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Bible Insights

Biblical People: Zelophehad

Daughters Receive Inheritance in Promised Land Zelophehad has five daughters but no sons. His girls are Mahlah, Noah (2), Hoglah, Milkah (2), and Tirzah. Zelophehad dies in the desert before he can receive his allotment of property in the promised land. Since he has no sons to receive his inheritance in his stead, the girls […]

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Bible Insights

Biblical People: Kozbi

Instant Judgment The nation of Israel has a problem with sexual immorality. Some of their men are involved with Moabite women, indulging themselves sexually with these foreigners, something the law of Moses prohibits. Then these women entice the men to worship with them and offer sacrifices to Baal instead of God. God is not pleased. […]

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Bible Insights

Biblical People: Phinehas

Son of Eleazar and Grandson of Aaron Phinehas is the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron. This means that Phinehas is Aaron’s grandson. While the Israelites are in the desert getting ready to take the promised land, an issue of sexual immorality arises between some of the men and Moabite women. This effectively aligns […]

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Bible Insights

Biblical People: Nadab and Abihu

The Sons Receive Judgment for Their Sins Aaron has four sons. They are Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. With Aaron as the first priest, all four boys are destined to follow him. With Nadab and Abihu as the oldest two, they take the lead in this. Nadab and Abihu, however, fail to follow God’s precise […]

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Bible Insights

Biblical People: Jannes and Jambres

Opposing Moses It may surprise you to see Jannes and Jambres in our discussion of Old Testament sinners and saints. This is because they don’t appear in the Old Testament. They show up in the New Testament and then only once. Yet the reference ties them to Moses, so this places them in the Old […]

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Bible Insights

Biblical People: Gershom and Eliezer

The Two Sons of Moses and Zipporah Moses and Zipporah have two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. The oldest is Gershom (1). His name means a foreigner there because Moses says he’s a foreigner in a foreign land. The younger son is Eliezer (2). His name means God is my helper. Moses acknowledges God as the […]

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Bible Insights

Biblical People: Zipporah

Learn About Moses’s Wife When Moses flees for his life, he meets seven shepherdesses, the daughters of Reuel. Moses marries one of the daughters, Zipporah. Moses and Zipporah have two sons. They are Gershom and Eliezer. Years later when Moses and his family travel to Egypt, God afflicts Moses. This is apparently because Moses failed […]

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Christian Living

Shiphrah and Puah (2)

The Example of two Hebrew Midwives Shiphrah and Puah are two Hebrew midwives. They live toward the end of the Israelites’ enslavement in Egypt. The Pharaoh of Egypt, fearing their slaves’ mounting numbers, tells Shiphrah and Puah to kill all the baby Israelite boys as they are being born. This is worse than, in effect, […]

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Bible Insights

Biblical People: Manasseh and Ephraim

A Grandfather’s Blessing Joseph and Asenath have two sons. The oldest is Manasseh, and the younger is Ephraim. They are the grandsons of Jacob, later called Israel. When Israel is on his deathbed, Joseph comes to see his ailing father, bringing his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him. Hearing about Joseph’s arrival, Israel rallies […]

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Bible Insights

Women in the Bible: Anna

Anna is widowed after only seven years of marriage. A devout woman, she dedicates her life to God, spending as much time as possible in the temple fasting, praying, and worshiping him. Anna is at least eighty-four years old when Mary and Joseph show up to consecrate Jesus. First, she recognizes him as the savior […]