The Bible by David Alley

God hates divorce, so says the book of Malachi. But why exactly is that the case, especially given that God divorces his own wife earlier in the Bible.

The last little book of the Old Testament contains some surprises, including a comment that seems to suggest God hated Esau, the brother of Jacob. What is that all about?

In Zechariah 13 it says a spring will be opened in David's house. What is this spring? It would seem that over 2200 years later, the English songwriter William Cowper would pen "There is a fountain filled with blood, that flows from Emmanuel's veins, and sinners plunged beneath the flood, lose all their guilty stains. This chapter is an amazing view into what Jesus would do, from 400 years before...

In Zechariah 11, we find what seems at first an obscure and difficult prophecy about three shepherds, and about fire devouring Lebanon. But soon it becomes apparent it is talking about the temple and the probably the priests.

Who put Jesus on the Cross? Its an age-old question and so often the blame is either the Jews or the Romans. Who then exactly is going to look on the one "they" have pierced and mourn? Is it the jews, or something else?

In this chapter, Zechariah comes out with a prophecy more like the type we would see in Isaiah, and it includes strong Messianic and gospel ideas. The most obvious is the Palm Sunday prophecy in verse 9 quoted by the gospel writers. Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey,...

In this video God is cranky because the people are listening to what they think is the voice of idols, and they attribute the blessing of rain and fertile harvests to Teraphim, that is other gods which are not even gods. The Lord declares he is sendin the cornerstone and the nail which are both symbols of Christ. He is also sending the battleblow - a symbol of judgement against Jerusalem. He is go...

In this chapter God finishes answering the question started in chapter 7. As a part of that answer he fortells of a time when people from everywhere will take a hold of the edge of the robe of Jewish man and want to be with him, for God is with him. That strange picture is in fact a reality in a most unexpected way. It is true right now. But how?

Get your symbols wrong and the meaning shifts wildly. In this vision of a golden menorah with two olive trees, one on each side, it is important to know what the lampstand and the trees represent. While the menorah is a symbol in culture of Israel, in the Bible it is a symbol of the Church.... (see Rev 1) and thus we have a vision of Church times.... but what might it mean?

Zechariah has a vision of a large flying scroll about ten meters long and five meters wide. In this unusual chapter it seems God is calling in the covenant and winding it up, the end of Mosaic Judaism is foreshadowed. What does it all mean?

A delegation of Jewish people from Bethel came to ask Zechariah if they should keep up thier fasting on Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the year. The answer from the Lord was rather surprising... he said, you are not fasting for me, you are.....

The visions of Zechariah are strange and the interpretations can be diverse. In this chapter he sees four sets of horses in varying colours, just like the horses of hte apocalypse in the book of Revelation. What is the chance these are the same horses? The chapter finishes with an unexpected reference to people who are far off (the Gentiles) coming to build God's house (the temple). What does this...

In this chapter Zechariah has a vision of a man called Joshua. On the human level this is a man wearing dirty clothes, and they are rmoved and he is given clean high priestly clothes to wear.

Zechariah is the second post-exilic prophet - that is the second prophet in the Bible after the exile. HIs book is quirky, and full of the most interesting and strange visions which have people debating still today. In this first chapter a man appears on a red horse with an army behind him... we are pretty sure that is Jesus. What is the go with that? And in the first six verses we meet the fastes...

Ezekiel has strange visions, including of a man with a tape measuring the apparent third temple. John sees also a man with a measuring rod in the book of Revelation, and now Zechariah sees probably the same man. What is this all about.

The newly rebuilt second temple looked a bit ordinary compared to the fantastic first temple of Solomon which was covered in gold. Haggai declared that the glory of the "latter" temple would be greater than that of the first temple. Was that latter temple the one standing at the time of Haggai 2? Was it the temple of Herod? Was it he temple in Ezekiel's vision? Was it the spiritual temple in the N...

The last three books of the Old Testament are the post-exilic prophets. Here the people were focussed on getting their lives back on track, but were neglecting the work of the Lord and his temple. We do the exact same thing today, focussing on getting ahead in life, financially, health-wise, marriage-wise and more, and the Lord's work is on the back burner. Haggai teaches us about this scenario an...

The last chapter of Zephaniah talks about the rebellious and obstinate city Jerusalem, but also about how God will redeem, not just Israel, but also the nations far away. From beyond Cush (that is Ethiopia) offerings will be brought. What does this mean in New Testament terms? Could this be talking about us?

Zephaniah is a prophet that seems to declare the judgements of God in the most pointed terms, and while many people think there are two judgements in this chapter, it seems there are actually three. What are they? And how do they affect you?

Zephaniah prophecies with such urgency that it seems as if action is not taken immediately the world will end. Why the urgency if the world in fact will not end for thousands of years or more?

Three times in the New Testament this chapter of Habakkuk is quoted, in Romans, in Galatians, and in Hebrews. What does the New Testament have to say about Righteousness, faith and life?

The last chapter of Habakkuk is a prayer, similar to the psalms. It is a prayer of praise in the midst of a situation where every single thing you can possibly imagine has gone wrong. What do you do in such a situation like that? You follow the example of Habakkuk, as described in this video.

Habakkuk prays for revival in Judah, but it seems like God is not listening to him, so he complains about it. But then, God answers his complaint with the most surprising of answers...

The Assyrians were not known for mercy, and they were responsible for the complete and absolute destruction of No-Amon (Thebes) in Egypt. Now just fifty years later, Nahum compares Thebes to Nineveh.

Just a few books earlier in the Bible Jonah went to Nineveh and the result was mercy. Now Nahum has a word for Nineveh and the result is doom. This chapter outlines how the city was to fall to flood, fire and attacking armies, and Diodorus Siculus outlines how massive flooding undermined the walls of the city, which collapsed allowing in the attacked Medes and Babylonians.