A recent FaceBook conversation with a Christian lead to following, deceptively succinct question, “But as a Jew, do you believe [Hashem] is a person, or a force?” My response was that Hashem is beyond human comprehension, and I was respectfully asked to explain the position.  As I started gathering scriptural passages to support this view, … More The Nature of the Divine

Yehezkiel (Ezekiel) 10 returns to the visionary imagery employed in chapter 1: angelic beings executing Hashem’s judgment on Israel.  In my previous post, I postulated that the four faces of these beings (bull, lion, eagle, and man) represented the four powers involved in the story of the Exile (Chaldea, Assyria, Egypt, and Persia, respectively), although … More Yehezkiel 10-16

This post begins an examination of Yehezkiel (Ezekiel).  He and Yermiyahu (Jeremiah) were approximately contemporary.  However, whereas the writings of Yermiyahu were primarily composed leading up to the Babylonian Exile, the book of Yehezkiel is written entirely within the context of the Exile.  Whereas Yermiyahu accompanies the partisans of Beit David into Egypt, Yehezkiel lives … More Yehezkiel 1-9

These are the final six chapters of Yirmiyahu. With chapter 46, as with 45, we read the words of a prophecy given in the time of Yehoyakim (Jehoiakim).  After all the chapters about the events of the Exile and the time of Zedekiyahu, it may seem strange or disjointed to read prophecy given years earlier.  … More Yirmiyahu 46-52

This segment opens with Yirmiyahu being brought to pray on behalf of the king among the people of Jerusalem during a respite in the siege against the city and then being arrested for prophesying against the city.  The people are rejoicing, because the Chaldeans have fallen back to repel Egyptian military aide sent to Jerusalem … More Yirmiyahu 37-45

Chapters 30 through 36 can be divided into two general topics: messages of hope for the restoration of Israel and historical/biographical information about Yirmiyahu and his prophecies. Chapters 30 and 31 both deliver messages of comfort to the Yehudim.  He discusses the return from Exile and the restoration of Beit David.  Chapter 33 extends the … More Yirmiyahu 30-36

Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) commences this reading with a stern reminder to the House of David of the conditional nature of their relationship with Hashem (1 Melechim [Kings] 2:4): “…‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack … More Yirmiyahu 22–29

Yirmiyahu 13 opens last week’s reading with an analogy.  Yirmiyahu allows a brand new linen loin cloth to rot.  The loin cloth represents the house of Israel, which is placed close to the body much the way Hashem has kept Israel close to Himself.  But the house of Israel, especially the tribe of Yehudah, has … More Yirmiyahu 13-21

Yirmiyahu, in chapter 7, delivers a condemnation of Israel’s idolatry from the gates of the Temples.  Yet again, it is not enough to offer sacrifices, one must be faithful and just as well.  Neither the priests, nor the prophets, nor the people have done either, and idolatry has run rampant.  Given the times, it’s hardly … More Yirmiyahu 7-12

As we begin to examine the prophecies of Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah), we should start by examining the man himself.  Yirmiyahu began his prophecies during the reign of Yosiyahu (Josiah), and continued them into the Babylonian Exile.  Naturally, his writings chiefly concern the conquest of Yehudah (Judah) and the Exile. By trade, Yirmiyahu was not a trained, … More Yirmiyahu 1-6