The Torah's message differs from the prophets': the former focuses on law, the latter on morals. Nowhere is the difference starker than in regard to sacrificial worship; when the prophets insist that God does not desire animal sacrifice and wants only kindness, justice and righteousness, the discrepancy becomes outright contradiction.

But on close analysis we find that there is no true contradiction. Rather, this divergence encapsulates the essential nature of the Torah and the prophetic books, respectively. The Torah is the law with which to worship the unknowable, transcendent God, and the prophetic books are the framework by which He makes Himself known to man.

Please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!

You can email Rabbi Burton with questions or comments at [email protected]