The Tanakh Podcast

Chapter 2 zooms in on the human, and humanity's uniqueness: Spirituality, responsibility, loneliness and relationships.

What is the purpose Creation narrative? Is it intended to teach us that the world was brought into being in a mere six days? Or does it teach us something about the nature of life, being, human purpose and dignity?

Tanakh ends with a beginning. The Galut, the Exile happens, but there is a Return, an "Aliyah" - this is the "end without an ending."

Indiana Jones went looking for it. But where is it? Our chapter gives us a few clues!

Yoshiyahu is another exemplary king. Rising to power as a child, he leads the nation back to God. We will focus on the remarkable discovery of a Sefer Torah in the storerooms of the Temple. What is this scroll? Was the Torah lost for a while?

Do we suffer for our parents sins? Today we suffer the most evil king of Yehudah - King Mennasseh. In the book of Kings his idolatry is the cause of the Hurban - the national exile. But here in Divrei Hayamim, we witness Menasseh repenting and recanting from his idolatrous ways. What is the truth? Why does Divrei Hayamim report this previously unknown story?

The Assyrians attack, but since Hezekiah has led the nation to such devotion to God, we can rest assured that God will save His nation. The story here has a radically different emotional tone and emphasis than that in Melakhim and Isaiah.

The Temple has been purified, Pesach has been celebrated on a national scale, but how will the Mikdash be maintained? Now Hizkiyahu asks the nation to bring tithes - teruma and ma'aser - the tithes - to the Temple. The nation offer enthusiastically. We discuss the similarities between the details of this chapter and those of the 2nd Temple prioroties.

Hizkiyahu gathers the entire nation - North and South - in Jerusalem. An event unseen since the days of Solomon. And we will focus on several surprising aspects of this gathering.

We now start 4 chapters that describe the reign of King Hizkiyahu. The first 3 of these chapters depict Hizkiyahu's purification of the Temple, and his renewal of the covenant in a mass celebration of Pesach in Jerusalem - in his very first year in power.

The Assyrians are coming. This causes a devastating civil war between the northern and southern states, and a total capitulation in Jerusalem to Assyrian idolatry.

A short chapter today! It speaks of King Yotam, about whom it is said that he was "flawless" - quite an accolade! --- To support my work: ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/alexisrael⁠

Uzziah is depicted in glowing terms and achievements. But then he gets too full of himself! - He enters the Temple and ascends the altar to offer the incense. When he is confronted by the priests, he gets furious. The result is that he is afflicted with the divine disease of Tzaraat. Here again, we see a king with a positive phase and a negative one.

The narrative of Amaziah is told quite differently than in Sefer Melakhim. Here it seems almost curated to make a theological point. And we shall see the way that Amaziah's story mirrors closely that of his father. --- To support my work: ⁠Patreon⁠ ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/alexisrael

King Yoash's story is told in two parts. His early life, before the death of his adopted father - the High Priest - is virtuous. But after Yehoyada's demise, he turns to idolatry and silencing his critics, including the murder of the son of the man who raised him. Punishment quickly ensues.

Athalia seizes the throne. The High Priest - Yehoyada - waits six years and then stages a mutiny. --- Patreon https://buymeacoffee.com/alexisrael

In this chapter we have two episodes of murder; 1. Ahazyahu, King of Yehuda is assassinated by Yehu ben Nimshi in the mutiny at Jezreel Seeing that the king, her son, is dead, Attalya takes the reigns of power and rules Yehuda, 2. But then we see baby Yoash who is snatched from a "the murdered" in the palace in Jerusalem, and is hidden by his aunt for 7 years.

King Yehoram follows the exemplary King Yeshoshafat, but he brings the murderous, idolatrous northern culture to Jerusalem. He receives a warning letter from (the deceased) Elijah the prophet. Things do not end well for Yehoram. He kills his brothers - all his sons but one are murdered; and he dies of an awful intestinal disease.

In an episode not recorded by Sefer Melakhim, Yehoshafat is attacked and invaded by three foreign powers. He launches a counterattack, but it is God who is really fights the war.

Yeshoshafat is reprimanded by the prophet. His response is to embark on a campaign to bring justice to the land.

The righteous Yehoshafat has his son marry Ahab's daughter. They launch a joint military campaign. Now Ahab is the most evil and idolatrous of kings. His wife actively persecutes God's prophets. Ahab's greatest critic is Eliyahu Hanavi. Jewish unity is nice. But should Yehoshafat be associating with this sinful king, let alone marry his son to his daughter? The prophet at the start of...

Today we begin 4 chapters about King Yehoshafat who teaches Torah and is rewarded with wealth, power and influence.

Up to this point, Assa has a stellar record in biblical terms. But now, he makes a "covenant" with Syria (rather than God), relies on himself (rather than God) and ignores, even imprisons the prophet , oppresses his people, and when he gets sick consults with doctors (rather than God.) This is Assa's downturn. But he gets a very nice funeral!! ;-)

Assa leads the country to rid itself of idolatry. He then convenes the nation at the Temple to renew their allegiance to God.

Today we discuss some of the typical features that characterize the depictions of kings in Divrei Hayamim.