Untold Stories Of The Torah (Jewish History)

This episode explores the life and background of Ovadiah Hanavi (Obadiah), beginning with his ancestry and early years in the shadow of the wicked Omri dynasty. It highlights Ovadiah’s quiet heroism, including hiding a hundred prophets during King Achav’s reign and borrowing money with interest to save them. The episode builds toward the dramatic moment when Ovadiah meets Eliyahu Hanavi during a time of famine and national crisis.

00:00 - Intro

00:58 - Ovadiah's Ancestry

02:31 - Early Life of Ovadiah

04:45 - The Dynasty of Omri

09:39 - King Achav

14:57 - Chiyel Rebuilds Yericho

18:24 - Eliyahu Hanavi and the Famine

23:00 - The Search for Eliyahu

26:55 - Ovadiah is Promoted

30:10 - Ovadiah Hides the Prophets

34:28 - Ovadiah Borrows with Interest

36:15 - Eliyahu is Forced to End the Famine

39:10 - Ovadiah Meets Eliyahu

This episode is dedicated in loving memory of Aharon Ben Avraham

Avigail, Part 2 continues to explore the life and legacy of one of the Torah's most fascinating women. This episode examines her connection to King Dovid, tracing key events in his timeline. It also delves into the story of Naval, his betrayal of Dovid, and the judgment that follows. The narrative highlights Avigail's wisdom and decisive actions during this critical moment in Biblical history.

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Recap

01:10 - Avigail Meets Dovid Hamelech

14:26 - Dovid Hamelech's Gratitude to Avigail

17:24 - Naval's Death

28:37 - Dovid and Avigail Get Married

30:50 - Avigail's Capture

35:47 - Kilaev, Son of Avigail

43:04 - Final Note

Avigail, Part 1 explores the life and legacy of one of the Torah's most fascinating women. This episode examines her connection to King Dovid, tracing key events in his timeline and the significance of his anointing. It also delves into the story of Naval, his betrayal of Dovid, and the judgment that follows. The narrative begins to highlight Avigail's wisdom and decisive actions during this critical moment in Biblical history.

00:00 - Intro

00:24 - Starting Questions on Avigail

01:09 - Timeline of Dovid Hamelech

01:55 - Family Tree of Yehudah

03:57 - Anointing of King Dovid

24:12 - The Secret of the Anointing

25:23 - The Passing of Shmuel Hanavi

29:36 - Who was Naval?

36:25 - Who was Avigail?

39:03 - Dovid Helps Naval

43:29 - Dovid Asks Naval for Help

48:35 - Naval's Response to Dovid

50:25 - Naval is Judged for Treason

55:16 - Avigail Finds Out

Part 2. Yoel Hanavi prophesized during one of the worst (famine and locust) disasters in Jewish History. He lived through the disaster himself and is also the author of the book of Yoel (in the Trei Asar, also known as the Minor Prophets). His book also contains some of the most fascinating prophecies about what the world will be like right before Moshiach comes.

00:00 - Intro and Recap

02:00 - Elisha Hanavi and the Assassin

05:04 - Elisha's Prophecy of the Famine's End

07:55 - The End of the Aram War

12:28 - 4 Lepers and an Empty Camp

24:34 - The End of Yoel's Famine

34:43 - Nochum, the Student of Yoel

35:45 - Yoel's Prophecies About Moshiach

40:03 - The Children of Yoel

41:11 - Yaakov Avinu and Yoel

Yoel Hanavi prophesized during one of the worst (famine and locust) disasters in Jewish History. He lived through the disaster himself and is also the author of the book of Yoel (in the Trei Asar, also known as the Minor Prophets). His book also contains some of the most fascinating prophecies about what the world will be like right before Moshiach comes.

00:00 - Intro

01:10 - Yaakov's Vision of Future Events

03:09 - A son of Shmuel Hanavi

07:56 - Yoel, the Judge after Shmuel Hanavi

16:40 - Yoel's Teshuvah

18:57 - Yoel's Warning of Locust

29:12 - Yoel's Call for Teshuvah

32:15 - The Start of the Locust

32:47 - Elisha Hanavi and the Famine

40:01 - King Yehoram's Reaction to the Famine

The final installment of the story of the life of Shimshon Hagibor, (Samson and Delilah).

00:00 - Intro

01:36 - Shimshon’s Rulership and End of Leadership

07:06 - Going Down to Azza

17:10 - Marrying Delilah and Understanding Delilah

26:20 - Plishti Officers Bribe Delilah

33:10 - Delilah Pressing for Shimshon’s Power

50:19 - Shimshon’s Blinding and Imprisonment

55:55 - Plishtim’s Celebration Followed by Shimshon’s Revenge

1:06:50 - Shimshon’s Burial and Legacy

Shimshon’s Wife Betrayal
Discussion of Shimshon’s wife is given to another man and the differing opinions on why Shimshon was angry, including betrayal and infidelity.

The Wheat Harvest & Shimshon’s Return
Shimshon returns after a year, bringing a goat to reconcile with his wife, only to discover she’s been remarried. His anger builds, setting the stage for his revenge.

Divine Providence and Timing
Exploration of how Shimshon’s timing coincides with divine providence during the wheat harvest, which amplifies the devastation he is about to unleash.

Shimshon’s Emotional Conflict
Further analysis of Shimshon’s internal conflict, his desire to take his wife back despite her betrayal, and the complexities of his decisions as guided by Hashem.

Shimshon’s Strategic Revenge
Shimshon’s calculated move to reignite conflict with the Plishtim without involving the Jewish people. The destruction of their crops is part of his wider strategy.

Justification for Shimshon’s Actions
Shimshon declares that his revenge against the Plishtim is just and that any mischief he causes is lawful due to their wrongdoings.

The Marriage Controversy
Discussion on the legality of the marriage of Shimshon’s wife to another man and how it publicly justified his vengeance against the entire Plishtim community.

Shimshon’s Foxes and Fire
Shimshon’s revenge method: setting 300 foxes with torches loose in the Plishtim fields, burning their crops, and causing financial ruin during the wheat harvest.

Plishtim’s Retaliation and Shimshon’s Response
The Plishtim investigate Shimshon’s actions, realize his power, and burn his wife and father-in-law alive to appease him. Shimshon, in response, promises greater vengeance.

The Great Slaughter: Hip and Thigh
Shimshon slaughters many Plishtim with a strange tactic, striking them “hip and thigh,” a phrase indicating a chaotic and brutal battle.

Shimshon Hides from the Plishtim
After the battle, Shimshon goes into hiding in a rock crevice, and the Plishtim gather their forces to confront him, aiming to capture him again.

Shimshon Captured and Freed
The men of Yehuda hand Shimshon over to the Plishtim, binding him with ropes. However, divine intervention allows him to break free.

Shimshon’s Victory with the Donkey Jawbone
Using a moist donkey’s jawbone, Shimshon kills 1,000 Plishtim soldiers, emphasizing the miraculous nature of his victory.

Shimshon’s Dehydration and Miraculous Revival
After the battle, Shimshon suffers severe dehydration and calls out to Hashem, who miraculously provides water, reviving him at the last moment.

The Importance of Praising Hashem
The story of Shimshon is connected to the lesson of praising Hashem in everyday life, drawing a parallel to a teaching of the Baal Shem Tov.

Shimshon Judges Israel for 20 Years
After his miraculous victories, Shimshon judges Israel for 20 years, providing protection and leadership against the Plishtim during their oppression of the Jewish people.

Dedicated Leilui nishmas:

- Abba halevi ben zusha

- Aryeh leib halevi ben yaakov

- Nachum hirsh ben efrayim

- Meir yitzchak ben avraham

00:00 - Introduction

00:29 - Shimshon’s Wife Betrayal

01:12 - The Wheat Harvest & Shimshon’s Return

02:25 - Divine Providence and Timing

03:39 - Shimshon’s Emotional Conflict

04:38 - Shimshon’s Strategic Revenge

08:56 - Justification for Shimshon’s Actions

09:57 - The Marriage Controversy

12:00 - Shimshon’s Foxes and Fire

16:26 - Plishtim’s Retaliation and Shimshon’s Response

19:43 - The Great Slaughter: Hip and Thigh

27:06 - Shimshon Hides from the Plishtim

32:02 - Shimshon Captured and Freed

37:22 - Shimshon’s Victory with the Donkey Jawbone

44:00 - Shimshon’s Dehydration and Miraculous Revival

47:14 - The Importance of Praising Hashem

58:32 - Shimshon Judges Israel for 20 Years

Rabbi Aber introduces Untold Stories of the Torah, continuing the story of Shimshon in part four. The focus is on Shimshon’s miraculous killing of a lion, and how this event, though kept secret from his parents, sets the stage for key moments in the wedding and riddle challenge.

Recap of Shimshon’s Lion Encounter
Shimshon’s encounter with the lion and later discovery of honey in its carcass becomes a central theme.

The Wedding Feast and Companions
Shimshon’s father arranges a wedding feast as was customary, and the Philistines assign Shimshon thirty companions due to his isolation.

Debate Over Wedding Feast Duration
There is a debate about whether the wedding celebration lasted seven or fourteen days.

Shimshon’s Riddle Challenge
Shimshon challenges his thirty companions with the famous riddle: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.

Companions Fail to Solve the Riddle
For three days, the companions are unable to solve the riddle. Desperate, they pressure Shimshon’s wife to extract the answer from him, threatening to burn her and her father’s household if she refuses.

Shimshon’s Wife Betrays Him
Shimshon’s wife, fearing for her life, pleads with Shimshon to tell her the answer. After days of her nagging, Shimshon finally reveals the solution. She immediately betrays him by telling the companions the answer.

The Companions Solve the Riddle
On the seventh day, just before sunset, the companions approach Shimshon with the solution: What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? Realizing they cheated by coercing his wife, Shimshon angrily declares, Had you not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.

Wedding Feasts and Timeline
Rabbi Aber discusses the various interpretations of how the wedding celebrations unfolded. Some believe the riddle was proposed during the seven pre-wedding days, while others argue it was posed after the wedding.

The Threat to Shimshon’s Wife
The class explores the deeper implications of the threat made to Shimshon’s wife by the Philistine companions, who were willing to burn her and her father’s house to the ground if she didn’t provide the answer.

Shimshon’s Suspicions
Shimshon’s cryptic accusation—Had you not plowed with my heifer—hints at a deeper suspicion of betrayal, possibly even that his wife was unfaithful to him.

The Aftermath of the Riddle
After the riddle is solved and Shimshon kills the thirty men to pay off his companions, he leaves in anger. His wife’s father, assuming the marriage is over, gives her to another man, one of Shimshon’s companions.

Shimshon’s Revenge Begins
Learning of his wife’s remarriage, Shimshon’s anger reignites, leading him to take violent revenge on the Philistines, setting the stage for his ongoing battle against them. This is one of the most famous episodes in Shimshon’s story, where his unpredictable and extreme tactics instill fear in his enemies.

Divine Providence in Shimshon’s Actions
The timing of Shimshon’s return and his violent actions align with divine providence, amplifying the devastation he unleashes on the Philistines. This becomes a recurring theme as Shimshon continues his mission to confront the Philistines.

41:30 – Shimshon’s Legacy and Ongoing Conflict
The class concludes by examining the legacy of Shimshon’s actions, which initiated a long and bloody conflict with the Philistines.

Yaakov’s Prediction of Shimshon

Shimshon and Moshiach

Moshe’s prophecy of Shimshon

Birth of Shimshon

Meaning Behind the Name: Shimshon

Shimshon’s Ruach Hashem

What is Ruach HaKodesh?

Shimshon Sees his Wife from Timnah

And Shimshon went down…

Shimshon’s Motive

Did the Woman from Timnah convert before?

Parents Objections to Shimshon’s Marriage

The Fight with the Lion and Meeting His Wife

Returning to the Lion’s Carcass