Apocrypha and Canon
JUDITH
Judith contains glaring historical inaccuracies, making it clear that this is a work of fiction and nothing more. For example,
1 -- Judith 1:1 says Nebuchadnezzar was king of Nineveh in Assyria, when in reality history shows he was the king of Babylon in Chaldea (Ezra 2:1, Jeremiah 22:25).
2 -- Along with that , the city of Nineveh didn't even exist by the time Nebuchadnezzar became king  anyway. Nineveh was destroyed by the Babylonian king Nabopolassar in 612 B.C., who burnt the city into rubble. (Nabopolassar was Nebuchadnezzar's father). However, according to Judith, Nebuchadnezzar's general Holofernes set out from Nineveh to begin the military campaign (Judith 2:19).
3 -- Also, the book of Judith records events as though they were happening during Nebuchadnezzar's reign , yet Judith 4:3 states that the occurrences happened soon after they were released from exile. This is a historical impossibility because Nebuchadnezzar caused the exile (Jeremiah  32, 52:12-30) and was then succeeded by the next king halfway through the exile (Jeremiah 52:31 compared with Jeremiah 25:8-11, 29:10).
4 -- The book of Judith locates the Moabites and the Ammonites  along the Mediterranean sea coast,  making them Israelites (Judith 6:1). However, the lands of Moab and Ammon weren't along the Mediterranean coast, they were eastward, across the Jordan River/Salt Sea area, away from the coastline. Although Moab did touch the shores of the Salt Sea, the land of Ammon didn't. So even if the Salt Sea was meant instead, this is still inaccurate.  Beyond that, the Israelites were of a different family branch (Genesis 17:5, 19, 25:26, 32:28) than the Moabites/Ammonites (Genesis 11:10-31 with 19:30-38). Only the Israelites were promised the Land of Canaan, and thus only the Israelites lived there (Genesis 13:12-15), whereas the descendants of Lot (Moab and Ammon) lived to the east, across the Jordan (Genesis 13:10-11)

So, just among these four examples, we find: The book is wrong regarding Nebuchadnezzar's realm of rulership, wrong regarding the timing of the exile, wrong regarding the existence of Nineveh, and wrong regarding the membership of Israel. This is just a smattering of the inaccuracies contained within the Book of Judith. There are scored of historical inaccuracies throughout the book, too many to list them all here. But just by these few examples, we can see that, although the book does provide an interesting story to read, one needs to be mindful that it is nothing more than fiction, and shouldn't be considered as inspired from God.

ARCHAEOLOGY/ HISTORY
THE MOABITE STONE
From "Encyclopedia.com" : MOABITE STONE [Moabite stone] , ancient slab of stone erected in 850 BC by King Mesha of Moab; it contains a long inscription commemorating a victory in his revolt against Israel. It was discovered at Dibon, Jordan (1868), by F. A. Klein, a German clergyman. Although it was later broken when Klein tried to purchase it from the Arabs, most of the fragments were recovered. They are in the Louvre. The language of the Moabites is a Phoenician dialect that represents an early form of Hebrew.
Author not available, MOABITE STONE., The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2006
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/M/Moabites.asp

The Moabite Stone, a.k.a. "Mesha Stele", serves to confirm various people and places mentioned in the Bible. Several different people have translated the inscriptions on the stone over the years. One such translation was done by Dr. A. Neubauer, (From his book:" Records of the Past") who also added in the biblical references supported by the Moabite Stone. His translation is as follows:
(1) I (am) Mesha, son of Chemosh-melech, king of Moab, the Dibonite.  (2) My father reigned over Moab 30 years and I reigned  (3) after my father. I have made this monument (or high place) for Chemosh at Qorchah, a monument of salvation,  (4) for he saved me from all invaders (or kings), and let me see my desire upon all my enemies. Omri  (5) was king of Israel, and he oppressed Moab many days, for Chemosh was angry with his  (6) land. His son (Ahab) followed him and he also said: I will oppress Moab. In my days (Chemosh) said:  (7) I will see (my desire) on him and his house, and Israel surely shall perish for ever. Omri took the land of  (8) Medeba (Nu 21:30), and (Israel) dwelt in it during his days and half the days of his son, altogether 40 years. But Chemosh (gave) it back  (9) in my days. I built Baal-Meon (Josh 13:17) and made therein the ditches (or wells); I built  (10) Kirjathaim (Nu 32:37). The men of Gad dwelt in the land of Ataroth (Nu 32:3) from of old, and the king of Israel built there  (11) (the city of) Ataroth; but I made war against the city and took it. And I slew all the (people of)  (12) the city, for the pleasure of Chemosh and of Moab, and I brought back from them the Arel ('-r-'-l of Dodah (d-w-d-h) and bore  (13) him before Chemosh in Qerioth (Jer 48:24). And I placed therein the men of Sharon and the men  (14) of Mehereth. And Chemosh said unto me: Go, seize Nebo of Israel and  (15) I went in the night and fought against it from the break of dawn till noon; and I took  (16)t, slew all of them, 7,000 men and (boys?), women and (girls?),  (17) and female slaves, for to Ashtar-Chemosh I devoted them. And I took from thence the Arels ('-r-'-l-y)  (18) of Yahweh [Editor's note: Notice, God's name] and bore them before Chemosh. Now the king of Israel had built  (19) Jahaz (Isa 15:4), and he dwelt in it while he waged war against me, but Chemosh drove him out from before me. And  (20) I took from Moab 200 men, all chiefs, and transported them to Jahaz which I took(21) to add to Dibon. I built Qorchah, the Wall of the Forests and the Wall  (22)of the Ophel, and I built its gates and I built its towers. And  (23) I built the House of Moloch, and I made sluices for the water-ditches in the midst  (24) of the city. And there was no cistern within the city of Qorchah, and I said to all the people: Make for  (25) yourselves every man a cistern in his house. And I dug the canals (or conduits) for Qorchah by means of the prisoners  (26)from Israel. I built Aroer (Dt 2:36), and I made the road in Arnon. And  (27) I built Beth-Bamoth (Nu 26:19) for it was destroyed. I built Bezer (Dt 4:43), for in ruins  (28) (it was. And all the chiefs?) of Dibon were 50, for all Dibon is loyal, and I  (29) placed 100 (chiefs?) in the cities which I added to the land; I built  (30) (Beth)-Mede(b)a (Nu 21:30) and Beth-diblathaim (Jer 48:22), and Beth-Baal-Meon (Jer 48:23), and transported the shepherds (?)  (31) .... (with) the flock(s) of the land. Now in Choronaim (Isa 15:5) there dwelt (the children?) .... (32) .... (and) Chemosh said unto me: Go down, make war upon Choronaim. So I went down (and made war  (33) upon the city, and took it, and) Chemosh dwelt in it during my days. And I went up (?) from thence; I made .... (34) ... And I ....

  Doctor Andre LeMaire also translated the Moabite Stone in 1994, giving these biblical references:
"I am Mesha ... the Dibonite" (line 1)
Mesha, a Moabite king i -- 2Kings 3:4, Dibon- Numbers 21:30 ; a city
"Omri had taken posession of the land of Medeba" (line 7)
Omri- 1Kings 16:16 ; king of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) 885-873 BC, Medeba- Numbers 21:30 ; a city
"And I built Baal Meon .... And I built Kiriathaim" (lines 9-10)
Beth Ball Meon- Joshua 13:7 Ezekiel 25:9 ; a city and Baal was a Cannanite fertility god, Kiriathaim- Joshua 13:19 Ezekiel 25:9 ; a city
"the men of Gad had dwelt in the land of Ataroth from of old, and the king of Israel built Ataroth for himself," (line 10)
Gad- Genesis 30:11 ; a person/tribe/territory, Israel- Genesis 32:28 ; a person/nation/territory (mentioned 4 times), Ataroth- Numbers 32:3 ; & 32:4 ; a city
"the town belonged to Chemosh and to Moab ... Kerioth my town" (line 12)
Chemosh- Numbers 21:9 ; a Moabite god (mentioned 11 times), Moab- Genesis 19:37 ; a person/tribe/territory, Kerioth- Joshua 15:25 ; a city
"men of Sharon ... take Nebo against Israel" (line 14)
Sharon- 1 Chronicles 5:16 ; a plain, Nebo- Numbers 32:3 ; a city
"the king of Israel had built Jahaz" (line 18-19)
Jahaz- Numbers 21:23 ; a city
"I built Aroer, and made the highway through the Arnon" (line 26)
Aroer- Numbers 32:24 ; a city, Arnon- Numbers 21:13 ; a river
"I built Bezer, for it was in ruins" (line 27)
Bezer- Deuternomy 4:43 ; a city, location uncertain.
"And the house [of Dav]id dwelt in Horanaim" (line 31)
The translation of the above line is uncertain due to the condition of the tablet and is in dispute.
(ref: B&S Vol.9, No.2, Spring 1996)

To view photos of the Moabite Stone, please click on the following links:
http://www.piney.com/BabMoabite.html
http://www.bible-history.com/images2/images/artifacts/moabite_stone.jpg
As we can see from this information, the Moabite Stone was an important archaeological find tied to biblical history. It supports the reality of biblical events and serves to strengthen our belief in the truth of God's Holy Word.

BIBLE TOPIC
BEHEMOTH
Mentioned at Job 40:15-24, which states (New King James Version) Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you. He eats grass like an ox. See now his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles. He moves his tail like a cedar, the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. His bones are like beams of bronze, his ribs are like bars of iron. He is the first of the ways of God, Only He who made him can bring near His sword. Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there. He lies under the lotus trees, in a covert of reeds and marsh. The lotus trees cover him with their shade, the willows by the brook surround him. Indeed the river may rage, yet he is not disturbed. He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth. Though he takes it in his eyes, or one pierces his nose with a snare.
According to Easton's Bible Dictionary: Some have supposed this to be an Egyptian word meaning a "water-ox." The Revised Version has here in the margin "hippopotamus," which is probably the correct rendering of the word. The word occurs frequently in Scripture, but, except here, always as a common name, and translated "beast" or "cattle."

Could the "Behemoth" been a hippopotamus, as the Revised Version supposes? The biblical description of the Behemoth includes "He moves his tail like a cedar". A cedar is a large species of evergreen tree. By contrast, a hippopotamus tail is small and insignificant. The bible also states "the mountains yield food for him, and all the beasts of the field play there....". Hippos do not inhabit mountains and fields, they inhabit rivers and lakes. (In fact, the name "hippopotamus" means "river horse") Therefore, it is unlikely Behemoth was a hippopotamus. Could it have been the now-extinct aurochs? The aurochs was a wild ox that roamed from India to Europe, and became extinct in 1627 A.D. Their diet consisted of green vegetation and were known to inhabit forests and grasslands, much like in the bible description. The aurochs was larger than modern cattle, being compared to elephants in some cases. However, the aurochs  tail, although bigger than a hippo's, was still a bit small to be  likened to a cedar tree. Could Behemoth have been a kind of dinosaur? This is possible: The bible states that the behemoth "...eats grass like an ox....moves his tail like a cedar...he is the first of the ways of God...." The description also implies that it was exceptionally large, even raging rivers aren't strong enough to disturb this creature. There were some species of  dinosaur that can fit this description: Sauropod species, such as Brachiosaurus and Diplodicus are two. These are four-footed, plant eating dinosaurs with large, heavy bodies, long thick tails, and long thin necks.The bible also states that "only He who made him can bring near His sword"....possibly referring to the natural body armor that dinosaurs are believed to have possessed, or possible referring to the fact that it was so large  that it was too difficult for men to kill it with spears and swords.

Is this to say that Dinosaurs existed during Job's lifetime? Although no one knows for sure which animal the biblical behemoth refers to, we know the description doesn't quite fit animals existing today. Many will argue that it's impossible for the behemoth to have been a dinosaur since they've been extinct for millions of years, and Job existed merely a few thousand years ago. However, there is evidence that man and dinosaur co-existed:
The Taylor Track:  http://www.bible.ca/tracks/taylor-all-14.jpg
The McFall Track: http://www.bible.ca/tracks/utp-upper-taylor-platform-mcfall-trail.htm
The Ryals Track:   http://www.bible.ca/tracks/ryals-track.htm
Many have learned that the modern radiocarbon dating is quite vulnerable to errors, and thus the co-existence of man and dinosaur is plausible. However, they believe dinosaurs were wiped out by the flood in Noah's time, making it impossible for dinosaurs to exist during Job's time.  However, is it possible that Noah brought juvenile dinosaurs on board the ark? Some sauropod dinosaurs laid eggs that were roughly 8 inches across.  Newborn hatchlings could easily fit on the ark. The flood lasted only a year, and the hatchlings wouldn't have outgrown the ark during that amount of time. Of course, this is purely speculation on our part, and is not to be considered as scientific fact.

Since the bible gives few clues as to what this beast was, it's impossible to pin it down to any particular species. However, regardless of what any person conceives the behemoth of the Bible to be, it is sure to be a thought provoking topic for conversation.

BIBLE Version Critique
THE COMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE
Translated by David Stern
It is accessible through the "Online Study Bible" link at www.crosswalk.com , and using the search feature to look up bible passages. Use the drop down menu for choosing bible versions to find The Complete Jewish Bible.

Virtues: Names are rendered in the Jewish pronunciation (Matthew 1:1-16), adding to the authenticity of the original names. It also uses the word "stake" instead of "cross" when speaking of Christ's death. (for the CommonTruth view on this, please visit www.commontruth.com/CrossOrStake.html )This bible is an easy read.
Flaws: Instead of God's Holy Name being written, it naturally follows the Jewish tradition of substituting the word "Adonai" for the Holy Name (Psalms 83:18).

Interestingly, this bible automatically differentiates between Yahweh and Jesus: Where many bibles use the word "Lord" for either of them, this bible uses only "Adonai" for Yahweh, and "Yeshua" for Jesus, keeping a clear distinction between the two.

Encouraging Word
MATTHEW 14:19-20
Then he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. (New King James Version)

This scripture supports Matthew 6:25-32, which states that our heavenly Father knows our needs and will provide for us. In this instance, Christ was providing for a throng of people who'd been following him, learning from him. In spite of the meager amount of food they started with, Christ showed that through the power of God a believer's needs can be met, even in seemingly impossible circumstances. This is good information to remember, especially in times when our physical resources may be running low.

GUEST COLUMNIST
WHAT IS LOVE?
by: Eyes & Ears
A little four letter word but so very POWERFUL!
Many express their views of love through music, books and poetry. They tell us through their words what love means to them:   
“Love makes the world go round”
“Love  makes you feel that you can touch the moonlight”
“What’s Love got to do with it?”
“The Greatest Gift of all is Love”
 
Of course, those expressions are of a romantic nature, and  romantic  love may at times, actually make one feel so moved when it is first experienced that some have said that it was a particular person who energized them to do things they could not necessarily do on their own initiative.

Your first embrace, the tingly feeling you felt the first time you held hands with that someone special. The first time you heard someone say to you “I Love You”. Forget cloud nine, you were floating on you own personal air wave system weren’t you, or have you forgotten?

What is love? Does it really make the world go round, and as has been sung, what’s love got to do with it?  Is the Greatest Gift of all really Love?

Webster’s dictionary has several meanings describing love, for example:
A deep and tender feeling of affection for or attachment or devotion to a person or persons
An expression of one’s love or affection (give John my love)
A feeling of brotherhood and good will toward other people
Fondness or deep devotion 
Warm tender feelings
As we step back and view our world in these times, does it seem to be motivated by love?
(1John 5:19)
The news media bombards us daily of children, and adults that have done something ghastly to their family or other loved ones.  (Matthew 24:12, 2 Timothy 3:3)
We are shockingly informed  how those in positions of leadership running the giant  money making corporations have been overtaken by greed to the detriment of their employees. Many have worked all their lives to be told that they were robbed of their future pensions. 
(2 Timothy 3:2)
We also find that the type of love that at first makes you feel you can touch the moon is only temporary and after about 3-6 months reality sets in and in some cases this so-called energetic and romantic love has become extremely abusive and/or violent, often ending in the death of someone that was loved. The shelters are full of those who have had to actually flee from their environment for their safety and the safety of their children.
However, in all fairness, there are times when disaster strikes and communities will come together. That’s very good. But isn’t it unfortunate that this type of love is only displayed during a serious life threatening disaster, or the once a year holidays when special emphasis is put forth to help certain unfortunate ones?
So, what’s love got to do with it? The dictionary has a definition, but is that all there is to it - a warm and fuzzy feeling, a tingly sensation or a temporary high, so to speak?
Love has everything to do with it, because there is an unselfish love that is beyond a temporary feeling of ecstasy or temporary wonderment. It is permanent, and it is beneficial to all of mankind. In my opinion THIS TYPE OF LOVE IS THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL. So what is this great gift of love?
Well in order to get that answer, we have to go to a higher source than the dictionary, music or books written by authors who are on the best selling list today and then hardly ever heard from once the frenzy over their best seller has settled down. There is a source an  author, whose book has been around for centuries, and the information it contains is still beneficial and life saving for us today.
Let’s go to that source now:
The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures says at 1 John 4:8 that GOD IS LOVE!
God is Love! Why can we believe that God is Love? Well ,for one, He left us His written Word and in it He tells us that He cannot lie.  (Hebrews 6:18) So it is up to us to check into his Word and find out if what he says is consistent and true, and if it elevates our lives(2 Timothy 3:16, 17, Hebrews 4:12).
We also can believe that God is love because of the way we are made, the fact that we have eyes to see our heavenly Father’s creation, we were equipped with a magnificent little organ, the brain, that is the so powerful it controls all our functions. The brain allows us to benefit from God’s gifts of love (Genesis 1:1 & 27, Romans 1:20). We can smell, feel, respond and appreciate our beautiful loving surroundings. We are made in such a way that if we choose we can develop our inner need to be ever so thankful for what God has done for us and return our love for Him by worshiping and living a life that brings glory and honor to His name.
Aren’t we thankful, how wonderfully made we are (Psalms 139:14). Mankind can make robots, and now they are focusing on cloning animals and humans. But our heavenly Father does not make robots or clones. He lovingly created us to be unique and gives us free will, we are not programmed. We can decide to love Jehovah our God with our whole being or we can choose to not. He does not force us to do anything we do not choose to do.
That is real love, unselfish love. 
But the question still remains: What is this Greatest Gift of Love that Jehovah God has given to mankind and what does it mean for us?
Let’s check God’s source again. This time let’s look up a scripture together. Let’s first turn to a familiar scripture, John 3:16-18  in the NIV Life Application Study Bible, it reads as follows:
(16) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(17) For God did not send his Son in the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Also Romans 6:23 (NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our heavenly Father did not have to send His Son to die for us. Christ Jesus did not have to agree to die for us. But he lovingly CHOSE to do this for his Father and also because he loved us.
Jesus Christ was not motivated to do His Father’s will because he would assume a higher position and get promoted. He did not put his life on the line for us because he was getting a raise or more control, he died because he loved his Father and he loved mankind. Jehovah and Jesus Christ are motivated by pure, unadulterated and unselfish love for others.
Because of their love for each other, and especially for humankind, we reap the benefits of the greatest gift of love there is: The gift of Jesus Christ, which, upon acceptance of him and following his model example of living, we have the opportunity of everlasting life on a cleansed and righteous earth.  John 17:3, Psalms 37:11, Isaiah 65 and Revelation 21:1-5.
This is a guaranteed permanent love that goes beyond any temporary fantasy of what society calls warm and fuzzy love.
Now that to me is the greatest gift of all and that to me is love. 

NEWS BYTES
(Canadian Press) PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CP) - A Canadian missionary who was kidnapped for a week and released after a ransom was paid left Haiti on Monday, saying he was unsure if he would return but insisting he will keep his orphanage running.  Read more.....
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=f3d4129a-f3e0-4098-96e5-ba655c81a900&k=59504

(WorldNet Daily) German homeschooling parents who face fines or jail sentences are prepared to take their cause to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The German Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe recently turned down an appeal by Christian parents. According to the justices, the parents are required to send their children to state registered schools. Read more...
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50812

(WorldNet Daily) More than 600 scientists holding doctoral degrees have gone on the record expressing skepticism about Darwin's theory of evolution and calling for critical examination of the evidence cited in its support. Read more....
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50747

PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE
LEPERS
According to the World Health Organization ("W.H.O.")  ( http://www.who.int/lep/ ) Leprosy (a.k.a. "Hansen's Disease") is a highly contagious bacterial infection. It affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucous membranes and eyes, causing permanent disfigurement in its victims. Although this disease is treatable with modern medications, "full control of leprosy has eluded mainly in some parts of Angola, Brazil, Central African republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, and the United Republic of Tanzania. These countries have intensified their leprosy control activities." (W.H.O.). People infected with leprosy are called "Lepers".

In bible times leprosy wasn't treatable, causing it's victims to be outcast from their communities. As a result, lepers would live together in their own groups, creating what is still  known as "Leper Colonies". According to the bible, an obvious sign of leprosy was the affected skin turning pure white (Exodus 4:6, Numbers 12:10, 2 Kings 5:27). Because of it's contagiousness and the stigma associated with it, the threat of leprosy was taken very seriously amongst the people of the times (Numbers 12:9-15, 2 Chronicles 26:19-20) The Law that Yahweh gave to the Israelites had numerous instructions regarding the condition: Leviticus chapters 13-14. Notice that these laws seem to be dealing with several different conditions, all of which were labelled "Leprosy" at that time. In spite of the confusion this may cause for some, the primary "Leprosy" mentioned in the bible was Hansen's Disease. During Christ's human lifetime he frequently dealt mercifully with lepers; healing them, thus restoring their place in society (Matthew 8:3, 11:5, 26:6, Luke 17:11-14).

Leper colonies are common today in some areas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Although treatment is known, poverty prevents many from receiving treatment, resulting in lost limbs and eventual death. To see pictures of the results of leprosy, click the following links (warning: these are not pretty pictures, do not click if you are squeamish): http://www.leprosy.org/LEPdisease.html
Fortunately, there are some charitable organizations today that help modern day lepers. Some provide treatment, others provide meals, and still others support leprous families in other ways. Some such organizations are as follows:
American Leprosy Missions http://www.leprosy.org/index.html
The Leprosy Mission http://www.leprosymission.org.uk/html/world.html
Lepra www.lepra.org.uk/about_lepra.asp

In spite of the heartbreak that leprosy causes, we are encouraged to know that soon God will do away with all such disease and suffering. The bible tells us "And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away". (Revelation 21:4 NKJV).

VOCABULARY ENRICHMENT
Agate (Pronounced with a soft "g" sound)
(Heb. shebo), a precious stone in the breast-plate of the high priest (Ex. 28:19; 39:12), the second in the third row. This may be the agate properly so called, a semi-transparent crystallized quartz, probably brought from Sheba, whence its name. In Isa. 54:12 and Ezek. 27:16, this word is the rendering of the Hebrew cadcod, which means "ruddy," and denotes a variety of minutely crystalline silica more or less in bands of different tints.

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
BIBLE BASICS
http://netministries.org/BBasics/BBasics.html

The purpose of 'Bible Basics'© , is to provide fundamental information about the Bible, where it came from, where to find various books or topics, and the history of the books it contains.  This site will also help you with the pronunciation of bible names and vocabulary, provides the overview and authorship of the bible's books, and lists significant sections of each book. It provides a brief history of the nation of Israel, 'Bible Basics' does not provide theological interpretation of the writings.