Biblical Foundations Academy International Podcast with Keith Johnson

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—combines two passages and covers Jeremiah 1:1–2:28 and 3:4. These Prophet readings accompany the Torah portions Matot (Numbers 30:2–32:42) and Masei (Numbers 33:1–36:13). These passages begin with the calling and commission of the prophet Jeremiah, and God’s assurance that He will strengthen and defend Jeremiah against the contempt and...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—combines two passages and covers Jeremiah 1:1–2:28 and 3:4. These Prophet readings accompany the Torah portions Matot (Numbers 30:2–32:42) and Masei (Numbers 33:1–36:13). These passages begin with the calling and commission of the prophet Jeremiah, and God’s assurance that He will strengthen and defend Jeremiah against the contempt and...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Judges 11:1–33. It accompanies the Torah portion Chukat (Numbers 19:1–22:1). This Haftorah is the story of Jephthah, a renegade warrior who is recruited to defend a portion of Israel against an invasion by the neighboring Ammonites. After failing to dissuade the Ammonites, Jephthah leads a successful campaign against them, freeing Is...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is 1 Samuel 11:14–12:22. It accompanies the Torah portion Korach (Numbers 16:1–18:32). This week’s Haftorah begins with the coronation of Saul, the first king of Israel. During the inauguration celebration the prophet Samuel castigates the people for having rejected God as their king in favor of a human monarch. Nevertheless, Samuel ass...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Joshua 2:1–24. It accompanies the Torah portion Sh’lach (Numbers 13:1–15:41). This Haftorah relates the story of the two spies who go to Jericho in advance of Israel’s entrance into the land of Canaan. They are protected by a woman named Rahab, who confesses, “The LORD your God is the only God in heaven above and on earth below.” In...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Judges 13:2–25. It accompanies the Torah portion Nasso (Numbers 4:21–7:89). This Haftorah begins the famous story of Samson. After 40 years of Philistine oppression, God promises to raise up a deliverer. A divine messenger announces the birth and mission of Samson and instructs his parents about certain special requirements concernin...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Jeremiah 32:6–27. It accompanies the Torah portion Behar (Leviticus 25:1–26:2). The context of this passage is the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. It recounts God’s instruction to Jeremiah to purchase a parcel of land, an act that presages the eventual restoration and rebuilding of the city. Before the nation w...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Jeremiah 16:19–17:14. It accompanies the Torah portion Bechukotai (Leviticus 26:3–27:34). This week’s reading speaks of the futility of false gods, religious lies, and trusting in man, followed by God’s promise to teach people about Himself. God speaks of searching men’s hearts and dealing with them according to their deeds. The pass...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Ezekiel 44:15–31. It accompanies the Torah portion Emor (Leviticus 21:1–24:23). This Haftorah looks forward to the restoration of a faithful priesthood, whose principal responsibility can be summed up as teaching the people “what is sacred and what is profane, and what is clean and unclean.” Listen to Keith Johnson and Nehemia Gordon...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—combines two passages and covers Ezekiel 22: 1–19 and Amos 9:7–15. These Prophet readings accompany the Torah portions Achrei Mot (Leviticus 16:1–18:30) and Kedoshim (Leviticus 19:1–20:27). In the first of these two passages Ezekiel is commissioned to sit as a judge over the city of Jerusalem. He enumerates the crimes that have led to G...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—combines two passages and covers 2 Kings 4:42–5:19 and 7:3–20. These Prophet readings accompany the Torah portions Tazria (Leviticus 12:1–13:59) and Metzora (Leviticus 14:1–15:33). These Haftorahs relate the history of two miracles. The first caused the Syrian general Naaman to declare: “Now I know that there is no God in the whole worl...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—combines two passages and covers 2 Kings 4:42–5:19 and 7:3–20. These Prophet readings accompany the Torah portions Tazria (Leviticus 12:1–13:59) and Metzora (Leviticus 14:1–15:33). These Haftorahs relate the history of two miracles. The first caused the Syrian general Naaman to declare: “Now I know that there is no God in the whole worl...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is 2 Samuel 6:1–7:17. It accompanies the Torah portion Shemini (Leviticus 9:1–11:47). This passage relates the story of moving the Ark of God to the City of David. David wanted to build a temple or house for God, but was not permitted to do so. In fact, God promised that He would be the one to build a “house” for David, and that David’s...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Jeremiah 7:21–8:3 and 9:22–23. It accompanies the Torah portion Tzav (Leviticus 6:1–8:36). This Haftorah contains Jeremiah’s scathing rebuke of the nation of Judah for its desecration of the temple called by God’s name. He also announces the coming punishment. The reading concludes with a familiar passage in which God admonishes us n...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Isaiah 43:21–44:23. It accompanies the Torah portion Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1–5:26). In this Haftorah the prophet castigates Israel for its idolatry and unfaithfulness, at the same time offering encouragement by assuring the people of God’s willingness to forgive their sins. This passage contains some of God’s powerful monotheistic dec...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—combines two passages and covers 1 Kings 7:40–8:21. These Prophet readings accompany the Torah portions Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1–38:20) and Pekudei (Exodus 38:21–40:38). This Haftorah begins by mentioning a number of items that Solomon had contracted with Hiram, king of Tyre, to make for the temple in Jerusalem. The passage goes on to rela...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is 1 Kings 18:1–39. It accompanies the Torah portion Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11–34:35). The Torah reading relates the famous incident of the golden calf. This Haftorah deals with Israel’s worship of the false deity Baal. The prophet Elijah challenges his people to decide, once and for all, who they will follow: Baal or Yehovah. Seeing God’s...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Ezekiel 43:10–27. It accompanies the Torah portion Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20–30:10). The context of this passage is the future restored temple in Jerusalem, giving instructions for the building and dedication of the altar of burnt offerings. The prophet emphasizes the need to carefully avoid the errors and unfaithfulness that led to the...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is 1 Kings 5:26–6:13 (5:12–6:13 in English). It accompanies the Torah portion Terumah (Exodus 25:1–27:19). This Haftorah provides an overview of King Solomon’s construction of the temple in Jerusalem. God promises Solomon that if he faithfully keeps the divine statutes and commandments God will fulfill all the promises made to David and...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Jeremiah 34:8–22; 33:25–26. It accompanies the Torah portion Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1–24:18). Jeremiah announces God’s impending punishment on the kingdom of Judah as a result of its persistent violation of his covenant. Despite a brief reform led by King Zedekiah, the nation turns its back on the righteous requirements of the covenant...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Isaiah 6:1–7:6; 9:5–6. It accompanies the Torah portion Yitro (Exodus 18:1–20:23). This passage records Isaiah’s calling and commission as a prophet, which begins with a dramatic revelation of the throne of God. The prophet then reassures King Ahaz of Judah that a hostile coalition of Syria and Israel will not succeed in dethroning h...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Judges 4:4–5:31. It accompanies the Torah portion Beshalach (Exodus 13:17–17:16). This week’s passage relates the history of the prophetess Deborah, who rallied a coalition of Israelite tribes to fight for their freedom from the harsh oppression of Jabin, a Canaanite king. Responding to the pleas of his people, God led them to a deci...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Ezekiel 28:25–29:21. It accompanies the Torah portion Va’era’ (Exodus 6:2–9:35). Echoing the theme of the Torah portion, this passage speaks of the punishment of Egypt, this time at the hands of the Babylonians. The punishment is attributed to the Pharaoh’s extreme arrogance and self-deification, as well as Egypt’s unreliable support...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Ezekiel 37:15–28. It accompanies the Torah portion Vayigash (Genesis 44:18–47:27). Relating a vision from God, the prophet Ezekiel foretells how the scattered peoples of Israel and Judah will ultimately be brought back to their ancestral land and be reunited as a single nation. They will come to recognize their sin and God will clean...

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is 1 Kings 3:15–4:1. It accompanies the Torah portion Mikeitz (Genesis 41:1–44:17). In this passage we read a famous example of the God-given wisdom of King Solomon. The king’s life-saving solution to a bitter dispute inspired his people and demonstrated his special ability to administer divine justice. Listen to Keith Johnson and Nehem...