On this page: Quick Answer Why “God Sightings” Matter Genesis 22: Distinct, Yet Divine The Angel of the LORD and Worship Why Many Identify Him as the Pre-Incarnate Christ Conclusion Key Texts to Study Quick Answer In the Old Testament, “the angel of the LORD” is often more than a typical created angel. In several... Continue Reading →
How to Use This Commentary The opening verses of Ruth introduce a story that begins in tragedy but unfolds into one of the Bible’s most beautiful accounts of redemption. The narrative begins with famine, loss, and displacement—but quietly moves toward hope. The key movement of the passage is simple: departure from Bethlehem (1:1–5) and the... Continue Reading →
Authorship and Date of Writing Who wrote the book of Ruth? The book doesn't contain a claim of authorship, although external tradition holds that Samuel the prophet wrote Ruth. The Jewish Talmud says that Ruth as well as Judges and 1 and 2 Samuel were written by this prophet of Israel. The Talmud says, "Samuel... Continue Reading →
Directly before the book of Judges, the text of Joshua ends with a covenant renewal ceremony. In Joshua 24, Joshua gathers all the tribes of Israel together at a place called Shechem and begins recounting all of the amazing things God has done, starting with how he used Abraham to create the nation of Israel,... Continue Reading →