This is a book about curses. It is not about curses as insults or offensive language but curses as petitions to the divine world to render judgment and execute harm on identified, hostile forces. In the ancient world, curses functioned in a way markedly different from our own, and it is into the world of the ancient Near East that we must go in order to appreciate the scope of their influence. For the ancient Near Easterners, curses had authentic meaning. Curses were part of their life and religion. They were not inherently magic or features of superstitions, nor were they mere curiosities or trifling antidotes. They were real and effective. They were employed proactively and reactively to manage life’s many vicissitudes and maintain social harmony. They were principally protective, but they were also the cause of misfortune, illness, depression, and anything else that undermined a comfortable, well-balanced life. Every member of society used them, from slave to king, from young to old, from men and women to the deities themselves. They crossed cultural lines and required little or no explanation, for curses were the source of great evil. In other words, curses were universal. Because curses were woven into the very fabric of every known ancient Near Eastern society, they emerge frequently and in a wide variety of venues. They appear on public and private display objects, on tomb stelae, tomb lintels, and sarcophagi, on ancient kudurrus and narûs. They are used in political, administrative, social, religious, and familial contexts. They are the subject of incantations. They are tools that exorcise demons and dispel disease; they ban, protect, and heal. This is the phenomenology of cursing in the ancient Near East, and this is what the present work explores.

Two star-crossed lovers. One city on the brink of destruction. Tages is a medical slave, doomed to spend the rest of his life healing his master's injured gladiators. Lucia is the daughter of Tag's owner, doomed by her father's greed to marry a much older Roman man. Can they find each other before the volcano destroys their whole world?

This volume assembles essays and article written by scholars who have a close connection with William McKane, a dedicated scholar of the Hebrew Bible. McKane's scholarship has focused on Wisdom literature, prophecy, and other themes from the Hebrew Bible, and he is best known for his commentaries on Proverbs and Jeremiah. The contributions include essays from Philip R. Davies, James C. Vanderkam and R. B. Salters on topics including Lamentations, 1&2 Chronicles, and the Septuagint.

Emily finds herself pulled mysteriously into a strange new world where everything is not as it seems. She finds herself in a quest to destroy an enemy, but which one is it? Is she really the deliverer that they've been waiting for or is she just the self-absorbed girl next door?

Originally published in 1949, this is the first of 2 volumes studying the Bantu tribes inhabiting the westernmost part of Kenya. The book analyses family, lineage and clan structure, kinship relations and the various rituals connected with every stage of the human life cycle. Also included is a section on European colonization and its effects and the magico-religious and ceremonial aspects of tribal life.

Your Daily Guide to Entering the Courts of Heaven Because of Jesus sacrifice, every Christian can enter Heavens courtroom to present their requests directly to the Supreme Judge of all! Bestselling author of Operating in the Courts of Heaven and Prayers and Declarations that Open the Courts of Heaven, Robert Henderson is internationally renowned for teaching believers how to enter Heavens courtrooms. More than a devotional, 365 Prayers and Activations for Entering the Courts of Heaven​ is your daily guide to answered prayers, prophetic visions, heavenly encounters, and more. Each entry includes Revelatory Scriptures: Daily Scripture selections offer the opportunity to receive personal, Holy Spirit revelation. Heavenly Encounters: Each devotional passage is written to usher you into Heavens courtrooms through faith. Prayers of Petition: Activation prayers help you to pray according to Gods will, guiding you as you submit your case before the Judge. Verdicts of Breakthrough: As you learn to function within the Courts of Heaven, you will see more victory and more answered prayer! Each inspirational devotional entry features entirely new content from Robert Henderson. Perfect as an introduction to the Courts of Heaven for beginners, or as a handy resource for courtroom veterans, this collection of short, powerful devotions will empower you to make the most out of your daily devotional prayer time. If you are seeking breakthrough in your life, this is your chance to take your request into the very Courts of Heaven! Enter Heavens courtroom today, and start thanking God for answered prayers!