Let the Prophets Speak: Recent Episodes
SAUL J WEINREB
The ladies of the court taunt her, and the King tries again to seduce her with complements, but she will have none of it.
The young woman recounts her nightmare to the ladies of the court. Self blame, regret and intense desire stir her search for her beloved.
The shepherd so beautifully expresses his love and admiration for his beloved. She agrees to leave the King and join him.
As the young girl searches the streets for her love, the court women try to entice her by praising the grandeur of the King.
In one of the most stunningly beautiful chapters of the entire Tanach, the captive young women imagines her lover coming to rescue her.
The King tries to entice her with riches, and the ladies of the court mock her attachment to her peasant shepherd, but the young woman remains steadfast in her devotion to her lover.
We introduce the book of Shir HaShirim, which explores the powerful bond of love and passion that transcends logic and description.
Mishlei concludes with a poetic description of a woman of substance. Sung in Jewish households every Friday night, this is Mishlei's vision of a woman's role as the leader of the family.
Don't waste your life chasing pleasures, as this leads to injustice. Speak up for those who have no voice, administer justice for the poor and the needy.
Truth, humility and concern for the downtrodden is all that matters. The sage Agur bin Yakeh delivers his beautiful speech.
One who trusts in God is not afraid of new things. Don't act too fast without thinking. We conclude the main portion of Proverbs.
The way to a stable regime is through justice and concern for the poor. When a rich and poor man truly meet: God brings light to the world.
Greedy leaders, guilty murderers and partial judges versus honest judges and generous souls.
Solomon discusses the dangers of a guilty conscience, the greatness of an honest leader, and the importance of making plans for potential risks.
You can't hide a painful marriage forever, you will get from your relationships only what you bring into them yourself.
Advice and criticism given out of love is better than silence because you are afraid to ruin a relationship. Jealousy can drive behavior that is worse even than anger.
Evil speech has consequences. The person who dresses up his ill intent with sweet sounding speech, is like one who covers a clay pot in silver. One day he will fall into the pit he dug for himself.
Don't hire an unqualified professional, and don't rely on a fool. There is nothing more dangerous than someone who thinks he knows what he is doing but is actually ignorant.
Don't make promises you can't keep, fight tyranny with patience, and many more gems from the wisdom of Solomon.
While God's justice is infinite and incomprehensible to man, human justice should be sensible and consistent. Don't compromise the principles of justice in order to sit among the powerful. Don't present your arguments by shaming others, instead you make your point by speaking the truth.
Don't be the one who judges based on what is popular, because popularity shifts unreliably. Stick with the truth, and at least in your heart you will be happy.
When people are suffering, stand up and act! The righteous may fall, but they will always get up and try again.
Drunkenness and gluttony lead down a terrible path, one that goes round and round into a deep ark pit.
Be careful when you accept favors from powerful people, there are always strings attached. Avoid people who don't give generously.
Listen to the wise, don't step on people when they are down, and if there is on obstacle in your path find out why it is there before you move it!
A good reputation is better than wealth, and we should beware of the potential consequences of our actions.
Too much drinking and spending on momentary pleasures will leave you poor in the end. No matter how smart you are, you can't beat God.
Only God knows our true intentions, one who ignores the cries of other's will one day be ignored.
Take counsel from others, things built in haste will not last, and be careful what you promise.
Take your personal life's mission seriously, have the humility to listen to proper advice, and never give up on your child.
The place to look for happiness is in your own heart, not in superficial friends. Think before you act.
Better to seek wisdom from the wise than to seek it on your own. Foolishness and pride lead to strife and ruin, while humility leads to safety and success.
What good is money in the hand of the fool? This and many more wise proverbs of Solomon.
A peaceful but humble home is more pleasant than wealth that comes with strife. Better to prevent an argument from happening than try to stop an ongoing fight.
It is our chosen path in life that leads to success, not the destination. Pride and arrogance is the root of all failure, and many more beautiful ideas.
Solomon probes the relationship between man's attempts at success and God's direction. He then discusses the true test of a leader or King.
The wise person thinks before she speaks. To be successful one needs to listen to advice from others, and awe of God leads to humility, learning and life.
A wise and person brings peace to the conversation, while a wicked man raises the temperature. Spread wisdom, not lies. Spread love, not strife. If you are happy with what you have, you will be happy every day of your life. If you are not satisfied with what you have, you will be sad forever.
It is righteousness and charity that makes a country great, leaders should choose competent officers, and many other words of wisdom from Solomon.
Only a person who lived an experience truly understands what he or she feels. A fool will believe anything you tell him. The good person's seeks reward in good itself.
You will be influenced by the company that you keep, a good man is rewarded with more opportunities to do good, and many more wise teachings of Solomon.
All difficulties between people are a result of our arrogance and inability to listen humbly and admit our mistakes. Our suffering will come from the very things we didn't take seriously.
The wise person limits his speech, seeks counsel humbly from others, and doesn't broadcast his grievances.
Accepting criticism is the key to growth. One who seeks only reassurance to continue living a life built on lies, will build a house of cards. One who seeks truth, will built something that lasts.
Follow grace and not strength, follow kindness and not cruelty - and you will find true honor and life.
The righteous are honest, careful in their speech, and this guides them to a meaningful and joyous life.
The way of life is to accept criticism, speak with caution, and stay on the path of God.
The path of the wise leads to life, confidence, and is built on honesty. The path of the fool leads to death, destruction and is built on lies.
Choose which woman to follow, the one who will lead to wisdom and truth, or the one who will lead you to the depths of Hell.
Wisdom is the way of morality, the way of life. It was with Wisdom that god created the universe.
While the path of wickedness entices you from the secretive darkness, Wisdom has nothing to be ashamed of.
Her beautiful words entice you, but following her will lead you to death. Take Wisdom as your sister and hold her close, not the woman who leads you astray.
Solomon continues to guide us through life. Though a sin out of desperation can eventually be forgiven, a sin that ruins other people's lives simply for our own pleasure can never truly be erased.
Take care of yourself and don't take on other people's responsibilities, don't be lazy, and prepare yourself in the good times to be ready for the bad. God hates nothing more than dishonesty and inciting hatred to take advantage of others.
Don't stray after enticements of the selfish that only want to take advantage of you. Stay on the path before you, on the path of those who truly love you.
Once you are on the path of wisdom, keep your eye on the goal! Don't veer off or get enticed to leave the path!
The teacher exhorts his student to follow the right path by using himself as an example.
Look around you, it was with wisdom that the world was created, follow wisdom with humility, and you will be truly blessed by God.
Listen to wisdom, for the path of wisdom will protect you from lies and from enticement. In the end, only the honest and straight will remain.
The path to justice and righteousness begins with knowledge, seeking the truth, and humility.
Listen to wisdom, she calls to you in public, she will save you from disaster. Don't ignore her advice, or you will suffer the inevitable results of your ignorance.
Don't reject the simple wisdom of your parents as you embark on your journey in life, and avoid the temptations of those who lead a life seeking only profiting from others.
We introduce and begin the study of the Book of Proverbs, Solomon's collection of wisdom for the ages.
Jeremiah laments the destruction, and God's abandonment of the people. He ends by begging God to bring us back, so that we can have another chance to return to Him.
Jeremiah laments the decline and destruction of the people of Jerusalem. Those who shone with beauty like gold, have withered into suffering and starvation.
Jeremiah recounts his own terrible suffering he has borne while trying to deliver God's message. But despite the seeming futility of his daunting task, he refuses to give up on hope.
Jeremiah warns the people by describing the terrible destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Don't have faith in a building, as God's wrath will not spare you unless you change your ways.
Jeremiah laments the reliance on political strength and alliances, as when the day comes they will turn on Judea. We have rebelled against God, and nothing can save us other than God.
We introduce the book of Eichah as Jeremiah's prophecy of what will come if we do not heed his exhortations and change our ways. The image of a potential disastrous future is used to inspire people to change.
Remember during the boom times to use it well, because the times of bust are coming. In the end, there is purpose to it all.
Spread goodness without restriction, because what goes around, comes around. Don't keep waiting for the right moment to do something good, as no moment is better than right now.
A fool talks and talks and pretends to know things that cannot be known, while a wise man understands his limitations. Choose leaders who know what they can and cannot do and say.
Don't waste your emotional energy trying to understand God's ways. just appreciate what you have and enjoy it.
Kohelet teaches us to take the middle path, too much in either direction leads down to a destructive path.
It is all about the present, but that is a reason to value the present and use it right. It is not the time to waste the opportunity to live properly.
Better to enjoy the fruits of your labor while you have it, because we all leave the world the same as we entered it.
Kohelet reminds us that we will never understand God and thus challenging Him is a waste of time. Instead we should focus on our lives, keep our promises, and be smart about our actions.
Kohelet advises us that despite the seeming futility of our efforts, we should still not fold our hands and do nothing. However we should choose something meaningful, with purpose and together with others.
There is a time and season for everything, we must enjoy and experience each moment, and live properly each moment of our lives.
We don't understand the ways of God, but it is better to be wise than to be foolish, and it is important to enjoy the momentary pleasures that we are privileged to experience.
Kohelet examines three possible paths; physical pleasure, wisdom, and purposelessness. He begins by observing that while he derived pleasure from seeking out the luxuries oif this world, they were only fleeting and temporary.
Wisdom itself is a source of pain and anxiety. Maybe it would be better to be ignorant?
We introduce the Book of Ecclesiastes, and begin reading this masterpiece in which we encounter the seeming futility of the search for meaning in our lives.
The kingdom of Judah is destroyed, and the people are exiled. Cyrus of Persia issues a proclamation to allow the return of the exiles.
The reign of Josiah reaches its greatest height in the most wonderful Passover celebration in history. Tragically Josiah meets his untimely death due to a severe military error.
Josiah cleanses the nation and the Temple. A hidden Torah scroll is found and sparks a renewal of the covenant between God and His people.
Menasheh and Amon lead the people of Judah back on the sorry and evil path towards darkness.
Hezekiah leads the people to a miraculous victory over the Assyrian forces, but arrogance gets to his head.
Under Hezekiah's leadership, the wealth and bounty of the harvest is celebrated, storehouses are built, and the priestly class is supported in their holy work.
Hezekiah reunites the people of Judah and the remnants of the people of Israel in a wonderful and joyous celebration of Passover.
King Ahaz leads the people down a path of corruption, idol worship and abomination. The Kingdom of Judah begins to fall apart as it is attacked from all sides.
Once again, we read of a King who rules successfully until his arrogance got the better of him.
We read of the reign of King Amatzyahu of Judah. While he started with great promise, arrogance once again brings a King down to an ignominious end.
We read of Yo'ash's refurbishing of the Temple, and how he abandoned God due to arrogance after his mentor Yehoyadah passed away.
Athaliah is deposed, Yehoyadah the High Priest leads the reestablishment of the House of David and the 6 year old Yo'ash is placed on the throne of Judah.
The House of Ahab is destroyed in the North, but its negative influence persists in the Kingdom of Judah. Achaziah fails dramatically and is killed and almost the entire House of David is wiped out by Athaliah in a violent coup.
King Yehoram rules with a murderous iron fist, leads the people astray, and the once great Kingdom of Judah begins to fall apart.
Yehoshaphat leads the people in prayer when presented with a seemingly impossible threat. A miraculous delivery occurs when God himself does battle on the people's behalf.
Yehoshaphat forms an alliance through marriage with the Northern kingdom and goes into battle with his new ally Ahab. We learn a timely lesson about speaking truth to power.
At the advice of the prophet Azaryahu, King Asa leads the people of Judah into a renewal of the covenant with God.
Aviyah takes over after his father's death, and all out civil war breaks out between Israel and Judah.
Rehoboam's arrogance and pride leads to weakness which Pharoah Sheshak is quick to exploit. Jerusalem pays its' way out of complete destruction.
Civil war is averted, and Rehoboam shifts his focus towards the consolidation of his kingdom.
Solomon's reign is depicted at its greatest as the reputation of Solomon has spread far and wide. the visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon's court is highlighted as one of the greatest events of Solomon's career as king.
Solomon's kingdom at its' height extended as far north as parts of what is today southern Turkey, and as far south as the port of Eilat. He even had a fleet of sailing ships in the Indian Ocean!
God shows His acceptance of the Temple, but only if the people humble themselves before God and follow His commandments.
We read the stunning and beautiful prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the Holy temple. In this prayer we learn the true purpose of this Temple, and how it is meant to bring the message of god to the entire world.
Solomon kneels before God and begins to address the people of Israel. He begins with a summary of how we came to this momentous occasion.
The work of the Temple is complete, and Solomon leads the people as they bring the ark into the Holy of Holies. God's presence descends upon the people.
We read of the "Sea" of Solomon, the lavers, lamps, tables, and the beautiful structures of Solomon's House of God.
We discuss the significance of the Holy Temple and read about Solomon's great building project.
Solomon begins his career as king by humbly asking God for the wisdom and knowledge necessary to be a successful king over Israel.
David and the people celebrate the preparations for the temple together and David gives his final speech. Solomon is crowned his successor.
David calls the leadership together to instruct and guide his son solomon who will fulfill the task of building the Temple upon the death of David.
We describe the structure of David's administration and how he divided Army service among the tribes.
David appoints the Temple guards, the gatekeepers, treasurers and a system for governing the more distant tribes.
David appoints 24 groups of Levites in charge of leading the music, song and prayer at the Temple.
David is not the one to build the Temple, as he is a man of war and subjugation of others. Solomon will be the one to build the Temple to spread the glory of God throughout the world.
David is instructed to build an altar to God at the site of the granary of Arnon the Jebusite. The site is then established as the future site of the Temple, representing the importance of humility for our leadership.
David allows pride into his heart and he makes a terrible mistake. As a result the people suffer a horrific plague.
We read of the final subjugation of Ammon by David's forces, and the Philistine giants who continue to rebel against David's rule.
Despite David's attempt at establishing peaceful relations with Ammon, the Ammonites choose to fight instead. This results in another military victory for David against the Arameans who came to help the Ammonites.
Through military conquest and strategic alliances, David establishes Israel as a regional powerhouse.
David approaches God in humility, and get's no response from God Himself. But sometimes silence is the best response.
The Ark of the Covenant is placed in a tent of honor, and David sings a beautiful prayer. David sings of a time of beautiful harmony between Israel, all the nations of the world, and all of nature itself.
David again attempts to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, only this time he does it right.
David begins to build important alliances, but still has to contend with his implacable foes.
David tries to bring the Holy Ark to his residence in the City of David and he learns some very painful lessons.
The people of Israel coalesce around their new King and support his ascent to the throne.
We read of the ascent of King David to the crown, and his heroes who helped conquer Jerusalem and establish the new united kingdom.
The Chronicler records the tragic episode of the suicide of King Saul and the end of his kingdom. We learn the important lesson that God desires our actions, not just our prayers.
This chapter is the final chapter of genealogies, and it focuses mostly on the family lineages and the tasks assigned to the servants of the Temple.
The geneology and achivements of the remainder of the tribe of Benjamin and their famous tribal member King Saul are discussed.
The geneologies of several remaining tribe are discussed. Emphasis is made on the fact that all the tribes together have been a part of the settlement of the land and its challenges from time immemorial.
The lineage of the Levite clans, where they settled and how they integrated with the rest of the tribes is recorded here. We learn how David established the framework for the singing and worship in the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Chronicler focus on the history of the tribes that settled east of the Jordan, and the lineage of the high priesthood.
We read of the lineage of the rest of the clan of Judah and their geographically close brothers of Simeon.
The Chronicler records the lineage of the House of David. The people are encouraged to know that the Davidic family is alive and well and ready to reestablish the monarchy when the people are ready.
This chapter records the genealogy of the tribe of Judah and the founders of the towns and communities that filled the Judean landscape.
The Book of Chronicles begins with a genealogy from Adam to the birth of Israel. This helps give the returnees from exile a sense of their place in history.
Through humility, forgiveness, and recognition of our limitations we can reach reconciliation, peace and restoration.
God concludes His response to Job with a description of the fire-breathing dragon. Humility is how to respond to our lack of understanding of God's justice.
God challenges Job to cast away his arrogance and achieve and teach humility before God. This may not explain why he is suffering, but through humility humanity can achieve a world of peace.
Look beyond into the wonders of the natural world! the beautiful, powerful and majestic creatures are all God's creations, and God provides for all. They are not here for humans, they do not answer to us or serve us.
God continues His answer to Job. the established laws of nature and the universe are not just about human beings. It is about all of creation.
God answers Job's challenge and He answers the question of theodicy. Human beings have so much to learn about the world around us, there is so much we don't know. But more importantly, we can never know the knowledge of God who created the universe.
Elihu finishes his talk by describing the awesome power and incomprehensible might. If we cannot understand God's control of nature, how can we expect to understand His justice?
We cannot understand His ways, and through His actions we can see how much he is beyond our capacity to comprehend. So don't get angry over suffering, instead use it to become a better person.
Elihu makes the argument that suffering and pain can sometimes be an opportunity to become a better person. However, a simple minded person who sees his relationship with God as transactional will sink into anger and eventually perish.
Elihu makes the powerful point that it is people and society that suffer when human's oppress each other. It is not God who makes people violent toward each other.
Elihu declares that God is just, as he has no need to flatter anyone. Though we can't understand why we suffer, we can use the suffering as an opportunity for growth.
Elihu points out that Job is accusing God of injustice. He then continues by developing his argument that God has to be just.
Elihu asks Job to see beyond the world of action and reaction, beyond the simple world where human beings see justice, and enter the world of the soul. It is there where God communicates with man and justice is experienced.
The conversation has reached an impasse, so Elihu introduces himself and would like to share his thoughts.
Job is confident in his record, and asks for the opportunity to defend himself before God.
Job laments his downfall from where he once was, to the terrible depths he has sunk to.
Job reminisces fondly about the days when he was a respected leader, when God seemed to be with him, when everything made sense.
In one of the most beautiful and haunting chapters of Tanach, Job describes the search for wisdom and understanding.
Job is steadfast in his belief in God's providence, despite his suffering. He refuses to follow the path of despair. Job describes the fate of the wicked who never truly enjoy the worldly pleasures they have.
Job is frustrated by the responses of his friends. Enough is enough already, you have nothing to teach me, or anyone.
Bildad makes two claims, that it is in heaven that God metes out the final justice, and that man is so small he always deserves punishment.
If only God didn't know what is happening with us, at least we would understand why the wicked are successful! Job laments. He then presents the harsh reality of the wicked, who prosper despite their evil ways.
Job has given up on convincing his friends, so he turns to God directly. If only it were possible to address God directly!
Eliphaz accuses Job of having been a dishonest judge, and that this is the source of his suffering.
Job responds to Tzofar, who claimed that the wicked suffer for their misdeeds. "Have you done your research?" That's not what happens in the real world! So many wicked people live a life full of pleasure and never suffer at all!
Tzofar is insulted, and addresses Job by describing the fate of the arrogant and dishonest sinner.
Job calls out Bildad and the others for their cruelty. Don't treat me like a stranger! Those who believe that anyone who is suffering deserves his fate, will lead the world toward ruin and violence.
Bildad knows how evil works. The evil person walks right into the trap and ends his life in suffering. If only life was so simple.
Job has given up on any chance of getting comfort from his friends. Where is my hope? Please God, at least You can be here for me.
Job is exasperated by his friends' obstinance. God knows I'm innocent, yet I lie here in suffering.
Eliphaz continues to insist that God's justice is apparent and evident, and that all suffering comes from sin.
"If I am so puny and mortal, why do You even bother with me?" Job asks of God. If You cared about me, You would not be so exacting and judgmental!
Job begs his friends to be honest with themselves. Please listen and let's speak for real.
The truth is NOT like what you claim! Good people suffer, evil people prosper, and no human explanation can understand the ways of God.
Job challenges his friends' arrogance. Do they really think they understand God's justice? Even the animals of the forest know better than you!
Tzofar continues the reasoning of Eliphaz and Bildad, but is even more direct. You must be a sinner, so repent and pray to God and your suffering will end.
God, You hold all the cards, You Created me, for what purpose? Only to suffer? Job begs God for a little peace.
Job continues is response to Bildad, if God is not a judge with whom we can interact, how do we find meaning in this world that makes no sense? Job grapples with theodicy and can't find an answer.
Bildad the Shuhite continues to berate Job for his angry speeches as he claims, as Eliphaz did, that God's justice is perfect.
Job calls out to God in his pain, what am I to you, only just a puny little human being to the Great Creator? Why do you even bother wasting your time making me suffer?
Job laments the seemingly meaningless suffering, and that the good old days are gone, never to return.
Job continues to rebuke his friends for twisting the truth in order to justify their simplistic world view. We see how the quest to explain the unexplainable can lead to cruelty.
In anguish and pain, Job responds to Eliphaz. Nothing can justify my suffering, says Job, don't insinuate that I an somehow at fault for these calamities, and friends should offer support and not platitudes.
Eliphaz completes his first speech in response to Job's suffering. In it he claims to know that God's justice is visible and real and therefore Job should accept it and turn to God for salvation.
Eliphaz declares that God is just and therefore the innocent cannot suffer. He therefore concludes that Job must not be innocent.
Eliphaz is upset by Job's outburst, and he criticizes him for not being able to handle the suffering.
God approves Satan's suggestion to afflict Job with a terrible disease, and tests Job's faithfulness to God.
We are introduced to a righteous, upright and wealthy man named Job, who lived in the land of Oz.
We begin our study of the Book of Job with an introduction to the various ways religions have tried to explain why bad things happen to good people.
Gedalyahu is appointed as Governor of the remaining people of Judah, but the bands of Judean fighters refuse to accept defeat at the hands of Babylon. They assassinate Gedalyahu, and the last remnants of Judah run to Egypt to escape the wrath of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezar besieges and destroys Jerusalem. The people of Israel are exiled to Babylon.
One king after another rebels against God and Nebuchadnezar exiles Yehoyachin and places Tzidkiyahu on the throne of Judah. Tzidkiyahu rebels as well and God has no more patience for Judah.
The Kings of Judah turn away from Josiah's reforms, and lead the people into worsening corruption, idol worship and violence. Through a series of poor political strategies they bring Judah closer and closer to disaster.
Josiah's attempt to bring the people back to God fails to hold, even after the most wonderful Passover celebration in history. He meets a tragic death due to his overconfidence.
Josiah sends his delegation to Hulda, who confirms that indeed the destruction of the Temple is coming. But Josiah's humility does delay the coming destruction at least for the duration of his reign.
During renovations and repair of the Holy Temple, a Scroll of the Torah is found which sparks a revolution.
Amon follows in his father's footsteps, which leads to his assassination. the people restore the Davidic dynasty by executing the conspirators and placing the young Yoshiyahu (Josiah) on the throne of Judah.
Menasheh takes over the leadership of Judah after the death of Hezekiah, and he leads the people into the depths of depravity, murder and idol worship.
Hezekiah entertains a royal delegation from Babylon, and plants the seeds of Judah's ultimate defeat.
Hezekiah's prayer is accepted, Isaiah addresses Sannecherib in his prophecy and a great salvation occurs.
King Hezekiah requests help from Isaiah the prophet, who tells the people not to fear. However, salvation requires that the king himself be humble before God. Hezekiah responds by standing before God and in his prayer he defines the basic tenets of monotheism.
The siege of Jerusalem is in full force, as the Assyrian Army marches against Jerusalem. Rabshakeh, the Assyrian officer addresses the people of Jerusalem to convince them to abandon God and surrender, but the people of Jerusalem remain loyal to God and their king, Hezekiah.
Assyria repopulates the now destroyed Northern Kingdom with peoples from all over the empire. These people bring along their foreign religions and end up creating a confusing mix of belief in God while still clinging to their old practices.
King Ahaz leads the Kingdom of Judah down a very dangerous and idolatrous path. Allying himself to Assyria and adopting its corrupt ways.
While the Kingdom of Judah maintains a more stable monarchy, the Kingdom of Israel descends into complete chaos.
We read of the reign of Jereboam II, and the wealth and security enjoyed by the people of israel.
Amatzyahu King of Judah instigates a war against the Kingdom of Israel and fails terribly. He ends up a victim of another conspiracy and is assassinated.
On his deathbed, Elisha tries to teach Yehoash the lesson of resilience, but he is unsuccesful. We also read of the Elisha's postmortem "miracle" and the victory of Yehoash over Aram.
We learn of Yehoachaz, a not very righteous king of Israel, but none the less God listen's when approached in a selfless way.
The same Yehoash who we praised for the Temple repairs was quick to empty the Temple treasury when faced with the threat of invasion by Hazael of Aram.
Athaliah is deposed, Yoash is seated upon the throne of the Davidic Kings, and ba'al is eradicated from Judah.
Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, takes advantage of the vacuum left by Yehu's murderous rampage and goes on a killing spree of her own, leading to her taking over the Kingdom of Judah.
Yehu allies with Yehonadab and together they trick the followers of Ba'al into attending a great ceremony. Yehu then slaughters everyone at the gathering and smashes the temple of Ba'al. Yehu's future career however, descends into failure.
Yehu continues to wreak his vengeance upon the House of Ahab, but begins to carry the violence way past his original mandate.
Yehu continues to take vengeance against the evil house of Ahab, as Ahaziah King of Judah is killed and Jezebel gets thrown out of a window to the dogs.
Elisha sends a student prophet on a secret mission to annoint Yehu as King and bring about the downfall of the house of Omri.
Through intermarriage between the dynasty of Omri and the dynasty of David, the Kings of Judah descend into evil ways.
The king of Aram is ill, and he sends his servant Chazael to Elisha for help. Elisha uses this opportunity to hint to Chazael that he should assassinate the king.
Elisha advises the woman from Shunam to leave Samaria due to an impending famine, and squatters take over her home. When she tries to seek justice, she finds Gechazi in the palace telling stories to the king, who ultimately decides in her favor.
The prophecy of Elisha comes true, as the lepers find an empty enemy camp full of food and supplies.
The Arameans besiege Samaria and the situation deteriorates into a terrible disaster. Can we even turn to God?
In a spectacular display of understanding and compassion, Elisha teaches a new understanding of proper conduct in war.
Gechazi selfishly takes some of Naaman's gifts for himself, and ruins Elisha's achievement.
Elisha cures an enemy general from his leprosy, and teaches him a great lesson about monotheism.
A great miracle performed by Elisha goes terribly wrong, but Elisha once again follows his mentor Elijah's lead and he revives a dead boy.
A miracle saves the three allied armies and they successfully crush the Moabites. Thr battle ends with a frightening human sacrifice and the people of Israel retreat.
Three kingdoms ally themselves and set out to pout down a Moabite rebellion. However, they run into a logistical problem that forces them to ask the prophet Elisha for help.
Elijah's disciple Elisha follows in his master's footsteps. We are impressed by his miracles, but troubled by his wrath.
We read of the ascent of Elijah "into the heavens" and the end of his remarkable "first" career.
King Ahaziah falls ill and he sends messengers to a Phillistine god. Elijah is sent to let him know that he should've petitioned the God of Israel. Ahaziah thus meets an untimely end.
Ahab tries unsuccessfully to escape the prophecy regarding his death, but he dies a heroic death in battle. Yehoshaphat's attempt at reuniting the kingdom has mixed results, and the next generation of leaders take their place.
Ahab wants to go to war, and all of his "yes-men" tell him what he wants to hear. However the prophet Michayahu doesn't tow the line. The "ghost" of Navoth is going to take his revenge.
Elijah delivers a harsh prophecy regarding the future of Ahab and his family, and Ahab in humbled, but not for long.
Ahab wants a nice vineyard, and he the owner Navot doesn't want to sell. Jezebel arranges for the murder of the innocent Navot in a despicable act of thievery.
Ahab wins another stunning victory against Ben-Hadad, only this time he makes a grave error.
Ben-Hadad of Aram leads a massive attack against Israel, and Ahab follows the advice of a prophet of God and leads the people to a surprising and daring victory.
Elijah runs for his life and travels to the holy mountain to find God. However, in his zeal for vengeance in God's sake Elijah learns that his path of zeal and violence is not the path God wants from His prophets. Elijah must step down and appoint Elisha as his successor.
We read of the encounter between Obadyahu and Elijah, two prophets who had very different ways of dealing with the challenge of the evil Kingdom of Ahab.
Elijah must rely on the generosity of a poor widow to survive, and he gives a special blessing to her jar of flour and jug of oil.
We learn of one of the most important prophets, Elijah, and his differences with the evil King Ahab. Living as God commands versus the arrogance of trying to manipulate the gods.
We read of civil war between the North and South, some questionable alliances made by King Asa, and how Ba'asha deposed Nadav in a military coup.
We read of the descendants of Rehoboam, Aviyam and Asa, one who continued in his father's evil path, and the other who restored the worship of God among the people.
The people of Judah stray from God just as their Northern brethren did, and Rehoboam suffers an embarrassing military defeat.
Jereboam held so much promise, but he failed spectacularly. He attempts to cheat God with a silly disguise, but the prophet doesn't fall for this.
An old prophet in Beit El tricks the junior prophet into partaking of a meal with him, which leads to a tragic event. Ultimately though, the prophecy of the elder prophet learns that the prophecy regarding Jereboam's temples was true.
God sends a prophet to Jereboam's new temple who predicts the ultimate destruction of this new temple. Jereboam refuses to heed the message of the prophet.
Rehoboam flees for his own safety as his tax collector is stoned, and the prophet Shemayah averts an all out civil war. Jereboam sets up his new kingdom on a very dangerous path.
Rehoboam is crowned King in place of his father, and he is presented with his first challenge. He chooses the wrong advisors, and embarks on a dangerous path.
We meet Jereboam, who receives a prophecy that he will become king of the ten tribes that will split Solomon's Kingdom. He escapes to Egypt as Solomon seeks to have him executed.
Solomon succumbs to the temptations posed by his many foreign wives, and the Kingdom begins to fall apart.
Solomon's continues to accumulate wealth. Gold, silver, chariots and horses are plentiful and the emphasis on wisdom, justice and righteousness starts to take a back seat.
The Queen of a faraway land called Sheba visits Solomon to learn if he is truly as wise as his reputation.
God accepts Solomon's prayer, but issues a stern warning. The Temple will only stand if the people follow My ways! We see the fine cracks begin to develop revealing the potential weaknesses of Solomon's kingdom.
No matter where the people of Israel may find themselves, we are always to focus our prayers on the Temple in Jerusalem. In order that the entire world learn of God and accept the One and Only God.
Solomon presents the purpose of the Temple as a house of prayer for all nations. A place to repent, a place to seek justice, a place to pray.
The final act necessary in the building of the Temple is complete when the ark is placed in the Holy of Holies. Solomon begins his dedicatory address to the people on this auspicious occasion.
Hiram builds the "Sea of Solomon", the lavers and their stands, and the all Temple vessels are complete.
Solomon's royal complex is built, along with a spectacular "house of the Lebanon forest". We also read of the great bronze worker, Hiram of Tyre and the two magnificent columns he built.
We read of the construction of the Cherubs, and carvings and incredible beauty and detail of the Temple interior.
The culmination of the process of the exodus from Egypt, receiving the Torah at Sinai, and entering the land of Israel reaches its apex. But an ominous warning from God tells of the future.
Solomon signs a treaty with Hiram the King of Tyre, and the work of chopping wood and hewing stone for the Temple begins.
As the nation under Solomon enjoys prosperity, Solomon turns to science, art and wisdom. The world flocks to Solomon's kingdom to learn and study.
Solomon sets up an efficient system of governance, appoints officials, and the land is prosperous and united.
When confronted with a seemingly unresolvable dilemma, King Solomon finds a way to a just resolution by listening to the cries of two women.
As he takes his place on the throne, Solomon humbly asks God, not for wealth or military might, but for the wisdom to be a just king.
Solomon eliminates all the major threats to his kingdom and secures his place upon the throne.
David instructs Solomon to follow he path of the Torah of Moses and to remain loyal to God. He then advises him of some unfinished business he needs to resolve in order to stabilize his rule.
Solomon is anointed as David's successor and the people are overjoyed. Adoniyah fears for his life and seeks refuge at the altar. Solomon pardons Adoniyah on the condition that he no longer cause any trouble.
David is stirred into action by BatSheva and Nathan and he appoints Solomon as his successor.
David is withdrawn, elderly and depressed, and cannot muster the strength to appoint a successor. His spoiled and arrogant son Adoniyahu takes matters into his own hands and declares himself the next king. The prophet Nathan and BatSheba must act quick to ensure that Solomon will take the throne.
David counts the people in a census and learns an important and humbling lesson about the nature of leadership. He then purchases and establishes the site of the future Temple in Jerusalem.
David sings another song about his being chosen as leader. We list the heroic soldiers who supported David's rise to leadership and some of their exploits in battle.
David sings praise to God as the leader of the people, thanking God for saving the nation. God who saves the humble and righteous, not the arrogant and crooked.
There is a hunger in the land, and David allows the Givonites to settle an old score with Saul's family to end the hunger.
Yo'av and his troops attack the town of Aveilah and are on the verge of tearing down its' defenses. A wise woman understands that she must do something to save the town. She strikes a deal with Yo'av to hand him the man he is looking for, Sheva ben Bichri, thus averting a disaster.
Yo'av leads the Army on a chase throughout Israel to find the rebel Sheva ben Bichri. On the chase he encounters Amasa and assassinates him.
David takes a path of reconciliation and generosity towards his previous detractors, in an attempt to reunite the kindgom. However, the forces of jealousy and inter tribal squabbling lay the seeds for more rebellion.
David mourns the loss of his son, but the hard work of reassembling his kingdom after the rebellion is crushed begins.
Achima'atz and a Cushite soldier bring the news of Avshalom's death and the army's victory to David.
David's army wins decisively in battle, and despite David's explicit instructions, Yoav and his men kill Avshalom.
Avshalom follows Chushai's advice and he musters a large Army, which gives David and his men time to regroup in Machanayim.
Achitofel and Chushai give Avshalom conflicting advice on how to defeat David and his supporters.
David old enemies come back to haunt him while he runs from Jerusalem. He encounters two people who bring back memories from the days of Saul. We then read of Achitofel's horrific advice to Avshalom regarding David's concubines.
David's Gittite followers remain loyal to him and the refugees continue their flight into he desert. But not before David sets up his spy network in Jerusalem.
Avshalom gathers his support and travels to Hebron to begin his rebellion against David.
David is convinced to bring Avshalom back to Jerusalem, but he is still stuck in his inability to bring about any justice or reconciliation.
Avshalom has his brother executed at a party in front of the entire royal family. David is led to believe that Avshalom is attempting a coup and that he killed the entire family, only to find out that it was just revenge against Amnon for his terrible deed. Avshalom runs away, and David deeply mourns the separation from his son.
The household of David continues to unravel with the terrible episode of the Sexual assault and rape of Tamar by her brother Amnon.
In contrast to Saul, when David is confronted by the prophet he takes responsibility for what he had done. The son born to Bat-Sheva is afflicted and dies, as Nathan's prophecies begin to be fulfilled. David completes the conquest of Ammon.
The prophet Nathan conveys God's message to David regarding the awful deed David has committed. Emphasizing the abuse of power that David had committed and his attempts at keeping it secret, God will punish David by exposing his sins in public.
How can a leader as great as David be guilty of such a grave and serious act? We discuss some of the most important factors that bring about the downfall of once great leaders.
As David desperately tries to cover-up his transgression, he arranges for the death of Uriah in battle. He then takes Bat Sheba as a wife.
David sends a peaceful delegation to Ammon, but they get rebuffed. This eventually leads to all out war.
David keeps his promise to Saul and Jonathan to support the remnants of the previous royal family.
David conquers and subdues the border regions, and receives tribute from the conquered lands.
David and Michal have a disagreement about the nature of the King's honor before the people and before God.
David retrieves the Ark from where it had been stored for the last 20 years, but the first attempt ends in tragedy.
David begins to develop international alliances, he builds the royal family. and crushes the Philistines.
With his contender now removed from the scene, all of the tribes accept David as King. David moves his capital to the City of David just outside the city itself, and positions himself to eventually capture the city to establish his capital.
After the death of Avner. the reign of Ish Boshet deteriorates into chaos. His two top military leaders assassinate him and take their trophy to David.
Having been spurned by Ish-Boshet, Avner gets the people of Israel to agree to unite under David. Avner travels to present his peace plan to David.
David is accepted as king over Judah, as the people of Israel choose a son of Saul to lead them. A battle ensues as the potential for all out civil war looms in the horizon.
How the mighty have fallen! In one of the most famous funeral dirges in history, David laments the death of Saul and his dear friend Jonathan.
We read of the demise of King Saul in battle, the Philistine's abuse of his remains, and the honor accorded to him by the people he saved many years ago.
As a result of acting kindly to a dying Egyptian slave, David is led to the encampment of the Amalekites. He rescues the captives and scores a major victory against the bandits. David teaches the people how to fairly distribute the spoils of war.
David and his men return to Ziklag to find their hometown ravaged and destroyed by the Amalekites. David faces one of the most difficult tests of his leadership.
The Ralbag offers an incredibly sophisticated and natural explanation for the strange events of our chapter. Using his approach, we uncover even deeper layers of meaing in this fascinating chapter.
We explore a completely different understanding of this chapter according to the approach of Rabbi Chafni Gaon. This very rationalist understanding leads us to some profound insights into the failure of Saul to lead the people and why he was unworthy as a King.
We discuss a second, slightly more "rationalistic" approach to understanding this fascinating chapter. In this understanding, a miracle from God has just occurred.
This unusual chapter in Tanach has many ways of understanding it, we begin a series of analysis with the approach of the mystics.
Saul hears Samuel's message, which isn't much different from Samuel's message when he was alive. God has rejected you because you disobeyed Him! No amount of fasting and ritual and summoning of spirits is going to change that!
We read of the descent of Saul into the dark world of Necromancy as he visits a witch to summon the ghost of Samuel.
We introduce one of the most unusual chapters in Tanach with an analysis of Saul's flawed understanding of theology. We begin the chapter and explain the origin of King Saul's terrible fear and anxiety.
Once again David takes refuge among the Philistines. Only this time he and his men continue the work of securing the future of Judea, right under the noses of their enemies.
Once again David has the opportunity to assassinate Saul, and once again he respects the King. Saul again has a moment of clarity, but his promises are no longer taken seriously.
Avigail convinces David not to follow the path of vengeance and violence, and teaches David that his virtue is the reason he is fit to be King. She convinces him and leaves vengeance to God Himself, saving David from sin. David takes Avigail as a wife.
Samuel passes on, and David goes out with his men to live as a nomad. David does not react well when Naval refuses to give them what they deserve.
With the chance to kill his oppressor, David instead chooses to respect Saul's position. David's speech to Saul reveals the noble character of the one who will be the founder of the dynasty that will lead Israel for all time. Saul's heart is awakened by this noble gesture, but unfortunately only temporarily.
Jonathan and David reunite, and Saul continues his chase. Round and Round the mountain they run, but Saul remains unsuccessful.
The people of Ke'ilah seek David's help and David responds putting himself and his men at risk. Saul's relentless pursuit continues.
Saul in his fit of paranoid rage takes out his wrath on the innocent priests of Nov. Only one priest, Evyatar, escapes and joins David's camp.
David begins to build his constituency while Saul's paranoia leads him down a dangerous path.
David runs to Nov and gets some supplies. and picks up the sword of Goliath. He then seeks safety in enemy territory and escapes the Philistine King of Gath by feigning insanity.
Saul in enraged when it becomes clear that Jonathan was siding with David, and attempts to kill him. Jonathan and David must say goodbye as David must flee from Saul's wrath.
David and Jonathan devise a plan to determine if Saul will choose the path of peace or the path of jealousy and violence. The two friends form a bond of peace and love meant to last forever.
Michal helps David escape her father's wrath during the night. but she cowardly refuses to defend her husband when Saul confronts her. The chapter ends with Saul's spiritual encounter with God, giving him another chance to choose a path of peace and reconciliation.
Jonathan attempts to convince his father not to hurt David, and for a short time it seems as if he might succeed. But one military victory for David brings Saul back to his state of jealousy and rage.
Saul's lack of humility leads to his suspicions about David. Despite having every opportunity to graciously hand over leadership to David Saul takes the low road to jealousy.
David uses his strengths to exploit Goliath's weaknesses and he defeats the giant. Saul sees David's greatness, and now has to choose whether he will look at David as a threat or as a future successor.
Goliath and David throw taunts at each other, Goliath appeals to his gods, while David declares with humility that his success will come from the God of Israel.
Sent by his father to bring a "care package" to his brothers, David comes to the battlefield and stirs up some trouble.
Saul leads the troops to battle the Philistines, and the Israelite army is taunted by a giant warrior named Goliath of Gath.
Saul is feeling insecure and depressed, and his advisors send for David to play music for the king.
God sends Samuel on a clandestine mission to Bethlehem in a search for a new king. The youngest son of Jesse is identified, and we are first introduced to the future king, David.
The Eternal God of Israel doesn't change His mind, or does He? Find out in this portion of Samuel 15.
The sin of arrogance is idolatry, the sin of greed is arrogance, and the King of Israel loses his right to rule.
Samuel charges Saul with a fateful war, go and attack and wipe out the Amalekites/ Unfortunately, Saul and the people completely miss the point.
Before we learn of Saul's battle against Amalek and his failure, we must understand who Amalek was and why Saul was commanded to destroy them.
Saul almost has his son executed, but the people won't let that happen. Saul continues to double down on his mistakes, but does manage to unite the people against their enemies and establish a central monarchy.
Jonathan's strategy brings about a huge victory, despite his father's persistent reliance on superstition and stubbornness.
Once again, the brave Jonathan teaches us what true faith is. Action, not superstition, is what God wants from us.
The stage is set for the battle of a few unarmed Israelite farmers under the leadership of Saul and Jonathan against the might of the massive Philistine Army.
We begin to see the flaws in Saul's character. Superstition, arrogance, and the failure to recognize his own limitations.
Samuel gives a farewell speech to the people and tells Israel what they need to do to be successful with their new king.
Saul leads the people in a smashing victory against the Ammonites and saves a group of fellow Israelites. He proves that he's the man for the job, and the people celebrate their new leader.
Samuel gathers the people of Israel and announces to the people God's choice of Saul as their new king. The people's reaction is somewhat ambivalent, and Saul will have to prove himself.
Samuel informs Saul that he has been chosen by God to become King, and Samuel instructs Saul to meet and join a group of prophets.
Samuel invites Saul to the feast, sits him up front, gives him a special portion, and treats him like a celebrity. When Samuel informs Saul that he is destined for leadership, Saul humbly exclaims that he is unworthy.
We are introduced to the future first King of Israel as he wanders through the hills searching for his father's lost donkeys. Eventually he meets the prophet Samuel who was expecting him.
Samuel's sons turn out to be corrupt, unfortunately a familiar theme by now. The people request that Samuel appoint a king, and though God is not happy with this idea, God instructs Samuel to listen to their request.
We read of the reign of Samuel, and how he successfully led the people away from their superstitions and back to God.
The ark returns to the people of Israel, but they still don't get the true message and more death ensues.
Suffering repeated plagues, the Philistines finally recognize that maybe keeping the ark might not be the best idea. They approach their religious leaders to discuss returning the ark.
The Ark is in the hands of the Philistines, and it wreaks havoc wherever it resides. The Philistines decide that they need to get rid of it and send it back to Israel.
Eli hears the news of the ark's capture and he topples over and breaks his neck, and his daughter-in-law goes into early labor and dies in childbirth. Thus the reign of Eli ends in shame.
The people of Israel are taught that faith in an object will not help, not even the Ark of the Covenant. Unfortunately, they don't learn the lesson yet.
We read of Samuel's first prophecy, his humility and how his prophecy began to spread truth among Israel. The downfall of the house of Eli is now inevitable.
We read of the downfall of Eli's family due to corruption and abuse. The abuse of power leads to the necessity of another source of power, the political power of the King. The religious leadership of Eli's family has utterly failed.
We read of the despicable abuse of the young priests of the pilgrims to Shiloh, and the growth of the young man Samuel as he learned the ways of God.
We read the beautiful song of Hannah which she sang upon bringing her young som Samuel to the Tabernacle.
We read the story of Hannah, the childless wife of Elkanah. She is tormented by her co-wife Peninah, and she presents herself at the tabernacle to pray. God hears her prayer, and she devotes her son Samuel to a life of holiness.
The Book of Judges concludes with another example of the skewed sense of justice and unity among the people of Israel. Somehow, the tragedy of the loss of the tribe of Benjamin sets in, but the people "solve" the problem by slaughtering another town and having the Bejaminites steal women as wives.
The civil war rages on, and the people of Israel deploy an old strategy of feigned retreat. This exposes the Benjaminites to an attack from the rear, and eventually utter defeat.
The people of Israel gather to attack Benjamin to avenge the death of the concubine at the hands of the people of Givon.
We read the horrific episode of the Concubine of Givah, and get a sense of the terrible moral decline of the people of Israel.
We read of the sorry tale of a young thief named Micah. After confessing his thievery from his own mother, he decides to build an idol and set up a house of worship.
We read the very unfortunate tale of the Danites and how the idol of Micah led to the destruction of a peaceful town.
No matter how much Samson tries to avoid his destiny, destiny catches upo to him. Samson ends his life by destroying his oppressors and the oppressors of Israel.
Samson strays with a prostitute, and then finally meets the woman who will be his ultimate downfall. He betrays his mission to save the people of Israel and is taken captive by the Phillistines.
We read of Samson's next attempt to escape his destiny and go back to his Phillistine wife. When that is unsuccessful, the angry young man takes out his anger on the Phillistines and he becomes a fugitive. When his people hand him over to the Phillistines to escape punishment, he uses a strange weapon to rescue himself. Despite his best efforts to avoid his destiny, God makes sure he fulfills it.
In the first of Samson's expolits, we read of his falling in love with a Phillistine woman. On his way to his engagement he encounters a lion which he kills with his bare hands. Eventually he tests his new wife's loyalty with a riddle with which he challenges his new Phillistine "friends". He quickly finds out that his Phillistine wife is more loyal to her people than to her new husband.
We read of the unusual circumstances surrounding the birth of Samson, the final Judge we will read about in the Book of Judges.
Yiftach's reign descends into civil war and chaos. We read of three more obscure judges, and the quality of leadership of Israel continues it's decline.
In one of the most painful and tragic chapters in the entire Tanach, we read of Yiftach's vow, his victory in battle, and his fulfillment of this terrible deed.
We are introduced to Israel's next judge, an outcast and child of a prostitute. When Israel needs a fighter to lead them. they turn to the leader of a band of thieves, Yiftach. We read of Yiftach's failed attempt at a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
After Avimelech is gone, the people are led by two judges about whom there isn't much to be said. Without guidance they find themselves falling back into their old patterns of idol worship, and under the oppression of a new set of tormentors.
The reign of Avimelech turns into chaos as he takes revenge against his own people. His life is finally ended by a heroic woman with a millstone. Violence begets violence is the lesson we must learn.
Avimelech becomes appointed as King after a violent and murderous rampage. The sole remaining survivor of Gideon's family, his youngest son Yotam teaches a lesson that the people would do well to heed. To seek leadership from a "King" who gives nothing but violence, is like trying to seek shade underneath a thornbush. All you will get is pain.
Gideon defeats the remnant of the Kedemite army, punishes the townspeople who didn't help his soldiers, and executes the remaining Kings of the Kedemites.
We read of three challenges to Gideon's leadership in the wake of his victory over the Midianites, and his responses to the challenges.
Gideon gathers thousands of soldiers under his command, but God has a different plan. The victory must belong to God, so only the right people should remain in the Army. Through an unusual test, God whittles down the Army of Gideon to just 300 men.
Gideon is still lacking in confidence as he asks God for a sign that He will support him as he leads the People of Israel against their oppressors.
Gideon is instructed to destroy the altar and Asheirah of the idol Ba'al. The people of his town want to have him executed, but Yo'ash his father defends his son. If Ba'al is so great, let him defend himself! Gideon thus establishes that to win against the Midianites, the people will need to rededicate themselves to the One True God.
The cycle continues, and the people are subjugated under the oppressive marauding bands of the Midianites. God appears through an angel to a simple, humble man from the tribe of Manasseh named Gideon. He is chosen to rescue the people from Midian.
Deborah praises the bravery of Yael, and highlights the difference between herself, a mother in Israel and the cruel and primitive mothers of Canaan.
Deborah commends the tribes that participated in the battle, and excoriates those who remained on the sidelines.
We here the song of Deborah, an outpouring of song from this "Mother in Israel". Deborah teaches us how her leadership differs from the other leaders of the time, and how the bond between Israel and God is the only thing that will save Israel.
We read the story of Deborah the Prophetess and Judge, and how she led the people to victory. We also learn of the bravery of Yael who defied her turncoat husband and assassinated the enemy general Sisera. Even the male hero of the chapter, Barak, followed the lead of the prophetess as he battled the enemy.
We begin to read the stories of each of the Judges who led Israel through these times of challenge. The first judge we read about is Otniel, the son-in-law of Caleb.
We read the story of Ehud and the assassination of the King of Moab, and the short story of Shamgar and his unusual weapon.
In this prologue, we read a summary of what to expect in this book that covers several hundred years of history. Round and round the cycle repeats itself.
As each tribe goes its own way, they begin to settle with the native Canaanites rather than possess the land as God had instructed.
Joshua is gone, and with him the ideal of national unity fails as he tribes begin to go their separate ways. The morality and ethics and unity the people had when led by Moses and Joshua starts to unravel.
Joshua asks the people of Israel to recommit themselves to keep their covenant with God. The remains of Joseph are buried, and the circle of events that started with the exodus from Egypt is closed.
As Joshua reaches the end of his life, he reminds the people of the covenant they made with God, and the consequences if they don't keep their commitment to God.
The tribes of Reuben, Gad and part of Menasseh return to their land across the Jordan, and they build an altar to God. The people of Israel sense a split and a rebellion, and they assemble for war. Pinhas leads a delegation to the two and a half tribes to demand that they stand down, only to find out that rebellion was not their intention at all. In fact, the two and a half tribes were worried themselves about a split, and in order to remind everyone that they are one people, they built a monument to the unity of the people of God, not an alternative place of worship.
Now that the tribes have all received their portions, it is time for the Levites to get their cities to settle in. This completes the apportionment of the land and the fulfillment of God's promise to the patriarchs.
God commands Joshua to instruct the people to set aside cities of refuge for those accused of murder. In the new land, justice is to administered by a court of law, not by vengeful clans.
The daughters of Zelaphechad stand up for themeselves, and the tribes of Joseph kvetch.
The portion of Ephraim is described in much more abbreviated terms. Some Canaanite towns accept peace terms.
We read further details of the division of the land, this time the details of Judah's portion. Caleb gives his daughter Achsah's hand in marriage to Otniel ben Kenaz, but when the portion they receive turns out to be an infertile plot of land, he is unwilling to approach his father-in-law to ask for something better. Achsah takes it into her own hands and demands a better plot of land.
We take a shorty break from the division of the land to discuss the request of the venerable, aged Caleb. Joshua's old companion from the days of the spies requests that he be given the rights to settle Hebron, as this was the land that he spied out when he was sent by Moses to spy out the land of Canaan.
As Joshua neared the end of his life, God points out that now that his fighting years are over, it is time to divide the land. God promises him that He would help the people of Israel conquer the entire land, so he should divide it all as if it already was conquered. We then begin listing the boundaries of each tribe, beginning with the boundaries of Reuben, Gad and half of Menasseh.
The text lists the Kings and territories conquered by Moshe and Joshua as they led the people of Israel.
None of the towns of Canaan accept tp make peace with the Israelites, so war it is. Joshua conquers many more towns and regions, and the people of Israel begin to settle the land.
Joshua continues to lead the people to victory after victory. As God "recedes" into the background, Joshua reminds the people that even if they don't see overt miracles, He is still there!
The Givonites fear of retribution from their kinsmen is realized, and the Amorite kings band together against them. They appeal to Joshua for help, and the people of Israel respond in full force in support of their new allies. The battle is won, the five kings are destroyed, as "the sun stands still" over Givon!
After the conquest of Ai, Joshua recognizes that it is time to remind the people of the purpose of this war. It is time to fulfill the directive of Moshe, and to teach the people the lessons of the Torah. It is this that stirs up the united opposition to the Israelites by the Caananite kings.
This time the attack against the city of Ai of successful, and it is military strategy that wins the day. Joshua sets up a surprise ambush and the city of Ai is taken.
Hubris begins to creep into the nation, and Achan succumbs to temptation. Taking some treasures of the forbidden booty, Achan is led down a path of lies, cover-up, Sabbath violation, and stealing. The people then lose their first attempt at conquering a city "on their own" and they must expose why God is no longer on their side.
The first battle of conquest on this side of the Jordan takes place. The walls of Jericho collapse after the people perform an unusual ceremony circling the city.
The people celebrate the first Passover in the new land, and Joshua has a mysterious encounter with an angel.
The people of Israel are commanded to circumcise themselves before embarking upon the conquering if the land.
God asks the people to set up a twelve stone memorial to the crossing of the Jordan River.
God performs another astounding miracle, but slowly begins His subtle retreat from overt miracles. The People of Israel need to learn that success is in their hands, though they can still have faith that God will be there as long as they follow His ways.
Joshua sends spies to check out Jericho, which will be the first major military engagement after crossing Jordan. The spies seek refuge in the home of the harlot Rahab. Rahab saves the spies from capture and they make her a deal.
The tribes of Reuben, Gad and part of Mennasheh agree to keep their bargain. The people swear their allegiance to their new leader, so long as he continues his relationship with God as did his mentor Moses.
In the concluding chapter of his book, Nehemiah relates how upon return to Jerusalem from Susa he finds all of his reforms unraveling. He understandably gets angry with the people as he tries to put things back together.
The first Chanukah is celebrated, as the Nehemiah leads a double parade around Jerusalem to rededicate the newly rebuilt and repopulated city.
The people repopulate Jerusalem and the towns of the Judean countryside. The tribes of Benjamin and Judah, the Levites and the priests spread out across the land.
The "Men of the Great Assembly" set out the constitution which created what is now known as Rabbinic Judaism. They all agreed to to follow God's Torah, and enacted a wide range of legislation to preserve and protect the sanctity of the relationship between the Jewish people and God.
The people conclude their prayer before God, and the foundation and structure of Jewish prayer is set for generations to come.
After celebrating the holidays, the people return to their sadness. They mourn all of the years they and their ancestors ignored the Torah of God. They study, they learn, and then they turn to God with a new covenant. They begin by remembering all of God's greatness, and their own shortcomings.
In this beautiful chapter Ezra teaches the people the Torah, and they learn to celebrate Rosh HaShanah and Sukkot together.
Nehemiah completes the walls of the city, and finds the city to be sparsely populated and lacking housing. He begins a full census review to determine the families presents, where they live, and their numbers. The chapter ends as the month of the high holidays approaches, and its time for the people to gather in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah has to contend with enemy spies, and all sorts of creative but evil plans to weaken his leadership. They will stop at nothing to break his will and ruin his ability to lead, but Nehemiah outsmarts them and doesn't fall for their tricks.
In one of the most powerful and instructive chapters of Nehemiah, we read of the economic inequality that plagued the people of Judah, and Nehemiah's response. We learn of economic justice, how respect for God leads to doing the right thing, and how these issues issues can only be addressed through honest and transparent leadership.
Nehemiah teaches us how a Jew is supposed to defend him/herself. Pray to God, give credit to God, then develop a strategy, take up your weapons and fight! We learn how Nehemiah developed his strategy, how he gathered intelligence, and how he never stopped building Jerusalem despite the threats.
Despite the taunts and cynicism and threats of Sanvalat and his cohorts, Nehemiah restores the people's morale. Everyone, including the leaders, government officials and even the women get together and rebuild the city.
Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem, and he conducts a midnight survey of the city of Jerusalem. Finding the city in a state of awful disrepair, he encourages the people to find the courage and strength to rebuild. The opposition doesn't take it so well, however, and they begin to challenge Nehemiah and his project.
The echoes of Queen Esther and her confrontation with Artexerxes father can be heard in this petition of Nehemiah before the King. While plying the King with drink party, Nehemiah beseeches him and asks for permission to go to Judea and rebuild the city of his fathers.
We learn of a new important figure, Nehemiah, a Jew who is highly placed in the court of King Artaxerxes. His brother comes to the capital Shushan with bad news from Jerusalem. The city is in ruins, and the people are depressed and downtrodden. Nehemiah takes action, he prays to God, and prepares himself to convince the King to support a renewal of building.
We learn the details Shechaniah's solution to the problem, which Ezra implements. A system of courts is set up in every town to review every case of intermarriage one by one. Women that were willing to join God's covenant are then welcomed into their families. Those who would rather remain idolaters and continue their abominable customs, had to be divorced and sent back to their families. Fortunately, only a small minority of families had to be broken up, though many were from very prominent families.
Shechaniah approaches Ezra and tells him that there is hope! Stop the crying and praying, get yourself together and lead us! We can do this, and we begin to learn of Shechaniah's plan to fix this problem.
The newcomers to the land find that they have been more faithful to God than the residents of the Holy Land. The people have already started to falter in their faithfulness to God, and have begun to adopt the ways of pagan cults that surrounded them. This led to intermarriage, and Ezra is stunned by the constant and never ending backsliding of God's people.
Having gotten the necessary support of the King, Ezra now gathers the people who will join him on his journey to Jerusalem. The people gather, pray, and with God's help they have a safe and successful journey.
Ezra sets out for the land of Israel with a new group of returnees. King ArtaXerxes gives him the full support of the Persian Empire. The Jewish religion takes a new and important turn, as interpreting the word of God is no longer the realm of the prophets. Now it is the scholars of Torah who study the word of God, practice it, and teach it to the people.
Evidence is found that the Judean's were given the rights to build by Cyrus himself. Darius continues the full support of the Persian kingdom for the building effort, and the Temple is finally completed. The Judeans, along with many converts from other nations gather together to celebrate Passover in the new Temple.
Some things never change. The enemies try to use the cumbersome wheels of bureaucracy to stifle the building project of the new Temple.
The local tribes that lived in Judea and Israel while the Judeans were exiled attempt to thwart the building of the Temple and Jerusalem. This goes on for generations of Persian kings.
The returnees celebrate their first "high holidays" in Jerusalem by rebuilding the altar. Preparations begin for rebuilding the Temple as well, and while many rejoice, others weep for the loss of the glorious Temple of the past.
On the authority of Cyrus' decree, the people return to Judea. The families that returned are enumerated, towns are repopulated, and a treasury is set up to rebuild the Temple.
God acts through the leaders of history and brings His plans to life. In this chapter we read of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah, as Cyrus sends the Jewish people back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of God.
God has answered all our questions, He has explained what he wants, He will send Elijah to guide us. It is up to us to speak to others, humbly rebuild our relationships, The great day of God will come IF we do our part.
The people question God's justice. We see the wicked prosper! God challenges the people, "try Me!" If you are honest, if you stop fooling yourselves and trying to fool God, the windows of blessing will open to you.
If we are all children of the same God, shouldn't our marriages to gentile women bring about peace and redemption? Why do they lead to strife and divorce? Doesn't God love us all? Malachi deals with a timeless problem.
God excoriates the priests for neglecting their priestly covenant. Speak truth, respect God, respect your mission, teach life, teach peace and live a straight and honest life. When a religious leader exhibits these qualities, he leads the people back to God. But the priests are not following this path, they disrespect God, they teach a "Torah" that is dishonest, one that is used for their own personal advancement. Such a "leader" brings shame and disrespect.
We are introduced to the final prophet, Malachi. Time has passed since the second temple has been rebuilt, and it is now obvious that the final redemption has not materialized. Malachi points out to the people that it is their cynicism which has brought about this failure.
The day of God will arrive, and it will not be a day of all light or all darkness. There will be both redemption and destruction. But when it is over, God's name will be One. All of humanity will rejoice together and celebrate.
When truth and humility prevails, the fake prophets will no longer be able to spread their vile and impure ideas. They themselves will be ashamed of their lies, and claim that they are just simple farmers.
In Zechariah's vision of the ultimate battle between God's enemies and His people, one major lesson will be learned. Humility of the victors will be the result. The victors will win with God, with Grace, with empathy and compassion for each and every person who suffered injury or death in the war.
We read of God's frustration with corrupt leadership, as God asks the prophet himself to lead the people. If no one else will, God promises to do it Himself. When God Himself takes over, He leads with both punishment and reward.
Zechariah envisions a new Messianic world. In this world, people turn to God and not to sorcery. In this world, peoples achieve greatness and power through God and not through wealth and might. In this world, the people of Judah and Ephraim are once again united, together and strong.
The eyes of all mankind look toward God and His people for guidance, but those who are too arrogant will ultimately be destroyed. Those who follow God though, will become included in His people. The Messiah will not conquer the world with power and weapons, but he will rule by speaking peace to all corners of the Earth.
God reveals to us when and how the redemption will occur. He is here and ready to be present among us, but we need to be truthful, honest and just. The nations of the world will then grasp the cloak of the Jews and ask to come to Jerusalem and learn the ways of God.
The people ask the prophet, "Is this the redemption we have been waiting for? Do we still need to fast in commemoration of the destruction of the First Temple?" A seemingly innocent question reveals to God that they missed the entire point of both the reason for the destruction and the purpose of redemption itself.
In the final vision in the prophet's dream, we learn of the chariots of God as they search the land and return to the Temple. The separation of Church and State is crucial to the success of the redemption.
Zechariah's prophecies get more mysterious as he sees a flying scroll, a flying box, and a woman in a box. We attempt to decipher the meaning of these unusual visions.
This vision of Zechariah is read in synagogue every holiday of Chanukah. We as human beings must make God's presence felt in this world. If we do that, then the light of the menorah will shine throughout the Earth.
Zechariah is witness to a heavenly trial. Yehoshua the high priest stands in dirty clothing, with all of the accumulated sins of the people in exile. Can he be cleansed? Can he lead the people in purification and atonement?
The greatest fear of those who destroy, are the carpenters and builders who seek to build. Zechariah is afraid that the building of Jerusalem may be limited, but God reassures the people and the prophet that if they build, and the people come, Jerusalem will grow.
Zechariah echoes the people's concern that they are still subservient to the might of the Persian empire. We try to comprehend a mysterious vision of colorful horses, and God promises the people that He will yet choose Jerusalem.
We begin the book of Zechariah, and we get the sense that the period of prophecy is coming to a close. Your forefathers already learned their lesson. God has already shown us the path. We no longer will need prophets to remind us to improve our ways
The prophet exhorts the people to be strong, be pure, and dedicate themselves. The potential for the full and true redemption lies in their hands. If only they apply themselves, the redemption is already here. We learn of the purpose of Halacha, Jewish law.
Haggai inspires the people to get out of their houses and build! Don't wait for miracles, the redemption comes only when we work for it.
King Ahasuerus rules his kingdom and appoints Mordeachai his second in command. Mordechai uses his position of influence to protect his brethren.
The edict of Esther and Mordechai succeeds in sowing fear among the enemies of the Jews. The day set aside for genocide of the Jews turns into a day of victory for the Jews over their enemies, and the holiday of Purim is born.
Mordechai and Esther are elevated in the King's court, and given the power to write decrees in the royal name. They give the Jews the power to defend themselves against their enemies. The people in Persian empire learn that the might of the Empire is now supporting the Jews.
At the second party, Esther exposes the true nature of Haman, and the plot to destroy her people. She understands that true loyalty to the King is the only path to victory. Esther demonstrates to the king who is really with him, and who is trying to take advantage of him.
The King has difficulty sleeping, as Esther has left him with some curious and mysterious hints. Who is truly loyal to me? What is Haman up to? The King identifies Mordechai and his loyalty to him, and he wants to give him the proper honor. Haman senses that his tactics are beginning to backfire.
Esther realizes that the key to success is to show the king that the truly loyal servant is Mordechai, and that the disloyal usurper is Haman. She devises an ingenious plan to make the king suspicious of Haman. She makes a party!
Mordechai has lost his influence in the court of the King, and imminent genocide seems unavoidable. The people look to Queen Esther as their only hope for salvation.
Mordechai displays his loyalty to the King and refuses to bow to Haman. Infuriated at this slight, Haman devises his plot to commit genocide against the Jewish people.
King Ahaseurus begins his search for a new queen, and from all the young women brought before him, he chooses Esther. Esther was an orphan Jewish girl being raised by her cousin Mordechai, but she does not reveal her family background to the King. All who meet her are impressed by her grace and kindness, and even as queen she maintains her modesty and loyalty to her family.
We read of the arrogant display of wealth and power by the King Ahaseurus. The one thing he cannot tolerate is that his dominion over his wife is compromised.
We complete the entire book off ezekiel with the future name of the city of the Temple. "God is there" The name speaks volumes of what people will see when they look at the holy city.
A beautiful river flows from the new Temple, restoring life and health throughout the world.
We continue Ezekiel's journey through the future Temple, and we learn about the style of leadership we should strive for in the future times.
Ezekiel learns of the division of land around the Third temple. Everyone is provided for, measurements and currency are clear and honest. No loinger shall the leadership take advantage of the poor.
In the third temple, we learn that "foreigners" are no longer allowed. Who are these "foreigners?" Not what you might think, for in the new temple even members of Israel whio are untruthful to god are considered foreigners and do not belong. The priests will be trusted, thgey will be leaders, they will administer true justice.
The angel takes Ezekiel to the eastern gate to the spectacle of God finally returning to His Temple. As long as the people are humble and recognize their sins, God will always remain forever with His people.
Ezekiel continues his mystical journey through the Third Temple. We learn of the importance of differentiating between the holy and the profane.
We continue Ezekiels ascent through the chambers of the Third temple. We learn of the decorations and the symbols on the Temple walls.
We continue our mystical journey into the Third Temple coutyard. Ezekiel sees sin, guilt being slain and holiness and sing being introduced. The prophet's Yom Kippur journey to the center continues. Only righteous priests are allowed to perform the serrvice in this new Temple.
We begin a series of chapters where Ezekiel describes his visions of teh Third temple in the Land of Israel. Ezekiel begins a mystical journey through the majesty of the Temple building as he approaches the presence of God Himself.
The people cleanse the land of Gog, his armies, and all that they stood for. God has revealed Himself to the world as the true source of justice, and His name is sanctified through humility.
After the people of Israel are gathered upon their land, many nations will refuse to accept God. They will insist that might and power and oppression are the ways to achieve their aims. God is trying to teach peace, coexistence, humility and knowledge of God, but they refuse to learn. They gather against God and attempt to plunder the peaceful land. God Himself wages war against them so that the entire world can learn of God.
God promises to bring the nation back to its' land, only this time it will be built on unity and peace. Through cohesion, cooperation, and unity, an everlasting covenant of peace will be built between God, His people, and the nations of the world.
In one of his most famous prophesies, Ezekiel restores hope to the nation in Despair. God will breathe life back into the nation of Israel. Out of death and destruction, there will one day be a rebirth.
In one of the most beautiful prophesies of Ezekiel, we learn that God will redeem the people for His sake. It is not for us, but for His holy name. We must be humble and recognize that we have strayed, and then we can sanctify God's name in front of the entire world.
Ezekiel turns his attention to the mountains and land features of Israel. The mountains were the flashpoint, the place where the people of Israel learned their corrupt ways frpom the Edomites. The Edomites coveted those mountains and gleefully took them and plundered them when Judea was destroyed. God reassures the mountains that one day their children would return.
Ezekiel turns his attention to Edom. Many sins can be forgiven, but bearing a grudge forever and rejoicing over the downfall of your brethren cannot be tolerated.
The Sheperds of Israel have failed to lead their sheep. Instead of leading the people, they selfishly took advantage of them. So God declares that there will be a new leader, one who searches for the lost, mends the broken, and cares for the sick. This leader will be guided gy God, not by his own arrogance,
The refugees from the destruction arrive in babylon and inform their brethren of the destruction. Ezekiel addresses the people of remaining in the land that they will not be part of the redemption, as they have still not given up their bickering and fighting and corrupted ways. But the people in exile in Babylon, they finally see that a prophet resides among them.
Though Ezekiel is still unaware, as the Temple is being destroyed, God speaks to Ezekiel about personal responsibility. We are responsible for each other, but ultimately we are responsible for ourselves. God informs us that no matter how bad we were in the past, we can still make ourselves better today. No matter how good we were in the past, we can still be arrogant and destroy ourselves. Ultimately, God is fair - don't complain but act.
God instructs the prophet to lament the destruction of Egypt. We should not gloat over the suffering of others, even those who have not treated us well in the past. God informs Egypt, that every arrogant and oppressive nation that rose against others in the past and spread fear and terror has eventually been destroyed and descended into Hell. So too will Egypt suffer that fate.
Ezekiel continues to address the King of Egypt. This all happened before, when the might of Assyria was so great, and the entire world lived beneath its' shade. But when they became too arrogant, assyria fell and all of those who depended on them went down together. The King of Egypt should have learned that lesson, but since they did not, they will suffer the same fate.
Ezekiel continues to address the Egyptians, this time he receives his vision as the city of Jerusalem is falling. Partly due to Egypts failure to keeps its' promises to aid Judah, God send the Babylonians against Egypt as well.
While the prophet addresses the surrounding nations, he catches a glimpse of a day in the distant future. This is a day beyond Egypt, beyond the known nations, a day when no nation is safe from God's wrath.
Ezekiel turns his attention to Egypt. The arrogance and unreliability of Egypt and her King ends up destroying the country. The King thinks of himself as a god, "I created the Nile". He finds out who is the true creator, and Egypt must learn humility.
In the final prophecy regarding Tyre, Ezekiel turns his attention to the King of Tyre. All of his wealth and possessions and commerce once could have been such a force for good in the world But unfortunately it has now become a source of arrogance, greed, dishonesty and oppression. Especially disgraceful is how the King thought of himself as a God. Ezekiel ends by stating that when Israel returns to its land and returns to God, then all the nations of the world will learn this lesson.
Ezekiel dramatically describes how Tyre became great due to all the many nations they traded with and took advantage of. However, they took all the credit themselves. It is so important to remember that we all depend upon each other. No one achieves greatness without the help of others.
Ezekiel turns his attention to Tyre, a powerful and ancient island kingdom to the north of Israel. The relationship between Tyre and Israel goes back many centuries, and at times they were close allies. However, during the destruction of Judea, Tyre rejoiced, and anticipated the day they could join and take the spoils of Jerusalem for themselves.
Ezekiel begins a new section of his book with his prophecies regarding the surrounding nations. They gloated over Israel's demise, and took it as a lesson that their gods were more powerful than the God of Israel. God declares that they will soon receive their due punishment as well.
We learn of the tragic passing of the prophet's wife, and God instructs him not to mourn publicly. This sets the example for the people who are about to hear of the destruction of Jerusalem.
The day of the siege of Jerusalem has begun. God compares the people of Judah to the blood and guts of an animal to be boiled in a pot. The wrath of God is now lighting the flame that will destroy the city.
God is clearly frustrated, and sees no path forward other than destruction. Judah has followed the same destructive path as her "big sister" Israel. They have chosen the other nations over God, immorality over justice. Their very "lovers" are now going to come and destroy them.
Ezekiel compares the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah to two disloyal and lustful sisters. They never learned the lessons God tried to teach them from their early days in Egypt. Instead they desired everything else but God. The places they lusted after, ended up being the source of their downfall.
Ezekiel is exasperated, the destruction of Jerusalem is imminent, but he wants us to know exactly what led to this terrible end. Corruption, taking advantage of one another, lust for profit, God can no longer find anyone who is ready or able to turn things around.
Ezekiel has given up on the people listening to his message, but he wants it to be clear what is going to happen to Jerusalem and why. He lists the sins of Jerusalem. It starts with talebearing and gossip and xenophobia, and ends with death and bloodshed.
God tells Ezekiel about two paths of destruction that lay ahead of the Babylonian conquerors. The lackadaisical attitude of the King of Babylon is striking. Whom should I kill first? The King of Babylon decides to head to Jerulsalem first, but the destruction of Ammon is not far behind.
Ezekiel tries again with a parable that falls flat. The people dismiss him as just another storyteller, so he says it like it is. The sword is about to fall against Jerusalem. The sword has been polished and sharpoened by god Himself, and given to the hands of the oppressors. The coming destruction is so awful, God Himself is clapping His hands in grief. God so sadly asks His prophet, "do I have a choice?"
God declares His wrath over the many generations of Israel that have consistently veered from the path He desired from them. Too many times they have defiled His name with the most disgusting of practices. They will be scattered among the nations, and they will be cleansed. One day the remaining people will be gathered, but only those from whom God can build a righteous nation.
God tells Ezekiel to teach the people a lesson of history. For genertions, the people have ignored His laws of life and justice. They rejected Him in favor of their own disgraceful practices. They ignored His special Shabbat, and instead turned to idols. Even to the terrible depths of offering child sacrifices. God only has so much patience, but no longer was God going to look the other way.
Ezekiel laments the failure of the lions of Judah, the Kings that could have led the people to success, but instead led them to destruction.
God declares that every person is responsible for his own behavior. God is just, and will treat us justly if we act properly towards others. God does not want us to die, He wants us to live.
Ezekiel teaches the solution to the riddle. Those who are arrogant and do not keep the promises they make will be destroyed, while those who are humble and accept God's sovereignty will flourish.
Ezekiel employs a new method to get his message across, as God tells him a riddle to say to the people. A great eagle, a tree, a vine and a lesser eagle all play a part in this riddle. The meaning of the riddle will be discussed in 17b.
We conclude the parable of the unfaithful wife by learning the root cause of corruption and destruction. Arrogance is the the root of it all. This was the sin of Sodom, the sin of Samaria, and the sin which led to the destruction of Judah. God will remember His promise, even though we have not kept ours. The other nations will be redeemed as well, reminding us of our shame and reminding us that only with humility will any redemption occur.
Ezekiel describes how the people descended into the most awful forms of corruption and promiscuity. They looked everywhere for pleasure and satisfaction except not towards God.
Israel forgets the desperate and unfortunate cuircumstances of her birth, and uses all of her wealth, beauty and bounty to satisfy her own arrogance. In a chapter full of powerful sexual imagery, the prophet shows how arriogance can turn into a quest to satisfy one's own desires without regard to it's effects on anyone. Even to sacrifice one's own children, nothing will stop a person infected with his own arrogance and selfishness.
In the second in his series of parables, the prophet compares the people of Isael to an unfaithful wife. In this first portion, he describes how Israel was an abandoned child, full of blood and dirt and left to die. God brought us to adulthood, took care of us until we grew into a beautiful young woman, God took us under His wings, and gave them all that we needed to prosper.
Ezekiel begins a series of parables in a new attempt at getting his message across. This parable uses the familiar image of Israel as a grape vine, only now the grape vine produces no fruit. The wood of the vine is thus a useless twig, not suitable for any constructive purpose.
The people would like to know, will anyone be saved? Why destroy everything? God answers, sometimes the society ois so corrupt that it can no longer be saved. Even were there righteous individuals such as Noah, Daniel and Job, they can save themselves, but the society, even many innocent people, will suffer.
Don't come to seek the word of God if your heart is still dreaming of corruption and sin. If you do come, God will answer you according to what is in your heart. Mend your ways, then seek God. For those false prophets who pretend to speak My word, there will be no excuse, you are causing My people to stray.
God turns His wrath against the false prophets, magicians and sorcerers among the men and women of Israel. You will be lost, and your mempory will be lost. Any chance the people may have had to repent and mend their ways was ruined by your false assertions of hope and peace. Those of you who had no courage to tell the people of the consequences of their actions, will suffer the most from those same consequences.
God asks Ezekiel to perform another symbolic act, to enact the exile of the people of Jerusalem, and the ill-fated attempt of its' King to sneak off during the night. the people still don't listen, thinking that with time, the prophets and their prophecies will fade and die. God says no, the time is now, there is no more waiting. The proophecies are beung fulfilled at this very moment.
In this stirring chapter, God teaches Ezekiel that He will leave Jerusalem, and reside with His people in exile. There He will be a "small Temple" a "mikdash me'at" and He will reside among them until it is time to bring them back home. Then the people will gather in Israel with a humble heart, one dedicated to unity and living in God's ways.
In this terribly graphic and ominous chapter, Ezekiel describes his vision as God's presence is lifted by His chariot out of the Temple. This represents God's "journey" from the Temple to Babylon. The people have defiled His Temple, it is no longer God's house. The fires taken from God's chariot will now consume and destroy the desecrated House of God.
Ezekiels virtual journey to the Temple in Jerusalem continues, as he now witnesses the departure of God from the cherubs. As God leaves, he instructs the destroyers to begin the defilement of the temple and show no mercy to the sinful people of Jerusalem. Those who do show remorse however, are marked and spared.
God takes Ezekiel on a flight to Jerusalem to see the extent of the corruption that has overtaken the people. The temple itself is being defiled in the worst possible way. Ezekiel invokes the images of Deuteronomy in his attempt to get the people to hear his message.
Ezekiel continues to try and convince the people that the time of destruction of Jerusalem is upon them. The time is now, not in 100 years or in some distant future, but now. Individuals can save themselves if they learn the proper lessons, but the Temple and the people residing in Israel are doomed. Only in Babylon will the salvation sprout one day, but all that sprouts in the land of Israel now will be calamity.
Ezekiel reminds the people that all of this has been predicted in the Torah many years ago. This should come as no surprise. "It was not for nothing that I told you all of this!", God reminds the people (See verse 10 in this chapter).
God continues to ask Ezekiel to do another symbolic act, this time to teach the most awful lesson of all. A terrible destruction is going to befall the people of Jerusalem, and very very few will survive.
God asks the prophet to perform several symbolic acts to convey the message of the impending destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel displays his humility and that he is suffering alomg with the people.
God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman over the Jewish people. You must deliver the message, and the people will choose if they want to listen and avert catastrophe, or if they will ignore it and suffer the consequences. We learn that every individual is responsible for his/her deeds regardless of the surrounding environment, and the watchman is responsible to deliver the warnings.
Ezekiel cannot bring himself to eat the bitter scroll, so God has to feed it to him. He then eats it as if it was sweet as honey, though its' contents were anything but sweet. God says, once you internalize this message, then speak my words to the people. Though they are stubborn and obstinate, you will be just as stubborn as they.
Ezekiel is overwhelmed by his vision, but God tells him that he can listen. Internalize this message. Speak to the people whether they listen to you or not. Tell them my message, and do not be afraid of them. God gives him a scroll full of suffering, and tells him to eat it, though Ezekiel is understandably reluctant.
Ezekiel has his inaugaural vision, of God traveling in His spectacular chariot. The images are fantasic and indescribable, and the prophet is overwhelmed with awe. One thing is clear, God has left the Temple, and His presence is to be found elsewhere. The vision is in babylon, signaling the exlied Jews in babylon that god's presence can be found among them, even without the Temple in Jerusalem.
A short introduction to help us put this very important work in historical context. Ezekiel is the only major prophet to address the community in exile, from the vantage point of exile.
Daniel is confused, he hears all of these visions, but he still cannot comprehend their meaning. The angel answers, that the meaning will not be comprehended by anyone until the end of days. Then and only then will all the world see those that preceded them resurrected. The righteous will shine for posterity, and the wicked will be forever shamed.
The angel tells Daniel of future wars and alliances, treachery and rebellion. The cycle of history will go on for a long time.
Daniel fasts and prays as the deliverence promised by God seemed to be failing. He is answered by a vision of an angel of immense power and fire and strength. the angel says that he has been struggling on behalf of the people of Israel with the powers of Persia and will soon have to struggle with Greece as well. But only with the help of Michael will he be able to save israel. "Who is as powerful as God Himself" - that is the meaning of the name Michael, only through God will Israel and the entire world be redeemed.
According to Daniel's calculation, the seventy years of exile of babylonia should be over, but the people of Judea remain in exile. In one of the most moving prayers in the Bible, Daniel beseeches God to end teh suffering of His people. Gabriel once again appears and explains that although God is listening to his prayers, and adores them, things aren't going to be so simple.
Daniel has another vision, this one of a powerful ram being battered by a flying unicorn from the west. The imagery and the meaning of it all is explained to Daniel by the angel Gabriel.
What is this beast? What do my visions mean? Daniel approaches the angel and gets an explanation, and we learn a bit about the future course of human history.
Daniel has a fantastical dream, and he fortells the cycles of history and human Kingdoms. The only one that will be forever, is the ultimate kingdom that will one day be led by the one chosen by God. The Kingdom of God will be the pinnacle of world history.
In another famous biblical chapter, Daniel becomes the victim of the jealousy of the other nobles. Using a tactic that would become a standard tactic of antisemites in future years, they forced Daniel to choose between his religion and his King. Daniel chooses God, and finds himself in the lion's den.
In one of the most famous chapters of the Bible, the King Belshazzar calls a giant durnken party for his noble men. within the drunken sex, revelry, and abuse of the vessels of God's Temple, a hand appears, and writes a mysterious message on the wall. Only the queen has the sense to call Daniel and ask him for help. Daniel rebukes the king, and predicts the downfall of the kingdom of Babylon.
Daniel interprets the kings dream, that it has been decreed from heaven that Nebuchadnezzar would lose his kingdom and wander the fields like an animal. Until he learns to be humble before the the true God, and treat his kingdom with justice.
Another dream bothers the king, this time he sees a great big tree that gets chopped down. He again calls upon Daniel to interpret its meaning.
The enraged king condemns our three heroes to the fiery furnace, and miraculously they are unharmed. The king finally admits to a power greater than his own.
Nebuchadnezzer sets up a giant statue of gold, and demands that all of his subjects worship his "god" of wealth and power. The Judeans refuse to worship any God but the One True God, and the Chaldeans seize the opportunity to slander the three Jewish officials. With complete faith in God, the three leaders tell the king, we will not worship your false god. Even if it means our death by fire.
Daniel reveals the images that the king saw in his dream, a great statue made of many materials that gets destroyed by a stone. Human kingdoms will come and go and replace each other over and over. Until all of humanity recognizes God and establishes a kingdom that will last forever.
The King is bothered by an awful dream, but can't even remember the content of the dream, let alone its' interpretation. All of his magicians cannot help him, and he is enraged. A decree sending all the wise men (or not-so-wise men) to the executioner is declared, and Daniel and his friend's lives are in jeapordy. From Daniel's response, we learn the secrets of what prayer truly is.
Four young Judean captives are taken into King Nebuchadnezzar's royal complex. After being given Babylonian names, they are set to be trained and indrinated in the ways and the wisdom of their new country. The leader of the four, Daniel, faces his first major problem. How do we eat the food that we are being givne if it is clearly not Kosher? We begin to see the special wisdom and grace of this remarkable young man as he navigates the challenges of remaining faithful to the God of his ancestors in a foreign country that wants him to adopt their new ways.
The book of Jeremiah ends with a recap of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the dismantling of the Holy Temple. The final words of Jeremiah remind us that rays of hope and light appear even in the darkness of exile.
We read of a conversation between God and Jerusalem. The people are ashamed of their sins, that brought about the destruction wrought by Babylon. God promises revenge, a total revenge for all of the nations taht were oppressed by Babylon. Jeremiah sends his prophecy in the form of a scroll on a diplomatic mission to Babylon. Babylon clearly does not take heed and continues on their evil path.
Jeremiah continues his prophecy regarding the future destruction of Babylon. He describes the terrible error that people make. They think they are mighty and strong, but nothing human can compare to the greatness of God the Creator. This is the portion of the children of jacob, to teach this lesson to the other nations so they all come to serve God in Zion.
Jeremiah prophecies about the ultimate fall of Babylon, and the return of the peoples it had subjugated to their lands. Israel will make their way back to their land when Babylon falls to Persia, and so will the other nations. God warns babylon, if you are arrogant before me, your armies and fortresses cannot keep you safe from the vengeance of God.
Jeremiah turns his attention to three more nations, and we discuss their sins and ultimate fate.
Jeremiah turns his attention to two more implacable foes of the people of Israel, the nations of Ammon and Edom. We also summarize the attitudes of the prophets towards these nations.
In this chapter, the prophet turns his attention to the Moabites. Jeremiah describes their sins, and their ultimate fate. Their sins of arrigance, haughtiness, pride in their wealth and jeering at those who were not as fortunate as they. The destruction of their nation and culture that the prophet foretells is awful indeed.
Jeremiah prophecies about the end of the nation of the Phillistines. We review the many descriptions of the barbarity of the Philistine people in the words of the prophets. Jeremiah's prophecy is similar to the predictions of his predecessors.
In this podcast, we explore what the sins of Egypt were that made them the target of the prophecies of destruction. By analyzing the text of this chapter and the other prophets who discuss egypt, we get an idea of what lessons God wanted the Egyptians to learn. Humility, reliability, and trustworthiness.
In the second prophesy regarding Egypt, Jeremiah describes what will occur when Babylon takes the fight into Egypt's homeland. He describes the Egyptian's hasty retreat and devastating loss to the invading Babylonians. Pharoah is shown to be an unreliable leader, and will look like a fool. In the final verses of this chapter, Jeremiah reassures the people of Israel. Although these other mighty empires may be destroyed, Israel need not be afraid. The children of Jacob, though they may suffer much in exile, will one day return to their land.
Jeremiah addresses the nations of the world, and begins with Egypt. In the first part of this chapter, the prophet tells Egypt that it will suffer shame and defeat at the hands of the Babylonians when they come to fight them in Carchemish. Carchemish is a city located in Syria near the Euphrates river. The arrogance of the Egyptians will be their downfall. This battle will establish Babylon as the primary power of the middle east.
In a flashback to the days of Yehoyakim, we learn oif the concerns and suffering of jeremiah's faithful scribe Baruch. God guarantees that Baruch's life will be spared throughout all of the coming wars, as long as he remains humble and does not seek personal glory.
Jeremiah and the people have very different versions of history, and tragically a very different understanding of God. The people cling to the notion of a transactional God who wants to be appeased. Jeremiah continues to teach that what God wants is for us to live according to the ways He teaches us, not incense and sacrifices. The people refuse to take heed, and insist in continuing their behavior. Thus the Judean presence in Egypt will tragically be destroyed just as the presence in Judea was destroyed.
The Judean refugees ignore Jeremiah's advice, and they leave the land of Judea and head to Egypt. What a tragic turn of history. The people as a nation was born escaping Egypt and they built a nation in their own land. But they failed due to their sins and they now abandon their land and seek safety in the land of their former oppressors. Jeremiah however, warns them verty clearly that things will not work out for them in Egypt.
The people turn to Jeremiah for advice, do we leave Judea and seek refuge in Egypt, or do we risk the wrath of babylon and remain here? Jeremiah gets his answer from God. You have nothing to fear from the King of Babylon, remain in your land and build it. Rely on God, not the Egyptians. If you run to Egypt you will not survive. However, the people have already made up their mind.
In one of the most tragic events of Jewish history, Yishmael ben Netanya assassinates the last remaining hope for the people of Judah in their homeland. He kills the soldiers, and takes the civilians captive. When the news gets out, Yochanan and the other leaders loyal to Gedaliah rescue the captives and Yishmael runs away to the protection of his sponsors in Ammon. The people gather together to decide what to do next. Egypt seems like their only safe refuge.
Jeremiah joins Gedaliah as the scattered Judean refugees begin to stream back to Judah. Just as there seems to be home for a future of the the Judeans in their land, jealousy and intrigue threaten to destroy it.
The Babylonian Army breeches the walls of Jerusalem, and the city falls to the enemy. The King's family and the nobility tries to escape, but they are captured by the Babylonians. As God had told Jeremiah, the King's family is brutally murdered, and Zedekiah is brought in chains into captivity. The conquerers leave the poor and previously enslaved Judeans in Judea, and appoint Gedalyahu as their giverner. Jeremiah chooses to remain with the remnant of his people. There is still hope that Judea can survive under the humble leadership of Gedalyahu.
Again accused of being a traitor by the King's advisors, the King allows them to throw the prophet into a pit of mud to die. Another sympathetic servant of the King, begs for permission to rescue Jeremiah. The King grants him permission to take him out of the pit. In a secret meeting, the King Zedekiah asks Jeremiah for advice and regarding his fate. Zedekiah is too much of a coward to act against his advisors, and refuses to heed the prophet's advice.
This chapter begins Jeremiah's description of the final days of the Kingdom of Judah. The siege of Jerusalem is at its' height, and the King and the people have rejected Jeremiah's admonitions. The Egyptian Army marches north to help relieve Jerusalem, but they are quickly repulsed by the Chaldeans. Jeremiah is accused of being a traitor, and is placed in in a horrific jail cell. The King intervenes on his behalf and though he remains in custody, he is given rations and better living conditions.
Jeremiah dictates his prophecies to his trusted scribe Baruch, who reads it to the people. The King's council then hears the scroll, and many of the leaders are rifghtened by what they hear. Hoping for a movement of true repentance, they bring it to the King's attention. However the king is enraged and he burns the scroll. Instead of heeding God's word, he orders the arrest of Jeremiah and Baruch.
God asks Jeremiah to offer wine to the family of the Rechabites, descendants of Jethro, and they refuse. They are faithful to their family traditions, but the people of Israel are not faithful to God.
The battle rages on, and Jeremiah informs King Zedekiah that although the city will fall, he will not be executed by Nebuchadnezzar. He will die in exile peacefully and receive honors befitting a king. Zedekiah declares freedom to all enslaved Judeans, and the people willingly comply. God sees this righteous act, and the Babylonians retreat. The moment there is a reprieve, the wealthy slaveowners recapture and reenslave their poor brethren. God is infuriated that the people have shown their true selfish character. The Babylonian siege will come back in full force, and now the city is doomed.
Jeremiah is still captive in the prison yard, and the city is falling to the enemy. Surrounded by destruction, the people think that the destruction of Jerusalem means the end of their relationship with God. However, the prophet teaches that the special covenant is forever. The covenant is between God and his people, not the buildings or the temple. The people must do their part, and act justly and with righteousness. God will always keep His covenant, it is as strong as the very laws of nature themselves.
God answers Jeremiah's prayer. Yes, i am the almighty, but today I will not intervene and save the people. They deserve to be destroyed due to their own corruption. However, one day i will bring them back, and the exiles will return. On that day, an everlasting bond will be made between God and His people. The purchase you just made, is simply a message to the people that one day they will return to Jerusalem.
The siege of Jerusalem is under way, and the Kingdom is about to fall. King Zedekiah throws the prophet into jail for his "subsversive" prophecies which are now unfolding before their very eyes. God asks Jeremiah to perform a very unusual transaction, and Jeremiah turns to God for an explanation.
On that day, in the wonderous future, God will no longer appear to us from a distance. His Torah and His teachings will be engraved on our very hearts. No longer will teachers of God's word call out to teach people, as the people themselves will have God within them. Unlike Jeremiah's Israel, the people will not only listen, they themselves will know God.
After reassuring the exiles that the Ten Tribes of Israel are not lost forever, God tells the people of Judah that they will return as well. Judah will remain the home of the Temple of God. In the future days, the cycle of corruption will no longer be passed from generation to generation. Instead, the wicked will perish, the people will be united, and justice will prevail.
The Northern kingdom is lost forever! Rachel is crying for her children, as they seem to be gone forever, will Judah suffer the same fate? NO! Jeremiah reassures us that even the people of Israel, though they may seem lost, they are crying to God as well, and they will be heard. They will return to their land as well.
Jeremiah continues to write the scroll in which God desribes the wonderful day of redemption. God reminds the people of when He formed a bond of forever love with them. A bond meant to last from the time they were refugees from Egypt, all the way until the day they come back to their land after a long long exile. pronounce this message to the nations of the world, let them all see that God's love is forever and real.
Jeremiah lifts his eyes and looks to the future, the end of days when God's Justice will reign, and the wicked will be punished. God asks him to write this down for generations to come. Jacob and Israel will return to their land, but when they look to me for salvation. One day, we will understand.
The Jews in exile in Babylon recieve Jeremiah's message, but their own prophets encourage them to ignore the prophets instructions. Twi such prophets are punished with death immediately, but a third remains steadfast in his evil ways. Shamayah the Nechelamite sneds a defiant letter back to Jerusalem, encouraging the high priest to punish Jeremiah. However, God stans behind His prophet and punishes Shemayah. despite all this, the people still follow the false prophets.
Life is not over in exile, build your homes and families, go in the way of God and seek Him. Work and pray for the safety and success of your host nation. God has a bright future in store for you, of only you seek Him with a full heart. This was Jeremiah's message, but the people would rather listen to the false prophets.
A false prophet named Hananiah ben Azzur stands up and challenges Jeremiah and tells the people what they want to hear. Jeremiah wins the duel, but the people don't seem to get the message.
Jeremiah begs the people to be humble and accept their fate. Their stubbornness and unwillingness to recognize their corruption and change their ways, has led to the inevitable dominion of Babylon. Jeremiah beseeches the people to accept their fate. If not, the destruction will be much more complete, and all will be lost.
God asks Jeremiah to preach his message in the courtyard of the Temple. The corrupt religious leadership incites the mob to kill Jeremiah for daring to prophecy in the name of God that punishment was coming. Some righteous officers defend Jeremiah, and they quote other prophets who have delivered the same message in the name of God. Ultimately, Jeremiah's life was spared, but his message went ignored by the masses.
The cycle continues, nations respond to violence with violence, and no one learns the lessons that God is trying to teach. God tells Jeremiah,
"Take this cup of wine, the wine that represents my wrath, and give it to the nations of the world to drink." Justice will come to all, there is going to be no escape from the anger of God.
"I have been saying these prophecies for 23 years and you still aren't listening!" says Jeremiah. Since you still won't change your ways, Babylon will come and destroy you and all your friends and allies. However, the cycle of history will go on. Babylon's cruelty will also be repaid. After 70 years they will get punished too. Until all the nations of the world learn to stop the cycle of violence, God's cycle of punishments will not stop.
God shows Jeremiah two baskets of figs, one basket is full of fresh juicy figs, and the other are shriveled and rotten. The people of Judah who go into exile in babylon, and return to God with full hearts, will one day come back and reestablish their kingdom in Jerusalem under God. The one's who still loook to themselves, and to other nations for help and refuse to mend their ways, will end up like the shriveled figs.
Don't think that God doesn't concern Himself with the affairs of mankind. The creator of everything also knows everything, and He expects that we behave appropriately. Don't call God's expectations a burden! He is asking for truth and justice. These are not a burden, they are our mission upon this world.
God lashes out against the leadership who failed to lead the people justly. the Kings, the false "prophets" and the priests, all led the people astray. One day, God declares, I will appoint leaders to lead my flock back to their land. Leaders who will rule with justice and righteousness.
The Kings of Judah won't listen to Jeremiah and the message of God. Thus God declares that this will be the end of the dynasty of David. These Kings will not have descendents worthy of the throne of David.
Jeremiah preaches to the King of Judah. It is only by establishing justice, ending oppression, protecting the widow and the orphan, this is how to ensure the future of the Kingdom of Judah. Do this, and the Kingdom will be saved. Continue your corruption, and prayer will not save you.
In desperation, despite ignoring his message for years, King Zedekiah turns to the prophet for help. He asks for prayers from the prophet to save them from the Babylonians, hoping for divine intervention. God responds that the only divine intervention he can expect is retribution for their misdeed and punishment and defeat. God advises the people to flee for their lives, but for the leadership God has a different message. If you want to prevent the coming catastrophe, establish justice, end oppression. Prayer is not what I am looking for.
Jeremiah is flogged and put into the stocks for preaching about injustice and violence. The pain and suffering becomes unbearable for Jeremiah. Going back and forth between faith and despair, we feel the prophet as he struggles with his fate.
God ignores Jeremiah's pleading to punish his tormentors, and instead gives him another thankless task. Smash a bottle in the Valley of ben-Hinnom, and prophecy again about the coming destruction.
God asks Jeremiah to observe a potter at work. Just as the potter decides when and how to break and refashion his pots, so can I God decide when to build and when to destroy. It depends on you though, says God. I can decree destruction, and if the people improve their ways I can build instead. However I can also declare success, and if the people turn to evil I will destroy instead. Despite this message, the people refuse to change. Instead the plot against the prophet, who just won;t stop rebuking them. Jeremiah prays that God take vengeance against those who plot to kill him.
Jeremiah prays that God demonstrate His justice, save me from my enemies! I am suffering for You God, I didn't want this mission!" God responds by giving Jeremiah another thankless mission. Go warn the people to honor the Sabbath! If they can do that, maybe they will be saved.
The sins of Judah are so ingrained that the punishment is inevtiable, as if they were engrained in tablets of iron. However, there is justice in God. have faith in God, and abandon faith in human beings and their arrogance. Only then will you flourish like a tree next to a stream. The true hope of Israel lies in God alone.
God commands Jeremiah not to marry, not to have a family, not to mourn the dead or celebrate with the living. The destruction is coming, and your life must reflect the life of someone who knows the terrible events that are about to happen. When this suffering is over, and one day it will be, people will be astounded that God could bring the people back to their land. Even more astounded than the world was after the exodus from Egypt. Completely exhausted and exasperated, the prophet realizes that his only happiness comes from his only true refuge, God Himself.
Jeremiah is exhausted, abused, and is almost ready to give up. He gets angry with God, and God guarantees his safety from his persecuters.
God declares that even if the great Moses and Samuel were praying for the people, they could not avert the decree of destruction. God then laments the destruction, He must do it, but it is oh so painful.
Famine and drought strike the land, and the people pray, but God won't listen anymore. They have passed the "point of no return". God instructs the prophet not to pray, but he prays anyway.
The prophet warns the people that the coming suffering will be overwhelming like aa intoxicated drunkenness. Jeremiah begs the people to please humble themselves before God and mend their ways before its too late. He then turns to the Kings and nobles and blames them for their failed leadership.
God asks Jeremiah to buy a linen belt, and neglect it and let it rot. The belt was a symbol of strength, but when neglected it became rotten and useless. So to the once proud people of Israel. They neglected to listen to God, and they lost their purpose.
Jeremiah , upon hearing of the plot to kill him, gets angry with God. Why do You allow evil to prosper like this? First he asks God to destroy the evildoers, but then the prophet argues out loud. Why all of this destruction? Why did you let them propser and become so evil? God responds, I love My people, it is they who deviated from the path I laid out for them. I will therefore hand them over to their enemies, but know this: The people who make Israel suffer will have their day of reckoning as well. If they learn My ways they will be a part of the redemption, if not, they will be erased.
God reminds the people of the covenant He made with them when they were freed from Egypt. It was a two way deal, and the people haven't held up their end of the bargain. We also learn of the conspiracies of the people to murder the prophet Jeremiah. Easier to get rid of the messenger than to take heed of his painful message.
God's anger is imminent, the trouble is coming from babylon. Please God don;t allow Your wrath to consume us. Act with justice, and we deserve punishment, but we arent ALL bad. Turn your wrath against those who are too arrogant to ever call out Your name. They cause indiscriminate suffering, God however acts with justice.
God tells the circumcized Jews that it is not the physical circumcision that matters, but the purity of heart. The prophet then ridicules the folly of those who create an idol and then worship it and invent narratives and philosophies that are meaningless. The true God created us, not vice versa. He is all powerful, and cannot be compared to anything else in the world.
The prophet describes a society so full of corruption that one cannot even trust his own family. Backstabbing and slander have become a way of life. This God cannot stand for. God makes it very clear what He wants; justice, kindess, righteousness.
The prophet mourns over the destruction to come. The people are in despair, and the destruction decreed by God is inevitable.
God asks us, "Don't people get up after they fall? Why can't my people change their ways after they made mistakes?" The laws God gives are laws that are natural, a corrupt society will fail, just as birds know their seasons, My people should know how to behave. So why do they persist and refuse to admit their mistakes?
Prayer without any self improvement is disgusting to God. God tells us, "I am not interested in your prayers if you continue to live corrupt lives. When I took you out of Egypt, it was to create a special bond of holiness between us, I wanted you to go in my ways and live holy lives. I was never interested in your sacrifices. Take the meat and eat it youselves!"
This is just a house, God says of the Temple. Don;t think you can come in here and pray and be saved from your sins if you don't make an effort to change your ways and live proper lives. If you won't do justice for the less fortunate, don't come in here to pray.
You had so many ways to learn the right path, but you chose not to listen. God turns to the nations of the world, indeed to all of nature. Why am I punishing the people who "worship" Me? Because the worship of fancy incense and sacrifices is not the type of worship I want. If you can't get rid of your impurities, your talebearing and your dishonesty, then to Me you are like silver that connot be purified. such people, I will reject.
The prophet is exhausted. No one listens, no one pays any attention. Destruction is coming, and the people continue to pretend that there is nothing wrong. When people aren't even ashamed of their corrupt, lying ways, there is no hope left for change.
The people have been so convinced by the false prophets that everything was going to be OK, that when the punishment comes, they will exlaim, "Why?" So God tells the prophet to explain very clearly why, so they have no excuse. You are full of corruption, abuse of the poor, lying and stealing. Now that you know why you are getting punished, the prophet challenges the people, "What are you going to do about it?"
God challenges the prophet to find even one man who seeks justice and trustworthiness. Sadly, there are none. The people just won't listen, nothing will turn them back to God. If no one can save the people, not even Jeremiah himself, then God will unleash a mighty and powerful nation to come and destroy Judah.
In an ongoing discussion between God and His prophet, Jeremiah sees destruction, and God explains why it has to be. In one astounding statement, called castigates His people for being foolish.
God, and then the prophet himself beseech the people to mend their ways to prevent the coming destruction. There is still a chance if you stop listening to the false prophets who tell you that everything will be fine. You must actually improve your ways to come back to God. If you do, you will be a source of justice and righteousness for the entire world to follow. If you don't, the the destroyers of nations will come to destroy instead of build.
God gave the people of Israel the land of Israel in the hopes that they would turn to Him. Instead, they were embarrassed and ashamed, and they looked everywhere else except to God. God begs them to come back, be proud of your special heritage, turn back to Me, I will heal you.
The Northern kingdom has been destroyed, but God tells his prophet to ask the remnants of the people to come rejoin their brothers in Judah. My divorce was not final! But the people of Judah did not learn the lessons they should have from what happened to their Northern brothers, they continued to live in hypocrisy. However, one day, the entire world will learn of God, the entire world will shed their hypocrisy and serve God together.
God compares His relationship to the people of Israel to that between a husband and wife. If the wife rebels and then goes to another, can she ever come back? God points out to the people that they CAN reconcile, if only they recognize their evil ways. Without this, He will not wait forever.
God continues to critcize the people of Israel for constantly looking everywhere except to God. Imitating the evil ways of their neighbors to try and gain their favor, instead of pride in themselves and the true God. Worst of all, they still refuse to admit they've done anything wrong.
God continues to lament how His children, the one's He treated so well, have now rebelled against him. Now God has unleashed the roaring lions of Assyria, Egypt and others against them. Your prayers and repentance will not help you if you don't recognize your sins first. stop running aimlessly like a young untrained camel. Think about your ways, and then return to Me.
God recalls the youthful passion with which the covenant between God and His people was made. Unfortunately, the people did not appreciate God, and instead of seeking closeness with God, they turned to worship worthless and useless gods. All the nations of the world appreciate theior unique traditions and what makes them special, but the poeple of Judah, who have the most special heritage of all, traded it for nothing. It is a double evil, you didn't appreciate Me, and then you turned elsewhere.
God gives jeremiah his first vision, an almond branch and a burning cauldron. I am serious about this, and it is coming soon from the North. A disaster is about to befall the people, and they are not going to like your message. Don't be afraid, I will be with you, God promises Jeremiah. However, your task will not be easy.
Jeremiah's call to prophecy. I have known you since before you were born, says God to Jeremiah. You have what it takes to be a prophet to the nations of the world. So don't be afraid, remember that I will be with you, and speak My words to the people.
We introduce the prophet Jeremiah, a prophet of resilience, hope, love for his people and devotion. Although he is known for his prophecies of destruction, he is most remarkable for his never ending devotion to his mission and God. He represents the moments of despair that we all feel when we see failure and suffering, but only those who follow in his path get up and keep on going. Jeremiah logically follows Zephaniah who was both his contemporary, and also likely his mentor.
God turns to Israel and promises that He will bring them back to Jerusalem, but He will rid the people of the arrogant and dishonest among them. Israel will be a humble, modest and honest nation. A nation so beloved by the nations of the world, that all will look to Israel and declare their love for their God and accept Him as their God as well. "Don't be afraid anymore," they will say, "God is with you."
God criticizes the leaders of Jerusalem for their corruption, and how they used the Torah as a way to oppress the poor. Then he turns towards the nations of the world, and laments, "if only you would have listened to my messages, I would've have loved to give you all the rewards I had saved up for you. But now I have to punish you", says God. However, one day all of the nations of the world, even the far flung countries, will all join together shoulder to shoulder and call in God's name.
Zephaniah warned us that the day of God's judgement is coming, so he now beseeches all the nations of the world, "Get Yourselves together before it's too late!" God's judgement is coming, but there is still time to save yourselves. Be humble, be just, stop scoffing at the humble nations around you. Then every country can worship God, even from faraway lands.
The prophet continues to describe the destruction coming from God due to the people's corruption. God will search the streets to find everyone hiding, there will be no escape. No amount of gold and silver will save you from God's wrath.
When God gathers everyone close for judgement, it doesn't bode well for the transgressors. He will zero in on you, there is no escape. Ultimately, it is dishonesty and oppression of others that will get you into trouble.
Habakkuk compares the awe and trembling of the righteous man to the awe of nature before God. The mountains, the rivers and the sea, the sun the moon and the sky, all tremble before God. But they are not the recipients of God's wrath. Only the evil nations and the tormentors of the poor are the recipients of God's anger. God comes to destroy evil and liberate the righteous. God's weapons are perfect and exact. So yes we may tremble as do the mountains, but we can still rejoice when we are afraid, because it is God who is coming to save us.
Habakkuk is terrified of God's answer to the prophet's demand for immediate justice, and begs Him to find mercy in His times of anger. The prophet notes that true justice cannot come anywhere, until it comes everywhere. I credit the title of this podcast of course to Martin KLuther King.
God answers but also doesn't answer the prophet. He points out that there is some justice built into the system which isn't so obvious, but ultimately we can never fully see justice until the day God reveals it. Before God, there is only silence, we need to stay strong and wait for the answers.
Habakkuk demands an answer from God, I will stand here until You explain Yourself! God reassures the prophet that one day God will reveal the answer to the world. One day it will all make sense. But the humble will have to have faith in God and wait. Only the humble though can have faith and live righteously, the arrogant will always demand answers now. However the people can and will rise against the oppressor. This is the cycle of the political world. Injustice can only last so long until the people take it into their own hands.
After God's answer to Habbakuk about justice, habbakuk does not like what he hears! If they are coming to punish, how do You God allow them to indiscrimately destroy other human beings like fish! Why don"t they discern between the innocent and guilty? Is this justice?
We introduce the prophet Habakkuk, who prophesied during the time of the ascendency of the babylonian kingdom. Challenging God, he asks, why do you stand by and watch while the evil make the righteous suffer? The prophet may not like God's answer.
When the nation treats other nations with lies and deceipt, that will soon enough become the way people within the kingdom treat each other. Nahum describes how assyria would lure other nations in with false promises like a sorcerer smiles at his/her victim, but then when entrapped they plunder and kill. For this, the nation of assyria will meet it's end, and noone will care.
Look to the mountains, as the messenger is arriving with wonderful news! Your oppressor, Nineveh, has been destroyed and you can now rebuild and celebrate. The prophet describes the destruction of Assyria. The people who tore up the world and killed and crushed the other nations and stole their wealth, the "den of lions" will no longer perpetrate his evil destruction on other peoples.
Micah prays to God, shpherd your people and lead them back to psture in their ancient lands. Show the world how you are not like other false gods. You forgive, you are patient, and you do not hold on to Your anger forever. Show the peoples of the world to no longer remain in their fortresses of war, but to learn to fear God Himself. Bring truth to the promises You have made.
The prophet laments the lack of honesty and integrity in his generation. Like a harvester of figs that can find no ripe fruit to pick, there are no honest and trustworthy people anymore. All levels of leaderrship are corrupt, and people can't even trust their closet friends and family. But I the prophet will trust in God. He will bring be out of the darkness. So to the people of Israel, though they may go through dark times, God will bring them to light as well.
God calls Israel to court, "What wrong have I done?" "I took you out of Egypt, I saved you from Balak," shouldn't the people have some gratitude? It is not gifts of sacrifices though that i want from you, but justice, kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah describes the humility of the original King David and his origins. This is why I chose them to be the leaders in the days of the Messiah. The Jewish people scattered among the nations will be as dew and rain that brings the message of God to all the nations. Those that try to resist and refuse to humble themselves before God will be destroyed, while those that learn of God will be redeemed.
In a prophecy very reminiscent of his contemporary prophet Isaiah, Micah tells us of the day in the future that God will once again reign supreme. The nations of the world will come to Zion to learn His ways, and world peace will be established. We will beat our swords into plowshares, and justice will be the rule of the land. The nations that gloat now over Israel;s destruction don't understand God's ways, but one day they will come to know God. The knigdom of David will be reestablished in Zion.
Micah turns his attention to the corrupt leadership. It is your responsibility to know true justice, he tells them. Instead of justice, you are full of bribery and deceipt, and you take advantage of those who need justice the most. The corruption includes all levels of leadership, the false prophets who promise good fortunes in return for donations, and the priests who teach "torah" for a fee. It is because of this corrupt leadership that Jerusalem will fall.
Premeditated and planned oppression of others is the worst form of sin. God has no patience for this. You won't listen to my true prophets, and you mock them, but liars and arrogant people you listen to.
Micah, the prophet from Maresha echos the prophecies of his contemporaries Hosea and Isaiah as he predicts the destructiuon of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. The children of Jacob have sinned, and God's wrath will descend upon them.
Obadiah tells of the arrogance of Edom, their pride and refusal to recognize God. He tells of their refusal to help their brother Israel, and much worse, how they collaberated with Israel's enemies and celebrated the suffering of their brothers. For this reason Edom will be destroyed, their pride will be struck down. One day, the Jeiwsh people will return to Zion, and Edom and all the other nations who refuse to humble themselves before God will be destroyed.
Some traditions regarding who the prophet Obadiah was, and why he focused his prophecy against the nation of Edom. Why Edom? So many prophets singled out the treachery and evil of the people of Edom. In this introduction we trace the history of Esau's descendents and their enmity with the people of Israel. Their philosophical differences, their jealousy, and their constant fighting despite being the people closest to Israel ethnically and culturally.
The chapter starts with the frightening and total destruction coming to the people. No matter where you run, God will find you. But the punishment will never be total, God promises. The people will survive, and the righteous will return one day to rebuild the land.
Amos is shown a vision of a basket of figs, the end of summer fruit. This is a vision of the days at the end of times God says, when I will no longer look past the sins of the people. Oppression of the poor, taking advantage of the underprivileged, this will not be tolerated or overlooked. The very land itself cannot tolerate the lack of justice. The days will come when the land will be overcome with a terrible hunger and thirst, but not for food or water, but thirst for the truth of God. People will wander and search for truth but they won't find it in their wanderings. God is right there inside our hearts, we need not exhaust ourselves searching to the ends of the Earth to find Him.
The High Priest reports the "rebellious" Amos to the King, and tries to banish Amos from the kingdom. Amos is not afraid, my message is from God, not from me, as I am just a humble shepherd. If you don't take heed to God's message, you will suffer the unfortunate consequences.
God shows Amos two visions of utter destruction, locusts and fure, but the prophet's prayer saves the people. Then God shows Amos a vision of measured justice, and appears as a worker constructing a wall with a plumb line. Measured justice will have to come, a constructive justice meant to build the nation, instead of destroy it.
God asks the people of Israel, look at the other nations, are you any better than they? You are living a lifestyle of luxury, which was obtained through injustice and oppression. You are not acting like the first among nations, rather you have turned yourselves into a corrupt and immoral society. As such I have no reason to treat you any different than the others.
The path to God includes two steps, a demonstration of remorse for the evil ways, and a committment to the path of God. But the path of God is not a path of prayer, sacrifices and rituals. Not even songs and gatherings for God and holidays. Rather, what God wants is for justice and righteousness to pour in torrents, this is what God has always wanted from His people.
The people have fallen to the point where they can no longer help themselves, they can no longer repair their corruption on their own. But if they seek God, love good, hate evil, establish justice and righteousness, there is hope for them to reestablish their relationship with God.
The people rebelled out of arrogance when God gave them everything, so He tried to punish them. They still did not listen, so He made it worse and worse. Nothing worked, they still turned away. God sarcastically tells them to go ahead and worship their idols, but warns of the inevitable consequences. The prophets ends by beseeching the people, please prepare ypourselves to meet God. The way you treat Him, will be the way He treats you.
The special nature nature of the relationship between God and His people brings special responsibilities. Any relationship requires give and take, and has ups and downs. We must read the signs that abound in the world around us and recognize their lessons and their meaning. A society full of injustice and repression will nnot last, the enemies understand this, so the people should understand this too.
Amos continues his critique of the societies around him and focuses closer to home. The corruption of money over justice, bribery over righteousness, lies over truth, and disrespect for God's laws. this will lead to the destruction iof Israel and Judah.
We are introduced to one of the early prophets, a humble shpherd from Tekoa. God is patient, but some things are unforgiveable. Five things are unforgiveable for God; Humiliating others, making them suffer more than necessary, being ungrateful, acting out of anger, and acting selfishly. You can make mistakes a few times, but once they become ingrained in a society, it becomes impossible to cleanse.
Time for judgement for the nations of the world. God teases the nations, "Come to the valley of judgement with your weapons and swords!" But this will clearly be of no help when the judge is God Himself. The truly innocent will be exonerated, the wriongs of histiory will be righted, and God will reign in Zion.
Once the people join together before God, the spirit of God will pour upon all living beings. all classes of society will be prophets. No longer will there be any divisions. Unfortunately though, before that day, there will be a reckoning for those who are too arrogant to call in the name of God.
Joel describes the natural disaster as if an enemy army was conquering the land, but despite the destruction, there is hope. Joel instructs the people to rend their hearts, return to God, and pray together. In their hearts the people will find the right path as God has given them a teacher of righteousness. The people will prosper once again, the nation will be saved.
We start a new book of Joel, in which Joel responds to a terrible natural disaster, a plague of locusts that has devastated the entire population. Unity among the classes, approaching God together, is the response prescribed by the prophet. Notably, the prophet refuses to blame wrongdoers or anyone for the calamity, rather he asks everyone to come together before God and pray.
In the stirring final chapter of Hosea's prophecies, we learn of God's eternal love for His people. return to me, as my anger has subsided. My Love for you is generous, be wise, and return to God. It is your deeds and words I am looking for, not your sacrifices and gold and silver. If only we understood this ...
Ephraim stepped up to lead Israel, but led the Northern tribes in exactly the wrong direction. God's anger with the people is vicious, "Let your kings lead you now!," says God. Through God's benevoleance, they grew wealthy, but then they used that wealth to rebel. Worshipping yourselves is what idol worship is. It is worship of wealth, power, and meaningless forms,
God continues to lament the deceiptful behavior of Israel, and asks them to be more like their ancestor Jacob. He fought with the angel, overcame obstacles, and came closer to God. However, you think you can accomplish everything by ignoring God, deceiving others, and making false alliances. The path is easy though, Kindness, Justice, and trust in God is all you really need.
In a stirring prophecy, God remembers His love for His child Israel, and laments how Israel went astray. However giod does not want to destroy them, and promises that one day He will roar like a lion and they will fiollow Him back to their land.
God bemoans the people that had so so much potential, and they squandered it. Like two beautiful oxen, the people came to the lanbd of Israel. God directed them to plow righteosuness, to sow kondness, to seek God and bring Justice. But in their arrogance they instead ploughed corruption, lies and deceipt.
"Do not celebrate with the corrupt and immoral nations with whom you have associated yourselves," the prophet begs Israel. How tragic it is that after abandoning God for immorality, you will no longer be able to enjoy the beauty of celebrating with God on His holidays.
God tells Israel, I taught you my Torah, I am here for you, but instead you look everywhere else. even when you turn to me, you do it with useless sacrifices.
Hosea continues to criticze the people for their lies and deceipt, their pretending to be righteous and the corruption of their leaders. He compares the people of Israel to a baker who prepares his flames and his ovens and then presents it to the people only when it is ready to bake. so to the people in private they sin and lie and steal, but in public they present themselves as if they are righteous. He also compares them to a lost dive who cannot find her way home, and a cake that no one turned so it is useless, burnt on the bottom, and uncooked on top.
Hosea beseeches the people to turn to God for help, as God is the One who brings the suffering, He is the one who can heal it. What does God want? Kindness and knowledge of God. As simple as that. But the people have chosen to follow their corrupt leaders to dishonesty and depravity.
The people of Israel are so entrapped by their arrogance and corruption, that they will not listen to rebuke. Always looking in the wrong places for help, never listenming to those who would teach them the right path. One day God says, they will finally turn to Me and I will listen then.
God has a problem with the people of Israel. When there is no hinesty, no kindness, and no knowledge, all that is left is arrogance and corruption. When people are arrogant, thgey will no longer listen to rebuke. Sadly God says, when they are this depraved, we will have to leave them to their idols.
God advises Hosea , as the bond of love between you and your wife remains, recommit yourselves deespite the unfaithfulness. Sometimes there needs to be a period of seperation to rebuild the trust and faith that a relationship requires. As long as the love remains string. So to the people of israel will have atime of exile, but the essential love between God and His people remain, and the physical seperation will end.
In one of the most beautifully written prophecies, God "seduces" his unfuathul wife, Israel, and brings them back to Him. No longer will God be viewed as a burden, but the love of their youth shall return. God will restore nature to its pristine, peaceful state, and all war will end. God will then betroth the entire world with a relationship based on Justice, righteousness, Kindness, and Mercy.
The prophet starts by telling the people what they CAN be, if only they cooperate together. But God berates the nation for turning to all of her other "lovers" while abandoning God Himself.
We are introduced to the prophet Hosea, who was a contemporary of the more famous prophet Isaiah. However, Hosea mostly directed his prophcies to the people of the northern kingdom of Israel. In a most unusual discussion, God directs Hosea to marry a promiscuous woman named Gomer, and to raise a family with her. He has two sons and a duaghter, and through their names, Hosea delivers an ominous message to the people of the Northern Kingdom.
Boaz proves that he is a man who keeps his word. He redeems the family property, marries Ruth, and restores the family of Naomi to its' land and heritage. Ruth, once a stranger and foreigner who was rebuffed, becomes the matriarch of the Kings of the Jewish people.
Naomi asks Ruth to pull a highly dangerous stunt, fraught with potential problems. Ruth is to sneak up on Boaz in the middle of the night, and ask him to marry her. so many things could've gone wrong, and ruth had the most to lose. However, she obeys her mother-in-law, and Boaz once again proves what a real man he is.
In an extraordinary "coincidence", Ruth goes to glean barley in the fields of Bethlehem, and happens to land in the field of Naomi's relative, Boaz. While the people harvesting barely take notice of this foreign Moabite girl and treat her as an outsider, Boaz recogizes her as a special person who has been through so much in order to join the people of Judah. Boaz asks her to stay in his field and instructs the young men to treat her with respect.
Naomi pushes her daughters-in-law to go back to their families in Moab. Orpah eventually turns around around heads back yo her family, but Ruth stays with Naomi. While Naomi is focused on worldy things such as finding a husband and financial security, Ruth is in it for something more. She is ready to embrace a new identity, a new God, a new people, and a new way of life. Although the people of Judah and Naomi herself seem to ignore her presence entirely, God has other plans for this young woman. Sometimes greatness is right there staring us in the face, but we look right past it at everything else.
In the first portion of this chapter, we read how Elimelech and his family abandoned Judah, and settled in Moab. Disaster strikes the family as all the men die, leaving Naomi and her two Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah bereft of their husbands. They hear good news from Judah, and set out on a journey to return to Judah.
We read how Jonah is so upset that God had mercy upon the enemies of the Jewish people, as he complains that people are never sincere. They repent one day, and then the next they return to their old ways! God send Jonah a message through the Kikayon plant. You are happy with it today, even though tomorrow it will dry up! I, says God, am happy with my children when they deserve it, because they are innocent now and deserve a chance, even if tomorrow they may choose the wrong path again.
After being told a second time by God, Jonah finally goes to Nineveh to carry God's message. The people of Nineveh hear the message and repent of their evil ways, and God's decree of destruction is averted.
Jonah prays to God as he is drowning, and promises to worship God in the Temple. God saves Jonah by sending a fish to swallow him within which he miraculously survives for three days and three nights. Astoundingly, Jonah still does not tell God that he is ready to fulfill the mission upon which God is sending him.
We answer the questions posed in 1a to explain the true message of chapter one of the book of Jonah. We all run from our God given missions and skills and potential. When we don't live the life we could live, everyone around us pays the price
God sends Jonah on a mission, and Jonah runs to Tarshish to avoid doing his calling. God sends a storm and the sailors determine through lots that God is angry with Jonah, and Jonah asks to be thrown in the sea to save the entire ship. The sailors attempt to save the ship without doing what he asked, but ultimately only throwing him into the sea to certain death will save the ship. Many questions arise in this chapter, and we put forth the questions, to be answered in the next podcast.
God again reminds us of the message isaiah started with in chapter one. I am not interested in your sacrifices, your Temples, your worship. I am the creator of everything! What use do I have of your little buildings? I want you to care for the poor, and heal the broken-hearted. I sent out the Jewish people to bring my message to all corners of the Earth, and I will bring all nations together, indeed, all living flesh to worship together peacefully in Jerusalem.
God responds to Isaiah's prayer. It is not My fault that the people didn't listen to Me. i came but they did not want me, I called out to them but they did not answer! However, God says that He will still redeem the people, He will never forget His children, and redemption shall come.
Isaiah continues the prayer to God he began in chapter 63. God, you chose to hide Yourself and make us suffer all these years, is it any wobder that the people have turned away from You? Isaiah begs God to bring back the days when His justice was apparent to all, and end the anger and punishment that has gone on for too long.
Isaiah has a vision of God returning from punishing the nations that refused to give up their arrogant ways. It is a scary vision of God in blood-soaked military clothing, but one that reflects the punishment of the haughty about which we have been warned. Isaiah then describes the difficult relationship between God and the Jewish people. God's loving kindness and miraculous salvation, unfortunately followed by the people's lack of appreciation, and then many years of difficult suffering. Isaiah then prays to God to end His silence, and bring about the redemption He has promised.
Isaiah declares that he will never stop demanding of God that Zion and Jerusalem be rebuilt as promised. He will never stop until Zion becomes the beacon of Justice that God had declared. In a dramatic speech, he then beseeches the Jewish people to never ever give up on demanding that god fulfill His promise, and that should never stop working to rebuild Zion.
Isaiah speaks of his pride and good fortune to have been chosen by God to bring the news of peace and redemption to the world
God speaks to Zion and declares that all of the nations of the world that are ready to change their evil ways will come to serve God in Jerusalem. The light of God will shine upon all. No longer will there be dishonesty in Jerusalem, and the riches of the world will be devoted to the service of God.
Isaiah berates the people for their dishonesty, and their taking advantage of others. When God comes and checks on His people, He finds that no one is standing up for truth! So God Himself has to step in and bring the redemption, but only to those who get His message and repent of their dishonest ways.
This chapter is read in the synagogue on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, on the fast of yom Kippur. God tells us what he really wants from us. Not to fast and cry and pray, if we do all that but continue to ignore the plight of the poor, the hungry, and the homeless, then all our supplications are useless. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and then you will light the rold with righteousness, and God will be with you. Spend the Shabbat with God, spend His day and seek pleasure in Him, and you will inherit the bounty promised to your forefathers.
God criticizes the selfish ones who think that there is no gain in beung faithful. Don't we all die anyway? He compares the people who stray to an unfaithful spouse, one who seeks out the approval of everyone else other than her own spouse. So are the people who look to other powers for support instead of God. "I will not be angry forever!," says God, "I have seen your ways and I want to heal you!"
God tells the childless and the convert, My house is for all the nations. anyone who pursues Justice, lives righteously, and keeps my sabbath and my covenant is welcome is my home. The chapter also ends with a rebuke of those selfish ones who don't get the message, who seek their own pleasure, and eat and drink instead of act appropriately toward their fellow.
In one of the most famous chapters in the book of Isaiah, the prophet beseeches us to repent, to come back to God with sincerity and truth. My ways are not like your ways, I can forgive, i will have mercy on those who turn to Me.
God reassures Zion once again that all her children will come home. Zion will be populated by righteous people and no longer suffer shame.
The people's of the world now stand at the time of redemption, and they look back at the long and difficult exile of the Jewish people. The people have suffered and bore th brunt of the sins of the world, but they remained faithful to God and they still brought redemption to the nations of the world. How could this be? How could the innocent have suffered? How is it that despite the suffering they briought us peace and redemption instead of revenge and destruction?
In this podcast, we develop the sources in the boom of Isaiah that support the eight ideas expressed in the first part of our introduction to Isaiah 53.
The first part of our introduction to Isaiah chapter 53. We explain the 8 ideas that Isaiah has been teaching us that are crucial to understanding the message and ideas expressed in Isaiah 53.
- The nations of the world are guilty of oppressing the people of Israel more than they deserved. God did exile the people and allow the oppression to occur, but it was the choice of the people to oppress the Jews.
- When judgement arrives, the nations that chose to oppress the Jewish people, and indeed the nations and leaders who chose to oppress all peoples will suffer for their choice
- God makes it extremely clear, that when the Jews were made to suffer exile, it was because of their own sins, not because of the sins of anyone else
- When judgement comes, the arrogant nations that still refuse to humble themselves before God, and still refuse to treat others with Justice and righteousness, will be humbled and destroyed.
- When judgement comes, the nations who "get the message" and choose to humble themselves before God, and to cease oppressing others and act kindly towards the oppressed, these people will be redeemed.
- The nations of the world never understood that God's ways and God's justice is something we cannot understand. We can question it, but we cannot understand it. The fact that someone suffers, does not mean that they are guilty, the facte that someone prospers, does not mean that they are righteous.
- The term "My servant" in Isaiah, refers to the people of Israel
- The people of Israel are charged with bringing this message to all of the nations of the world. Through the people of Israel, by teaching the world of these ideas, the entire world will be redeemed.
The people of Israel bring their message of peace, joy and redemption to Zion and Jerusalem. The news of peace and redemption reverberates to the ends of the Earth. No longer will evil and arrogant people be free to destroy, mock, and oppress the people of God.
God declares, as i asked you to comfort Zion, I will be the One who comforts you! With knowledge of My strength and support, you can convey this message to Jerusalem: No longer shall you drink the cup of suffering and torment, as God is bringing your children back, and the cup of torment will be passed to your tormentors to drink.
In this portion, Isaiah beseeches God. You God created the tormentors of israel and the beasts that cause suffering. Please God, Wake up! wake up! and redeem them like You did in the days of old.
Isaiah begs the people to listen, and asks them to look back at their past. As Abraham and Sarah were unique in their day, so to are God's faithful people today. Don't be afraid because you are alone. Just as God was with them, He is with you.
In this chapter, Isaiah reminds us how God gave him the gift to speak like the angels, and that God warned him that the people would not listen. Nonetheless, Isaiah carried on with the message God commanded him to convey to the people, despite much abuse and personal hardship. I did what I was told to do, Isaiah says, it is your job to listen.
Zion cries that she has been forgotten, and bereft of her children. God reassures Zion that she will never be forgotten. Her children will return, and indeed they will bring along the nations of the world to populate Jerusalem and worship the One God together.
Isaiah describes again the process of redemption and the sepcial role of the Chosen people. God redeems His chosen, and through their redemption follows the redemption of all oppressed peoples. Then, and only then will the mountains rejoice in song, and thirst and hunger will no longer afflict the poor.
The people of Israel address the nations of the world. Yes, we were God's people from the beginning. However, God told us that it is not enough for Him to take us under His wings and restore our honor, He had something much bigger in mind. God took us under His wings so that we should be a light until the nations, so that His Deliverance will permeate all of His creation.
God continues to address the Jewish people. If only you had listened to Me the whole time, you would have had everlasting peace. My teachings were for your benefit. I have been there for you this whole time, and I will be here for you forever.
God speaks to the outwardly pious but inwardly hypocritical people and explains why in the "old days" He used to predict and perform miracles, but now He chooses to teach us faith and trust in God through trials and suffering. Knowing the future may not be the best path to leading a righteous life.
The Babylonian princess, representative of all the powerful nations that think that through might, wealth, power and greed they will last forever, learn their fate. Their magicians, sorcerers, stargazers and shamans will be useless when true judgement comes.
The believers in idols find no solace in their gods when suffering comes. In fact, their gods become burdens, their gold and silver cannot help them. However, faith in God is different, God carries us, we are His burden. He sustains us and brings deliverance, His plans are forever.
God tells the entire world to come, listen, ask questions, and "talk among themselves". My Teachings say God, are not meaningless. They are purposeful, true and forever.
God promises us that His anointed one, Messiah himself, will bring about redemption through justice, not war. The hidden secrets and the treasure of knowledge will be revealed to him. God is the only creator, both good and evil were created by God. There is none other beside Him.
In chapter 44, God reassures the Jewish people that He can be relied upon to fulfill His promises, as only He is God. Other idols and ideologies are only human creations and thus have no power at all, certainly not to promise or predict the future. Isaiah then boldly prophecies about the future King Cyrus and his rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Here God reveals that no matter how bad the suffering, He will always protect His people. In a remarkable turn, God promises all the peoples if the world that they are His. He will redeem them from their oppressors.
The fulfillment of Isaiah's mission comes full circle. It was his job to teach the Jewish people, to show them the path, despite the fact that they would make themselves blind and deaf to his message. Now God will finally bring them along the path of redemption and show them the way. But not without a lot of suffering and screaming, like a baby born in pain and screaming, so will it be with the ultimate redemption.
God addresses His servant Israel and describes how he is to bring his Torah, his justice. his righteousness to all the nations of the Earth. In what is perhaps the clearest and most detailed explanation of Isaiah's philosophy regarding the task of the Jewish people, it is describes here how the goal is to bring God's message to all of the ends of the Earth.
Judgement day is here. God wants to know, did you establish nations and ideas that fed the poor? Took care of the needy? Respect my beautiful world? Or did your systems bring about corruption? God declares, only I have been here from the beginning, I have predicted this from the start. The message I taught to Israel at SInai, at Zion, and at Jerusalem, only that message has been timeless and true.
God calls out to the people of the world. Gather together all of you! It is time to come to God as He dispenses His judgement. The Jewish people are afraid, could it be that we have lost our special relationship with God? God reassures them, no, I have always been there for you and I always will be. Those that made you suffer will be punished, and your special role in spreading my justice is always precious to Me.
In this second part of chapter 40, Isaiah deals with some of the most fundamental questions of religion and belief in God. Why bother having faith if we don't see justice? Why should I go on in life if we all die anyway? Why does God sometimes punish and sometimes reward? Why would such a great and powerful behind even care about one small human being? Does He even care about little me?
Yeshayahu does not despair when Hezekiah fails to be the redeemer he had hoped for. Rather, he turns to people and tells them that they themselves can and will be the comforters. They just need to heed the message of God.
In this introduction to what is sometimes called Isaiah 2, we discuss the question of authorship of the second half of thos book. We take the approach that the similarity of style and the consistency of the messages in both halves indicate the unity of authorship of this book. However, as the book was not written by Isaiah himself, over time there were various additions of verses here and there that were added to reference events that were more current.
In a tragic moment, the King Hezekiah fails to understand the message of Isaiah, as he seeks an alliance with the Kingdom of Babylon. This failure leads to the prophecy of Isaiah that one day the Kingdom of Judah will fall to Babylon.
In this podcast we complete Chapter 37, and then study the account of the illness of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was on his deathbed, and God answered his prayer and gave him 15 more tears of life. However, Hezekiah thanked God with a beautiful song of thanks for his own salvation. but neglected his duty as King to the people of Judah. He failed to sing a song of thanks to God for the salvation of the people, and neglected to establish the Justice and Righteousness that Isaiah had so fervently hoped for.
Hezekiah prays to God to save Jerusalem. You God are the one and only God, not like the false gods of the other nations. God responds that the Assyrians will be sent right back to Assyria and that they won't even be able to shoot one arrow at Jerusalem.
Assyria conquers most of Judah and lays it to waste. King Hezekiah and the people of Judah retreat behind the walls of the capital Jerusalem as the mighty Assyrian Army lays a siege. Rav-shakeh the turncoat Jew who now leads the Assyrian Army tries to convince the population of Jerusalem that their attempt to defy Assyria will be futile and surrender is the only way. The people of Jerusalem are shaken and afraid but they remain loyal to God.
Through the beautiful trees and blossoms and animals of nature, a path to Zion opens up. The just and righteous people of the world follow the path to Zion in song. Worry and anxiety are things of the past, as the world turns to God in joy.
Isaiah describes how when humanity is corrupt, God gives his cities back to nature. Listen carefully! He tells the nations of the world, if you continue to live unjust and corrupt lives, your cities will revert to trees and flower and the birds and animals of the wilderness.
Isaiah tells us who will survive the apocalypse and live in the future? Those that are honest. just, righteous and kind will live with God. Those that worked through the hard times and kept faith. But those who took advantage of others when they had their chance, those people will perish.
Isaiah turns to the women he can trust. The women who will remain faithful and strong through the good times and the bad, until that day when God finally ends the suffering and brings joy back to the land.
Isaiah tells us about the King who rules with justice, and he describes the qualities necessary for a good government.
Isaiah continues to chastise the people for relying upon the human power of Egypt. The horses and chariots that appear to be powerful are still only manifestations of human power which is fickle and just flesh and blood. The power of God though, is wise, just, and forever. Rely upon God, return to Him, and true strength will be yours.
Those who rely on wealth and run away afraid to the "protection" of those who appear powerful will suffer, as Isaiah told us in 30a. But those who rely on God and stay true to the values of the Torah will find themselves at peace. This is the right path, says the prophet, take this path and you will find peace
Isaiah once again reiterates the foreign policy that God wants. Don't ally yourselves with those nations whose values contradict the values that you stand for. Ultimately such alliances will only lead to shame and defeat.
Isaiah teaches us that redemption and true knowledge requires humility, that God does not desire deeds without meaning, and that to understand wisdom, one needs to use his heart.
The scoffers laugh as Isaiah teaches them about Justice and Righteousness. Look at is now! Who are the "leaders" of Jerusalem. Isaiah warns them to listen carefully. What you see now is not what will always be. God will build a tower based of justice and righteousness. But His ways are strange, difficult and impossible for us humans to understand. Isaiah explains with a parable about a farmer.
Isaiah laments how the people just don't listen. They continue walking on the path of destruction and refuse to listen to the words of God. What is left for the prophet to do? He can only try a little lesson here and a little lesson there, and maybe someone will learn.
The evil nations and people are destroyed, the righteous come to Jerusalem and build a new world. On that day, we will see justice.
The Jewish people have suffered so much in exile, but they still turn to God. We are tired, we have suffered, but it is as if nothing changes, just peace is all we ask. God reassures us, just wait in your homes, justice will come.
Isaiah describes the song of rejoicing that will be sung as the gates of Jerusalem will be opened for all the righteous nations to enter. All who have been humbled and ready to learn God's message, all will be welcome in Jerusalem for God's feast.
One day, God will host all of the nations of the world. Sadness and death will be a thing of the past. Pure joy will reign, but the haughty and arrogant will not be invited.
What an amazing feat has God accomplished! Isaiah teaches that only God can destroy evil but still be a shelter for the humble. Only God can bring the haughty to fear Him, and only God can be both awesomely powerful and just as well.
Isaiah describes the justice of the end of times, and cries over the suffering of the wicked. If only they had come back to God instead of rebelling! They shall not be forgotten, so that for all time the lessons will be learned. Justice is what God desires from humanity, and true honor is only for those who are with God.
The world is depressed and desolate as suffering takes over the world, but the far off nations of the sea teach us to sing again. They teach us to sing the songs of God, that our suffering was due to our own transgressions, and that through humility and coming together to worship God we can celebrate together once again.
This is Isaiah's vision of the apocalypse. We introduce the primary ideas of this apocalyptic vision. The first verse of the chapter describe how injustice and arrogance leads to neglect of the Earth itself. When we reject our environment through pride and exploitation, natural disaster will be the result.
Isaiah addresses the people of Tyre. The merchants who achieve their wealth without putting in the hard labor themselves, become arrogant and prideful and amass fortunes on other people's backs. God punishes them until they learn to sing songs of true love, until they learn the true purpose of wealth, to help the needy.
Isaiah turns from criticizing the people and their ignorance of God, and he attacks the arrogance of one of the King's highest officials. There is no place for arrogance in the House of Judah,no place for selfishness. Such officials will suffer ignominy and shame, and be replaced by the righteous and honest leaders who deserve the honor.
Isaiah describes how the people of Judah are supposed to fight and be victorious. Believe in your cause, remember that you are fighting for the Creator. Don't run like cowards, prepare for battle and be strong, and never forget what you represent.
Isaiah turns towards the Arabian desert, where he hears the ultimate question of faith. Where is God during the darkest of times? Isaiah responds that it is OK to ask questions, even questions that have no answers, but what God really wants is our actions. He wants us to be compassionate and treat the needy with respect.
Isaiah continues to turn his attention to the faraway nations of the world. This time he looks to faraway desert sea, the vast stretches of land in the far East, beyond the known civilizations of Elam and Media. Teach the message of God to these people as well, says Isaiah. Set up watchmen and lookouts to confront the wild tribes. and teach them about the God of whom you speak.
In the face of another Assyrian onslaught, the people of Judah once again are making the mistake of reliance upon foreign powers instead of God. God asks Isaiah to perform an unusual and degrading sign in order to teach them the folly of reliance upon human beings.
Isaiah describes how the knowledge of God will spread forth from Judah to the land of Egypt. Egypt finds comfort and strength in God, and the nation of Assyria does the same. All the nations will join together in an alliance together to worship the one God.
The economy of Egypt collapses, the philosophers and old ideas of Egypt fail and the people are in despair. They finally turn to the truth of God, to find out that the truth is comforting, but comes with great responsibility as well.
Isaiah turns his attention to Egypt, the ultimate result of too many gods, is too much strife. The result of too much strife, is cruel leadership. However, it all melts and everything trembles before the one true God.
The burden of bringing God's message must go beyond the known boundaries and known kingdoms. We must sail our ships great distances to the lands hidden in the distance. One day, ALL of the nations of the world will bring tribute to Zion. The message of God will no longer be confined to one small nation.
Isaiah turns his attention to Damascus, the capital of Aram, who made peace with Israel but only for nefarious purposes. Isaiah criticizes them for making an alliance and depending on their strength and power rather than looking to God. The sin of Aram and Israel was to forget the special message of the God of Israel. Pride in yourself is nothing special, so many nations roar like the sea, but Israel and it's TRUE allies should know better. They should be humble and turn their eyes toward their creator.
The people of Mo'av had so many chances to be humble, to give shelter to refugees fleeing violence and oppression. But they chose to neglect their mission and arrogance and pride motivated them instead. So the one's who didn't provide shelter were to become refugees themselves. How sad and how tragic it is, Isaiah laments when those that had the chance to improve refused to learn.
Isaiah brings the message of justice and righteousness to the people of Mo'ab. Embrace your special role and give protection and shelter to those that are fleeing persecution. Then you can avoid the terrible fate that awaits you. But alas, pride and arrogance will once again prevent you from coming under God's wings.
Isaiah describes the terrible suffering of the people of Moab. Cities destroyed The land ruined, their pride torn down. We feel responsible for their suffering and cry with them. Even for our enemies, we do not rejoice in their downfall, we feel for them and try to bring them back to God as well.
God declares that the lessons of the fate of Babylon should be learned by all the nations of the world. Isaiah them turns his attention to the second nation that he will address in this series, the Philistines. When the people of Judah are led by a just and righteous King, and they treat their poor people with dignity, God will finally allow them to defeat the Philistines.
The Kings of Babylon descend to Hell. The hell of humiliation in front of his former victims. People point to them and recognize the justice of the former tyrants and evil leaders suffering the fate of defeat and ignominy.
The people return from Babylon, the ruled become the rulers, and the servants become the masters. The peoples of the world join the Jewish people and support their return to the land. The suffering nations of the world find respite and rejoice.
The Babylonian kingdom will meet a fiery and terrible end, and God explains why. I value human life, says God, but you value Gold and possessions. A society that degrades human beings and does not heed my warnings, will meet its end.
A fulfillment of the dreams and songs of redemption brings along with it a difficult responsibility. We cannot sit back and watch the world around us destroy itself. We must bring the message of God to all nations, even our worst oppressors.
Isaiah describes the ecstasy that will be expressed at the time of ultimate redemption. The new song of redemption replaces the old one that was sung at the splitting of the Red Sea. In this song, the entire world rejoices in God with His nation Israel.
Isaiah describes to us the ingathering of the exiles to rebuild the nation of Judah and Israel. There will be peace among the Jews, and peace between them and the surrounding nations. The entire world will learn and absorb the values of God, peace and justice.
Isaiah prophecies about the days of the Messiah, when knowledge of God fills the land, and justice and righteousness finally eliminates evil and violence. The wolf shall lie with the lamb, and selfishness is gone.
After Isaiah proclaims the destruction of Assyria. he reassures the nation of Judah that the survivors will return to God, and they will reestablish the kingdom of Judah.
The King of Assyria boasts of his strength and his wisdom, but it is truly only arrogance. Can a stick strike without a man swinging it? So too a nation cannot have strength if not for God. Once you take credit for yourself, your fate is sealed in the eyes of God.
Isaiah turns towards the Assyrians, and towards aggressors and conquerors of history. They don't recognize that everyone and every nation is special, all they see are people that they can crush and destroy. If we understand and appreciate the uniqueness of every person and nation and culture, and understand that they all have a place in God's world, we would never set out to destroy others.
Yeshayahu tells us the ultimate test for which societies will forever, and which will fall into the dustbin of history. If there is justice for most vulnerable, that will last forever. If the poor are voiceless and the leadership enriches themselves on the poverty of others, this society is marked for destruction.
The arrogance of the northern Kingdom has reached a point of no return. Total destruction is predicted by Isaiah.
Isaiah predicts the ultimate redemption of Judah from the Assyrians. There is a new king, Hezekiah, who will be faithful to God and lead us to independence from Assyria. He will establish a kingdom of justice and righteousness.
Isaiah is frustrated with the people who just refuse to listen, no matter how obvious it should be. Instead they choose to live and search in the darkness, and rely on sorcery and falsehood instead of God.
God instructs Isaiah not to join in the conspiracies of the crowds. Stay with the truth. Only God holds the truth, safety and refuge are with Him alone.
Isaiah tells the people, there will be much destruction, as God is angry with you for your lack of faith in Him. However, the core of the Jewish people will never be destroyed, as they recognize that Imannu -el. God is with us.
The destruction of Judah will come about during to the arrogance and capitulation of King Ahaz to the Assyrian King. However, God will save the remnant of Judah, and they will enjoy the wonderful bounty that God will bring after he cuts down the King of Assyria and sends his armies back in retreat.
A new approach to Isaiah's prophecy, "a son will be born". Isaiah chastises Ahaz for giving up faith in God and having faith in human power instead. Here Isaiah teaches us that the simple young mother and her baby know more about the strength of the Jewish people that the powerful kings.
In this unusual passage, Isaiah gives King Ahaz a sign, a son will be born, and his name will be Immanuel, "God is with us". A strange prophecy leaves more questions than answers.
Isaiah warns King Ahaz to remember the unique mission of the Jewish nation when considering his foreign policy. Do not form alliances with the enemy, and do not ne afraid of your attackers. They are just human beings that will ultimately fail.
Isaiah has a vision and a call to a mission. Through a strange process, Isaiah is cleansed by a burning coal, and suddenly volunteers before God to be His messenger. Lots of questions ...
Isaiah calls out the lies of the powerful, who try to make usbelieve that what is evil is good, and what is light is dark.
God directs his wrath against the wealthy and powerful for building their wealth by oppressing the poor. To make it worse, they use there wealth to seek personal pleasure instead of learning more about God's wonderful creations.
Isaiah tells the story of the disappointed lovers, God and the Jewish people. God tended His vineyard with care, and instead of wonderful fruit, He got thorns. What more could I have done? God laments. In place of justice, injustice is what I got, in place of equity, iniquity.
The righteous, once obscure and downtrodden, finally have their day. God's justice reigns supreme, the people if Jerusalem are holy. They are written for life, their sins are cleansed, and now the people reside under the protection of God alone. The symbolism of this chapter is relived every year during the high holiday season.
God laments how the leaders of the people have taken advantage of the poor, and Isaiah turns his attention to the women of Judah.
Isaiah turns his attention to the corrupt leadership, and criticizes their self indulgence and oppression of the masses. No system isbeyond reproach; the military, economic, political, judicial, academic, and religious leadership, none are spared the harsh rebuke.
Why be afraid of mankind, who is nothing before God. Humble yourselves before God, and salvation will come.
Isaiah explains the connection between arrogance and idol worship, and how that differs from the humble service of God.
Isaiah's tells the people of God's vision for the future end of times, and exhorts the people to show God that they will carry this message into the future.
How have we sunk to this level? Asks the prophet. It is because the leaders and the people were arrogant, they sought their own pleasure and profit, and forgot the less fortunate. But God promises us that there is hope. True justice and righteousness will one day be restored, and the arrogant will one day be brought down.
The people have turned to God in prayer, they have been scrupulously keeping the commandments, but still they suffer! What could they be doing wrong? Isaiah tells the people how they are missing the main point. God doesn't want prayer and worship if we are unjust, unkind, and lack compassion.
The land is ravaged by the invading Assyrian Army, and the refugees huddle behind the walls of Jerusalem for safety. They turn to God and His temple in prayer, but the war continues to rage. Isaiah rebukes the people for they have turned their backs on God.