Perched on a high hill northwest of Jerusalem , Nabi Samuel is one of the most striking viewpoints in the region. From its summit, visitors can see sweeping views of Jerusalem, the Judean hills , and even parts of the coastal plain on a clear day. The hill rises to about 885 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest points around Jerusalem. Because of its strategic location and wide visibility, the site has been important throughout many periods of history. The name “Nabi Samuel ” means “ Prophet Samuel ” in Arabic. For centuries, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions have associated this place with the burial site of the biblical prophet Samuel. In the Bible , Samuel was a key leader who guided Israel during the transition from the period of the judges to the monarchy. He famously anointed both Saul and David as kings of Israel. The biblical text states that Samuel lived in the town of Ramah . According to 1 Samuel 25:1 , “Then Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and ...

  Jude VV 14–16 Jude 14–16 is a midrash in which Jude quotes 1 Enoch 1:9 and comments on it to denounce false teachers. Jude prefaces his citation with an introductory formula: “It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying” (v. 14). Jude discusses heretics in vv. 5–10, 11–13; “these” in v. 14 refers to the false teachers. Jude identifies the source of prophecy (Enoch) and also uses the word “prophesied,” which is a word that NT writers usually use as part of the introductory formula when they quote a biblical passage to show its fulfillment in the current time.[1] The question is often raised whether or not Jude attributes authority to Enoch in the same way that NT writers attribute authority to the OT scriptures. Further, Jude attributes the quotation to “Enoch, the seventh from Adam” (v. 14). Enoch occupies seventh place from Adam in the list of genealogies in Gen 5:1–25. A large body of literature was developed around this historical figure durin...

  Context, Structure, Form Matthew 7:21-23 is the climax of the eschatological teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. [1] It talks about people who profess their allegiance to Jesus and engage in charisma but are inadmissible to the Kingdom of God because they did not do the will of God. It is followed by a parable of eschatological judgment in vv.24-27. [2] Finally, Matthew concludes the first major section of the teaching of Jesus with the response of the crowd towards Jesus in vv.28-29. Exegetical notes: Obeying God  Matthew 7:21-23  Matthew 7:21-23 discusses a group of people who professed allegiance to Jesus but were inadmissible to the Kingdom of Heaven. The context of the discussion is eschatological salvation. The future tense clause ε ἰ σελεύσεται ε ἰ ς τ ὴ ν βασιλείαν τ ῶ ν ο ὐ ραν ῶ ν (v.21) and the phrase “in that day” (v.22) probably indicate eschatological salvation and judgment. [3] It might be possible that Matthew continues his discussion of frau...