme ends. For the Bible can often be the best interpreter of its own texts. Then there is the danger of misinterpreting dated texts and the reliability of the texts. What makes a particular text an accurate depiction of the culture then? How can one be sure that a newly discovered artifact is a more reliable item than something discovered years ago? How is one able to connect a random discovery with the ancient near east jigsaw? With the huge amount of data already discovered, the challenge is to intelligently understand and interpret them. Thankfully, Hays has done a lot of groundwork for us and we are able to enjoy the fruits of his labour. Using the Old Testament categorization of the biblical texts of Pentateuch, Prophets, and Writings, readers familiar with the Bible would be thrilled to see how extra-biblical materials are used to dig out hidden riches of the Bible.

"Warfare in the Old Testament" (Boyd Seevers)

TITLE: Warfare in the Old Testament: The Organization, Weapons, and Tactics of Ancient Near Eastern Armies
AUTHOR: Boyd Seevers
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2014, (320 pages).

This book explores the different philosophies, structures, tactics, theologies, and warfare techniques of the armies in the ancient near east. According to the author, life would be impossible without the army. Wars and conquests are so common that without a strong military, there is no certainly of living. The questions then move toward the meaning and purposes of war, theologically and ethically. The path to greater understanding of the meaning behind the wars and the armies of the ancient near east is to appreciate the ancient contexts of war and conquest. Six nations are studied, namely, Israel, Egypt, Philista, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia.

Israel fought in the Name of God as a testimony of how God will provide, protect, and propel Israel to be the father of all nations. Seevers compare how the army under Joshua worked together with inter-dependence, with the armies under Judges which seem to be independent units of war and destruction. The key to the difference is the spiritual condition of the people at each time. Tracing the development of the military sophistication of Israel, readers find fascinating developments of the armies under Saul, David, and Solomon. Each time there is a change of leadership, there is a subsequent tinkering of the military structure. An interesting discovery is the acquisition of horses and chariots which became more prominent during the reign of Solomon onwards, a direct disobedience of Deut 17:16. While there is relatively more information about the sizes and the types of military numbers and equipment, interpreters need to decipher whether the records are literal or symbolic. Given that Israel is often more hapless and untrained in military prowess, it is difficult to ascertain the actual capability of the God-led nation. For if we treat the numbers exactly as they are, then it would make Israel far more superior and less likely to depend on God for deliverance and salvation. The key motivation is salvation rather than starvation. Unfortunately, over the years, Israel's military structures resemble more like their enemies, which is why studying the other nations will illuminate how Israel's armies look like.

"The Key to the Middle East" (Derek Prince)

TITLE: Key to the Middle East, The: Discovering the Future of Israel in Biblical Prophecy
AUTHOR: Derek Prince
PUBLISHER: Minneapolis, MN: Chosen Books, 2013, (208 pages).

Why is peace so hard to attain in the Middle East? Is there ever going to be a solution to the Middle East quarrels? What significance does Biblical prophecy has to the future of the disputed lands? What if someone tells you that there is a "key" to understanding the Middle East? Published previously as "The Last Word on the Middle East," author Derek Prince insists that the two biggest reasons behind the problems and promises of the Middle East are oil and Israel. As one who had personally lived and witnessed the events in Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Palestine, Israel, and other Arab lands, Prince first chronicles the historical developments surrounding the Middle East before giving his prophetic take.

On the historical overview, Prince begins by noticing the Jewishness of the Old Testament, of Jesus, of the Bible's context, and of the future according to Revelation. The return of the Jews coincides with the prediction of a coming home from the Northern land. Prince is convinced that the Holocaust followed by the founding of Israel on May 14th, 1948 is a direct fulfillment of Jeremiah 3:14,18. He even accuses a "succession of Christian theologians" who have helped to promote anti-Semitism. As a Briton, he tells of the good and bad deeds of the British government that have largely shaped the formation of the Palestine of today. The Balfour Declaration in 1917 sets in motion a good plan for statehood for the homeless Jews. The inconsistent implementations and "hypocrisy of the highest order" have played a big part in the instability of the holy land. Six key prophetic fulfillment are described. First, the formation of Israel is a direct fulfillment of God's predetermined plan. Just imagine how miraculous a tiny nation can survive amid a formidable and hostile neighourbood. Second, regathering the people from exile is a common promise in the Old Testament. In the formation of the state of Israel, God has given His people "their own land," that they will "never again be uprooted," and that the land is a "gift" from God. Third, even the New Testament, especially the gospels have reiterated the same message of the founding of the nation of Israel. Four, on the identity and the disputes of the lands, God has frequently spoken about the importance of this land, that the land belongs forever to the ones who will obey God's will. Only when everyone, both Jews, Arabs, and all inhabitants of the land bow down to the will of God can there be peace and harmony. Five, how we respond to the biblical prophecy is part of the fulfillment of the prophecy. Under the judgment and mercy of God, the unjust will be punished. The persecuted will be shown mercy. Six, Jerusalem will remain the center of contention, even though Israel has promised freedom of worship and passage to the holy city for all religious faiths, especially the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam.

So What?

Derek Prince is clear and convicted that the key to the Middle East is Israel, and the relationships with the Jewish state. Just to see how resilient one nation can stand up against the huge political, economic, military, and social pressures is a case in point. Other than divine help, it is impossible to see how human efforts can bring about the present Israel. The book is a huge call for all, especially the Christian community to take Israel seriously because how they are treated is how the future of the world will be shaped. As long as there is no peace in the Middle East, the rest of the world will have no peace.

Readers will find this book a fascinating read, but it remains one interpretation of the whole Middle East event. In fact, there is no silver bullet solutions as far as the Middle East peace initiatives are concerned. Think about how America, especially at the efforts put in by five American Presidents to achieve peace between Israel and the Middle East. To this day, nations like Iran and several other Arab nations continue to insist on the "destruction of Israel." Israel too continue to defy world council leaders in their struggle to fight back and take their own actions in the name of self-defense. For me, the Middle East is one big complicated puzzle that cannot depend on any one single solution. There are many ideas, many strategies, and many initiatives. Without a common person driving it, without a common understanding of the complexities involved, there will never be peace and prosperity. I agree with Prince that the key to peace is on the question of Israel. I do not quite agree that the entire future stems from one nation. My reading from Scripture is that there is a "new Israel" which comprises of Gentiles grafted into the called people of God. Just like there are good Jews, there are also good Arabs. There are good Gentiles. There are good being done by people of various religious beliefs. God can use any of them, including the people of Israel. God can use evangelicals too, not just for the benefit of any one people group, but for upholding peace, justice, mercy for all people.

Read this book to gain greater insights into the history, the contexts, the cultures, and one interpretation of the biblical prophecies. Even if you are convinced by Prince, which I am in some way, be ready to consult alternative sources so as to gain a bigger picture of what is going on. Prophecies are not the property of any one person. In fact, it is entirely possible, that what Prince has written forms a part of the bigger picture. My recommendation: Be informed with the importance of Israel. Be equally informed that it is the Player up there that will determine the playing field, the players, and the how the future is going to be played out.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Chosen Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Stories from Ancient Canaan" 2nd Edition

TITLE: Stories from Ancient Canaan, Second Edition
AUTHOR: Michael D. Coogan and Mark S. Smith
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012, (160 pages).

Written by two experts in the studies of Ugaritic literature, this book offers readers a unique insight into the world of the Ancient Near East (ANE) and biblical times, in particular, in the Old Testament contexts. After three decades since the first edition, the editors and translators have updated this book with more new material and improvements. The main additions have been the last two chapters, "The Lovely Gods" and "El's Drinking Party." These labels seem to be a marked departure from ancient languages denoted in the earlier chapters. For instance, there is "Aqhat" written on three tablets that tell the story of the son of Danel. Three tablets tell the story of "Rephaim" which relates the inter-relationships between the living and the dead. The story of "Kirta" tells of a king's urgent search for a successor, an heir, and gives precious insights into the frenetic focus on fertility and the rites that accompany it. Six tablets tell the story of the military god, "Baal," on the power struggles between Baal and Death, El's son. One is given a fascinating insight into the world of gods and goddesses in Canaanite lands. In "The Lovely Gods" which is written in one tablet, and comprises a prescriptive part (rituals) as well as a mythic (stories) part. There are stories of feasting among the gods, rituals of death, song, and even a part on cooking! What is interesting is how one feast brings together all the different deities. Through the feasting, there are allusions to over-consumption, famine, and the dangers of infertility and lack of food. The final chapter on "El's Drinking Part" is admittedly very fragmented. It shows the difficulty not only on translating ancient texts, but trying to interpret them accurately. Finally, the glossary and the glossy pictures provide another way for readers to appreciate the ancient literature.

My Thoughts

Ancient literature like the Ugaritic types are often written in tablets of clay. Due to the age of the tablets, not everything is legible. Much of the content has been lost and unable to be deciphered. It makes me more appreciative of the modern technologies that we have, and how easy it is to preserve, to duplicate, to distribute, and to study modern literature. Despite the best technology, we are still dependent on human interpretation to make sense out of ancient literature like the Ugaritic texts. Here, we rely heavily on the expertise of the editors to make the best sense out of it. I see three benefits in reading this book.

First, it gives Bible readers a fresh insight into the Old Testament times, and how the Israelites live in Canaan land. There are several passages of Scripture that the authors identified, and used the Ugaritic background to illuminate the meaning of Scripture, For instance, Baal's battle with Death makes Baal paranoid about windows (cf: Jeremiah 9:21).

Second, the book shows us how closely the ANE use the stories of gods and goddesses to reflect human living. Kings at that time are synonymous with a central figure of not only political and social leadership, it is also religious. Kings have a special way to interact with the gods, making them extremely powerful and influential in the lives of the people.

Third, the overwhelming interest in fertility rites helps us to understand why there is a highly acute survival instinct of people in the ANE. People fight hard to survive. They take agricultural and fertility rites very seriously. They know that food and heirs are keys to survival not only of their families, but for their civilization. The Ugaritic literature contains something that we in the modern world have frequently taken for granted.

There are a lot more lessons to learn. It goes to show how nuanced the stories can be. Perhaps, one of the biggest lessons learned is this. During the time of the ANE, people see the political, social, technological, the religious, and all walks of life as one unit, undivided. We in the modern world have dissected life into far too many components under the principle of secularization. While the Ugaritic literature may appear in fragmented forms, perhaps, the modern world may want to consider whether our world is even more fragmented, albeit in different ways.

This very unique book will supplement studies of ancient texts.

Ratings: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"A-to-Z Guide to Biblical Prophecy and the End Times"

TITLE: An A-to-Z Guide to Biblical Prophecy and the End Times
AUTHOR: J. Daniel Hays, J. Scott Duvall, & C. Marvin Pate.
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012, (512 pages).

This book  is one of the clearest and most concise dictionary and guide for anyone interested in knowing all things associated with biblical prophecy and the end times. It is literally packed with detailed descriptions of two very important but least understood topics for Bible readers today. It is more than a dictionary that merely explains each subject. It is simple without being bogged down with difficult technical words. Even the big theological words are carefully explained to guide the layperson along. The illustrations and the diagrams are included to enable the reader to appreciate the concept better. For instance, the 'Already-Not Yet' biblical idea of the kingdom of God has been clearly diagrammed with Christ's two comings. On top of that, the precious implications are also marked to hone in the meaning of the two ideas. Every prophetic book are explained. The most popular positions surrounding prophecy are carefully dealt with fairly, without the authors pushing through their own views. This is truly a work of scholarship that is fair and gives room for readers to interpret and to make their own judgment.

There are articles on people, places, prophets, positions, and many more. The work is also comprehensive in dealing with the end times. The various positions are explained and within each explanation, the authors carefully compare and contrast how they are different from the other positions. For example, in explaining the Covenant theology and the dispensationalist views of the end times, the primary emphasis is to ensure that the readers understand the terms fairly on its own merit. The views of Amillenials, Premillenials, Postmillenials, and so on, are openly given with the purpose of reminding the reader that there are more than one view to the same topic. Such a pattern is repeated throughout this book. Three eminent scholars wanting to share what they know about bible prophecy and the end times, have done it in a way that is clear, concise, and comprehensive. This is what a good dictionary and guide looks like. Hays, Duvall, and Pate has not only given us a powerful reference for all students of the Bible, they have demonstrated what good educators should do. I am amazed at by the breadth of information but also by the depth of research to each article. I highly recommend this work for Bible teachers, students, pastors, seminarians and laypersons.


Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Zondervan and NetGalley without any obligation of a positive review. All opinions given above are mine unless otherwise stated.

"Thirty Days in the Land with Jesus" (Charles H Dyer)

TITLE: Thirty Days in the Land with Jesus: A Holy Land Devotional
AUTHOR: Charles H. Dyer
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2012, (256 pages).

This book is the work of an experienced traveler in the Middle East. Currently a Professor at large at Moody Bible College, he is well qualified to reflect on Jesus' life on earth throughout Jerusalem and the holy land. Each day, Dyer highlights a place, draws out some biblical insights from both the Old and the New Testaments, and invites readers to spend the day reflecting on the life of Jesus, and the significance of the places Jesus walked. The author has several purposes in the book:

• Enable readers to locate the stories in the Bible with the original places;
• See the profound meanings behind the contexts of each place
• Encounter Jesus personally through the devotional and reflections
• Understand more accurately the Bible as one tours the land
• Loving the God of the Word more.

Beginning with the birthplace of Jesus, Dyer probes the humble beginnings of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He magnifies the arduous physical conditions of the wilderness where Jesus was sorely and surely tempted. He links the Old Testament imagery as Jesus was driven out of Nazareth, on how Jesus painfully tries to speak into the hearts of a hardened people. He tour the mountains and the valleys, the buildings and the synagogues, the seas and the wilderness. In case readers miss out the finer details, Dyer helpfully provides a summary section to enable readers to reflect more thoughtfully. There are some places which are not as well known, such as Chorazin called the 'Capernaum with a view' and the ancient harbour at the small town of Gergesa. There is a day dedicated to the temple in which Jesus not once but twice drove out merchants hawking wares at the temple. There is the Upper Room reflection, in which Dyer dispels the Italian portrait made famous by Leonardo Da Vinci, and argues that the actual room and furniture are totally different from DaVinci's depiction. While many people use daVinci's Last Supper portrait to locate the individual disciples, Dyer depends on the text and his knowledge of the Upper Room designs in that area.

This book tells us a lot about the physical contexts during the days of Jesus. It takes one who loves the Bible in order to piece together the rich gospel stories, the history of Israel, and the lessons that we can learn from. If you are planning to tour the holy land, this book serves as an indispensable guide for your travel. For the rest of us who may not have the privilege to travel there, this book will enable us to appreciate Jesus and the people during the times of Jesus, leading up to the crucifixion and beyond. Yet, like Day 28's reflection on the road to Calvary, the commercialization and modernism of the world continues to hide the biblical significance of the physical locations. It takes the knowledgeable, the perceptive, and the reflective person to see the meaning behind the stones, the sand, and the seas of activity. Thanks to the scholarship and continued passions of people like Dyer, readers in lands far away from the Middle East have a treasure of information and biblical pictures to appreciate what it means to be a believer during the times of Jesus. Hopefully, through the devotion, we will come away not only with a better appreciation, but as people loving Jesus more each day.


Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Moody Publishers and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered are mine unless otherwise stated.