Nelly Favis Villafuerte By Nelly Favis Villafuerte   In the Biblical accounts, we see God thwarting the ambitious plan of men to “build a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens.” (Genesis 11:1)  “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them...  So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.  That is why it is called Babel because the Lord confused the language of the whole world.  From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.”  (Genesis 11:6-9) * * * After the Babel rebellion, communities of people which later on developed into nations emerged.  These nations became distinct from one another with their own cultural and racial peculiarities.  In the Bible, we encounter different nations that have played significant roles in the historical and spiritual evolutions of the people of Israel, God’s chosen nation.  Among these peoples were the Assyrians, Babylonians, Canaanites, Egyptians, Greeks, Philistines, Persians, Romans, and Sumerians. * * * Many times we wonder:  what are the unique peculiarities and characteristics of the people of the Bible?  Here are some very revealing tidbits about these people:

• The early Philistines were sea-loving people and were considered “boozers” during their time, capable of drinking big quantities of barley beer.
• The Philistines worshipped a plurality of gods. They worshipped a god of grain (Dagon), a god of propagation (Ashtaroth), and a god of habitation (Baal-zebub). Even in war, the Philistines brought along their gods.
• The Sumerians held the distinguished record of being the earliest people with the capability to write. Starting with pictographic symbols, the Sumerians later used conventional signs, writing, and transferring them on soft clay tablets using a stylus.
• As for the Canaanites, their religion was considered the most abominable of all ancient religions. First-born children were sacrificed to Baal (principal god) and Ashtoreth (principal goddess, Baal’s wife); sex orgies were part of the religious rituals where priestesses and priests of temples were actually engaged as prostitutes.
• The word Canaanite is a collective term that refers to all the people living in Canaan (Promised Land of the Israelites) at the time the Israelite’s led by Joshua reached the place. The people included the Phoenicians, Philistines, Ammonites, Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites.
• While the Canaanites were considered morally depraved, to their credit, they are believed to have invented the alphabet.
• The Egyptians of ancient times revered animal gods. The bull was considered the most sacred and upon its death, was embalmed and buried after royal ceremonies were solemnized.
• The Egyptians are most-remembered for their pyramids and the mummies of their kings and queens. Archaeological discoveries of tombs of the kings of Egypt (pharaohs) have confirmed the Egyptian practice of burying treasures and riches with the royalty upon their death.
• The early Babylonians were identified with Nimrod, described as the mighty hunter in Genesis 10:9. Many consider Nimrod as the first dictator of the world.
• Babylonia’s chief god was Marduk. The author of the code of Hammurabi (Hamurabi) claimed he was Marduk’s representative. The Code of Hammurabi which is a compilation of more than 300 laws provided rules of conduct in the social, political, and economic realms of Babylonian life.
• It was Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar who captured the fantasy of the female gender for building the famous hanging gardens for his wife Ametis who missed the mountains of her place of birth, Media. Nebuchadnezzar’s palace built in a spacious area of seven acres included a banquet hall which covered over 11,000 square feet.
• The Assyrians were considered in ancient history as the most cruel people that ever lived. Credited for introducing the science of siege warfare, they developed the use of battering rams and other equipment in breaking down enemy walls.
• The Assyrians developed a postal system that kept open and fast communication between the king and his subordinate heads. Many believe that the pony express system was patterned after the Assyrian ancient postal system,
• Of all the ancient people, it is the Persians who established an organized and efficient scheme of government. Their political system effectively applied the principle of decentralization.
• To dog-lovers, it may interest you to know that the Persians cared for dogs tremendously, and hitting a dog was made a crime under early Persian law; failure to care for a puppy was as serious a crime as neglecting a human baby.

* * * May these tidbit information about the ancient people stimulate you to read the Holy Bible.  May it challenge you also to know about biblical history. * * * We are pleased to announce that we are giving out, free of charge 100 copies of a book titled, “Preparing for Eternity” by Mike Gendron.  This is a book which challenges us to resolve the question: Should we trust God’s Word or religious traditions?  Those interested to receive a copy, kindly email your complete mailing address. * * * This column continues to give out copies of the Holy Bible for free to those who cannot afford to buy their own copies. If interested, please send your letter-request to Ms. Nelly Favis-Villafuerte, 5233 LRV Building, Fahrenheit St., Palanan, Makati City. Kindly mention if it is the Tagalog, English, Cebuano, or Ilocano Bible that is preferred. Be joyful and forgiving!   (Comments may be sent to Ms. Villafuerte’s email: [email protected])