Samuel judges Israel (1 Samuel 7:3-17)
Samuel was a prophet and judge who appointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David, led a spiritual renewal of the nation, and prayed for victory over its enemies.
The Stay in Egypt (Hosea 11:1-4)
In his gospel, St Matthew links the stay of the Holy Family in Egypt with a saying from the Prophet Hosea about the recall of God's Son from Egypt.
Abram meets Melchizedek (Genesis 14:1-24)
The story of the priest and king Melchizedek offering bread and wine to Abram is traditionally understood as a symbol of Christ and the Sacrifice of the Mass.
Sarah the mother of Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7)
Sarah, the wife of Abraham, is an important figure in Jewish history. Her story is told in the book of Genesis. Through her son Isaac, she and her husband were the original ancestors of the nation of Israel, as well as its later kings.
The Song of Judith (Judith 15:14-16:17)
The Song of Judith is a biblical hymn praising Judith’s courage in saving Israel by killing Holofernes, the Assyrian general.
The Early Life of Moses (Exodus 1:1-2:25)
Moses was born to Hebrew parents in Egypt during a time when the Pharaoh had ordered the drowning of all male Hebrew infants. His mother placed him in a basket on the Nile River, where he was found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, and raised as an
The Prayer of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:1-15)
The Prayer of Habakkuk is a song that describes a grand vision of God, shining forth in glory upon a mountain. The hymn draws upon the story of the Exodus and points forward to the coming of the Messiah.
Queen Esther protects the Jews (Esther 8:1-8)
The biblical story of Esther is of a Jewish woman named Esther who became queen of Persia and risked her life to save her people from annihilation.
Joseph is betrayed by his brothers (Genesis 37:1-36)
Joseph was the favourite son of Jacob, which caused jealousy among his brothers. They sold him into slavery in Egypt, where he later rose to power. The betrayal of Joseph was later reflected in the betrayal of Jesus.
Moses raises the Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:4-9)
In the story of Moses raising the Bronze Serpent, the Israelites were bitten by venomous snakes in the wilderness. God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and raise it up on a pole, and anyone who looked at it would be healed from their snake bi