Volume 11, No.3, Aug. 2000
Joseph
The story of Joseph consumes most of the last 14 chapters of Genesis, from chapter 37 onward. Genesis 37:2 begins "These are the generations of Jacob;" or as in the NIV translation, "This is the account of Jacob." The phrase actually refers to the preceding narrative. It is a closing expression which ends the previous passage and for this reason modern translations show a [...]
The Restoration of Job
'And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before". (Job 42:10) Nearly all admit that the narrative of Job has an allegorical element to it. Though most apply it to the lesson of the permission of evil, Job representing mankind, there is an alternative and complementary possibility. [...]
Balaam / Judas
The fate of Balaam was similar to that of Judas, and their characters bear a marked resemblance to one another. They both tried to unite the service of God and Mammon and met with failure. Balaam acknowledged the true God as a steppingstone to the acquirement of riches and worldly honor, and because of this, he stumbled and fell, and was broken. Judas expected [...]