Hebrew Religion

A multitude of Biblical stories have been censored, mistranslated, ignored, and even banned by religious authorities due to their erotic, violent, or mysterious content. Here, Jonathan Kirsch recounts some of the most startling and explicit writings from the Old Testament.

Also: The Old Testament: An Introduction, Part 1 and Part 2

Young Samson, his birth foretold by an Angel of God. Lives his life as a devout Nazirite and is blessed with immense strength. Samson navigates life through his devotion to God and his fight against Philistine injustice against the Israelites. The Lord sets Samson on a path to help deliver his people from their oppressors. With the power of God in his arms he terrorizes the Philistine Army until he is betrayed by the seductive Delilah.

It’s not often that you come across a document of such religious and historical importance as The Septuagint Genesis – in fact its significance would be hard to overstate. But what is the Septuagint? Well, its name refers to the “seventy’ (actually 72) translators – six from each tribe of Israel – who translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, the primary language of Jews in Egypt at the time. This, the oldest and arguably most important translation, was the version of The Bible that Jesus himself would have read – and the one from which almost all the New Testament’s writers were quoting.

This book explores the concept of prophecy in Judaism as defined by two great figures of Jewish history. Moses Maimonides and Abraham Joshua Heschel are two influential scholars who have impacted the many streams of Judaism. A simplistic dichotomy could be made between their two perspectives labeling Maimonides as a rational philosopher and Heschel as a mystical one. Both the study of Jewish prophecy and the approaches of both of the scholars are complex topics, but not impossible to decipher. The nature of revelation is also part of this discussion.

Author Jennifer Rothschild has a story for you. It's about an unlikely couple, an unusual courtship, a beautiful wedding, and an illicit affair. Despite this situation, the marriage did not fail. It flourished. Here is the story of Hosea's love for Gomer - a woman who might have disappeared into her transgressions if not for the love of her husband. It's a beautiful illustration of the story of God and Israel.

This book clearly describes ways of understanding some original Hebrew and Greek techniques and discovering the true meanings of many of the words of Jesus. This book will be an important addition to your personal or group Bible study time.

Good Book is what happens when a regular guy actually reads the book on which his religion, his culture, and his world are based. Along the way, he grapples with the most profound theological questions: Does God prefer obedience or good deeds? And the most unexpected ones: Why are so many women in the Bible prostitutes? Why does God love bald men so much? Is Samson really that stupid? Good Book is an irreverent, enthralling journey through the world's most important work of literature.

When young Ron Blomberg told his friends he wanted to be a Major League Baseball player, they practically laughed him out of town. Jewish kids just did not do that in the late 1950s, with the exception of a rare superstar like Sandy Koufax. Fortunately for Blomberg, his parents were a different story. As long as he was happy, they had no problem with their son growing up to be a doctor or a lawyer or a ballplayer. So, with his parents blessing, he prepared to ride his athletic skills as far as possible.

Christ as seen in the Offerings is a classic work by RF Kingcote which takes up in a simple way some of the offerings mentioned in Leviticus - a book which is commonly passed over as if it were not relevant to us today, but which is full of rich typical teaching.

This insightful commentary by the minister of Westminster Chapel in London, England, makes Hebrews 11 come alive. Author R.T. Kendall explores the nature of faith through heroes in scripture, while weaving in discussion of often-debated matters, such as the sovereignty of God, creation, and prophecy.

The translation of the Hebrew Scriptures is both immensely important and challenging. It's vital because it allows billions of people who do not read or understand Hebrew to engage with the Hebrew Scriptures. However, capturing the full meaning of the original language is a complex and sometimes impossible task.

Ultimately, Hebrews? Africans? Or Does It Matter? offers a profound reflection on the spiritual importance of our history, our cultural identity, and the simply amazing power of embracing the richness of who we really are – not just as strong Black individuals, but collectively, as a strong Black people! If we only knew the power that we already have! The listener will see in this book why whether we are Hebrews or Africans really does matter! Now is the time…

In The Bible Jesus Read, Yancey challenges the perception that the New Testament is more important than the Old. Writing with keen insight into the human condition and God’s provision for it, he sets off on a personal journey through the parts we most like to keep at arm’s length—Job, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the Prophets—and he asks us to bring our own questions, concerns, and our openness to the wonders of God.

Can the Bible be approached both as sacred scripture and as a historical and literary text? For many people, it must be one or the other. How can we read the Bible both ways? The Bible and the Believer brings together three distinguished biblical scholars--one Jewish, one Catholic, and one Protestant--to illustrate how to read the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament critically and religiously.

What if an angel hadn't stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac? What does Genesis seem to be telling us about taking revenge? Or what is it saying about capital punishment? Drawing on biblical commentary from throughout the ages, Alan Dershowitz shines a brilliant legal light on the stories that comprise the foundation of our society.

"Chi legge l'Antico Testamento con la mente disincantata e vi si avvicina con l'atteggiamento sereno che avrebbe verso qualsiasi libro scritto dall'umanità, non ha alcuna difficoltà a cogliere l'evidenza dei fatti."

Anybody can explain to you what certain passages of the Bible mean and how they apply to your daily life. However, not too often do you see it in a simple language that the average, common, 9-to-5 person can understand. The best part is, though, that the perspective comes not from a theologian or minister like other Christian books, but from an average Joe, or in this case, Jake, who happened to be inspired to write something for the average person.

Sound interesting? The author thinks so too! Listen to RAK CHAZAK and learn about the ancient Hebrew battle cry that the book is named after.

"Let There Be Light" is about two men and a building... an artist, a prophet and a cathedral. The building is the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. … "The People's Cathedral." As the sixth largest cathedral in the world, it hosts a treasure trove of magnificent art and architecture. One man is Moses, a man who led a life he never expected… Egyptian Prince, Midian herdsman, Prophet and leader of the Israelite Exodus from 400 years of bondage in Egypt. He suffered abuse as the wandering Jewish nation grew weary and disillusioned, he met and spoke face-to-face with God, he received, ...

האם החיים הם הבלים וסבל או אושר עילאי ? האם ישנה משמעות למעשינו תחת השמש? מה יהיה בסופנו ? האומנם יש יתרון לחוכמה ? מפני מה לא ניתן להקים משטר צודק ? מהם קשרי הגומלין בין אושר לעושר ומדוע איש אוהב כסף לא ישבע כסף ? מה מקור הרגשות ומה אנו יודעים על התשוקות ? האם ידיעת המוות יכולה לשמש כמדריך לחיים ? הכתוב במגילת קהלת מזמין את הקורא לחשוב בעצמו על כל הסוגיות שבהן התחבט המשורר החכם, מחבר המגילה. קהלת אינו מורה לנו לחשוב כמוהו וגם אינו מתווה לנו מסלול הליכה בעקבותיו.