Wearers Of The Ephod

The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 11: "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." This is not a call to dictatorship. Nor is it a declaration of the superiority of man. It is simply a doling out of responsibility. It is the husband and the father's responsibility to lead the family spiritually. What does this Biblical headship look like? What does it mean? How can a man fulfill the duties and responsibilities found therein? In this first book in the series, "Priest, Prophet, King" the author takes us on a journey to discover how the Biblical role of Priest relates to the man's roles and spiritual responsibilities as husband and father. There are a plethora of ideologies across denominations within Christendom and other religions as to what a priest should be. Unfortunately, the Biblical idea of a priest has been tarnished by many of these denominal and religious views. By definition, the essence of priesthood is to be a go-between from God to man and from man to God. Priests are mediatory agents between humans and God. In the Mosaic Law, it was only the High Priest who could enter into the presence of God on behalf of the people. Now in the New Testament dispensation, we are a kingdom of priests (Revelation 1:6). Each individual Christian has access to God on his or her own. However, the fact remains that man, as the spiritual head of the household, is still the one who represents the family to God and God to the family. In fact, there were certain garments that priests in the Bible were required to wear. These garments distinguished them from the rest of the people and identified them as the Priests ordained by God. One part of these garments is something called an "ephod." Upon this ephod were stones with the names of all the tribes of Israel engraved upon them. Therefore, when the priest went into the Most Holy Place, he carried the names of the people with Him. Thus we, as the priests of our homes, are ever to carry the names of our family members before the Lord. We must be "Wearers of the Ephod," by accepting responsibility to fulfill this God-ordained duty on behalf of our families. This book will help you learn how to step into your God-ordained position of priest of your home. Are you ready to be a "Wearer of the Ephod"?

This is the first exhaustive study of the Urim and Thummim since 1824, and in this book Van Dam sets out to rectify that lack of attention. He investigates all of the biblical data concerning this enigmatic oracular means of high-priestly revelation and its connection, in the historical books of the Old Testament, with the common phrase "to enquire of Yahweh/God." After surveying the history of interpretation and the treatment of the terms in the various versions and translations, Van Dam examines the implications of similar oracular devices and priestly dress within the larger cultural context of the ancient Near East. He places the Urim and Thummim within the context of divine revelation and human inquiry and the corollary probibition of divination in ancient Israel. He concludes that the breastpiece functioned as a pouch to hold the Urim and Thummim, which therefore clearly were tangible objects. Van Dam traces the use of this oracular instrument through the early monarchy under David--from the time of Joshua through the early monarchy under David--and its apparent disappearance by the time of the "classical" prophets, where a shift to primarily verbal oracles occurs. Concurrent with his study of the history of the oracle, Van Dam interacts with current discussion on the nature and process of God's revelation to humankind.

An introduction reviews previous scholarship, and concludes that the cultic aspects of Judges 17-18 have not been examined in any depth. It then goes on to deal with the historical and redactional issues which previous scholars have found interesting. The issues of provenance and dating are then examined with the conclusion that the text was written down in the immediate aftermath of the Assyrian conquest of Dan in an attempt to preserve its sacred traditions. The text therefore reflects the self-understanding of the priests of Dan in the period immediately prior to its fall. The text of Judges 17-18 is then subjected to a rhetorical critical examination, followed by a more traditional form critical study. The next section is a comparison of similar cultic foundation stories from other cultures. Three major chapters examine the three major cultic issues raised by the text itself: images, priests and divination. Each chapter draws on evidence from the Hebrew Bible and its environment in an attempt to clarify the nature of the cult of Dan. Broadly, each chapter concludes that although there were some features peculiar to the cult reflected by Dan, in general, the Danite cult was not greatly different from that of its neighbours. A final chapter deals with what the text says about the tribe of Levi, with the conclusion that according to Judges 17-18, there was once a secular tribe of Levi. The conclusion draws a brief picture of cultic life in Dan in its final years.

This two-part commentary argues that Chronicles, placed as it is among the 'historical books' in the traditional Old Testament of the Christian church, is much misunderstood. Restored to its proper position as the final book in the canon as arranged in the order of the Hebrew Bible, it is rather to be understood as a work of theology essentially directed towards the future. The Chronicler begins his work with the problem facing the whole human race in Adam-the forfeiture of the ideal of perfect oneness with God's purpose. He explores the possibility of the restoration of that ideal through Israel's place at the centre of the world of the nations. This portrayal reaches its climax in an idealized presentation of the reign of Solomon, in which all the rulers of the earth, including most famously the Queen of Sheba, bring their tribute in acknowledgment of Israel's status (Volume 1). As subsequent history only too clearly shows, however, the Chronicler argues (Volume 2), that Israel itself, through unfaithfulness to Torah, has forfeited its right to possession of its land and is cast adrift among these same nations of the world. But the Chronicler's message is one of hope. By a radical transformation of the chronology of Israel's past into theological terms, the generation whom the Chronicler addresses becomes the fiftieth since Adam. It is the generation to whom the jubilee of return to the land through a perfectly enabled obedience to Torah, and thus the restoration of the primal ideal of the human race, is announced.

In this work, Karel van der Toorn explores the social setting, the intellectual milieu, and the historical context of the beliefs and practices reflected in the Hebrew Bible. While fully recognizing the unique character of early Israelite religion, the author challenges the notion of its incomparability. Beliefs are anchored in culture. Rituals have societal significance. God has a history. By shifting the focus to the context, the essays gathered here yield a deeper understanding of Israelite religion and the origins of the Bible.

“May this unique chronological panorama of God’s interaction with mankind inform, inspire, and draw you higher.” —F. LaGard Smith When you want to go deeper in your chronological study of Scripture, these 365 original readings will enrich and expand your time in the Word. Each devotion goes beyond the narrative contents of The Daily Bible® to more clearly illuminate the practical truths, faith foundations, and biblical promises found in each day’s passage. As you journey through The Daily Bible® Experience, you will better understand how to… follow God’s call in every aspect of your life embrace His certainty in times of trial and hardship feel the momentum and might of God's sublime love and mercy This collection of thoughtful devotions can be used alongside TheDaily Bible® or by itself, and includes space for you to journal your own reflections. The Daily Bible® Experience will help you meditate on the mystery and power of faith, and provide a year of encouragement, strength, and inspiration that will have you seeking God with ever more reverence and wonder.

From the creator of the bestselling and beloved Daily Bible® (more than 1 million copies sold) come 365 devotions that lead readers on a provocative chronological pilgrimage through Scripture--this time in trade edition. Readers can explore the riches and relevance of biblical stories, promises, and wisdom as they discover the commitment of ordinary people from Noah to Nathanael the faith and folly of heroes such as Abraham, Solomon, and Peter the power of prayer from the lips of saints and sinners the depth of trust exemplified by Moses, Deborah, and Mary the challenge of Jesus' teaching to reach for a higher standard F. Lagard Smith's observations and insights about the Bible provide readers with a rich experience. Whether read as a complement to The Daily Bible® or as an independent journey, these remarkable meditations reveal the purpose of a life built on God's Word.