Last week, I stumbled across this relief dating back to the time of Sennacherib, King of Assyria. Though gruesome, it reminded me of the importance of diligent Bible study.
Several years ago, my wife presented me with a trip to Israel. It was amazing, and one of the greatest benefits I gained from it was that of “perspective.” Because I had never been to the places I had often read about in the Bible, I could only picture the events and places in my imagination. However, after being there, and seeing many of the things I saw, I had to adjust or tweak the way I had imagined many things in my mind.
This relief reminded me of another adjustment many of us may need to make to the way we picture a familiar biblical event. We’re probably familiar with the story of Esther, Mordecai, and Haman, and how Haman intended to hang Mordecai on a gallows that was about 75 feet high. When our “western mind,” hears the word, “gallows,” we think of the “Wild West.” We think of stairs, a platform, a crossbeam, a trap door, and a rope by which a man would be hung by the neck. But the Persians, as well as the Assyrians, both practiced “hanging,” but it was by impalement. In fact, the word, “gallows” in Esther 4:14 literally means “stick,” “wood,” “pole,” or “stake.”
The picture above depicts the Assyrians “hanging” Judeans by impalement during the time of Sennacherib. Again, as gruesome as this topic is, doesn’t it make the events of Esther even more terrifying? The cruelty from which Mordecai escaped by the providence of God, makes this account all the more breathtaking.
Friends, don’t stop studying! There are so many truths that we have yet to uncover that are awaiting our attention. These truths will help us to more clearly imagine, and understand what God revealed and preserved for us.