Hebrew In Israel

“Return, Isra’el, to YHWH your God, for your guilt has made you stumble.” Did you know there was a god who retired?  From our Hoshea series, Jeff and Yoel discuss the Israelites’ understanding of Canaanite/Phoenecian gods El and Ba’al, and the effect on their relationship with YHWH.  Also, Hosea 12:14 leads to an intriguing discussion of Moses, Malachi […]

“A son honors his father and a servant his master. But if I’m a father, where is the honor due me? and if I’m a master, where is the respect due me?” We hear from the last prophet, Malachi, and learn about prophecy and the historical background of Malachi’s time. Haftarah Toldot:  Malachi 1:1-2:7 Other Teachings […]

There is a critical, ancient Hittite-Israelite contract that gets overlooked in this week’s Torah Portion, Chaye Sarah (Sarah’s life).  In this podcast we bring out the legal details recorded in this transaction. Torah Portion Chaye Sarah: Genesis 23:1 – 25:18 Questions And Topics In This Discussion The Significance of Recording People’s Ages The Difference Between […]

“‘My lord, king, didn’t you swear to your servant, “Your son Shlomo will be king after me; he will sit on my throne”? So why is Adoniyah king?’” In this week’s haftarah Chaye Sarah, we explore the mindset and character of King David as well as politics in the bible as the kingship passes from […]

“He’s here, he’s right ahead of you. Hurry now, he just came into the city today, because the people are sacrificing today at the high place. ” Shaul, the first king of Israel meets up with the Prophet Samuel at an intriguing place. We discuss high places in Israel as we study 1 Samuel, chapter 8. […]

This week’s Torah Portion, Vayera (and He appeared), tells us about the second departure of Hagar from Abraham and Sarah.  Listen in on our weekly bible class as Yoel walks us through a textual comparison of chapters 21 and 16, as well as Abraham’s covenant with Avimelech. Torah Portion Vayera: Genesis 18:1 – 22:24   Questions […]

“Then go in; shut the door, with you and your sons inside; and pour oil into all those containers; and as they are filled, put them aside.” The prophet Elisha cares for two widows in this week’s haftarah Vayera. Haftarah Vayera:  2 Kings 4:1-37 Other Teachings Mentioned in this Podcast Daniel In Ezekiel     Worship? […]

“Sh’mu’el was not pleased to hear them say, “Give us a king to judge us”; so he prayed to YHWH..” In part 6 of our Light of the Prophets: Samuel series, Israel worries about losing the leadership of Samuel and asks for a king. We examine this event and compare Samuel’s warning with the Torah’s instructions […]

There are lessons for the modern ger (stranger) in the account of Avram.  We also explain historic and legal points about Melchizedek, Hagar and circumcision in this week’s torah portion, Lekh-Lekha (GO!). Torah Portion Lekh-Lekha: Genesis 12:2 – 17:27   Questions And Topics In This Podcast What it meant for Avram to leave his homeland The […]

“I will make you into a threshing-sledge, new, with sharp, pointed teeth, to thresh the mountains and crush them to dust, to reduce the hills to chaff.” When do you know when biblical text is literal or metaphoric?  We look at how to understand biblical metaphors and idioms with this week’s haftarah in Isaiah 40 and 41.   […]