3
Jul
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“Now Yiftach, a brave soldier from Gil‘ad, was the son of a prostitute.” Judges 11:1
Who is Yiftach (Jephthah)? Why was the name of another god on his lips and what are we to make of his shocking vow? Yoel fleshes out his backstory from what the biblical text and ancient culture tell us about his birth, home, upbringing and social life, and offers insight on these questions.
9
Jul
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Why are there such violent stories in the bible? In our final episode of the Book of Judges, Yoel and Jono address this question as Israel, due to the vow they took, find a loophole to rebuild the tribe of Benjamin whom they just decimated in the previous chapter.
2
Jul
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In the aftermath of the attack on the Levite’s concubine, the remaining tribes (led by Judah, according to YHWH’s instruction) go against the tribe of Benjamin, but not before losing many casualties themselves.
25
Jun
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Judges chapter 19 contains one of, if not the most despicable and heinous stories of the bible. We follow a Levite and his concubine into Gibeah in the land of King Saul’s tribe, Benjamin.
18
Jun
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Two listeners’ questions lead us into a brief lesson on translation problems and Melchizedek. Then we continue the story of Micah’s Levite (and possibly learn his identity) as he gets a better offer from the Danites who capture Laish as their inheritance and establish a place of worship in the North, in Chapter 18.
11
Jun
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In Chapter 17 there’s a change in Micah’s name that we don’t see in English. Jono and Yoel discuss this as well as blessing and cursing, the Levite from the family of Judah(?), and Yoel explains the use of the name BenShlomo and the grape pressing of his very first video in our schmoozing session.
4
Jun
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Maybe Samson wasn’t a big guy! Yoel and Jono discuss this possibility, as well as the Canaanite god Dagon, prostitution in the bible and ancient world, and the infamous Delilah as we wrap up Samson’s story in chapter 16.
21
May
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Chapters 14 & 15 bring up discussion about possible violations of Samson’s nazirite vow, the biblical stance on more than one wife, as well as the connection between Lehi and the jawbone of an ass.
5
May
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The birth of Shimshon (Samson) takes center stage in our next segment of the book of Judges as Jono and Yoel examine the Nazirite vow, angels, the issue of cross-breeding and much more in Chapter 13.
30
Apr
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The issue of oaths comes to light in the story of Yiftach (Jephthah), who vows to sacrifice whatever comes out of his house, as Yoel and Jono examine chapters 10-12. A listener’s question on the fasts of Zech 8:19 is also addressed after the opening shmoozing session.