The Inner Theme? Shelach

Are there hidden Torah themes? Does the Portion Shelach’s “Twelve Spies Tale” contain such a mystery theme? The major theme of Shelach is leadership. Tribal leaders botch a spy mission. Its consequence was the Israelite’s forty years of wilderness wandering. While The Twelve Spies Tale’s focus is on leaders, a hidden sub-theme appears. Detective workContinue reading “The Inner Theme? Shelach”

A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Civil War

The Book of Judges’ disturbing conclusion is the tale of Levite Traveler and his Concubine Wife. In the story, an older man from Gilbeah took the Levite and his wife in for the night as an act of hospitality. The town was Benjamite. Judges 19. There, “the people of the city, lawless people, surrounded the house, bangingContinue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Civil War”

A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Jephthah

Of all the Book of Judges’ gut wrenching episodes. Jephthah’s is one of the most problematic. He is a mighty warrior of valor who has acceptance issues. Judges, in providing his background story, alludes that he most likely carried with him emotional insecurity; The tale unfolds with his estrangement from his father’s family. The story takes off with theContinue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Jephthah”

A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Succession

The Book of Judges is not for the faint hearted. While Gideon’s leadership as a Judge sparked a thirst for Israelite monarchical rule, his post-mortem was sobering to that national ambition.   Succession, in antiquity, was heavily nepotism. Gideon, not be outshined by the Elon Musk’s or Nick Cannon’s of the world, amassed seventy sons and hadContinue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Succession”