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Religion & SpiritualityJudaism

The Tanakh Podcast

Alex Israel

Study Tanakh with Rav Alex Israel.
10 mins a day.
One chapter a day.

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This podcast is designed to help you to study any sefer (book) in Tanakh - the Hebrew Bible.
It will be best experienced by reading the chapter first, and then listening to the 10-15 minute commentary.
The pace of the podcast is FIVE chapters a week according to the pace of the 929.org.il project.

It is recorded by Rabbi Alex Israel. See www.alexisrael.org and sign up for our weekly parsha newsletter.
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To support us, please donate at:
https://buymeacoffee.com/alexisrael
https://patreon.com/u51407457

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  • 89 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 10 min
  • English

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  • Yesterday · 11 min

    #315 | Melakhim Bet ch.4 - Elisha. Prophet of Miracles

    This chapter contains four miracles stories of Elisha. Miracles appear to be the standard way that Elsiha addresses problems. But in the story of the Shunnamite woman and her son, we shall suggest that God teaches the great prophet Elisha that even miracle-making has its limits.

  • Sunday · 9 min

    #314 | Melakhim Bet ch.3 - War with Moav

    Israel, Judah and Edom join forces to attack Moav. We shall speak about a critical historic artifact - the Mesha Stele - that gives us important context for this military campaign.

  • Saturday · 9 min

    #313 | Melakhim Bet ch.2 - Elisha Begins

    This is the chapter in which Elijah ascends heavenwards in a chariot of fire. But is this in fact a story about Elijah, or possibly it is concerned with his protégé, Elisha?

  • Wednesday · 8 min

    #312 | Melakhim Bet ch.1 - Whose Messengers?

    King Ahaziyahu (Israel) has a domestic accident and is inured, bedridden and concerned for his life. He sends messengers to the God of Ekron: "Will I live?" Elijah is sent to intercept the King's delegates. The critical narrative here is the question of who controls the delegates: Will the king's servants follow the king's instructions or Elijah's, in God's name?

  • November 2 · 10 min

    #310 | Melakhim Aleph ch.21 - Nabot. The Perfect Murder

    This is the Bible's quintessential story of governmental corruption.The King wants a Nabot's vineyard. Nabot won't sell it. How will the king obtain the vineyard? How does one commit the perfect murder? And who gets the blame?

  • October 31 · 10 min

    #308 | Melakhim Aleph ch.19 - Elijah the Zealot

    After Elijah's great victory on Mt. Carmel, Elijah is thrust into deep crisis - he goes into the desert to end his own life! Why is Elijah so despondent? And what does God try to teach him?

  • October 27 · 9 min

    #306 | Melakhim Aleph ch.17 - Meet Eliyahu!

    Eliyahu decrees a famine, a drought, that endures for three years! Why did he do it? Was God commanding Eliyahu or was Eliyahu instructing God? There are three stories of Eliyahu in this chapter: 1. In Nahal Karit - the ravens and the stream 2. The widow in Zerafat - And the miracle of the oil and flour 3. The revival of the widow's son. Are these stories Eliyahu's training? Or are they God trying to send Eliyahu a message to rescind the famine?

  • October 21 · 11 min

    #302 | Melakhim Aleph ch.13 - New Religion

    Yerovam has become king in the North. But he needs a new religious center. If the prople keep celebrating their holidays at the Temple in Jerusalem, he will lose legitimacy. Yerovam builds two new Temples in Dan and Bethel setting up a golden calf (!) in each shrine. But, the Tanakh tells us that this was a grave error. Chapter 13 reveals the people's confusion. Is Yerovam legitimate or illegitimate?

  • October 20 · 12 min

    #301 | Melakhim Aleph ch.12 - The Kingdom Splits

    Solomon is dead. The people come to crown his son Rechavam (Rehoboam) and ask for a tax break. Rechavam takes bad advice and responds to the people in an imperious, disdainful manner. In response, the northern tribes revolt and split from Rehoboam's kingdom, forming their own State and appointing Yerovam (Jeroboam) as king. This is the moment that split the kingdom, never to be reunited.

  • October 19 · 13 min

    #300 | Melakhim Aleph ch.11 - Solomon's Sins

    "In his old age, his wives turned away Solomon’s heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to God." How did the wisest of men make such a blunder? Did Solomon actually worship idolatry? --- To support us, please donate at: https://buymeacoffee.com/alexisrael https://patreon.com/u51407457 Special parsha Friday video at alexisrael.org/whatsapp

  • October 17 · 9 min

    #298 | Melakhim Aleph ch.9 - A Story of Twenty Cities

    Our chapter speaks of twenty cities that Shlomo transfers to Hiram king of Tyre. Why is Solomon giving away land in the Land of Israel? Why was Hiram unsatisfied with the cities? What might we learn about the state of the economy during the latter Solomonic years?

  • October 14 · 10 min

    #297 | Melakhim Aleph ch.8 - The Temple Dedication

    Chapter 8 describes the festive dedication of the Temple. Our podcast discusses aspects of Solomon's magnificent prayer: 1. Does God reside in the Temple? 2. Is the Temple a Jewish institution or a universal house of prayer?

Showing 1–20 of 89 episodes