My research is focused on the interpretations of biblical texts in the contexts of ancient culture, languages, and history.
I periodically meet people who are hesitant to read books designated as Pseudepigrapha or Apocrypha. I was even flat-out told "they are forbidden." Admittedly, these are both scary-sounding technical and academic terms, but with really simple meanings. If I am describing you, and Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha make you...
Whether you get lost in the pages of Tolstoy or Torah, some things in life are certain and clear. Some paths are righteous, and others are not. One can get very turned around in the complexity of life's choices. Yet, if you tune in your years to God’...
This part of the teaching on the prophets focuses on Trei Asar, "The Scroll of the Twelve." The videos in Part 1 are over 2 hours long and are broken up into multiple segments covering Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. This seminar looks at the messages...
In 2013 a volunteer looking through the dirt that had been excavated from Robinson’s Arch (near the Western Wall) found a 1-cm seal impression. After closer examination, some archaeologists came to believe that this was a First Temple era seal. The impression, or in Latin bulla, would have sealed...
Since I recently released a new book, I am sharing some videos that offer people a peek into the texts of the Books of Enoch. It's a bit of self-promotion. But many of my students have been asking me questions about these books for years, and I worked...
Torah describes the laws of shemitah, the laws of the sabbatical year, and also yovel, a Jubilee year. This was a time when Israel was challenged to let the land have its Shabbat, a complete rest from agriculture. And yet this rest was not going to bring economic suffering upon...
In efforts to raise awareness of my latest book release, I am sharing some videos that present select segments from the Books of Enoch. Naturally, I want to promote my new book, and this video is a way for me to provide a peek inside the ancient text. The Second...
The Psalms of Solomon are sometimes called Songs of Shlomo (מזמורי שלמה), a book that should not be confused with the Wisdom of Solomon and the Odes of Solomon. Solomon was popular in antiquity, so a number of ancient books bare his name. Psalms of Solomon is a collection of...
I recently released a new book, so in my efforts to promote it, I wanted to share some videos and let people experience the texts that captivated my attention for a while. The First Book of Enoch (Ethiopian Enoch), also known as "The Book of Watchers," is a...