The Torah Portion Bamidbar, while describing a head count, goes no to list a large number of individual’s names. Biblical names were defining; names, as we learn from the Torah, have currency. The best example of a defining name comes from Moses’ Burning Bush encounter. Moses queries God as to what name he should provideContinue reading “What’s In A Name? Bamidbar”
Category Archives: god
Purpose Found
In a previous post “A Dog’s Search For Meaning”, the tale was told of how a dog, unknowing of its purpose, manifested all the trappings of its true being. Despite a lack of training, or instruction, or the companionship of a similar breed, the animal was on the pathway of discovering itself. Dogs have beenContinue reading “Purpose Found”
String Cite Theory
A “String Cite” is a powerful legal writing tool. Briefs and Court Opinions often cite authority. Authority can be reference to anything from a statute, regulation, case cite to a legal treatise. String cites are like an authority on steriods; they often list three or four specific references. The cumulative nature of them suggest aContinue reading “String Cite Theory”
The Metaphor
“Who is in charge?” “Who is not?” The Hebrew Bible includes much content addressing the relationship between God and Humanity. With the Ten Commandments, a covenant between a deity and the Children of Israel was established. With this covenant, the deity- authority- propounded directives upon the people. These directives- th Decalogue- were further expanded uponContinue reading “The Metaphor”
Relationship Advice? A Book of Jonah TCM
“I called, in my distress, to the Lord, and He answered me” Jonah 2:3 Relationships involve level of emotionality. While love is the one most frequently bantered about with unions, there is another feeling that can exist within bonds. “Fear of God” is an emotion that can exist within a Human-Deity relationship. Commentator Dennis PragerContinue reading “Relationship Advice? A Book of Jonah TCM”
Shemini’s Ten Commandments’ Moment: The Entire Bible Summed Up in One Word?
How do you describe the Hebrew Bible in one word? Shemini’s Second Torah Reading- instructions concerning the Passover celebration- offers a bread crumb to the answer. The Children of Israel are told: “On the tenth of this month, let them each take a lamb for the fathers’ houses, a lamb per house. And if theContinue reading “Shemini’s Ten Commandments’ Moment: The Entire Bible Summed Up in One Word?”
Tzav, A Ten Commandments’ Moment?
Finding “Ten Commandments’ Moments” within each and every weekly Torah Portion is challenging. Cubits, genealogies and the instructions for priestly sacrifices offer impediments. The Portion Tzav ironically is one involving priestly sacrifice. Tzav discusses burnt offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings in much detail. Is there a connection between these sacrifices and the Ten Commandments?Continue reading “Tzav, A Ten Commandments’ Moment?”
Elijah, Israel’s Moses?
If the Hebrew Bible was being crafted as a movie script, half-way through the screen play of the Book of Kings an emergency writers’ meeting would have taken place. “Writers, we have a problem!” The Lead Writer would bemoan that the fledgling spin-off Northern Kingdom- Israel- was lacking. No intriguing characters! No cool locations! NoContinue reading “Elijah, Israel’s Moses?”
A Ten Commandments’ Moment From Vayikra: A Legit Split?
Some commentators break down the Ten Commandments into two sections, five-and-five. The first group of five are laws detailing one’s relationship with God; the second set dealing with purely human relations. Does the Torah Portion Vayikra’s Ten Commandments’ moment dispel this assertion? Vayikra includes the following passage relevant to the Decalogue: “And the Lord spokeContinue reading “A Ten Commandments’ Moment From Vayikra: A Legit Split?”
A Book of Kings Ten Commandments’ Moment: The Universal God?
The Kohanim brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to its place, to the inner sanctum of the Temple, to the Holy of Holies. 1 Kings 8:6 Upon the Temple of the Lord’s completion, King Solomon addressed the God of Israel’s universality. In 1 Kings 8:41-43, Solomon pronounced “Also a gentile who isContinue reading “A Book of Kings Ten Commandments’ Moment: The Universal God?”
