The Book of Judges UNCENSORED

In this episode, we accentuate the tragedy of Samson by highlighting his potential role as a Messiah/King of the Jewish People and the partnership between his tribe of Dan and the tribe of Judah (Yehudah). We then continue with a brief introduction to the two judges from the Book of Samuel: Eli the Kohen and Shmuel the Prophet. Afterwards, we look back at all the Shoftim and seek out each one's redeeming qualities and summarize our findings regarding their tribal affiliations. We also return to the idea of judges in general and contrasted the role of the judges with that of the kings (and, in doing so, offered Pentateuchal support from the Torah as to the very concept of judges). Finally, we visit the blessings that Jacob (Yaakov) gave to his children on his deathbed and saw how those blessings offer hints to the various judges who were destined to descend from those sons and the tribes they progenated.

In this episode, we discuss Samson consorting with a prostitute in Gaza, and latter entering a relationship with his lover Delilah. The latter, of course, proved to be the bane of his tragic downfall.

In this episode, we discuss the story of an angel informing Manoah and his wife that they will bear a son who will be a Nazirite and save the Jews from the Phillistines. That son, of course, was Samson, who valiantly fought the Phillistines, but also married a Phillistine woman from Timna.

In this episode, we discuss the judge Ibzan (Ivtzan) whom the Talmud identifies as Boaz (from the Book of Ruth). We analyze this assertion and test its viability from different angels, ultimately suggesting that other elements of Rabbinic Tradition do not agree with this identification. Afterwards, we briefly speak about Elon the Zebulunite and Abdon (Avdon) ben Hillel the Pirathonite. This lecture ends with an introduction to the Phillistines' role in subjugating the Jews during the Period of Judges.

In this episode, we discuss the story of Jephtah (Yiftach), the son of a Zonah, who delivered the Jews from the Ammonites, possibly sacrificed his daughter at the altar, and waged a civil war against the Tribe of Ephraim. Despite all of this, Jephtah is equated to Shmuel HaNavi -- one of the greatest prophets to ever live.

In this episode, we continue our discussion of Gideon/Jerubaal's military successes and the proposal which offered Gideon the chance to become the first King of the Jews. We then discuss Gideon's son Abimelech who unjustly tried to take the role offered to his father, and ended up massacring the people of Schechem. Afterwards, we discuss the judge Tola son of Puah focusing on different ideas derived from his name and his associated with the Tribe of Issachar. Finally, we discuss Jair the Gileadite and the Hellenistic Jewish tradition that brands him an idolater.

In this episode, we discuss the story of the angel that appeared to Gideon while he was grinding his father's produce and appointed him as the next savior of the Jews. We then talk about Gideon's subsequent military leadership and his role in saving the Jewish people from Midianite domination.

In this episode, we discuss the story of the prophetess Devorah (from the tribe of Naftali) and her role as a the only female judge in Judges. She and Barak led the Jews to a victory over the Canaanite general Sisera. We also discuss select lines in Devorah's song, as well as Yael's contribution to the victory over Sisera (by possibly engaging in sex with him).

In this episode, we discuss the story of Ehud's secret mission to assassinate the Moabite killing Eglon, and the significance of Ehud's special ops ability in terms of understanding the characteristics of the Tribe of Binyamin. Afterwards, we discuss Shamgar ben Anat, and discuss whether his father's name can give us any clues as to his origins or tribal affiliation.

In this episode, we offer an introduction to the Book of Judges (Shoftim) explaining the book as a continuing cycle of sin-subjugation-redemption, and clarify the Halachic differences between Shoftim and Kings (Melachim). We then segue to a discussion about the first Shofet, Osniel ben Knaz and how he captured the city of Kiryat Sefer and married his neice Achsa, the daughter of Caleb ben Jephunah.