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Free Lectures by Ronald Troxel
Dr. Ronald Troxel is Distinguished Lecturer (Biblical Languages and Literature) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. This is one of the top, if not the top, Hebrew and Semitic Studies programs in the US. He has posted the syllabi for a number of his courses on his faculty page. In addition, he has links on…
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The Ninevites as the Model of Repentance
In today’s Old Testament reading from Jonah 3, we find the Ninevites as the model of repentance. Check out the perfect pattern of repentance here: When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. Then he had this…
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Why Did Jonah Flee to Tarshish?
If you’ve read the lectionary reading for today, you know it is from Jonah 1. To give a little background, it is helpful to know a little about Tarshish. According to the Bible Background Commentary on the Old Testament: Tarshish was the farthest known geographical point. While its exact location is unknown, most believe it…
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Blenkinsopp Introduction to Ezra-Nehemiah
The entire introduction from Blenkinsopp’s commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah is available for free through limited preview at Google Books. Even though you cannot view the entire commentary the introduction alone is very helpful. Check it out HERE.
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Haggai 1.2 – The Historical Context
“The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” These are the words that are placed in the mouths of the people of Israel in Haggai 1.2. So, what’s the big deal? What many do not realize is that the people have been back in the land for nearly twenty years. …
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Ezra 9-10 – The Context of Today's Reading Makes it a Tough One
Today’s lectionary reading is definitely part of one of my least favorite Old Testament passages. If you heard the passage from the lectionary you probably would wonder why. The reading is Ezra 9.5-9, which reads as follows: At the time of the evening sacrifice, I, Ezra, rose in my wretchedness, and with cloak and mantle…
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The Celebration of Passover in Ezra
In today’s lectionary reading in Ezra 6, the people celebrate the Passover. This is somewhat significant as according the Bible Background Commentary on the Old Testament there has been no mention of the Passover celebration since the time of Josiah which was more than 100 years earlier. This is potentially an example of the idea…
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Daniel McClellan on Monotheism and Other Gods in the Hebrew Bible
I have posted a number of times in the past about examples of henotheism in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. HERE is a post by Daniel McClellan in which he goes into a significant amount of detail on the topic. I am one who was trained in the manner of Wiggins who he cites in the…
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I'm Glad God Doesn't Send Snakes at People Anymore
It’s been a busy day; we are starting confirmation preparation in our parish tonight. But, I noticed we had an Old Testament reading for the day – Numbers 21.4b-9. Not a very pleasant one. The people of Israel complain against God and Moses. God proceeds to send snakes among the people to bite them and…
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Ralph Klein's Summary of Isaiah 50.4-9 (and Free Book Chapters from Israel in Exile)
Here is Ralph Klein’s summary of Isaiah 50.4-9 (today’s Old Testament reading) from chapter 5 of his book Israel in Exile: 50:4-9. In this poem the servant commits himself to his vocation even in the face of opposition. Like the servant of the first poem (42:3), and like Yahweh himself (40:29-31), the servant helps and…