Rav Joe's 929 Tanakh Podcast

Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.14

War between the king in the north (Yehoash) and the king in the south (Amatzia). These two kings are succeeded by their sons, Azaria in Yehuda and Yerevam in Israel. And who is Yerevam's right hand man? None other than Yonah the son of Amitai!. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.13

A new king, Yehoash, launches a project of restoration in Jerusalem after the abuses of Atalya. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.11

Ilana Stein will take us from 8 to 11 focusing on the story of Atalia. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.8, https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.9, https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.10

Elisha's tumultous final chapters where he plays with inflation and deflation as he defeats foreign armies and makes axes float. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.6, https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.7

The amazing story of the leprosy of Na'aman being cured by Elisha and then transferred to Elisha's student, Geichazi. In our audio today we suggest that our story may provide a new understanding of what _tzara'at_ is all about. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.5

Back by popular demand in today's audio is Rafi Addlestone - who manages to combine Jeff Buckley with Arugula and utter the eternal line 'prophets are no replacement for an effective welfare state.' Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.4

A fascinating chapter. The kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom have formed an alliance against the King of Moab. The three armies appear as if they’re about to be routed by Moab, until Elisha steps in on their behalf. Elisha brings about a miracle, but still, our chapter laments the destruction of beautiful trees and fertile fields in the midst of war. Text for this chapter can be found here: https:/...

Eliyahu's ascent into the whirlwind as Elisha watches on. In my audio I try to connect the dots between our chapter and the book of Joshua to explain something simple but radical that gets to the heart of Eliyahu's project. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.2

We begin sefer Melachim II with Eliyahu and King Achaziyahu. In Eliyahu’s attempt to hide from the King’s men, we see once again that Eliyahu’s zealotry needs to be tempered by Hashem. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.1

We read of the visit of the king of judah to the king of israel and of a new prophet - Michayahu - who decides to tell truth to power about the folly of a military campaign. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.22

The story of Achav and his desire for the vineyard of his neighbour Navot. In our audio, Rav Alex Israel, world expert on Sefer Melachim and astute observer of Israeli society, considers the significance of this story of government, corruption, violence and prophetic political critique for a week in which Israel holds its elections. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https...

We take a break from Eliyahu for a moment for some international relations and war with Ben Hadad of Aram. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.20

After Eliyahu's great victory at Har Carmel against the Baal prophets he is now forced to flee to the desert as he realises that Achav is still in power and Izevel is still queen. There God gives him a message that is one of the most powerful statements of the Jewish understanding of God and of what it means to be a Jewish leader. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: htt...

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.18

This recording focuses on the first part of the chapter - Eliyahu's meeting with Ovadyahu - two prophets with two fundamentally opposed ways of confronting a hostile regime. Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.18

Audio today tries to unpick whether Eliyahu's declaration of a drought is admirable or abominable. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.17

While Asa's reign is steady in Yehuda, the house of Basha falls in Israel followed by a succession of short lived kings, until we get to Achav... hold on to your seats everybody. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.16

Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.15

Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.14

Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.13

The two state solution: one of the most significant chapters for future Biblical history. Rehavam, Shlomo's son, becomes king and presents himself as a tyrant. Yerevam's rebellion causes the kingdom to split and for the rest of Biblical history the land of Israel will be split into two kingdoms - Israel in the north and Yehuda in the south. Hebrew and English text for this chapter can be f...

We felt that things were too good to last and now they go downhill, very fast. A king shouldn’t have too many wives – Shlomo has 1,000. A king’s role is serve God as leader of the people. Shlomo worships, or at least enables others to worship, a wide variety of pagan gods. Shlomo’s story has left me with a lot of thoughts. The pomp and the grandeur felt so foreign to us – that’s not how Jews do it...

Things begin to go down hill for Shlomo: Hashem gives him a warning, Egypt is calling, allies are displeased and there is gold everywhere. Alan Levenson of Modi'in, takes the long view placing these chapters not only within the span of Shlomo's life, but connecting them back to the initial presentation of kingship in Israel - which fortuitously happens to be in this week's parsha. Hebr...

Text for this chapter can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Kings.8