Olive Tree Blog
Category

Old Testament

Category

Old Testament

Wanting to learn more about the Old Testament? Here are some posts on topics, scholarly questions, and more on Old Testament passages. Some are our own thoughts and some are the thoughts of prominent Christian scholars.

Old Testament

Here am I. Send me! Unpacking Isaiah’s Commission

Here I am! Send me

Isaiah 6 marks the beginning of the first-person Isaianic memoir, often marked by the prophet’s most notable words, “Here am I. Send me!” This chapter, full of intense imagery, only becomes more beautiful after understanding the full context and subtext. Isaiah 6:8-10 employs a common literary device called a palistrophe.…

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Joshua Theological Overview
Old Testament

Joshua: A Theological Overview

How familiar are you with the book of Joshua? Whether you studied it briefly or are crafting a commentary of your own, this narrative continually teaches you something new. For some perspective, here is an excerpt from the introduction to Joshua from the ESV Expository Commentary (9 Vols.). We adapted…

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Saul King of Israel
Historical

5 Reasons Israel Wanted Saul as King

In First Samuel, we see Israel transition from a system of Judges to a monarchy. Although the narrative does give us a close-up view of what got the nation to this point, it’s helpful to zoom out and examine the factors at play. Why would Israel prefer a system like…

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Old Testament

The Essence of Covenant Theology

EssenceOfCovenantTheology

When studying the Word, it can be easy to lose sight of what a word, verse, chapter, or book is really about. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses instructs the people of Israel about their actions in the promised land. Within this speech, he touches on something that reveals the heart of…

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God sings over us
Old Testament

A God Who Sings Over Us

When you think of God, what human analogies pop up in your mind? A Father with His children? A Painter with a canvas? A… singer? In Zephaniah, the Bible gives us this image of a God who sings over us. Let’s explore the meaning of this beautiful imagery. The Lord your God…

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testing God
Old Testament

Should We Put God to the Test?

Humans are fickle creatures in a broken world. Sometimes, when we feel a dissonance between what we know and what we see, our first inclination is to test God. Throughout the Word, we see moments where He takes our questions, our anger, and our faithlessness and remains faithful and patient…

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Historical

What is an Asherah Pole?

IVP Bible Background Commentary

Have you ever read the Old Testament and wondered what the references to “Asherah poles” meant? Why were they so popular? To answer these questions, we have the IVP Bible Background Commentary. Let’s see what it has to say about Asherah and her poles. The Short Answer Asherah poles were…

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