Questions tagged [tanach]
An acronym of "Torah" (Five Books of Moses), "Neviim" (Prophets), and "Kesuvim" (Writings). The three books together form the "Written Torah".
662
questions
3
votes
1answer
82 views
Ibn Ezra List of Secrets
Often times, Ibn Ezra will say something to the effect of "There is a secret here", and provide perhaps a few terse phrases by way of explanation.
For example, there is his famous Sod ...
4
votes
2answers
89 views
Psalm 82, G.d-Elyon
I would like to have an explanation of Psalm 82. According to an absurd interpretation, G.d and Elyon are different individuals. In the Psalm it would be written that "G.d resides in the assembly ...
-5
votes
1answer
48 views
Ephod and Urim Tummim [closed]
Was the Ephod an electrical-technological object to communicate at a distance? I 1Samuele 23: 9-12 seems to be used as an iphon. Where is it possible to read comments on this? There is nothing on the ...
-2
votes
2answers
54 views
The Tanakh books and the number 24 - what preceded what?
The Talmud evidently describes the existence of numerous extra-Biblical works (Apocrypha?).
When the sages decided on the canon (Bava_Batra.14b?), was it decided on each book separately and the number ...
5
votes
1answer
78 views
Sources used by Maimonides in Mishneh Torah-Avodat Kochavim 1:1
In Mishneh Torah-Avodat Kochavim 1:1 Rambam states:
"During the times of Enosh, mankind made a great mistake, and the wise men of that generation gave thoughtless counsel. Enosh himself was one ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Bells on the Kohen's tunic - what are they for?
What are they for bells that bring the priests in exodus and Leviticus?
I find no comments about Rashi or other rabbis.
0
votes
1answer
91 views
Typically how long it takes to finish one page/chapter of the Hebrew bible? [closed]
What is the average time/day/months a prophet can finish writing one page or chapter before writing the next? I can't find a resource online other than how many years it took to finish the whole book.
...
4
votes
1answer
55 views
How old was Binyamin when he and his brothers went down to meet Yosef
Just like the title reads. Citing the interaction between the brothers and Yosef in Egpyt during the famine retold in Bereishit 42-44, I am curious to know if any mefarshim comment on the age of ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Shekhinah and death penalty [closed]
Shalom. Seeing the Shekhinah (probably the fire from where Gd speaks (Deuteronomy 4,12; 5,4) was liable to death according to Exodus 33,22? The Shekhinah is not G-d's face (panim), right?
3
votes
2answers
249 views
Is this stated in the Talmud?
Those who are cruel to the kind, are kind to the cruel. I heard it was stated in the Talmud, but not able to find it. Thoughts?
8
votes
2answers
145 views
The Rabbis of the Septuagint
I’m familiar with the Talmudic account of the Septuagint, but I would like to know if there are any sources/Midrashim that allude to who the 70 rabbis/scholars were and why THEY were chosen to ...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Is the 1985 JPS Tanach translation available online?
Is the latest 1985 JPS available online?
I recall seeing it in the past
I have a memory of seeing it online.. and some remarks in some chat or forum somewhere where people said oh I didn't know it was ...
2
votes
3answers
113 views
What does 'inspired by God" mean?
Some people say that God wrote the Torah. That is clear and I understand it. Others say that people wrote the Torah. That is also clear and I understand it. Then there are people who say that ...
2
votes
2answers
56 views
Did Shlomo haMelech use the gold his father accumulated?
I once heard in a shiur that Shlomo haMelech did not use the money that his father Dovid had saved up for the building of the first Beis HaMikdash because a) it was money captured at war b) it should ...
3
votes
2answers
165 views
Did Jews believe other gods really existed as well, or were they just fake gods?
Judging from the Tanakh, did ancient Jews also believe other gods like Baal actually existed? Or did the just believe they were fake gods, that people believe in but don't actually exist?
Looking at 1 ...
1
vote
2answers
262 views
Why are the big heroes of the Tanach not perfect?
Adam and Eve ate the forbidden apple.
Cain killed Abel.
Abraham and Sarah abandoned Ismael and Hagar.
Jacob was Blessed in a cruel move by Rivkah.
Joseph was arrogant and his brothers left him almost ...
2
votes
2answers
91 views
What happened to Yisro?
What happened to Yisro after he went back to Midyan to convert his family?
שמות 18:27
Also, is he mentioned anywhere after in tanach?
(him, not his descendants)
2
votes
2answers
110 views
Why was Nevuchadnezer able to command horses not to whinny, and birds not to fly?
In the second chapter of Daniel in verse 38, At the beginning of his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream Daniel explains "Hashem, gave you rule over People, wild breasts and birds of heaven, ...
1
vote
0answers
95 views
The Torah Transmission Date Discrepancies?
I'm curious to know the dates of birth and death of the following Torah transmitters, who appear in Pirkei Avot, since I've seen conflicting dates when doing some independent research:
Shimon HaTzadik
...
7
votes
2answers
699 views
How to apply the Masoretic note, “2x, once plene and once defectively” to Ruth 1:1?
In Ruth 1:1, there is a Masoretic note on שְׁפֹט which I do not understand:
The picture is a little unclear, but the note says (I have highlighted the letters with a dot above them):
ב חד מל וחד חס
...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
Instances of epic poetry in Tanach?
In the book "Mevo Lekitvei Hakodesh" - "Introduction to The Holy Scriptures" by Shmuel Shrira, he writes that there are different types of poetry or songs ("shirah") in ...
1
vote
3answers
96 views
Did Yechezkel (Ezekiel) bring the dead back to life, or did he just say a prophecy about it?
See here - https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16135/jewish/Chapter-37.htm
The question is if he actually brought them to life, or if he simply said a prophecy about it and Hashem was the one ...
3
votes
2answers
143 views
Was Abraham given a scripture?
According to the Quran, Abraham was given a scripture just like Moses.
This is certainly ˹mentioned˺ in the earlier Scriptures— the
Scriptures of Abraham and Moses. [Quran 87/18-19]
The scripture ...
6
votes
4answers
548 views
Why was Yehoshua chosen to lead the Israelits and not Kaleb?
We can see that Kaleb as well as Yehoshua tried to convince the Israelits not to believe to the spies and enter the state of Israel. Moreover, it seems that Kaleb was more dominant in his trial to ...
2
votes
2answers
58 views
Anomalous root word frequency in Scripture
Is there a program available online that can detect statistically significant higher incidence of a specific root (שרש), and/or of a specific sequence of letters, in a specific portion of Tanach. For ...
2
votes
1answer
171 views
In a life or death situation is breaking the Torah permissible?
In a situation where you could die (or other Jews could), would you be allowed to break the rules in order to survive?
4
votes
1answer
303 views
Do you have the source for the quote about not trusting liars
Does anyone remember a quote about how once someone is a confirmed liar nothing they say or said can be trusted and should be questioned?
I cannot find the exact words.
5
votes
1answer
74 views
Good picture seforim (books) for nach [duplicate]
I am having a hard time keeping track of all of the places and wars in Sefer Yehoshua and Shoftim (and probably will for the rest of nach). Are there any good seforim which go through nach and have ...
2
votes
1answer
111 views
Are there Traditional Jewish sources say that the story of Adam and Chava is a metaphor?
(Original: Are there any traditional Jewish sources that state that the story of Adam Harishon is a metaphor and/or that there were other intelligent human beings already on the earth prior to Adam’s ...
2
votes
2answers
117 views
כּלּה kallâh “bride, spouse” < כּלל kâlal “to make perfect”?
Reading Strong's Real Hebrew dictionary, I discovered that כּלּה kallâh "bride, spouse" < כּלל kâlal "to make perfect". What does a bride have to do with perfection?
cf. Hebrew ...
0
votes
2answers
55 views
Biblical Hebrew words for “sister” & “bride” interchangeable? “sister” can mean “friend”?
Paul M. Conner, O.P., Celibate Love p. 23 (PDF p. 27), claims:
In Hebrew the terms "sister" and "bride" do not always have literal application. Often they are interchangeable. ...
-3
votes
2answers
63 views
Do some scholars believe that “לנבא” (“lenabe”) meant “to philosophise”/“to entertain”/“to dramatise”?
I read with interest Julian Jaynes' Bicamerlism book where he claims that lenabe was mistranslated as "to prophetise" in LXX which also influenced Jewish thought. Later on, I wrote out of ...
-5
votes
1answer
41 views
do tanach teach original sin? [closed]
does that verses give a christian notion that man can not be righteous and have original sin?
isaiah 48:8
Neither did you hearken, neither did you know, nor was your ear opened from then, for I knew ...
4
votes
0answers
38 views
Are there any examples of “par ha'elem davar” in Tanakh or Talmud?
In Lev. 4:13-15, we learn
If it is the whole community of Israel that has erred and the matter escapes the notice of the congregation, so that they do any of the things which by the LORD’s ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
The four letter name vs. Ado-nai
In hundreds of verses (such as Psalms 51:17 אֲ֭דֹ-נָי שְׂפָתַ֣י תִּפְתָּ֑ח וּ֝פִ֗י יַגִּ֥יד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃) God is named with the word Ado-nai seemingly referring to the same pronunciation and meaning ...
3
votes
0answers
83 views
What is the rationale for only marking certain letters with sheva, when they are the last letter in a word?
In printed and manuscript editions of Tanach, I've noticed that a sheva on the final letter of a word is almost never marked, and is meant to be inferred.
The two exceptions I've come across are:
A ...
3
votes
0answers
48 views
Why is נַעֲרָ sometimes marked as a keri uketiv and sometimes not?
The word נַעֲרָה na'arah (girl, maiden, young lady) is almost uniformly spelled in the Torah in the form נַעֲרָ, without the concluding heh.
However, it seem that it is marked as an instance of keri ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
Which nations were the Cherethites and Pelethites?
Which nations were the Cherethites and Pelethites?
Divrei Hayamim I - I Chronicles - Chapter 18:17 And Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of
David ...
4
votes
0answers
25 views
Sheva and Dedan
Is there any connection between Sheva and Dedan, sons of Yokshan ben Avraham (Beresheet 25:3, Divrei Hayamim 1:1:32) and Sheva and Dedan, sons of Ra'ama ben Cush (Beresheet 10:7)?
3
votes
1answer
580 views
Why was Shaul prophecising naked?
In 1 Shemuel 19:24, Shaul HaMelech is mentioned as taking off his clothes, laying naked, and prophesying. And the end of the passuk seems to indicate that prophesying naked was occasionally a trait of ...
1
vote
1answer
181 views
Are there any cases in the Tanakh where the form of the word could ambiguously have either the root יָרֵא (fear) or רָאָה (see)?
Abijah originally asked this question in Biblical Hermeneutics (https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/52502/translating-forms-of-yirah-as-fear-or-seeing). Abijah stated how the question ...
0
votes
0answers
75 views
Shaul's genealogy compared to David's genealogy
David's full genealogy is outlined in both in Ruth 4:18-24 (although without Yehudah here) and in Divrei Hayamim 1:2:3-15:
Yehudah-Peretz-Chetzron-Ram-Aminadav-Nachshon-Salma-Boaz-Oved-Yishai-David.
...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
Why in Sidra Ki Tavo G-d is intended to curse the source - trees and not the product (oil and wine)
In Sidra Ki Tavo, Book of Deuteronomy 28:39-40. It is mentioned that if the sons of Israel won't obey G-d commands and Mitzvot they will get punishments.
כְּרָמִים תִּטַּע, וְעָבָדְתָּ; וְיַיִן לֹא-...
1
vote
1answer
112 views
Who payed for the money that Joseph returned to his brothers?
It is known that at the first time Joseph ask to return the money that his brother paid for the grains to their bags. Joseph was a leader of the Egypt nation. The money he got for the grains belongs ...
1
vote
1answer
63 views
Why didn't Abraham try to persuade Sodom people to repent and regret for their sins?
It is known that Abraham was strong spiritually and physically. He won the war of the four kings. He was afraid of nothing but G-d. It is also known that Abraham tried to ask for mercy and tried to ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
Why did Rachel cooperated with Lea in deceiving Jacob?
Rachel is considered one of Jewish mothers and known in her holiness. Why did she cooperate with Lea and gave her the signs without informing Jacob. Moreover, she knew how eager (spiritually) Jacob to ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
Why did Jacob keep working for Lavan 7 additional years and didn't resign and divorce Lea
After the rotten lie of Lavan to Jacob and replacing Lea with Rachel. Why did Jacob keep working for additional 7 years? Didn't he understand that he couldn't trust Lavan and he could lie him again ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Why did Abraham forced his slave Eliezer to swear him about finding Itzhak shidduch
It is known that Abraham forces Eliezer to swear him about finding Itzhak Shidduch. Why did he need to force him to swear. Let's assume that Eliezer would have brought the wrong Shidduch, Abraham and ...
1
vote
1answer
121 views
How did Amram (Mose's father) marry Yochevet his aunt?
It is known that according to Halacha it is forbidden to marry your aunt. How come that Amram (Mose's father) married his aunt - Yochevet. As mentioned in Exodus 6:20:
וַיִּקַּח עַמְרָם אֶת-יוֹכֶבֶד ...
1
vote
1answer
232 views
Why the Jews didn't take the Egyptians' property in darkness plague
It is known that Jews took the vast majority of Egyptians' property was collected on the sea edge. Why didn't they take their property in dark plague? Why did they have to loan their property and did ...
