
Why Was the Golden Calf So Bad?
The story of the Golden Calf is an odd one, in large part because it’s not clear it ever belonged in Torah at all. It’s really the story of a…
Continue Reading →The story of the Golden Calf is an odd one, in large part because it’s not clear it ever belonged in Torah at all. It’s really the story of a…
Continue Reading →Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such great sin upon them?” Aaron said, “Let not my lord be enraged. You know…
Continue Reading →After the Revelation and the sacrifices for the reading of the Covenant, Moses heads up Mount Sinai. For some commentators, he says he will be there for 40 days, for…
Continue Reading →So do you ever read the Bible and think to yourself, how much blood did Moses throw anyway? No? Maybe it’s just me. Book research can take you along a…
Continue Reading →Literally. When? On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone forth from the land of Egypt, on that very day, they entered the wilderness of Sinai. Exodus 19:1…
Continue Reading →Once the Hebrews arrive in Mount Sinai and set up the first of their long-term camps (after a month and a half of near-constant travel), they realize their old ways…
Continue Reading →What is the timing of the Hebrews’ journey within the Wilderness of Sin and then to Mount Sinai? While Torah gives us this information, there are some contradictions and places…
Continue Reading →What is the timing of Moses’ ascents to the top of the mountain and his bringing of the two sets of the tablets of the pact aka the Ten Commandments?…
Continue Reading →Before there was manna in the Wilderness of Sin, there was quail. Manna came the morning after they ran out of food. And every morning thereafter for 40 years. But…
Continue Reading →The Hebrews leave their lives of slavery, flee Pharaoh’s soldiers, then cross the Red Sea into freedom. After extended stops in Marah and Elim, they head towards the mountains. Upon…
Continue Reading →Breaking up the world into elements is not a new concept, nor is it limited to Western thought. While Ancient Greece often gets the credit for the concept of four…
Continue Reading →Our travelers walk from the eastern shore of the Red Sea three days into the desert only to find bitter water at Marah. After Moses makes the water drinkable, they…
Continue Reading →As I sat down to write about my characters’ time in Elim, I realized I needed to decide how long they were staying. Torah doesn’t say. We know they probably…
Continue Reading →The once bitter, now sweet, waters of Marah aren’t just a place for the Hebrews to refresh their water barrels after finally freeing themselves from the terror of slavery. They’re…
Continue Reading →Once our travelers cross the Red Sea and find themselves on the Arabian Peninsula, they watch the Egyptian soldiers drown, sing a song of praise to God, and get the…
Continue Reading →Our Exodus travelers are at Pi-Hahiroth, at the western shores of the Red Sea. They look out to the east, at the expanse of water they must somehow cross. Yadda…
Continue Reading →The Children of Israel have all safely crossed the Red Sea. The Egyptian army is close behind. Before any of the soldiers can reach the shore, the sea closes and…
Continue Reading →Instead of using modern hours and minutes, the Ancient day was broken up into descriptive chunks of time. The nighttime was made up of several nightly watches. For more on…
Continue Reading →The Exodus travelers enter the Sinai Peninsula at its northwestern corner, make their way along the wide flat road to its southern tip, then turn to go north, along the…
Continue Reading →Each under the banners (or flags or standards) of his father’s house. What does that mean? When I think of banners used when marching, I think of soldiers marching off…
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