Why did God’s Spirit hover over the dark waters of the earth? (1:2)
Are these literal 24-hour days? (1:3–31)
Why measure a day from evening to morning? (1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31)
How could God create the earth and waters from nothing? (1:9–10)
How could there have been light before God created the sun and the moon? (1:14–16)
Did God create dinosaurs at this time? (1:24–31)
Why did God say, Let us [plural] make mankind in our image? (1:26)
What is the image of God? (1:27)
How do people subdue the earth? (1:28)
Why retell the creation account? (2:4–7)
Did plants come after humans? (2:5–7)
Why did God make man from the dust? (2:7)
Where was the Garden of Eden? (2:8)
What kind of fruit is life and knowledge? (2:9)
Would eating from the tree of life have made Adam and Eve live forever? (2:9)
What’s wrong with knowing good and evil? (2:17)
Was God tempting Adam and Eve with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? (2:17)
Why weren’t Adam and Eve created at the same time? (2:18–22)
Did God create the woman to be the man’s assistant? (2:18)
Why was the woman formed from a rib? (2:21)
Why didn’t they die for their sin? (3:2–3)
Was Adam with Eve when she spoke to the serpent? (3:6)
How did Adam and Eve realize they were naked? (3:7)
Did God literally and visibly walk in the garden? (3:8)
What do birth pains have to do with sin? (3:16)
How is a woman’s desire for her husband a curse? (3:16)
How had knowledge of good and evil made the man like God? (3:22)
Why guard just the east side? (3:24)
Why are names important in the Bible? (4:1–2)
What had Cain done wrong? (4:5–7)
How could Cain rule over sin? (4:7)
Who was Cain afraid of? (4:14)
Why didn’t God sentence Cain to death? (4:15)
What kind of mark did God put on Cain? (4:15)
Where did Cain find his wife? (4:17)
Is polygamy an acceptable form of marriage? (4:19)
How did they learn the name of the LORD? (4:26)
What can I learn from a list of names? (5:3–32)
In what ways are genealogies useful? (5:3–32)
Why are women not included in this genealogy? (5:3–32)
What was the secret to such a long life? (5:3–32)
Did Enoch escape death? (5:24)
Who were the sons of God? (6:2)
How does God’s Spirit contend with people? (6:3)
Did God set a life span of 120 years? (6:3)
Who were the Nephilim … the heroes of old? (6:4)
Why would God regret his decision to create human beings? (6:5–6)
How did Noah walk with God? (6:9)
Why did God destroy other creatures besides humans? (6:17)
Why did God establish a covenant with Noah? (6:18)
How did Noah know what animals were clean and unclean? (7:2–3)
Why take more clean than unclean animals? (7:2–3)
What did Noah and his family eat while in the ark? (7:7)
Did God cause the animals to come to Noah? (7:9)
What made these springs burst forth? (7:11)
How did Noah oversee a floating zoo? (7:14)
How widespread was the flood? (7:17–24)
Were fish and sea creatures also destroyed? (7:23)
What does it mean that God remembered Noah? (8:1)
What did Noah learn from releasing the raven? (8:6–7)
What’s special about an olive leaf? (8:11)
Why did God promise not to repeat such judgment? (8:21–22)
Do human beings have any good inclinations? (8:21)
Why make animals fear humans? (9:2)
What was wrong with bloody meat? (9:4)
How does God hold animals accountable? (9:5)
Why respond to killing with more killing? (9:6)
How can something with a natural explanation be a sign from God? (9:13)
Might God destroy all living creatures by another means? (9:15)
How could different races descend from three sons of one couple? (9:19)
What did Ham do wrong? (9:22–25)
Why did Noah curse his grandson instead of his son Ham? (9:25)
Why list all these unfamiliar names? (10:1–32)
Are Ham and his descendants associated with Africa? (10:6–20)
Is this the same Nineveh that Jonah later visited? (10:11)
Who were the sons of Eber? (10:21)
In what way was the earth divided? (10:25)
Who are the modern descendants of Noah’s sons? (10:32)
What was the first language? (11:1)
Why was it wrong to build a tower? (11:4)
How could this project make nothing impossible for humankind? (11:6)
Why does God say, Come, let us [plural] go down? (11:7)
Why did God want to scatter people? (11:9)
What might account for this rapidly decreasing life span? (11:10–32)
Why did Terah set out for Canaan? (11:31)
How did God speak to Abram? (12:1)
In what way would Abram bless all peoples on earth? (12:3)
What was the great tree of Moreh? (12:6)
Why did Abram build altars? (12:7–8)
Why did Egypt have food when other countries didn’t? (12:10)
Was it wrong for Abram to lie to save his life? (12:11–20)
What did Pharaoh intend to do with Sarai? (12:15)
Why would God punish Pharaoh, who had been deceived? (12:17)
How did Pharaoh discover the truth about Sarai? (12:18)
Why did Abram give Lot first choice? (13:9)
How did the people of Sodom sin against the LORD? (13:13)
Why compare offspring to dust? (13:16)
What were these tar pits? (14:10)
What did it mean to call Abram the Hebrew? (14:13)
Why did the kings of Sodom and Salem meet with Abram? (14:17–18)
What kind of priest was Melchizedek? (14:18)
Why did Abram give the king of Salem a tenth of everything? (14:20)
Why did Abram refuse the spoils? (14:24)
Why would a servant be Abram’s heir before his nephew Lot? (15:3)
Why compare offspring to stars? (15:5)
What was so great about Abram’s faith? (15:6)
Why cut animals in half? (15:10)
Why wait for the Amorites’ sin to increase? (15:16)
Why send a blazing torch through the pieces? (15:17)
Why would God promise Abram land belonging to others? (15:18–21)
Why would Sarai urge her husband to sleep with another woman? (16:2)
Did Sarai have mothering rights over Ishmael? (16:2, 9, 15)
Why did Hagar despise Sarai? (16:4)
How could Sarai blame Abram? (16:5)
Did Hagar deserve the treatment she received? (16:6–9)
What’s the significance of the title God Almighty? (17:1)
How could Abram be blameless before God? (17:1)
Why did God give Abram a new name? (17:5)
Why did God command circumcision? (17:10)
Why was Sarai’s name changed to Sarah? (17:15)
Why name a son he laughs? (17:19 and the NIV text note)
Why was Ishmael circumcised? (17:26)
What were these great trees? (18:1)
Why was Abraham so hospitable to strangers? (18:4–5)
Why would the Lord come to Abraham in human form? (18:10)
What did Abraham’s negotiations for Sodom accomplish? (18:16–33)
Why did God let Abraham in on his plans? (18:17–19)
Who cried out to God against Sodom and Gomorrah? (18:20)
Why did God visit the cities in person to check out the facts? (18:21)
Was Abraham bargaining with God? (18:24–32)
Is it fair for the righteous to suffer with the wicked? (18:25)
Why go to the square for lodging? (19:2)
Why was Sodom filled with homosexuals? (19:4–5)
Is homosexuality wicked? (19:7)
Why would Lot offer his daughters to be gang raped? (19:8)
Were Lot’s sons-in-law among those struck with blindness? (19:11, 14)
Why didn’t Lot go to Abraham? (19:20)
What would make burning sulfur fall on the city? (19:24)
Why did God turn Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt? (19:26)
How could Lot’s daughters justify incest with their father? (19:31–32)
What happened to the Moabites and Ammonites? (19:37–38)
Why did Abraham lie again about Sarah? (20:2; see 12:13)
Why take an elderly woman into the harem? (20:2)
How could an unbeliever like Abimelek commune with God? (20:3)
Wasn’t Abraham more to blame than Abimelek? (20:7)
How was Abraham a prophet? (20:7)
Could money compensate for Sarah’s shame? (20:16)
How long had Sarah been in Abimelek’s house? (20:17–18)
Why name a son he laughs? (21:3 and the NIV text note)
Why was Isaac circumcised? (21:4)
What was so important about weaning a child? (21:8)
Why did God provide for those who were banished? (21:13–21)
Was Abraham an irresponsible father? (21:14)
Who was the angel of God? (21:17)
How would this banishment affect future relations between Arabs and Israelis? (21:18)
How did ewe lambs guarantee the deal? (21:28–30)
Why did Abraham call on God’s name? (21:33)
Why did God test Abraham? (22:1)
Would God ever ask us to do wrong? (22:2)
Was Abraham lying to Isaac? (22:8)
Did Isaac submit or fight back? (22:9)
Why did Abraham rename this place? (22:14)
Was God’s promise conditional? (22:16–17)
Why compare descendants to stars and sand? (22:17)
Why is information about Nahor’s family included in the Bible? (22:20–24)
Was this the usual way to do business at that time? (23:1–18)
How did Sarah live so long? (23:1)
What was the cave of Machpelah? (23:9)
How did this land deed work? (23:17)
Why was this burial site important? (23:20)
Why put a hand under Abraham’s thigh? (24:2)
Why did Abraham want his son to marry a relative? (24:4)
Why was the servant forbidden to take Isaac with him? (24:6)
How far did the servant have to travel? (24:10)
Should we ask for a sign to determine God’s will? (24:14)
How was Rebekah related to Isaac? (24:15)
How did the servant know that Rebekah was a virgin? (24:16)
How much water would ten camels drink? (24:20)
Why did he give her a nose ring? (24:22)
What was Laban’s hurry? (24:29–30)
Why tell the story all over again? (24:34–49)
Was this a normal way to find a wife? (24:50–51)
Why was Abraham’s servant in such a hurry? (24:56)
Was it customary to ask a woman’s opinion before making a marriage deal? (24:57)
What was Rebekah agreeing to? (24:58)
What did this blessing do for Rebekah? (24:60)
Why did Rebekah cover herself with a veil? (24:65)
With no wedding ceremony, what made this marriage legal? (24:67)
If Isaac’s birth was a miracle, were these births also miracles? (25:2)
Why did Abraham have concubines? (25:6)
Why did Abraham send his concubines’ sons away? (25:6)
How is someone gathered to his people? (25:8)
Did Abraham know his grandsons? (25:19–26)
Are these words a prediction or predestination? (25:23)
Where did Jacob’s name come from? (25:26)
Is it wrong to give up a birthright? (25:34)
How did God appear to Isaac? (26:2)
Why compare descendants to stars? (26:4)
Why did Isaac make the same mistake as his father? (26:7)
Why did the Philistines plug Abraham’s wells? (26:15)
What frightened Abimelek about Isaac? (26:16)
Why such conflict over wells? (26:19–21)
Why did Isaac build an altar? (26:25)
How could one name have two stories behind it? (26:33; see 21:30–31)
How were Esau’s wives a cause of grief to Isaac and Rebekah? (26:35)
What was the significance of this blessing? (27:4)
Did Rebekah need to deceive Isaac in order to accomplish God’s purpose for Jacob? (27:10)
Why would a mother scheme to steal her son’s blessing? (27:10)
Was the blessing worth risking a curse? (27:12)
If Isaac thought he was blessing Esau, why didn’t Esau get the blessing? (27:27–29)
Where did the power behind this blessing come from? (27:27–29)
Why would God allow a deceitful person to receive the blessing? (27:35)
What was the difference between a birthright and a blessing? (27:36)
Why couldn’t Isaac bless both sons? (27:38)
What were the days of mourning? (27:41)
Was this a different blessing from the one Jacob stole? (28:4)
Why did Esau decide to marry again? (28:9)
Are dreams messages from God? (28:12–15)
How could Jacob’s commitment depend on what God would do for him? (28:20–22)
Who were the eastern peoples? (29:1)
Why take the trouble to cover the well? (29:3)
Why did Jacob want the shepherds to return to the pasture? (29:7)
Was it unusual for a daughter to tend sheep? (29:9)
How old was Rachel at this time? (29:9)
Was this kiss from Jacob appropriate? (29:11)
What was wrong with Leah’s eyes? (29:17)
Was seven years of labor a typical price for a bride? (29:18)
How could Jacob sleep with Leah and think she was Rachel? (29:23–25)
Did custom or shrewdness prompt Laban? (29:26–27)
What was the bridal week? (29:27)
Why didn’t God open Rachel’s womb as well? (29:31)
Why invent names based on circumstances? (29:32–35)
How would Rachel get credit for Bilhah’s baby? (30:3)
Did female servants usually become concubines? (30:3)
What’s the significance of mandrake plants? (30:14)
Did Rachel conceive because of the mandrakes? (30:16–24)
Did God really reward this kind of behavior, or was Leah deluded? (30:18)
How did God remember Rachel? (30:22)
What was divination, and wasn’t it wrong? (30:27)
Why did Jacob ask for speckled, spotted and dark-colored animals? (30:31–33)
Why did Laban distance himself so far from Jacob? (30:34–36)
How do striped sticks produce speckled sheep? (30:37–43)
Why did Laban turn against Jacob? (31:2)
God had promised prosperity to Jacob, so why did Jacob scheme? (31:10–12)
How do we know if a dream is from God? (31:11)
Why did Rachel and Leah feel sold? (31:15)
Why would Laban, a relative of Abraham, have household gods? (31:19)
Why would Rachel want to steal her father’s pagan gods? (31:19, 34–35)
Why did God forbid Laban from saying anything to Jacob? (31:24)
Why would a menstrual period excuse Rachel from standing up? (31:35)
Was Jacob blameless in his dealings with Laban? (31:36–37)
Why give three different names to one monument? (31:47–49)
Why did Laban tell Jacob not to take more wives? (31:50)
Why did God send angels to Jacob? (32:1–2)
What were Esau’s intentions? (32:6)
Why give more females than males? (32:14–15)
Who wrestled with Jacob? (32:24, 28)
Why ask a blessing from someone who had just hurt you? (32:26)
Why did Jacob’s name change? (32:28)
Why did Jacob believe he had seen God’s face? (32:30)
What does to this day mean? (32:32)
Why did Jacob arrange his family in this way? (33:2)
Had God changed Esau’s heart? (33:4)
How was seeing Esau like seeing the face of God? (33:10)
Did Jacob lie to Esau? (33:13–17)
Why set up an altar on land bought from the Canaanites? (33:20)
Why couldn’t Shechem propose marriage himself? (34:4)
Would Dinah have wanted to marry the man who violated her? (34:4)
Why did they go to the gate of the city? (34:20)
Did circumcision mean nothing to these pagans? (34:24)
Why kill all the men in the city? (34:25)
Had Shechem been holding Dinah against her will? (34:26)
What did Jacob’s sons do with so many hostages? (34:29)
Why did Jacob’s family have foreign gods? (35:2)
What did earrings have to do with foreign gods? (35:4)
Why was Jacob’s name changed? (35:10)
Which community of nations came from Jacob? (35:11)
What was a drink offering? (35:14)
Why would Reuben sleep with his father’s concubine? (35:22)
Why would one man have so many wives? (35:23–26)
How did Isaac live so long? (35:28)
Why is so much space given to Esau’s descendants? (36:1–43)
Why was Esau called Edom? (36:1)
Why is there so much repetition in these genealogies? (36:2–19)
Why did Esau marry Canaanite women? (36:2)
What is the value of genealogies? (36:2)
What was special about hot springs? (36:24)
What is the value of including the history of those not in the chosen line? (36:31)
Why mention Edom so many times? (36:31)
Why does this list of chiefs differ from the earlier list? (36:40–43)
Why introduce Joseph’s story as the account of Jacob’s family line? (37:2)
What bad report did Joseph give? (37:2)
What did this ornate robe look like? (37:3)
Does God still speak through dreams? (37:5–7, 9)
Was Joseph intentionally provoking his brothers with his dreams? (37:5)
Did Ishmaelites usually buy people as slaves? (37:27)
Why did Reuben go along with the cover-up? (37:29–32)
Did Jacob believe his sons, or was he afraid to press for the truth? (37:33)
Why did Jacob tear his clothes? (37:34)
Why did Judah leave his family? (38:1)
Wasn’t it wrong to marry a Canaanite woman? (38:2)
Why did God put some people to death? (38:7–10)
What was Onan’s sin? (38:8–10)
Why did Judah blame Tamar instead of his wicked sons? (38:11)
What were widow’s clothes? (38:14)
Why was Tamar entitled to marry her brother-in-law? (38:14)
Why did Judah not recognize Tamar? (38:15)
Was this only a sexual encounter? (38:16)
What was a shrine prostitute? (38:21)
Did Judah’s response reveal a double standard? (38:24)
Why did Tamar prefer to be a single parent rather than a childless widow? (38:26)
Which twin was considered the firstborn? (38:27–30)
How important an official was Potiphar? (39:1)
Was it unusual for foreign slaves to be given so much authority? (39:4)
How would sleeping with Potiphar’s wife be a sin against God? (39:9)
Why did she call Joseph a Hebrew? (39:14)
Were the king’s prisoners treated better than other prisoners? (39:20)
Why didn’t Potiphar have Joseph killed for this offense? (39:20)
What kind of activities was Joseph put in charge of? (39:22)
What did a cupbearer do? (40:2)
What did Pharaoh do when he lifted up their heads? (40:20)
Why would God allow Joseph to be forgotten? (40:23)
Was it common to hear from God in dreams? (41:1)
What did these magicians do? (41:8)
Why were dreams so important to the Egyptians? (41:8)
Why would God speak to a nonbeliever like Pharaoh? (41:16)
Would seven years of famine be unusual? (41:27)
Did Pharaoh come to believe in the true God? (41:37–39)
What position did Joseph hold? (41:41)
Why did Pharaoh change Joseph’s name? (41:45)
Who was this priest of On? (41:45)
Was Joseph wrong to marry the daughter of a pagan priest? (41:45)
Why didn’t Joseph send a message to his father? (41:46)
Why choose a name for a child that reminds you of what you’ve chosen to forget? (41:51)
What became of Manasseh and Ephraim? (41:51–52)
What does all the world include? (41:57)
Why was Jacob so protective of Benjamin? (42:4)
Why wasn’t Joseph forthright with his brothers about who he was? (42:7)
How were the brothers Joseph’s servants? (42:10)
Why did the brothers blame God for an apparent theft? (42:28)
When do vows go too far? (42:37)
How old was Benjamin when Judah asked to take him to Egypt? (43:8)
Why bother with gifts from a famine-stricken land? (43:11)
Why was an invitation to a ruler’s house a cause for fear? (43:18)
How long was Simeon imprisoned? (43:23)
Were the ancient Egyptians racially prejudiced? (43:32)
Were brothers usually seated at a meal according to age? (43:33)
Why seat the brothers according to age? (43:33)
Is favoritism ever a good idea? (43:34)
Why did Joseph play “mind games” with his brothers? (44:1–5)
What kind of divination did Joseph practice? (44:5, 15)
What guilt had God uncovered? (44:16)
What gave Judah the authority to speak for his brothers? (44:16, 18–34)
Why did Jacob say he only had two sons? (44:27)
What made Joseph’s brothers terrified at his presence? (45:3)
Did Joseph have to go to Egypt to save his family from famine? (45:7)
Was Joseph excusing what his brothers had done? (45:8)
How was Joseph father to Pharaoh? (45:8)
Why did Joseph want his family to move to Egypt? (45:9)
Why did Joseph favor Benjamin? (45:22)
Why did Joseph think his brothers might quarrel? (45:24)
Why did Jacob/Israel offer sacrifices at Beersheba? (46:1)
Why did God encourage this journey when Jacob’s descendants would eventually become slaves? (46:2–4)
Why list those who had died before the trip? (46:12)
Was it okay to have several wives and concubines? (46:18)
Why such emphasis on the number? (46:26–27)
Why did Egyptians detest shepherds? (46:34)
Why didn’t Joseph introduce all his brothers to Pharaoh? (47:2)
In what way was Goshen the best part of Egypt? (47:6)
Did Joseph’s brothers care for Pharaoh’s livestock? (47:6)
What happened to the Egyptians living in the best part of the land? (47:11)
What kind of “famine relief” did Joseph run? (47:20–21)
What was meant by still in force today? (47:26)
Why put one’s hand under someone’s thigh? (47:29)
How did Israel (Jacob) worship as he leaned on the top of his staff? (47:31)
Why did Jacob claim Joseph’s sons for his own? (48:5)
What is the purpose and effect of Jacob’s blessing? (48:15–20)
Why did the right hand mean a better blessing? (48:18)
Why did Jacob put the younger ahead of the older? (48:20)
Did people in Bible times expect the dying to see the future? (49:1)
How were Jacob’s predictions regarding his sons fulfilled? (49:2–27)
Wouldn’t such negative predictions encourage people to live them out? (49:4, 7, 15)
Did Simeon and Levi hamstring animals for fun? (49:6)
In what way would Levi and Simeon be scattered? (49:7)
Why did Jacob describe his sons as animals? (49:9–27)
How would Judah become a ruler? (49:10–12)
Was this a reference to Joseph’s brothers’ attack on him? (49:22–26)
How is a steady bow a blessing? (49:24)
What happened to Benjamin’s status as favorite son? (49:27)
Why was Jacob buried with Leah rather than Rachel? (49:31)
What kind of embalming would take 40 days? (50:2–3)
Why would Egyptians mourn a Hebrew? (50:7)
Were Joseph’s brothers telling the truth here? (50:16–17)
Does God overrule our intentions? (50:20)
Why did the sons of Jacob/Israel stay in Egypt after the famine? (50:22)
Why did Joseph’s brothers need help to leave Egypt? (50:24)
Why was the burial place such an issue? (50:25)
How many years had passed since Joseph’s death? (1:6–8)
Who was the new king in Egypt, and why did Joseph mean nothing to him? (1:8)
Did the king have good reason to fear the Israelites? (1:9–10)
How could the Egyptians enslave so many people? (1:11)
Why didn’t the Israelites revolt? (1:11–14)
Where did the term Hebrew come from? (1:15)
Were the midwives right to lie to and disobey the king? (1:17–19)
Was God honoring the midwives’ lie? (1:20)
Was Moses’ mother giving up her baby to die? (2:3)
Who was Pharaoh’s daughter? (2:5)
How long did Moses’ mother raise him? (2:10)
Did Pharaoh’s daughter defy her father’s edict? (2:10)
Was Moses’ action justifiable? (2:12)
What kind of priest was this? (2:16)
Did Moses help the daughters single-handedly? (2:17)
Why the name change? (3:1; see 2:18)
Why was Horeb called the mountain of God? (3:1)
Why did Moses take off his sandals? (3:5)
Why was Moses afraid to look at God? (3:6)
Why would God make other groups give up their homes and land? (3:8)
What did God’s name mean to the Israelites? (3:14)
Was God being deceptive? (3:18)
How would they plunder the Egyptians? (3:21–22)
Why these particular signs? (4:1–9)
Did Moses have a speech impediment? (4:10)
Is God responsible for disabilities? (4:11)
Why was Moses so reluctant to obey God? (4:13)
Why did God make things more difficult by hardening Pharaoh’s heart? (4:21)
Why would God want to kill Moses? (4:24)
Why did Zipporah touch Moses’ feet with a bloody foreskin? (4:25)
What was a bridegroom of blood? (4:25)
Did Aaron or Moses perform the signs? (4:30)
Why didn’t Moses and Aaron show the signs to Pharaoh on their first visit? (5:3)
Was Moses lying about the three-day trip? (5:3)
Why did Moses and Aaron say God would strike the Israelites with plagues or with the sword? (5:3)
Why was straw needed to make bricks? (5:16)
By what name did Abraham know God? (6:3)
What was the significance of a new name for God? (6:3)
Had God forgotten about his covenant with Abraham? (6:5)
Weren’t the Israelites already God’s people? (6:7)
What does it mean to swear with uplifted hand? (6:8)
Why review Moses’ pedigree? (6:14–27)
Was it incest to marry an aunt? (6:20)
Why is the storytelling in Exodus so repetitive? (6:30)
How was Moses like God to Pharaoh? (7:1)
Why did God wait until Moses was an old man before using him? (7:7)
What were the Egyptian magicians’ secret arts? (7:11–12, 22)
Why did God choose these particular plagues? (7:14–11:10)
Why were the miracles always performed with Moses’ staff? (7:17)
Was the water actual blood? (7:20–21)
How did digging along the Nile provide adequate drinking water? (7:24)
What were the Egyptian magicians’ secret arts? (8:7)
Why would the magicians want to make a plague even worse? (8:7)
Why didn’t Pharaoh ask his magicians to remove the frogs? (8:8)
Why did Pharaoh change his mind? (8:15)
Did the dust turn to gnats? (8:17)
Why did the magicians see gnats as the finger of God? (8:18–19)
What about the innocent Egyptians? Why didn’t God strike only Pharaoh with the plagues? (8:21)
Did the Israelites experience these plagues? (8:22–23)
Why would the sacrifices of the Israelites be detestable to the Egyptians? (8:26)
How could Pharaoh break his word? (8:28–32)
Didn’t God value the lives of these animals? (9:1–7)
What did soot have to do with boils? (9:8–9)
Was it fair to blame Pharaoh when God was hardening his heart? (9:17)
Hadn’t the livestock been destroyed earlier? (9:19; see v. 6)
How could Moses travel in and out of the city if it was still hailing? (9:29–33)
Why was it noteworthy that the wheat and spelt … were not destroyed? (9:31–32)
Who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? (10:1; see 9:34)
How badly did the plagues damage Egypt? (10:7)
Why did Pharaoh want the Hebrew women and children to remain? (10:11)
Why didn’t Moses accept this offer? (10:24)
Why was Pharaoh so obstinate? (10:27–28)
Why were Moses and the Israelites so highly regarded? (11:3)
Did Moses break his word to never appear before Pharaoh again? (11:8; see 10:28–29)
Instead of ten plagues, why not skip right to the last one? (11:9–10)
Why does God harden some people’s hearts? (11:10)
Why were Passover requirements so detailed? (12:1–27)
Why were these cooking instructions so specific? (12:1–11)
Did the Israelites understand the reasons for the Passover restrictions? (12:1–49)
Why don’t Christians celebrate the Passover? (12:1–49)
Why was a male lamb chosen for the sacrifice and meal? (12:5)
What was wrong with yeast? (12:15)
How was someone cut off from Israel? (12:15)
What was the destroyer? (12:23)
Why did the firstborn sons have to die? (12:29)
Why would the Egyptians be willing to be looted? (12:35–36)
How many Israelites left Egypt? (12:37)
Why did God wait 430 years to free his people? (12:40)
How did they consecrate the firstborn males? (13:1–2)
What was wrong with yeast? (13:7)
What were the sign on the hand and reminder on the forehead? (13:9, 16)
Why did God always require sacrifices to be killed? (13:13)
Why was Israel ready for battle if God led them away from war? (13:17–18)
Why did God appear in a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud? (13:21–22)
Why did God lure Pharaoh into pursuing the Israelites? (14:1–4)
Why did God care about gaining glory for himself? (14:4)
Did the Israelites really resist leaving slavery? (14:12)
Wasn’t Moses supposed to call on God for help? (14:15)
Who was the angel of God that traveled with Israel’s army? (14:19)
What kind of wind could blow a sea dry? (14:21)
Do Egyptian documents verify this event? (14:28)
Why are songs like this included in the Bible? (15:1–18)
Why mention God’s right hand? (15:6)
What are these congealed waters? (15:8)
Did the Israelites believe in the existence of other gods? (15:11)
Why did Moses mention these particular nations? (15:14–16)
Who were the chiefs of Edom? (15:15)
Is this section not part of the song? (15:19–21)
What was Miriam’s role? (15:20)
Was this a miracle or a natural sweetener? (15:25)
What diseases did God prevent? (15:26)
Was manna enough or did they also need fruits, vegetables and protein? (16:1–3)
Why did the Israelites distort the facts? (16:3)
Why did God repeatedly test the Israelites? (16:4)
How serious an offense was grumbling? (16:7)
Why did God reward the Israelites’ grumbling by feeding them? (16:8)
Why were the people forbidden to save a little manna for later? (16:19–20)
Was this the first time the Israelites heard about the Sabbath? (16:23)
How could manna not spoil for generations? (16:32)
What were the tablets of the covenant law? (16:34)
What was wrong with wanting water? (17:2)
Who were the Amalekites? (17:8)
What was Joshua’s role at this time? (17:9)
What did Moses write on the scroll? (17:14)
Why did Moses send his wife and children away? (18:2)
Did Jethro believe in other gods? (18:11)
Where did Moses learn the laws of God? (18:15–16)
Were these laws similar to laws among other peoples? (18:16)
Did God speak to Moses in an audible voice? (19:3)
Was God’s covenant with Israel based on works? (19:5)
What does a kingdom of priests mean? (19:6)
Why did God not want anyone on the mountain? (19:12–13)
How was someone consecrated? (19:14, 22)
Why no sex for three days? (19:15)
Why was Moses permitted to approach the Lord? (19:24)
Do all these laws apply to Christians? (20:1–17)
Why punish children for their ancestors’ sins? (20:4–5)
How can God’s name be misused? (20:7)
Should Christians observe the Sabbath? (20:8–11)
Why did God require sacrifices? (20:24)
Where would God cause his name to be honored? (20:24)
Why would tools defile an altar? (20:25)
How would private parts be exposed on altar steps? (20:26)
Does the Bible support slavery? (21:2–11)
Why would a Hebrew buy a Hebrew servant? (21:2)
Why force a servant to choose between freedom and family? (21:4–6)
Why mark a lifelong servant with a pierced ear? (21:6)
Why would a father sell his daughter as a servant? (21:7–11)
Why did killing require more killing? (21:12–14)
Why did someone have to flee for accidentally killing a person? (21:13)
Why execute someone for cursing his parents? (21:17)
Why does God’s law allow slavery? (21:20–21)
Why should a premature birth require a penalty? (21:22–23)
Should we demand eye for eye, tooth for tooth? (21:23–25)
Why couldn’t the meat of the bull be eaten? (21:28)
Why wasn’t guilt by day also guilt by night? (22:2–3)
Why such detailed laws on property ownership? (22:7–15)
Why pay a bride-price for a seduction? (22:16–17)
Was God intolerant of other lifestyles? (22:18–20)
Who was considered a foreigner? (22:21)
What’s wrong with charging interest? (22:25)
Why did God ask for the firstborn sons? (22:29)
What did people do for food during the seventh year? (23:10–11)
What’s the significance of numbers in Scripture? (23:10–12)
Is it wrong for us to worship God empty-handed? (23:15)
Who would want to cook a goat in its mother’s milk? (23:19)
What kind of angel did God send? (23:20–23)
If killing is wrong, why would God help the Israelites wipe them out? (23:23)
Does worshiping the Lord guarantee health and a full life? (23:25–26)
Did God really send hornets? (23:28)
Wouldn’t deserted land be easier to possess than enemy-held territory? (23:29–30)
Does God want us to live in communities separated from non-Christians? (23:33)
Who were Nadab and Abihu? (24:1, 9)
Why confirm the covenant with blood? (24:6, 8)
Why did Moses sprinkle blood on the altar and on the people? (24:6, 8)
What was the Book of the Covenant? (24:7)
Was it possible to see God and live? (24:9–11)
Why was the tabernacle’s design so important? (25:9)
What was the purpose of the ark? (25:10–22)
Why call a chest an ark? (25:14–16)
What was the bread of the Presence? (25:30)
Why use so much pure gold? (25:31)
Where did the Israelites, being former slaves, acquire so much gold? (25:31)
Was this lampstand the same as the Jewish menorah? (25:31–40)
What was so critical about the pattern? (25:40)
Was the tabernacle the same thing as the tent of meeting? (26:1)
What was so important about the tabernacle? (26:1)
How long would it take to set up or take down the tabernacle? (26:1)
Why so much attention to detail? (26:5–11)
What’s so special about acacia wood? (26:15)
Why was this structural plan so important? (26:30)
Why use the colors blue, purple and scarlet? (26:31)
Where did the Israelites get the materials to make all these things? (26:31–37)
Why were the furnishings of the tabernacle carried on poles? (27:7)
What is finely twisted linen? (27:16)
Why did God want lamps burning all night? (27:20–21)
Why such elaborate garments? (28:1–40)
What was the purpose of a priest? (28:1–40)
How would these be a memorial before the LORD? (28:12)
What was the significance of these gemstones? (28:17–20)
Why was it called the breastpiece of decision? (28:29)
What were the Urim and the Thummim? (28:30)
Why wear bells and linen underwear? (28:35, 42–43)
Why have a lasting ordinance about linen undergarments? (28:42–43)
Why pour oil over Aaron’s head? (29:7)
Why was all this blood needed for worship? (29:11–21)
Why all the instructions for the various animal parts? (29:13–14)
Why did the priests lay their hands on the head of the sacrificial animal? (29:15, 19)
Why dab blood on the right ear lobe, thumb and big toe? (29:20)
What was a wave offering? (29:22–28)
Why couldn’t someone outside Aaron’s family be a priest? (29:29–30)
Why couldn’t some of this food be saved for later? (29:34)
Why take seven days to ordain priests? (29:35)
How did God speak to the Israelites? (29:42–43)
What was the significance of incense? (30:1)
Why would a census cause a plague? (30:12)
How could some Israelites—all ex-slaves—be rich and others poor? (30:15)
Why was God’s holiness so threatening? (30:20–21)
In what way was Bezalel filled with the Spirit? (31:3)
Is artistry a spiritual gift? (31:3–5)
How was the Sabbath a sign? (31:13)
Do Sabbath restrictions apply to New Testament believers? (31:14–15)
Why two tablets instead of one? (31:18)
Did the tablets only contain the Ten Commandments? (31:18)
How long had Moses been on the mountain? (32:1)
Why did the Israelites long for gods they could see? (32:1)
What did this calf symbolize? (32:4)
What sort of revelry did they indulge in? (32:6)
Was God serious in threatening to destroy his chosen people? (32:10)
Are people really able to change God’s mind? (32:14)
Why wasn’t Aaron removed from his position as priest for making the golden calf? (32:21–25)
How were they a laughingstock to their enemies? (32:25)
Why did the Levites have to kill their brothers, friends and neighbors? (32:27)
How were the Levites set apart? (32:29)
Does God actually keep a book of sins, or should this be understood metaphorically? (32:33)
What were these ornaments? (33:4–6)
Was this tent of meeting the same thing as the tabernacle? (33:7)
How could Moses speak to the Lord face to face? (33:11)
How did Moses receive God’s favor? (33:12)
Why did God say he knew Moses by name? (33:12, 17)
Why did Moses care that Israel be distinct from other nations? (33:16)
Just what did Moses want to see? (33:18–34:7)
How did God’s goodness pass in front of Moses? (33:19)
Why is no one permitted to see God’s face and live? (33:20, 23)
Why indulge Moses so dramatically? (34:6–7)
Why would God punish children for the sin of the parents? (34:6–7)
Why would God call himself Jealous? (34:14)
Is God opposed to interracial marriage? (34:16)
What does empty-handed mean here? (34:20)
Why didn’t his first 40 days on the mountain make Moses’ face radiant? (34:29)
Why did Moses cover his face after speaking? (34:33)
Why not light a fire on the Sabbath? (35:3)
Why such detailed instructions? (35:4–37:29)
How were the people’s hearts moved to give? (35:21)
Is it important that we give willingly, or is a sense of duty also acceptable to God? (35:21)
What was a wave offering? (35:22)
Did the Holy Spirit give the Israelites spiritual gifts? (35:31)
Why did the people give so freely? (36:4–5)
Why use blue, purple and scarlet yarn? (36:8)
How did these former slaves get so much gold? (36:13)
Why did they use acacia wood for all these things? (36:20–31)
Why so many details? (36:31–38)
What’s the spiritual significance of the tabernacle furnishings? (37:1–38:8)
What was the purpose of this ark? (37:1)
What was the purpose of this table? (37:10)
Is this lampstand the same as the modern menorah? (37:17)
What did the elements of this lampstand symbolize? (37:17–24)
What was the altar of incense? (37:25)
What were the mirrors of the women? (38:8)
Who were the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting? (38:8)
Why use the colors blue, purple and scarlet? (38:18)
How did the Levites carry so many heavy objects? (38:24–25, 29)
Why did the high priest wear such elaborate clothing? (39:2–7)
What was the significance of these gemstones? (39:10–14)
What was the significance of pomegranates? (39:24)
What was the sacred emblem? (39:30)
What were the tabernacle furnishings? (39:35–39)
What was accomplished by anointing these objects? (40:9)
How long did it take to build the tabernacle? (40:17)
What was the ark of the covenant law? (40:21)
Was the tent of meeting the same thing as the tabernacle? (40:22)
If Moses met with the Lord on the mountain, why couldn’t he meet with him in the tabernacle? (40:35)
Why kill animals to worship God? (1:1–17)
Why did they put their hand on the head of the sacrificial animal? (1:4)
Why wash sacrifices the priests were just going to burn? (1:9)
Why was the aroma important to God? (1:9)
What was so special about the north side? (1:11)
Did a bird please God as much as a larger sacrifice? (1:14)
If removing sin required blood, what good was a grain offering? (2:1)
What was a most holy part? (2:3)
Why did it matter how the grain was cooked? (2:4–7)
Why were yeast and honey singled out? (2:11–12)
What was the salt of the covenant? (2:13)
Why were some offerings for fellowship? (3:1)
Why could female animals be used for one kind of sacrifice but not another? (3:1, 6)
Why was the fat burned separately? (3:3–5)
Why did the priests splash blood on the sides of the altar? (3:8, 13)
Why was all the fat God’s? (3:16)
What was a lasting ordinance? (3:17)
Why don’t Jewish people still sacrifice animals as atonement for sin? (4:1–5)
Why did God hold a person responsible for an unintentional sin? (4:2)
Who was the anointed priest? (4:3)
Why did the sin of the high priest bring guilt on the people? (4:3)
Why did the priest dip his finger in the blood? (4:5–7)
Why sprinkle blood seven times? (4:5–7)
Why burn the rest of the bull outside the camp? (4:12)
Why such penalties for unintentional sin? (4:13–35)
Why were male goats sacrificed for some sins; females, for others? (4:23, 28)
When was silence considered a crime? (5:1)
What did it mean to be ceremonially unclean? (5:2)
Why were some things unclean? (5:2)
How could someone take an oath and be unaware of it? (5:4)
What was the sanctuary shekel? (5:15)
What did the guilt offering do that other offerings couldn’t? (5:15, 19)
Why add a fifth of its value of the restitution for the priest? (5:16)
Why hold someone responsible for an unintentional sin? (5:17–19)
What is the significance of the burnt offering? (6:9–13)
Why did the priests wear linen undergarments? (6:10)
Why did God want the fire to burn continuously? (6:12–13)
Did the fire stay lit when the people were traveling? (6:13)
Why were female descendants of Aaron not allowed to eat the grain offering? (6:18)
How could the priests make things holy merely by touching them? (6:18)
Why did God want the priests to eat some offerings but not others? (6:23)
Why did they break the clay cooking pots? (6:28)
How was something most holy? (7:1)
What was the significance of offering all the animal’s fat? (7:3–4)
Why could both leavened and unleavened bread be offered for the thank offering? (7:11–14)
Why didn’t God allow leftovers? (7:15)
How were some cut off from their people? (7:20)
What would make a person unclean? (7:20–21)
Does God still consider some people unclean today? (7:20–21)
What was wrong with eating fat? (7:22–27)
Why did God forbid eating blood? (7:26–27)
Why were Aaron and his sons chosen to be priests? (8:2)
Why did the priests wear such elaborate clothing? (8:7–9, 13)
How did anointing the tabernacle with oil consecrate it? (8:10)
How could Moses—who wasn’t a priest—offer sacrifices? (8:15–19)
Why burn the rest of the bull outside the camp? (8:17)
What does the word ordination mean? (8:22)
What was special about a priest’s right ear, thumb and big toe? (8:23)
Why was Aaron made the high priest? (8:30)
What did sacrifices have to do with the Lord’s appearing? (9:4)
What is the glory of the LORD? (9:6)
Why wash sacrifices the priests were about to burn? (9:14)
What did Moses and Aaron do in the tent of meeting? (9:23)
How did the people see the glory of the LORD? (9:23)
What’s the significance of this fiery finale? (9:23–24)
How was this fire unauthorized? (10:1)
What does from the presence of the LORD mean? (10:2)
Why couldn’t Aaron and his sons mourn these tragic deaths? (10:6)
Why couldn’t the priests leave the tabernacle with anointing oil still on them? (10:7)
Why abstain from wine while serving before the Lord? (10:9)
What was wrong with burning the sin offering? (10:16–19)
What things was Aaron referring to? (10:19)
Could the Israelites own or tend ceremonially unclean animals? (11:1–8)
Why did God keep some meats off the menu? (11:4–41)
What did it mean to be ceremonially unclean? (11:4)
What insects have only four legs? (11:20)
Why would they be unclean till evening? (11:24)
Why would a carcass cause only some water and seeds to become unclean? (11:36–37)
How would these practices make the people holy? (11:44–47)
Why such elaborate ritual? (11:46–47)
Why would a good thing like giving birth require purification? (12:4)
Why was the period of purification after the birth of a girl twice as long as that for a boy? (12:5)
Why was atonement needed when no sin had occurred? (12:7)
What is the relationship between physical and spiritual health? (13:1–46)
Did the priests serve as doctors? (13:2–3)
Why were skin conditions considered unclean, but not other signs of illness such as fever? (13:3, 8)
What’s the significance of hair color? (13:3–8, 18–37)
What kinds of diseases do these medical symptoms indicate? (13:3, 13, 30, 38)
How were affected people isolated? (13:4)
Why was someone completely covered by disease declared clean? (13:13)
How did the priest examine these skin ailments and not become unclean themselves? (13:25)
Why prevent people from combing their hair? (13:45)
Why treat someone with a disease in such a callous manner? (13:46)
How could leprosy affect clothing or houses? (13:47–59; 14:33–57)
What was bad about mold? (13:47–50)
What is meant by defiling mold? (13:51)
What’s the meaning of this odd ritual? (14:4–7)
Why make a person live without shelter? (14:8)
Why were offerings needed if being sick was not a sin? (14:10–12)
What was a wave offering? (14:12)
Were these body parts symbolic? (14:14–18)
What was the difference between guilt, grain, sin and burnt offerings? (14:21–22)
Why would God put a spreading mold in a house? (14:34)
What does defiling mold mean? (14:44)
Why make atonement for a house? (14:53)
Why all these laws concerning personal cleanliness? (15:1–33)
Should Christians obey these rules concerning personal hygiene? (15:1–33)
What was meant by a bodily discharge? (15:2–3)
Where did desert people find water for all these baths and the washing of clothes? (15:5–13)
Do these restrictions label sex as “dirty”? (15:16–24)
Why would God design natural functions to cause uncleanness? (15:16–24)
Is it wrong to have sexual relations with a woman during her menstrual period? (15:24)
How can God, who is spirit, dwell anywhere? (15:31)
Why could being close to God cause Aaron to die? (16:2)
What was the atonement cover? (16:2)
Why was atonement for Aaron and his household performed separately? (16:11)
What were the tablets of the covenant law? (16:13)
Why atone for the Most Holy Place and the tent of meeting? (16:16)
Why send a goat off into the wilderness? (16:20–22)
Why was the Day of Atonement needed in addition to the other sacrifices? (16:29–32)
How could the sins of an entire nation be forgiven in one day? (16:30)
Why did God designate a specific, exclusive spot for worship? (17:3–4)
How was someone guilty of bloodshed? (17:4)
Could the Israelites slaughter their own meat? (17:4)
How were some cut off from their people? (17:4)
Why would anyone want to eat blood? (17:10)
Why does God say the life of every creature is in its blood? (17:11)
How could blood atone for sin? (17:11)
Why does God seem to care so much about sexual behavior? (18:1–30)
Why list so many negative rules? (18:7–24)
What is meant by a rival wife? (18:18)
Where did people get the idea to sacrifice their children? (18:21)
Why does God call homosexual behavior detestable? (18:22)
What does it mean that the land vomited out its inhabitants? (18:25)
How could the Israelites force others to obey God’s commands? (18:26)
Does God expect perfection? (19:2)
If the harvest belonged to the farmer, why was he prohibited from gathering everything? (19:9–10)
Why did an employee have to be paid daily? (19:13)
Why not plant a field with two kinds of seed? (19:19)
How were slaves treated in Hebrew culture? (19:20–22)
Why was this fruit forbidden? (19:23–25)
Are divination, sorcery, mediums and spiritists real threats to God’s people? (19:26, 31)
Why did they have laws about hairstyles and tattoos? (19:27–28)
What did it mean for God to set his face against someone? (20:5)
Why is divination wrong? (20:6, 27)
Wasn’t the death penalty an overreaction to many of these sins? (20:9–16)
Why put people to death by burning? (20:14)
Didn’t Abraham marry his sister? (20:17)
Weren’t there times when a man was supposed to marry his brother’s wife? (20:21)
How did touching a dead body make a priest ceremonially unclean? (21:1–4)
Why was shaving considered unholy? (21:5–6)
Did God actually eat the sacrifices? (21:6, 8)
Why couldn’t the high priest leave the sanctuary? (21:12)
Did God’s laws discriminate against the handicapped? (21:17–23)
What did it mean to be cut off from God’s presence? (22:3)
Why would slaves be allowed to eat the sacred offering? (22:6, 11)
Why were there so many religious rules? (22:9)
What’s the difference between a freewill offering and a vow? (22:23)
What was wrong with an offering not yet eight days old? (22:27)
Why was it improper to slaughter a cow and its calf on the same day? (22:28)
If the LORD made priests holy, why were so many rules needed? (22:32)
Why were there so many festivals? (23:1–44)
What were sacred assemblies? (23:2–4)
How does the Israelite calendar correlate with ours? (23:5, 24)
What does a lasting ordinance mean? (23:14)
What are all these festivals about? (23:15–44)
If the harvest belonged to the farmer, why was he prohibited from gathering everything? (23:22)
How did the Israelites deny themselves? (23:27)
What was the Festival of Tabernacles? (23:34)
What were these shelters? (23:42–43)
Was Aaron on permanent night shift? (24:3)
Were mixed marriages common among the Israelites? (24:10)
Why was such a heavy penalty given for words spoken in anger? (24:12–16)
Why did the accusers lay their hands on the head of the condemned? (24:14)
Does God’s law advocate vengeance? (24:20)
What place did forgiveness have in the Old Testament law? (24:21)
How could the Israelites eat what they weren’t permitted to harvest? (25:5–7)
What was the Year of Jubilee? (25:10, 13)
Could land ever change hands? (25:15–16, 23)
Did the Israelites follow the letter of the law? (25:18)
How were they to provide for the redemption of the land? (25:24)
Why were the rules of ownership in a walled city different from those in the country? (25:29)
Who were these foreigners and strangers? (25:35)
Is it still wrong to charge interest? (25:36–37)
Does God favor some peoples and races over others? (25:42, 55)
Why didn’t God prohibit slavery? (25:44–46)
What happened in the Year of Jubilee? (25:54)
What was a sacred stone? (26:1)
How can God have a dwelling place? (26:11)
Why were there such heavy penalties for disobedience? (26:14–33)
Why seven times over? (26:18, 21, 24)
Are afflictions always punishment from God? (26:18, 24)
How is God’s anger different from ours? (26:28)
Did God really punish his people through cannibalism? (26:29)
How could the people pay for their sins? (26:41)
How can hearts be circumcised? (26:41)
What did it mean to dedicate someone to the Lord? (27:2)
Why were men worth more than women? (27:3–8)
Why permit someone to take back their vow? (27:13)
What happened in the Year of Jubilee? (27:24)
What was the difference between dedicating and devoting something to the Lord? (27:26–28)
What was a person devoted to destruction? (27:29)
How did God speak to Moses? (1:1)
What was the tent of meeting? (1:1)
Why did God tell Moses to take a census? (1:1–2)
Why count only men 20 years of age and older? (1:3)
Why are two sons of Joseph listed in the census? (1:32–34)
How many Israelites left Egypt? (1:46)
Why didn’t God want the tribe of Levi counted in the census? (1:47–49)
Why would anyone who came close to the tabernacle die? (1:51–53)
What does it mean that each man was under his standard? (2:2)
Why is Judah mentioned first? (2:3–4)
Why should we care about how the Israelites camped and traveled? (2:17)
How could Israel have had an army of this size, when only 70 people entered Egypt? (2:32)
Why was God so specific in his instructions? (2:34)
What were the furnishings of the tent of meeting? (3:8)
Why did firstborn sons receive special honor from God? (3:12–13)
Why weren’t newborns counted? (3:15)
Why were only males counted? (3:21–22)
What did the ark, table, lampstand and altars look like? (3:31)
Why put to death a person who wanted to come close to God? (3:38)
Why did God substitute the Levites in place of the firstborn from other tribes? (3:40–45)
Why such a meticulous assignment of tasks to different Levite clans? (4:1–33)
Why the elaborate ritual of moving tabernacle furnishings? (4:1–33)
Did the ark of the covenant law remain unseen by most people? (4:5)
How big were the holy articles? (4:15; see 4:25, 31; 7:6–9)
Why would they die if they looked at the holy things? (4:20)
Why banish someone for a condition he or she couldn’t avoid? (5:2–3)
Was banishment permanent? (5:2–3)
Why go above and beyond full restitution? (5:7)
Did the priests get rich by taking these sacred things? (5:10)
Why did an innocent wife have to go through all this because of a suspicious husband? (5:14–31)
How could bitter water accurately prove or disprove adultery? (5:23–28)
Were all childless women thought to be accursed as punishment for adultery? (5:28)
Why wasn’t there a test for an adulterous man? (5:31)
Why stay away from wine, grape juice, grapes and raisins? (6:3–4)
Why was a Nazirite considered to have sinned if someone died in his presence? (6:9–12)
Why all these different types of offerings? (6:14–15)
Why would someone become a Nazirite? (6:21)
In what way did the priests put God’s name on the Israelites? (6:27)
What did Moses do when he anointed and consecrated the tabernacle? (7:1)
Why did only some of the Levite clans get carts to carry their loads? (7:6–9)
Why is the tribe of Judah listed first? (7:12)
Why are all these repetitive offerings listed? (7:12–83)
Why sacrifice all these different kinds of animals? (7:39–41)
Why are Ephraim and Manasseh listed when they weren’t sons of Jacob? (7:48, 54)
How much was a sanctuary shekel? (7:73)
Where did the Israelites get all these silver plates, bowls and gold dishes? (7:84–86)
Did all these animals waiting to be sacrificed turn the tabernacle into a zoo? (7:87–88)
Did God talk to Moses in an audible voice? (7:89)
What were these cherubim? (7:89)
What was the value of ritual purification? (8:7)
In what sense were the Levites set apart for God? (8:14)
Why did God substitute the Levites in place of the firstborn males from other tribes? (8:16)
Why restrict the age at which a priest could serve? (8:24–25)
When exactly was the Passover celebrated? (9:3)
Why prohibit breaking any bones of the Passover lamb or keeping it until morning? (9:12)
What did it mean to be cut off? (9:13)
Why did God make his presence known in the cloud? (9:15–16)
If God “remembers” his people, does that mean he has forgotten them for a time? (10:9)
How could the tabernacle have been set up before the people arrived? (10:21)
What kind of fire was this? (11:1)
Why was the Lord so angry about the people’s complaints? (11:1)
Why were the Israelites unhappy all the time? (11:4)
Who comprised this rabble traveling with the Israelites? (11:4)
Why couldn’t the people use some of their flocks and herds for meat? (11:4)
What is coriander seed and resin? (11:7)
Wasn’t it risky for Moses to be so blunt with God? (11:11–15, 21–22)
What was the significance of this prophesying? (11:25)
Why were Eldad and Medad rewarded instead of punished for not going to the tent? (11:26)
Why didn’t the quail fly away? (11:31–32)
Why would God grant the people’s desire for meat and then punish them for wanting it? (11:33)
Why did Miriam and Aaron become opposed to Moses’ Cushite wife? (12:1)
Why would Moses, the writer of Numbers, brag about his humility? (12:3)
Why was Miriam singled out for God’s displeasure when Aaron was just as guilty? (12:10, 15)
Why would a father spit in his daughter’s face? (12:14)
Why send explorers into Canaan? (13:2)
Why did Moses change Hoshea’s name to Joshua? (13:16)
What was so alarming about the descendants of Anak? (13:28, 33)
Were the reports of the explorers accurate? (13:32)
Why was it significant that Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes? (14:6)
What grounds did the people have for stoning their leaders? (14:10)
Why did Moses argue to save the people who had called for his stoning? (14:13)
Why was God concerned about what the Egyptians thought of him? (14:13–16)
Does God punish children for their parents’ sins? (14:18, 33)
If God forgave them, why did the people have to die? (14:20–35)
Wasn’t God’s punishment a little harsh? (14:26–35)
Where are the graves of all those who died during the 40 years of wandering? (14:34–35)
Why was their belated obedience actually disobedience? (14:40–41)
How was an aroma pleasing to God? (15:3)
Why offer agricultural goods to God? (15:4–5)
What was a drink offering? (15:5)
Why were foreigners required to bring offerings? (15:14–15)
Why would someone be held responsible for an unintentional sin? (15:22–29)
Who decided whether a sin was intentional or not? (15:22–29)
What did it mean to sin defiantly? (15:30)
Why was the death penalty required for this offense? (15:32–36)
How did tassels promote obedience? (15:38–40)
What did Korah and the others accuse Moses and Aaron of doing? (16:3)
Weren’t the Levites already priests? (16:10)
Wasn’t Canaan the land flowing with milk and honey? (16:13)
Was Moses overstepping his authority? (16:15)
Why did God destroy so many people—including wives and children—for the sins of a few? (16:21–35)
Why salvage the censers? (16:37)
Why would the Israelites grumble after the events of the preceding day? (16:41)
Was God serious in his threat to destroy his chosen people? (16:45)
How did burning incense atone for the sins of the people? (16:46)
Why was a sprouting staff more convincing than fire and plague? (17:5)
What made the Israelites suddenly afraid? (17:12)
Was this raw fear a healthy attitude toward God? (17:12)
What were offenses connected with the sanctuary? (18:1)
Why would the priests die for the Levites’ misdeeds? (18:3)
How was the priesthood a gift? (18:7)
Why did God give the people’s offerings to the priests? (18:8)
Why could only the males from a priest’s family eat the most holy offerings? (18:10)
What were wave offerings? (18:11)
What was an everlasting covenant of salt? (18:19)
Why weren’t Aaron and the Levites permitted to own any land? (18:20, 23)
How did the Levites provide for necessities such as housing and clothing? (18:31)
Why slaughter a red heifer? (19:2–3)
Why did touching a human corpse make someone unclean? (19:11–12)
What made the third and seventh days special? (19:12)
Why use a dead animal’s ashes? (19:17)
Why would touching the water of cleansing make someone unclean? (19:21)
Why was Moses punished so harshly? (20:12)
How did the Lord show himself holy at Meribah? (20:12–13)
Why did Israel call Edom its brother? (20:14)
Why did Edom refuse to allow peaceful travel? (20:18–21)
How would Aaron be gathered to his people? (20:24)
Why did the people mourn for 30 days? (20:29)
Why did the Israelites have to totally destroy the Canaanite cities? (21:2)
Why was God so angry about complaining? (21:5–6)
Why did God use a symbol of death to bring healing? (21:8)
What was the Book of the Wars of the LORD? (21:14)
Why sing the enemy’s song? (21:27–29)
How long did Israel stay in these regions? (21:31, 35)
Why would a pagan prophet call the Lord my God? (22:18)
Why did God tell Balaam to go, only to get very angry when he went? (22:20–22)
Who was this angel of the LORD? (22:25–26, 31)
Why would God use a donkey? (22:27–33)
To whom did Balak sacrifice? (22:40)
Did such blessings and curses work? (23:11, 25)
Why was Balak so insistent on using Balaam? (23:13)
If God doesn’t change his mind, why does it sometimes appear that way? (23:19)
Did God sanction Balaam’s use of divination? (24:1)
What convinced Balaam that the Lord wanted to bless Israel? (24:1)
In what sense did the Spirit of God come on Balaam? (24:2)
Why did Balak strike his hands together? (24:10)
Why does the New Testament paint Balaam in a bad light when he obeyed God? (24:12–14)
Who is this message talking about? (24:17)
Where did Balaam see Amalek and the Kenites? (24:20–21)
Why would Israelite men be sleeping with Moabite women? (25:1–2)
Why would anyone be so cavalier about his sin? (25:6)
Did this Israelite’s sin justify his murder? (25:7–8)
Were the Israelites who died in the plague the same ones who worshiped Baal? (25:9)
Why did Israel need to take another census? (26:2)
How can reading a list of names benefit us? (26:4–61)
How precise are these numbers? (26:7–51)
Why are other daughters not named in this genealogy? (26:33)
Why is Asher’s daughter mentioned? (26:46)
How does this number compare to the earlier census? (26:51)
Why were male Levites less than 20 years old counted? (26:62)
Did God make up the rules as the Israelites went along? (27:5–11)
How would Moses be gathered to [his] people? (27:13)
How did the spirit make Joshua different? (27:18)
How was an aroma pleasing to God? (28:2)
What were burnt offerings and grain offerings? (28:6–8)
What was a drink offering? (28:7)
How did the Israelites keep track of months? (28:11)
How did the Israelites remember all these details? (28:14–15)
What were all these festivals about? (28:26–31)
Why did the animals have to be without defect? (28:31)
What made an animal defective? (28:31)
What was a sacred assembly? (29:1)
What were they to deny themselves? (29:7)
What was this festival? (29:12–39)
Why did they hold similar rituals several days in a row? (29:17–38)
Why the sudden drop-off in the number of sacrifices? (29:36)
Why would someone make a vow to God? (30:2)
Should we make vows to God today? (30:2)
Why was there so much emphasis on vows? (30:2–16)
Why did some women have to have their vows authorized by men? (30:3–15)
What kinds of vows could be nullified by a woman’s father or husband? (30:3–15)
Why did God tell Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites? (31:1–2)
What was Balaam still doing among the Midianites? (31:8)
Why could the Israelites keep the plunder from some conquests but not from others? (31:9)
Why did Balaam make another attempt on God’s people? (31:16)
Why were virgins spared? (31:18)
Why were soldiers who had obeyed God’s command unclean? (31:19; see v. 3)
What did Eleazar the priest do with 32 Midianite virgins? (31:40–41)
How could only 12,000 Israelites annihilate such a large force? (31:49)
Could atonement be bought? (31:50)
How did geographic distance affect relationships with other tribes? (32:5)
What ignited Moses’ anger against these tribes? (32:14)
What were fortified cities? (32:17)
Why did the Gadites and Reubenites want the land east of the Jordan River? (32:19–33)
Why would God allow the Gadites and Reubenites to settle outside the promised land? (32:19–33)
What happened to all these cities? (32:34–36)
How did the people come out of Egypt by divisions? (33:1)
Why did the Israelites move around so much? (33:5–49)
Was Aaron exceptionally old when he died? (33:39)
Why were all these stopovers recorded in the Bible? (33:49)
What right did the Israelites have to take the land? (33:52–53)
What were high places? (33:52)
What is the Wadi of Egypt? (34:5)
How did they assign land by lot? (34:13)
Why didn’t the Levites get their own land as an inheritance? (35:2)
What were cities of refuge? (35:6)
Who was the avenger of blood? (35:19)
How did the judicial process work? (35:24–25)
Why banish an innocent man? (35:25)
Why was land ownership so critical to each tribe? (36:3)
What happened in the Year of Jubilee? (36:4)
Did God make up the rules as the Israelites went along? (36:5)
Why was land valued over love? (36:8)
In the fortieth year of what? (1:3)
What law did Moses expound? (1:5)
Why this extensive review of history? (1:5–46)
What was so intimidating about the Anakites? (1:28)
Does God lose his temper? (1:34)
Did God punish Moses for the people’s lack of faith? (1:37; see 3:26; 4:21)
At what age do people know right from wrong? (1:39)
Why hadn’t God accepted the people’s repentance? (1:45)
Why were Esau’s descendants afraid of their Israelite relatives? (2:4–5)
Why did the Lord protect the land of Esau’s descendants? (2:5)
Why did God watch over the Israelites when they were being punished? (2:7)
Had God set up a separate covenant with Lot? (2:19)
Why the varying treatment of unbelieving nations? (2:24)
How did God terrorize Israel’s enemies? (2:25)
Was the king of Heshbon God’s unwilling puppet? (2:30)
Why would God annihilate an entire nation? (2:34; see 3:2)
Why kill the women and children? (3:6)
What’s this about Og’s bed? (3:11)
Why did Reuben, Gad and Manasseh want to live apart from the other tribes? (3:13–17)
Were the women and children left unprotected? (3:18–20)
How did God fight for Israel? (3:22)
When Moses spoke of other gods, was he acknowledging their existence? (3:24)
Why did God tell Moses to climb Pisgah? (3:27)
What was unusual about these laws? (4:6–8)
Why would anyone desire a visible image over an invisible God? (4:15–18; see also 5:8)
How were the Israelites the people of God’s inheritance? (4:20)
Why was Egypt called an iron-smelting furnace? (4:20)
Was Moses refusing responsibility for his sin? (4:21)
How is the Lord a consuming fire? (4:24)
How could God call the heavens and the earth as witnesses? (4:26)
Did God love Israel more than other nations? (4:33–38)
Did God give Israel the land for all time? (4:40)
Didn’t the Israelites already know the Ten Commandments? (5:1)
Did they really see the Lord face to face? (5:4; see 34:10)
Why did Moses accuse the people of being afraid to approach God? (5:5)
Do these commandments apply to us? (5:6–21)
Why would God punish children for the sin of their parents? (5:9)
What does it mean to misuse God’s name? (5:11)
Why does God want us to fear him? (5:29)
In what way was the land flowing with milk and honey? (6:3)
Did God’s love and care for Israel depend on how well they followed the law? (6:3)
What does the phrase the LORD is one mean? (6:4)
What’s the difference between heart and soul? (6:5)
How could they tie the commandments on their hands and foreheads? (6:8)
Was it fair to give Israel property others had worked for? (6:10–11)
How can instant prosperity affect one’s relationship with God? (6:10–12)
Why was it important to tell the children about the exodus from Egypt? (6:20–25)
Why did God demand the total destruction of Israel’s enemies? (7:2)
Why would a God of love command the Israelites to show no mercy? (7:2)
What were Asherah poles? (7:5)
Why did God tell the people to feel no pity? (7:16)
How could the hornet finish off the remaining enemy? (7:20)
How could a quick victory cause wild animals to multiply? (7:22)
Why was it necessary to burn these idols? (7:25)
Why did God have to test what was in their heart? (8:2)
Why describe a dry land like Canaan in such glowing terms? (8:7–8)
What metals did Israel use? (8:9)
Why would the Israelites be afraid of the Anakites? (9:2)
How could God hold other nations accountable for what they didn’t know? (9:4)
In what way were the Israelites a stiff-necked people? (9:6)
Why were there two tablets instead of just one? (9:10)
Short of a miracle, how could Moses fast for 80 days without food or water? (9:18; see 9:9)
Did prayer change God’s mind? (9:19)
What was special about this ark that was called the ark of the covenant law? (10:1–2)
How was God himself the inheritance of the Levites? (10:9)
Is it possible for people to walk in obedience to God? (10:12)
What does it mean to circumcise your hearts? (10:16)
What does God of gods and Lord of lords mean? (10:17)
What’s the difference between requirements, decrees, laws and commands? (11:1)
In what way was the land flowing with milk and honey? (11:9)
Does God care more for the Holy Land than he does for other places? (11:12)
Should we wear God’s word on our foreheads? (11:18)
How could people write God’s laws on doorframes and gates? (11:20)
Why should God’s people take land belonging to others? (11:23)
Why begin with commands about worship? (12:4–7)
How can God’s Name have a place to dwell? (12:5)
Why couldn’t the Israelites worship anywhere? (12:5)
What did ceremonially unclean mean? (12:15)
Why couldn’t they eat the blood? (12:16, 23–25)
Why did the Israelites have to leave their towns to eat the tithe? (12:17)
Were the Levites dependent on others to survive? (12:18–19)
What things were consecrated? (12:26)
Why did God have to warn his people about sacrificing their own children? (12:31)
Did Jesus take away from these commandments? (12:32)
Was this testing a type of entrapment? (13:3)
Does God oppose religious freedom? (13:10)
Why wipe out the whole town—even animals? (13:15)
What was wrong with shaving? (14:1)
What makes meat kosher? (14:3)
Do Jewish laws today still follow these guidelines? (14:3–21)
Could they cook goats in other milk? (14:21)
Why were the Israelites to eat what they had given to God? (14:23)
Does God approve of drinking alcohol? (14:26)
How can we apply these verses today? (15:1–11; see also Lev 25:8–38)
Why require payment on a foreigner’s loan? (15:3)
Is there a cure for poverty? (15:11)
Why disfigure a loyal servant? (15:17)
When was the month of Aviv? (16:1)
Why is unleavened bread called the bread of affliction? (16:3)
Why didn’t God want leftovers? (16:4)
How could all the men crowd into one place? (16:16)
Who made the political appointments? (16:18)
Why would the Israelites be tempted to use Asherah poles or sacred stones? (16:21–22)
Why did participating in idol worship deserve execution? (17:2–5)
Why were executions a community affair? (17:7)
Do these instructions work in any form of government? (17:9)
Why would God give instructions for something he didn’t want done? (17:15)
Why limit what a king could acquire? (17:16–17)
Why should a king do the work of a scribe? (17:18)
Why couldn’t Levites inherit anything? (18:1–2)
Was this dependence on offerings a good thing for the priests? (18:1–2)
What would a Levite have to sell? (18:8)
Why is it wrong to contact people who have died? (18:10–11)
How do prophecy and divination differ? (18:14–15)
Who was Moses referring to? (18:15)
Was this prophet meant to replace God’s terrifying presence? (18:15–17)
How can we know who really speaks for God? (18:21–22)
How did these cities honor God and human life? (19:1–3)
Who was the avenger of blood? (19:6)
Why was it acceptable to kill a murderer? (19:11–13)
What was a boundary stone? (19:14)
Was this eye for eye, tooth for tooth command to be taken literally? (19:21)
How can we get God on our side? (20:4)
Why send all these soldiers home? (20:5–8)
Why would God’s people take women and children as plunder? (20:14)
Why were the Israelites to kill everything in the land? (20:16–18)
Why were the Israelites to spare the trees? (20:19)
What were siege works? (20:20)
Why was this ritual performed for an unsolved murder? (21:1–9)
Why could the Israelites marry some foreigners but not others? (21:11)
Why shave and manicure a female captive? (21:12)
Is being displeased grounds for divorce? (21:14)
Does God approve of polygamy? (21:15)
How does fathering a child prove strength? (21:17)
Why was stoning a son different from sacrificing him? (21:18–21)
Why such a harsh punishment for disobedience? (21:21)
Why was someone who was hung on a pole cursed by God? (21:22–23)
Is it still wrong for women and men to wear each other’s clothing? (22:5)
Why not take the mother bird? (22:6–7)
What was wrong with these actions? (22:9–11)
What proof could parents offer that their daughter was a virgin? (22:15)
Is a ruined reputation worse than rape? (22:19, 29)
Why was the death penalty required for adultery? (22:22–25)
Why was marriage part of the punishment for some cases of rape? (22:28–29)
Why did God reject these children? (23:2–3)
Why would a nocturnal emission make a man unclean? (23:10)
What was a shrine prostitute? (23:17)
Was this a double standard? (23:19–20)
Why eat the fruit and crops of others? (23:24–25)
Was this no-fault divorce? (24:1)
What was wrong with remarrying a wife who had married someone else? (24:4)
Is a returned pledge still a pledge? (24:10–13)
Why pay a poor worker every day? (24:15)
If 41 lashes degraded someone, why wouldn’t 40? (25:3)
Why was a man required to marry his brother’s widow? (25:5–10)
Why were the elders at the town gate? (25:7)
How bad was the stigma for The Family of the Unsandaled? (25:9–10)
Why was injury to private parts punished so harshly? (25:11–12)
What is wrong with differing weights and differing measures? (25:13–15)
Why did God choose a place as a dwelling? (26:2)
In what way was the land flowing with milk and honey? (26:9)
Why was the third year called the year of the tithe? (26:12)
Why would anyone offer a tithe to the dead? (26:14)
Why did God treasure Israel above other nations? (26:18)
What were all the words of this law? (27:3)
What was wrong with using iron tools to build an altar? (27:5)
What was the purpose of fellowship offerings? (27:7)
What was a boundary stone? (27:17)
Who would lead the blind astray? (27:18)
Why had brother-sister marriages been permitted earlier? (27:22)
Does God see sins done secretly? (27:24)
Is success guaranteed to those who obey God? (28:1–6)
Isn’t this like the modern health-and-wealth gospel? (28:1–68)
Why do these curses mirror the blessings? (28:16–19)
In what sense would the sky be bronze and the ground iron? (28:23)
Why such graphic descriptions of judgment? (28:27–28, 53, 57)
Can curses be a sign and a wonder? (28:46)
What was an iron yoke? (28:48)
Why is God so severe? (28:58–59)
What were the dreaded diseases of Egypt? (28:60)
Why does punishment please God? (28:63)
Does God make us anxious? (28:65)
How many covenants did God make? (29:1)
Can we blame God if we don’t understand? (29:1–6)
What foreigners were in the camp? (29:11)
Who were those who are not here today? (29:15)
Is there a limit to God’s forgiveness? (29:19–20)
What were Admah and Zeboyim? (29:23)
What were the secret things and the things revealed? (29:29)
Were the Israelites doomed to disobey? (30:1–3)
Was this a guarantee that the children of Israel could always return to the Lord? (30:2–3)
What does it mean to circumcise your hearts? (30:6)
What’s the difference between heart and soul? (30:6)
Was the Old Testament law within reach? (30:11)
How could the heavens and the earth be witnesses? (30:19)
Did Moses really live to be 120 years old? (31:2)
How was Joshua chosen as the new leader? (31:3, 7–8)
Was the law to be read only every seven years? (31:10–11)
How long would it take to publicly read the law? (31:11)
How was Joshua commissioned? (31:14)
Why use a song to witness against someone? (31:19–22)
In what way was the land flowing with milk and honey? (31:20)
In what way were the people stiff-necked? (31:27)
How could God’s children cease to be his children? (32:5)
When did God set up boundaries … according to the number of the sons of Israel? (32:8)
In what way was Israel the apple of his eye? (32:10)
How could honey come from a rock? (32:13)
How could what is no god make God jealous? (32:21)
What did Moses mean by their Rock had sold them? (32:30)
Does God cause death and pain? (32:39)
Why lift a hand to heaven? (32:40)
Why use such graphic descriptions of judgment? (32:40–42)
What does it mean to be gathered to your people? (32:50)
Why did Moses recite this formal blessing on all the tribes of Israel? (33:1)
Who were these holy ones? (33:2)
What were the Urim and Thummim? (33:8)
Is it okay to ignore one’s family for the sake of religious work? (33:9)
Why bring Ephraim and Manasseh into Joseph’s blessing? (33:17)
What lake is this referring to? (33:23)
What was so great about bathing feet in oil? (33:24)
Why was Israel so blessed, when they were also so disobedient? (33:29)
If Moses was the author of Deuteronomy, how did he record his own death? (34:1–8)
Did God himself bury Moses? (34:6)
Why bury Moses in a secret grave? (34:6)
What did the Israelites do during a 30-day mourning period? (34:8)
How did Moses’ touch transfer wisdom to Joshua? (34:9)
Was Moses the greatest prophet? (34:10)
How did God talk to Joshua? (1:1)
Did the territory of Israel ever extend this far? (1:4)
Was it right to take land from others? (1:4)
Does God promise health and wealth to those who follow him? (1:8)
Do God’s promises to Joshua and the Israelites apply to us? (1:9)
Why did the spies visit the house of a prostitute? (2:1)
Why were these spies discovered so quickly? (2:2)
Why did God bless Rahab when she told a lie? (2:4–5)
How did the Canaanites regard the God of Israel? (2:11)
Why didn’t the Canaanites worship the Israelites’ God if they knew he was so powerful? (2:11)
What was the significance of a scarlet cord? (2:18)
What was the ark of the covenant? (3:3)
Why keep the people at a distance from the ark? (3:4)
How did the people consecrate themselves? (3:5)
What did God have against these groups of people? (3:10)
How deep was the Jordan at flood stage? (3:15)
How did God stop the flow of the Jordan? (3:16)
How did the Lord speak to Joshua? (4:1)
Why was a memorial needed? (4:6–7)
How old was the memorial when the book of Joshua was written? (4:9)
If the Israelites revered Moses, why did they rebel? (4:14)
What calendar did the Israelites use? (4:19; see 3:15)
Why did Joshua circumcise the Israelites? (5:3)
Why had the Israelites stopped circumcising their children? (5:5–7)
What was the reproach of Egypt? (5:9)
Why did God stop the manna when he did? (5:12)
Was this commander a human, an angel or something more? (5:14)
Why wasn’t the commander of the army of the LORD on Israel’s side? (5:14)
Why did Joshua take off his sandals? (5:15)
Why did God speak as though victory had already come? (6:2)
Why did God want the Israelites to march around the city? (6:3)
What kind of trumpets were these? (6:4)
Why did God want the people to carry the ark around the city? (6:9)
What was special about the number seven? (6:13–15)
Was the Sabbath ignored during this war? (6:15)
How was the city devoted to the LORD? (6:17)
Why kill every living thing? (6:21)
What was the purpose of this curse? (6:26)
Why permit the Israelites to plunder most cities but not Jericho? (7:1)
Why did Joshua tear his clothes and fall facedown? (7:6)
Why blame everybody for one person’s sin? (7:11)
Why were the Israelites made liable to destruction? (7:12)
Was this justice by random selection? (7:14)
How can confessing sin give glory and honor to God? (7:19)
Why punish Achan’s sons and daughters for his sin? (7:24–25)
Why could the Israelites plunder Ai but not Jericho? (8:2)
Why did the Israelites rely on military strategy to defeat Ai? (8:3–19)
What happened to all the dead bodies? (8:24)
Why destroy every one of them? (8:24–25)
Why hang the king on a pole? (8:29)
Why were uncut stones needed for the altar? (8:31)
Why make another copy of the commandments? (8:32)
What was the significance of these two mountains? (8:33)
Who were the foreigners who lived among them? (8:35)
Were the Gibeonites “converts”? (9:9)
How should the Israelites have inquired of the Lord? (9:14)
Why did the people complain? (9:18)
Why honor an oath given under false pretenses? (9:19)
Should we admire the Gibeonites’ resourcefulness? (9:25)
What were royal cities? (10:2)
Why did Israel have to defend Gibeon? (10:6–7)
How big were these hailstones? (10:11)
Are natural calamities “acts of God”? (10:11)
What was the Book of Jashar? (10:13)
How did the sun stand still? (10:13–14)
Why didn’t anyone utter a word against the Israelites? (10:21)
Wasn’t this excessively brutal? (10:24–26)
What did Joshua do to the king of Jericho? (10:28)
Was this exaggeration? (10:40–43)
Why hamstring perfectly good horses? (11:6)
What were cities built on their mounds? (11:13)
Was God responsible for their hard hearts? (11:20)
Why did the Israelites halt their conquest of Canaan before it was complete? (11:22–23)
How long did the conquest of Canaan take? (11:23)
How did the land have rest from war? (11:23)
Who were the Rephaites? (12:4)
How much power did these kings have? (12:7–24)
Why list all these victims? (12:9–24)
Why divide the land now rather than after all of it was conquered? (13:6–7)
Did the geographic positioning of the tribes fulfill Jacob’s blessing? (13:8–19:48)
Why didn’t the Israelites defeat all the nations? (13:13)
How did the Reubenites inherit these towns? (13:15–23)
How did Israel know about Balaam? (13:22)
How did inheriting priestly duties compare to inheriting land? (13:33; see 14:4; 18:7)
Why did Joshua cast lots to assign the land? (14:1–2)
How do we benefit from knowing these geographic details? (14:1–21:45)
Why did Caleb ask for land if his tribe (Judah) had already received land? (14:12)
How did the land have rest from war? (14:15)
Were Israelite girls treated like property? (15:17)
Why did Aksah have to ask for something as basic as water? (15:19)
Why name all these towns and villages? (15:21–62)
What was the Wadi of Egypt? (15:47)
Why couldn’t Judah drive out the Jebusites? (15:63)
How did the Israelites get the Canaanites to do forced labor? (16:10)
What rights did women have? (17:4)
Why did the daughters claim a right to land? (17:4)
Weren’t they arguing with God’s allotment of land to them? (17:14)
Why did the people mention the Canaanites’ chariots fitted with iron? (17:16)
Was it fair to make the tribes of Joseph fight its own battles? (17:17–18)
What was the purpose of the tent of meeting? (18:1)
What were these seven tribes waiting for? (18:2–3)
Why cast lots to divide the land? (18:10)
Was this an advantageous placement for Benjamin? (18:11)
What was the Stone of Bohan? (18:17)
Why put Simeon’s inheritance within the territory of Judah? (19:1)
How did Simeon end up surrounded by Judah? (19:1–9)
How can towns have villages? (19:15)
What was a fortified city? (19:29)
Why did the Danites go after territory that was not allotted to them? (19:47)
Why wasn’t the distribution of this land decided by lot? (19:49–50)
Why did Joshua divide and assign land that hadn’t yet been conquered? (19:51)
What were cities of refuge? (20:2)
Was this the usual method of handling accidental deaths? (20:2–3)
What did an avenger of blood do? (20:3)
Were these towns standing vacant? (21:3)
Why were the Levites scattered among the tribes? (21:3)
Why list the towns of the Levites? (21:8–42)
What was a city of refuge? (21:13)
How could it be said that the LORD gave all their enemies into their hands? (21:44)
How long did they fight the campaign for Canaan? (22:3)
Why were the Israelites so quick to go to war over an altar? (22:10–12)
What was the sin of Peor and why had the Israelites not yet been cleansed from it? (22:17)
Why did they repeat God’s names? (22:22)
How could Joshua say that some nations remained if he had indeed conquered them? (23:4)
Why would the Israelites be tempted by other gods? (23:7)
How would the nations become snares and traps to Israel? (23:13)
How would the nations become thorns in Israel’s eyes? (23:13)
Why is punishment from God described as evil? (23:15)
Did God send literal hornets? (24:12)
Why had the Israelites kept the false gods of their ancestors? (24:14, 23)
Why was Joshua so negative? (24:19)
Why did the people need new decrees and laws? (24:24–25)