The Tanakh Podcast

Today we put Isaiah's famous prophecy into context: "They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."

Today we 1. Give an introduction to Sefer Yishayahu, and 2. Discuss Isaiah's strident condemnation of sacrifices. Are sacrifices wrong?

Today we conclude with a reflection on the broad message of the Book of Kings (Sefer Melakhim)

We are nearing the Hurban. Today we study the personality of King Yehoyakim who oppresses the nation and repudiates the warnings of the prophet Jeremiah.

Today we discuss the assassination of King Josiah and why despite Josiah's teshuva, God was unprepared to pardon the nation.

The priests discover a Sefer Torah in the Temple and when Josiah reads it, his is thrust into panic. What was this scroll? Had the Torah been lost to the Jewish people? Or is it possibly a different document than the Five Books of Moses?

Menashe is the most evil king of all. Idolatry, murder, magic and divination - he does it all! The Talmud claims that he murdered the prophet Isaiah! as such, for the Book of Kings, the damage he has wrought is irreparable. Menashe is responsible for the Hurban! But Divrei Hayamim (Chronicles) offers a different story!

Hezekiah gets sick and prays and is saved. Hezekiah receives a visiting Babylonian king, and is rebuked by the prophet. How do these two stories fit into the wider narrative of Hezekiah? The question we shall address is whether one is to rely on one's own efforts, or to place one's faith exclusively in God.

Today we describe the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem - the despair, the psychological intimidation by Rav-Shakeh, Hizkiyahu's religious response; and lastly, God's miracle. We also discuss the archaeological records of this event, and its implications.

Our chapter introduces Hizkiyahu with "There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him." Quite an accolade! Today we chart his efforts to restore monotheism in Jerusalem: the grand celebration of Pesach in Jerusalem, his enthusiasm for national unity, and his promotion of religious study.