Israelite Funerary Practices
Sounds like the world's most boring dissertation of all time. Fear not, Shmoopers. We've got you covered.R-E-F-L-E-C-TWe all have rituals surrounding death and what the living do when they lose a l...
Heavenly Beings and Angels
You're probably not surprised to hear that angels are all over the Bible. They may stand behind the curtain at times, but they're dynamic, powerful characters who help God and sit in his divin...
Sheol
All Roads Lead to SheolThe Israelites had an idea about Heaven, but it was nothing like how we think about it today. Back in the day, Heaven was a purely divine domain, not somewhere you went when...
The Sea Dragon, Rahab, and the Leviathan
Back in the day, sea monsters were huge opponents of the god(s). They had different names and took on different forms (Rahab, the sea dragon, and the Leviathan), but they all played the same role....
Garden and Nature
This isn't exactly Eden, but the garden motif definitely pops its head in. Remember, in ancient Israel, farming was a huge part of life. Even if you lived in an urban area, you still ate food produ...