The Asherah in Ancient Israel: Goddess or Sacred Tree?

The word or name “asherah” appears in the books of Deuteronomy, Judges, Kings, and Chronicles. Some scholars have equated certain texts, inscriptions, statuettes, and drawings with the asherah, identified the asherah of the Bible as a goddess, and claimed that a goddess named “Asherah” was the consort of Yahweh (Olyan, Asherah and the cult of

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Adoration of the Magi

The Magi and Jesus

The “magi” who visited Jesus of Nazareth, up to two years after His birth in Bethlehem near the end of the 1st century BC, are enigmatic and typically misunderstood (Matthew 2:1-16; Luke 2:4-40). Popular songs and plays often refer to them incorrectly as “3 Kings,” while few people have much of an idea who these

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Hebrews in Egypt before the Exodus? Evidence from Papyrus Brooklyn

The presence of Hebrews in Egypt prior to their departure is a key component in the Exodus story, leading to the eventual formation of the Israelite nation and the subsequent settlement of Canaan. However, skepticism about the historical validity of the Exodus story has spread through both academia and the general public over the last

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