Religion of Israel
Altar
An altar was a pile of stones or a wooden table on which offerings
Angel
In our current use of the word, an “angel” is a heavenly being who serves God and carries out his will. In the Bible, a development can be seen in the image people had of angels, imbuing them with an increasing number of personality traits.
Angel in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament there are different groups of heavenly beings that are later called “angels
Animal Sacrifice
There were various sorts of sacrifice: grain offerings, wine offerings and animal sacrifices. Animal sacrifices are most extensively described in the laws of the Old Testament.
An animal sacrifice was an expensive gift, partly because animals (that served as food) had to be killed.
Anointed One in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, the word “anointed one” or “messiah” (in Hebrew: mashiah) is used as a title. The king of Israel, in particular, is regarded as the “anointed one”.
Apodictic Laws
In apodictically formulated legal provisions, certain things are simply forbidden. A direct prohibition can be worded in three ways in the Old Testament.
Ark of the Covenant (Covenant Box)
The Ark of the Covenant, also known as the Covenant Box, is an especially holy object
Ark: Appearance
In the Bible, the Ark of the Covenant
Attitude of Prayer
In the Old Testament we do not find a fixed attitude of prayer, nor in the New Testament. People pray, for instance:
Blessing in the Old Testament
Blessing in the Old Testament is pronouncing a wish or a prayer over a person or thing. The blessing brings prosperity and strength, enables a good future and seals the connection between the generations. A good example is the blessing that Jacob
Blessings and Curses
In the Bible, blessing is pronouncing something good over someone, which — if done in the correct way — ensures that this good thing genuinely happens to that person. The word “blessing
Blood
Blood is linked to the life force of humans and animals in the Old Testament. This is why it is forbidden for Israelites to consume blood, or meat that still has blood in it. At the same time, blood, as an embodiment of life, plays an important part in (purification) rituals.
Burnt Offering
The burnt offering was the most common offering
Burnt Offering Altar
Burnt offerings
Casuistic Laws
Casuistically formulated laws imagine a general situation, introduced by the word “whenever” (Hebrew: ki). Various specific cases are ranked under this, with the help of the word “if” (Hebrew: im), followed by the judgement or sentence. For example, the book of Leviticus begins in this way. In Leviticus 1:2
Cherub
Cherubim are described in the Old Testament as heavenly beings with wings. They have the body of a lion and the head of a person. In Ezekiel, they are creatures with four wings and four different faces.
The most important function that the cherubim fulfil, is carrying the throne of God.
Clean and Unclean
In the Bible, “clean” and “unclean” are in the first instance cultic concepts, indicating whether something is suitable or unsuitable for use in and around the sanctuary, in particular. In later Bible books the terms also acquired a social or moral significance.
Clean and Unclean: Impurity of Objects
According to the Bible it is not just people or animals that can be impure
Clean and Unclean: Impurity of Persons
People could become impure
Clean and Unclean: Moral Significance
The purity laws in the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch
Clean and Unclean: The Origin of the Biblical Purity Laws
There are various theories about the origins of the biblical purification regulations. The purification laws are set out as, among other things:
Covenant in the Old Testament
A covenant (berit in Hebrew) in the Old Testament is a solemn promise that is made binding by an oath. A covenant creates a relationship between two groups. This relationship is put on the right track through the conditions of the covenant: the obligations imposed upon one or both of the parties.
The covenant was, after family, the most important basis for relationships between people. It therefore plays a fundamental role in the history and religion of Israel.
Covenant in the Old Testament: Abrahamic Covenant
In his covenant
Covenant in the Old Testament: Davidic Covenant
In his covenant with David, God promises David that his descendants will be king for ever.
Covenant in the Old Testament: Mosaic Covenant
The “Mosaic Covenant” is the covenant that God made with the people of Israel, represented by Moses
Cult Images
In the ancient Near East, cult images were used in the worship of gods.
Curse
The curse is the opposite of the blessing
Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement (or Yom Kippur) is a day of reflection, fasting and rest. The day centres on atoning for sins. The instructions concerning this festival can be found in Leviticus 16:1-34
Demons
The concept of demons in religions in general, and in the Bible in particular, is very complex. Nowadays “demon” refers to an evil spirit, but the term has undergone a long process of development.
Demons in the Ancient Near East
In the ancient Near East, the belief in demons
Demons in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament there is frequent mention of demonic beings, but their true identity and where they have come from remains unclear. Mostly they are the dangerous, supernatural beings that wander around remote areas.
Dietary Laws in the Old Testament
Because food goes into a person’s body, it is an important cause of impurity according to the Bible. The food laws indicate which food is unclean and therefore must not be eaten by the Israelites.
Dragon
The Old Testament contains different texts about a battle during creation between God and a dragon. There are also dragon-like creatures in the New Testament.
Dream
In ancient Israel people believed that dreams came from God. God used them to make his will known to people.
Fasting in the Old Testament
Fasting in the Old Testament was a religious ritual that could be practised both individually and collectively.
Festival of Shelters
The Festival of Shelters (also known as Sukkot) commemorates the forty years that the people of Israel spent wandering in the wilderness. It is also a pilgrimage festival (Deuteronomy 16:16
Festival of Unleavened Bread
The Festival of Unleavened Bread most likely has its roots in an agricultural ritual, which was later merged with the Passover celebrations
Festival of Weeks
The Festival of Weeks (Harvest Festival), also known as Shavuot, is one of the three big Jewish festivals, besides Passover
Festival Scrolls
From the sixth century AD onwards, Ruth
Festivals in the New Testament
There are no rules about feast days in the New Testament as there are in the Old Testament. There are, however, descriptions of Jewish festivals: Passover
There is also mention of the Festival of the Dedication of the Temple
Forgiveness in the Old Testament
Forgiveness in the Old Testament mainly applies to the relationship between God and man. Man is dependent on his Creator, but is separated from him by sin
Garments of the High Priest
God
The general word for “god” in Hebrew is El. The same word is also the name for a Canaanite god. In the Old Testament, El is another name for YHWH
Gods and Spirits
In the ancient Near East, every country, town and clan had its own gods. A distinction was made between higher gods, lesser gods and spirits.
Golden Bulls
“Golden bulls” in the Bible are golden statues
Grain Offering
Apart from animal sacrifices, there were also other types of offerings: grain offerings and wine offerings. The most common offering
Hanukkah
Hanukkah, which is the Hebrew word for “dedication”, is the annual celebration of the dedication of the Temple. At this festival the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BC is celebrated. It is also known as the “Festival of Lights”.
