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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Wednesday · 12 min
#277 | 2 Samuel ch.12 - "You are the man!"
The prophet comes to David and accuses David of murder and adultery and pronounces David's punishment. David admits his sin. Batsheva's child dies.
Tuesday · 13 min
#276 | 2 Samuel ch.11 - David's Sin: Batsheva and Uriah
In the stories of David there is no sin greater than David's adultery and murder in this chapter. We shall see how sin leads to complication and complication to further sin as David is tempted to use his royal power to cover his own misdeeds.
Monday · 8 min
#275 | 2 Samuel ch.10 - Ammon Declares War
David sends a diplomatic delegation to console the ammonite king Hannun after the death of his father. However Hannun humiliates David's officials. This is in essence a declaration of war against Israel as Ammon rally an entire alliance of forces to fight David's army. Yoav and his brother Avishai show their phenomenal military prowess in their management of the battle.
Sunday · 13 min
#274 | 2 Samuel ch.9 - Kindness to the House of Saul
David decides to show his kindness and loyalty to the House of Shaul. He seeks out any remaining descendants and discovers that Mefiboshet, Yonatan's son, a handicapped man, is still alive. Through the story we meet Tziva, the caretaker of Saul's estate, who has essentially assumed control over the assets of the former king. David honours Mefiboshet by having him eat at the royal table, and he instructs Tziva to serve his master Mefiboshet. (However with Mefiboshet in Jerusalem and Tziva handling Saul's estate, the potential for indiscretion will be great. We will meet Tziva and Mefiboshet in later stories.
September 10 · 10 min
#273 | 2 Samuel Ch.8 - From Kingdom to Empire
David fights on every front: Philistines, Moav, Aram, Edom, Amalek, Amon, and succeeds in growing the kingdom to a veritable empire. The chapter ends with David's growing national administration. Our discussion will focus upon the military force that David is using and its justification.
September 9 · 7 min
#272 | 2 Samuel ch.7 - Why Can't David Build the Temple?
David requests to build the Temple. God says no. Why? Is it because he has blood on his hands? Our chapter offers a different reason. -- Whatsapp group - alexisrael.org/whatsapp All videos - alexisrael.org/focus
September 8 · 10 min
#271 | 2 Samuel ch.6 - David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem
David has captured Jerusalem. But how does he bring God to the city? By making a home for the Aron - the Ark of God - in Jerusalem. But a terrible accident happens as the procession makes its way - the Ark slips and Uzzah tries to save it but is killed. What is David going to do to repair the situation? And how does this relate to the argument between David and his wife, Michal bat Shaul?
September 7 · 9 min
#270 | 2 Samuel ch.5 - Jerusalem
In this chapter David becomes King over the entire nation and immediately sets to create a new capital city - Jerusalem. The entire chapter depicts the way that David solidifies and stabilizes his position as monarch. Why Jerusalem? How was it captured? -- For High Holiday content, see alexisrael.org/focus For the (silent) whatsapp group see alexisrael.org/whatsapp
September 6 · 12 min
#269 | 2 Samuel ch.4 - The Murder of Ish-Boshet
Two officers of Ish-Boshet's army come into his house and murder him in broad daylight. What do they wish to achieve? What is their motivation? In this, the third of the assassination stories, we hear yet again how David does not want to rise to the throne over the death of his political rivals. we also address two other topics: 1. Ish-Boshet's strange name. And 2. The story of the tribes of Be'erot. -- To join our whatsapp group with content for the Yamim Noraim, please go to alexisrael.org/whatsapp
September 5 · 12 min
#268 | 2 Samuel ch.3 - Reconciliation or Assassination?
Avner argues with the King, Ish-Boshet, and as he realizes that the northern faction led by Sauls' son, is weakening, he decides to capitalize on the moment and create a coalition with King David. However Yoav, David's general, has a vendetta with Avner (Avner had killed Yoav's brother) and he murders Avner. Now the peace deal is severely jeopardized. Will David manage to salvage the peace and reunite the kingdom under his rule?
September 2 · 9 min
#267 | 2 Samuel Ch.2 - "Must the sword devour forever?"
David is crowned in Yehuda. But Avner crowns Saul's son, Ish-Boshet, over the Northern Tribes. For seven years the generals - Yoav and Avner - are engaged in conflict. We witness one particularly bloody day of fighting.
September 1 · 11 min
#266 | 2 Samuel ch.1 - David's Lament
Today we address two questions: 1. Why do we receive two accounts of Saul's death? 2. Was Saul a success? Was he set up for failure?
August 31 · 8 min
#265 | 1 Samuel ch.31 - The Death of King Saul and His Sons
Saul and his three sons die in battle on Mount Gilboa. But whereas Saul's son's are killed by the enemy, Saul takes his own life. Was Shaul permitted to end his own life? What were the alternatives?
August 30 · 10 min
#264 | 1 Samuel ch.30 - Ethics and Amalek
David and his men return to Ziklag. Amalek have attacked. The town has been burnt and the women and children taken captive. David goes on the chase. In this chapter we can understand more deeply what is problematic about Amalek, and we learn some important war ethics.
August 29 · 6 min
#263 | 1 Samuel ch.29 - Dual Loyalties
The Philistines are mobilizing to fight Israel. And David and his men are mobilizing with them! Will David fight his own people? But if he doesn't fight, how will he retain his loyalty to Achish? Or will something else save David from this predicament?
August 26 · 12 min
#262 | 1 Samuel ch.28 - Raising Samuel from the Dead
War has broken out. The Philistines are attacking. Saul is terrified. He needs reassurance. God won't answer him! He resorts to a necromancer, a woman who raises spirits from the grave. And Saul chooses to raise Samuel from the dead. What will Samuel say to him? The most simple truth, but the most devastating news that Saul could ever hear. -- Music. "Ghost Town" The Specials Recorded February 2, 2023
August 25 · 9 min
#261 | 1 Samuel ch.27 - Ziklag. David in Exile.
David leaves the land of Israel and the jurisdiction of King Saul. Now he is safe. But he still needs to play a double game - fighting the enemies of Israel on the one hand, and presenting himself as loyal to Achish, the Philistine king, on the other. -- Originally recorded January 31, 2023
August 23 · 10 min
#260 | 1 Samuel ch.26 - David Spares Shaul ... Again!
Once again, David has a chance to assassinate Shaul, but he refrains from taking the king's life. But Chapter 26 seems almost a repeat of Chapter 24! What is the need to relate both of these stories?
August 23 · 11 min
#259 | 1 Samuel ch.25 - Naval, Abigail and David's Moral Test
While an outlaw, David and his men have been patrolling the Southern Border and ensuring the safety of local farms and polulations. When one of the local farmers - a rich sheep farmer called Naval - insults David and his men, refusing to share the bounty of the farm at the sheep-shearing, David decides to attack. It is the quick action of Naval's wife, Avigail, that saves David from performing a massacre. But this story reminds us of the violence that David can wield, and of the restraint that he has employed towards Shaul. First recorded: January 29, 2023
August 22 · 10 min
#258 | 1 Samuel ch.24 - Cutting a Corner (of Saul's Coat!)
In this chapter, David gets close enough to Saul that he can cut off the corner of his coat. Why doesn't David murder Saul? What moral principles guide David? -- Originally recorded January 28, 2023

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