Biblical Allusions Study Guide

Eden: Adam, Eve, Serpent, Fall

God's Warning: God forbade Adam and Eve from eating the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, warning them that touching or eating it would lead to death.
Temptation by the Serpent: The serpent contradicted God, telling Eve that eating the fruit would not lead to death but would open their eyes and make them like God, knowing good and evil.
Nakedness and Fig Leaves: After eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve became aware of their nakedness and covered themselves with fig leaves out of shame.
Consequences: God punished the serpent, Adam, and Eve for their disobedience. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden and subjected to mortality, painful childbirth, sin, and shame.

Cain and Abel

Contrast in Jobs and Sacrifices: Cain was a farmer, and Abel was a shepherd. Cain's sacrifice of random crops was not regarded as significant, whereas Abel's sacrifice of the best sheep was deemed more respectful and selfless.
Cain’s Jealousy and God’s Warning: God did not regard Cain's offer due to his selfish attitude, which made Cain jealous of Abel. God warned Cain to rid himself of selfishness and gave him a second chance.
Cain’s Action and Response: Cain disregarded God's warning, lured Abel into a field, and murdered him. When questioned by God, Cain lied about Abel's whereabouts.
Consequences: God cursed Cain, rendering his land infertile, which destroyed his livelihood as a farmer.

Abraham and Sarah

Abram’s Covenant with God: God promised Abram great land, a great nation, a great name, and a great blessing that would extend to everyone on earth. God also promised him a son as his heir.
Name Changes: Abram and Sarai's names were changed to Abraham and Sarah, signifying a new identity and relationship with God. The etymology of their new names connected with royalty and parenthood.
Sarah’s Childlessness and Hagar’s Child: In their culture, a woman's worth was tied to her ability to produce children. Sarai and Abram forced their servant Hagar to have Abram's child, leading to conflict and Hagar's eventual escape due to harsh treatment.
Sarah’s Laughter and Birth of Isaac: Sarah laughed when God told Abraham she would have a baby, believing she was too old. God named the baby Isaac, meaning “laughter.”
Circumcision/Covenant of Blood: Circumcision was required of Abraham’s descendants as a sign of the covenant with God.
Expulsion of Ishmael and Hagar: Sarah banished Ishmael and Hagar to prevent Ishmael from sharing inheritance with Isaac.
Sacrifice of Isaac: God ordered Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. Abraham complied until God sent an angel to provide a ram for sacrifice instead.

Moses

Pharaoh's Decision to Kill Hebrew Babies: The Pharaoh feared the growing Israelite population and ordered the death of newborn baby boys to prevent them from taking over Egypt.
Saving Moses: Moses’ mother saved him by placing him in a water-resistant basket on the river.
Adoption by Pharaoh’s Daughter: The Pharaoh’s daughter found and adopted Moses while bathing in the river.
Moses Flees Egypt: Moses fled Egypt to avoid punishment after killing an Egyptian slave driver who was harassing a Hebrew slave.
The Burning Bush: The bush was on fire but not being consumed, indicating holy ground. God told Moses to remove his shoes as a sign of respect.
God’s Task for Moses: God tasked Moses with leading the Israelites out of Egypt to free them from persecution.
Moses' Reluctance: Moses was reluctant because he felt inadequate for the task.
Ramses's Reaction: Ramses ignored Moses’ demands and tried to prevent him from carrying out God’s plan. The pharaoh's oppressive rule made it difficult to meet the demands made by God.
The Plagues: God inflicted ten plagues on Egypt to force the release of the Israelites:
1. Water turned into blood
2. Frogs
3. Lice
4. Flies
5. Livestock pestilence
6. Boils
7. Hail
8. Locusts
9. Darkness
10. Killing of firstborn children
Effect of Final Plague: The death of his own firstborn son prompted Ramses to release the Israelites, but he later changed his mind and sent his army after them.
Parting the Red Sea: God led Moses to part the Red Sea to avoid challenges and demonstrate God’s power. Sealing off the path back to Egypt ensured the Israelites would not return to slavery.
Wandering in the Desert: The Hebrews wandered in the desert for forty years due to their lack of faith and belief.
The Golden Calf: While Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments on the mountain, Aaron allowed the Israelites to create and worship a golden calf, leading Moses to reiterate that God doesn’t have idols.
The Ten Commandments: God carved the Ten Commandments into stone tablets for Moses to give to the people.
Moses Never Sees the Promised Land: Because Moses struck the rock in anger instead of speaking to it as instructed, he showed disobedience and lack of faith. As a result, God prevented him from leading the people to the Promised Land.

Samson and Delilah

Samson’s Gift: God gave Samson extraordinary physical strength.
First Relationship Breakup: Samson's first relationship broke up because the woman was a Philistine, forbidden to him as a Nazerite, and due to the enmity between Israelites and Philistines.
Delilah’s Role: Delilah was a Philistine temptress bribed by the Philistine lords to discover the source of Samson’s strength.
Delilah’s Questions and Samson’s Tricks: Delilah repeatedly asked Samson about his strength, and each time, Samson gave her false information.
Samson’s Betrayal: Eventually, Samson revealed that his strength came from his uncut hair. Delilah shaved his hair while he slept, and he was captured, blinded, and shamed by his enemies.
Samson’s Final Defeat of the Philistines: As his hair grew back, Samson regained his strength and destroyed his enemies in his death, killing a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey.

King David

Saul Becomes King: Saul was chosen as the first king of Israel by the prophet Samuel, under God's direction.
God Rejects Saul: God decided against Saul's continued rule because Saul disobeyed the Lord and failed to follow His commands carefully.
David Identified: David was chosen by God and revealed to Samuel. He was tending sheep before being anointed.
Jonathan and David: Jonathan, Saul’s son, formed a close friendship with David based on mutual love and care.
Michal and David: Michal, Saul’s daughter, fell in love with David and married him.
Saul's Attempts to Kill David: Saul made multiple attempts to kill David.
While David was playing the lyre, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall.
David Becomes King: After Saul and Jonathan died in battle, David was anointed king, conquered Jerusalem, made it the capital, and brought the Ark of the Covenant to the city.
David and Bathsheba: David saw Bathsheba bathing, brought her to him, and she became pregnant.
Uriah: Uriah was Bathsheba’s husband and one of David’s loyal soldiers.
David’s Plan for Uriah: David brought Uriah home from battle, hoping he would sleep with Bathsheba to conceal David’s adultery.
Uriah’s Integrity: Uriah refused to go home to his wife.
David Murders Uriah: David arranged for Uriah to be killed in battle.
Consequences to David and Bathsheba: David married Bathsheba, but their first child died as punishment. They later had Solomon after David repented.
Nathan’s Parable: The prophet Nathan used a parable about a rich man stealing a lamb from a poor man to criticize David’s actions.
Amnon, Absalom, and Tamar: Amnon, David’s son, fell in love with Tamar, Absalom’s sister.
Amnon and Tamar: Amnon raped Tamar and then mistreated her.
Absalom’s Revenge: Absalom killed Amnon two years after the rape of Tamar.
David and Absalom’s War: Absalom rebelled against David, forcing David to flee Jerusalem.
Absalom’s Death: Absalom was killed while fleeing on a mule, becoming entangled in a tree.
Solomon’s Fame: Solomon was known for building the first Temple in Jerusalem and for his wisdom.
Solomon’s Judgment: Solomon resolved a dispute between two women claiming the same baby by suggesting the baby be cut in half, revealing the true mother.

Jezebel and Ahab

Jezebel and Ahab’s Rule: Jezebel, daughter of the king of Tyre, married King Ahab of Israel, and they ruled together.
Jezebel’s Problematic Nature: Jezebel was a power-hungry and violent woman.
Jezebel’s Fate: Jezebel was eaten by dogs, as prophesied by Elijah.
Elijah’s Importance: Elijah was a Hebrew prophet who urged Israel to return to the Lord and never truly died; he was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.

Job

Jonah's Task: God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and prophesy disaster due to the city's wickedness.
Jonah’s Reluctance: Jonah did not want to prophesy because he feared Nineveh might repent and be spared.
Consequences to Jonah: A severe storm struck the ship Jonah was sailing on. Jonah confessed that his presence was causing the storm and was thrown overboard, which calmed the storm.
God Holds Job as an Example: Job suffered despite his righteousness to test the battle between good and evil and between God and Satan.
Satan’s Accusation: Satan claimed Job was only devoted because God had given him everything.
God Allows Satan to Test Job: God allowed Satan to ruin Job’s life to test his faith.
Job’s Trials and Response: Satan killed Job’s children, servants, and livestock. Job tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, and worshiped God.
Job’s Reward: God restored all that Job had lost and gave him twice as much as before, along with a long life and more children.

Early Events of Jesus' Life

Elizabeth and Zechariah: Elizabeth and Zechariah were old and unable to have children. An angel told Zechariah they would have a child, but Zechariah’s disbelief made him mute until he named the child John.
Mary and Joseph: Mary was a young Jewish girl engaged to Joseph, a carpenter.
The Angel and Mary: An angel told Mary she would conceive a baby by the Holy Spirit, who would be the Son of God and be named Jesus. Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant.”
Joseph’s Initial Reaction: Joseph initially planned to break off the engagement privately but married Mary after an angel told him about the Holy Spirit’s role.
Elizabeth and Mary’s Visit: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, the baby in her womb leaped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Journey to Bethlehem: Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem because Joseph was a descendant of King David, and his family was from Bethlehem.
Jesus’s Birthplace: Jesus was born in Bethlehem because of an Old Testament prophecy.
Visitors to Jesus: The Biblical Magi, or wise men, found Mary and baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
Early Life of Jesus: Jesus spent his earliest years in Egypt to escape Herod’s massacre of boys under two, and later returned to Nazareth.
Jesus in the Temple: At twelve, Jesus was found in the Temple discussing with the elders, astonishing everyone with his understanding. He told his mother, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Adult Life and Ministry of Jesus

Forty Days in the Desert: Jesus spent forty days and nights in the desert, tempted by the devil, who offered him suggestions that Jesus rejected citing scripture $(Mathes 4:1-11)$ .
John the Baptist: Commanded by the angel who appeared to Zachariah, John was called the Baptist because he baptized people. He was described as having a strong spirit and dedicating his life to Jesus Christ, giving his everyday life as a very strong believer and was filled with faith and a role model for others.
Baptism of Jesus: Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, and after the baptism, heaven opened, and a voice said, “This is my own ear son with whom I am pleased”.
John the Baptist Angers Herod: Herod imprisoned John for being divorced which was wrong.
Herodias Arranges John’s Death: Herodias’s daughter asked Herod to kill John the Baptist, Herod murdered John the Baptist
Jesus’s First Miracle: During a wedding in Cana of Galilee jesus transform 120 gallons of water into wine which emphasized the sanctity of marriage
The Disciples: Jesus had twelve Apostles or twelve disciples because twelve was symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel in Jewish scriptures. The disciples would learn from him and assist him in his mission.
The Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes: The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus's most well known teaching where he encourages people to choose God’s way of love which will eventually renew all of creation which he called the restored world God’s Kingdom where Heaven and Earth are combined inseparably. The Beatitudes are the eight declarations of blessedness spoken at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount
Loaves and Fishes: Jesus took 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and looked up to heaven and broke the loaves and started giving them to the people and then they were all fed and there were still 12 baskets of broken pieces. Jesus fed 4,000 people in the miracle and it showed that Jesus cared about meeting all needs.
Mary Magdalene: A woman who had been healed of seven demons by Jesus played an important role for Jesus because she was one of the few women disciples of Jesus. Also one of the few witnesses of Jesus's crucifixion and burial.
Parable of the Prodigal Son: A son asks his father for his inheritance then uses it all up and is forced to work as a hired hand for a pig farmer. Goes back to his father and begs for forgiveness and his father holds a feast in his honor but his older brother is jealous but the father tells the brother to not resent him. The story shows that God’s love does not depend on our faithfulness but people can always be forgiven.
Story of the Woman Taken in Adultery: A woman was brought to Jesus who was caught in adultery. Although Jesus is expected to do something which could be used against him, he instead stooped down and wrote in the dirt to challenge the Pharisees by saying “let him who is without sin cast the first stone. “ The men leave and Jesus forgives the woman and says “Go and sin no more. “ Through this story Jesus reveals that sins must be forgiven as those who are forgiven love more than those who aren’t.
Jesus’s Companions: Jesus spent his time with tax collectors and sinners remind religious authorities that forgiveness was still available for them.
Jesus’s Miracles:
- Healing the blind man: a group brought a blind man to Jesus and Jesus took the blind man and spit in his eyes and put her hands on him. Then he put his hands on the man’s eyes and he could see again.
- Calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee: A storm started and the disciples were scared but Jesus made the water calm during the storm and showed jesus power over the elements
Story of Lazarus: Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters and when Lazarus died of illness Jesus by the time that Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus was raised from the dead and emerged from the tomb and it was a miracle that made many believe in Jesus as the Christ.

Paul

Pentecost: The Pentecost moment described in the New Testament is a 1st-century event in Jerusalem where people’s heads caught fire. God gave it to the Hebrew nation and the Pentecost is “birthday” season of both of God’s covenant nations, the natural Israel and spiritual Israel.
Paul’s Original Identity: Paul’s name was Saul before his transition to Paul. Before his conversion, Paul initially opposed the followers of Jesus and vehemently sought to end the spread of the Gospel.
Road to Damascus: As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,".
Paul’s Missionary Work: Paul spent the remaining years of his life dedicated to Jesus and the furthering of God's kingdom after working against followers of Jesus.