This is Jacob’s dying request. Jacob was confident of the promise of God represented by the Promised Land. Even here, in Egypt, Jacob’s heart longs for the fulfillment of God’s promise to him, his fathers, and his sons. Things were good in Egypt...
The Benedictus (the title being derived from the first word of the song “Blessed” in Latin: Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel), found in Luke 1:68-80, is traditionally read during the Advent season celebrating events surrounding the coming of Jesus...
With that he embraced his brother Benjamin around the neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. He kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; only then were his brothers able to talk to him. (JPS, Genesis 45:14-15) These verses from parashat...
I’m currently reading parashat vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27). What an incredible story. This story, as the culmination of the various patriarchal episodes, has its finger on the pulse of the theological message, or “sermon”, of the book of...
The story of Moses is rich with lessons of leadership. As a leader, Moses exemplifies, patience, grace, justice, discipline, charisma, theological stimulation, fidelity, and the list goes on. There are other critical dynamics of Mosaic leadership...
“My Lord and my God!” What a statement for Thomas, or any person for that matter, to make. I find the occasion for Thomas’ confession of Jesus’ divinity interesting. Of all the time that Thomas spent by Jesus’ side while he taught, healed and even...
An Exegetical-Theological Analysis of Philippians 2:6-11[1] 6 who, although in the form of God existed, did not count equality with God something to be grasping at, 7 but emptied himself[2], taking the form of a servant, in becoming as the likeness...
In Writing on the Tablet of the Heart: Origins of Scripture and Literature, David M. Carr explores the ancient world of education and textuality as it was shaped by an orally dominant culture. Inspiring Carr’s exploration is the recognition that...
One of the more substantial works that casts tremendous light on adjusting our interpretive focus for OT understanding in light of orality in Ancient Near Eastern culture is Susan Niditch’s Oral World and Written Word: Ancient Israelite Literature...
I recently studied the story of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. It is a memorable story due to its marking the start of multiple languages on the face of the earth (which is a bit anachronistic in light of the genealogies and details in Gen...