Monthly ArchiveOctober 2020

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Bereshit 1:1

Torah Portion Shmini

Haftarah Shmini

In this new teaching Yoel dives into the subject of resurrection of the dead and common beliefs about the subject.

Very commonly we find that the word פסח is translated as “Passover”. This translation carries with it not only a translation value but also an interpretation of the term. The basis of this translation is found in the dual use of the verb פסח which can both mean “to limp” and “to protect”. Due to the fact that in later Hebrew the meaning of limping was more common, the translation was adopted based on a partial understanding of Hebrew verbs. The idea of a person limping leads to the idea of skipping over a step, hence “Passover”. 

The translation of Pesaḥ as “Passover” was coined by Tyndale in the 16th century as an interpretation of the term. This translation has been adopted by most English speakers as the correct meaning of the ceremony done during the exodus. This interpretation by Tyndale was probably based on common Jewish etymology found in late antiquity in the Mekhilta Pascha chp.7 and medieval commentaries such as Rashi who based himself on Midrashic sources. 

Definitions related to barley development observations according to the following:

Stages of Growth after Heading

            Flowering

            Milk

            Soft Dough

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First Edible Stage for Humans

            Aviv Stage (אָבִיב) –          Filled with Starch/Firm, can be parched in fire

            Karmel Stage (כַּרְמֶל)?

            Harvest Ready –              Kernal Hard (not dividable with thumbnail)

Notes: 

1. Primary remarks are based on observations of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum). Modern agricultural barley (Hordeum vulgare – two and six row) and wheat fields were also checked and compared.

Introduction

The significance of the first born in biblical literature is presented both in narrative and law. This current article will be dealing with the background and legal details of the redemption of the first born and how to practice the law in our current world. 

The Importance of the Firstborn

The term bǝḵôr (firstborn) is found 122 times in different variations in the Hebrew text. We find in multiple occasions the importance of the firstborn in law, narrative and poetry. The first born is the proper sacrifice (Gen 4:4, Lev 27:26, Duet 15:19), he receives double portion in inheritance (Duet 21:17) and he is the center of the sons in all families (Gen 48:18, Jer 31:8, Zek 12:10). We find the same principle in the ancient near east in different law codes where the sone inherits double portions called alâtu (Hartom, 1954, p.125).

It is not unusual to find contradictions between different historical reports about events in the Hebrew Bible. One such contradiction comes in the form of the tribal affiliation Samuel has. In one source (1 Sam 1:1), Samuel comes from a family well embedded in the hills of Efraim. The description gives no place for any other tribe than Efraim. On the other hand, 1Chro 6:18-23 describe a person called Samuel who has the same genealogy as Samuel in 1Sam. However, this Samuel belongs to a Levitical family from the line of Qehat.

In this article I want to examine the information about Samuel and see if he was a Levi or not and if so, is there a contradiction between the two sources?

One of the most difficult subjects to write about are the things which serve an ideology for some.  When I attempt to explain certain points about Hebrew, some might find my explanation to be incorrect because it doesn’t fit this belief.  Saying this, I have to make it clear that I have no agenda but to teach Hebrew as is.  As it goes, my posts are to open up the subject, and not to set anything in stone.