This book is another one that does not seem to have “an order.” There are two parts to the book, and it is good to pay attention to this. The first part, chapters 1-9, is really an introduction to the whole book, and it explains the value of wisdom. One of the ways it does… Read More »
Those readers of mine interested in Yad HaShmonah may be want to read this English summary of an article about Messianic Jews in today’s issue of a major Israeli newspaper, Yediot Ahronot. The Caspari Media Review summary begins: Under the headline "Yeshua Superstar," Yoaz Hendel looked at the Messianic Jewish community in Israel as part… Read More »
I’m not sure if I still have any readers after my vacation and recovery, but if so, I ‘ll continue the Bible Reading Guide with Psalms. I ‘ll just say by way of preface that in my arguments, I spent more time with this book than any other (two weeks compared with not more than… Read More »
Today makes 18 years. Several recent events make it more precious than it may have been otherwise. Perhaps more on those things another time, but this is all the blogging I’m going to do today. The place where we were engaged, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
This is the first of the so-called “Servant Songs” from Isaiah 42:1-4. Pay special attention to what I have put in bold. Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout… Read More »
Job is a tough book. The beginning (chapters 1-2) and the end (chapter 42) are easy to understand, but it’s everything in the middle that can be difficult to follow. On top of that, at the end of the book, God condemns Job’s three friends for their advice. Even Job repents. So how can you… Read More »
One of the unique things about this book is that it takes place entirely outside of Israel. An even stranger thing is that it never mentions the name of God! This is not an accident, and it helps us to understand what the author wanted to communicate. In short, the story of Esther teaches that… Read More »
The third return from exile occurs thirteen years after Ezra the priest comes back. While Ezra was mostly concerned with the purity of the community, Nehemiah is focused on rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The walls matter not only because they protect the city, but they also define it and allow God’s people to separate… Read More »
Academic Respectability vs. Academic Responsibility – this is a very good post for those in academia. Why would an orphanage filled with babies be silent? I suggest you read at least the introduction of this CT article by Russell Moore. “In the mid-20th century, Jews were the least prestigious white ethnic group in America,” according… Read More »
Ezra continues the history of 2 Chronicles, as you can see from the fact that the beginning of the book is the same as the end of 2 Chronicles. Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book, and they tell the story of what happened to the exiles when they came back to the land of… Read More »