Old Testament: The record of stories and teachings that Israelites passed down for hundreds of years. God's Spirit inspired people as they wrote the stories and teachings down. This record is the 39 books of the Old Testament. The Old Testament includes books about Israel's covenant history. It includes Israel's wisdom, poems and songs. It also includes the books of Israel's prophets.

Bible: The book of holy writings of Jews and Christians. For Jews, the Bible includes the books of the Old Testament. For Christians, the Bible includes the books of the Old Testament and the New Testament. (God's word Genesis 1:1–2:25.)

Greece: A kingdom that was very powerful in the years between the Old and New Testaments. Greek rulers controlled Israel and Jerusalem for a time. Then Roman armies took control of the lands ruled by the Greeks. But Greek ways of thinking and acting lasted even during Roman rule. The Greek language was spoken by people in areas all around the Mediterranean Sea. The New Testament was written in Greek.

Sin: Thoughts, words, actions or desires that go against what God wants. These are harmful to the person, to others and to the rest of creation. Sin came into the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Sin destroyed the peace between God and human beings. It destroyed the peace between human beings and the peace between everything that God made. Sin brings death. It keeps human beings separated from God. The Bible describes sin as a master and human beings as its slaves. Sin is evil. Jesus is the only one powerful enough to destroy the power of sin. Only Jesus can free humans from it.

Salvation: When God comes and rescues his people. Over hundreds of years God slowly showed his plan for salvation. The Israelites and Jews had been waiting for God to save them. They waited for him to save them once and for all from their enemies. They thought that their enemies were human armies or people who treated them badly. But God is committed to saving all that he created. He will save it from the power of sin, death and evil. This includes all people who trust in him. This became clear when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. When people believe in Jesus, he rescues them from the power of sin, death and evil. This is the beginning of their salvation. Everyone who believes in Jesus is saved for ever. Salvation will be complete when Jesus returns to earth. (Believe in Genesis 15:1–20:18.)

Stories: It was very important to the Israelites to remember stories and teachings. They told the stories of what happened among their people from long ago. They told the stories about God's mighty works. They also told the stories about the laws and teachings they had received from God. Older people told these things to younger people. In this way everyone learnt the stories and teachings that were important to the community.

Creation: Everything that exists was made by God. This includes the land, the seas, the sky and everything in them. It also includes everything in the heavenly world. All that God created was good when he made it. Creation suffers because of the sins of human beings. God will set it free from the effects of sin in the new creation. (New creation Isaiah 24:1–27:13).

God: The Creator of everything that exists. In the Bible God is called Lord (Lord Exodus 19:1–31:18). He is also called lord (lord Genesis 4:1–5:32). God is love and is the only true God. God does what is right. God is full of grace. God is a spiritual being. In the Bible God is often described as if he were like human beings. The Bible talks about God's face, eyes, back, hands, arms, fingers and other parts. It talks about God's mind and heart and God's feelings. These ways of describing God don't mean that he has a body like humans do. They are signs and pictures to help humans understand something about who God is and his actions.

Heaven: Throughout the Bible there are two meanings for the word heaven. The first meaning is the sky above the earth. The second meaning is where God the King and Creator rules. It isn't a certain place that can be travelled to. It's where God is worshipped. God will bring heaven to earth in the new creation. People can't fully understand or imagine heaven. (Kingdom of God Daniel 2:1–49. New creation Isaiah 24:1–27:13.)

God's word: Throughout the Bible there are many meanings for God's word or the word of God. The first meaning is anything God speaks. This includes laws, promises, prophecies and everything God says. God spoke words to create the world. God's words are powerful and cause things to happen. The second meaning is a name for Jesus. Jesus is called both the Word and God's Word. These titles mean that God created the world through Jesus. They mean that Jesus has always lived and was never not living. They mean that Jesus shows people who God is. The third meaning for God's word is the collection of holy writings studied by God's people. This is also called Scripture. The Old Testament was understood to be God's word and the Scripture. This was true for God's people before the time of Jesus. For believers in New Testament times, God's word also included Jesus' teachings. The apostles preached God's word. This included the message about Jesus in the Old Testament. It also included everything that Jesus taught. The Old and New Testaments together are understood to be God's word and the Scripture. This is true for believers after New Testament times. (Bible Genesis 1:1–2:25.)

Human beings: God created human beings in his likeness. He meant for them to live for ever in complete peace with him. They were to live in peace with one another and with the rest of creation. But Adam and Eve sinned. Since then sin and death have had control over human beings. Human beings sin. Human beings die.

Adam: The first human being God created. Eve was his wife. In the Hebrew language the name Adam means human being. It's also like the Hebrew word for ground. God made Adam from dust and breathed life into him. He had friendship and peace with God while he lived in the Garden of Eden. He worked together with Eve to take care of the garden. He named all the creatures God made. Adam was the father of Cain, Abel and Seth. When Adam and Eve stopped obeying God, they had to leave the Garden of Eden.

Poem: A way of speaking or writing that can be like singing. Often poems don't describe things in a direct way. They create pictures and signs with words. These help people understand what the speaker or writer is saying. Poems describe something by explaining how it's like something else. The Bible includes many poems written in the Hebrew language. Many of these were spoken and written two lines at a time. The first line shared an idea. Then the second line completed that idea. It did this by sharing the same idea again in a new or different way. This helped people understand and remember what the speaker or writer wanted to say.

Eve: The second human being God created and the first female. Adam was her husband. In the Hebrew language the name Eve means life giver. God made Eve from one of Adam's ribs. She had friendship and peace with God while she lived in the Garden of Eden. She worked together with Adam to take care of the garden. She was the mother of Cain, Abel and Seth. When Adam and Eve stopped obeying God, they had to leave the Garden of Eden.

Marriage: The practice in the Bible that allowed a man and a woman to come together. It allowed them to be a family. This is how human beings obeyed God's instruction to have children and fill the earth. The Law of Moses included many rules about marriage among the Israelites. The main rule was that husbands and wives were to always be faithful to one another. They were to have sex only with one another. Song of Songs gave an example of joy, respect and kindness in marriage. Old Testament prophets used marriage as a picture. It described something about the relationship between the people of Israel and God. God was like the husband and Israel was like the wife. God loved Israel and was always faithful to his people. New Testament writers also used marriage as a picture. Jesus was like the groom and the church was like the bride. This shows how much Jesus loves his followers.

Garden of Eden: The garden that God made when he created the world. The first human beings lived and worked there. Life in the Garden of Eden was how God wanted his world to be. God and humans lived together in peace. The garden was beautiful and had many kinds of plants and animals. The plants were healthy to eat and there was plenty of water. Humans didn't need to protect themselves from anything in the garden.

Work: After God created the first human beings, he gave them work to do. The work of human beings is to be rulers of God's world (rulers Genesis 1:1–2:25). This work is a blessing for people. It includes farming the land. It includes the many ways that people take care of what God has given them. God wants people to follow his example of working and resting. God doesn't want people to be lazy. People must do their best to provide for themselves, their families and their communities.

Rulers: God wanted everything he created to live and to work together in peace and joy. Human beings are to make sure that this happens. God is the ruler over all creation. He set human beings apart as rulers over plants, animals, the land and the seas. This is one way that God created human beings to be like himself. As rulers, humans are to fill the earth and to bring it under control. This doesn't mean that humans can use God's earth however they want to. It means that they are to take care of everything on earth. They are to help everything be the way God wants it to be. Humans do this by following God's example of ruling. God showed himself to be a ruler who blesses, honours and protects what he has made. Jesus showed that God is a ruler who gives everything to serve and to bless others. When human beings don't follow God's example of ruling, the earth suffers.

Tree of the knowledge: This was the tree of the knowledge of good and of evil. It was in the middle of the Garden of Eden. It was the only tree that Adam and Eve weren't allowed to eat from. This is because only God knows and decides what is good and what is evil. Human beings aren't allowed to decide about that.

Peace: The word for peace in the Hebrew language is shalom. It means more than a time when there is no fighting or war. It means that there is safety, health and justice. It means that everyone has enough of what they need. It means that relationships are whole and healthy. They are the way God wants them to be. This includes each person being at peace with God. It also includes the relationships between people and everything else that God created.

Rest: In the Bible there are many meanings for the word rest. The first meaning is talked about in Genesis chapter 2. After God finished his work of creating the world, he rested. There was peace between God and what he created. Everything that existed had what it needed to live like God wanted it to. Another meaning is talked about in the Ten Commandments. It's the Sabbath rest. On the seventh day of the week, Israelites were to rest instead of working. Another meaning is talked about in Psalm 95. It's the rest the Israelites had after they were freed from slavery. God brought them to the land he promised to give them. The full meaning is talked about in Hebrews chapters 3 and 4. Jesus brings true rest to those who believe in him. They begin to enjoy Jesus' rest when they start following him. They will enjoy it fully when he rules completely as King.

Sabbath day: The seventh day of the week for Israelites and Jews. It was a holy day when they rested and didn't work. This included their livestock, their servants and outsiders who lived with them. It was a day to honour how God rested after creating the world. It also honoured the rest God promised the Israelites after freeing them from slavery in Egypt. The Sabbath day was a sign of God's covenant with the Israelites on Mount Sinai. The day was a reminder that God is good and provides what his people need. Later, Jewish religious leaders made many rules about what was allowed on the Sabbath day. These rules didn't always help people honour God. Jesus taught people how to honour God on the Sabbath day. Even though the leaders opposed him, he performed miracles on the Sabbath day.

Seven: The number used in the Bible to talk about things that are complete. It shows that things are finished and perfect.

World: Throughout the Bible there are two meanings for the word world. The first meaning is the place God created for plants, animals and humans to live. The second meaning is a way of talking about evil. The world that God created is good and not evil. Yet the devil is evil and he has power to do evil things in the world. Many people choose to follow his evil ways. This is what New Testament writers meant when they wrote about the ways of the world. They also wrote that Jesus won the battle over the world. This means that Jesus has victory over sin, death and all evil spiritual beings. Jesus won this battle by suffering, dying on the cross and being raised from the dead. Because of this, Jesus' followers live under the power of the Holy Spirit. They don't live as slaves to the power of sin, death and evil. That is what New Testament writers meant about being set free from this evil world.

Devil: The leader of all evil spiritual beings. The devil had served God in heaven. But he stopped worshipping God and started opposing what God wanted done. He could no longer be in God's presence in heaven. The Bible described this like a star or lightning falling from heaven. In the Bible the devil is also sometimes called Satan. In the Hebrew language the word satan means the one who brings charges against others. The devil is also called the prince of this world and the prince of demons. He tells lies and accuses God's people of doing wrong. He tries to make them be unfaithful to God. The devil has power to do evil things in the world. God's power and authority are greater than the devil's power. In the Garden of Eden, the devil appeared to Eve in the form of a snake. In Revelation, John described the devil as a dragon. (Evil spiritual beings Genesis 3:1–24.)

Tree of life: A tree in the Garden of Eden. Its fruit allowed people to live for ever. Human beings weren't allowed to eat from it after Adam and Eve sinned. Ezekiel saw trees like the tree of life in his vision of the temple (Ezekiel 47:12). In Revelation, John saw this tree in the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 22:2). Everyone who lived in God's Holy City could eat of it freely. This meant that they had eternal life and lived for ever with God.

Evil spiritual beings: Spiritual beings that God created but that turned against him. These include demons, evil spirits and angels who don't serve God. Evil spiritual beings work against God. The devil is their leader. They can use their power to control people and to be inside of them. Humans can worship and serve evil spiritual beings instead of God. When humans do this, they become slaves to the power of sin and death. Jesus drove out evil spiritual beings from many people. They can't be inside of or control people who believe in Jesus and follow him. The Holy Spirit gives Jesus' followers power to drive evil spiritual beings out like Jesus did. (Devil Genesis 3:1–24.)

Jesus: The Son of God who became a human being. He is the Saviour of the world. Jesus is God just like the Father is God and the Holy Spirit is God. They are the three persons of the one and only God. In the Hebrew language, Jesus means the Lord saves. Jesus lived on earth from around the year 4 BC to around AD 30. He lived in the land of Israel while the Roman government was in control. When he lived on earth, Jesus' mother was Mary. She became pregnant with Jesus even though she hadn't had sex with anyone. The Holy Spirit made this possible. Joseph was the human father who raised Jesus when he was young. Jesus came from the family lines of Abraham, Judah and David. Jesus grew up in Nazareth with brothers and sisters. He was put to death on a cross. Then God raised him from the dead. He won the victory over sin, death and all evil spiritual beings. He is the Messiah and King that God had promised to send. Now Jesus rules as King in heaven. He will return to earth to rule as King over everything that God created.

Family line: A list of people in a family. These lists were very important in the times and places of the Bible. They are also called genealogies. They included certain people in the family but not everyone. They usually included only men. The word son was a way of talking about sons, grandsons or great-grandsons. The lists sometimes included extra information or stories about certain people. Older people told the names and stories to younger people in the family. This way everyone learnt about the family line. Many family lines are recorded in the Bible. They showed what tribe an Israelite or a Jew was from. They showed whether someone could be a priest or came from a royal family.

Abel: The second son of Adam and Eve. He was a shepherd. He made an offering that pleased God. His brother Cain killed him even though he hadn't done anything wrong. The Bible talks about Abel's blood crying out to God from the ground. This meant that God needed to bring justice because Abel was murdered.

Cain: The eldest son of Adam and Eve. He was a farmer. He made an offering that didn't please God. He killed his brother Abel. The ground where he murdered Abel was a witness against him. God brought justice by punishing Cain. He could no longer live in only one place or be a farmer. God protected Cain from being killed by other people.

Murder: Killing someone on purpose and without permission from God. This is what murder was in the Old Testament. It was wrong and wasn't allowed. God's covenant with Noah and the Ten Commandments made this clear. Murder was described as spilling someone's blood on the ground. That blood made the ground impure. It cried out to God. This meant that the blood was a witness against the murderer. It showed that justice needed to be done. The murderer had to be put to death. That brought justice back to the people and to the land. In the New Testament, Jesus taught that murder meant more than killing someone. Hating someone was as serious a sin as committing murder.

Seth: A son of Adam and Eve. He was like Adam in ways that Cain wasn't. He followed God. God chose to work through Seth's family line in his plan for saving the world. Jesus was from Seth's family line.

Name: In the times and places of the Bible, names were very important. They meant more than a way to talk about someone. They were a way to show who the person was and what they were like. This was understood to be true about God as well. Saying anything about God's name was a way of saying something about God himself. Trusting in God's name was the same as trusting in God.

Lord: The name that the Israelites used to talk about God. In the Hebrew language the name is made up of the letters YHWH. No one knows exactly what this name means. These letters sound like the Hebrew words for I am who I am.

Prayer: The practice of talking with God and listening to God.

Enoch: The son of Jared in Seth's family line and the father of Methuselah. He was faithful to God. He didn't die and wasn't buried like other people. God took him from the earth.

God chooses: God is free to do anything he wants to do. The stories in the Bible describe some choices that God made. Choosing to make a covenant with Abraham and his family line is one example. The stories don't fully explain why God made those choices. They do make it clear that God is good and can be trusted. He makes choices based on his knowledge and his love. Human beings don't understand all of God's choices. But they can trust that God is loving, wise and good.

Noah: The son of Lamech in Seth's family line. He was the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth and he followed God faithfully. God saved Noah and his family when God destroyed the earth through the flood. God made a covenant with Noah.

Sons of God: It isn't known for sure who the sons of God were. It's thought that they were spiritual beings that turned against God. It's thought that they came to earth with bodies and married human women. This went against God's plan for human beings to marry only human beings.

Faith: There are several meanings for faith in the Bible. The first meaning is the things people believe about God. God wants all people to believe what is true about him. These are things that God has shown about himself and ways that he has acted. In the New Testament, these things include the message of the good news about Jesus. The second meaning of faith is the belief itself. This is the trust that people have in God. It's based on their hope of how God will keep his promises. How strong people's faith is shows how much they trust God. Their faith grows as they know God more and more. The third meaning of faith is how people live based on what they believe. God's people are to follow God's ways for living. Jesus showed people how to do this. Faith in Jesus includes following his example for living.

Judgement: Suffering and punishment for doing what goes against what God wants. God brings judgement against people, people groups and evil spiritual beings. He brings judgement to stop sinful things and evil deeds. Judgement against evil is how God brings justice back to his world. Judgement from God can feel painful and can lead to people dying. It can also lead people to repent and to turn away from sin and evil. It can teach people to do what God wants done. This allows people to live in peace with God and with one another.

Flood: The story in Genesis about God destroying the world that he created. God did this to stop the sin that had filled the earth. The waters that God separated during creation came back together. This happened for 40 days. Only the people and the animals in the ark survived. (40 days Exodus 32:1–35).

Grace: God's deep love for his creatures and his desire to do good to them. He offers his love because he wants good things for everything he created. God's love and grace aren't earned. God gives them freely.

Ark: The big boat that God gave Noah instructions to build. God kept the people and the animals in the ark safe during the flood.

Covenant: An agreement or set of promises like a treaty. Two people or groups made an agreement. One had more power than the other. The one with less power would receive a reward for obeying the treaty or covenant. The reward was the covenant blessings. If they didn't obey the treaty or covenant, the covenant curses would happen. The people or groups making a covenant would share a meal or make a sacrifice. They would write down their agreement before witnesses. They would each keep a copy. That was how covenants were put into effect. In the Bible, covenants were usually between God and his people.

Covenant with Noah: God chose to work through Noah and his family in his plan for saving the world. God showed this by making a covenant with them and all children born after them. The covenant was also with all the creatures that were in the ark. It was with all life on earth. Human beings and animals were to fill the earth. No human beings were to be killed. God promised to never again curse the ground. He promised to never again destroy all life on earth by a flood. The rainbow was the sign of the covenant.

Babel: The city that people worked together to build before they spoke different languages. They started building a high tower in the city of Babel. They wanted to stay there instead of spreading out over the earth. This went against what God wanted for people. God stopped them by changing the language they spoke. This confused them because they could no longer understand one another. In the Hebrew language, the word Babel sounds like the word for confusion. Babel was a sign for people working together against what God wants.

Japheth: The eldest son of Noah. He and his wife were saved from the flood because they were in the ark. He treated his father with respect when Noah got drunk after the flood. Noah spoke a blessing over Japheth's family.

Shem: The second son of Noah. He and his wife were saved from the flood because they were in the ark. He treated his father with respect when Noah got drunk after the flood. Shem followed God. Noah recognised Shem as the leader among his brothers. He spoke a blessing over Shem's family.

Ham: The youngest son of Noah. He and his wife were saved from the flood because they were in the ark. He didn't treat his father with respect when Noah got drunk after the flood. Because of this, Noah spoke a curse instead of a blessing over part of Ham's family.

Abraham: The son of Terah and uncle of Lot from Mesopotamia. In Genesis chapter 17 God changed his name from Abram to Abraham. In the Hebrew language, one meaning for Abraham's name is father of many nations. Abraham became the father of the nation of Israel. He was married to Sarah and their son was Isaac. He had a son named Ishmael with Sarah's slave Hagar. Abraham was from Shem's family line and followed God faithfully. God made a covenant with Abraham and his family line. (Covenant with Abraham Genesis 15:1–20:18.)

Mesopotamia: The area around the River Tigris and the River Euphrates. It was where parts of the countries now called Iran, Syria, Kuwait and Turkey are.

Bless all nations: God promised that all nations on earth would be blessed through Abraham and his family line. God repeated this promise to Isaac and to Jacob. It was repeated in Psalm 72 and Zechariah chapter 8. This promise was fulfilled in many ways. One way was through the laws of God's covenant with the Israelites. The Israelites were to worship God only and obey the Mount Sinai covenant. This would show other nations how wise and understanding God's people were. It would show other nations that God was near to his people and loved them. This would make other nations want to worship and obey the true God. Another way was through Jesus. Jesus was from Abraham's family line. All people on earth can be made right with God by believing in Jesus. That is how God's promise about all nations being blessed is completely fulfilled.

Canaan: An area of land between the Mediterranean Sea and the River Jordan. In the south it reached almost to the Desert of Sinai. In the north it reached to the River Euphrates. The people groups living there before the Israelites were called Canaanites. Many of these groups were from the family line of Ham's son Canaan. This included the Hittites, Jebusites, Hivites and Amorites. Some Canaanites recognised that God is the true God. Some of them were helpful to God's people and became part of them. Others refused to worship only God. They were enemies of the people of Israel and God brought judgement against them. Canaan was where the areas now called Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and parts of Syria are. God promised this area to Abraham's family line. The tribes of Israel lived there after being freed from slavery in Egypt.

Sarah: A woman from Mesopotamia who was Abraham's wife. She was the daughter of Terah but from a different mother than Abraham. God changed Sarai's name to Sarah in Genesis chapter 17. In the Hebrew language, Sarai and Sarah both mean princess or noble woman. For many years she was unable to have children. God promised that she would have a son. When she was very old, she gave birth to Isaac.

Lot: The grandson of Terah and nephew of Abraham. He went with Abraham and Sarah when they travelled to Canaan to live. He chose to live in the valley of the River Jordan near Sodom. His wife died during the time when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. The Moabite and the Ammonite people groups were from Lot's family line.

Sodom and Gomorrah: Two cities in Canaan. The people who lived there were known for doing evil things. Abraham's nephew Lot lived in Sodom. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah but saved Lot. God destroyed these cities because of their evil ways.

Pharaoh: The title for the ruler with the most authority in Egypt. Many different Pharaohs are mentioned in the Bible.

Egypt: A powerful kingdom in northern Africa. The Israelites were slaves there for many years. They were freed from slavery in Egypt in the exodus. The kings of Egypt were called Pharaohs. In the Bible, Egyptians sometimes harmed God's people and other times helped them.

Melchizedek: A priest of God who was the king of Salem. Salem was a name for Jerusalem in Abraham's time. Melchizedek blessed Abraham after Abraham rescued Lot. Abraham honoured him by giving him a tenth of everything he won in a battle.

Covenant with Abraham: God chose to work through Abraham and his family in his plan for saving the world. God showed this by making a covenant with Abraham. Abraham was responsible for doing certain things in the covenant. He was to leave his father's land and people. He was to go to the land of Canaan. He was to be faithful to God. Every male among his family was to be circumcised. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant. As part of the covenant, God promised to do certain things as well. God would give Abraham and his wife Sarah a son. Through that son, God would make Abraham's family who came after him into a great nation. God would give them the land of Canaan to live in. God would bless Abraham and his family in many ways. Through them God would bless all nations and people groups on earth. God promised to be faithful to his covenant with Abraham's family for ever. Jesus was from Abraham's family line. All people and nations on earth were blessed through Jesus. That is how God's promise to Abraham was completely fulfilled.

Right with God: Being able to live in peace and joy with God. This is also called being made righteous or being justified. It means that people can enjoy the blessings of God's covenant. It also means that people can be freed from the power of sin, death and evil. God frees them through Jesus' death and resurrection. People who trust in God and have faith in him are made right with him.

Believe in: In the Old Testament, God showed that he wanted people to believe in him. This meant trusting that God is who he says he is. It meant trusting that he would do what he promised to do. It led to obeying God and worshipping only him. Believing in God is how people were made right with God. In the New Testament, God showed that he also wanted people to believe in Jesus. This meant trusting that Jesus is who he says he is. It meant trusting that Jesus would do what he promised to do. Everyone who believes in Jesus is saved from the power of sin, death and evil. Jesus gives them life that never ends. People who believe in him obey him and follow his way of life. (Salvation Genesis 1:1–2:25.)

Sacrifice: Something given to God as an offering. It's one way to worship God. God's instructions in the Law of Moses taught his people to make sacrifices to him. They would offer to God their animals, crops and other things that they owned. They would bring them to the holy tent or the temple. Some sacrifices were sin offerings to pay for people's sins. That is how they would be forgiven and made right with God. Other sacrifices were to thank God for his blessings. In the New Testament, Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice. He gave up his life as a sin offering to pay for people's sins. His sacrifice makes people who believe in him right with God. Jesus' followers show they are thankful for his sacrifice by giving up many things. As they continue Jesus' work on earth, they give up money and things they own. They give up things they hope to do or to have. They may even give up their lives. They offer everything they have to God because they trust him and love him. They make sacrifices to do what is good for others.

Circumcision: A practice among some people groups in the times and places recorded in the Bible. The foreskin from the male sex organ is cut off. For Israelites, circumcision was a sign. It showed that they were part of the people God made a covenant with. Israelites practiced circumcision only on males who were over eight days old.

Slaves: Many people worked as slaves in the times and places recorded in the Bible. The way of life of many people groups depended on the work done by slaves. Slaves could do nearly every job in a household. Writers of the Bible didn't teach people to have slaves. Old Testament writers taught how slaves and masters were to treat one another. This was based on the Law of Moses. All slaves among the people of Israel were allowed to rest on the Sabbath day. They were allowed to worship God along with free people. They weren't required to stay slaves until they died. God's people weren't to be sold as slaves. New Testament writers taught that slaves and masters were equal members of God's family. They were to serve Jesus and to serve one another. There is also a spiritual meaning for slavery in the Bible. Writers of the Bible described human beings as being slaves to sin. This means that sin rules over all human beings and controls them. Jesus frees people from being slaves to sin.

Hagar: A slave from Egypt who served Sarah. When Sarah couldn't have children, she made Hagar sleep with Abraham. After this, Hagar gave birth to Abraham's son Ishmael. Hagar was treated badly by Sarah. She and Ishmael were sent away. But God took care of them in the desert.

Three men: Three men with human bodies visited Abraham. They ate a meal that Abraham and Sarah prepared. They told Abraham and Sarah that Isaac would be born within a year. They talked with Abraham about God's plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Two of these men were angels. They continued travelling to Sodom and Gomorrah to destroy the cities and to save Lot. The other man was God. God is a spiritual being. He can appear to human beings. He can appear in a way that they see him and recognise who he is.

Isaac: The son God promised Abraham that he would have with his wife Sarah. Isaac married Rebekah and was the father of Jacob and Esau. In the Hebrew language, Isaac means he laughs. God continued his covenant with Abraham through Isaac.

Ishmael: The son Abraham had with Sarah's slave Hagar. Ishmael wasn't the son God had promised to give Abraham. But God took care of Ishmael and he also became the father of 12 tribes.

Test: Times when people must make a difficult choice. They must choose between obeying God or doing what they want to do. The choice they make shows if they trust God to provide what they need. The purpose behind the test isn't to cause people to make mistakes or for them to suffer. The purpose is for them to receive more of God's grace. God tests people to help their faith in him grow stronger.

Sacrifice children: To kill children as a way of worshipping and honouring false gods. People would sacrifice children to show how committed they were to the false gods. They would also do it to get a blessing from the false gods. This practice was common in the times and places recorded in the Old Testament. The true God showed that he wasn't to be worshipped that way. God's laws make it very clear that human beings aren't to be sacrificed. This includes children. Leviticus chapters 18 and 20 talk about this.

Concubines: In Old Testament times and places many men had more than one wife. The man's main wife had the most authority among the women in the household. The wives called concubines had fewer rights. Often female slaves or servants were forced to be concubines.

Rebekah: The daughter of Bethuel and sister of Laban from Mesopotamia. She married Isaac and became the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Philistines: A people group from the family line of Ham. They lived in southern Canaan along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. At times they worked together with Abraham's family line. Most of the time they were at war with the nation of Israel.

Jacob: The youngest son of Isaac and Rebekah and a grandson of Abraham. He was Esau's twin brother and was also given the name Israel. The 12 tribes of Israel are named after his sons and grandsons (12 tribes Genesis 32:1–35:29).

Esau: The eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah and a grandson of Abraham. He was Jacob's twin brother and was also called Edom. The Edomites were from Esau's family line.

Eldest son rights: The authority and share of the family's property given to the eldest son. This happened when the father of a family died. The eldest son received two times more property than the other sons. He had authority over the rest of the family like the father had. He was responsible for being the leader of the family.

Father's blessing: Final words that a father spoke out loud to his children before he died. The father would say what he thought or hoped would happen later in his children's lives. Usually this would include promises for success, wealth and authority. The eldest son usually received the largest blessing.

Bethel: The place where God appeared to Jacob when he ran away from Esau. It was also called Luz. In the Hebrew language Bethel means house of God. Abraham and Jacob built altars to worship God there. It became an important city in Israel. It was north of Jerusalem at the border between the southern and northern kingdoms. Jeroboam built a temple to worship false gods there.

Dreams: One way that God makes himself and his plans known to people. Sometimes God's message through a dream is very clear to people. Other times it may not be clear to them. God gives some people the ability to understand other people's dreams. They help others understand the message from God. Not all dreams are messages from God. People don't make dreams from God happen. They are a gift from God.

Laban: The son of Bethuel and sister of Rebekah from Mesopotamia. He was the father of Rachel and Leah. He tricked Jacob and took advantage of him for many years.

Leah: The eldest daughter of Laban and first wife of Jacob. Rachel was her sister and Zilpah was her servant. She became the mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah.

Rachel: The second daughter of Laban and second wife of Jacob. Leah was her sister and Bilhah was her servant. She was a shepherd. Jacob loved her more than he loved Leah. She became the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

Wives: In Old Testament times and places many men had more than one wife. Many stories in the Bible show the problems that this caused for families. It caused problems in Jacob's family. It also caused problems for leaders and kings like Solomon. Over time, the Israelites came to understand that a man should only have one wife. This was the practice for Jesus' followers in the New Testament. (Marriage Genesis 1:1–2:25.)

Shepherd: Someone who takes care of sheep or other livestock. In the Old Testament Abraham and many in his family line were shepherds. They travelled from one place to another to find grass for their flocks. It's also a way to talk about leaders who take care of other people. Israel's leaders were often described as being bad shepherds. God was the good shepherd for his people. In the New Testament, church leaders are to be shepherds of Jesus' followers. Jesus himself is the good shepherd of God's people.

Jacob wrestled: Jacob wrestled with the man who blessed him on his way to Canaan. This was right before Jacob met Esau. A prophecy in Hosea 12:4 explained that the man was understood to be an angel. He gave Jacob the name Israel. Jacob understood that he had wrestled with God.

Israel: The name that God gave Jacob. In the Hebrew language Israel means someone who struggles or wrestles with God. All people from Jacob's family line were called the people of Israel. They are known as Israelites. God made the Mount Sinai covenant with them (Mount Sinai covenant Exodus 19:1–31:18). He chose them to show all other people groups who he is. Israel also was the name of the land where Jacob's family line lived after the exodus. After King Solomon died, the northern kingdom was called Israel.

Forgive: Several words from the Hebrew and Greek languages are used in the Bible for the word forgive. These words describe in many ways what it means to forgive and to be forgiven. A debt of money can be forgiven. This means that the person who owes money no longer must pay it back. Sin can be forgiven. God is the one who forgives sin. This means that God recognises what sin has been committed. God recognises which person or group of people is guilty of that sin. Guilt is like a heavy weight that God lifts off someone when he forgives. God removes the guilt of the person or group. It's like God takes the sin and releases it somewhere far away. God chooses to not bring judgement against the person or group because of their sin. God is always ready to forgive people for their sin. This is because he is full of mercy and love. God wants all people and all groups of people to turn away from sin. He wants them to ask him to forgive them. God also wants all people and all groups of people to follow his example. He wants them to forgive one another for their sins.

Shechem: A city in Canaan that became an important city in Israel. Abraham and Jacob built altars to God there. Shechem was also the name of the man who raped Dinah. Dinah's brothers killed Shechem and the men in the city because of what Shechem did.

Dinah: The daughter of Jacob and Leah. Her brothers Levi and Simeon killed Shechem after he raped her.

False gods: Anything that people worship that is more important to them than the true God. People worship things because they believe they have power. The devil uses their worship of these things to trap people and control them. The people groups in the Bible made pictures or statues of some of these things. Pictures or statues of false gods are objects that have no power.

Altar: Something people built to honour God. They worshipped by making sacrifices on the altar. People often built altars to recognise a special way that God had spoken or acted. Altars helped them remember what God had said or done. The altars also showed that people were committed to worshipping and obeying God. God gave careful instructions about building the altars in the holy tent and the temple. People also built altars to worship false gods.

12 tribes: Jacob had 12 sons. The families of Jacob's sons and grandsons became very large tribes. These 12 family groups made up the nation of Israel. In different parts of the Bible, the list of tribes includes different names. But they are all sons or grandsons of Jacob. God promised to give them the land of Canaan to live in. (Jacob Genesis 25:19–28:9.)

Patriarch: The male leader with the most authority in a group. This was usually the eldest male in a family. Among the people of Israel, important leaders and kings were called patriarchs. They were considered the founders of the nation of Israel. This included Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his sons, Moses and King David.

Joseph: The eldest son of Jacob and Rachel. He was Jacob's favourite son. In the Hebrew language Joseph means may he add. Rachel gave him this name because she wanted more children. Some of his brothers sold him as a slave to Egypt. He later became a ruler of Egypt and saved many people from dying of hunger. His wife was Asenath. The family lines of his sons Manasseh and Ephraim became tribes of Israel.

Bilhah: A servant of Rachel. Rachel gave her as a concubine to Jacob (concubines Genesis 23:1–25:18). The family lines of her sons Dan and Naphtali became tribes of Israel.

Zilpah: A servant of Leah. Leah gave her as a concubine to Jacob (concubines Genesis 23:1–25:18). The family lines of her sons Gad and Asher became tribes of Israel.

Judah: A son of Jacob and Leah. In the Hebrew language his name means praise or giving thanks. Judah slept with his daughter-in-law Tamar. That is how he became the father of Perez and Zerah. Jacob's blessing over him included a prophecy that kings would come from his family line. Both King David and Jesus the Messiah came from Judah's family line. Judah's family line became an important tribe in Israel. The tribe of Judah became the main tribe of the southern kingdom. The southern kingdom of the nation of Israel became known as Judah. This continued when the Babylonian government took control of the southern kingdom. That land was also known as Judah when the Persian government was in control.

Tamar: The daughter of David and Makaah. She and Absalom had the same parents. She and Amnon had the same father. Amnon raped Tamar when she was a virgin. Then he threw her out of his house. In those days, this was the same as divorcing her. Being raped and then not married brought shame to Tamar in their community. It meant she probably wouldn't get married or have a family of her own. She lived with Absalom after that happened.

Brother-in-law's duty: A practice common among many people groups for hundreds of years. It takes care of the widow and the family line of a man who dies. The brother of the man who dies marries the widow and has a child with her. The child is considered the child of the man who died. This child receives the property and carries on the name of the man who died. The child also takes care of the mother when she is old.

Benjamin: The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. Rachel first named him Ben-Oni. In the Hebrew language Ben-Oni means son of my trouble. Jacob changed his name to Benjamin. Benjamin means son of my right hand. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. His family line became a tribe of Israel.

Beersheba: A city in southern Canaan. It became the most southern city in the land of Israel. Abraham dug a well there. God spoke to Hagar, Isaac, Jacob and Elijah in Beersheba or the desert near it.

Vision: When God shows human beings something in the heavenly world (heavenly world Psalm 8:1–9). Visions from God always agree with the truth about who God is. They are one way that God makes himself and his plans known to people. He appears to people and shows them something about who he is. He may also give them a message in the vision. The message may be just for the person who has the vision. Or God may want them to share the message with others. God can also send angels to appear to people in a vision. Visions can occur through dreams when people are asleep. People don't make visions from God happen. They are a gift from God. Some visions are from the devil and evil spiritual beings. Those visions are harmful and don't show the truth about who God is. Some people pretend to have visions. They do this to trick others with teachings that aren't true.

Goshen: The area of Egypt where Jacob's family lived and worked as shepherds. It's thought to be in the northeast of Egypt near Canaan and the River Nile.

Ephraim: The second son of Joseph and Asenath. In the Hebrew language, Ephraim means double fruit. Jacob adopted him as one of his own sons. Jacob gave him the father's blessing even though he wasn't the eldest son. Ephraim's family line became a tribe of Israel. They were an important tribe of the northern kingdom of Israel. The capital of the northern kingdom was in Ephraim's land. The northern kingdom is sometimes called Ephraim in the Bible.

Manasseh: The eldest son of Joseph and Asenath. In the Hebrew language, Manasseh means causing to forget. Jacob adopted him as one of his own sons. Manasseh's family line became a tribe of Israel. Half of the tribe lived east of the River Jordan. The other half lived west of the River Jordan in Canaan.

Moses: An Israelite slave who grew up in the royal palace in Egypt. He was the son of Amram and Jochebed and from the tribe of Levi. Aaron was his brother and Miriam was his sister. His wife was Zipporah and their sons were Gershom and Eliezer. In the Hebrew language Moses means taken out. Pharaoh's daughter took him out of the River Nile and raised him. God appeared to Moses in the desert. God told him to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses led them out of Egypt, through the desert and to their new land. Moses didn't enter Canaan with them. God gave instructions to Moses about how the Israelites should live. These instructions are called the Law of Moses (Law of Moses Exodus 19:1–31:18). Moses had a very close relationship with God. When he died, God buried his body and no one ever found his grave.

River Nile: The longest river in Africa. It flows through the northeastern part of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. The soil around the Nile is very rich and good for farming.

God's people: A way to talk about the nation of Israel. After Jesus came, anyone who follows him is considered part of God's people. Every human being is invited to follow Jesus. This is true no matter what family, group or nation people come from. It's true no matter what language they speak. Worshipping Jesus brings them together as one in God's family. (Israel Genesis 32:1–35:29.)

Midianites: Midian was a son of Abraham and his wife Keturah. The people group called the Midianites came from his family line. The name of the land where they lived was also called Midian. It was east of Egypt and south of Canaan. God appeared to Moses in the land of Midian. In the Old Testament, the Midianites sometimes helped the Israelites. Other times they harmed them.

I am: The name that God used to describe himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14. The name is made up of the Hebrew letters YHWH. No one knows exactly what this name means. The letters YHWH sound like the Hebrew words for I am who I am. God is who he is and he chooses what he does. No one and nothing make God be or do anything. Jesus used these same words to describe who he is in the book of John.

Miracles: Mighty works from God. These are also called signs and wonders, amazing things and mighty acts. They show that God is the true God. They show that he has more power and authority than anything that exists. God gives certain people the power to perform miracles. They do them to help others believe that God is who he says he is. Jesus performed God's mighty works when he was on earth. He gave his followers the power to do signs and wonders also.

Aaron: A son of Amram and Jochebed from the tribe of Levi. Moses was his brother and Miriam was his sister. He was the father of Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. He helped Moses lead the people of Israel during the exodus. He became the first high priest. All high priests were to come from Aaron's family line. (Levites Exodus 32:1–35. Priest Exodus 19:1–31:18.)

Elders: Jewish male leaders who were respected and had authority among the Israelites. They made important decisions for God's people. They were also called the elders of the people or elders of the community. They passed down Jewish teachings, stories and laws through the years. They were to keep order and help the Israelites obey God's laws. In the New Testament, a certain group of elders was called the Sanhedrin or Jewish Council. Most of them opposed Jesus and his teaching.

Ten plagues: Ten ways that God brought judgement against Pharaoh, Egypt and the Egyptian false gods. They were mighty signs worked by God through Moses and Aaron. These signs showed Pharaoh, the Israelites and the earth God's authority and power over everything. They showed that God uses his authority and power to help his people. The plagues were part of how God rescued his people from slavery in Egypt. God sent one plague each time that Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt. The plagues included water turning into blood, frogs, gnats and flies. They included livestock being killed and boils on the skin of animals and people. They included hail, locusts and darkness. During the last plague, the eldest son in every Egyptian family was killed. God saved the Israelites from the suffering that the plagues brought.

Aaron's walking stick: The stick Aaron used when God did signs and wonders through him. Later, God caused it to grow buds, flowers and almonds. This showed that God had chosen Aaron's family line to serve him as priests. Aaron's walking stick was kept in the ark of the covenant.

Magic: The use of spiritual power that doesn't come from God. People use this power to try to control things or other people. They use this power to try to harm others. They use it to try and protect themselves from harm. They also use it to try to make changes in the world. Often these changes seem to be miracles. In the times and places of the Bible many people used magic. They believed that this spiritual power came from gods and goddesses. They believed that the spirits of dead family members could help them use this power. They believed that this power could also be found in the natural world. Many people still believe these things. They seek the help of gods, spiritual beings or things in the natural world.

Stubborn: A way to describe people who refuse to listen to God or obey him. The Bible gives examples of people who choose to be this way. It also talks about God making people stubborn. This happened with Pharaoh during the exodus. It also happened when the Canaanites attacked Joshua's army. This doesn't mean that God causes certain people not to believe in him. Pharaoh and the Canaanite armies had shown that they refused to believe in God. They were determined to stop what God wanted done. But God made sure that what he wanted to be done was done. He used how stubborn they were as a way of accomplishing his purposes and plans.

Father: One name for God. The Father is God just like Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God. They are the three persons of the one and only God. God showed himself to be Israel's Father during the exodus and called Israel his son. Later, God showed himself to be the Father of Jesus. Jesus shows that God is the Father of all who are part of God's family.

Destroying angel: An angel who obeys God by destroying something. The act of destroying brings God's judgement against evil.

Blood: Throughout the Bible there are two meanings for the word blood. The first meaning is the red liquid inside the bodies of humans and animals. The second meaning is a sign of life. Life is a gift from God. Blood was considered important because it showed that an animal or a person was alive. Losing blood was understood to lead to death. So anything that had to do with a loss of blood was considered unclean. Because blood was important, it was used to make things holy and clean. Sprinkling blood from sacrifices on someone or something was a sign. It showed that the person or object had been made clean from death and sin.

Exodus: When God used Moses to rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. In the Greek language the word exodus means to exit or to leave. The exodus was the time when God showed himself to be the Saviour of Israel. He did mighty works and brought judgement against Pharaoh, Egypt and Egypt's false gods. The exodus is a picture of the salvation that God offers to all human beings. The death of the lambs is a picture of Jesus' death many years later. Jesus was sacrificed as the Lamb of God. The blood of the lambs was put on the doors to save the Israelites. This is a picture of how Jesus' blood saves those who believe in him. The Israelites were freed from slavery. This is a picture of how God frees those who trust in him. He frees them from slavery to the power of sin, death and evil.

Passover Feast: The time when Jews celebrate how God saved them from being slaves in Egypt. It's the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The name Passover comes from something that happened right before the exodus. God passed over the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague. That is why their eldest sons weren't killed during that plague. After that plague Pharaoh let the Israelites leave Egypt. God gave the Israelites instructions about how to celebrate Passover every year. It included a special meal with certain foods. Many years later, Jesus was killed at the time of Passover.

Teach their children: Israelite children were encouraged to ask questions about God and about worship practices. Parents were to explain to their children why they worshipped God in certain ways. This way the children would learn about who God is. They would learn about the mighty works that God does in the world. This was important because God had promised to be their God for ever. He wanted everyone in Jacob's family line to know him.

Saviour: God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. He saved them from their enemies many times throughout the Old Testament. He was the only one powerful enough to save them. In these ways he showed himself to be their only Saviour. He also promised to send a Saviour who would live among them. This was Jesus the Messiah. Jesus saves those who believe in him and follow him. He saves them from the power of sin, death and evil.

Cloud: God often made his presence known to people through a cloud. That is how he showed his glory to them. In the Old Testament this happened in the pillar of cloud after the Israelites left Egypt. It happened on Mount Sinai, over the holy tent and over the ark of the covenant. It happened in the Holy Room of the temple and in Ezekiel's vision of the temple. In the New Testament it happened with Jesus, Peter, James and John on the mountain. It happened when Jesus returned to his Father and in John's vision of the Son of Man. It will happen again when Jesus returns to earth.

Red Sea: A large body of water at the border of Egypt during the time of the exodus. It isn't known for sure which body of water this is today. God divided the water so the people of Israel could walk through on dry ground. After the Israelites reached the other side, the Egyptians drowned in the water.

Miriam: A daughter of Amram and Jochebed from the tribe of Levi. Moses and Aaron were her brothers. She helped Moses lead the people of Israel during the exodus. She was a prophet.

Manna: The bread from heaven that God provided for the Israelites in the desert after the exodus. God sent it to them six days a week. It was the food the Israelites ate until they entered Canaan. A jar full of manna was kept in the ark of the covenant. This was a reminder to the people of how God had provided for them.

Amalekites: A people group south of Canaan. It's thought that they came from the family line of Esau's grandson Amalek. They were enemies of the people of Israel. For hundreds of years they attacked the Israelites.

Wisdom: Skill, ability, knowledge and understanding about something. Wisdom from God includes good sense and being able to tell right from wrong. It includes knowing what is right and fair and doing it. It includes taking the action needed when it's needed. It's based on respecting God. Wisdom is the opposite of foolishness. Wisdom from God is a spiritual blessing that God gives to his people. The book of Proverbs described how wisdom was part of God creating the world. 1 Corinthians 1:30 describes Jesus as God's wisdom.

Jethro: Moses' father-in-law and a priest in Midian. He was also called Reuel. He was part of the Kenite people group. He welcomed Moses when Moses ran away from Egypt. His daughter Zipporah became Moses' wife. He stayed with the Israelites as they travelled from Mount Sinai to Canaan.

Mount Sinai: A mountain outside of Egypt. It was also called Mount Horeb. God appeared there to Moses in the bush that didn't burn up. After the people of Israel left Egypt, God met with Moses there again. It's where God established his covenant with the people of Israel.

Mount Sinai covenant: God chose to work through the people of Israel in his plan for saving the world. God showed this by making a covenant with Jacob's family line. The covenant was with those whom God had saved from being slaves in Egypt. It was also with all Israelites who would be born after them. The people were to obey the Ten Commandments and the other laws that God gave Moses. God would give them health, safety, peace and many children while they lived in Canaan. He would give them enough to eat and drink. He would make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Circumcision and the Sabbath day were the signs of the covenant. God made this covenant with his people on Mount Sinai. Moses was the go-between for the covenant.

Lord: A title for a ruler, leader or master. It's used as a title for God in the Bible. It means that God has authority over everything and everyone. In New Testament times, lord was used as a title for the Roman emperor. It meant that Caesar had authority everywhere that the Roman government was in control. Jesus' followers called him Lord. This meant that they recognised that Jesus is God. They recognised that Jesus has complete authority over everything and everyone. Jesus' followers challenged the authority of Caesar when they called Jesus Lord.

King: The ruler with the highest authority among certain people groups. God was to be the King of the Israelites. Human kings in Israel were supposed to lead the people the way God led them. This was very different from how kings of other people groups led. Israelite kings were to study God's laws and obey them. They were to help the people stay faithful to God's covenant. Israelite kings were to protect people who were weak and needy. They shouldn't have many wives or become very rich. They were to be humble. They shouldn't treat their people as slaves. They shouldn't trust in weapons and horses for winning battles. Israelite kings were to trust in God and serve him only.

Ten Commandments: The first laws that God gave Moses on Mount Sinai. God wrote them on stone tablets. They were the rules for God's covenant with the people of Israel. The rest of the laws in the Old Testament were based on them. They are recorded in Exodus 20:3–17 and Deuteronomy 5:7–21. (Law of Moses Exodus 19:1–31:18.)

Worship only God: No one and nothing else but God should be worshipped. This is always true for all people everywhere. For hundreds of years, Abraham's family line had worshipped God. Yet many of them had also worshipped false gods at the same time. The people groups all around them also worshipped many false gods. This was very common in the times and places of the Bible. But God is the only true God. In his covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai, God made this very clear. He commanded the Israelites to worship only him. That was the first and most important part of his covenant with them.

Priest: Someone whose work is to help people worship. In the Mount Sinai covenant, God gave instructions about priests. They were to help people worship him and teach people God's laws. They were men from Aaron's family line and served only the true God (Levites Exodus 32:1–35. Aaron Exodus 3:1–6:30). They served him in the holy tent and later in the temple. They made sacrifices for the people to God. They followed special laws to be clean and pure. This allowed them to touch holy things. It also allowed them to be close to God in the holy tent or temple. People who weren't priests weren't allowed to do those things. God also said that all Israelites were priests. This didn't mean that they all served him in the holy tent or temple. It meant that every Israelite could know God closely. Every Israelite could serve and worship him.

Holy tent: The tent where God lived among the Israelites after they left Egypt. It's where he talked with Moses and with the people of Israel. God gave Moses clear instructions about how to make it. The holy tent included the ark of the covenant and an altar for incense. It included lampstands and a table for holy bread. It included an altar for sacrifices and a courtyard. It included a large bowl of water for the priests to wash their hands and feet. Skilled workers made the tent according to the pattern God showed Moses on Mount Sinai. The Israelites took the holy tent with them everywhere they travelled. It was also a sign of how God would work through Jesus many years later.

Law of Moses: There are two meanings for the Law of Moses. The first meaning is God's instructions for the Israelites about how to live their lives. This is also called the law. It includes the Ten Commandments. God gave these instructions through Moses. Some of the laws were about worshipping God in proper ways. Other laws were about how the Israelites were to treat one another. Others dealt with how the Israelites were to live together in communities and as a nation. The second meaning of the Law of Moses is the first five books of the Old Testament. That is where all the laws are recorded. These books are also called the Torah and the Pentateuch. In the Hebrew language Torah means law. In the Greek language Pentateuch means five scrolls. (Ten Commandments Exodus 19:1–31:18. Jewish laws Mark 2:23–3:6.)

Go-between: Someone who helps people or groups talk with one another and come to an agreement. This is also called a mediator. Moses did this between the people of Israel and God at Mount Sinai. The people couldn't come close to God. They were afraid of him. Being close to God's holiness would have harmed them. So Moses told the people what God wanted to say to them. Then he told God what the people wanted to say to God. In this way he helped them establish the Mount Sinai covenant. Later, Jesus became the mediator between God and all human beings. Because human beings commit sin, they are unable to live in peace with God. Jesus is fully a human being and fully God. Jesus dealt with the problem of sin when he died on the cross. So humans can now be forgiven for sin and live in peace with God. In this way Jesus is the go-between of the new covenant.

Kingdom of priests: God wanted the Israelites to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. They would become these things if they were faithful to the Mount Sinai covenant. Like other people groups, they would become a kingdom and a nation. But God didn't want them to live like other people groups. He wanted them to be a different kind of kingdom and nation. Every Israelite would know God closely and serve him. In this way they would be like priests. All together they would obey God and treat others the way God taught them to. This would show how different they were from other nations. In this way they would be set apart or holy like God was holy. That is how the Israelites would be a holy nation.

Sacrifice animals: A certain way of putting animals to death. This was done in order to worship and honour someone or a god. This practice was common in the times and places recorded in the Bible. Followers of the true God sacrificed animals to show that they were turning away from sin. The animal's death was a sign of the death and harm that sin brings. It was also a sign of the punishment for sins that human beings commit. Animals were killed instead of human beings. In this way animals were sacrificed to pay for people's sins. People who worshiped false gods sacrificed animals for different reasons. They would do this to show how committed they were to their false gods. They would do it to get a blessing. They would do it because they thought the false gods were hungry or were angry.

Stone tablets: Pieces of stone that Moses carved out of rock. God wrote on them the words of the Ten Commandments and the covenant law. They were the written copy of the covenant agreement between God and the Israelites. Moses broke the first set of tablets. He broke them when the Israelites worshipped the metal statue of the calf. Later God wrote the covenant agreement on two new tablets. These were kept in the ark of the covenant.

40 days: A way that writers of the Bible described when something spiritually important happened. This could be a spiritual challenge. It could be a time of being close to God or meeting with God. It could be a time of turning away from sin and having stronger faith in God. It may or may not have lasted for a period of 40 days and 40 nights. The numbers were a sign about the spiritual thing that happened. This sign was important in the lives of many prophets and in the life of Jesus.

Metal calf: The statue that Aaron made from the jewellery the Israelites gave him. Aaron made it while Moses was on Mount Sinai with God. Many Israelites worshipped it as a false god. Later, King Jeroboam of the northern kingdom made metal statues of calves. He led the people of Israel in worshipping them as false gods. (False gods Genesis 32:1–35:29.)

Mercy: Tender love or kindness towards someone who is struggling in some way. God is full of mercy towards people and shows his kindness in many ways. One of the biggest examples of his mercy is how he forgives people's sin.

Levites: People from the family line of Jacob's son Levi. All males in Levi's tribe had special work to do. They took care of the holy tent and later the temple. Levites from Aaron's family line served as priests (Aaron Exodus 3:1–6:30. Priest Exodus 19:1–31:18). The Levites didn't receive land when the nation of Israel started living in Canaan. God provided for them from what the other tribes had.

Book of life: Throughout the Bible there are two meanings for the book of life. It's also called God's book. In the Old Testament, it was a way of talking about people who are alive. It was described as a list of names collected in a book that God writes. In the New Testament, it was a way of talking about people who follow Jesus. It was described as belonging to the Lamb of God. The book of life isn't an actual book with names written in it. It's a way of talking about who is alive or who believes in Jesus.

Jealous: One way that God describes himself. He isn't jealous in the sinful way that human beings can be jealous. Human beings can be jealous of others who have something they themselves need or want. God is jealous when human beings worship false gods. This is because he is the only true God. He is the only one worthy of being worshipped.

Repent: To turn away from sin and turn towards God. This isn't done only one time in someone's life. Every time someone sins, God wants them to turn towards him. God has grace and forgives them. This heals their relationship with God. For many years the Israelites offered sacrifices to show that they had repented. In the New Testament, people showed that they repented by asking for forgiveness, trusting in Jesus and following him. (Right with God Genesis 15:1–20:18.)

Tent of meeting: A tent outside the Israelite camp near Mount Sinai. God met with Moses and the Israelites there through the pillar of cloud. Certain women served at the entrance and Joshua stayed in the tent all the time. After the holy tent was built the tent of meeting was no longer used. But the holy tent was also called the tent of meeting.

Glory: The wonderful beauty, majesty, goodness and presence of God. It's a way of talking about who God is and how pure and holy he is. Only the Creator has this glory. He chooses to share it with those he has created. Created beings show God's glory when they carry out his plans for his creation.

Priests' clothes: Special clothes the priests wore when they worked in the holy tent or temple. The clothes included outer robes, inner robes, underwear and a belt. They included a turban with a gold plate on it. The clothes for the high priest included a linen apron and a chest cloth. The chest cloth held the Urim and Thummim. These were special stones that helped the priest know what God wanted done. The priests' clothes helped set the priests apart for their work for God.

Burnt offerings: Sacrifices or offerings of clean male animals or birds that people chose to make. The entire animal except for the skin was burnt. This was a sign that the person making the sacrifice was completely committed to God. There were certain times that burnt offerings had to be made. People could also make burnt offerings other times when they wanted to. Trumpets were blown during burnt offerings.

Grain offerings: Sacrifices or offerings of breads and flour that people chose to make. They were offered together with oil, incense, salt and sometimes wine. The priests ate part of the grain offerings. The rest was burnt.

Friendship offerings: Sacrifices or offerings people made to show that they were grateful to God. These offerings showed the close relationship between God and his people. That is why they are called friendship offerings. They were also made as part of fulfilling a promise someone had made. The offerings could be anything that someone wanted to give. The supplies the people gave to build the holy tent and the temple were friendship offerings. Animals were sacrificed as part of the friendship offerings. Flour, oil and wine were also offered. Both the priest and the people who made this offering ate part of it. They ate it after it was sacrificed. Trumpets were blown during friendship offerings.

Sin offerings: Sacrifices or offerings that God required his people to make when they sinned without meaning to. When people realised that they had sinned, they had to stop. They had to turn back to God and trust him to forgive them. They would show this by making a sin offering. Sacrificing an animal was a way to pay for the sin the person had done. The offering could be bulls, goats, lambs, doves, pigeons or fine flour. God required sin offerings to be made as soon as the sin was noticed. They were also to be made at a certain time of the year. Most sin offerings were eaten by priests inside the courtyard of the holy tent or temple. Other sin offerings were to be burnt completely. Parts of them were burnt on the altar. Other parts were burnt outside the camp or the city. When Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross, he paid for the sins of all people. He was the last sin offering needed.

Guilt offerings: Sacrifices or offerings for when people were unfaithful to God and sinned without meaning to. They were also for when people sinned against others. If someone had stolen something, they had to return what they had taken. They also had to pay back extra to the person they had harmed. The guilty person sacrificed a ram. The priests burnt part of the guilt offering. Other parts they ate inside the courtyard of the holy tent or temple.

Love God: God created people to receive his love and to love him in return. God's love changes people and makes them able to love him. Love for God is both a feeling and a choice that people act on. The action they take is to obey him. Love for God is shown by obeying his commandments. The Law of Moses in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament teach this.

Nadab and Abihu: The elder sons of Aaron and Elisheba from the tribe of Levi. Their brothers were Eleazar and Ithamar. They were on Mount Sinai with Moses and Aaron when God established the covenant. They were set apart as priests. They disobeyed God in the way they led the people in worship. They died because of this.

Eleazar: A son of Aaron and Elisheba from the tribe of Levi. His brothers were Nadab, Abihu and Ithamar. He was the father of Phinehas and became the chief leader of the Levites. He became the high priest after Aaron died. He helped Moses lead the people of Israel in the desert. He helped Joshua lead the people of Israel in Canaan.

Set apart: In the Old Testament there were two meanings for being set apart. The first meaning was for people, priests, prophets and things that were set apart. People, priests and prophets could be set apart to serve God in special ways. Things like animals, land and objects could also be set apart for the Lord. This meant that they weren't used in the normal way. They were to be used only in special ways to serve God. The second meaning was when people or things were set apart to be destroyed. This was a way that God brought judgement against people's evil deeds.

Special water: Water was used in many practices to help the Israelites worship God. Priests washed their hands and feet with water when they served God at the altar. This water was held in a large bronze bowl. People and things that were considered unclean became clean after being washed in water. It was considered special when priests added ashes from a young cow to water. This special water was sprinkled on people or things after being near a dead body. Using water in these ways meant more than cleaning off dirt. It was a sign that people or things were considered spiritually clean and pure. Only people or things that were considered clean and pure could be close to God.

Anointed: In the Old Testament, to anoint meant to pour oil on someone. Usually the oil was poured on their head. Often this meant that God had given the person certain work to do. Priests and kings were anointed to show that God chose them to be leaders. It showed that his power was with them. In the New Testament, Jesus' followers were anointed with the Holy Spirit. This means that the Holy Spirit lives inside of each believer. The Spirit shows that Jesus' followers belong to God and are part of his people. The work they are anointed to do is to continue doing Jesus' work on earth. Believers would also anoint one another with oil when they prayed for healing. The oil didn't heal people. It showed that they trusted in God as they prayed. (Olive tree Romans 11:1–24.)

Holy: Being set apart. God is holy. This means that he is different from everything else that exists. In the Bible certain places were holy. This was because people were aware that God was present there. Certain things were holy. This meant that they were used in special ways to worship God. The opposite of holy is unholy or evil. Things that are unholy can't be in God's presence.

Laws in Leviticus: God gave Moses and Aaron laws for how the Israelites were to live together. Many of them were general rules about things that might have happened in those days. They were to help the people learn about who God is. The laws helped them to make wise decisions about everyday matters. God's people were to make all their decisions based on who God is.

Clean or unclean: The way the Law of Moses described things that could or couldn't be near God. These words have a spiritual meaning. They don't mean that something is dirty or not dirty. In the Bible, clean things were pure and unclean things were impure. This means that people who were clean could be fully part of God's people. Unclean people had to stay separate and couldn't worship God together with others. (Pure or impure Leviticus 11:1–15:33.)

Pure or impure: Ways that the Bible describes what is or isn't acceptable to God. Things are considered pure when they are according to what God wants. Things are considered impure when they go against what God wants. People's thoughts, words and actions can be pure or impure. The Bible also calls pure things clean and impure things unclean. The Holy Spirit lives among people who live in pure ways. People who live in impure ways can't be near to God. In the Old Testament, God gave his people ways to be considered pure and clean. When Jesus came, his sacrifice on the cross made his followers pure. Jesus' followers remain pure by following Jesus' example for living. (Clean or unclean Leviticus 11:1–15:33.)

Most Holy Room: The room where the ark of the covenant was kept (ark of the covenant Numbers 7:1–8:26). This room was first in the holy tent and later in the temple. God was present among the Israelites there. A thick curtain separated it from the rest of the tent or temple. The curtain was a sign of how human beings were separated from God. If people walked behind the curtain they would die. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Room. He did this once a year. When Jesus died, the curtain to the Most Holy Room ripped open. That was a sign that Jesus' death brought people close to God again.

Day of Atonement: This was the day when sins were paid for. It was on the tenth day of the seventh month. It was considered a holy day. It's also called Yom Kippur by Jews who still celebrate it. The high priest sacrificed a bull for his sins and the sins of his family. He burnt incense and sacrificed one goat for the sins of all the Israelites. He sprinkled the holy tent and the Most Holy Room with the blood. This included sprinkling the altar and the cover of the ark of the covenant. Then the holy tent, the Most Holy Room and the altar were considered clean and pure. A live goat carried the sins of the people into the desert. Because of this, God remained present with the Israelites. (Atone Leviticus 16:1–34.)

Atone: To bring peace back to something when the peace has been destroyed. In relationships, peace is destroyed when people sin against one another. This also destroys the peace between the sinner and God. The person who sins must repent and stop doing what they have done wrong. And the sin must be paid for. This allows for there to be peace again between people. It also allows for there to be peace between people and God. (Day of Atonement Leviticus 16:1–34.)

High priest: The religious leader with the most authority in Israel. The high priest was to be a male from the tribe of Levi. He was to be from Aaron's family line. The high priest was to teach the people like Moses had done. He had special duties in God's holy tent and later in the temple. Only the high priest was allowed into the Most Holy Room. He told the people what God wanted them to do. He also made the sacrifices for Israel's sin to be forgiven.

Outsider: Anyone who doesn't belong to a place or a group. People who lived somewhere different than where their family was from were considered outsiders. People who became part of a group that wasn't part of their family group were also considered outsiders. The Israelites considered anyone who wasn't part of Jacob's family line to be an outsider. Outsiders who lived with them had to obey certain laws from the Law of Moses. Israelites who didn't faithfully follow the Law of Moses were often treated as outsiders. They were also called sinners. Israelites who were considered unclean according to the Law of Moses were treated like outsiders. Most outsiders couldn't be fully part of their community. But some like Ruth were fully accepted as members of the Israelite community. Some outsiders were also known as strangers and foreigners.

Neighbour: Throughout the Bible, neighbour is a way of talking about other people. People from Jacob's family line understood that all other Israelites were their neighbours. They treated them better than they treated outsiders. (Outsider Leviticus 17:1–22:33.) In the New Testament, Jesus taught that all human beings are neighbours to one another. All people are to be treated with love and respect.

Incense: Something that is burnt to make smoke that smells good. Many people groups throughout history have used incense in their worship practices. God gave instructions to priests in Israel about how to burn it. They used shallow cups to burn it on an altar. It was an offering to honour God. The incense smelled sweet and this reminded God's people that God gave them good things. Smoke from incense was also a sign of prayers being prayed to God.

Feasts: Activities that helped the Israelites remember who God is. Feasts helped them remember that God would continue to protect them and provide for them. The feasts involved resting instead of doing their usual work. They involved eating together. They also involved making sacrifices and worshipping God.

Feast of Unleavened Bread: The Jewish feast that lasted for seven days after Passover. During this time the bread that the Israelites ate didn't have yeast in it. This was to remind them of the exodus. When God freed them from slavery, they left Egypt quickly. They didn't have time to use yeast in their bread. Israelite males were required to travel to the holy tent or temple for this feast.

First share of the crops: The Israelites were to make an offering of the first share of their crops. They did this at the beginning of the harvest during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This reminded them that the land and what it produced belonged to God. It reminded them that God provided everything they needed.

Pentecost: The Jewish feast 50 days after the feast of the first share of the crops. It was called the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. People offered sacrifices to God and thanked him for the harvest. Israelite males were required to travel to the holy tent or temple for this feast. It's also the feast when the Holy Spirit first came to Jesus' followers. This happened 50 days after Jesus' resurrection.

Feast of Trumpets: The first day of the seventh month. Rams' horns were blown like trumpets. It was nine days before the day when sins were paid for. The Israelites used those days to rest and to think about and admit their sins. They used them to get ready for the Day of Atonement. This feast is now called Rosh Hashanah. It's now considered the first day of the new year for Jews.

Feast of Booths: The Jewish feast that started five days after the day when sins were paid for. The people celebrated the harvest and how God provided for them. Israelite males were required to travel to the holy tent or temple for this feast. During the seven days of the feast, they slept in booths. This was to remember how they had lived in booths or tents in the desert. Every seven years the covenant law was to be read out loud during this feast.

Servants: Israelites were allowed to work as servants for other Israelites. This was to help them pay off debts they owed. After six years of working, they were given the choice to be set free. If they chose to be set free they were given food and livestock. The servant could also choose to continue working for the same family their entire life. Servants weren't to be treated badly or considered slaves. This was because God had freed them from slavery in Egypt. They were never to be slaves again. Being slaves again was one of the covenant curses.

Covenant blessings: Good things that happened when people were faithful to a covenant. In covenants with God, being faithful meant living according to God's ways. This led to blessings that God provided. These usually had to do with land, children and God's presence.

Covenant curses: Terrible things that happened when people weren't faithful to a covenant. In covenants with God, not being faithful meant not living according to God's ways. This stopped the covenant blessings and led to people suffering in many ways. The suffering usually had to do with losing the land God had given them. It had to do with their children dying. And it had to do with God's presence leaving them.

Buy back: To get back something or someone that has been given or sold. This is done by paying the price for the thing or the person. Another word for this is to redeem. The one who buys back the thing or person is called the redeemer. God bought back the Israelites when they were slaves in Egypt. This showed that he was their redeemer. When Jesus died on the cross, he paid the price to buy back all sinners. He redeems all who trust in him. He redeems them from the power of sin, death and evil.

Tenth: The Israelites were to offer a tenth of everything they had to God. This included everything their land produced and their livestock. This would help them remember that everything belongs to God. It would help them remember that everything they had was a gift from God. It would help them be full of joy in the land God gave them. They gave the tenth of everything to God by sharing it with the priests and Levites. They also shared it with poor and needy people. The practice of giving God a tenth of everything lasted for hundreds of years. It's also called giving a tithe. Many Christians give a tithe to their church. The tithe can be of anything their work produces including money.

Levi: A son of Jacob and Leah. In the Hebrew language Levi means attached. His family line became a tribe of Israel. All priests in Israel came from Levi's family line.

Nazirites: Men and women who wanted to set themselves apart to serve God. In the Hebrew language the word nazir means to be separated or set apart. God commanded some Israelites to be set apart for serving him. Others chose to do this and were called Nazirites. They promised to serve God for a certain amount of time. They were to avoid alcohol and to let their hair grow long. They were to stay away from anything or anyone that had died. These were signs to other Israelites that Nazirites were completely committed to God. At the end of their time of being set apart they celebrated. They did this by shaving their head and offering sacrifices.

Ark of the covenant: An important box that was a sign of the Mount Sinai covenant. Sacred objects were kept in it. This included the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. It also included a jar of manna and Aaron's walking stick. At first the ark was kept in the holy tent. Later it was kept in the Most Holy Room of the temple (Most Holy Room Leviticus 16:1–34). It was like God's throne on earth. It was the place where God's people could meet with him.

Trumpets: In the Bible, trumpets were used for many purposes. They were used in worship services and feasts and in battles. Trumpets were used to make important announcements and as alarms. Before the Israelites reached Canaan, trumpet blasts let the 12 tribes know when to start marching. In the New Testament, Jesus and Paul talked about trumpets being blown. Trumpets would announce when God gathered his people and raised them from the dead. In Revelation, angels blew trumpets to announce parts of God's judgement against evil.

Hobab: Moses' brother-in-law. He was the son of Reuel who was also called Jethro. Hobab was the brother of Moses' wife Zipporah. He was part of the Kenite people group. He stayed with the Israelites as they travelled from Mount Sinai to Canaan. He was a guide to them in the desert.

Holy Spirit: God shows himself to be the Spirit at the creation of the world. The Holy Spirit is God just like the Father is God and Jesus is God. They are the three persons of the one and only God. The Holy Spirit worked through the people who recorded the books of the Bible. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit made it possible for people to prophesy. The Spirit also made it possible for people to do skilful work and mighty deeds. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit made it possible for Mary to be Jesus' mother. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his followers at the Feast of Pentecost. Through the Holy Spirit, believers are joined to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is a Friend who makes Jesus' followers able to continue doing his work.

Joshua: A man born a Hebrew slave in Egypt. He helped Moses lead God's people during the exodus. He was the son of Nun and was from the tribe of Ephraim. Moses changed his name from Hoshea to Joshua. He was one of the spies who explored the land of Canaan. He brought back a good report. He became the leader of the Israelites after Moses died. Joshua led the Israelites into the land that God had promised to give Abraham.

Caleb: A man born a slave in Egypt who entered Canaan with the Israelites. He wasn't from Jacob's family line. He was the spy from Judah's tribe who explored the land of Canaan. He brought back a good report. Caleb obeyed God completely.

Kadesh Barnea: An area southwest of the Dead Sea in the Desert of Zin. The Israelites camped there as they travelled from Egypt to Canaan. From there the Israelites refused to enter Canaan. Kadesh is where Miriam died. It is also where Moses disobeyed God by hitting a rock to get water.

40 years: A way that writers of the Bible described something that happened for a long time. 40 years was thought to equal how long it took to grow old. It described how long the Israelites wandered in the desert before entering Canaan. It described how long many important leaders and kings ruled in Israel. The number was a sign that what happened was important.

Korah: A man born a Hebrew slave in Egypt. He was from the tribe of Levi but wasn't from Aaron's family line. In the desert, he led many people to oppose Moses and Aaron. God destroyed him and those who followed him. Later, some of the people from his family line served God faithfully. This included the prophet Samuel and men known as the sons of Korah. They led Israel in worshipping God with psalms.

Meribah: In the Hebrew language, the word Meribah means to argue. There are two places called Meribah in the Bible. At both places the Israelites argued with God and Moses because they didn't have water. One place was called Massah and Meribah. The other place was called Meribah Kadesh and was near Kadesh Barnea.

Sihon and Og: Two Amorite kings who lived east of the River Jordan. Sihon was the king of Heshbon and Og was the king of Bashan. The Israelites asked for permission to travel through their lands in peace. Sihon and Og attacked them but the Israelites won the battles. Some of the Israelite tribes chose to remain and live in those lands.

Balak: The king of Moab during the time that the Israelites were travelling to Canaan. He hired the prophet Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. He thought that this would help him drive the Israelites away from his land.

Moab: A people group who lived east of the River Jordan. They were from the family line of Lot. The land where they lived was also called Moab. They worshipped false gods called Baal and Chemosh. Sometimes the Moabites harmed God's people and other times helped them.

Balaam: A prophet from Mesopotamia who wasn't from Jacob's family line. He used magic to learn what would happen in the future. Balak hired him to put a curse on the people of Israel. Balaam's donkey spoke to him to try to stop him. God caused Balaam to bless his people instead of cursing them.

Prophecy: An announcement about what God wants done or about what is going to happen. These messages come from God or God's word. They are spoken by prophets and this is called prophesying. The prophecies of many prophets before the time of Jesus were written down. They were included in the Old Testament. All together they are called the Prophets. The Holy Spirit makes some people able to prophesy. The messages are to be shared in an orderly way that people can understand. They are shared to help people who don't know God turn to God. They are shared to encourage people who already follow God. They are shared to help people understand how to obey God faithfully.

Prophecies about Jesus: Many prophecies and promises recorded in the Old Testament point to Jesus. They show God's plan to send a Saviour. This Saviour would rescue the world from the power of sin, death and evil. Apostles and writers in the New Testament studied these prophecies and promises. They understood that the prophecies and promises came true through Jesus' life and work. Jesus completes the work that God had been doing through Israel for hundreds of years. Jesus is the Saviour God had promised to send (Saviour Exodus 13:17–15:21).

Baal: A false god worshipped by people groups in and around Canaan. In the Hebrew language the word Baal means lord or ruler. Baal was worshipped as the god of the sun and of storms. People thought he gave them children and healthy crops.

Baal Peor: Peor was a place in the land of Moab. The Israelites broke their covenant with God there when they started worshipping Baal. The result was a plague that killed thousands of Israelites.

Phinehas: A son of Eleazar and a grandson of Aaron. He killed an Israelite man who was being unfaithful to God. When he did that, God stopped the plague at Baal Peor. God made a covenant of peace with Phinehas and the sons born after him.

Cast lots: A process to help people decide about something. It was very common among the people groups who lived around the Israelites. God allowed his people to use this practice. It isn't known exactly what people did when they cast lots. The Israelites trusted that God guided them to make wise choices through casting lots.

Zelophehad's daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah were from the tribe of Manasseh. Their father Zelophehad died in the desert after the Israelites refused to enter Canaan. His daughters received land for Zelophehad's family line since he had no sons. They married cousins in their family group. This way their land would always belong to the tribe of Manasseh.

River Jordan: The biggest river in the land of Israel. It flows north to south from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea.

Reuben: The eldest son of Jacob and Leah. In the Hebrew language the name Reuben means look a son. It sounds like the word for he has seen my suffering. Reuben had sex with his father's concubine Bilhah. Because of that, he wasn't allowed to have the rights of being Jacob's eldest son. His family line became a tribe of Israel.

Gad: The eldest son of Jacob and Zilpah. In the Hebrew language Gad means good fortune or group of soldiers. His family line became a tribe of Israel.

Drive out: The way that God planned to bring judgement against the Canaanites for their evil ways. God had been patient with them for hundreds of years. Then he brought judgement against them to stop their evil deeds. His judgement was that he would no longer allow them to stay in their land. He would use the Israelites as his tool to drive them out. But the Israelites didn't obey God completely. They didn't drive out all the Canaanites. Instead, the Israelites lived with the Canaanites and followed their evil ways.

Safe cities: Six cities where Levites lived. Three were on the east side of the River Jordan. Three were on the west side. People who had accidentally killed someone could go there. They would be safe and wouldn't be killed by the dead person's nearest male relative. They could live there until the high priest died. Then they could go back to where they had lived before.

Edom: The land south and east of Judah where Esau's family line lived. Esau was also called Edom. His children became a strong nation called Edom. The Edomites and the Israelites didn't live in peace with one another.

Ammonites: A people group that lived east of the River Jordan. They were from the family line of Lot. The land where they lived was called Ammon. They worshipped the false god called Molek.

Amorites: A people group that lived in Canaan and east of the River Jordan. They were from the family line of Ham's son Canaan. They were enemies of Abraham's family line for hundreds of years. God drove them out of Canaan and gave their land to the Israelites.

Shema: A Jewish prayer that includes Deuteronomy 6:4. In the Hebrew language, the first word of Deuteronomy 6:4 is shema. It means to listen and to take action based on what was heard. In the Hebrew language, hearing and doing are understood to be the same thing. The Shema explains what God's covenant with the Israelites was about. God is the one and only true God. The Israelites were to obey only God. This was true for each person. It was also true for them as a community. They were to obey the Ten Commandments and all of God's laws. Many things would help them remember who God is and what he commanded. They were to talk about his commands all the time everywhere and with everyone. They were to write them down. They were to place reminders on their clothes, their bodies, their houses and their gates. They were to ask questions about God freely and talk about him with their children. Jesus used the words of the Shema in Mark 12:29.

God's tool: Throughout the Bible God uses people, groups and nations as his tool to bring judgement. Through them he brings judgement against people, groups or nations that do evil things. This is part of how he stops evil and brings back peace. God decides when to bring judgement and how to do it. Those that God uses as a tool aren't better than those being judged. Every person, group and nation is responsible for serving and obeying God. They will all be judged for the evil things they do.

Prophet: A person God chooses to speak through. In the Old Testament prophets told their people or other nations a message from God. Prophets were advisors to the kings of Israel and Judah. They were to tell the king when he wasn't being faithful to God. The prophecies of many prophets before the time of Jesus were written down. (False prophet Jeremiah 13:1–24:10.)

Temple: The building in Jerusalem where people could go to worship God. It was also called the house of the Lord or the house of God. The first one was built when Solomon was king. God was present with his people there. The Babylonians destroyed it in the year 586 BC. Many years later, the Jews built another one. After the Romans destroyed that temple in the year AD 70, the Jews never built another one. Jesus called the temple his Father's house. Jesus said his body was the new temple. This was because God was present with his people through Jesus. God remains present on earth through those who follow Jesus. They are filled with the Holy Spirit. Because of this, believers are described as a new temple.

Needy people: In the Old Testament, people who were needy were those who didn't have land to farm. Without land, they couldn't grow food or have livestock. Outsiders and widows were needy people. So were children whose fathers had died. People were also needy if they had land but didn't have success in farming. In the New Testament, anyone who was poor or needed help was considered needy.

Heart: Throughout the Bible there are two meanings for the word heart. The first meaning is the part of the body that beats inside the chest. The second meaning is a spiritual part of people where they feel their feelings. It's where they make decisions about what to do and who to worship. God knows each person's heart. He knows what they think and feel and the reasons why they make their decisions. God's people are to serve God with all their heart. This means that they are to be completely committed to living according to God's ways.

Judge: A leader who made decisions about laws. Each community in Israel had local judges. There were also judges at the holy tent and the temple. They made decisions about cases that were too hard for local judges. Levites helped judges make their decisions. Kings in Israel also served as judges by making decisions about cases. Judges were always to do what was right and fair. The people were to respect them and obey their decisions.

Rahab: A woman from the city of Jericho in Canaan. She worked as a prostitute. She hid the spies sent by Joshua and kept them safe. When the Israelites destroyed Jericho, they saved Rahab and her family. She became part of God's people. David and Jesus were from her family line.

Gilgal: A Canaanite city west of the River Jordan near Jericho. It became an important place for Israelite leaders, kings and prophets. The stones collected from the River Jordan were set up there. This reminded the Israelites how God had led them into Canaan.

Spiritual beings: Beings that don't have bodies like the bodies of humans or other creatures on earth. They are also called heavenly beings. They can look like humans even though they don't have human bodies. God is a spiritual being. He created all other spiritual beings. (Angel 1 Kings 15:1–22:53.)

Jericho: A city west of the River Jordan and east of Jerusalem. It was also called the City of Palm Trees. It had rich soil and plenty of water. God destroyed the city when the Israelites marched around it. Many years later it became an important city in Israel. Zacchaeus was from Jericho.

Ai: A city in Canaan where Abraham built an altar. The Israelites lost their first battle against Ai. They won the second battle and destroyed the city. In the Hebrew language Ai means the ruin.

Achan: An Israelite man from the tribe of Judah. He kept things from Jericho that should have been destroyed. This caused trouble for his family and the entire Israelite community. Achan and his entire family were put to death in the valley of Achor. In the Hebrew language Achor means trouble.

Hivites: A people group that lived in Canaan. They were from the family line of Ham's son Canaan. God told the Israelites to drive them out of Canaan as God's judgement against them. Joshua was tricked into making a covenant of peace with the Hivites living in Gibeon.

Angel of the Lord: An angel always described with the name of the Lord in the Old Testament. This spiritual being sometimes brought a message from God. Other times the Old Testament described the angel as being God himself. This angel was one way God made himself known on earth before Jesus was born.

Ashtoreth: A goddess worshipped by many people groups in and around Canaan. She was also called Asherah, Astarte and Ishtar. She was worshipped as the mother of other male and female gods.

12 judges: 12 leaders were called judges in the book of Judges. Their work included more than the work of judges who made decisions about laws. They were military leaders who fought against Israel's enemies. God used them to rescue his people from being treated badly. These leaders served in different areas of Israel and among different tribes after Joshua died. They didn't lead all 12 tribes at once. These 12 leaders were Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon and Samson. Other leaders like Samuel also served as judges in this way.

Othniel: A relative of Caleb and one of the 12 judges of Israel. His wife was Caleb's daughter Aksah. He won battles for Israel over the king of Aram Naharaim.

Ehud: One of the 12 judges of Israel. He was from the tribe of Benjamin and was left-handed. He used this fact as part of his plan to kill the king of Moab.

Deborah: One of the 12 judges of Israel. She was a prophet in the hill country of Ephraim. She served the Israelites by settling difficult matters for them. She appointed Barak as leader of the attack against Sisera's army. Her song about their victory is recorded in Judges chapter 5.

Aram: A people group that lived in Mesopotamia and Syria. They worshipped false gods. They were from the family line of Shem. The land where they lived was also called Aram. Abraham's relatives lived in Aram. Damascus became an important city of the Arameans. The language of the Arameans was called Aramaic. Later on many Assyrians, Babylonians and Jews spoke the Aramaic language. Parts of the Bible were written in Aramaic.

Barak: An Israelite from the tribe of Naphtali. He obeyed God's instructions to attack Sisera's army. But he was only willing to obey God if Deborah went with him. With Deborah, he sang an important song about their victory in Judges chapter 5.

Jael: A woman from the Kenite people group who lived among the Israelites. Heber was her husband. She was from the family line of Moses' brother-in-law Hobab. She killed a Canaanite military leader named Sisera. Jael was an important part of the song Deborah sang about the Israelites' victory in Judges chapter 5.

Gideon: One of the 12 judges of Israel. He was from the tribe of Manasseh and his father was Joash. Gideon had many wives and sons. God used Gideon to free Israel from being treated badly by the Midianites. He was also called Jerub-Baal. In the Hebrew language this name means let Baal fight.

Jephthah: One of the 12 judges of Israel in Gilead. It's thought that he was from the tribe of Manasseh. He was the son of a man named Gilead and a prostitute. After he won an important victory, he sacrificed his daughter.

Samson: One of the 12 judges of Israel. He was from the tribe of Dan and his father was Manoah. The angel of the Lord appeared to his mother to announce his birth. He was to live as a Nazirite his entire life. God used Samson to free the Israelites from being treated badly by the Philistines.

Abimelek: A son of Gideon and Gideon's concubine from Shechem. Abimelek murdered almost all of Gideon's other sons. He ruled as king over Shechem and the areas around it. He was violent and killed many people.

Gilead: The hill country east of the River Jordan. Part of it belonged to the kingdom of Sihon. Another part belonged to the kingdom of Og. That was before the Israelites won the battles over Sihon and Og. It was named after Gilead who was from the family line of Manasseh. It had rich soil and was good for raising livestock. It wasn't part of the land God had promised to give Abraham's family line. But God allowed some tribes to lived there. These were the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh.

Bethlehem: The town that David was from and where Jesus was born. It's a short distance south of Jerusalem.

Zebulun: The sixth son of Jacob and Leah. In the Hebrew language the name Zebulun probably means honour. His family line became a tribe of Israel.

Dan: The eldest son of Jacob and Bilhah. In the Hebrew language, the name Dan means he judged. His family line became a tribe of Israel. Dan is also the name of the main city of the tribe of Dan. It was near Mount Hermon and was one of the most northern parts of Israel.

Delilah: A Philistine woman whom Samson was in love with. Philistine leaders used her to learn the secret to Samson's amazing strength. Samson lied to her about it three times. But Delilah begged until Samson finally told her the truth. She received money for handing Samson over to the leaders.

Dagon: A false god worshipped by people groups in and around Canaan. In the Hebrew language the word Dagon means grain. Dagon was understood to be the father of Baal.

Ruth: A woman from Moab and the daughter-in-law of Naomi. When her husband died, she left Moab and went to Israel with Naomi. She married an Israelite named Boaz and became the great-grandmother of David.

Family protector: A close male relative who was responsible for helping family members in need. Another name for this is redeemer. The family protector could pay the debts of poor family members. He could buy back property they had sold. He could pay to have them or their children set free from working as servants. The family protector could also carry out the brother-in-law's duty. He could do this for the widow of his brother. The family protector was a picture of how God took care of Israel. God was like the family protector who rescued the Israelites when they were in need. The family protector is also a picture of what Jesus does. He's like the family protector who rescues sinners who are in need. He redeems all who trust in him. He buys them back from the power of sin, death and evil.

David: A son of Jesse from the tribe of Judah. He was from the family line of Ruth. David was a shepherd when he was young. He followed God faithfully and became Israel's most famous king. He played instruments and wrote songs and poems. He was faithful to God and worshipped only God. All kings after him were compared to him. God made a covenant with David. (Covenant with David 2 Samuel 7:1–10:19.)

Hannah: The mother of the prophet Samuel. Elkanah was her husband. For a long time she hadn't been able to have children. Then God allowed her to become pregnant. Full of thanks, she prayed a beautiful prayer about God taking care of his people.

Eli: The high priest when Samuel was young during the time of the 12 judges. He served while the holy tent was in Shiloh. Eli was the father of Hophni and Phinehas. He didn't stop his sons from doing evil things. Because of this, Eli's family line didn't continue to serve as high priests.

Samuel: An Israelite who served God's people as a prophet, a priest and a judge. In the Hebrew language the name Samuel means to be heard by God. The name can also mean borrowed from God. Samuel was faithful to God his entire life. He was the son of Elkanah and Hannah. He was from the tribe of Levi through the family line of Korah. His sons were Joel and Abijah. Samuel was raised as a Nazirite in the holy tent at Shiloh. He started serving the Israelites as a prophet when he was young. He served as a priest after Eli died. When he served as judge God freed the Israelites from the Philistines. Samuel anointed first Saul and then David as king.

Shiloh: An important Israelite city in the hill country of Ephraim. It was north of Jerusalem. Joshua set up the holy tent there when the Israelites entered Canaan.

Mary of Nazareth: A young woman from Nazareth who served God faithfully. She had promised to marry a man named Joseph of Nazareth. She became pregnant even though she hadn't had sex with a man. The power of the Holy Spirit made this possible. She was the human mother of Jesus the Messiah.

Saul: Israel's first king. He was the son of Kish and was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was very tall and handsome. As king, he stopped trusting and obeying God. Because of this, his family line didn't continue to rule in Israel. Saul was controlled by fear and jealousy. He tried very hard to kill David. He died in a battle against the Philistines.

Fasting: Going without food. People in Israel would fast to help them pay attention to prayer. They would fast to show that they were sorry for their sin. Going without food would help them pay attention to a goal they wanted to reach. They would also fast to mourn something sad that had happened. Jesus taught that fasting was part of worshipping and serving God. It's an important practice that can help people as they pray.

Jonathan: A son of Saul and Ahinoam. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. Jonathan supported God's plan to make David king instead of himself. He made a covenant of friendship with David. Because of their friendship, David treated Jonathan's son Mephibosheth well.

Ahimelek: The great-grandson of Eli who served as high priest when the holy tent was in Nob. He gave David holy bread and Goliath's sword when David was running away from Saul. Doeg the Edomite killed him for helping David.

Abiathar: The son of Ahimelek who served as high priest when David was king. He was from Eli's family line. He was faithful to David but didn't support Solomon as the king after David. Because of this he was no longer allowed to be the high priest. This fulfilled the prophecy against Eli's family line.

Abigail: A wise woman married to a foolish man named Nabal. She convinced David to trust God instead of killing people because he was angry. After Nabal died, Abigail became one of David's wives. She had one son with David.

Medium: Someone who talks to the spirits of dead people to receive messages. This was a common practice among the people groups around the Israelites. God didn't allow his people to do that. Instead they were to pray to him. They were to be guided by God's word and God's Spirit.

Spiritual: Something that has to do with the spirit of a human being or a spiritual being. Throughout the Bible there are many meanings for the word spirit. One meaning is God's Spirit or the Holy Spirit. Another meaning is spiritual beings. Another meaning is the spirit of a person. When God created human beings he breathed life into them. This life from God is each person's spirit. It's the part of each person that exists as more than a body. It will exist for ever. Things that happen in a person's spirit or to their spirit are described as spiritual. A person's spirit is often understood to be like their heart or their soul.

Joab: A nephew of David who was a mighty fighter. He became the commander of Israel's armies under David. He was faithful to David for many years. But he went against David by murdering Abner and Amasa. He also went against David by killing Absalom. He didn't support Solomon as the king after David. Because of these things, David ordered Solomon to have Joab killed.

Jerusalem: The capital city of the Israelites when David and Solomon were kings. Later it was the capital city of the land of Judah and Judea. It had been a Jebusite city in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. David captured it and made it the centre of Israel's government and worship practices. The temple was built on a hilltop in Jerusalem called Mount Moriah or Mount Zion. Zion became a way to talk about all of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was also called the City of David. The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in the year 586 BC. Jews later rebuilt it and Jerusalem remained the centre for Jewish government and for worshipping God. It's the capital city of the nation of Israel today. Jerusalem is in between the Mediterranean Sea and the River Jordan.

Shame and honour: In the times and places of the Bible, shame and honour were very important. People wanted to avoid bringing shame to their family, their community and their people group. Everyone in a community understood what ways of speaking and acting were considered proper. Going against those ways was like saying no to their relationship with their community. This brought shame. Then that person wasn't respected. They would often run away or hide. Someone with more authority could bring that person back into the community. This was how the shame was taken away. Instead, people wanted to bring honour to their family, community and people group. Honour came by doing things that were considered proper and worthy of respect. The more honour someone had the more authority they had in the community.

Covenant with David: God chose to work through David and his family in his plan to save the world. God showed this by making a covenant with David and the sons born after him. God promised to make David's rule secure and to give the Israelites peace and rest. God promised that sons from David's family line would rule as kings in Israel. David and his sons after him were to be faithful to the Mount Sinai covenant. If they were faithful, God wouldn't take the kingdom away from David's family line. They would always be kings over the Israelites. God also promised something else in this covenant. A son from David's family line would rule for ever over God's kingdom. This promise didn't depend on anything David and the sons after him did. It didn't depend on them being faithful to the Mount Sinai covenant. Old Testament writers understood that this was a promise about the Messiah. New Testament writers understood that this promise was fulfilled in Jesus. (David Ruth 3:1–4:22.)

Mephibosheth: A son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. His feet were hurt in an accident the day Jonathan died. Once David became king, he always treated Mephibosheth well.

Bathsheba: The wife of Uriah the Hittite. David committed adultery with her, murdered her husband and then made her his wife. Her first child with David died as a result of David's sins. Her second child with David was Solomon. Jesus came from Bathsheba's family line.

Uriah: The husband of Bathsheba and one of David's 30 chief warriors. He was a Hittite. He was an outsider who was considered part of Israel. David had him murdered in the battle against the Ammonites at Rabbah.

Nathan: A prophet during the time when David was king. He was a close adviser to David. He gave David the message about God's promises for David's family line. He challenged David when David did evil things. Nathan supported Solomon as the king after David.

Absalom: The son of David and Makaah. Tamar was his sister. He also had a daughter named Tamar. Absalom killed his brother Amnon for raping their sister Tamar. Absalom made himself king while King David was still alive. His army fought against David's army. Joab killed him even though David didn't want Absalom to be hurt.

Solomon: The son of David and Bathsheba who became king of Israel. God gave him the name Jedidiah. In the Hebrew language Jedidiah means loved by the Lord. This name showed that God had chosen Solomon to be king after David. Solomon was the king when the temple was built in Jerusalem. He was very wise and very rich. He wrote many proverbs and songs. Later in his rule Solomon stopped being faithful to God. This led to the nation of Israel separating into two kingdoms.

Adonijah: The son of David and Haggith. He made himself king before David appointed Solomon as king. When Solomon became king, Solomon spared Adonijah's life. Then Adonijah made a foolish request. He tried to have more authority than Solomon and tried to become king. Solomon had him killed for that.

Tyre and Sidon: Cities on the Mediterranean coast in the country now called Lebanon. The Phoenician people lived there first. The cities were later controlled by many different governments. The Israelites never took control of these cities when they moved into Canaan. Tyre was also a strong fort. There was peace between Tyre and Israel during the rule of some of Israel's kings. The people in Tyre and Sidon worshipped false gods and were known for doing evil things.

Jeroboam: The son of Nebat and Zeruah who was an official in Solomon's government. He was from the tribe of Ephraim. He became the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel. God promised to make his rule secure if Jeroboam served him faithfully. But Jeroboam stopped the Israelites from worshipping God the way God had told them to. Jeroboam appointed people who weren't Levites to be priests. He led the people to worship golden statues of calves. These actions were called the sins of Jeroboam. Because of these sins Jeroboam's family line was destroyed.

Ahijah: A prophet from Shiloh. His words and actions challenged the authority of kings who disobeyed God. God used Ahijah to show that Solomon hadn't been faithful to God's covenant with David. Later God used Ahijah to show that Jeroboam hadn't been faithful to God either.

Rehoboam: The son of Solomon and an Ammonite woman named Naamah. While Rehoboam was king, the nation of Israel divided into two kingdoms. Rehoboam ruled over the southern kingdom of Judah. He was a foolish leader who did evil things and worshipped false gods. He didn't have the wealth or power that Solomon had.

Northern kingdom: The land and tribes of Israel ruled over by kings who weren't from David's family line. It was also called Israel or Ephraim. Important cities in the northern kingdom were Dan, Bethel and Samaria. Samaria became the capital city. The northern kingdom began when Jeroboam led many Israelites to refuse to follow Rehoboam. It ended in 722 BC when Assyria took control of Samaria. The people of the northern kingdom never returned from being exiled. Prophets to the northern kingdom included Ahijah, Jehu, Micaiah, Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Jonah, Hosea and Micah. The kings were Jeroboam, Nabad, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam the second, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah and Hoshea. None of those kings was faithful to the Mount Sinai covenant.

Southern kingdom: The land and tribes of Israel ruled over by kings from David's family line. It was also called Judah. It included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and some Israelites from other tribes. Important cities in the southern kingdom were Hebron, Lachish and Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the capital city. The southern kingdom began when Rehoboam lost authority over ten of the tribes. It ended in 586 BC when Babylon took control of Jerusalem. Some people from the southern kingdom returned after being exiled in Babylon. Prophets to the southern kingdom included Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk and Ezekiel. The kings were Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah (queen), Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. Only a few of these kings were faithful to the Mount Sinai covenant. This included Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Hezekiah and Josiah.

Abijah: The son of Rehoboam and Maakah. He was the father of Asa and was from the tribe of Judah. He was the second king of the southern kingdom of Judah. He did evil and worshipped false gods.

Asa: The son of Abijah and the father of Jehoshaphat. He was from the tribe of Judah. He was the third king of the southern kingdom of Judah. For many years he followed God faithfully. He led the people to worship only God. Later he stopped trusting God and started treating God's people badly.

Jehoshaphat: The son of Asa and Azubah. He was the father of Jehoram and was from the tribe of Judah. He was the fourth king of the southern kingdom of Judah. He followed God faithfully and led the people to worship only God.

Ahab: The son of Omri who became the seventh king of the northern kingdom. He was the father of Ahaziah and Jezebel was his wife. He did more evil than any king of Israel before him. He worshipped false gods. He made Samaria a centre for worshipping Baal. He treated the prophet Elijah like an enemy.

Jezebel: The daughter of the king of Sidon. She married Ahab and ruled as queen of Israel. She wasn't an Israelite. She did many evil things. She killed many prophets of God but supported many prophets of Baal (1 Kings 15:1–22:53). Jezebel was also the name given to a false prophet in the church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:20). This person led many believers to sin. They claimed to have special knowledge about the devil. There may have been a woman named Jezebel doing these things. Or Jesus may have used the name to show how this person was like Queen Jezebel. This false prophet was leading people to worship false gods.

Elijah: A prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel when Ahab and Ahaziah ruled. He was from the land of Gilead. He was known to wear clothes made from hair and a leather belt. His words and actions challenged the authority of rulers in Israel who worshipped false gods. He taught many other prophets. He gave his authority to Elisha to be a prophet after him. Elijah was like Moses in many ways. God performed miracles through him and appeared to him on Mount Horeb. Elijah didn't die but was taken up to heaven in a strong wind. No one ever found his body.

Angel: A messenger sent by God. Angels tell people God's words or do work for God on earth. Angels are spiritual beings. They can look like humans but they don't have bodies like human bodies. (Spiritual beings Joshua 5:13–8:29.)

Elisha: A prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel from Ahab's rule to Jehoash's rule. He was Elijah's servant. His words and actions challenged the authority of rulers in Israel who worshipped false gods. He taught many other prophets. God performed many miracles through Elisha.

Naaman: An important commander of Aram's army. A young Israelite girl was a servant in his house. He followed her advice to ask Elisha to heal him of his skin disease. At first Naaman refused to follow Elisha's instructions. But when he made himself humble and obeyed, he was healed. Then he believed in God. He worshipped only God when he returned to Aram.

Samaria: The capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel. Omri made Samaria the centre of the northern kingdom's government. Ahab made it the centre of the northern kingdom's worship practices. The Assyrians took control of the city and the area around it in 722 BC. They brought other people groups to live there. These people groups mixed with the Israelites who were left in Samaria. Their children became known as Samaritans. In the time of the Romans, Samaria was an area of Israel. It was between Galilee in the north and Judea in the south. In Jesus' time, the Samaritans claimed to be from Abraham's family line. Jews and Samaritans usually treated each other like enemies.

Athaliah: A granddaughter of Omri and the mother of Ahaziah. It's thought that she was a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. It's thought that she married King Jehoram. Athaliah murdered the males in David's family line who could have become king. She did this after Jehu killed her son Ahaziah. Only Joash was saved. Athaliah ruled as queen over the southern kingdom for six years. She led the people to worship Baal. She did many evil things. She was killed by palace guards.

Joash: The son of Ahaziah and Zibia. He was the father of Amaziah and was from the tribe of Judah. He was the seventh king of the southern kingdom. His grandmother Athaliah tried to murder him but his aunt Jehosheba saved him. Joash grew up in the temple with Jehoiada. He became king when he was seven years old. He made sure that the temple was repaired. He followed God faithfully and led the people to worship only God. He did this for as long as Jehoiada was alive. After Jehoiada died, Joash did evil things and worshipped false gods.

Jehoiada: An important priest when Athaliah was queen and later when Joash was king. His wife was Jehosheba. Jehoiada was the father of Zechariah and was Joash's uncle. He taught Joash to be faithful to the Mount Sinai covenant. Jehoiada led the people of Jerusalem to stop following Athaliah and to have her killed. Then he led them to make Joash king and to follow God's covenant. When Jehoiada died the people honoured him by burying him with the kings of Judah. Later Joash put Jehoiada's son Zechariah to death.

Assyria: A kingdom in Mesopotamia that lasted for thousands of years. It became a powerful government that ruled over many other nations and people groups. The capital city was Nineveh. Assyria took control of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. They forced the Israelites to leave their land and live far away in exile. Some of Assyria's kings were Tiglath-Pilesar, Shalmaneser, Sargon and Sennacherib. Babylonian armies won an important battle over Assyria in 612 BC. Assyria was no longer powerful after that.

BC: A way to describe all the years before Jesus was born. BC means before Christ.

Exile: When people are forced to leave their homes and land and live somewhere else. This was a covenant curse from the Mount Sinai covenant. Many Israelites from the northern kingdom were exiled in Assyria. They never returned to the land of Israel. Many Israelites from the southern kingdom were exiled in Babylonia. Some of them returned to the land of Judah.

Hezekiah: The son of Ahaz and Abijah. He was the father of Manasseh and was from the tribe of Judah. He was the twelfth king of the southern kingdom of Judah. While he was king, God did a miracle to save Jerusalem from the Assyrians. Hezekiah followed God faithfully and led the people to worship only God.

Isaiah: A prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah during the time of Hezekiah and other kings. In the Hebrew language his name means the Lord will save or the Lord is salvation. Stories about him are in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Isaiah.

Babylon: The capital city of Babylonia. Babylonia was a kingdom in Mesopotamia that lasted for thousands of years. It became a powerful government that ruled over many other nations and people groups. Many Babylonians were from the people group called the Chaldeans. Babylonia took control of the southern kingdom of Judah. In 586 BC Babylonian armies destroyed Jerusalem and the temple built when Solomon was king. They forced many people from Judah to leave their land. They had to live in exile in Babylon. Marduk-Baladan, Nebuchadnezzar, Awel-Marduk and Belshazzar were Chaldean kings of Babylonia. The Persian government took control of the Babylonian government in 539 BC. Some books of the Bible use the name Babylon to talk about powerful governments. The name Babylon described rich and proud kingdoms that didn't honour God. They tried to be more powerful than any other government or people group. They ruled over other nations without mercy and treated people very badly. In Revelation, John used Babylon as a sign for the government of Rome.

Josiah: The son of Amon and Jedidah. He was the father of Jehoahaz and was from the tribe of Judah. He was also the father of Eliakim who was called Jehoiakim. He was the fifteenth king of the southern kingdom of Judah. He followed God faithfully and led the people to worship only God.

High places: A place of worship on a hill, mountain or place on high ground. People burnt incense and made sacrifices there. Some high places were used for worshipping the true God. This happened often before the temple was built. Other high places were used for worshipping false gods. People would even sacrifice children on them to honour false gods. There were many of these high places when the Israelites first entered Canaan. The Israelites were supposed to destroy all high places used to worship false gods.

God's anger: The Bible describes God as angry at sin and evil. He shows his anger by bringing judgement against those who refuse to stop doing evil. He brings judgement against those who refuse to repent and turn away from sin. Writers in the Bible described God's anger like a winepress. In a winepress, grapes are crushed to make wine. Writers in the Bible also described God's anger like a cup of wine. Those who refused to stop sinning and doing evil deeds had to drink it. These were pictures of God's judgement. They were pictures of how God stops those who do evil and punishes them. People who believe in Jesus are set free from the power of sin and evil. Because of this, they are saved from God's anger against sin and evil. In Revelation, God's anger and the Lamb's anger are the same thing.

Nebuchadnezzar: A king of Babylon from the Chaldean people group. God used him as a tool to bring judgement against the southern kingdom. In the year 586 BC his armies destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. The prophet Daniel explained some of Nebuchadnezzar's dreams to him. Nebuchadnezzar worshipped false gods but recognised that the God of the Jews had authority.

Cyrus: A king of Persia who was also called Cyrus the Great or Cyrus II. God used him as a tool to bring judgement against Babylon. Cyrus took control of Babylonia in 539 BC. Many Jews had been forced to live in Babylon. Cyrus encouraged them to return to Judah. He supported them in rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. God used Cyrus as a tool to accomplish these things for the Jews.

Jew: A name for people from Jacob's family line. In the Hebrew language Jew means from the tribe of Judah. But Israelites from all tribes were called Jews. They were called Jews after Babylon took control of the southern kingdom. Most people in the southern kingdom were from the tribe of Judah. The Babylonian army forced many people from the southern kingdom to live in Babylon in exile. Later those who moved back to Judah from exile were also called Jews. (Hebrew Psalm 119:1–176. Family line Genesis 4:1–5:32.)

Jebusites: A people group that lived in Canaan. They were from the family line of Ham's son Canaan. God told the Israelites to drive them out of the land as his judgement against them. They lived in the city of Jerusalem before David took control of it.

Mount Moriah: A rocky hilltop in Jerusalem. It was also called Mount Zion. It was north of the part of Jerusalem that David used for his government. In the Hebrew language Moriah means the place where the Lord provides and appears. It's where God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. Then God provided the ram to be sacrificed instead of Isaac. Many years later the angel of the Lord appeared on Mount Moriah. The angel brought a plague to destroy Jerusalem. God accepted the offering on the altar David built. David built that altar on a Jebusite's threshing floor on Mount Moriah. Then God stopped the plague. That is why Solomon had the first temple built on Mount Moriah. The second temple was also built there.

Asaph: A Levite from the family line of Gershon. David appointed Asaph, his helpers and the sons from Asaph's family line. David appointed them to be in charge of worship services. They led the people of Israel in praising God with songs of thanks. They prophesied, played instruments and wrote songs. Some of these songs are recorded in the book of Psalms.

Jeremiah: A prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah. He was the son of Hilkiah. He was a priest in the town of Anathoth. He prophesied from the time of Josiah until after the Babylonian armies destroyed Jerusalem. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Jeremiah.

Joshua and Zerubbabel: Jewish leaders who returned to Judah from being exiled in Babylon. They led God's people to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Joshua was the son of Jozadak and served as high priest in the second temple. This is a different Joshua to the one who led the Israelites after Moses. Zerubbabel served as the governor of Judah while the Persian government was in control. He was the son of Shealtiel and was from David's family line. Jesus is from Zerubbabel's family line.

Persia: A kingdom in the area now known as Iran. It became a powerful government that ruled over many other nations and people groups. Many Persians were from the people group called the Medes. Susa was one of the capital cities. Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes and Artaxerxes were kings of Persia. The Greek government took control of the Persian government in 333 BC.

Haggai: A prophet in Judah when the Persian government was in control. He encouraged Joshua and Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Haggai.

Zechariah: The father of John the Baptist. Elizabeth was his wife. He was a priest from the tribe of Levi and from Aaron's family line. Zechariah spoke a beautiful prophecy when John the Baptist was born.

Darius: A king of Persia who was also called Darius the Great or Darius I. God used him as a tool. Darius allowed the Jews to rebuild the temple.

Ezra: A priest who led a group of Jews to return to Jerusalem from Babylon. He was also a teacher of the law. He was the son of Seraiah. He was from Aaron's family line in the tribe of Levi. Ezra taught the Jews in Jerusalem the Law of Moses. This was after they had lived in Babylon for many years.

Divorce: When people who are married stop being married (marriage Genesis 1:1–2:25). The Law of Moses included rules about divorce. Divorce was made official by a written letter when the couple stopped living together. Some prophets used divorce as a picture. It described something about the relationship between the people of Israel and God. They hadn't been faithful to the Mount Sinai covenant. So God allowed his people to be forced to live in exile in Assyria and Babylon. They no longer lived in the land he had given them. This was like when a married couple stopped living together. In this way the exile was like a divorce between God and his people.

Nehemiah: A Jew who returned to Jerusalem from Susa. He was the son of Hakaliah and Hanani was his brother. He was a trusted official in the Persian government. He was the wine taster for Artaxerxes. This meant that he made sure that the king's food and wine wasn't poisoned. He served twice as the governor of Jerusalem. He led the Jews to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.

Artaxerxes: The ruler of the Persian kingdom from 465 to 425 BC. He was known as Artaxerxes I. God used him as a tool to help the Jews rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.

Susa: One of the capital cities of the Persian government. It was located east of the River Tigris in the country now called Iran.

Esther: A Jew who lived in the Persian kingdom during the time of Xerxes. Hadassah was her Jewish name and Esther was her Persian name. She was the daughter of Abihail and was from the tribe of Benjamin. Her cousin Mordecai adopted her when her parents died. Xerxes chose her to be queen because she was beautiful and pleased him. Esther made a brave and wise plan to help save the Jews from being destroyed.

Xerxes: The ruler of the Persian kingdom from 486 to 465 BC. In the Hebrew language he was known as Ahasuerus.

Mordecai: A Jew who lived in the Persian kingdom during the time of Xerxes. Mordecai was the son of Jair and was from the tribe of Benjamin. He adopted his cousin Esther when her parents died. He served in the Persian government at the palace gate in Susa. After Haman was killed, Mordecai became an advisor to Xerxes. Mordecai was an important leader with authority in the Persian kingdom.

Haman: A leader in the Persian government during the time of Xerxes. He was from the family line of Agag the Amalekite. This meant that Haman was from a people group that had treated the Israelites badly. Haman made plans to destroy all the Jews in the Persian kingdom. Xerxes had him put to death.

Seal: There are several meanings for the word seal in the Bible. The first meaning is to close something up or shut it. The second is to put into effect an agreement or covenant. The third meaning is a piece of sticky wax. People would put the wax on important scrolls or papers to close them. Only people with permission were supposed to break the seal and open the papers. The last meaning is an official or royal mark that shows who someone is. A seal that was pressed onto papers or other things left its mark on them. This showed that the person agreed to something or that it belonged to them.

Feast of Purim: The Jewish feast to celebrate being rescued from Haman's plan to destroy all Jews. It isn't one of the feasts described in the Law of Moses. Jews began celebrating it when the Persian government was in control. They celebrated it on the 14th and 15th days of the 12th month. It was named Purim because Haman cast lots to decide when to destroy the Jews. In the Hebrew language the word Pur means lots. Esther and Mordecai's order rescued the Jews from Haman's plans. The feast was to be a joyful time of good food and giving gifts to the poor. Reading the book of Esther out loud became a common practice during the Feast of Purim.

Job: The main person in the story told in the book of Job. He was from Uz. It's thought that Uz was in Edom. It's thought that Job wasn't from Jacob's family line. He worshipped the one true God faithfully. God tested Job by allowing him to suffer. Job asked God many questions and spoke honestly about his feelings. Throughout the test, he remained faithful to God.

Ungodly people: People who don't live the way God wants human beings to live. They don't love, worship and obey God. They worship false gods. They try to get what is best for themselves and don't serve others. They also try to make others stop being faithful to God and his ways. God wants ungodly people to turn away from sin and be made right with him. God will raise ungodly people from the dead. He will judge them.

Son of God: A way that Psalm 2 described Israel's kings. It showed that they were chosen by God to rule and were worthy of honour. It showed that they were to follow God's example for ruling. In New Testament times, Roman emperors were called son of god. This was because they believed that the Roman gods gave Caesar his power. The name was used in a special way to talk about Jesus. It means that the one, true, mighty God is Jesus' Father. Using this name for Jesus made Jews who didn't accept him very angry. It also made the Roman government angry because it challenged Caesar's authority.

Messiah: The saviour that God promised to send to rescue God's people from all their enemies. In the Hebrew language the word messiah means anointed one or chosen one. Many prophecies and promises recorded in the Old Testament talk about this rescuer. Many Jews came to understand that these prophecies and promises talked about a king. He would be from David's family line. He would be chosen by God to bring peace that lasted for ever. When Jesus lived on earth, many Jews came to believe that he is the Messiah.

New Testament: The last 27 books of the Bible. It includes the gospels and a book about the beginning of the church. It also includes many letters and one book of apocalyptic writing.

Heavenly world: A way of talking about all the spiritual beings that exist. It isn't a certain place. The heavenly world includes spiritual beings that serve God and it includes evil spiritual beings. (Spiritual beings Joshua 5:13–8:29. Evil spiritual beings Genesis 3:1–24). The heavenly world is also known as the spiritual realm. Human beings can't see, hear or touch the heavenly world on their own. The choices they make have an effect in the heavenly world. This includes their choices about who to worship and how to treat others. The prayers of Jesus' followers also have an effect in the heavenly world. When God shows humans beings things in the heavenly world it's called a vision.

Cross: Two pieces of wood that were put together so that a person could be nailed onto them. The Romans killed criminals, rebels and slaves this way. This process is called crucifixion. It was done in public to bring shame to the prisoners. It was also done to make people afraid to disobey Roman laws. Dying on a cross was very painful and usually slow. Roman soldiers could make death come quicker by breaking the legs of the criminals. The cross was a sign of terror and death. Jesus talked about the cross to show how his followers must be willing to suffer.

Proverb: A short and wise saying. Proverbs come to exist when a person or a community studies life in the world. As they study, they learn lessons and notice patterns. These patterns are about how life in the world works. The person or community puts these lessons and patterns into words like a short poem. Proverbs are passed down within families and communities for hundreds of years. A proverb isn't a promise that life always works according to the pattern it describes.

Hebrew: A name for people from Abraham's family line. It was often used as another word for Jews. The language of the Hebrew people was called Hebrew. Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew. (Family line Genesis 4:1–5:32 Jew 1 Chronicles 1:1–9:34.)

Alphabet poem: A poem in which each line or section begins with a different letter of the alphabet. The first line or section begins with the first letter of the alphabet. The second line or section begins with the second letter. This pattern keeps going until the end of the alphabet. Alphabet poems were common in the Hebrew language. (Poem Genesis 1:1–2:25.)

New song: Offering praise and thanks to God through song for what he has done. New songs are based on a person or group seeing God's mercy in new ways. They are based on the special relationship each person or group has with God.

Messages of judgement: Messages God sent to people through a prophet about judgement that he would bring. The messages warned the people to stop doing evil things. God warned them to turn away from their sin and to repent. God warned them because he wanted them to change their ways. If they didn't change, God would bring judgement against them. If they did change, God wouldn't bring judgement against them. Giving people these warnings showed that God was full of mercy.

Prostitute: A person who has sex with others in exchange for payment of some kind. Some people are prostitutes because they have no other choice. This happens with slaves or people who live under someone else's control. Some people choose to be prostitutes. It's how they make money. Writers in the Bible talk about people who choose to be prostitutes. They are a sign for people or groups who try to make other people sin. They are also a sign for not being faithful to worship only God. Marriage is one way that the Bible describes God's relationship with his people. When his people serve other gods, it's like not being faithful in marriage. It's like being a prostitute with false gods. God doesn't want any human being to be a prostitute with their body. He also doesn't want them to worship anything or anyone but him.

Last days: A way to talk about a time in the future. Some prophets in the Bible described it as a time when God would take action. He would take action to make sure that all people honoured him. Other writers in the Bible described it as a time of suffering. It would be a time before God judged the world. People would do many evil things during that time. Some New Testament writers described the time after Jesus' resurrection as the last days. It was considered the time the church lives in until Jesus returns to earth.

Action of prophecy: Israel's prophets shared God's messages by speaking words and also by the way they lived. God told them to do certain things or to act out a story. These actions were signs to get people's attention. They were signs about how God would bring judgement or bring salvation.

Immanuel: A name in the Hebrew language that means God is with us. In the time of King Ahaz, Isaiah prophesied about a boy named Immanuel. He would be a sign that God was with the southern kingdom. This child was a sign that the southern kingdom would be saved. They would be saved from enemy armies that attacked them. Isaiah's prophecy also had a meaning for the future. Matthew wrote about this in his gospel. Through Jesus, God was with his people in a human body. Jesus is the Immanuel who saves God's people from the enemies of sin and death.

Matthew: The writer of the first gospel in the New Testament. He was one of Jesus' 12 disciples. He was also called Levi. He was a tax collector.

Damascus: The capital city of the kingdom north of the land of Israel. It's in the country now called Syria. For many years it was a city of the Arameans. It's about 300 km north of Jerusalem.

Apocalyptic writing: In the Greek language the word apocalypse means to reveal or uncover something. Apocalyptic writing was common among Jewish and Christian prophets. In apocalyptic writing, prophets used signs and pictures to talk about things happening on earth. The signs and pictures uncovered spiritual truths about those things. They helped people understand God's point of view. They showed how God would save his people and judge their enemies. The signs and pictures in apocalyptic writing are often powerful and frightening. This was to get people's attention.

John: The writer of the Gospel of John. He also wrote books 1, 2 and 3 John. It's thought that he also wrote the book of Revelation. John was one of Jesus' 12 disciples and one of his three closest followers. In the Gospel of John he is called the disciple whom Jesus loved. His brother was James and their father was Zebedee. Jesus called James and John the sons of thunder.

New creation: The world when God makes all things new. It's called the new heaven and the new earth. It's also called the world to come. It includes everything that God created. The new creation will come when God has fully won the battle over evil. Jesus will rule completely as King. He will raise his followers from the dead and give them new bodies. They will enjoy eternal life with God for ever. Jesus' body after his resurrection was the first sign of the new creation.

God's servant: A servant that God promised to send to help God's people. The book of Isaiah includes several prophecies about this servant. God chose this servant to share God's teaching with his people. God set this servant apart to lead his people with justice. He would suffer as he served. The servant is sometimes described as the people of Israel. He is sometimes described as a prophet or someone else who helped God's people. Other times the servant is described as a saviour who would come in the future. In Acts chapter 3, Peter showed how the servant described in Isaiah was also the Jewish Messiah. Peter then showed how Jesus is this Servant and Messiah.

Light for the Gentiles: Words that described the work of God's servant (Isaiah 42:6 and Isaiah 49:6). The servant would make sure that God's covenant and salvation reached all people groups. In the New Testament, Simeon understood that Jesus would do this work (Luke 2:30–32). Paul and Barnabas understood that they were to be light for the Gentiles too (Acts 13:47). They did this by sharing the message about Jesus with Gentiles. In Acts 26:23 Paul preached about how Jesus brought the message of God's light. This is the message of salvation from the power of sin and death. Jesus brought this light to Jews and Gentiles. Jesus' followers are to share Jesus' light and salvation with the whole world.

Light: Throughout the Bible there are two meanings for the word light. The first meaning is when the sun is shining and there is light outside. The second meaning is a sign of things that agree with God. Light includes things that show or do what God wants for his world. It includes peace, understanding, health and goodness. God's light works to free God's world from evil and evil spiritual beings (evil spiritual beings Genesis 3:1–24). These are described as darkness (darkness Matthew 4:12–17). The time when God rules as King is talked about as the kingdom of light.

Gentile: A name used in the Bible for everyone who wasn't from Jacob's family line. Most Gentiles didn't know about Israel's God or Israel's history. They didn't know about the Law of Moses and didn't follow Jewish laws. (Law of Moses Exodus 19:1–31:18.)

Sword: A sharp weapon used for fighting. Writers in the Bible said the words people speak are like swords. This showed how people can cause harm with their words. Writers in the Bible also said God's word is like a sword. This showed that God's word uncovers what is inside people's hearts. It also showed that God's word strengthens and protects believers when they struggle against evil. In a special way, the words from Jesus' mouth were described as a sword. This was a picture of how Jesus is God's word. Everything he speaks is the truth about God. Speaking truth about God is how he destroys the devil's lies about God.

New Jerusalem: The city that John saw in the visions God showed him about the future. These visions were recorded in Revelation. In Jerusalem in Israel, God made his presence known in the temple. In the new Jerusalem of the future, God will be fully present everywhere. He will live with human beings for ever. There will be no suffering or death or sin there. Life will be the way God always wanted it to be for his creation. The new Jerusalem is called the bride of the Lamb. This is because all of God's people live there. It's also called the city of God and the heavenly Jerusalem. In the new Jerusalem God will rule as King. He will share his authority with his faithful followers.

False prophet: A person who pretends to be a prophet. They share messages that aren't from God. They do this to try to trick people. (Prophet Deuteronomy 12:1–14:26.)

605 BC: The year that many important things recorded in the books of Jeremiah and Daniel happened. It was the year that Baruch wrote down Jeremiah's prophecies. It was the year that there was an important battle between Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia. The battle was fought at a city on the Euphrates River called Carchemish. Babylonia's armies won. The Babylonian government then had control over the nations in that area of the world. It was the year that Nebuchadnezzar became king of Babylon. It was also the year that Jehoiakim was taken as a prisoner to Babylon. He and a group of people from the southern kingdom were forced to leave Judah. They were forced to live in exile in Babylon. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in this group.

70 years: A way to describe how long the southern kingdom faced the covenant curse of exile. It was a sign that the exile lasted a long time. It was also a sign that the exile wouldn't last for ever. 70 years can describe several important periods of time. In the year 605 BC Nebuchadnezzar became king of Babylon. About 70 years later, the Persian government took control of the Babylonian government. In the year 605 BC people from Jerusalem were forced to live in Babylon. About 70 years later, a group of Jews returned to Judah from Babylon. In the year 586 BC Babylonian armies destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. About 70 years later, the Jews rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem.

New covenant: The set of promises God made to his people for when they returned from exile. It would last for ever. God would make his people able to follow him faithfully. He would do this by forgiving their sin and their evil ways. God first announced the new covenant through the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Many years later Jesus announced it. Jesus gave up his life as a sacrifice to save people from sin and death. Then he was raised from the dead. This put the new covenant into effect. In the new covenant, all who trust Jesus to save them are part of God's people. They are made right with God. The Holy Spirit makes them able to follow Jesus and to obey God faithfully.

River Euphrates: A river that flows through the countries now called Turkey, Syria and Iraq. It was an important river in the kingdoms of Babylonia and Persia. In Jesus' time, the Euphrates formed one of the borders of the Roman government's lands.

Ezekiel: A priest who became a prophet when Babylon took control of the southern kingdom. He was the son of Buzi and was from the tribe of Levi. He was in the group of Jews forced to live in exile in Babylon. His visions and prophecies are recorded in the book of Ezekiel.

Four living creatures: Spiritual beings seen by Ezekiel and John in visions. Like the seraphs in Isaiah's vision they give glory to God. They worship God and do what he wants done. Ezekiel called them cherubim. There were statues of these beings over the ark of the covenant.

Son of Man: A way to talk about a person or human being. It's also the name of someone in a vision Daniel had (Daniel 7:13–15). In the vision, the son of man saved Israel from their enemies. Jesus called himself the Son of Man. This was a way to talk about how he is human and has God's authority. Jesus explained that as the Son of Man he would suffer. Then he would win victory over God's enemies. Those enemies are sin, death and evil. Jesus would do this for all human beings.

Herod the Great: The King Herod of Matthew 2 and Luke 1. He was a ruler appointed by the Romans with the title King of the Jews. He ruled as king from around 36 BC to 4 BC. He ruled over Judea and all of Israel's lands. He was from the family line of Esau but was considered to be a Jew. He ordered many building projects to be done. This included the city of Caesarea and the temple in Jerusalem. He ordered the temple to be made bigger and greater than it had ever been.

Living water: A way of talking about how God provides everything that people need to live. In the Bible it's also called water that gives life and the water of life. Water is living when it's fresh and moving. People drink it to stay alive and plants and animals can live in it. Prophets described God as a spring of water that gave life to his people. They described him as a shepherd who led his people to springs of water. And they described how water would flow out of Jerusalem. This water would give life to the whole world. In the New Testament, Jesus described the Holy Spirit as living water. Jesus gives living water to people who believe in him. This means that he shares the Holy Spirit with them. The Spirit provides what their spirits need. This is like how water provides what their bodies need. The Spirit helps them serve others. This is how the living water flows out from inside of people. In Revelation, God offers the water of life freely to everyone who believes in him.

Daniel: A young man from the southern kingdom when Jehoiakim was king. He was taken from Judah to live in Babylon. He served several Babylonian and Persian kings as a wise man and government leader. He was also called Belteshazzar. He was a prophet and God gave him visions and messages. These are recorded in the book of Daniel.

Kingdom of God: God's rule as King over all that he created. This includes heaven and earth. The kingdom of God is also called the kingdom of heaven. One day everyone will recognise that God has complete authority and all power. Everyone and everything will serve and worship only God. Life for everything God created will be the way God always wanted it to be. Jesus announced the message about God's kingdom. He taught about it through parables. It comes to earth in a slow process. It started through Jesus' work. It keeps spreading as the church continues to be faithful to Jesus. (Heaven Matthew 6:16–34.)

Amos: A prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah during the time of King Uzziah. He was a shepherd. His messages were about the northern kingdom during the rule of King Jeroboam the second. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Amos.

Gabriel: An angel who brought important messages to Zechariah, Mary and Joseph in the New Testament. He brought important messages to Daniel in the Old Testament.

Man of sin: Someone who will completely oppose God. In 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12, Paul described him as someone who will do evil things. But Jesus will stop the man of sin. Paul may have been talking about a certain person. Or he may have been describing the powers of sin and evil. Paul described the man of sin in ways like Daniel described certain kings. Daniel's visions about these kings were recorded in Daniel chapters 7 and 11. These kings opposed God, spoke against him and treated God's people badly.

Michael: A leader among the angels who serve God. God gave him authority in the heavenly world. Daniel chapters 10 and 12 described Michael as serving and guarding the people of Israel. In Revelation, John described a battle that Michael fought against the dragon. Jude told a story about Michael based on a Jewish writing from his time.

Spiritual fight: The battle of the devil and all evil spiritual beings against God. They want to stop God's plan for the world. One way they do this is by trying to make people turn against God. The fight occurs in the heavenly world. Humans are part of the fight through the choices they make. They make choices about who to worship and how to treat others. Worshipping God and acting according to his plan is how they fight against evil.

Eternal God: A way to talk about God as always existing for ever. It's the name of God used in a vision Daniel had. Many years later John had a vision about Jesus. Jesus looked to John like how the Eternal God had looked to Daniel.

Resurrection: Rising from the dead to live again. Jews disagreed about whether or not there would be a resurrection after people died. Jesus brought some people back to life again after they had died. Yet those people didn't live for ever. They died again later on. That isn't what happened to Jesus. In Jesus' resurrection, God raised him from the dead to live for ever. He never died again. God will one day bring all people who have died back to life.

Eternal life: Life that can't be destroyed by sin or death. It will last for ever. Jesus was the first human being to have eternal life. It's the life he had when God raised him from the dead. Jesus gives it to all who believe in him and follow him. They will have eternal life in the new creation. It's a life of peace and friendship with God.

Hosea: A prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel. He prophesied during the time of King Jeroboam the second. He prophesied until the time the northern kingdom was destroyed by Assyria. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Hosea.

Joel: A prophet from the family line of Jacob. His father was Pethuel. It isn't known what tribe Joel was from. It isn't known where he lived or when he lived. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Joel.

Day of the Lord: In the Old Testament, it was a way to talk about a time of judgement. God would bring judgement against his people or against their enemies. In the New Testament, it means Jesus' return when he will judge all people (Jesus' return Matthew 24:15–51. Judgement day Matthew 12:38–50.)

Peter: A fisherman from Bethsaida who lived in Capernaum. Andrew was his brother. Peter became one of Jesus' 12 disciples and was one of Jesus' three closest followers. He was also called Simon, Simon Peter and Cephas.

Jonah: A prophet from the northern kingdom of Israel. He was the son of Amittai. He prophesied about the northern kingdom's borders. This prophecy was fulfilled when King Jeroboam the second ruled. A story about Jonah is recorded in the book of Jonah.

Nineveh: The capital city of the Assyrian government. It was on the Tigris River in the country now called Iraq. The people who lived there were known for doing violent and evil things. The Babylonian government took control of Nineveh and the Assyrian government in 612 BC.

Mediterranean Sea: A huge body of water that connects Africa, Asia and Europe. It was the western border of the land God promised to give the Israelites.

Micah: A prophet from the southern kingdom during the time of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. His messages were for the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Micah.

Nahum: A prophet from the family line of Jacob. He was from the town of Eklosh. It isn't known where Eklosh was or what tribe Nahum was from. His messages were for the southern kingdom of Judah. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Nahum.

Taxes: Money that a government requires people to pay. Those who live under the authority of that government pay this money. The leaders are supposed to use the money to take care of their people.

Habakkuk: A prophet from the family line of Jacob. It isn't known what tribe Habakkuk was from or where he lived. His messages were about the southern kingdom and are recorded in the book of Habakkuk.

Zephaniah: A prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah. He was the son of Cushi and was from the family line of King Hezekiah. He prophesied while Josiah was king. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Zephaniah.

Malachi: A prophet after the Jews returned to Jerusalem after being forced to live in Babylonia. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Malachi.

Prosperity gospel: A teaching that goes against the good news about Jesus. It teaches that God saves people from all problems and suffering on earth. It teaches that God gives riches to all who believe in Jesus and have faith in him. It teaches that they will always have more than they need. It also teaches that they will always have healthy bodies. It teaches that they will have all of these things while they are alive on earth. The good news about Jesus that is true doesn't teach these things. What is true is that Jesus saves people from the power of sin, death and evil. This salvation begins while people are alive on earth. It will be complete when Jesus returns and rules as King in the new creation. Jesus is the example for his followers about how to live. His example teaches believers how to serve others and how to face suffering.

John the Baptist: The son of Elizabeth and Zechariah and a relative of Jesus. The angel Gabriel announced his birth. He was a prophet and was like Elijah in many ways (Elijah 1 Kings 15:1–22:53). He lived in the desert and wore a leather belt and clothes made from hair. He preached to Jews about turning away from sin. He baptised people and helped them get ready for Jesus to come. King Herod Antipas had him put to death.

Gospel: A word from the Greek language that means good news. It's also a name for books in the Bible about Jesus Christ's life and work. The four gospels in the New Testament are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospels tell the good news about Jesus. The writers based the gospels on records and stories from witnesses. The witnesses had lived with Jesus and worked with him. (Good news Matthew 4:18–25.)

Joseph of Nazareth: The husband of Mary of Nazareth. He was from the family line of David and served God faithfully. He was a carpenter skilled at working with wood, bricks and metal. He wasn't the father of Jesus but adopted Jesus as his son. He took care of Jesus and protected him while he was young.

Wise Men: Important men from lands east of Jerusalem. They studied the stars in the sky. After Jesus was born, they worshipped him as the King of the world.

Caesar: The title for the ruler with most authority in lands controlled by the Roman government. Julius Caesar was the first to use this name. The rulers who came after him also used it. The Caesars after Julius were emperors of Rome. Almost all Caesars treated the people they ruled over very badly. Caesar Augustus was the emperor when Jesus was born. The Romans worshipped the emperor as lord and as the son of the gods. Those who refused to worship the emperor were treated badly. They weren't allowed to buy and sell in the marketplace. The announcement that Jesus is Lord and God's Son challenged the authority of Rome's ruler.

Judea: The southern area of the land God had promised to give Abraham's family line. It included land that had been called the southern kingdom of Judah. It was called Judea after some of God's people returned from exile in Babylon. The tribe of Judah lived in Judea. Jerusalem was the most important city in Judea.

Galilee: The northern area of the land God had promised to give Abraham's family line. It included land that had been part of the northern kingdom of Israel. It was ruled by Herod Antipas in Jesus' time. Jesus grew up in Galilee. The Sea of Galilee was a large lake in that area. The River Jordan flows south from it. Many stories from Jesus' life happened in Galilee and around the Sea of Galilee.

Baptism: A practice among Jews. Baptism was an outward sign of something that had happened inside of people. They would go into the water and be covered by it. Then they would come back out of the water. People did this to be made clean according to Jewish laws. Gentiles were baptised to show that they had accepted the Jewish faith. Jews were baptised as a sign that they obeyed God. It showed that they had turned away from sin. Christians are baptised to show they have turned away from sin and believe in Jesus. It shows they are committed to following Jesus and being part of God's people.

Trinity: There is only one real and true God. The one and only God is three persons. This is the Trinity. The three persons are God the Father (God Genesis 1:1–2:25, Father Exodus 11:1–13:16), Jesus the Son (Jesus Genesis 3:1–24, Son of God Psalm 2:1–12) and the Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit Numbers 11:1–14:45).

Darkness: Throughout the Bible there are two meanings for the word darkness. The first meaning is when the sun sets and it's dark outside. The second meaning is a sign of things that are opposed to God. This darkness causes confusion and problems. It wants to destroy what God has made. Evil and evil spiritual beings are talked about as the kingdom of darkness. (Evil spiritual beings Genesis 3:1–24.)

Disciple: Someone who follows a teacher or a leader. Disciples do what their teacher does and live like them. While Jesus worked in Israel, he chose certain disciples to be his closest followers. There were 12 of them just like there were 12 tribes of Israel. The 12 disciples were also called apostles. (12 tribes Genesis 32:1–35:29,Apostles Matthew 10:1–15.)

Andrew: A fisherman from Bethsaida who lived in Capernaum. He was a disciple of John the Baptist. He became one of Jesus' 12 disciples. Peter was his brother.

James the apostle: One of Jesus' 12 disciples and one of his three closest followers. His brother was John and their father was Zebedee. Jesus called James and John sons of thunder. James was the first apostle to be put to death for being faithful to Jesus.

Good news: The message about Jesus. In the Greek language the entire message is called the gospel. (Gospel Matthew 1:1–17.) It's the message that God rescues people from the power of sin and death. This means that people can fully worship their Creator. They can live in peace with him and with others. This can happen because Jesus gave his life to save all human beings. He died as a sacrifice to free people from being slaves to evil. Then God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus is the Jewish Messiah that God had promised to send. He brings God's eternal life and the power of resurrection to all who believe him.

Holy living: Following Jesus' example for how to think, speak and act. This is how believers can be holy like God is holy. There are many reasons why God wants his people to live holy lives. One reason is that the Holy Spirit lives among them and in them. Another reason is that holy living helps the members of God's family treat each other well. It helps them to always show care and love towards one another. Holy living shows that believers have been set free from the power of sin and death. This helps them spread the message about Jesus among unbelievers. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for believers to live in holy ways. Holy living is also called a godly life.

God's family: The relationship that God wants with all human beings. God's family is different from human families. In the times and places of the Bible, families were usually led by older men. Families included older women, younger men and women and children. Slaves were also part of the household. The men had authority over women and children. Slave owners had authority over slaves. This system is what the nations and people groups of that time were based on. The gospels, Paul's letters and Peter's letters explained what God's family is like. People who follow Jesus all belong to the family of God. God adopts them as his children. Each family member is loved and accepted by God. So they must treat one another with respect and love. Believers with authority must use it to bless and serve others. Believers who obey and serve must do so as if they are serving Jesus.

Rabbi: A male Jewish teacher. Rabbis usually studied the Old Testament and other Jewish writings in schools. They were usually trained by other rabbis. People who wanted to learn from them and be like them would become their disciples. Usually only boys and men were disciples or students. Jesus was a rabbi even though he wasn't trained like rabbis of his time. He welcomed both women and men as his students.

Rome: A kingdom in the area around the Mediterranean Sea that lasted for hundreds of years. The capital city was also called Rome. It became a powerful government that ruled over many other nations and people groups. It ruled over Israel during the times of the New Testament. For many years it was led by powerful emperors. The Roman government treated many of Jesus' followers badly.

Teachers of the law: Jewish men who had studied the Old Testament and other Jewish writings. These men taught what they had learnt to the people. People usually thought highly of these teachers and treated them with honour. Most teachers of the law opposed Jesus and his work.

Tax collector: Jews in Jesus' time who collected money for the Roman government. Many tax collectors weren't honest. They made people give them more money than was required. The tax collectors would keep the extra money for themselves. Most Jews hated tax collectors for doing this. They hated tax collectors for working for the Romans. Tax collectors were often treated like outsiders. (Outsiders Leviticus 17:1–22:33.)

Pharisees: A group of Jewish religious leaders in the times of the New Testament. They urged Jews to work very hard to obey all the Old Testament laws. They didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah God had promised to send. Most Pharisees opposed Jesus and his teachings.

Synagogue: Places where Jews in New Testament times would gather to worship God. They would read out loud from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Then Jewish teachers called rabbis would teach the people. This would happen on the Sabbath day. There were synagogues throughout the lands controlled by the Roman government.

Son of David: A name used for Jesus to show that he was Israel's true King and Messiah. God had promised King David that his kingdom would last for ever. This would happen because someone from his family line would be the messiah. Jesus was the promised ruler from David's family. (David 1 Samuel 16:1–17:58.)

Apostles: Jesus' 12 disciples and other close followers who become leaders in the first churches. The apostles taught people about Jesus and spread the good news about him. Apostle is a word from the Greek language that means someone who is sent.

Treated badly: Many of Jesus' disciples and followers in the first churches were treated badly or killed. Other Jews made them suffer for following Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. These Jews wanted Christian Jews to return to the Jewish faith and way of life. Roman authorities made them suffer for following Jesus as King of the whole world. They wanted Christians to recognise that the Roman emperor was king (Rome Matthew 8:1–17). The Roman government had laws that allowed people to practice the Jewish faith. But in the time of the first churches it didn't have laws about Christians. This meant that Christians could get in trouble for following Jesus. To avoid trouble, they could go back to living as Jews. This was one way to escape being treated badly. It was very tempting for Christians who were suffering. Many Christians are still treated badly for faithfully following Jesus.

Judgement day: The time in the future when God will judge all humans and all spiritual beings. He will show if their thoughts, desires and actions agree with what he wants for his world. He will show if they have followed his ways. He will fully separate evil from good. He will completely destroy for ever all that is evil. All that is good will exist for ever in peace and joy with God. (Day of the Lord Joel 1:1–20.)

Parables: Stories that Jesus told to help people understand God's ways and God's kingdom. The stories used events, places and actions from people's real lives. They usually had one main point.

Herod Antipas: The Herod of Matthew chapter 14, Mark chapter 6, and Luke chapters 3, 9 and 23. He was a son of Herod the Great. He ruled in Galilee and Perea during Jesus' time. Perea was east of the River Jordan. He married the wife of his brother Philip. Her name was Herodias. Herod Antipas had John the Baptist put to death.

Sadducees: The group of Jewish religious leaders with the most authority in Jerusalem. This was during the times of the New Testament. They were in charge of the temple and worked closely with the Roman rulers. They didn't believe in angels or that God raised people from the dead. They didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah God had promised to send. Most Sadducees opposed Jesus and his teachings.

Leader who serves: Jesus is the example for how everyone should treat others. This includes people with authority, power and honour. It includes leaders of any group of human beings. Jesus is the King of all that God created. He came to earth to serve people so they would understand God's love for them. He didn't use his power and authority to force people to do what he wanted. He didn't make people treat him like he was more important than anyone else. Instead he was humble. He showed deep concern for all people. He gave up his life to show people God's love. All believers are to follow Jesus' example of loving and serving others. The Holy Spirit gives Jesus' followers different gifts and abilities to use to serve others. When believers serve others, they are also serving Jesus.

Good works: Things that people do that please God. Believers don't do good works in order to earn God's love and grace. They do them because of God's love and grace in their lives. The Holy Spirit gives believers the strength to do good works. When people follow Jesus' example of thinking, speaking and acting, they are doing good works. Good works include taking care of God's creation and serving others. Good works bring blessing to others and praise to God.

AD 70: The year that Roman armies destroyed the temple. They also destroyed much of the city of Jerusalem. Jewish rebels had been fighting against Rome's rule for four years. Then Roman armies killed many Jews and burnt the temple down. It was never rebuilt. Jesus had warned people many times that this would happen. Jesus described it as punishment for not accepting him as the Messiah sent by God.

Herodians: Supporters of the rulers from the family line of Herod the Great.

Mount of Olives: A group of three peaks on the east side of Jerusalem. It's separated from Jerusalem by the Kidron Valley. There was an olive garden there where Jesus often went.

AD: A way to describe all the years after Jesus was born. In the Latin language, AD means in the year of our Lord.

Jesus' return: When Jesus returns to earth to rule completely as King. After he was raised from the dead, he went to rule with the Father in heaven. When he returns, all people will recognise that he is Lord and King. Jesus will stop all evil on earth. He will bring heaven and earth together as one in God's kingdom.

Judas Iscariot: One of Jesus' 12 disciples. He was in charge of the disciples' money but stole from it. He handed Jesus over to the Jewish leaders who wanted to kill him. Later he killed himself.

Sanhedrin: A group of 70 religious leaders. They had the most authority in Jewish courts in Jesus' time. The Sanhedrin was also called the Jewish Council. They looked after the temple in Jerusalem and made important decisions for the Jewish people. Both Pharisees and Sadducees served in the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin opposed Jesus. They also opposed the apostles who spread the news about Jesus being raised from the dead.

Mary Magdalene: A woman who was a faithful follower of Jesus. It's thought that she was from the town of Magdala in Galilee. Jesus drove seven demons out of her.

Mark: The writer of the Gospel of Mark. He was also called John Mark. His mother's house was a place of prayer for Christians in Jerusalem. He was a disciple of Peter and Barnabas was his cousin. Mark travelled with Paul and Barnabas on their first journey but quit and left early. Later he was helpful to Paul in his work again.

Jewish laws: The Jewish way of life was based on Jewish laws. Many of these laws came from the Law of Moses. Jewish religious leaders also added laws and rules to those earlier laws. Some of these extra laws and rules helped people obey the Law of Moses. Others made life very difficult for Jews. Certain religious leaders used the laws to control what people did. They also used them to make themselves look better. They did this to make it appear that God favoured them over other people. (Ten Commandments Exodus 19:1–31:18. Law of Moses Exodus 19:1–31:18.)

Nazareth: The small town where Jesus grew up in the southern part of Galilee. Nazareth is between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea.

Sea: Many stories in the Bible describe the sea as something to be feared. It was something people needed God to save them from. This included the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. It included Jonah when he was tossed into the sea. It included Jesus when he calmed the storm on the sea. It included John's vision in Revelation of the beast who came from the sea.

In Jesus' name: People can do something in the name of someone else. When they do this, it means they are doing it with that person's authority. They are doing it as if that other person were the one doing it. The disciples prayed, spoke and acted in Jesus' name. This showed that they believed Jesus has complete authority in heaven and on earth. It also showed that they were doing the work Jesus had taught them to do. People were baptised in Jesus' name. This means that they went through baptism because they believed in Jesus. Their baptism showed that they were completely committed to following Jesus.

Hell: A place of total ruin for those who refuse to be part of God's kingdom.

Bethany: The town where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived. It was a short distance east of Jerusalem and near the Mount of Olives.

Barabbas: A Jew who was guilty of murder and of fighting against the Roman government. The Romans had put him in prison. Pilate set him free instead of setting Jesus free at the Passover Feast.

Believer: Someone who believes in Jesus Christ and follows him. In the New Testament they are also called Christians. They believe that Jesus of Nazareth is God's Son who rose from the dead. Believers worship Jesus as God. They serve him as Messiah and King. Believers were first called Christians at Antioch in Syria. They are called by Christ's name because they follow his way of life. Believers remain part of their community and their people group as they follow Jesus. They continue their people group's laws and practices. They do this unless the laws and practices go against what Jesus' taught. This is true for Jewish believers and for Gentile believers.

Luke: The writer of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. He was a doctor who travelled with Paul and worked with him.

Theophilus: The person that Luke wrote his gospel and the book of Acts for. The name Theophilus means lover of God. What Luke wrote can help anyone who loves God. Luke might have used the name Theophilus to talk about another Christian. He might have done this to keep the person's name a secret to protect them. Luke called Theophilus most excellent. This might mean that Theophilus was an official of the Roman government.

Elizabeth: The mother of John the Baptist. She was from the tribe of Levi and from Aaron's family line. Zechariah was her husband and Mary of Nazareth was her relative. When Elizabeth was very old, God made it possible for her to have a son. Elizabeth recognised that Mary was pregnant with the Messiah.

Gerasenes: A community that lived along the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. They didn't want Jesus to do miracles in their town. Mark and Luke called this community the Gerasenes. Matthew called them Gadarenes.

Mary, Martha and Lazarus: Two sisters and a brother who were close friends of Jesus. They lived outside of Jerusalem in Bethany. Jesus would stay at their house. After Lazarus had been buried for four days, Jesus brought him back to life. Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' head to show her deep love for him.

Siloam: A place inside the walls of Jerusalem where there was a pool of fresh water. Siloam means sent. The first pool there was built by King Hezekiah. The Babylonians destroyed it but it was rebuilt in Nehemiah's time. Water from the pool was poured on the altar during the Feast of Booths. The pool's water came from the Gihon spring. There was also a tower there that fell during Jesus' time and killed 18 people.

Simon of Cyrene: A man from Cyrene who carried part of Jesus' cross. Roman soldiers made him do this. Cyrene was in the country now called Libya in Africa. Many Jews who spoke the Greek language lived there. They would travel to Jerusalem for Jewish feasts. Simon's sons were named Alexander and Rufus. This Rufus might be the same Rufus Paul talked about in Romans 16:13.

Lamb of God: A title for Jesus that describes how he sacrificed himself. During the first Passover, lambs were sacrificed. Because of their blood the Israelites were saved from being destroyed. After that, lambs were used in Jewish worship practices as a sacrifice for sin. Jesus sacrificed himself by giving up his life on the cross. His sacrifice saves people from being destroyed by sin, death and evil. In this way he is like the lambs sacrificed by the Israelites. In Revelation, Jesus looked to the prophet John like a Lamb that had been killed. Yet the Lamb was alive. This is because Jesus was raised from the dead after he died on the cross.

Dear woman: A respectful way that Jesus spoke to women. He called some women that he healed dear woman. Other times he called his mother Mary dear woman. It showed kindness and care.

Nicodemus: A Jewish ruler and a Pharisee who believed in Jesus and followed him in secret. He had an important talk with Jesus one night. When Jesus died, Nicodemus helped to prepare Jesus' body for burial.

Born again: A way of describing what happens when people believe in Jesus as King and Saviour. They stop living as slaves to sin. Being a slave to sin is like being dead spiritually even though the body is alive. When people trust Jesus, he gives their spirit new life. This new birth is a spiritual birth. It's not the same as someone's body being born. New life for their bodies will come later when God raises people from the dead.

Cana: A town in Galilee. Two of the seven signs in John's gospel took place there. The disciple Nathanael was from Cana.

Pool of Bethesda: A pool of water in Jerusalem. In the Aramaic language, Bethesda means house of mercy. Water from the pool was used in the temple. Many people believed that the water from the pool would heal their illnesses.

Capernaum: A city on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus lived in Capernaum for some time and did many miracles there. In Capernaum Jesus invited Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew to be his disciples.

I am statements: A way that Jesus used to tell people who he is. In John's gospel Jesus used the words I am in a special way seven times. With these words he described himself and the work he was doing on earth. God used the words I am when he told Moses his name in Exodus 3:14.

Judas: The son of James or Thaddeus. He was one of Jesus' 12 disciples. Matthew and Mark called him Thaddeus. Luke and John called him Judas. He wasn't the Judas who handed Jesus over to be killed.

Thomas: One of Jesus' 12 disciples. He was also called Didymus which means twin.

Church: The community of people who follow Jesus. The church started with disciples in Jerusalem who were from Abraham's family line. The church has grown to include people from any family, place and nation. They are made one through believing in Jesus and believing that he is the Messiah. God's kingdom spreads on earth when the church follows Jesus faithfully. The church is also called the body of Christ.

Speak other languages: When people speak out loud in a language they didn't know before. The Holy Spirit gives some believers the ability to do this. Others listening to them may or may not speak the language. Unless someone can explain the message, believers with this gift should speak only with God. Doing this will help them be close to God through prayer. (Explain other languages 1 Corinthians 14:1–25.)

Christ: The word in the Greek language for messiah or anointed one. When Jesus lived on earth, many Jews came to believe that he is the Messiah. That is why Jesus is called Christ. (Messiah Psalm 2:1–12. Jesus Genesis 3:1–24.)

Gamaliel: A Pharisee and rabbi who was a wise and respected member of the Sanhedrin. The apostle Paul studied Jewish law with Gamaliel before following Jesus.

Deacons: Followers of Jesus who served as church leaders. Deacons worked hard to help meet the needs of believers in the church. The work of the first deacons is described in Acts 6:1–7.

Stephen: One of the seven leaders chosen by the believers in Jerusalem to be a deacon. He made sure all the believers had enough food. Many Jews were angry that he preached about Jesus. They killed him by throwing stones at him. He was the first of Jesus' followers to be killed for being faithful to Jesus.

Paul: A Jewish believer from the tribe of Benjamin who was from the city of Tarsus. In the Hebrew language he was called Saul. In the Greek language he was called Paul. He was a Roman citizen. To make money, he made tents. For many years he was a committed Pharisee. He tried to stop the church from growing. After Jesus appeared to him, he began spreading the good news about Jesus. Paul was an apostle. The New Testament includes many letters he wrote.

Philip: One of the seven leaders chosen by the believers in Jerusalem to be a deacon. He made sure all the believers had enough food. He was a different person than the Philip who was one of Jesus' 12 disciples. He spread the message about Jesus to many people and places. His four daughters were prophets.

Ethiopian official: An important government official in the region of Ethiopia in Africa. He managed the queen's money. It isn't known if he was a Jew. He worshipped the God of Israel and became a follower of Jesus. It's thought that he was the first believer to share the good news about Jesus in Africa.

Way of Jesus: A name for the practice of following Jesus. This name was used in Acts to describe how the community of believers lived.

Place hands: Many times Jesus healed and blessed people by placing his hands on them. Believers followed his example. Placing hands on people became a common practice for specific reasons. These included praying for new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. They included praying for believers to receive a gift of the Holy Spirit. They included healing people and setting them apart to serve as leaders. Placing hands on someone was a way to show God's love and care for them. Nothing magic happened by placing hands on someone. The blessings that came were from the Holy Spirit working through believers.

Barnabas: A Jewish believer from the tribe of Levi who was from the island of Cyprus. His name sounds like the Hebrew words for son of help. Barnabas was also called Joseph. He freely gave what he owned to help others. He also helped bring peace between people. Barnabas was an apostle. He helped Saul after he became a believer. He and Saul travelled to many places sharing the good news about Jesus. John Mark was Barnabas' cousin.

Cornelius: A Roman army commander who lived in Caesarea. He wasn't a Jew but he worshipped the God of Israel. He and his family were among the first Gentiles to follow the Jewish Messiah Jesus.

Antioch in Syria: An important Greek city in the Roman territory of Syria. Travellers from all over the world would pass through Antioch. It was in the country now called Turkey and near the country now called Syria. The church there supported Paul on his journeys to spread the message about Jesus.

Herod Agrippa I: The King Herod of Acts chapter 12. He was a grandson of Herod the Great. He was also a nephew of Herod Antipas. He was the father of Herod Agrippa II. Two of his daughters were Bernice and Drusilla.

Paul's journeys: Paul made several long journeys throughout lands ruled by the Roman government. Everywhere he went, he preached the good news about Jesus to Jews first. Then he preached to Gentiles. He helped start churches among those who believed in Jesus. He travelled with Barnabas on the first journey. He travelled with Silas on the second journey. He travelled with several helpers on the third journey. He travelled as a prisoner to Rome on his fourth journey. Each journey lasted more than a year.

Cyprus: A large island in the Mediterranean Sea west of Syria and south of Turkey. Prophets in the Old Testament mentioned Cyprus. The island was important in Paul's first journey to share the good news. The believers Barnabas and Mnason were from Cyprus.

Asia Minor: An area under Roman rule. It was the western part of the country now called Turkey. It wasn't the continent now called Asia with countries like China, India and Russia. Paul travelled throughout Asia Minor.

Antioch in Pisidia: A city in the Roman territory of Pisidia in Asia Minor. Paul visited it on three of his journeys to share the good news about Jesus. It's thought that Paul's letter to the Galatians was read to the church there. This was a different city than Antioch in Syria.

Iconium: A city in the Roman territory of Galatia in Asia Minor. Paul visited it on three of his journeys to share the good news about Jesus. It's thought that Paul's letter to the Galatians was read to the church there.

Lystra: A city in the Roman territory of Galatia in Asia Minor. Paul visited it on three of his journeys to share the good news about Jesus. Paul's friend Timothy who worked with him was from Lystra. It's thought that Paul's letter to the Galatians was read to the church there.

Derbe: A city in the Roman territory of Galatia in Asia Minor. Paul visited it on three of his journeys to share the good news about Jesus. It's thought that Paul's letter to the Galatians was read to the church there.

Church elders: Followers of Jesus who served as church leaders. They taught the message about Jesus faithfully and made sure others did too. They prayed for people and helped make important decisions for the churches.

James: One of Jesus' brothers. At first he didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah. After Jesus was raised from the dead, he appeared to James. James trusted Jesus and became a leader in the church in Jerusalem. The New Testament includes one letter that he wrote. This is a different James to James the apostle.

Paul's letters: Paul wrote letters to many believers and churches. Thirteen of these letters are in the New Testament. They include the books of Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. They also include the books of 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. It was common for Paul to speak out loud what he wanted to say in his letters. A helper wrote the words down. Then Paul added a final message in his own handwriting. This helped people be certain that the letters really were from him. Paul's helpers carried letters from Paul to the churches or to other people. The church read them out loud and then shared them with other churches in the area. Paul wrote some of his letters while he was in prison.

Silas: A leader among the believers in Jerusalem. He worked with Paul, Barnabas and Peter. He was a prophet and a Roman citizen. He helped take an important letter from the Jerusalem church to Gentile churches. He also helped Paul and Peter write letters to churches.

Galatia: An area in the Roman territory of Asia Minor. It's in the country now called Turkey. Paul visited several cities in Galatia and helped to start several churches there. His letter called Galatians was for those churches.

Phrygia: An area in the Roman territory of Asia Minor near Galatia.

Timothy: A young man from Lystra who worked with Paul. His father was a Greek Gentile. Because his mother was a Jew, Timothy was considered a Jew. His grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice were believers. Paul trusted Timothy and loved him like a son. Timothy served in many of the churches Paul helped start. He was with Paul when the apostle wrote many of his letters. The New Testament includes two letters Paul wrote to Timothy.

Macedonia: A Roman territory in the area that is now northern Greece. (Greece Genesis 1:1–2:25.) Paul travelled there on his second journey. He helped start churches in several cities in Macedonia.

Philippi: A Greek city in the Roman territory of Macedonia. It was in the area that is now northern Greece. Paul travelled there on his second journey. It was the first city in Europe where the good news about Jesus was shared. Paul's letter to the Philippians was to the church there.

Roman citizen: Being a citizen of Rome gave people certain rights. It protected them from being treated badly in certain ways. Roman rulers had to follow Roman laws about citizens. Most of the people in lands controlled by the Roman government weren't Roman citizens. Being a Roman citizen was special.

Thessalonica: A Greek city the Roman territory of Macedonia. It was in the area that is now northern Greece. Paul travelled there on his second journey. His letters to the Thessalonians were written to the church there.

Berea: A Greek city in the Roman territory of Macedonia. It was in the area that is now northern Greece. Paul travelled there on his second journey.

Athens: A very important Greek city in the Roman territory of Achaia. Paul visited it on his second journey. He shared the message of Jesus with the thinkers and leaders at the Areopagus. The Areopagus was a hill outside of Athens. There a council of Athenian leaders would meet and talk about important matters.

Stoics: A group of thinkers who followed the teachings of the Greek thinker Zeno of Citium. They believed that people should live according to natural laws called the logos. The logos was understood to be the force of reason that made the world work. Paul shared the good news about Jesus with Stoics in Athens.

Epicureans: A group of thinkers who followed the teachings of the Greek thinker Epicurus. They believed that the goal of life was to have complete peace. They could have complete peace when they had everything they really needed. Then they wouldn't worry about anything. They also believed that there was no life after death. Paul shared the good news about Jesus with Epicureans in Athens.

Corinth: The capital city of the Roman territory of Achaia. It's in the area that is now southern Greece. Paul visited it on his second and third journeys. He spent over a year there sharing the message of Jesus and helping the church. Two of his letters to the church in Corinth are in the New Testament.

Aquila and Priscilla: A husband and wife who made and sold tents. They were Jews who had lived in Rome. Paul became friends with them in the city of Corinth. They worked together to spread the good news about Jesus. Paul mentioned them in three of his letters. Aquila and Priscilla helped Apollos understand more about Jesus.

Ephesus: The capital city of the Roman territory of Asia. Worshipping the goddess Artemis was the main religion in Ephesus. Paul visited the city on his second and third journeys. He stayed there helping the church for two years.

Apollos: A Jew from Alexandria in Egypt who understood the Scriptures very well. He became friends with Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus. They helped him understand more about Jesus. Apollos taught in churches where Paul had worked.

Artemis: A false goddess worshipped for helping people hunt and have children. In the times and places of the New Testament she was called by many different names. When the Greeks built the city of Ephesus, they called her Artemis. There was a huge and famous temple in her honour in Ephesus. Ephesus was the centre for the worship of Artemis.

Caesarea: The capital city of the Roman territory of Judea in Israel. It was on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Herod the Great had the city built.

Herod Agrippa II: The King Agrippa of Acts chapters 25 and 26. He was the son of Herod Agrippa I. It's thought that his sister Bernice lived with him as a wife.

Adopted: When someone is made part of a family that they weren't born into. This is what happens when people trust in Jesus. God created human beings to live together with him in peace and love. They were meant to be children in his family. Humans didn't accept God's love but chose to follow their own ways. This meant that they didn't belong to any family. Those who believe Jesus is the Messiah accept God's love. They become part of God's family again. Paul described this like being adopted as God's children.

Abba: A word in the Aramaic language that means father. Jesus called God Abba. Those who follow Jesus are part of God's family. So they can call God their Father or Abba just like Jesus does. This name shows how close God is to all those who trust him.

Olive tree: A common tree in the area around the Mediterranean Sea. Olive trees and their fruit provide food, oil, medicine and wood. Writers of the Bible used the olive tree as a sign to explain other things. The leaves were a sign of peace. The oil was used to anoint objects or people and set them apart as holy. The oil was also a sign for God's Spirit. The oil is made by crushing the olives. This is a picture of Jesus' suffering on the Mount of Olives before he died. Olive trees are also a picture of the people of God.

Body of Christ: A way of describing the community of Jesus' followers. It's a picture that describes how everyone in the church loves and serves one another. Christ's body is made up of many different people who are brought together as one. Trusting in Jesus and obeying him is what makes them one. Using their different gifts, together they continue doing Jesus' work on earth.

Spain: A country in the western area of the lands ruled by the Roman government. Today it's still called Spain. Paul wanted to share the good news there. It's the area furthest west that is mentioned in the Bible.

Mystery of Christ: The truth about how God accomplishes his plan for the world through Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, a mystery is usually something that hasn't been made known to people. Old Testament prophets had said that God would save his people. But Jews didn't know exactly how or when God would do this. They weren't sure who or what they would be saved from. They didn't know exactly who would be saved. Paul explained this mystery in his letters. God's plan was to save all people who trust in Jesus. Jesus is a human being and is God's Son. God saves his people from the power of sin, evil and death. He saves them through what Jesus did when he sacrificed himself on the cross.

Lord Jesus Christ: A title for Jesus that describes him in many ways. As Lord, he has authority over all other rulers on earth. As Jesus, he is a Jew who lived in Israel when the Roman government was in control. Jesus is also God's Son. As Christ, he is the Jewish Messiah and King. The title Lord Jesus Christ means that Jesus is the King of everything. It means he is the Saviour who rescues God's people and the natural world. He rescues them from sin, death, and evil. It means he is worthy of worship because he is God.

Christ's law: A way of talking about following Jesus' example for how to live. Jesus commanded his disciples to love God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind. He commanded them to love their neighbour as themselves (Luke 10:27). While he lived on earth, Jesus showed them how to do this. Jesus loved and obeyed his Father. He sacrificed himself for the good of others. He gave up his rights to save the world. He served others to show them how much God loves them.

Lord's Supper: The meal that Christians share together to remember Jesus' death. It's based on the last supper that Jesus shared with his disciples before he died. It's also based on the Jewish Passover Feast. The meal includes eating bread and drinking wine. These remind believers that Jesus gave his body and his blood to save all people.

Gifts of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit gives people the ability to do certain things well. These gifts aren't something that people can hold in their hands. They are spiritual gifts. Some gifts are teaching, taking care of others and healing those who are ill. Followers of Jesus use their gifts to encourage and strengthen the church.

Explain other languages: When people explain the meaning of a message spoken in a language they didn't know before. The Holy Spirit has given some believers the ability to do this. They explain what is being said to those who don't know the language. This helps those people understand the message and learn about God. (Speak other languages Acts 2:1–13.)

Achaia: A Roman territory in the area that is now southern Greece. The capital city was Corinth. Paul travelled throughout Achaia on his second and third journeys.

Titus: A man who worked and travelled with Paul. He was a Greek Gentile believer who wasn't circumcised. He served in many of the churches that Paul helped start. He was an important leader in the church on the island of Crete. He also helped take the offering given by the Corinthian believers to Jerusalem. The New Testament book called Titus is a letter that Paul wrote to him.

Super-apostle: What Paul called certain Jewish leaders. These leaders opposed his work in the churches he helped start. Compared to Paul, they seemed strong, successful, healthy and rich. They told lies about Paul and claimed that he was always causing trouble. They took advantage of new believers and didn't serve people with love. They pretended to serve God but were really serving Satan by doing evil.

Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Godly ways that people think, speak and act. These ways show that people are thinking, speaking and acting as Jesus did. The Holy Spirit makes people able to do this. There is no exact number of fruit of the Holy Spirit. Paul and Peter listed examples of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in believers' lives. These include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and having control of oneself. They include knowledge and godliness. They also include anything that shows that a believer is following Jesus' example.

Spiritual blessings: Ways that God blesses his people spiritually. These blessings aren't something that people can hold in their hands. They are the riches in heaven that Jesus talked about in Matthew 6:19–21. There are many kinds of spiritual blessings. Wisdom, understanding, grace, hope and love are spiritual blessings. Being forgiven for sin and having eternal life are also spiritual blessings. People don't earn spiritual blessings. God gives them freely.

Citizens of heaven: People are citizens of the nation where they live or where they were born. Believers are also citizens of heaven. This means that they belong to God and are part of his kingdom. This is true even while they are alive on earth. God slowly spreads his kingdom on earth through believers. As citizens of heaven, they are messengers for God's kingdom. (Kingdom of God: Daniel 2:1–49.)

Spiritual armour: Tools that God gives his people to protect them from evil. These tools can't be held in people's hands. They are spiritual. They are described as armour or weapons because believers use them in spiritual fights. Truth, godliness, peace, faith, salvation, God's word and prayer are kinds of spiritual armour. These tools help believers to be strong in their faith. They help them to follow Jesus faithfully and to say no to evil.

Epaphroditus: A Greek believer from Philippi who worked with Paul. When Paul was in prison, Epaphroditus brought him gifts and money from the Philippian believers. He carried Paul's letter to the Philippians when he returned to Philippi.

Epaphras: A Greek believer from Colossae who worked with Paul. He shared the message about Jesus in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis. He helped start churches in those cities. He was in prison with Paul for a time.

Colossae: A city in the Roman territory of Asia Minor in what is now called Turkey. Epaphras shared the message about Jesus there and helped start a church. Paul wrote a letter to the church there.

Onesimus: A slave in Colossae who ran away from his master Philemon. In the Greek language Onesimus means useful. He met Paul and started following Jesus. He became a close friend of Paul and worked together with him. Paul sent him back to live with Philemon. Onesimus helped carry Paul's letters to the Colossians and to Philemon.

Laodicea: A city in the Roman territory of Asia Minor in what is now called Turkey. It was near Colossae. Epaphras shared the message about Jesus there and helped start a church. Paul wrote the Laodicean church a letter. The church in Laodicea is one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation.

Crete: A large island in the Mediterranean Sea near Greece. Paul travelled to Crete during one of his journeys. He helped start several churches there. Titus stayed on to lead the churches. Some believers in Crete were Jews but most were Gentiles.

Philemon: A wealthy Christian in Colossae who was friends with Paul and worked together with him. It's thought that Apphia was Philemon's wife and Archippus was their son. A church met in his home. He owned a slave named Onesimus. The letter Paul wrote to him about Onesimus is called Philemon.

Perfect: The word for perfect in the Greek language means complete or finished. It means that nothing is missing and that something has reached full growth.

Cloud of witnesses: A way of describing people who believe in God and serve him before they die. They are witnesses to who God is while they are alive on earth. A cloud is a way to describe them together as a group. These people have died. Their examples of faith in God encourage believers who are alive. Their spirits wait for when God will raise his people from the dead. The people mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 are among these witnesses.

Docetism: A belief that Jesus didn't have a human body and wasn't fully a human being. It was based on a Greek idea. This idea was that bodies were evil. This idea was also that only spiritual things that last for ever were good.

Jude: One of Jesus' brothers. At first he didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Later he trusted Jesus and became a leader among the churches. The New Testament includes one letter that he wrote.

Book of Enoch: A Jewish writing known before and after Jesus' time. It wasn't written by the Enoch talked about in Genesis.

Alpha and Omega: In the Greek alphabet Alpha is the first letter and Omega is the last letter. Jesus called himself the Alpha and the Omega. This was a way of saying that he is the first and the last. He was at the beginning when God created all things. He will be at the end of the world as it is now. It's a way of saying that Jesus has always existed and will always exist. It's also a way of saying that Jesus is God. God the Father called himself the Alpha and the Omega in Revelation 21:6.

Patmos: A small Greek island where only a few people lived. It's in the Aegean Sea near the Mediterranean Sea. The Roman government controlled the island and sent prisoners there.

Lord's day: What John the writer of Revelation called Sunday or the day after the Sabbath day. It's the day of the week when Jesus was raised from the dead. Because of this, churches started gathering to worship God on Sundays.

Letters to the churches: Jesus commanded John to write letters with messages to seven churches. Each letter began by describing Jesus in a different way. In most of the letters, Jesus mentioned ways that the church was living faithfully. In most he also mentioned ways the church wasn't being faithful to him. Jesus urged the believers in each church to listen to the Holy Spirit. Jesus finished each letter with a promise. The promise was for those who shared in his victory over the power of sin.

Smyrna: An important city in the Roman territory of Asia. It was on the coast of the Aegean Sea. It's part of the city Izmir in the country now known as Turkey.

Second death: A way of describing God's final judgement against those who refuse to follow him. They are destroyed and are separated from God for ever. John described the place where the second death took place as a lake of fire. It was also called a lake of burning sulphur. Those who were thrown into it would have no part in God's kingdom on earth.

Pergamum: An important city in the Roman territory of Asia near the Aegean Sea. It was a centre for worshipping the Roman ruler Caesar and Roman false gods.

Thyatira: An important town in the Roman territory of Asia. It's part of the city Akhisar in the country now known as Turkey. Lydia was from Thyatira.

Sardis: An important city in the Roman territory of Asia. There was a temple to the goddess Artemis there.

Dressed in white: A way of describing when people are obeying God. In the Bible, the colour white is a sign of things that are considered pure. People are pure when they do what God wants done. White clothing is a sign of doing that. In Revelation, people's clothes become white by being washed in the Lamb's blood. This means that people trust in Jesus to save them from the power of sin.

Philadelphia: An important town in the Roman territory of Asia. It's the city Alasehir in the country now known as Turkey.

24 elders: Beings that John saw in a vision of heaven. It's thought that they are a sign. The number 24 may mean the 12 tribes of Israel together with the 12 apostles. In this way they are a sign for all of God's people. Their white clothes show that they have been made right with God. Their crowns and thrones show that they are part of the kingdom of God. These also show that the elders have authority to rule. The elders worship God for creating the world and for saving his people. They worship him for being holy, great and worthy.

Golden altar: In John's vision of God's throne there was a golden altar. This showed that the area with the throne was also a temple. It was the pattern the Israelites and Jews used for the holy tent and temple (Hebrews 8:1–5). (Altar Genesis 32:1–35:29.)

Numbers: In the book of Revelation, numbers have special meanings. They don't always mean the exact number that is mentioned. They are signs of something spiritual.

144,000: This number was 12 x 12,000. It was a way to talk about the entire people of God. They were from all times and places and there were too many to count. It didn't mean exactly 144,000 people from Abraham's family line. It meant the complete number of those who trust in Jesus.

Groups of sevens: In John's visions, he saw God's judgement happen in groups of seven things. There were seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls. At the end of each group there was lightning, thunder and an earthquake. In the Bible, seven is the number for things being complete.

Abyss: A way of talking about a place full of evil spiritual beings. In Luke's gospel, Jesus had authority to send evil spiritual beings there (Luke 8:31). In a vision recorded in Revelation, John saw it as a bottomless pit. It was ruled over by an evil spiritual being called the Destroyer. Evil spiritual beings came out of it only when God allowed them to. (Evil spiritual beings Genesis 3:1–24.)

42 months: This is three and a half years. It's half of seven years. In the Bible, seven is the number for things being complete. In Revelation, John saw certain things happen for half of seven years. This meant that those things weren't complete. It meant that the powerful ruler or government in Revelation chapter 13 wouldn't have total power. Their power wouldn't last for ever like God's kingdom would.

666: The number of the beast from the sea in John's vision. There is nothing magic or evil about the number 666. The number 666 is a sign. It's a sign for a human being or government that seeks complete and total authority. They claim to be as powerful as God. They also claim to be worthy of being worshipped in the same way as God.

1,000 years: In a vision, John saw that the devil was locked in the Abyss for 1,000 years. John also saw that Christ ruled for 1,000 years. Some of his followers who had been put to death ruled with him. Some people believe that these things will happen exactly as John saw them in the vision. Others believe that these things are signs. They are signs of how God will bring judgement against evil and bring his kingdom to earth.

Death and Hell: In Revelation, John described death and hell as evil powers that God judged. This means that God stopped death and hell for ever. Because of this, people in God's kingdom on earth will never die. And people who refuse to join God's kingdom will be separated from God for ever.

Amen: A word in the Hebrew language that means truly or may it be. It shows that people agree with what has been said. It shows that they want what has been said to happen. In the Bible people often said amen when praising God, praying or blessing others.

Obadiah: A prophet from the family line of Jacob. It isn't known what tribe Obadiah was from. It isn't known where he lived. His prophecies are recorded in the book of Obadiah.