The last two posts I made on prophetic analysis covered my approach to scripture and prophecy and the context of Yeshaiyahu’s (Isaiah’s) prophecies. This post discusses the first nine chapters of Yeshaiyahu, and subsequent posts will cover similarly sized chunks of this book. Before I discuss what I think are particular points of interest in … More Yeshaiyahu 1-9
In my last post, I introduced a blog series on my interpretation of the Prophets. That introduction included a description of my approach to Biblical texts and prophecy. You may want to read it before proceeding to read this post. Our perusal of the Prophets begins with Yeshaiyahu (Isaiah), but not in the Book … More The Prophets, Part II: Yeshaiyahu
Over the next several weeks, I hope to publish a series of posts presenting an interpretation of the Neviim (books of the prophets) contained in the Hebrew Bible, beginning with Yeshaiyahu (Isaiah). This interpretation is couched in the historical events and political context of Yeshaiyahu’s time and the years immediately following it. It is my belief … More The Prophets: An Introduction
Over the course of the last year, I have written and beta tested a schedule for reading the entirety of the TaNaKh in the course of a year. My efforts have partially been based on an expressed desire for such a schedule from other Jews and partly based on my own desire for a schedule … More Reading Scripture
In my quest to read the entire TaNaKh this year, I’ve progressed to Iyov (The reading schedule I’ve worked out will be available as an ebook once I’ve finished testing it!). Iyov has always been a difficult book for me. It offends many of my sensibilities about religion, practice, and the individual relationship between the … More Iyov
(Source: Wikipedia) For most Avrahamic religions, the story of the shofet Samson is one of a hero. Samson’s life has all the hallmarks of a mythical hero: superhuman in his strength, a close relationship with the divine, a flawed and difficult personal life that ends in the ultimate self-sacrifice. But was Samson the hero he’s … More Samson: Hero or Cautionary Tale?
A while back, Ladies Against Feminism drew my attention to an article featured in The New Atlantis: “The Global War Against Baby Girls”. In it, Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute discusses the real and, apparently growing problem of gender selective abortion–specifically female feticide–in all its grim statistical detail. In order for populations to … More Females and Feminism
Normally, I try to limit my posts on this blog to topics directly relating to Torah or TaNaKh. However, I think a recent scandal in the news makes an excellent case study in morality and the place of ideals in society. Some weeks ago, a variety of Secret Service agents serving as the president’s advance … More Impulsiveness, Integrity, and Idealism
1. And YHWH said to Moshe saying: Speak to the Children of Yisrael, and say to them, and they shall make for themselves sisith [fringe/tassel] on the extremities of their garments throughout their generations, and they shall place upon the sisith [fringe/tassel] of the extremity a twisted thread of blue. And it shall be to … More Tzitzit
We’ve finished Yesheyahu (Isaiah) and moved on to Yeremyahu (Jeremiah). One of the images that Yeremyahu uses in his prophecy is that of a cuckolded husband forgiving his wayward wife or ex-wife. This theme first appears in chapter three, in which G-d says, in essence, that the Law forbids a man to take his wife … More Thoughts from Yirmiyahu 3
Silver Trumpets 