[A child’s exposure to bible stories surely includes the account of Noah and the Ark. It is so easy to visualize, what with the ark’s design and best of all, the parade of animals boarding the vessel.  We wonder how they would all fit in, what they would eat for 40 days and nights, the […]

[The first verse that caught our attention in this chapter is the one about Seth being in the image of Adam. Sorry to keep referring back to what we used to teach as Christians, this is our way of correcting former mistakes.   We would say without thinking:  ‘Adam was made in the image of […]

[If there is a chapter so controversial that it requires rereading, restudying and reinterpretation—this would be it!   It is interesting to read—for a change—the comments of Jewish sages featured in our valuable resource book P&H/Pentateuch and Haftarahs, ed. Dr. J.H. Hertz; they know their Hebrew terms and the original text; they correct or give alternatives […]

[With 3 commentaries being interspersed in these texts, readers benefit but might get confused.  Our own notes are indicated by “S6K” and “EF” stands for Everett Fox, from his translation/commentary The Five Books of Moses; “RA” for Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses.  We have separated the commentary from Pentateuch and Haftorahs in another post.   Please be guided […]

[The previous post on this chapter titled Strange Interlude: Judah and Tamar  featured the Sinaites’ discussion, without the aid of commentaries.  Here, three commentaries are featured, as usual.  Unbracketed commentary is from Pentateuch and Haftorahs, ed. Dr. J.H. Hertz; additional commentary from RA/Robert Alter, and the translator of The Five Books of Moses , EF/ Everett Fox; this is a free […]

As usual, in our thinking aloud while rereading the final chapters in this book of beginnings . . . Here is yet another switching of the younger for the older son in the bestowal of blessing upon the firstborn.   As dim as the eyes of Jacob were and even with Joseph’s guidance on which […]

[This chapter connects with Genesis/Bereshith 15  :      13 And he said to Avram: You must know, yes, know that your seed will be sojourners in a land not theirs;  they will put them in servitude and afflict them for four hundred years.   Highlights: God assures Jacob-now-Israel that this move has been divinely-arranged, that […]

[Unbracketed commentary is from Pentateuch and Haftorahs, ed. Dr. J.H. Hertz; additional commentary from RA/Robert Alter, and EF/Everett Fox whose translation The Five Books of Moses is featured in this website.] Genesis/Bereshith 44 The chapter sets forth Joseph’s device to test still further the sincerity and loyalty of his brethren. 1-17. THE DIVINING CUP 1 Now he commanded the steward […]

Familiarity with the Joseph story breeds not contempt but saturation. Let’s leave the biblical text alone for now, it sufficiently tells a straightforward story without unnecessary interpretive assistance, though the subsequent posts will feature as usual the three commentaries we’ve chosen as aid to readers. Below the maps are chapter 42 and 43 for straight […]

[Unbracketed commentary from Pentateuch and Haftorahs, ed. Dr. J.H. Hertz; additional commentary by RA/Robert Alter, and the translator of The Five Books of Moses, EF/Everett Fox.] Genesis/Bereshith 45 [RA] Reconciliation: In revealing his true identity at last, Yosef makes two points:  first, that it was all part of God’s plan; and second, that the family must immediately prepare for migration to […]