What is known about the Israelites' "tent of meeting"
The story of Abel and Cain is widely known in the Bible. God prefers Abel's offering, making Cain jealous so he murders his brother.
Cain is subsequently sent by God to the Land of Nod, where he establishes a family and constructs a city. However, this enigmatic land is not mentioned again after that.
Certain scholars theorize that the term "Nod" may be a metaphor, as its origins mean "wandering" or "exile." It was a way for God to send Cain to exile. But again, this is just a theory.
Who exactly was Melchizedek, the priest and king of Salem, to whom even Abraham paid tithes? This important figure's true identity remains a mystery.
In Hebrews 7, Melchizedek is portrayed as a man "without father or mother ... without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the son of God." Is it possible that Melchizedek was an early version of Jesus?
Psalm 110, God tells Jesus, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." However, the reason for Melchizedek's subsequent disappearance from the holy book remains a mystery.
In Numbers 22:21-39, there's a story about Balaam, who was traveling on his donkey. The animal stops in its tracks upon seeing an angel on the road. Balaam hits the donkey twice to make it move, but it doesn't work.
Following the third strike from Balaam, the donkey is miraculously given the ability to speak by God. They have a conversation, and notably, the Bible doesn't mention the donkey losing this ability afterwards.
According to Genesis 6, the Nephilim were born from the union of the "sons of God" and "daughters of humans," to form a new being. Some suggest that the "sons of God" were angels. These beings were often characterized as giants in some Bible versions. But what happened to them?
The story of the great flood and Noah's Ark is well-known. It's believed only those inside the ark would have survived the apocalyptic event. Except, perhaps, the Nephilim.
Numbers 13:32-33 talks about a land where the Israelites explored, and it seems that these creatures lived there. "All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."
Some experts think there might be a reference to them again in Ezekiel 32:27, but it's just an interpretation. This is how far the story goes in the Bible.
In Biblical terms, witches are considered bad, right? Leviticus 19:31 warns: "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." This is a pretty simple rule!
Unless you're Saul, the King of Israel, who God made an exception for. Saul consulted a witch, who summoned judge-prophet Samuel's spirit, who gave an accurate prophecy. However, later in Galatians 5:19-21, witchcraft is condemned again. So, what does it all mean?
Genesis 9:20-27 says that Noah was once passed out drunk and naked in his tent. In response, his son Ham alerted his brothers and proceeded to cover their father's body.
When he wakes up, Noah curses Canaan's lineage to slavery. Who is Canaan? The son of Ham, Noah's grandson. The reason for the cursing remains an enigma.
The sad repercussion of this curse is that it has been quoted by several cultures to justify slavery.
Genesis 32:22-32 gives a detailed account of an intense wrestling match between Jacob and a man (who is later revealed to be God Himself). The fight lasts "till daybreak" and results in a permanent injury to Jacob's hip, leaving him limping.
Another interesting mention in this section of the Bible is: "Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon." How entertaining would it be to have more wrestling stories in the Bible, right?
The Old Testament recounts instances of people being raised from the dead. But in the New Testament, only Jesus Christ possesses this ability. However, Acts 20:7-12 describes another person who accomplishes it.
During a long speech by Paul, one of Jesus' apostles, a young man named Eutychus, falls asleep. He then "fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead."
Luckily, Paul is present and brings him back to life. Just like that.
Zipporah, Moses' wife, is mentioned in the Bible four times. But we still don't really know much about her, except that she was maybe a Cushite (i.e. an African).
Cush was a vast region in Africa encompassing present-day Sudan and Ethiopia, and an interracial marriage would have been a rarity back then. Some scholars suggest that Zipporah was called a Cushite due to her appearance and beauty.
Bartholomew, was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. Though he was part of the Messiah's inner circle, nothing else about him is mentioned in the Bible.
Gog, an individual, and Magog, a land, are only mentioned twice in the Bible. But they seem pretty important. In Ezekiel 38, we encounter "Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of[a] Meshek and Tubal." Gog later attacks Israel.
Chapters 19:11–21:8 of the Book of Revelation mention Gog and Magog, saying, "When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle."
in Job 40:14-24, Behemoth is described by God as a strong, large creature with "limbs like rods of iron" that "feeds on grass like an ox."
Then in Job 41, God brags about another similar creation: Leviathan, a fire-breathing sea monster. Could both these have been dinosaurs?
Source: (Grunge)
The Bible contains captivating narratives, some of which have been scientifically verified as accurate. Although there are well-known characters and storylines that most of us are acquainted with, there are also obscure ones that appear suddenly and vanish just as quickly, as we flip to the next page of the Bible.
Click through the gallery to learn some of these enigmatic plotlines.
Unfinished business: Bible storylines with no ending
Some stories end abruptly, without a satisfying conclusion
LIFESTYLE Religion
The Bible contains captivating narratives, some of which have been scientifically verified as accurate. Although there are well-known characters and storylines that most of us are acquainted with, there are also obscure ones that appear suddenly and vanish just as quickly, as we flip to the next page of the Bible.
Click through the gallery to learn some of these enigmatic plotlines.