Strange and Interesting Bible Facts

Interesting Tidbit: This Bible fact might not be news to you; the Old Testament was written in Hebrew; the New Testament in Greek. It’s only a rule of thumb because some Aramaic is thrown in too (Daniel, Ezra, and a few other places.) I had many years of Bible study before I knew this. But once explained it made so much sense! Given to the Jews, the Old Testament was written in their language. But just prior to Christ’s birth, Alexander the Great conquered the known world making Greek the common language. Amazingly, because of this, when the Gospels were written, they could be read by any literate person in the known world! The news also traveled fast along the complex road system the Romans had built. Isn’t God good! His timing is always perfect!

Nahum Trivia: Nahum2:2-4 says, “The warriors are dressed in scarlet, the chariots are enveloped in flashing steel … The chariots race madly in the streets, they rush wildly in the squares. Their appearance is like torches, they dash to and fro like lightening.” This prophecy was literally fulfilled when the Medes invaded Nineveh, one of Assyria’s most powerful cities. The Greek historian Xenophon records that the Medes wore bright red battle tunics … the warriors are dressed in scarlet…and one of the invading armies (either the Medes or one of its allies) had steel swords on their chariots which flashed in the sun as they raced forward … the chariots are enveloped in flashing steel … their appearance is like torches dashing to and fro like lightening …

Who wrote the book of Hebrews? Truthfully, no one really knows for sure. The most common belief is that Paul wrote it. However, there are some significant differences in this book and Paul’s other books. It doesn’t start the same way, and the Old Testament quotes are from the Septuagint where as Paul usually quoted the original Hebrew. There are other differences too. If not Paul, then who? Possible authors include: Luke, Barnabas, Priscilla (the wife of Aquila), and Clement of Rome. One real possibility is that it was one of Paul’s sermons which was transcribed by someone else. But my father always claimed with a twinkle in his eye, and his tongue in his cheek that he thought Priscilla was the author because in Hebrews 13:22, the writer says he has written in “few words”, and who but a woman can write 13 chapters and call it “few words”? (KJV)

Strange and Interesting Bible Facts

Isaiah 28:21 says, “The Lord will rise up.  He will be rousted to do His deed; strange is His deed. And to do His work; alien is His work.”(ESV) Strange & alien indeed! We often find ourselves believing that when God works, things will run smoothly, when the truth is God’s work often seems strange and alien to the way we think things should go. But the good news for writers is that God’s strange & alien work makes great stories!

 

“Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarm -leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.” These words were penned by Alisha Hoffman in 1887. Where in the Bible did Alisha get her inspiration? Where do the words, “the everlasting arms” appear? They appear in  Deuteronomy 33:27 which says, “The eternal God is a dwelling place and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

 

The book of Lamentations is poetry based on the Hebrew alphabet, which consists of 22 letters. Chapters 1, 2, and 4 of Lamentations have 22 verses, each starting with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Chapter 3 has 66 verses with each Hebrew letter repeated 3 times before moving onto the next letter. The last chapter, chapter 5, is written free style. An interesting note: Chapters 2, 3 and 4 reverse the order of the Hebrew letters ayin and pe so only chapter 1 follows the usual sequence precisely. Why? Perhaps only God knows.

 

Good Advice: In Nehemiah 5:7, Nehemiah says, “And I consulted with myself...” When I first read this verse it struck me as funny. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought it was wise statement.  In the prior verses, Nehemiah is distraught. As he contemplates what to do about his situation, he consults with himself…good idea! Perhaps if we spent more time consulting with ourselves and less time acting without thinking, our lives would run more smoothly. 

 

 

Strange and Interesting Bible Facts

Once a month, I write a short column for a writer’s newsletter, “The Write Life" called “Strange and Interesting Bible Facts.” Since 2010, I have thoroughly enjoyed digging in my Bible to come up with Bible tid-bits for this column. So, now I will pass on the interesting facts I have found to you – my blog readers – in a new section I will post periodically under this same title.

Here are four to get us started:

1) “Pass me not Oh gentle Savior. Hear my humble cry!  While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by.”  This is a famous hymn written by the late Fannie Crosby. Where do we find the words, “Do not pass me by.” in scripture?  …. Do you give up? Abraham said it in Genesis 18:3. The setting is by the oaks of Mamre, where the Lord appeared to Abraham. In verse 3 Abraham says to the Lord, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.”  

 

2) Have you ever heard the name Ichabod?  Most of us have heard it in the context of the story by John Quidor of Ichabod Crane and the headless horseman. But did you know the name appears in the Bible?  1^st Samuel 4 tells the sad story of the Philistine victory where the Ark of the Covenant was stolen, Eli’s sons were killed, and Eli also died upon hearing the news of the battle and the loss of the Ark of the Covenant.  This sad chapter ends with the story of Eli’s daughter in law also dying in childbirth after the news of her loss caused her to go into labor.  As she was dying, she named her newborn son Ichabod, which means “No glory” because she said the glory of the Lord had departed. (1^st Samuel 4: 21)

3) This tid-bit of information is drawn from a book by David Jeremiah. He tells of a geophysicist who explained that oil deposits result from the decomposition of plants and animal life that once covered the earth until a vast cataclysm (like a flood, perhaps?) The richest and largest deposits of oil are just east of Israel, where the Bible places the Garden of Eden. In presenting his argument that the last battle will be over oil, Dr. Jeremiah states, “It’s ironic to think that Satan may finance the Battle of Armageddon at the end of human history with revenues generated from the garden he spoiled at the beginning of human history.”

4) Sometimes verses strike me as humorous. This one did that when I read it. Paul said these words just before his shipwreck. He had a dream in which God had told him he would appear before Caesar. Then Paul tells the men on his ship, “Keep up your courage men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.  But we must run aground on some island.” (Acts 27:25-26) Maybe there is something wrong or irreverent about me for finding these verses so hilarious.  Or maybe I’ve just been there too many times in my life. But I can truly relate with these words, “Things are going to be OK!  I believe God!...Oh! - but first we are going to have a major shipwreck. There will be pieces of us everywhere; a major mess!!  Just overlook it! Everything is going to turn out just the way God wants it too!