Tag: Jacob

Why Did David Take Five Smooth Stones?

~ Alastair Roberts ~ 1 Comment

In your video on numerology, you said that we should pay attention to the presence of very specific numbers in surprising places. One possible example I’d like for you to discuss is the five smooth stones of 1 Samuel 17:40. Why be so specific about FIVE stones, when he only ended up using one? And is there any point to the other peculiarly specific details here?

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Is the Samaritan Woman Like Hagar and Other Such Questions

~ Alastair Roberts ~ Leave a comment

The story of Hagar found in Genesis 16 reminds me of the Samaritan woman in John 4. Both accounts involve a woman who is (in some sense) cast out from the Abrahamic community. She is met by God in visible form at a spring/well, and responds by praising his seeing/knowledge about her life. Has anyone else commented on this parallel before, or is it a bit too “fanciful” to be helpful?

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The Seventh Day of Christmas: Herod, the Wronged Villain

~ Alastair Roberts ~ 1 Comment

Over the Christmas period, I am posting videos exploring biblical echoes and symmetries in the stories of the nativity in the gospels. In this seventh video I discuss the villain of the account, Herod, and the complicated history that lies behind him. I have more to say about these themes in my book, Echoes of Exodus. I also reference Peter Leithart’s recent commentary on Matthew’s gospel.

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