Where are the other women?

 A past-last-minute word on our July book, The Bible Atlas: A pictorial guide to the Holy Lands.

Page 44 has the title: Jesus' birth and early life.

2. The birth of Jesus 

The accompanying picture has 6 men + Mary (the only woman!)

Joyce Voysey

Israel emerging in the Iron Age

 Continuing with The Bible Atlas: A pictorial guide to the Holy Lands

Pages 24-25: Israel and the Philistines

I am very impressed with the opening shortened history of the dealings of Israel and the Philistines. Very neat!

So the Philistines came from the Aegean Sea by ships as illustrated; surely a quicker way than the track taken by the Israelites in their 40-year wanderings, much of which was in desert.

No doubt each journey had its perils.

I have used that word “perils.” Not one I might use every day, I must say. It reminds me of Paul. He has given a list of perils in II Corinthians 11. Here he speaks at length of his experience in spreading the Word:

...in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one./Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” (II Cor. 11:23-28)

 

Pages 26-27: David’s kingdom

Page 26 gives us the 23^rd Psalm. It lacks the King James Version’s last two verses. Must look into that.

Ah! Maybe verses 1-3 are the “Shepherd” ones and that is what the heading promises: The Lord is my shepherd. Or was it perhaps that the space only allowed 3 verses?

By the way. AI goes on at length about the Psalm.

Page 27. So, I am grateful to read that David “lived at the beginning of the Iron Age (1000-500 BCE), so his metalworkers were able to make the latest iron weapons for his army. Absalom’s rebellion (drawing and text at the lower right-hand of the page) shows David’s men using weapons that would therefore have iron “business ends.” A gory story. It hadn’t ever impressed me enough to know what happened to Absalom.

Joyce Voysey

All hands on deck

The story of Solomon's temple appears on pages 30-31 of this month's book, The Bible Atlas: A pictorial guide to the Holy Lands, available in Christian Science Reading Rooms. 

The opening paragraph offers helpful background:

               Solomon became king of Israel when his father, David, died in about 970BCE. Solomon inherited a large kingdom, with taxes pouring in from many surrounding lands. He became very rich, built a huge palace for himself and had many servants and many wives. ... Solomon was also a clever businessman. He bought horses from Egypt and then sold them to traders from other countries. He also imported gold, parrots, spices, and perfume. ... his biggest project was the building of a magnificent temple, where all the Israelites could come to worship God.

The atlas reminds of:

- Cedars transported by sea from Tyre

- King Solomon's mines (copper and other precious metals)

- The visit of the Queen of Sheba (to see for herself his fabled wealth)

- Solomon's wisdom (as shown in his resolution of a dispute between two mothers)

- The cut-out drawing of the temple shows its magnificence. 

 

The story of building this temple is fascinating. Here are a couple of details: 

I Kings 6:2, 7

And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits. ...[27.5m x 9m x 13.7m; 90’ x 30’ x 45’]

And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

Everything was prepared in advance! What a project. And what a lesson in planning, preparation, focus, cooperation, and attention to detail for us today. How the people must have loved being part of this building project.

Having a temple in which to worship was very significant. Previously, Solomon had gone “to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place” (I Kings 3: 4). Now, the people would have a temple right there in Jerusalem just where David had decreed it be built. No wonder they worked harmoniously together. Even King Hiram of Tyre, who had loved King David, was an enthusiastic participant (see I Kings 5:1).

Julie Swannell