Questions tagged [tanach]
An acronym of "Torah" (Five Books of Moses), "Neviim" (Prophets), and "Kesuvim" (Writings). The three books together form the "Written Torah".
598
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11
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2answers
653 views
What is the most-shared name in the Torah? In Tanach?
A previous question noted that there are three distinct individuals named Amihud mentioned in the Torah, and at least one more in Divrei Hayamim. When I noticed this phenomenon in the Torah, it made ...
0
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1answer
89 views
Am Yisrael Genealogy
I'm looking for a family tree that collects all of the genealogical records of Am Yisrael in the Tanach and also shows who was in the same generation as whom (for example, if I remember correctly, ...
0
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0answers
63 views
What variations are there in the Jewish canon?
Most Jewish communities have the 24 books of the Tanakh as canon, but the Ethiopian Jewish canon varies somewhat, including, e.g., the Book of Judith and the Book of Jubilees.
Are there any other ...
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1answer
87 views
Masoretic v Septuagint
Having come across some claims, and some websites, there seems to be a disagreement between the Masoretic and Septuagint scrolls/texts and that one is more or less reliable than the other.
Are there ...
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0answers
52 views
Why is Bat-sheva called Bat-shua?
Why is Bat-sheva bat Eliam called Bat-shua bat Amiel in Divrei Hayamim 1:3:5?
The commentaries Sefaria brings merely state that the names (both Bat-sheva/Bat-shua and Eliam/Amiel) are interchangeable, ...
3
votes
2answers
143 views
Where can I download a full PDF of Tanakh?
I want to read about Judaism, and one of the best sources is to read Torah.
But as I searched, I realized it's not a single book. Rather it's a collection of 24 books and is categorized in pentateuch, ...
3
votes
1answer
518 views
May one memorize large swaths of Tanach?
It feels like a waste to memorize Keats or Cavafy when I can memorize Torah; however, I learned in yeshiva that one may not memorize psukim. What are the sources for this?
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1answer
83 views
Is there precedence in Jewish history for translating Psalm XXII 17 “they pierced my hands and my feet”? [closed]
According to Alexander Harkavy's Jewish translation of the Tanakh called "The Holy Scriptures" (first published 1916, reprinted 1936 & 1951) the ending of Psalm XXII 17 reads "they ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
Is Shechem in the time of Avimelech (son of Gidon the Judge) made of jewish people?
Gidon married a Pilegesh (second wife) from Shechem. Was she Jewish? She bore him a son Avimelech. He convinced the people of Shechem to agree that he should become king. Were the people of Shechem ...
2
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0answers
64 views
Is the Aleppo Codex hekdesh?
Every 10 or so pages of the Keter, the words ק×ש ××' ×× ××××Ø ××× ×××× are written across the top. These words are based on Vayikra 27:28, which discusses hekdesh.
Does that mean somebody actually ...
0
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2answers
92 views
Why not to Eli?
I wasn't quite sure on how to word the Title. My question is on Nach in Shmuel Alef, where in Perek 2 a Prophet, either Elkanah or as the Ralbag says it was Pinchas, they tell Eli, that because of ...
13
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1answer
165 views
How Should I Understand Gemaras Where People Quote Pesukim that Were not yet Written at the Time the Story Takes Place?
In various places in Talmud Bavli, there are stories told that take place during the times of Torah or Neviim where people in the story quote verses from prophetic books that did not yet exist at the ...
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4answers
110 views
Moses at fault for spies?
Looking to better understand if, per the sources, Moses was at fault for sending spies, especially as it relates to sending them on a seemingly military mission.
0
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1answer
36 views
Hebrew Ben Chayyim Second Rabbinic Bible is missing Joshua 6:9 to 7:1
I have a copy of the Hebrew Ben Chayyim Second Rabbinic Bible which was scanned and in the book of Joshua it is missing Joshua 6:9 to 7:1.
It is obviously a mistake and not intentional because the ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Biblical personality prepared wicks of Menorah
Is there a source that mentions a person from Nach who prepared the wicks of the Menorah? I thought it was Elkana but canāt find a source to say it was him. Could it be a different person?
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2answers
82 views
Verse in Isaiah 42:7 is referring to whom?
I was asked to clarify whether the question was referring to the "agent" or "patient", and the answer is that I was asking about the agent, not the patient. In other words, I was asking whether the ...
4
votes
1answer
82 views
Names of Moshiach
One of the more well-known appellations in ×Ŗ× "× that describes ×ש×× is צ×× (Zach 3:8, 6:12; Isaiah 4:2; Jeremiah 23:6), with the English definition a variation of "Branch" (capitalized as refers to ...
3
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0answers
49 views
According to Rashi by Avraham's prayer for Sodom he reasoned that there were 8 righteous being saved. How would Ham be considered righteous?
According to Rashi on Genesis 18:32, Abraham reasoned that 8 righteous people weren't enough to save the world so that's the limit. However given what we know about Ham (cited here and other places), ...
2
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1answer
46 views
Translating Ramban on Dovid Hamelech's birth/ancestry
I am trying to learn this with a friend but I am having trouble translating - any help would be great! Does anyone know according to Ramban what is the miracle involved in the birth of Dovid Hamelech/...
5
votes
1answer
440 views
Why is Yiftach's sacrifice of his kin looked at so negatively, while Chana's “sacrifice” of kin so positively?
According to the commentaries (who include the Ralbag, Radak, Ibn Ezra and Abarbanel) who say Yiftach didn't literally kill his daughter but rather made more of a spiritual "sacrifice", where she ...
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1answer
71 views
Why didnāt Yehuda (or Shelah) perform Chaliza for Tamar?
In (פ×Øש×Ŗ ×××©× (פ×Øק ×× we have the story of Yehuda marrying off Er to Tamar and then perform a pre-××Ŗ× ×Ŗ××Ø× version of ×××× with Onan, who also subsequently dies.
Which left Yehudaās third son,Shelah,...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
The latest date in Tanach
As far as I can tell, the latest date mentioned in Tanach is in Nechemiah 13:6:
×Ö¼Ö“Ö”× ×ּ֓ש×Ö°× Ö·×ŖÖ© ש×Ö°×ֹש×Ö“ÖØ×× ×ּש×Ö°×ŖÖ¼Ö·Ö×Ö“× ×Ö°×Ö·×ØÖ°×ŖÖ¼Ö·×ְש×ַ֤הְ×ŖÖ¼Ö°× ×Ö¶Ö½×Ö¶×Ö°Ö¾×Ö¼Öø×Ö¶×Ö ×Ö¼ÖøÖ£××ŖÖ“× ×Ö¶×Ö¾×Ö·×Ö¼Ö¶Ö×Ö¶×Ö°
for in ...
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votes
3answers
216 views
What are the rabbinic (hebrew) words that could equate to “Anti-Torah”?
What are the rabbinic (hebrew) words that could equate to "Anti-Torah"?
I am hoping there is only one. In English, I would say the word "Anti-Torah" equates to "lawless" or "lawlessness".
When I ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Why are only 4 Persian kings mentioned?
Daniel 11:2
And now, I shall tell you the truth. Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth one will become very wealthy. And when he becomes strong with his wealth, he will ...
2
votes
0answers
96 views
Why is the name “Tre Asar” in Aramaic?
All the books of Tanach are either named after a person, or are given a Hebrew name, except for Tre Asar, which is Aramaic. One would have expected the Hebrew title Shinem Asar, and indeed it is ...
0
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0answers
30 views
Bible commentaries [duplicate]
I have begun to research biblical commentaries (for the first time ever) like Ben Asher and Rashi, and am asking what would be the other commentators worth reading? I have a big list I can choose from ...
0
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3answers
199 views
Why was Joseph allowed to imprison Shimon?
Why was Joseph allowed to imprison Shimon? That seems to transgress theft (both the Ten Commandments and/or the Noahide laws)?
4
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2answers
469 views
Was Jeremiah alive during the rebuilding of the temple?
Was Jeremiah alive during the rebuilding of the temple? Please cite your sources.
5
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1answer
202 views
All explicit dates in Tanakh
What are all the dates mentioned in Tanakh?
This question seeks all dates that are explicitly mentioned in the verses. No chronological extrapolation or exposition allowed here.
The date could be ...
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vote
1answer
36 views
Should the blood of the Olah be burned or poured out?
Shalom. Iāve just noticed that Devarim 12:27 says that the blood of the Olah should be burnt on the altar. However Vayikra 1:5 says that the blood should be dashed against all sides of the altar. Has ...
3
votes
1answer
227 views
What's the maximal ordinal day of the month to be mentioned in the Torah?
Out of the 30 days of the month, what's the maximal ordinal day of the month to be mentioned in the Torah? (especially in the first five books)
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0answers
119 views
Does ehad mean “one” or “first” when used together with “rishon”?
How should ehad be translated in this phrase and why?
×ְשַ×Ö£×Ø× ×Ö·×Ö°×Ö£×Ö¼×Ŗ פÖøÖ¼×ØÖ·Ö×” ×¢Ö¹×ÖµÖ¤× ×Ö°× Ö¶×Ö°×Ö“Ö¼×Ö ×¢Ö¶×©Ö°××ØÖ“Ö£×× ×Ö°×Ö¶×ÖøÖ£× ×Ö×Ö¹× ×Ö°×Ö“× ÖµÖ¼Ö£× ×Ö“Ö½××Öø×ÖµÖ× ×Ö·×Ö·Ö× ×ַשÖøÖ¼××ØÖ“Ö„×× ×Öø×ØÖ“×שֹ×× Ö“Ö×× ×ÖøÖ¼Ö£× ×Ö°×¢Öø×Ö°×ØÖµÖ× Ö“× ...
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2answers
58 views
How does one Choose Life when Death has been decreed?
Iāve been thinking about Moshe up on Mt. Nebo and a question came to mind. If Death has been decreed, how does one continue to choose Life? Surely if one wishes to be obedient to G-d then one must in ...
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0answers
62 views
What is the standard (book) on using different parts of the Tanakh to interpret its verses?
I have been reading some of the Torah commentaries in Mikraot Gedolot and I have noticed there are a lot of references to latter parts of the Tanakh to interpret earlier parts.
I am interested in ...
2
votes
1answer
164 views
What are the original twenty books of the Tanach
I was asked to identify the original 20 books of the Tanach as they appear in the Masoretic Text but everything I found listed 24 books.
I understand that the collective name for the original books of ...
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votes
1answer
54 views
Jeremiah 29:6 - encouragement of intermarriage? [closed]
It is written to take wives and husbands, and then in the next verse to think of the welfare of the city where the Jews reside. Is it possible to see from here an encouragement of mixed marriage?
I ...
2
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0answers
42 views
Where can I find how many roots the author needs to compose for each book of the Tenach
For example: I am reading now the book of Joshua in Hebrew. It looks to me quite simple language. The author uses often the same terms. Poetry and wisdom-litterature is much more complex. My ...
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0answers
25 views
How was a covenant a Chok?
Divrei Hayamim 1, 16 quotes tehillim 105 (or vice versa) which reads
×Öø×Ö·Ö£×Ø ×Ö°×¢×Ö¹×ÖøÖ£× ×Ö¼Ö°×ØÖ“××ŖÖ×Ö¹ ×Ö¼Öø×ÖøÖ„×Ø ×¦Ö“Ö×Ö¼ÖøÖ× ×Ö°×Ö¶Ö£×ֶף ×Ö¼Ö½×Ö¹×Ø×
He is ever mindful of His covenant, the promise He gave for a ...
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votes
1answer
83 views
Samson and Hercules [closed]
I have recently heard of the notion that Samson and his story had roots in older stories and these same stories also started Hercules and that they are both based on myths. Is there any source to this ...
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0answers
78 views
HaGra about Rambam's position concerning the status of pilagshim taken by Jewish commoners
I am an Italian noahide.
My question expresses a purely intellectual curiosity, concerning the Jews and not the Gentiles.
As we know Rambam states in Hilchot Melachim 4: 4:
āA commoner is ...
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3answers
94 views
Supernatural occurrences in Tanakh not condoned by G-d
What examples do we have in Tanakh of non-righteous individuals being able to "tap into" the supernatural realm?
By "tap into", I am referring to any indication that even non-righteous individuals ...
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votes
1answer
154 views
what is a good summary of each book of tanach?
What is the basic one line summary of each book in the Tanach? It would be very convenient. Thanks for your effort!
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0answers
70 views
Does the Tanach ever use letters for numbers?
Does the Tanach ever use letters for numbers?
For example it says ×Ö·×ØÖ°×Ö¼Öø×¢Öø× ×Ö°×Öø×Ö“×× i.e. 4/four kings.. but it doesn't say it as
× ×Ö°×Öø×Ö“×× it uses the word for four (arba/arbaah), but not the ...
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0answers
74 views
Did the invention of the printing press change Judaism? [closed]
Before 1440 and the invention of the printing press, most Jewish people would not have had their own personal Tanakh. So I would assume the only place they would see one would be in a synagogue read ...
4
votes
1answer
36 views
Action of decimation of the city of Shechem admonished in Vayehi?
In Parashat Vayeshlach (34:30) Yaakov admonishes Shimon and Levi, not for their destruction of Shechem, rather for the degradation of the hitherto tenuous relationship between he and the inhabitants ...
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0answers
52 views
Why does Pirkei d'Rebbi Eliezer only connect certain berachos of Shemoneh Esrei to events in Tanach?
According to Pirkei d'Rebbi Eliezer:
The first beracha of Shemoneh Esrei, "Blessed are You, Hashem, Protector of Avraham," refers to Hashem's protecting Avraham during the war with the four kings (ch....
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1answer
66 views
Two gender switches in one Posuk “×Ö·×Ö°×Ö“× ×ְש×Öø×Öµ× ×”Ö»×Ö¼×Ö¹ ×Ö¼×Ö°×¢×Ö¹× Öø×Ŗ×Ö¹ ×ְצ֓×Ö¼×Ö¹×”
×Ö·×Ö°×Ö“× ×ְש×Öø×Öµ× ×”Ö»×Ö¼×Ö¹ ×Ö¼×Ö°×¢×Ö¹× Öø×Ŗ×Ö¹ ×ְצ֓×Ö¼×Ö¹××
Salem became His abode; Zion, His den. (Tehhilim 76.3)
In the same Posuk ×”××× becomes masculine (×”×××) and ××¢×× becomes feminine (××¢×× ×Ŗ×). In proper ...
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0answers
36 views
Pesukim in Chumash where Rashi adds in extra words or switches order
I have been trying to remember examples in chumash where Rashi uses dikduk rules to significantly change the order of words or add words to a passuk so that it has another meaning.
What are some ...
1
vote
2answers
107 views
Are there two or more prophets who have the same name?
Are there any examples of two different prophets who have the same name?
1
vote
0answers
51 views
What is the total number of Pesukim in Tanach? [duplicate]
What is the total number of Pesukim in Tanach?
This question addresses the Torah, but I have yet to find an answer for Tanach (at least, in the Jewish tradition - the answer for Christians is easily ...
