18
INCLUDING BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA SCHOOLS’ BIBLE Rhona Davies • illustrated by Marcin Piwowarski SCHOOLS’ BIBLE BARNABAS THE
I N C L U D I N G B I B L E E N C Y C L O P E D I A
I l l u s t r a t e d
b y
This new Children’s Bible includes stories
chosen to cover all the main events, retold with a
continuous thread.
There are 365 stories, one for every day of the year,
each accompanied by Bible quotations from a real Bible
translation, giving readers a taste of the language and
style of the original texts.
The stylish illustrations illuminate and inform, while
the easily accessible encyclopedia at the end of the
book helps to explain the context and background
of the stories. All combine to make this a useful and
readable Bible for older children.
I N C L U D I N G B I B L E E N C Y C L O P E D I A
BARNABASTHE SCHOOLS’ BIBLE
Rhona Davies
MaRcin PiwowaRski
I l l u s t r a t e d
b y
R h o n a D a v i e s • i l l u s t r a t e d b y M a r c i n P i w o w a r s k i
SCHOOLS’BIBLEBARNABAS
THE
™xHSLIOBy015644zvisit barnabas at www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk
An imprint of brf978-1-84101-564-4
Barnabas Schools Bible barcode 23/11/06 12:09 P
I N C L U D I N G B I B L E E N C Y C L O P E D I A
I l l u s t r a t e d
b y
This new Children’s Bible includes stories
chosen to cover all the main events, retold with a
continuous thread.
There are 365 stories, one for every day of the year,
each accompanied by Bible quotations from a real Bible
translation, giving readers a taste of the language and
style of the original texts.
The stylish illustrations illuminate and inform, while
the easily accessible encyclopedia at the end of the
book helps to explain the context and background
of the stories. All combine to make this a useful and
readable Bible for older children.
I N C L U D I N G B I B L E E N C Y C L O P E D I A
BARNABASTHE SCHOOLS’ BIBLE
Rhona Davies
MaRcin PiwowaRski
I l l u s t r a t e d
b y
R h o n a D a v i e s • i l l u s t r a t e d b y M a r c i n P i w o w a r s k i
SCHOOLS’BIBLEBARNABAS
THE
™xHSLIOBy015644zvisit barnabas at www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk
An imprint of brf978-1-84101-564-4
Barnabas Schools Bible barcode 23/11/06 12:09 P
71 Balaam’s blessing 70
72 A holy nation 71
73 God chooses Joshua 72
74 Rahab and the spies 72
75 Crossing the River Jordan 74
76 Victory in Jericho 74
77 Stolen silver and gold 75
78 Victory at Ai 76
79 The peace treaty 77
80 The sun stands still 77
81 The battle for Canaan 78
82 The twelve tribes of Israel 79
83 Caleb’s reward 79
84 Joshua says goodbye 80
85 The people forget God’s laws 81
86 Caleb’s nephew to the rescue 82
87 Ehud, the left-handed judge 82
88 Deborah and Barak 83
89 Jael’s tent peg 84
90 The camel riders 85
91 Gideon, the reluctant hero 86
92 Gideon and the sheepskin 86
93 Gideon’s small army 88
94 Battle by night 88
95 Abimelech kills his brothers 89
96 Abimelech’s punishment 90
97 Jephthah’s rash promise 91
98 The birth of Samson 92
99 Samson’s riddle 92
100 Samson’s revenge 93
101 Delilah betrays Samson 94
102 Samson defeats his enemies 95
103 Elimelech’s family settles in Moab 96
104 Ruth works in the fields 97
105 Ruth and Boaz 98
106 Naomi’s grandson 99
107 Hannah’s sorrow 99
108 Hannah keeps her promise 100
109 God speaks in the night 101
110 The death of Eli 102
111 The ark in Dagon’s temple 103
112 Samuel leads God’s people 104
113 The people want a king 104
114 The first king of Israel 105
115 Saul, the warrior king 106
116 Jonathan fights the Philistines 107
117 Jesse’s youngest son 108
118 The king’s unhappy moods 109
119 The shepherd’s song 110
120 The giant’s challenge 110
121 Saul, the jealous king 112
122 Jonathan’s warning 112
123 David, the outlaw 113
124 David spares Saul’s life 114
125 Abigail’s wisdom 115
126 David’s night raid 116
127 Saul’s final defeat 117
128 David, king of Judah 118
129 The warring commanders 118
130 Abner changes sides 119
131 The murder of Ishbosheth 120
132 The capture of Jerusalem 120
133 David dances 121
134 God’s dwelling place 122
135 The God who knows
everything 123
136 David is kind to Jonathan’s son 124
137 David breaks God’s rules 124
138 Uriah dies in battle 125
139 Nathan’s message 126
1 In the beginning 12
2 The perfect world 12
3 Right and wrong 13
4 Adam and Eve are sent away 14
5 Cain and Abel 15
6 Noah’s ark 16
7 The great flood 17
8 The rainbow 17
9 The tower of Babel 18
10 Terah’s journey 19
11 The Promised Land 20
12 Lot’s choice 20
13 God’s promise 21
14 Sarai’s maidservant 22
15 Abram welcomes strangers 23
16 Abraham prays for Sodom 24
17 Rescue by angels 25
18 Sarah has a son 27
19 God tests Abraham 28
20 Water for ten camels 28
21 A wife for Isaac 29
22 Esau and Jacob 30
23 Isaac’s blessing 31
24 Jacob’s dream 32
25 Jacob falls in love 33
26 Jacob runs away 34
27 Jacob wrestles with God 35
28 Friends and brothers 36
29 Rachel dies 37
30 Jacob’s special son 37
31 Sold to be a slave 38
32 Prison dreams 39
33 Pharaoh’s strange dreams 40
34 Famine in Canaan 41
35 Simeon is taken hostage 42
36 Jacob lets Benjamin go 43
37 Joseph’s feast 44
38 The silver cup 44
39 Jacob’s lost son 45
40 Jacob dies in Egypt 46
41 Slaves in Egypt 47
42 Miriam and the princess 48
43 Moses kills a slavedriver 48
44 The angel in the burning bush 49
45 Moses is afraid 50
46 Bricks without straw 51
47 Plagues in Egypt 52
48 The final plague 53
49 Pharaoh lets the people go 53
50 Crossing the Red Sea 54
51 God is great 55
52 Wandering in the desert 55
53 Water from the rock 56
54 The battle with the Amalekites 57
55 God speaks from the mountain 57
56 The ten commandments 58
57 A special place for God 59
58 The golden calf 59
59 Moses breaks the stone tablets 60
60 Moses asks for God’s mercy 61
61 The cleft in the rock 62
62 The cloud of God’s presence 63
63 Miriam and Aaron grumble 63
64 Spies in the land 64
65 Forty years in the desert 65
66 Moses strikes the rock 66
67 The death of Aaron 67
68 The snake on a pole 67
69 Two victories in battle 68
70 Balaam’s donkey 69
Contents
188 Man overboard! 167
189 The God who forgives 167
190 Jonah’s anger 168
191 The God of the poor 169
192 The loving husband 170
193 The promise of peace 170
194 Isaiah’s vision 171
195 The future king 172
196 Israel falls to the Assyrians 172
197 Hezekiah trusts God 173
198 The shadow of the sundial 174
199 Words of hope 175
200 God’s love for his people 176
201 God’s plan to save his people 177
202 King Manasseh’s punishment 177
203 King Josiah’s sorrow 178
204 God’s chosen messenger 179
205 A rebellious people 180
206 The potter’s clay 181
207 Jeremiah buys a field 182
208 The words in the fire 182
209 The Babylonians take captives 184
210 Jeremiah in prison 184
211 At the bottom of the well 186
212 The fall of Jerusalem 186
213 Captives in Babylon 187
214 Nebuchadnezzar’s dream 188
215 The mystery revealed 189
216 The golden statue 190
217 The blazing furnace of fire 190
218 The madness of the king 192
219 The writing on the wall 192
220 A plot against Daniel 194
221 Daniel and the lions 194
222 A vision of God 195
223 Ezekiel’s obedience 196
224 Dry bones 197
225 The exiles return to Jerusalem 198
226 The rebuilding begins 199
227 Esther is made queen 200
228 A plot against King Xerxes 201
229 Esther prays for guidance 202
230 God’s answer to prayer 203
231 Death on the gallows 204
232 The patience of Job 205
233 God answers Job 206
234 Ezra returns to Jerusalem 207
235 Nehemiah’s prayer 208
236 Repairing the city walls 209
237 Nehemiah and the poor 210
140 David’s sorrow 127
141 David is betrayed 128
142 Hushai tricks Absalom 128
143 The death of Absalom 130
144 David keeps his promise 131
145 David’s last days 132
146 Adonijah’s request 132
147 God’s gift to Solomon 133
148 Solomon’s wisdom 134
149 Wisdom about families 135
150 Wisdom about friends 136
151 Wisdom for life 137
152 A temple for God 137
153 Solomon’s prayer 138
154 The visit of the queen of Sheba 139
155 Solomon’s power and wealth 140
156 The broken promise 141
157 The divided kingdom 142
158 King Jeroboam’s disobedience 143
159 A terrible warning 144
160 War and defeat 145
161 The wicked King Ahab 145
162 Elijah brings bad news 146
163 The oil that didn’t run out 147
164 Elijah saves a little boy 147
165 The third year of drought 148
166 The contest on the mountain 149
167 The one true God 150
168 Jezebel’s death threats 151
169 Earthquake, fire and whisper 151
170 God’s new prophet 153
171 Queen Jezebel’s plot 153
172 A wicked king’s death 154
173 A chariot to heaven 155
174 God sends water in the desert 156
175 The widow’s debt 157
176 The gift of a child 158
177 The miracle of the
Shunammite’s son 159
178 The captive servant girl 159
179 Naaman is cured 160
180 Jehu is anointed king 161
181 The dreadful end of
Queen Jezebel 162
182 Jehu’s trick 163
183 A wicked grandmother 163
184 Joash repairs the temple 164
185 The death of Elisha 165
186 Jonah runs away 165
187 The raging storm 166
301 The upstairs room 264
302 Jesus, the servant 265
303 The betrayer 266
304 Sleeping friends 267
305 Jesus is arrested 267
306 The next morning 268
307 A murderer goes free 269
308 The King of the Jews 270
309 The Place of the Skull 270
310 Secret followers 272
311 The empty tomb 272
312 The road to Emmaus 273
313 Behind locked doors 274
314 Thomas doubts his friends 275
315 Fishing on Lake Galilee 275
316 Peter’s task 276
317 Jesus returns to heaven 277
318 The new disciple 278
319 The power of the Holy Spirit 278
320 The man by the Beautiful Gate 279
321 Peter and John in prison 280
322 Gamaliel’s advice 281
323 Stephen is killed 282
324 Saul, the enemy 284
325 An angel sends Philip 284
326 Saul, the changed man 285
327 A new life 286
328 Escape by night 286
329 Aeneas and Tabitha 287
330 An angel in Caesarea 288
331 The rooftop vision 289
332 God’s blessing for all people 290
333 Death and imprisonment 290
334 The mission to Cyprus 291
335 A brutal attack 292
336 The council in Jerusalem 293
337 Free to love 294
338 Paul baptizes Lydia 294
339 The fortune-teller 295
340 The violent earthquake 296
341 The unknown God 297
342 Tentmakers in Corinth 298
343 Paul goes to Ephesus 299
344 Parts of one body 300
345 The meaning of love 301
346 Paul’s sufferings 301
347 God’s love 302
348 A miracle in Troas 303
349 Danger in Jerusalem 303
350 Paul causes a riot 304
351 Plots against Paul’s life 305
352 Paul on trial 306
353 The shipwreck 306
354 Miracles on the island of Malta 308
355 A prisoner in Rome 309
356 God’s armour 309
357 God’s friends 309
358 The runaway slave 310
359 Living like Jesus 310
360 The end of time 311
361 Jesus, the high priest 312
362 Love one another 312
363 John’s vision 313
364 The revelation of God 314
365 A new heaven and a new earth 314
238 Ezra reads God’s Law to
the people 211
239 Singing new songs 211
240 Preparing the way 212
241 The angel in the temple 214
242 Another visit from Gabriel 214
243 Two special babies 215
244 Zechariah speaks again 216
245 Joseph, the carpenter 217
246 The Roman census 218
247 The baby born in Bethlehem 218
248 Shepherds hear the news 218
249 The long-awaited Saviour 220
250 Wise men from the east 220
251 Gold, frankincense and myrrh 221
252 The journey to Egypt 222
253 Lost in Jerusalem 222
254 John the Baptist 223
255 Jesus is baptized 224
256 Jesus is tested 224
257 The four fishermen 226
258 The best wine of all 226
259 The good news 228
260 The man on the mat 228
261 Matthew joins Jesus 230
262 Living God’s way 231
263 Lessons on prayer 231
264 Don’t worry 232
265 A story about two houses 233
266 Jesus and the Roman officer 234
267 The widow’s only son 235
268 The story of the farmer and
the seed 236
269 Secrets of God’s kingdom 237
270 The storm on the lake 238
271 Another visit to Capernaum 239
272 The secret visit 240
273 The woman with five husbands 241
274 The end of John’s work 242
275 Five rolls and two little fish 243
276 Walking on water 244
277 The man who could not hear 245
278 On the mountain 246
279 The story of the good
Samaritan 247
280 Mary and Martha 247
281 The good shepherd 248
282 The loving father 249
283 The man who had everything 250
284 The untouchables 251
285 Life after death 252
286 Seventy times seven 253
287 The prayers God hears 254
288 Jesus blesses the children 254
289 The rich young man 255
290 The generous master 256
291 Blind Bartimaeus 257
292 The little tax collector 258
293 The end of the world 259
294 The final judgment 260
295 The jar of perfume 261
296 Jesus goes to Jerusalem 262
297 A den for thieves and robbers 263
298 The greatest commandment 263
299 The greatest gift 264
300 The plot to kill Jesus 264
14 15
‘It wasn’t my fault,’ said Eve. ‘The snake tricked me and I ate the fruit.’God was very sad. He turned to the snake and told him that he would
crawl on his belly from that time on. He turned to Eve and told her that she would have pain as she gave birth to her children. He told Adam that thorns and thistles would choke the plants he grew.
Then God banished Adam and Eve from the garden he had given them. They had chosen to disobey him. They now knew the difference between what was right and what was wrong. They would know suffering and death; they could not be God’s friends any more.
5 Cain and abel
After a time Eve gave birth to a son. They called him Cain. Then Eve had a second child, a son named Abel.
Both boys grew up to be farmers. They knew how much they depended on God to give them sun and rain for the harvests and to help their animals give birth to healthy lambs and kids. Cain planted seeds and grew crops while Abel kept the sheep and goats.
One day, Cain brought some of his crops as a gift to God, to thank him for the harvest. Abel also brought a gift of the first of his newborn lambs.
God saw not only the gift that was brought but the two brothers. He knew that Abel had brought his gift out of faith, because he loved God and knew that all good things came from him. God also knew that Cain had brought his gift because he thought he had to, not because he cared about God. God was pleased with Abel, but he was disappointed with Cain. And Cain knew it.
Cain was jealous.‘Why are you angry, Cain?’ asked God. ‘Do what is right and you will be
accepted. But beware of your bad temper. You are not in control of it and it may destroy you.’
Cain knew that God was right. But he wouldn’t listen. He could think of nothing except having revenge on his brother.
Cain asked Abel to go out into the field with him; he planned to wait for the right moment—and kill him there.
Later God asked Cain where his brother was.
15
disobeyed God and it was too late to put things right. They felt guilty and ashamed and when they heard God coming in the garden, they found trees to hide among so he would not see them.
4 adam and eve are sent away
God called out to Adam.‘Where are you?’‘I was afraid, so I hid,’ replied Adam.‘Have you then eaten from the tree in the middle of the garden?’ God
asked.‘It wasn’t me,’ said Adam. ‘The woman gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’‘What have you done?’ God asked Eve.
14
Genesis 4:1-16
Afterwards the Lord asked Cain, ‘Where is Abel?’
‘How should I know?’ he
answered. ‘Am I supposed to look
after my brother?’ Genesis 4:9
Genesis 3:8-24
Then God put winged creatures
at the entrance to the garden and a flaming, flashing
sword to guard the way to the life-giving tree.
Genesis 3:24
Genesis 3:1-7
The woman stared at the fruit. It looked beautiful and tasty. She wanted the wisdom that it would give her, and she ate some of the fruit. Her husband was there with her, so she gave some to him, and he ate it too.Genesis 3:6
34 Famine in Canaan
Over the next seven years there were abundant harvests. Joseph made sure that all the extra grain was stored carefully. Then, as year after year passed, the harvests failed in Egypt and in all the lands around them.
Joseph opened the storehouses and sold the grain to the Egyptians. Everyone had what they needed to get through the seven years of famine.
Back in Canaan, Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt. He heard that others were going to buy food there and sent ten of his sons to buy some. Jacob kept only his youngest son, Benjamin, at home with him.
When the brothers arrived, they went to the Egyptian governor and bowed down before him. Many years had passed since they had sold their brother into slavery. They did not expect to see him there; they did not expect to see
41
away from her. This made her so angry that she claimed that he had attacked her. Potiphar was furious and threw Joseph into prison.
Once more Joseph worked hard, even though things were difficult for him. God did not abandon him. He blessed Joseph again so that soon he was put in charge of the other prisoners.
After a while, Joseph was put in charge of Pharaoh’s personal servant and cook. When they each had a strange dream, Joseph told them that God could help them to understand the meanings of the dreams. This meant bad news for the cook—he was executed by Pharaoh soon afterwards. But there was good news for the personal servant, who was released, as Joseph predicted.
But the personal servant did not speak up for Joseph when he was free again. He forgot all about him.
33 Pharaoh’s strange dreams
Two long years went by. Joseph remained in prison.Then Pharaoh had strange and disturbing dreams. No one could explain
them to him, but he believed they must mean something important.The personal servant then remembered Joseph. ‘There is a man in your prison who can help,’ he said, and he told Pharaoh
what had happened when he and the cook had also had strange dreams.Pharaoh sent for him and told Joseph what he had dreamed.‘In the first dream, seven thin cows ate up seven fat, healthy cows,’ said
Pharaoh. ‘In the second dream, seven thin, straggly ears of corn swallowed up seven healthy ears of corn.’
‘Both dreams have the same meaning,’ said Joseph. ‘God is warning you that there will be seven years of good harvest followed by seven years of famine. If you store the grain wisely, you and your people will survive.’
Pharaoh knew immediately who should help him store the grain and look after the good harvests: he put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt. He put a ring on Joseph’s finger and a gold chain around his neck. Pharaoh had him ride in a chariot dressed in fine robes, and wherever Joseph went, people bowed down to him.
Joseph was 30 years old when his dreams began to come true.
40
genesis 41:1-43
Joseph replied: ‘Your Majesty, both of
your dreams mean the same thing, and
in them God has shown what he is
going to do.’ Genesis 41:25
genesis 41:47—42:17
Joseph collected and stored up the extra
grain in the cities of Egypt near the
fields where it was harvested.
Genesis 41:48
genesis 39—46
The Lord was with Joseph and made him successful in all that he did. Genesis 39:23b
leaders seized their chance. They offered Delilah bribes.‘Find out the secret of Samson’s strength,’ they said to her, ‘and we will
reward you.’Delilah was determined to find out the secret.‘Tell me the secret of your strength,’ she whispered to him one night.‘Tie me with seven new bowstrings, and I will be as weak as any man,’
Samson replied.The Philistines brought Delilah the bowstrings, and while they hid in the
room, she used them to tie Samson while he slept.‘The Philistines are here!’ she screamed. Samson leapt up, and the strings
snapped under his strength.‘You lied to me,’ said Delilah, some time later. ‘Show me you trust me. Tell
me your secret.’‘You need new ropes,’ he replied. ‘Then I will be weak.’Delilah tried the same trick again, but Samson snapped the ropes as if they
were thread.‘Weave on to the loom the seven braids of my hair,’ said Samson, the next
time she asked. This time he broke the loom.Delilah continued to nag Samson every day.‘If you love me, you will tell me the secret of your strength,’ she said.Eventually Samson could stand it no longer. ‘My hair has never been cut,’
he told her. ‘If my head is shaved, I will lose my strength.’Delilah made sure that Samson was asleep. Then one of the Philistines
shaved the seven braids on his head. Samson’s strength vanished. His enemies overpowered him, then blinded him and put him in prison. He could not fight back. His strength had gone.
102 SamSon defeatS hiS enemieS
The Philistines were delighted that at last they had captured their enemy. They organized a celebration to thank their god Dagon for their success.
‘Let Samson entertain us!’ cried the people.So Samson was brought out from the prison to amuse them. All the
Philistine rulers were there; the temple was filled with the laughter of people
his. In his anger, he took revenge on the Philistines.He went out and caught 300 foxes and tied their tails together in pairs.
Then he fastened a flaming torch to every pair of tails and let them loose in the cornfields.
The Philistines soon came looking for Samson. They sent men from Judah to capture him.
Samson allowed himself to be tied up by the men, but as soon as the Philistines came towards him, God gave him enormous strength. Samson broke through the ropes as if through butter. Then he used the jaw bone of a donkey to fight and kill 1,000 of his enemies.
Then Samson fell to his knees dying of thirst. He prayed to God to give him water after his victory, and God caused a spring to open up so that he could drink.
Samson led the Israelites against the Philistines for twenty years.
101 delilah betrayS SamSon
Time passed, and though the Philistines hated Samson, they could do nothing because God had given him such enormous strength.
Then Samson fell in love with a woman called Delilah. The Philistine
94
JudgeS 16:1-22
Some time later, Samson fell in love
with a woman named Delilah, who lived in Sorek Valley.
Judges 16:4
JudgeS 15:1-20
Samson was a leader of Israel for twenty years, but the Philistines were still the rulers of Israel. Judges 15:20
151151
The prophets prayed and shouted even louder, but still there was no answer. The prophets of Baal had failed. There was no fire on the altar they had prepared. Now it was Elijah’s turn.
167 The one True God
Elijah did not just make an altar as the other prophets had done. He used twelve stones to represent the twelve tribes of Israel and remind the people that they were God’s people. He dug a deep trench around the altar and then prepared his sacrifice. Finally, Elijah asked for large jars to be filled with water and poured all over the wood and the sacrifice so that it ran down into the trench. Elijah’s sacrifice was soaking wet; no accident could cause it to burn.
Then Elijah stepped out in front of the people and prayed. Elijah prayed that God would hear him so that the people would believe once more that he was their God too, and would worship him.
When Elijah stopped praying, God answered.
God sent down fire. God sent down fire which burned the bull, the stones and the water from the trench. And the people fell on their knees and cried out, ‘The Lord is God! The Lord—he is God!’
Elijah called for the false prophets to be put to death. Then he watched as black clouds began to form and the wind rose—and God sent rain once more upon the land.
168 Jezebel’s deaTh ThreaTs
When Ahab told Queen Jezebel that Elijah had killed all her prophets, she was furious. She threatened to kill Elijah too. He was terrified and ran away into the desert.
Elijah found a broom tree and sat under it in the shade. He was tired and he was frightened. He felt he couldn’t take any more.
‘Let me die,’ he said to God. ‘I have had enough.’ In his exhaustion, Elijah fell asleep.
After a while, an angel came and touched him. ‘Get up; have something to eat,’ said the angel. Elijah looked up, and saw some water and freshly baked bread. He ate the
bread and drank the water. Then he fell asleep again.The angel touched Elijah for a second time. ‘Eat some more and refresh yourself for the journey ahead,’ the angel said.Elijah ate again. Then he set out for Mount Horeb, the mountain of God.
169 earThquake, fire and whisper
When Elijah reached Mount Horeb, he found a cave and sheltered there for the night.
‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ asked God.Elijah had been thinking about all that happened since he had been
serving God as his prophet. He had tried to encourage God’s people to obey him, but still they seemed to disobey and go their own ways.
‘I have done my best to serve you,’ said Elijah, ‘but no one listens; no one
1 kinGs 18:30-45
When the crowd saw what had happened, they all bowed down and shouted, Lord is God! The Lord is God!’ 1 Kings 18:39
1 kinGs 19:1-9
[Jezebel] sent a message to Elijah:
‘You killed my prophets. Now I’m going to kill you! I pray that the gods
will punish me even more severely if I don’t do it by this
time tomorrow.’ 1 Kings 19:2
150
226 227
Mary knew her son was special. She knew he would help in some way.‘Do whatever he asks,’ she whispered to the servants.‘Fill these six jars with water,’ Jesus said. The jars were used for washing;
they were very large, each holding many gallons of water.The servants filled them with water and when they had finished, Jesus
asked them to pour some out and offer it to the man in charge of the feast. The servants were anxious, but when they poured it, they saw that the water had become wine.
The man tasted it and then went to speak to the bridegroom.‘This wine is wonderful,’ he said. ‘Most people serve the cheap wine last
227
‘God has promised to send his angels to protect you,’ continued the devil. ‘Throw yourself off the temple so we can see his power!’
‘God’s law says that we must not put him to the test,’ Jesus replied.The devil had tried to tempt Jesus to break God’s laws and do something
wrong, but Jesus would not give in. The devil left, and Jesus was alone.
257 The four fishermen
Jesus returned to Galilee and began to travel around, telling the people the good news of salvation.
‘Stop doing things that are wrong; live your lives the way God wants you to. Love God and learn to love the people around you as much as you love yourself.’
Jesus watched Simon (also called Peter) and Andrew casting their nets into the waters of Lake Galilee.
‘Come and follow me!’ Jesus said to the two brothers. ‘You can catch people for God instead of fish.’
Simon and Andrew dropped their nets and joined Jesus straight away.Further along the lakeside, they saw James and his brother John mending
their nets. Their father Zebedee was in the boat with them.‘Come and follow me!’ called Jesus.James and John got out of the boat and went with him.These four fishermen became Jesus’ first disciples. Jesus went with them to
their homes in Capernaum. There Jesus taught in the synagogue. Crowds of people came to him for help and he healed those who were ill.
258 The besT wine of all
One day, there was a wedding in the village of Cana. Jesus’ mother, Mary, had been invited. Jesus and some of his disciples went too.
While everyone was celebrating and enjoying themselves, the wine ran out. Mary went to Jesus and told him what had happened.
‘It is not yet the right time for me,’ Jesus replied.
226
mark 1:14-20
Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.’ Mark 1:17
John 2:1-11
This was Jesus’ first miracle, and he did
it in the village of Cana in Galilee.
John 2:11a
Then, on his birthday, Herod held a party. Herodias’ beautiful daughter got up and danced. Herod was entranced and told her she could ask anything of him, and she could have it.
The girl asked her mother what she should ask for, and Herod regretted it immediately. She asked for the head of John the Baptist on a plate.
Herod knew that all his guests had heard his promise. He could not refuse her request. John was executed—and his head brought to Herodias’ daughter.
John’s work was over. Some of his friends buried his body. Then they made sure Jesus knew what had happened.
Jesus was very sad. He wanted to be alone to think, to grieve and to pray. But wherever he went, people followed him.
275 Five rolls and two little Fish
Jesus went by boat into the hills on the far side of Lake Galilee. When he found people waiting for him even there, he could not turn them away. He healed those who were ill until late in the day.
Then Jesus looked at how many had come. There were more than 5,000 men, plus the women and children. Jesus turned to Philip, who came from nearby Bethsaida.
‘Do you know where we could buy bread for all these people?’ Jesus asked.
243
time of day when people would usually be sheltering in the shade, she had brought her jar to fill with water.
‘Please will you give me a drink?’ asked Jesus.The woman looked at him.‘You’re a Jew, aren’t you?’ she said. ‘And I’m a Samaritan. Don’t you know
our people are enemies? How can you ask me for a drink?’‘If you knew who I am, you would be asking me for water!’ said Jesus. ‘I
would not give you water from this well, but God’s living water, so that you would never be thirsty again.’
‘I want that water!’ replied the woman. ‘It would save me having to come here every day.’
‘Go and tell your husband what I have said, and come back,’ said Jesus.‘I have no husband,’ the woman replied.‘That’s true,’ said Jesus. ‘But you have been married five times, and now
you live with someone you are not even married to.’The woman was amazed. How could Jesus know these things about her?
She forgot about her water pot, and ran to the town.‘Quickly!’ she said to as many people as possible. ‘Come and meet a
very special man. He knows all about me! Could he be the Saviour God has promised to send?’
274 the end oF John’s work
God had chosen John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus, to teach people that he was the Saviour God had promised.
But John’s message was a hard one. By speaking the truth, and telling people to stop doing the things that were against God’s laws, he made enemies.
One of the people he had upset was Herodias, the woman married to King Herod. She had been married before to Herod’s brother, Philip, and Philip was still alive. This was forbidden by Jewish law.
Herod had put John in prison, but he was afraid to punish him further because he knew he was a man of God, and he knew it would cause a riot among the people.
Mark 6:14-29
When John’s followers learnt
that he had been killed, they took
his body and put it in a tomb.
Mark 6:29
John 4:1-42
A lot of Samaritans in that town put their faith in Jesus because the woman had said, ‘This man told me everything I have ever done.’ John 4:39
243
258 259259258
Bartimaeus was blind no longer! He could see! He didn’t return to his place on the roadside to beg; now Bartimaeus joined the crowd of people following Jesus.
292 The liTTle Tax collecTor
Further up the road, a crowd was gathering to hear Jesus speak. Zacchaeus, the tax collector, was among them.
Zacchaeus was not a very tall man, and because he cheated people when he collected their taxes, he was also unpopular. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but because Zacchaeus was short and because no one would let him come to the front, he could see nothing over the heads of everyone else.
He saw the overhanging branches of a fig tree up ahead. Then he had an idea. He went on ahead of the crowd, and climbed the tree so that he could see Jesus coming down the road.
When Jesus reached the tree he stopped.‘Zacchaeus!’ said Jesus, looking up at him. ‘Come down from the tree! I
want to come to your house today.’Zacchaeus couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He couldn’t wait to get
down the tree again.‘You are welcome to stay with me, Jesus!’ he said.But the people in the crowd were cross.‘Why stay with that cheat? Why even speak to him?’ they muttered to
each other.Zacchaeus knew what the people were saying. He wanted to put it right.‘Jesus!’ he said in a loud voice. ‘I’m going to give half of all I own to the
poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay them back four times the amount.’
Jesus smiled at Zacchaeus.‘Today is a wonderful day!’ he said. ‘It is for this that I have come—to save
people who had forgotten how to live God’s way.’
293 The end of The world
Jesus talked to his disciples about how to love and serve God and other people. But he also told them about a time in the future when God would send his angels to the whole earth to gather together all the people who loved him.
‘No one knows when that time will come,’ said Jesus, ‘except God himself. People will be working right up to that time; they will be marrying and having children. When it happens, one person will be taken to be with God and another will be left behind. Make sure you are one of those who loves God. Be ready for that day to come.
‘Let me tell you a story about ten bridesmaids,’ said Jesus. ‘Each one had a little oil lamp so she could welcome the bridegroom to the house that night. Five of the bridesmaids were prepared. They had brought some spare oil. But the other five were not prepared.
‘Hours passed and the bridegroom did not come. The bridesmaids grew tired with waiting and fell asleep.
‘Then in the middle of the night, they heard a noise. “The bridegroom is coming! Wake up!” someone shouted.
MaTThew 25:1-12
Later the other girls returned and shouted, ‘Sir, sir!
Open the door for us!’ But the groom
replied, ‘I don’t even know you!’
Matthew 25:11-12luke 19:1-10
‘The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.’ Luke 19:10
300 301301300
‘Ephesians!’ he shouted. ‘Our city is well known as the home of the great goddess Artemis. But these men have done nothing wrong. Demetrius must go through the courts if he has a complaint. You must let these men go before something happens that everyone will regret.’
The crowd dispersed and Paul’s friends were released. But Paul decided it was time to move on.
344 partS of one body
Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth while he was in Ephesus.He had heard that some of the new Christians were jealous of each
other and were arguing among themselves. Paul wanted to show them how important it was for them to care about each other and work together peacefully:
‘Christ is like one body that is made of many different parts. We were all baptized so that we are part of that body and we were all given the Holy Spirit.
‘Each part of the body has its own special place; each part is important. If each part works and does its job well, the whole body works well, but if any part fails to do its job, the whole body suffers.
‘So it’s no good if the foot decides it cannot be a part of the body because it is not a hand; and it’s no good if the ear decides it cannot be a part of the body because it is not an eye. If the whole body were an eye, it could not hear; if the whole body were an ear, it could not smell.
‘In just the same way, one part of the body cannot decide that another part is not important or doesn’t belong in the body. The eye cannot tell the hand that it is not needed; the head cannot tell the feet that they are not needed.
‘Every one of you is part of the body of Christ. God has given each one gifts to use for the good of everyone else. We all need each other. We suffer together and we are happy together. God has given us each other so that his work can be done.’
345 the Meaning of love
Paul tried to explain in the same letter to the Corinthian Christians how God wanted them to behave so that others would know they loved him:
‘I may be able to speak many languages; I may even be able to speak the language of angels; but if I cannot love, then all I do is make a loud and horrible noise!
‘I may be able to prophesy the future and explain things that others find difficult; I may understand what others cannot know, and have enough faith to move mountains—but if I have no love, I am nothing.
‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or conceited or proud. Love is not rude or selfish or bad tempered. Love doesn’t get angry easily and it doesn’t bear grudges. Love is generous and kind and forgiving. Love is only happy with the truth. Love always protects, always hopes and keeps on trying. Love never fails.’
346 paul’S SufferingS
While Paul was in Macedonia he wrote again to the Christians in Corinth:‘Let me tell you about some of the things I have done. Let me boast a little
about what has happened to me since I first heard Jesus call me to follow him.
1 corinthianS
12:12-26
It takes many parts to make a single body. 1 Corinthians 12:20
1 corinthianS 13:1-8
Love never fails! 1 Corinthians 13:8a
317
The people of the Bible lived in a different
time and place from most of the people in
the 21st century. This section is there to
help put their customs, practices and beliefs
—the way they led their lives and what
guided them—into context. It explains
simply how and why they did what we find
recorded in the pages of the Bible.
Read it straight through to receive
an idea of the background to the stories
and events or look up individual entries
as they occur in the stories. The main
entries explain general ideas while specific
examples of these can be found in the
margins with the Bible reference.
316 ENCYCLOPEDIA
FOOD
FARMING
PLANTS AND ANIMALS
FAMILIES
CLOTHING
DAILY LIFE
HOMES AND HOUSES
TOWNS AND CITIES
RELIGION
WORK
TRADE AND TRAVEL
CIVILIZATIONS
WEAPONS AND WARRIORS
Contents
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320
322
324
326
328
330
332
334
338
340
342
345
319
MilkCollected from both sheep and goats, it was goat’s milk that was more commonly drunk and made into yoghurt and cheese.
OlivesSome olives were eaten fresh or pickled but most were made into olive oil.
PassOver MealThe people ate unleavened bread (bread made without yeast), roast lamb, bitter herbs (to remind them of their suffering) and a special sauce each year at the Passover Festival, with wine to drink.
Pulses Pulses, such as beans, lentils and chick peas, provided protein and were used to thicken stews and soups.
sPicesCaravans of merchants came with exotic goods such as herbs and spices that did not grow naturally in Bible lands. Cumin, dill, cinnamon and mint were used as
flavourings for food and wine; cassia, spikenard and aloes were used as cosmetics; frankincense was used in worship; and myrrh was a burial ointment.
vegetablesMallow, sorrel and artichokes were grown so that their green leaves could be cooked and eaten. Others, like onions, leeks and cucumbers, were either eaten raw or cooked.
WaterWhen collected from a well, water was safe for cooking but not for drinking.
WineMade from the grapes which grow so easily in hot climates, this was the most common drink because it did not spoil in hot temperatures as milk did, and was safer than water.
King Hezekiah had a poultice of pressed figs placed on a boil to heal it. isaiah 38:21
Jesus fed more than 5,000 people when a boy gave him his lunch of five bread rolls and two small fish to share.John 6:1-13
John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey.Mark 1:4-6
Samson found bees making honey in the carcass of a lion.Judges 14:8-10
Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew. genesis 25:27-34
Jesus met with his disciples for supper shortly before his death. Matthew 26:17-29
Peter had a vision of ‘unclean’ food, in which God told him that anything God had made clean should no longer be thought of as impure.acts 10:10-16
318
The Israelites came to like leeks, onions, garlic, cucumbers and melons when they lived in Egypt.numbers 11:5
When three strangers came to visit Abraham, he cooked a fine meal for them.genesis 18:1-8
Jesus told a story about a son who returned home; his father organized a feast to celebrate.luke 15:11-24
breadThis was the most important part of the people’s diet. It was mostly made from wheat. The poor ate barley loaves, and bread made from millet was only eaten in times of famine.
breakfast This was a simple meal of bread, with olives, cheese or fruit.
cheeseThis was made from sheep’s milk.
cucuMberThe Israelites ate cucumbers when they were slaves in Egypt. When they were wandering in the desert, they missed the juicy Egyptian produce.
fatted calfIt was the custom to welcome strangers passing through your village and to offer them food and drink and somewhere to stay. The fatted calf was prepared for someone special.
feasts Feasts were often given as a thanksgiving for events such as weddings and new babies.
figsFig trees were often grown at the side of a house. Figs were either eaten fresh or preserved in pressed cakes. Figs were also used as a medicine.
fishFishing was a big industry in Galilee but nowhere else in the region. There were said to be twenty-four different types of fish in Lake Galilee. Any fish that were not eaten fresh or exported were preserved by salting or drying.
fruit and nutsFigs, dates, pomegranates, mulberries, almonds and pistachios would have been commonly eaten.
graPesMost grapes were made into wine but some were dried in the sun to make raisins. Some were boiled
to make ‘grape honey’, a thick substance used as a sweetener.
hOneyMuch honey was made by wild bees which nested in hollow trees and rocky holes. It was a welcome addition to the normal diet as there was no sugar.
lentil steWAfter the day’s work was finished, the ordinary family gathered together to eat a vegetable or lentil stew flavoured with herbs and spices. This was eaten from one pot, using a piece of bread to scoop it out.
MeatUsually kept for feasts or other special occasions, this was not eaten every day. Mutton and goat’s meat were easily available, plus game birds and deer. Meat was usually boiled, except the lamb for the Passover meal.
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faith Over meals and at religious festivals, families shared the stories of their faith. Wisdom—living God’s way—was considered more important than knowledge.
grOWing uP At the age of about thirteen a boy had his bar mitzvah, or coming-of-age ceremony. He became ‘a son of the law’ and would be treated as an adult.
healthKeeping God’s laws was a large part of staying healthy. The Israelites had to rest one day a week; daily cleanliness was very important; there were foods that were not safe to eat in a hot climate, such as pork; water had to be free of contamination; men were circumcised which prevented infection; a man could not marry someone from within his family.
land Each family was supposed to have a piece of land or property. When the father died, the eldest son became head of the family. This meant the family always had somewhere to live and work.
Marriage Although in Old Testament times men were allowed more than one wife, by New Testament times Jews and Christians usually only had one partner. It was unusual not to marry.
Men The father of the family was in charge. Home was the place where laws had to be kept because there was no local or national government.
Weddings The whole community was invited to a feast and it was a great opportunity for singing and dancing, eating and drinking.
WidOWs and OrPhans Each family was supposed to look after members who were ill or whose partners had died. Widows and disabled people had to rely on their family to feed and house them or they had to go out and beg.
WOMen A woman was owned by her husband. Women walked behind, not beside, men. Women were not allowed to teach in synagogues. Their work was hard and home-based, caring for the family.
In one of Jesus’ stories, the younger son asked for his inheritance before his father’s death. luke 15:11-32
Jesus was revolutionary for his time because he allowed women such as Mary and Martha to be his disciples and friends. John 11:5
When he was on the cross Jesus placed his mother into the care of his disciple John and told his mother to regard John as her son.John 19:25-27
324
Mary wrapped baby Jesus in tight ‘swaddling bands’ as was the custom.luke 2:4-7
Jacob had twelve sons but made eleven of them jealous because he made Joseph his favourite.genesis 37:1-4
Jesus was circumcised when he was eight days old, as were all Jewish baby boys.luke 2:21
Jesus healed the only daughter of the synagogue ruler, Jairus.luke 8:40-56
Parents brought their little children to Jesus so that he could place his hands on them and pray for them.Matthew 19:13-14
Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead after four days in the tomb. John 11:1-44
When they were both widows, Ruth married Naomi’s relative Boaz in order to provide for their family. ruth 4:9-10
Jesus raised to life the son of a widow at Nain.luke 7:11-17
babies A new baby’s skin was usually rubbed with salt before the baby was wrapped up in tight ‘swaddling clothes’—like wide bandages. People believed that this would help a child’s legs and arms to grow straight.
betrOthalParents would arrange a marriage with a ‘betrothal’ or engagement first. This was a legal contract where the man’s father paid the bride’s father some money and the bride’s father gave his daughter or her new husband a present or ‘dowry’.
burial It was usual to place dead bodies on a ledge in a cave, which would then be sealed, as the ground was rocky and hard. Burial caves usually belonged to families. Later, when only the bones were left, they were put into a small stone box called an ossuary to clear space in the cave for more bodies.
Burial places were ‘unclean’ to strict Jews. Tombs were painted white so that they could be avoided.
childbirthMidwives appear to have been there to help pregnant women with difficult births but even so, sometimes they died in childbirth.
children It was important to have children to pass on the family trade and to support the parents in old age. Many children died before they reached their fifth birthday and so parents had lots of children. To have children was to be blessed by God; to be without them, a source of shame and unhappiness.
circuMcisiOnBoys were circumcised on the eighth day after birth as a sign that they belonged to the people of God. This involved removing the baby’s foreskin.
cOncubinesIn Old Testament times it was so important to have a family that it was common practice for a man to take a second wife or concubine if the first was unable to give him children. The wife might also give her slave girl to her husband so that any child born would be part of his family.
divOrce A man could divorce his wife, but a woman could not divorce her husband. It was supposed to happen rarely, usually only if the woman had gone off with another man. But by the time of Jesus, the law had been abused so that a man could divorce his wife if she burned his meal.
educatiOn There were no schools in Old Testament times. Boys learned their father’s trade at home, and girls learned from their mother.
FAMILIES
341
in large groups for fear of being attacked and robbed.
shiPs The largest Roman cargo ships were about 70 metres long, and were powered by sails and oars. There were no instruments to help sailors find their way across the sea so most ships sailed close to the shore and put in to port every night. Sailors navigated by the stars—when they could see them. There were many storms on the Mediterranean Sea, particularly between November and March. Paul was shipwrecked off the coast of Malta in the autumn storms on his journey to Rome.
tracks To start with, travellers followed the tracks made when farmers moved their flocks from one grazing place to another. Other routes were made by merchants or invading or ruling armies as they made their way across the country.
trading natiOns The great traders of Old Testament times were Babylon to the east and Tyre on the Mediterranean coast. In New Testament times, the Roman Empire had transformed trading opportunities with its excellent network of roads and sea routes.
Walking Those who did not own a donkey carried their goods to and from market, and made their local journeys on foot.
Jesus told a story about a traveller attacked by robbers.luke 10:25-37
God warned traders against using false weights and measures.Micah 6:9-12
Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Malta while travelling to Rome.acts 27:27—28:1
340
King Solomon had a fleet of merchant ships built on the shores of the Red Sea.1 kings 9:26-28
The Queen of Sheba travelled to Jerusalem with a train of camels carrying gold, jewels and spices.1 kings 10:1-13
Solomon gave a gift of olive oil to King Hiram.1 kings 5:11
King Solomon imported many things from foreign lands.1 kings 10:14-29
bOatsAlthough travel by boat was common on the huge inland Lake Galilee, the Israelites had no natural harbours on the Mediterranean coast and disliked the sea.
caMels Camels could travel long distances and did not need water for several days. A camel ‘train’ could be hundreds of animals long. The goods were carried in large bags carried on the camels’ backs.
dOnkeysDonkeys and mules carried goods, while their owners walked beside them.
exPOrted gOOdsIn the time of the kings, exports from Israel were agricultural: wheat, olive oil, fruit, nuts, honey, spices, wool and woollen cloth. Israel and Judah were never among the great trading nations.
hOrses Horses could cover about 40 kilometres in a day, but were only used by messengers or kings. Chariots pulled by horses were used by kings and leaders of the army.
iMPOrted gOOdsSolomon bought in cedar wood to build the temple, horses and chariots, tin, lead, gold, silver, copper, ivory and precious stones, myrrh, frankincense, monkeys and peacocks! By the time of the Romans this had increased to include cotton and silk, Greek wine, apples and cheese, glassware, baskets and slaves.
lOcal traders Everyday farming produce such as wheat, wine, grapes and figs, plus pottery and cloth, were sold in the local marketplace.
Messengers They walked, ran or rode from place to place carrying messages from rulers to their assistants. In the days of the early
church, Paul used messengers to take his letters to churches in many different places.
Overnight stOPs In New Testament times, there were only a few inns and they were often unpleasant places. Travellers usually camped in their own tents, and carried all the food they needed for the journey. The Romans introduced proper staging posts where horses could be changed and food bought.
OxenCarts were pulled by oxen for local journeys.
rOads First the Persians began a road-building programme, and then the Romans built a network of paved roads across their empire. This made travel easier and quicker. Even so, Paul and his friends covered huge distances on foot across the Roman Empire, to tell people the good news of Jesus. People usually travelled
TRADE AND TRAVEL
343
ago. They were ruled by kings called pharaohs for 3,000 years who were buried in painted stone tombs called pyramids. The Egyptians had a strong belief in the afterlife and preserved the bodies of the kings with spices and buried with them all the things they thought they would need. They worshipped a variety of gods and goddesses, including Re, the sun god, and built them temples where priests served them.
gibeOnitesGibeon was an important city when the Israelites invaded Canaan. After Jericho and Ai were defeated, the Gibeonites tricked Joshua into making a treaty with them.
greeksGreece was rich and powerful in the fifth century bC and was the home of many great thinkers such as Plato and Socrates. The Greeks built many beautiful temples and were a very religious
people. They loved art and beauty, sport and literature. They loved to discuss ideas and their freedom was very important to them. They lost this to the Romans, who destroyed Corinth and later Athens in the century before Jesus was born. By the time of Jesus, the land that the Israelites knew as their home had been ruled over by the Greeks.
hittitesThe Hittites were descended from Canaan, Noah’s grandson. The Hittite Empire came to an end in about 1200 bC but the peoples of a number of city-states were known as Hittites for some time. Abraham lived among the Hittites and bought a field from them as his family burial ground. After King Solomon’s reign, the Hittites are not mentioned again in the Bible.
hivitesThe Hivites were early inhabitants of Syria and Palestine and lived in the hills of Lebanon until at least the time of King David. They worked in Jerusalem on some of King Solomon’s buildings.
JebusitesThe Jebusites were descended from Canaan, Noah’s grandson. They lived in the hills around Jerusalem. Jebus was the name they gave to Jerusalem, the main city in their land. They lost control of the city when the Israelites captured it and burned it.
The Babylonians threw Daniel into the lions’ den because he would not worship anyone but God alone.daniel 6
The Canaanites were defeated when Deborah and Barak went into battle.Judges 4
Moses was born in Egypt and saved from death by an Egyptian princess.exodus 2
God sent ten plagues upon Egypt because Pharaoh would not free the Israelites from slavery.exodus 7:14—11:10
Gibeonites helped Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.nehemiah 3:7
Paul told the Greeks in Athens that their ‘unknown God’ was the God who made heaven and earth.acts 17:16-34
342
Zelek, an Ammonite, was named as one of David’s 30 mighty men. 2 samuel 23:37
Jonah was sent to warn the Assyrians in Nineveh of God’s judgment on their wickedness.Jonah 1
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego survived being thrown into a fiery furnace by the Babylonians.daniel 3
aMalekitesThe Amalekites were descendants of Esau. They were a nomadic tribe who fought against God’s people from the time of Moses until the time of King David. By the reign of King Hezekiah there were very few of them left.
aMMOnitesThe Ammonites were descended from one of Lot’s sons. They lived to the east of the Jabbok river and surrounded their territory with small fortresses. Under King David their capital, Rabbath, was captured by the Israelites but some of the Ammonites became David’s friends.
aMOritesThe Amorites were descended from Canaan, Noah’s grandson, and were enemies of Israel. They were a Canaanite people who lived throughout the hill country on either side of the River Jordan. The defeat of two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, was the first stage in
the occupation of the Promised Land.
assyrians The Assyrian Empire was a huge wealthy empire in a fertile land. Its main cities were Ashur and Nineveh. It had an aggressive army that burned whole cities, including children, and chopped off heads and hands. In 722 bC, the northern kingdom of Samaria fell to the Assyrians, and as many as 27,000 people were taken away as prisoners of war. Nineveh was captured by the Babylonians in 612 bC.
babylOnians The Babylonians came to power by overcoming the Assyrians; they destroyed Jerusalem in 586 bC, and all God’s people were taken into exile in Babylon. They made weapons and statues from copper and bronze, and jewellery from silver, gold and precious stones. The Babylonians were best known for their writing system, which spread
throughout the Near East.
canaanites The Canaanites invented the alphabet between 2000 and 1600 bC. They traded cedar wood, olive oil and wine with Egypt, Crete and Greece in return for writing paper, pottery and metal ores. They worshipped gods made of wood, metal and stone and practised witchcraft. Sometimes they sacrificed children in an attempt to please their gods. The main gods were Baal, the storm god, and Astarte, a fertility god.
edOMitesThe Edomites lived in the south between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. They were copper miners, farmers and traders but were hostile to the Israelites.
egyPtians The Egyptians became a great civilization that grew up in the Nile valley over 5,000 years
CIVILIZATIONS
