Vol. 37:3
The Book of Joshua represents one of Israel's ideal eras. Through a careful survey of narratives in which Joshua appears, the article uses rabbinic statements as catalysts to explain the roots of his phenomenal success as a leader, examining his role as Moses' disciple, his silence and speech at critical moments, and his ultimate emergence as Moses' rightful successor.
Lot is an ambivalent character whose story ends in humiliation. The article argues that his downfall was entirely his own fault: his religious egocentrism led him to abandon the safety of Zoar despite the angel's promise, setting in motion the circumstances leading to his daughters' act.
The article compares and contrasts six cases of suicide in the Bible (Abimelech, Samson, Saul, Saul's squire, Ahithophel, Zimri), examining the biblical narrator's attitude toward suicide and the literary function of the suicide story in the broader context of what we know about the individuals who opted for this drastic measure.
Various ancient and modern translations are suggested for Psalm 22:30, a verse with scribal errors and a later editorial addition. The article examines the etymology and literary structure of the verse alongside critical opinions, offering a modified translation that better reflects the Masoretic text.
Examining Genesis 47:7-10, the article argues that Jacob's interaction with Pharaoh was a powerful invocation of the Divine rather than a mere salutation. Through a survey of the root b-r-kh throughout the pre-Jacob narrative and Jacob's own experiences, the article shows how the text prepares readers to understand Jacob's blessing of Pharaoh as a momentous theological act.
The article examines the function of the Hebrew root y-r-kh (thigh/oath organ) in Genesis, arguing that Jacob's yrkh served as a constant physical reminder of his oath and his need for truthfulness. The angel's injury to Jacob's yrkh, causing him to limp, is connected to Jacob's transition from deception to forthrightness as represented in his new name Israel.
The emotional climax of the Joseph-cycle (Gen. 37-50) comes when Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. The article examines how Joseph carefully chose his words of reconciliation, seizing the moment by mirroring Judah's approach and making himself vulnerable to heal the breach between the siblings.
A review of Sol Scharfstein's translation-cum-commentary on The Book of Genesis (KTAV Publishing House, 2009), examining his didactic approach of using modern idiom and astrophysical terminology to redirect young Jewish readers toward faith in the literalness of the Bible.
A report on the 46th Annual International Bible Contest (Hidon HaTanakh) held on Israel Independence Day, in which 24 countries participated with 47 contestants due to the global economic situation, including first-time participants from Sweden and Switzerland. Contest results and highlights are described.
A letter responding to a previous article on the concept of the ger (stranger/sojourner) in Jewish law, noting inconsistencies in the term's usage in the Torah, and discussing the inclusion of the ger in the Covenant as described in Deuteronomy 29, with reference to the work of scholars Krauss and Yehezkel Kaufmann.