The Tanakh Podcast

In this chapter, Avraham challenges God.He says - You promised me offspring, and yet I cannot have children! - You promised a land. How will that ever happen?Avraham asks for assurances from God.And God understands that Avraham needs that reassurance. God offers a Brit - a pact, a contract, a covenant - and this covenant has some interesting imagery - animals cut in two, birds of prey, fire and smoke, a sky filled with stars. What does it all mean?Today we explore this dramatic exchange, and the meaning behind the imagery.

In this chapter:1. War in the Jordan valley - four Mesopotamian kings take control of the five kingdoms of the valley. After the five kings revolt, the four-kings come and conquer the valley taking its population captive, including Lot.2. Abraham embarks in a military rescue mission to save his nephew Lot with 318 fighters - called "his students, those born in his household." He is victorious.3. On his return, Abraham is greeted by two kings - polar opposites - the King of Sedom, and Maki Tzedek. With whom will he ally?

Lot has traveled all the way from Mesopotamia at Avraham's side! Why do they split up now?And why choose Sedom?

Today our attention turns to Abraham and Sarah and their trek to the promised land.Why did God choose Abraham?Did God choose him *because* he was special or did God choose him to *become* special?

We begin today with the Tower of Babel. What is wrong with building skyscrapers? Why did God intervene?

Our chapter depicts the three lines of the Sons of Noach - Yefet, Ham and Shem and the development of their civilizations. This is the story of the "Seventy Nations".

What is the symbol of the rainbow?Why does Noach get drunk and lol naked in his tent?And was Noach a Tzaddik?

Today we discuss:1. How the restoration of the world after the flood reflects the Creation of ch.12. Anthropomorphic expressions in the chapter3. The "evil inclination of the heart of man" - How can it be a reason to DESTROY the world and also to PRESERVE the world?4. The alienation between ADAM and ADAMA

Today we address 3 topics:1. The double story of the Flood2. The dates of the flood3. The notion of "Zikaron" And a few connections to the Yamim Noraim (the High Holy Days)

Chapter 6 describes the cryptic episode of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of man". God's patience with humanity is running out!Soon, God decides to de-create his creation in a great "MAbul" - more a "confusion" than a flood.

This is a list of genealogies, of a family tree!We will discover that there is much that one can learn from a list! The key? - Look at the differences, the aberrations and deflections from the standard formula!

Cain and Abel. The first murder. Brother kills brother.It seems like Bereshit is addressing some of humanity's fundamental weaknesses and flaws.But then the chapter turns to the seventh generation, and the family and poem of Lemekh. We offer two modes of interpretation for this cryptic story.--- For my podcast in which I teach the story of the tension between Kayin and Hevel and the murder itself, listen here

This is the story of the sin and expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

One of the greatest and classic challenges of biblical scholarship has been the contradictions between chapter 1 and 2. Many don't pay attention, but in fact the chapters are quite at odds with one another.Today we articulate many of the differences between the chapters and then we offer a dialectical model which sees ch.1 and 2 in dialectical tension, in the end offering a more holistic picture of the world.

Chapter 2 zooms in on the human, and humanity's uniqueness: Spirituality, responsibility, loneliness and relationships.

What is the purpose Creation narrative?Is it intended to teach us that the world was brought into being in a mere six days?Or does it teach us something about the nature of life, being, human purpose and dignity?

Tanakh ends with a beginning.The Galut, the Exile happens, but there is a Return, an "Aliyah" - this is the "end without an ending."

Indiana Jones went looking for it. But where is it?Our chapter gives us a few clues!

Yoshiyahu is another exemplary king. Rising to power as a child, he leads the nation back to God.We will focus on the remarkable discovery of a Sefer Torah in the storerooms of the Temple. What is this scroll? Was the Torah lost for a while?

Do we suffer for our parents sins?Today we suffer the most evil king of Yehudah - King Mennasseh. In the book of Kings his idolatry is the cause of the Hurban - the national exile. But here in Divrei Hayamim, we witness Menasseh repenting and recanting from his idolatrous ways. What is the truth? Why does Divrei Hayamim report this previously unknown story?

The Assyrians attack, but since Hezekiah has led the nation to such devotion to God, we can rest assured that God will save His nation.The story here has a radically different emotional tone and emphasis than that in Melakhim and Isaiah.

The Temple has been purified, Pesach has been celebrated on a national scale, but how will the Mikdash be maintained? Now Hizkiyahu asks the nation to bring tithes - teruma and ma'aser - the tithes - to the Temple. The nation offer enthusiastically.We discuss the similarities between the details of this chapter and those of the 2nd Temple prioroties.

Hizkiyahu gathers the entire nation - North and South - in Jerusalem. An event unseen since the days of Solomon. And we will focus on several surprising aspects of this gathering.

We now start 4 chapters that describe the reign of King Hizkiyahu.The first 3 of these chapters depict Hizkiyahu's purification of the Temple, and his renewal of the covenant in a mass celebration of Pesach in Jerusalem - in his very first year in power.

The Assyrians are coming.This causes a devastating civil war between the northern and southern states, and a total capitulation in Jerusalem to Assyrian idolatry.

A short chapter today!It speaks of King Yotam, about whom it is said that he was "flawless" - quite an accolade!---To support my work:⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/alexisrael⁠

Uzziah is depicted in glowing terms and achievements. But then he gets too full of himself! - He enters the Temple and ascends the altar to offer the incense. When he is confronted by the priests, he gets furious. The result is that he is afflicted with the divine disease of Tzaraat.Here again, we see a king with a positive phase and a negative one.

The narrative of Amaziah is told quite differently than in Sefer Melakhim. Here it seems almost curated to make a theological point. And we shall see the way that Amaziah's story mirrors closely that of his father.---To support my work:⁠Patreon⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/alexisrael

King Yoash's story is told in two parts.His early life, before the death of his adopted father - the High Priest - is virtuous. But after Yehoyada's demise, he turns to idolatry and silencing his critics, including the murder of the son of the man who raised him. Punishment quickly ensues.

Athalia seizes the throne.The High Priest - Yehoyada - waits six years and then stages a mutiny.---Patreonhttps://buymeacoffee.com/alexisrael

In this chapter we have two episodes of murder;1. Ahazyahu, King of Yehuda is assassinated by Yehu ben Nimshi in the mutiny at JezreelSeeing that the king, her son, is dead, Attalya takes the reigns of power and rules Yehuda,2. But then we see baby Yoash who is snatched from a "the murdered" in the palace in Jerusalem, and is hidden by his aunt for 7 years.

King Yehoram follows the exemplary King Yeshoshafat, but he brings the murderous, idolatrous northern culture to Jerusalem. He receives a warning letter from (the deceased) Elijah the prophet. Things do not end well for Yehoram. He kills his brothers - all his sons but one are murdered; and he dies of an awful intestinal disease.

In an episode not recorded by Sefer Melakhim, Yehoshafat is attacked and invaded by three foreign powers. He launches a counterattack, but it is God who is really fights the war.

Yeshoshafat is reprimanded by the prophet.His response is to embark on a campaign to bring justice to the land.

The righteous Yehoshafat has his son marry Ahab's daughter. They launch a joint military campaign. Now Ahab is the most evil and idolatrous of kings. His wife actively persecutes God's prophets. Ahab's greatest critic is Eliyahu Hanavi.Jewish unity is nice. But should Yehoshafat be associating with this sinful king, let alone marry his son to his daughter?The prophet at the start of ch.19 severely reprimands Yehoshafat "Do you assist the sinner, and love those who hate God?" And so, today, in honour of Tisha BAv, we discuss our relationship with non-observant Jews.

Today we begin 4 chapters about King Yehoshafat who teaches Torah and is rewarded with wealth, power and influence.

Up to this point, Assa has a stellar record in biblical terms. But now, he makes a "covenant" with Syria (rather than God), relies on himself (rather than God) and ignores, even imprisons the prophet , oppresses his people, and when he gets sick consults with doctors (rather than God.)This is Assa's downturn.But he gets a very nice funeral!! ;-)

Assa leads the country to rid itself of idolatry.He then convenes the nation at the Temple to renew their allegiance to God.

Today we discuss some of the typical features that characterize the depictions of kings in Divrei Hayamim.

King Avia (Yehuda) and King Yerovam (North - Israel) go to war.500,000 dead!Does Divrei Hayamim side with Avia or Yerovam? Why?And how about Hazal?

After chapter 11 positive assessment of Rechavam, the ling and people abandon God, and God abandons them.Today we talk about many features of Divrei Hayamim - the democratic nature of the connection between king and nation; and the theology of action and its consequent reward and punishment as reflected in Divrei Hayamim.

If last chapter, Rechavam makes quite a blunder losing the 10 northern tribes and splitting the kingdom, chapter 11 offers many of Rechavam's achievements. But his success is only going to last as long as he follows God! In ch.12 he abandons God and it all falls apart!

After Solomon, the kingdom splits into two states - Ephraim and Yehudah.Today we address the friction between these two factions, going back to Rachel and Leah, and forward to the days of the Messiah.

This chapter discusses the state visits of foreign kings and queens, but more than anything we find it replete with gold (16 mentions) and silver (4 mentions).Is this good news or bad news?

Today we discuss the contradictions between Sefer MEalkhim and Chronicles. And we discuss the music that has been the soundtrack of our podcast:Lyrics of the song HebrewEnglish Versions of the songTraditional version - Elana RubinaJazz version - Avishai CohenA little more about the poem/song - here

Solomon has prayed. Will God respond?He does. Fire descends from heaven. This is followed by much celebration.But after it is all over, God appears yet again to Solomon and, on the one hand, asserts that he has accepted Solomon's prayer. On the other hand he warns that any promises are conditional. If the Torah and it slaws are not observed, then all the promises will be reneged. As we show, this is fundamentally the covenant of Sefer Devarim - of Deuteronomy.

Is God in the Temple? Or in the Heavens?

What was inside the Holy of Holies?Did Solomon make adjustments to the Ark of the Covenant?What was inside the Ark of the Covenant?

Today we speak about a whole groups of new additions to the Temple: Bronze pillars, a huge water receptacle called the "Yam", a new altar far larger than Moses' original, 10 tables, 10 basins, ten Menorahs. Why do we need all this furniture?What was the permissibility of these new additions to the Sanctuary?

Today we discuss 4 topics.1. The identification of the Temple altar as a historic site of sacrifice.2. The image of the palm tree as a Judean royal symbol3. Interesting Hebrew words in ch.2 and 34. The "outward facing" cherubs.

Solomon wastes no time. He organizes a lobor force and gets to work on the Temple project. He appeals to Hiram, King of Tyre, asking him to provide timber to build the Temple.In today's podcast we discuss the contrast and divergence between the account of the Solomon-Hiram alliance in the Book of Kings/Melakhim, and here in Divrei Hayamim.