Old Testament Background
These articles give invaluable historical information to help you understand the world of the Old Testament better. They are listed approximately in the order of the events of the Old Testament.
Jewish Calendar
The whole Jewish religious system was built around the yearly calendar. Here are the Jewish
months, the events of the agricultural year, and their religious festivals as commanded in the
Law of Moses.
Canaanite Religion
A description of the sordid religious practicies of the Canaanites, which helps to explain why
God commanded Joshua to wipe them out.
Israel's Enemies Who were the Perizzites, Kenites, and all the other -ites? A brief introduction to the different
peoples who lived in the Promised Land.
Holy War?
War in the Ancient Near East was not just between armies, but between the gods of the
nations. When an army was victorious, that proved their god was more powerful than their
enemy. See how this helps us to understand warfare in the Old Testament.
Dates of Kings
A helpful list of dates of the kings of Israel and Judah during the divided monarchy, as well as
dates of kings of other nations, including Assyria and Babylon.
Syria
A description and history of Syria or Aram, Israel's northern neighbour, who they fought at
frequent intervals during the early years of the divided monarchy.
Assyria
A summary of the history of the barbaric Assyrians who captured Samaria and took
Israel (the northern kingdom) into exile. Syria/Ephraim War
A description of the events of the Syro-Ephraimite War during the reign of Ahaz of Judah.
This is helpful background information to the early chapters of the Book of Isaiah.
701 BC
A summary of the events leading up to the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the
armies of Sennacherib during the reign of Hezekiah in 701 BC.
Babylon
A description of the history of the new Babylonian Empire, whose main king,
Nebuchadnezzar, captured Jerusalem and took the Jews into exile.
Persia
This summarises the history of the Persian Empire and gives a brief description of Persian
government organisation, giving helpful background information for the post-exilic period
and the Book of Esther.
Greek Empire
A short account of the amazing career of Alexander the Great, who conquered the known
world in under ten years.
400 Silent Years
A short summary of the events that ocurred during the years between the Old and New
Testaments.
Ptolemy/Seleucus
A description of each of Ptolemies of Egypt and the Seleucid kings of Syria as predicted by
Daniel chapter 11.
Antiochus Epiphanes
Read more about the “contemptible person” predicted by Daniel, who persecuted the Jews
and sacrificed a pig on the altar of the temple in Jerusalem.