The bronze (originally gold-plated) relief above commemorates the restoration of Babylon by Esarhaddon, ca. 681-669 BC. Some scholars believe his mama was Hebrew. Can you see the short, chubby mama (center of pic) standing behind her strapping young son? Yep, that’s Naqi’a-Zakutu (called simply Naqia in Isaiah’s Legacy). Why was she important enough to etch into a relief found in the temple of …
Did Assyria Really Use War Dogs?
Are you an animal lover? I am. Especially dogs. And I love researching their historical significance and including it in my books. I first learned about Assyria and Babylon’s use of war dogs from reading Tessa Afshar’s book, Harvest of Rubies. I knew from that moment on, if I ever wrote a book that took my characters to Assyria, I’d include …
God’s Big Plan
When was the last time you witnessed a child having a full-blown meltdown in public; complete with head-pounding, ear-piercing, chest rattling shrieking, kicking, and crying their demands? I used to judge. I used to think that mother or father a terrible parent. Until I had children—and now grandchildren. Can I just say, Thank the Lord for Facebook and Instagram! These completely unrealistic snapshots of our lives at least balance …
Who Is Hezekiah?
Hezekiah is an Old Testament king that I’m excited to meet in heaven. I have this image of him in my head—tall, dark, and handsome sort. His story can be found in three books of the Bible: 2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 29-32, and Isaiah 36-37. As with most kings, the accounts in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles are similar, …
Real People, Real God—Good News and Bad…
Download the Study Notes Today, we’ll highlight the rest of the OT story by discussing the highs and lows of various characters and periods in Israel’s history. Follow along with the notes: Oh, That King Saul Saul, if you remember from our last episode, was handsome and a head taller than any man in Israel. High point: Saul showed admirable …