- B.C.E./C.E.
- Abbreviations meaning "before the common era" and "common era"; theologically neutral replacements for the traditional designations B.C. ("before Christ") and A.D. ("year of the Lord"). See Introduction.
- Baal
- Word which means "lord, master" (in Modern Hebrew, "husband") that was applied to the chief god of Canaan; various locations in Canaan had their patron Baal gods, for example, Baal of Peor and Baal of Hermon.
- Babel
- See Tower of Babel and Babylon.
- Babylon
- The capital city of Babylonia in southern Mesopotamia; the Babylonians led by Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 587 B.C.E. and took Judeans into Babylonian exile; called Babel in Genesis 11.
- Babylonian exile
- See Exile.
- Balaam
- A thirteenth century B.C.E. Mesopotamian seer-prophet who was hired by Balak of Moab to curse the Israelites but ended up blessing them instead. See Chapter 4.
- Balak
- King of Moab who opposed Moses and the Israelites.
- Baruch
- Jeremiah's scribe, perhaps responsible for composing and editing the latter half of the book of Jeremiah. See Chapter 11.
- Bathsheba
- The wife of Uriah who committed adultery with David, later became his wife and the mother of Solomon. See Chapter 8, Chapter 9.
- Belshazzar
- Son of Nabonidus (556-539) who ruled in his father's absence; according to Daniel 5 he as king when Babylon fell. See Chapter 17.
- Ben
- (Hebrew for "son, son of"; Aramaic bar) Used frequently in "patronymics" (naming by identity of father); Rabbi Akiba ben Joseph means Akiba son of Joseph.
- Benjamin
- The twelfth son of Jacob, the younger brother of Joseph; Rachel was his mother; he was the ancestor of the tribe of Benjamin.
- Berakah
- (Hebrew for "blessing") In Judaism, an offering of thankfulness that praises God for a benefit conferred or a great event experienced.
- Berit
- (also spelled brit; Hebrew for "covenant") Used in Judaism especially for the special relationship believed to exist between God and the Jewish people.
- Bethel
- A city which became a center of Israelite worship; literally means "house of El." See Chapter 9.
- Bethlehem
- A city in the tribe of Judah, home town of David; literally means "house of bread." See Chapter 16.
- Bible
- (adj. biblical; from Greek biblos, "book") The designation normally used for the Hebrew Bible plus the Christian New Testament; in classical Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Christianity it designates the Hebrew Bible plus the Apocrypha plus the New Testament .
- Birthright
- The special inheritance rights of the first-born son giving him claim to the bulk of the ancestral property.
- Blessing
- Blessing, bless Divine favor and approval; blessing is a mark of God's grace and evidence of his protecting and prospering presence; in return people can bless God as a display of gratitude for his goodness. See Chapter 1.
- Boaz
- A wealthy Israelite who lived in Bethlehem; he married Ruth and became an ancestor of David. See Chapter 16.
- Book of the Covenant
- Also called the Covenant Code, Exodus 20:22-23:33; a collection of Israelite laws. See Chapter 3.
- Book of the Twelve
- Sometimes called the minor prophets, a collection of twelve short prophetic books in the Latter Prophets; also called the Twelve Prophets. See Chapter 13.
- Burning bush
- The bush out of which Yahweh spoke to Moses in the Sinai to reveal God's identity (Exodus 3). See Chapter 3.
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