# PSHIR.COM
> A weekly digital publication offering hundreds of educational features that explore facets of ancient culture, languages, and history; the meaning of sacred texts and many beliefs that stem from them.
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).
## Pages
### ABOUT
URL: https://www.pshir.com/about/
Last updated: 2026-08-17T16:38:34.000Z
**About Me:**  I am Pinchas (Peter) Shir, curator and editor of this online publication. I am an educator who has been lecturing on college campuses and in cyberspace for over a decade. My academic fields are Biblical Studies, Jewish Studies, Second Temple Literature, and the New Testament. My niche specialty is Distance Education and Curriculum design. In Israel, I work on putting together dynamic video courses for the [Israel Bible Center](https://israelbiblecenter.com/?ref=pshir.com) and [Israel Institute of Biblical Studies](https://israelbiblicalstudies.com/?ref=pshir.com), and teach some of them. In the USA, I provide rabbinic services to a small synagogue community. I frequently intersect with many Christians of diverse backgrounds who study the Jewish background of the New Testament, the Hebrew language, and ancient Israelite culture. Much of my own research focuses on the context and interpretation of biblical texts and is often tailored to this ever-growing, curious audience. I regularly share my teachings via [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/PinchasShir?ref=pshir.com); my books are on [Amazon](https://amzn.to/4sS49qV?ref=pshir.com), but the bulk of my interdisciplinary research insights are released via this online publication. 

**About the Website:** PSHIR.COM is a weekly multimedia publication dedicated to continuous learning in the area of Jewish and Biblical Studies. Subscribers are offered hundreds of curated educational features that gradually and intentionally expose them to ancient languages, culture, and history behind various sacred texts and human beliefs. Week after week, videos, audio, and articles of various lengths stimulate curious minds and inspire readers to keep reaching for depth in their own studies. Everything is geared to support the lifelong learning lifestyle and research. **PSHIR.COM is 100% independent and is funded entirely by subscribers.**

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I have a simple offer for anyone who comes across my website. 

[Hear My Offer? ](https://www.pshir.com/sub) 

[All Books by Pinchas ShirIf you like perusing Pshir.com, then what are the odds you might enjoy my books? I invite you to consider the titles I highlight below in print, in digital format, or as audiobooks. Paid Subscribers can flip through full digital versions of all these titles inside the READ section.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w1200/2025/02/Book6.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/books/)
### Contact
URL: https://www.pshir.com/contact/
Last updated: 2025-11-20T15:59:29.000Z
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### Privacy Policy
URL: https://www.pshir.com/privacy/
Last updated: 2026-10-11T15:34:06.000Z
This privacy policy ("Policy") was designed to help you (“you”), the website user, to understand how Peter Shir LLC ("us," "we," "our") uses and protects the data you provide to us when you use www.pshir.com ("website"). See our website's [Terms of Use](https://www.pshir.com/terms/). We reserve the right to change this policy at any given time, of which subscribers will be promptly notified. If you want to make sure that you are up to date with the latest changes, we advise you to visit this page for the latest policy information.

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Peter Shir LLC is committed to keeping your data confidential. We have done all in our power to prevent data theft, unauthorized access, and disclosure by implementing the latest technologies and software, which help us safeguard all the information we collect online. 

Peter Shir LLC will not lease, sell or distribute your personal information to any third parties unless compelled to do so via legal means.

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Please be aware that our website contains links that lead to other websites. If you click on those links, Peter Shir LLC cannot be held responsible for your data, privacy, or protection.

Last updated: October 2026
### MY OFFER: Why Subscribe?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/sub/
Last updated: 2026-04-28T13:05:36.000Z
Some study resources inside PSHIR.COM are open to the public, and many more can be accessed through a **Free Membership Subscription** account. However, premium content and personalized learning guidance are available through a **Paid Membership** (which you can try for free as well). 

Want to hear my offer?

#### FREE **(tap to see details)*

Grow your knowledge of biblical backgrounds as you browse carefully curated articles, videos, and audio featured on the ezine.

- Expanded but Limited Access
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#### PAID **(tap to see details)*

Advance your expertise in the context of the Bible a little each week as you engage with the best of this ezine.

- Full Access + Exclusive content
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You can develop a habit of deeper, lifelong learning for the price of one fancy barista-made coffee or an average sandwich... so why not better yourself and support my independent publishing at the same time? 

[Choose Your Subscription ](https://www.pshir.com/#/portal/signup)
### Images / Art
URL: https://www.pshir.com/images/
Last updated: 2024-09-19T13:48:30.000Z
For years I have been studying biblical languages. And over time I have collected many books and texts related to my interest. Some are pretty old, rare, and remarkable, others are brand new yet masterfully printed. My study often takes me to original language manuscripts. And as I explore those texts, I find them not merely helpful and meaningful, but also esthetically beautiful. Naturally, the ancient handwritten texts are particularly special, but even many printed editions I find inspiring. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/bib1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/bib2.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/bib3.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/bib4.jpg)

Some time ago, I began sharing the beauty of old books and texts via photography and text-inspired digital art I create with others. If you are a bibliophile, you might appreciate these...

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/bib5.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/bib6.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/jos1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/jos2.jpg)
### You decided it's worth it...
URL: https://www.pshir.com/worth-it/
Last updated: 2026-02-19T17:25:50.000Z
**Thank you for subscribing...** What now? Now you have access to hours and hours of learning via exclusive educational videos, articles, and audio! Browse and enjoy... New features are published every Wednesday and Sunday. You will receive updates via email. **Email subscription is the only requirement that comes with Free Accounts** (*unsubscribing from email updates will lead to the eventual deletion of your Free Account*). 

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To change your subscription type at any time, simply visit the ACCOUNT section (in the site menu). Upgrading or downgrading is super easy. If you need help, please use the CONTACT form (in the page footer)

[Begin exploring PSHIR.COM Now! ](https://www.pshir.com/tag/pvideo/) 

[Get the Most out of PSHIR.COMWhen you sign up at PSHIR.COM, your free account gives you access to piles of resources in Jewish and Biblical studies, select audio and video segments, and many extended topic previews. At PSHIR.COM, you don’t have to keep up with passwords! Access to your personal account is via![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-142.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Most1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/get-the-most-out-of-pshir-com/)

[Your PSHIR.COM and GmailIf you are a GMAIL user, keep in mind that updates and emails from PSHIR.COM will likely end up in the “Promotions” tab and sometimes even in spam. Unfortunately, the Google server sees them as institutional emails sent to multiple users and tags them as “marketing,” sorting them away![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-155.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1557200134-90327ee9fafa)](https://www.pshir.com/your-pshir-com-and-gmail/)
### Account
URL: https://www.pshir.com/account/
Last updated: 2024-06-10T18:07:09.000Z
_This page is for subscribers only._
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URL: https://www.pshir.com/signup/
Last updated: 2024-05-14T17:30:22.000Z
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### Terms of Use
URL: https://www.pshir.com/terms/
Last updated: 2026-10-11T15:32:04.000Z
These terms of use outline the rules and guidelines for using the PSHIR.COM website. By casually accessing or using our website, you agree to follow these terms. Please read them carefully.

**1\. Acceptance of Terms**  
By using PSHIR.COM, you agree to abide by these terms of use established by Peter Shir LLC. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please do not use our website.

**2\. Use of Content**  
All content on PSHIR.COM, including text, audio, images, videos, and any other materials, is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and belongs to the respective owners of that content. Content featured or showcased on the website is intended for educational purposes. With the exception of linking to our website, you may not copy, distribute, modify, or reproduce any content without our permission. Any use of external or third-party content curated on PSHIR.COM also requires permission from the respective copyright holders of those materials. 

**3\. User Conduct**  
You agree not to engage in any harmful or unlawful activities on PSHIR.COM. This includes not posting or sharing any offensive, disrespectful, defamatory, antisemitic, Judeophobic, or generally rude and inappropriate content. 

**4\. Privacy**  
We value your privacy. Please review our [Privacy Policy](https://www.pshir.com/privacy/) to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

**5\. Third-Party Links**  
PSHIR.COM contains links to third-party websites and files hosted elsewhere. We are not responsible for the content or actions of these external sites. Clicking on these links is at your own risk. Disclaimer: PSHIR.COM has an affiliate partner relationship with Amazon.com and receives some monetary rewards from that relationship. 

**6\. Content Disclaimer**  
PSHIR.COM provides information for general and educational purposes only. We draw from many sources and do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or absolute reliability of any content on our website. We strive to do our best, but errors can occur. Use the information at your own discretion, confirm everything from independent sources, and always check the facts and references. 

**7\. Limitation of Liability**  
We are not liable for any damages, losses, or harm resulting from your voluntary use or non-use of PSHIR.COM. This includes any errors, interruptions, downtime, or any omissions on our website. 

**8\. Changes to Terms**  
We may update these terms of use at any time. Any changes will be effective upon posting them to PSHIR.COM. It is your responsibility to review the terms periodically and see when they were last updated.

**9\. Account Changes**   
Opting out of email updates will terminate a Free Membership Subscription but not a Paid Membership Subscription. Paid Subscribers who wish to opt-out from periodic emails may do so, but they will miss out on a key benefit of their membership - all updates about new publications. **Upgrade, downgrade, and change your Membership Subscription on your** [**Account Page**](https://www.pshir.com/account/) **in "Account Settings."** We reserve the right to revise the changes made to email preferences inside accounts. We reserve the right to terminate, delete accounts, and suspend access to PSHIR.COM at any time for violation of these terms or any other reason.

**10\. Refunds**   
Easy account self-management on your [Account Page](https://www.pshir.com/account/) eliminates the necessity for refunds. Subscriptions renew automatically (monthly or yearly), but you may change your mind anytime. The changes you make to your account will take effect in the very next billing cycle. If your yearly subscription renews and you realize that you accidentally forgot about it (mistakes do happen), please contact us right away. We can issue a refund for payment made in error within the 60-day window from when the renewal fee was erroneously charged. But you need to contact us and let us know! The same applies to the monthly subscriptions. 

**11\. Contact Us**  
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these terms of use, your subscription status, or need help with anything else on the website, please use the [Contact page](https://www.pshir.com/contact/) to reach out, and we will respond (typically within 2-3 days).

**Thank you for using PSHIR.COM and respecting these terms of use. Enjoy your experience on our website!**

Last Updated: October 2026
### Discover what is MISSING in your Bible Study!
URL: https://www.pshir.com/what-is-missing/
Last updated: 2024-08-28T19:56:55.000Z
*Have you ever felt as you read the Bible that it makes no sense? You understand the words but not the meaning or the point the text is trying to make. The truth is - you are not alone. This book (Missing Ingredients) is not intended for someone who is new to the Bible or has never seriously studied it. It is meant for those who took plenty of time but still feel like something is missing. The book is for those who sense that there is more depth to those words and want to go deeper. *This is a FREE book offer!** 

#### Consider this...

The Bible is a collection of ancient Semitic spiritual texts. All English Bibles were anglicized and thoroughly de-Judaized. The translators smoothed out and adapted much of the original language in the Bible, making it more sensible to the Western culture. Unfortunately, a common side effect of such practice is an obscured or changed meaning. Taking a look at the original helps to recover what gets lost in translation. 

#### And furthermore...

The less you know about Judaism and ancient Jewish culture, customs, and history of the Lavant and cultures surrounding Israel, the more likely you are to misunderstand and misinterpret the Bible's original messages. Interpreting the Bible through the lens of one's own culture and modernity could lead one to gross misunderstanding. Mere awareness of different cultural settings can help avoid such mistakes. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/05/MI-Bk-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/05/MI-Prices-1.jpg)

[You can order this book on Amazon...](https://amzn.to/3QGhYrl?ref=pshir.com) **However, a Free Subscription to the PSHIR.COM weekly e-zine grants you full access to this book. Sign up below and gain access to the full text RIGHT NOW!** 

A Paid Subscription to the e-zine opens more books and an entire array of valuable learning resources. It feeds you a steady diet of educational videos, audio, and articles to help you grow week after week. (browse the website to see for yourself).

_This page is for subscribers only._
### Discover ENOCH, The Book of Watchers!
URL: https://www.pshir.com/enoch/
Last updated: 2026-02-24T18:54:14.000Z
*Embark on a journey through one of the most curious apocalyptic Jewish texts, "1 Enoch, The Book of Watchers." Read about the sin of the sons of God and the fate of Nephilim. Trace Enochs' journey through ten heavens. Imagine his visions of God's throne and paradise. Hear Enoch's take on end times and listen to the heavenly secrets he reveals. This newly crafted translation brings to life the apocalyptic visions of the Second Temple era, making the ancient Jewish lore accessible for contemporary readers. *This is a FREE book offer!** 

👓

****Easy to Read:** Tailored for an average historical and biblical literature enthusiast, this translation breaks down obscure passages into easy-to-understand modern English.

👍

****Culturally Nuanced:** Periodic use of Hebrew vernacular alongside English provides a nuanced reading experience that echoes the text's original language and cultural backdrop.

💡

****Insightful:** Dive deep into early Jewish literature and apocalyptic thought, gaining unique insights into the beliefs and ideologies that shaped a pivotal period in history.

#### Immerse yourself...

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of early Jewish apocalyptic literature. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a student of mystical traditions, or a casual reader seeking to understand ancient extra-biblical texts, this new translation of 1 Enoch offers a gateway to a deeper comprehension of early Jewish thought and prophecy. Understand the historical significance, appreciate the literary artistry, and explore the spiritual dimensions of this ancient Jewish text that has inspired countless generations.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/05/1E-Pages.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/05/1E-Prices3.jpg)

[You can certainly order this book on Amazon...](https://amzn.to/3R5AlpU?ref=pshir.com) **However, a Free Subscription to the PSHIR.COM weekly e-zine grants you full access to this book. Sign up below and gain access to the full text RIGHT NOW!** *(you can unsubscribe if it's not for you - no commitment)*

A Paid Subscription to the e-zine opens access to [more books](https://www.pshir.com/tag/pbooks/) and an entire array of learning resources. It feeds you a steady diet of educational [videos](https://www.pshir.com/tag/videos/), audio, and articles to help you learn and grow week after week. (*browse the website to see for yourself*).

_This page is for subscribers only._
### The Foolishness of Galatians
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-foolishness-of-galatians/
Last updated: 2026-10-07T21:22:10.000Z
_This page is for subscribers only._
### Updating and Managing Payments
URL: https://www.pshir.com/managing-payments/
Last updated: 2026-10-11T15:34:51.000Z
When you become a paid subscriber at PSHIR.COM, your financial information is handled off-site, behind an encrypted and secure network. We use Stripe.com to manage all payments and transactions to enhance security and subscriber privacy. 

What if your card changes? You can update your payment information directly on Stripe [**HERE**](https://billing.stripe.com/p/login/00g6ozaVa1dj90s144?ref=pshir.com), and your changes will be reflected on our website. Simply use the same email you used to subscribe to PSHIR.COM, log in, and update your credit card info anytime.
## Posts
### Follow God
URL: https://www.pshir.com/follow-god/
Last updated: 2026-10-11T14:57:39.000Z
In the chapters we read this week, the prophet Jeremiah foretells disaster, a time of judgment upon Israel. We intentionally read this passage whenever we recall the destruction of Jerusalem and reflect on this hour of judgment. Yet even in the midst of harsh judgment and ruin, there is always hope with God. It takes the eyes of faith to perceive it and an open heart to sense it. Walking with God means sometimes following him down a very difficult road.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Salvation From the Beginning
URL: https://www.pshir.com/salvation-from-the-beginning/
Last updated: 2026-10-07T14:00:33.000Z
The Bible often speaks about salvation as something far more tangible and visible than we may imagine. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God saves Israel with an outstretched arm, through his mighty hand, and by revealing his salvation before the eyes of the nations. In this teaching, we explore the biblical concept of "salvation" יְשׁוּעָה (*yeshuah*), beginning with the Exodus and the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. We examine how the Hebrew Bible describes God's salvation through the imagery of the "arm of the LORD," and how this language overflows into later Jewish apocalyptic and mystical literature. 

This video is an excerpt from a larger webinar discussion on Jewish and biblical perspectives of salvation at Israel Bible Center. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/08/AS_TN_E-1.png) 

#### Stone Edition Tanach (English Only)

This English language edition of Tanach is perfect for anyone seeking to connect with Jewish heritage, understand unfamiliar biblical passages, or simply deepen their spiritual journey. Whether you're exploring the Prophets for the first time or revisiting familiar Torah stories, this edition makes every page meaningful. The volume contains all 24 books of the Jewish Bible supplied with expert commentary and insights. It includes sidebar guides, maps, timelines, and "at-a-glance" summaries. Rabbi Nosson Scherman's international team of experts also offers you Temple diagrams, genealogies, and biblical illustrations. This clear, flowing, and readable translation is faithful to the Orthodox Jewish perspective as it brings ancient texts to life to a new generation. 1,400 pages of eternal wisdom in beautiful English await you. The link below will take you to the 5x8 size.

[See it on AMAZON](https://amzn.to/3UTveuN?ref=pshir.com)
### Out of the Depths I called Your Name
URL: https://www.pshir.com/out-of-the-depths-i-called-your-name/
Last updated: 2026-10-06T18:43:25.000Z
Like many others, Psalm 130 is full of deep emotion. What drew me to this particular psalm recently is the language of heartfelt confession and repentance, words spoken from a place of what I felt as seclusion and separation. Hebrew does not always translate smoothly, but enjoy this musical rendition inspired by the original language of the psalm. 

Here are the lyrics:  
  
מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ הָשֵׁם שִׁמְעָה שִׁמְעָה בְּקוֹלִי  
Out of the depths, I call your name  
O ADONAI, please hear me...  
כִּי־עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה לְמַעַן תִּוָרֵא קִוִיתִי יהוה קִוְתָה נַפְשִׁי  
(Forgiveness is with You that you may be revered,   
and my hope is in ADONAI, my soul awaits...)  
כִּי־עִם־יהוה הַחֶסֶד אֲדֹנָי שִׁמְעָה שִׁמְעָה בְּקוֹלִי  
(With ADONAI (LORD) is steadfast love.   
O, LORD, hear, hear my voice)  
  
Out of the depths I call your name,  
From places dark, shimmering flame.  
And you incline your ear to me,   
My desperate cry and hopeful plea.  
If you were to track my iniquities,  
How could I stand, but on my knees.  
I will bow low, I will confess,   
With ADONAI, forgiveness rests.  
  
מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ הָשֵׁם שִׁמְעָה שִׁמְעָה בְּקוֹלִי  
Out of the depths, I call your name  
O ADONAI, please hear me...  
  
כִּי־עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה לְמַעַן תִּוָרֵא קִוִיתִי יהוה קִוְתָה נַפְשִׁי  
(Forgiveness is with You that you may be revered,   
and my hope is in ADONAI, my soul awaits...)  
כִּי־עִם־יהוה הַחֶסֶד אֲדֹנָי שִׁמְעָה שִׁמְעָה בְּקוֹלִי  
(With ADONAI (LORD) is steadfast love.   
O, LORD, hear, hear my voice)  
  
From cloudy nights to morning clear,  
Redemption sounds are drawing near.  
With you, LORD, mercy always sure,  
With you, compassion, it endures.  
Oh, Israel, place hope again,  
In boundless love that has no end.  
God of forgiveness, make us whole,  
We yearn, we wait, revive our souls.  
  
מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ הָשֵׁם שִׁמְעָה שִׁמְעָה בְּקוֹלִי  
Out of the depths, I call your name  
O ADONAI, please hear me...  
  
כִּי־עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה לְמַעַן תִּוָרֵא קִוִיתִי יהוה קִוְתָה נַפְשִׁי  
(Forgiveness is with You that you may be revered,   
and my hope is in ADONAI, my soul awaits...)  
כִּי־עִם־יהוה הַחֶסֶד אֲדֹנָי שִׁמְעָה שִׁמְעָה בְּקוֹלִי  
(With ADONAI (LORD) is steadfast love.   
O, LORD, hear, hear my voice)  
  
Out of the depths, I call your name...
### Third Heaven and Beyond: 2 Corinthians 12:2
URL: https://www.pshir.com/third-heaven-and-beyond-2-corinthians-12-2/
Last updated: 2026-09-30T14:00:07.000Z
Did you know that the New Testament contains the most intriguing statement that suggests the existence of multiple heavens? The reference appears in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. He writes, “I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago, whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows, such a man was caught up to the third heaven (ἁρπαγέντα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἕως τρίτου οὐρανοῦ).” (2 Corinthians 12:2). Third heaven? Are there more? How many heavens are out there? If you have been told that there is heaven, hell, and nothing in between, this text would raise some questions about what in the world Apostle Paul is talking about... 

While the Hebrew Bible hints at heaven being a multi-layered reality, Second Temple Jewish literature is where this idea finds a fuller expression of multiple heavens. Passages like Deuteronomy 10:14, 1 Kings 8:27, and Psalm 148:4 indeed mention “heavens of heavens” (שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם; *shemei ha-shamayim*), but Second Temple era Jewish writers vividly describe the full complexity of the heavenly realm. Some of these books are actually about heavenly journeys and conversations with angels, so they are quite detailed on t the topic. 

For example, the First Book of Enoch (3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE) features stories about Enoch's ascent through multiple heavenly realms. In 1 Enoch, the first heaven contains storehouses of snow, dew, and atmospheric phenomena. Higher levels are where Enoch witnesses the “Great Glory” seated on the throne. Surprisingly, some areas of heaven house rebellious angels. In one of the heavens’ layers, Enoch even saw the garden of righteousness and the Tree of Wisdom.

[“1 Enoch, The Book of Watchers: New Translation” By Pinchas ShirThe Book of Enoch is a well-known Jewish composition from the Second Temple era. Older English translations of 1 Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch) are in the Public Domain and widely available online for free. The problem is that the narratives of “The Book of Watchers” are ensconced in old English,![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-026c08d3-15c3-4524-bcad-bb1ea40e9325.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Enoch1-h5-1-d303bf86-9ea4-475b-bb64-51bc92b1e40a.png)](https://www.pshir.com/1-enoch/)

The most comprehensive exposition of the structure of heaven appears in 2 Enoch (1st century CE), which paints the picture of seven heavens. The Second Book of Enoch provides a stage-by-stage account of Enoch's journey through each heaven, describing each realm in detail. From the seventh heaven, Enoch could see the dwelling place of God, his archangels, and the highest of angelic orders. But in his vision, the seer speculated that there were even more layers. 

And the Enoch tradition is not alone in this. The Testament of Levi, part of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (2nd century BCE to 1st century CE), describes Levi's visionary ascent through multiple heavens, too.

 **“The first heaven is dark... The second has fire, snow, and ice... In the third are the hosts of the armies... The fourth has thrones and authorities... In the fifth are the angels who bear answers to the angels of the presence of the Lord... In the sixth are the archangels... In the seventh is the Great Glory.” (Testament of Levi 2:7-3**

[“The Apocalypse of Abraham: New Translation” by Pinchas ShirThe Apocalypse of Abraham (התגלות אברהם, Hitgalut Avraham) is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic text believed to have been written between 70 and 150 CE. While the surviving manuscripts are in Old Slavonic, it is widely accepted that the original composition was in a Semitic language, evident from the presence of![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-069630d9-1d3a-45d5-89eb-bf634d51f52c.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1aAbr-cover-d1849ccf-c75e-4a48-ad92-50f1e9587ebe.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/apocalypse-of-abraham/)

Eventually, the seven heavens became the number most widely accepted. The Apocalypse of Abraham (1st-2nd century CE) describes Abraham's ascent through multiple heavenly realms guided by the angel named Iaoel. Just like the books of Enoch, it portrays a cosmic journey that culminates in a vision of the divine throne, surrounded by the fiery creatures (חַיּוֹת; *chayyot*) described in Ezekiel's vision. The Ascension of Isaiah (late 1st to early 2nd century CE) presents a detailed seven-heaven cosmology with distinctly Christian elements. Isaiah ascends through each heaven, witnessing increasingly glorious angelic orders, until reaching the seventh heaven where he beholds God and “the Beloved” (Messiah himself).

The early and classical rabbinic texts tend to avoid esoteric speculation, yet they also mention multiple heavens. Some rabbis decried this: “Whoever speculates on four things, it were better had he not come into the world: what is above, what is beneath, what was before time, and what will be hereafter” (Mishnah Hagigah 2:1). Yet Midrash Genesis Rabbah 4:3 elaborates on seven heavens and ties biblical verses to each. Tractate Hagigah 122b asserts, “Our Rabbis taught: There are seven heavens” (תנו רבנן שבעה רקיעים הן). Thus, we see a harmonizing of rabbinic Jewish tradition with Enoch lore. 

Are there indeed seven heavens out there? We may never know unless given the chance, and access to experience the “heavens of heavens” (שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם; *shemei ha-shamayim*). For now, we listen to the ancient stories and wonder. 

[Hope in RevelationThe role of the prophet is not to predict what is to come, but to speak into their present moment, so how does Revelation fit into the prophetic category? We also discuss how the author uses imagery to connect the dots between the ideas of a suffering Messiah and a![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-100.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/eye1-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/hope-in-revelation/)
### Minding Your Tent
URL: https://www.pshir.com/minding-your-tent/
Last updated: 2026-10-07T16:48:58.000Z
In our reading from Isaiah today, we encounter God’s message to a childless woman who symbolizes Israel. Israel lost much to war and exile. But now, she is promised to be blessed with many children, so she is told to make changes to her tent to accommodate the offspring promised to her. In Isaiah 54:3, we read, “You will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities.” It's another message of restoration. 

In verse 2, the prophet gives Israel, the barren woman, very specific instructions about her tent - ***harchivi makom ohalekh*** “enlarge the space of your tent,” she is told. Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### A Two-Thousand-Year-Old Stone Vessel Factory
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-two-thousand-year-old-stone-vessel-factory/
Last updated: 2026-09-23T14:00:25.000Z
A rare workshop for the production of chalkstone vessels, dated to the Roman period, is being excavated and studied at Reina in Lower Galilee. Excavations are unearthing a cave in which archaeologists have found thousands of chalkstone cores and other types of production waste, including fragments of stone mugs and bowls in various stages of production. The ancient site was uncovered during the course of construction work at a municipal sports center conducted by the Reina local council. This is the fourth workshop of its kind ever to have been uncovered in Israel.

At first glance, the stone vessels featured in this video may look like ordinary cups, bowls, and storage containers. But during the late Second Temple period, these objects had a particular significance in Jewish life. The Torah makes an important distinction between different kinds of vessels. When an earthenware vessel became ritually impure through certain forms of contamination, it could not simply be washed and reused. It had to be broken (Lev 11:33; 15:12). Stone vessels, however, were regarded in Jewish purity practice as resistant to ritual impurity. This made them especially useful for people concerned with maintaining ritual purity in their homes and daily lives.

[Purity Customs: Food, Hands and Beyond (\~2.5 h)This seminar explains various Jewish purity customs, such as washing hands and avoiding certain foods, as “fences” built around commandments that direct Israelites to be pure as they approach God (like in Ex 30:17-20). If you are not familiar with the rabbinic practice of “building fences” to protect![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-7729125c-c05f-489e-863a-8dee374fef8c.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Pure1-c286b811-db48-459d-a39b-4babb8609aac.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/purity-customs/)

Archaeological discoveries have given us a remarkable glimpse into this practice. Stone vessels carved from soft limestone were produced in considerable quantities throughout the late Second Temple period, particularly in Galilee and Judea. The production center discussed in this video provides physical evidence that this was not merely an unusual luxury item. There was an actual industry devoted to producing these vessels for Jewish consumers.

The timing is significant. These objects belong to the same general world in which Jewish concerns about purity extended far beyond the Temple itself. Purity affected meals, vessels, food preparation, ritual washing, and the ordinary activities of Jewish households. The later Mishnah preserves extensive discussions of the purity of vessels, including the distinctive status of stone vessels (Mishnah, Kelim 2:1; 10:1).

This helps us understand something about everyday Jewish life in the first century. Ritual purity was not simply a priestly concern confined to the Jerusalem Temple. For many Jews, holiness was something that could affect the kitchen table as well as the Temple courtyard. The stone vessels discovered by archaeologists are therefore more than ancient household objects. They are physical evidence of a Jewish society attempting to incorporate the biblical concept of holiness and purity into the routines of everyday life.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/Cul-Back-NIV.png) 

#### NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

The notes in this Study Bible are very helpful. It is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of biblical times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3vDuTmo?ref=pshir.com)
### Atonement Through Sacrifice and Surrogates
URL: https://www.pshir.com/atonement-through-sacrifice-and-surrogates/
Last updated: 2026-09-20T14:00:14.000Z
Below is a lecture by Shaye J. D. Cohen, who is a Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. He is a well-known historian who also holds a rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. **If University lectures don't typically bore you, then Dr. Cohen might challenge your thinking.** In this particular lecture, he examines sacrificial atonement in the Hebrew Bible, especially the Day of Atonement rituals and the scapegoat of Leviticus 16\. Ancient Jews possessed conceptual frameworks in which one being could symbolically carry the sins or consequences of others. These ideas created fertile ground for later interpretations of redemptive suffering and substitutionary atonement. 

In this lecture, Dr. Cohen also explores how Second Temple Jews and early Christians interpreted sacrifice. One trajectory viewed sacrifice primarily as a means of atonement: a victim dies so that others may live. This framework naturally encouraged readings of Isaiah 53 and later interpretations of Jesus' death as vicarious suffering. At the same time, the speaker highlights prophetic critiques of sacrifice, emphasizing that biblical prophets often challenged ritual observance divorced from justice, righteousness, and covenant loyalty.

[The Gift of Atonement and Messiah (\~1hr)People have diverse ideas about atonement because the topic is so multifaceted. In this particular lesson, I highlight some foundational truths that center around the imagery of “cleansing” and “purification.” However, the questions I get most often about Atonement are tied to Jesus and the role of the Messiah in![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-c4e9d2fe-9db5-4bf6-9012-652c6d1a5843.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2024-10-09-120154-3f1eb919-11ad-4132-abd4-5b44b33a8ead.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-gift-of-atonement-and-messiah/)

[Purity, Sacrifice and The Temple by Jonathan KlawansMisconceptions about ancient Jewish sacrifice have led scholars to overlook the significance and symbolism of the Jerusalem temple to the ancient Jewish worshippers. The author of “Purity, Sacrifice, and the Temple,” Jonathan Klawans, challenges the idea that the eucharist replaced ancient Jewish sacrifice and that these cultic rituals were meaningless![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-ae9b950f-e581-4909-a785-bf866fa36e2c.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/PST-cover-93496a77-bd81-495a-aa40-05369c94ae03.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/purity-sacrifice-and-the-temple-by-jonathan-klawans/)
### Ten Sacrifices offered on Yom Kippur
URL: https://www.pshir.com/ten-sacrifices-offered-on-yom-kippur/
Last updated: 2026-09-16T14:00:24.000Z
In Numbers 29, the Torah speaks of sacrifices that should be brought on a very special day, on Yom Kippur. The day is called a day of purification because that is what these sacrifices are supposed to represent. Numbers 7-11 outline the list of offerings. Torah says, **“You shall present a burnt offering to the LORD as a soothing aroma: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs one year old, having them without defect”**... it also adds, **“one male goat for a sin offering.”**

Depending on how one reads the text, there could be a lesson here for us within the Hebrew names of the animals themselves. There is 1 Bull - *par* (פַּר), which in Hebrew can signify fruitfulness. 1 Ram - *ayil* (אַיִל) could represent a pillar, strength, or might in Hebrew. Then 7 Lambs - *kevasim* (כְּבָשִׂים) can represent something that is calm and subdued, something under control. And 1 Shaggy Goat - *sair* (שָׂעִיר) is a symbol of something wild, unkept, unruly. Ten animals in total.

Looking at the possible messages behind the names, the Atonement, the Yom Kippur purification, is achieved through the sacrifice of 10 very specific things. First, what we produce, our fruitfulness, the results of our work, is something we always lay on God's altar. Second, to that we add a measure of our strength, our most earnest efforts. Third, come the seven things we keep stable, calm, and under control. There are always at least seven things (often more) that we work to subdue, control, and manage better in our lives. The exact number is not the point, by the way. Either in ourselves or outside of ourselves, there are typically more such matters in our lives than one or two. 

And lastly, there is always at least one stubborn, shaggy, and disheveled-looking goat, something we are least proud of, something that embarrasses us, something that causes us discomfort when it is brought up. We all have our goats, I imagine. And all of that is offered to God for purification, for our cleansing on Yom Kippur. Year after year we do this. We come clean because we desire harmony with God. 

You may not personally connect with the idea of animal sacrifices and burnt offerings. But it is humbling to realize that behind the names of these sacrificial animals in the Hebrew Bible stand some very personal things that Israel, as a community of faith, was told to bring before Hashem. And perhaps that is one of the points of this special day and this sacred ritual, if we allow ourselves to look beyond the plain and obvious. 

Torah is meant to speak to us on multiple levels. Of course, understanding the literal contexts is always the foundation. But beyond the simple, we should seek the depth, and often something that is very personal to us. Don't take what I shared with you as objective remarks. This is only one facet that I myself saw when I considered the names of the sacrificial animals. I decided to share what I saw with you because maybe that is what you needed to see. 

[Who Needs Temple Sacrifices?There is a common sentiment among those who embrace Christ – “Jesus paid it all. That is all you need for atonement of sin”. This is very true, but much more needs to be said about sacrifices in this context. There is a common and naïve assumption that all sacrifices are![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-118.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_1752040259a-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/who-needs-sacrifices/)

[Atonement and Messiah’s Sacrifice (\~5hrs)Do you understand Atonement? What are the foundations of this concept in your mind? In this multi-part seminar, we look at the language of Atonement, Sacrifice, and Redemption in the New Testament as it is applied to Jesus and consider it in the broader light of the Hebrew Bible and![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-119.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Aton2-4.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/atonement-and-messiahs-sacrifice/)

[Our Sins and Offenses are ManyNot long ago, an acquaintance of mine, a seasoned gentleman, asked me, “What is sin?” It was an honest question, not a trick one, and without any sarcasm or ulterior motive. He was completely sincere and open-minded to hear my answer. It stunned me for a moment because I![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-806ab67f-4af4-4b67-80a5-8ebc0f6da2ce.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1605099922599-a9e6eaf1ab5e-2032faea-0f4e-467a-9919-0d94d70418c3.jpeg)](https://www.pshir.com/our-sins-and-offenses-are-many/)
### God's Desire
URL: https://www.pshir.com/gods-desire/
Last updated: 2026-10-06T19:27:24.000Z
In Chapter 6, Prophet Micah asks a question… How should one come before Hashem? Should one come with an ***olah***, a burnt offering, yearling calves? Does God really want thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oil? Do I offer my child for my transgression, for the sin of my soul? These are not real questions… None of these things is what is truly essential in our relationship with the Eternal. What Almighty expects are none of the things the prophet throws out as options.

[Explore The World of Hebrew ProphetsA while back, I was asked to teach a course surveying the prophetic books of the Bible to a college class. As I compiled my notes together, I wanted to present my students not merely the information about the ancient texts themselves, but to describe the world in which the![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-203.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1554696468-19f8c7a71ad5-1)](https://www.pshir.com/explore-the-world-of-hebrew-prophets/)
### Hearing the Sound of Shofar
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-sound-of-shofar/
Last updated: 2026-09-11T15:14:56.000Z
Leviticus 23:23-25 tells us that on the first day of the seventh month, Israelites are to blow trumpets. This day is called Yom Teruah, "the day of the alarming sound." Besides the proper festival sacrifices, the people are commanded to produce and experience the sound of the Shofar, a horn. It's a crude and natural ancient trumpet. Have you wondered why people were instructed to sound such an alarm using animal horns as they celebrated the new year? This simple custom has some deep and interesting roots. 

This video explores some of the traditions associated with sounding the Shofar, its meaning, purpose, and what the ritual is supposed to accomplish. Not an academic lecture but an interactive shiur (lesson), a discussion with live audience participation that explores the custom. 

Though people often think of a Shofar as a trumpet, it's not treated today as just another musical instrument, but rather as a sacred object. Mainstream Jewish tradition tends to limit the use of the Shofar to special occasions, to the month of Elul, and to the Tishrei festivals of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) to make its use spiritually impactful. The logic is simple: if we hear its sound too often, it becomes mundane and stops having the intended effect on us. 

❔

Some of the terminology that pops up in the lesson: Mashiach - Messiah in Hebrew. Akedat Yitzchak - the story of the binding of Isaac. Ketubah - traditional "marriage contract" issued by the groom (promises and obligations to the bride). 

[Why Listen to the Sound of the Shofar?If you don’t know what shofar is, it’s an obscure item, a ritual instrument, and its name comes from ancient Hebrew. It is a special trumpet used in Jewish holiday observance, connected to the Jewish new year and Day of Atonement (Lev 23:24). Shofar (שׁוֹפָ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-6f6d3fbf-5bc2-4cb1-8570-3b617748a046.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_2458113471-11659357-b6e5-4f9c-9a2e-03961c5526b6.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/why-listen-to-the-sound-of-the-shofar/)

[Hearing Distant EchoesI recently published a new book that has been “in the works” for a couple of years. I sat on it for a while because I kept making editorial changes that altered its overall flow. Those who know me well know that I am fond of series and broad themes![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-ca315cc2-6475-4365-a6c7-0fd142f297ff.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/3ccef927-e17d-4019-8dd5-16756e246fda-eb1e2e09-06af-4c49-b774-4a3bd65e1fcc.jpeg)](https://www.pshir.com/hearing-distant-echoes/)

[Reviving the Ancient Shofar Sound in IsraelThe piercing note of a shofar – a ram’s horn used in Jewish religious ceremonies – cuts through the mountain air of the Galilee. Here in northern Israel, shepherdess Jenna Lewinsky is raising a flock of “Jacob Sheep” as a religious calling. With anything up to six horns on each animal,![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-5d043dff-61a4-4fde-abd1-e595c72374b4.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Goa1-3d25b4e9-7631-4f7f-a751-0e786c4ff887.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/reviving-ancient-shofar-sound-israel/)
### "Unheard Wisdom of Hebrew Scribes and Teachers" by Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/unheard-wisdom-of-hebrew-scribes-and-teachers/
Last updated: 2026-09-06T14:00:13.000Z
The title mentions "unheard wisdom” because the spiritual texts presented in this book are not well known to the masses. Inside are modern, updated, and easy-to-read English translations of four Jewish texts: **The Letter of Aristeas, The Wisdom of Solomon, The Book of Ben Sira, and Biblical Antiquities of Philo.** Because these spiritual works come to us from the Second Temple era, they are extra-canonical, and their voices are often unheard. Many academics who study antiquity know them, but the majority of casual Bible readers have never encountered these texts. These medium-length books offer masterful storytelling and Hellenistic Jewish wisdom mixed with pre-rabbinic midrash. Curious? Let them speak to you. Look Inside...

[![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2026/08/Voices2-300.jpg)](https://amzn.to/4xph3PK?ref=pshir.com) 

As an author and an independent publisher, I have developed a strategic relationship with Amazon. Besides being a retail giant, Amazon's Kindle e-books allow for instant delivery, and Audiobook subscriptions open brand new avenues for auditory learners. 

[See this book on Amazon ](https://amzn.to/4xph3PK?ref=pshir.com)

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Temple of the Holy Spirit: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
URL: https://www.pshir.com/temple-of-the-holy-spirit-1-corinthians-6-19-20/
Last updated: 2026-09-02T14:00:04.000Z
From time to time, I hear beautiful spiritual teachings drawn from the apostolic writings that are sadly misunderstood by modern readers of the New Testament. Misunderstandings repeated often enough eventually harden into “obvious truths,” and over time, they can even become official theological doctrines that define entire religious traditions and practices. Once ideas become institutionalized, they are not easily questioned, even when the historical and linguistic contexts point elsewhere. Consider this well-known example from Apostle Paul:

> **“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Cor 6:19-20)**

Countless believers have heard this passage explained as meaning that each individual human body is literally “a temple of the Holy Spirit.” From there comes the moral lesson: treat your body well, avoid impurity, avoid self-destruction, and live in a healthy and honorable way before God. At its core, this is a wonderful and positive teaching. There is absolutely nothing wrong with encouraging holiness, self-control, and respect for our human bodies. Scripture repeatedly presents human life as sacred and animated by the divine breath itself (Gen 2:7). **Yet technically speaking, this famous verse does not quite say what people often claim it says.**

[Impurity HappensIn Leviticus 16:1, our reading begins with the words, acharei mot shnei benei Aharon bekarbatam. It says that “Aaron’s two sons died because they drew too close to Hashem.” This is interesting because that is not how their story is always seen. Most readers focus on their behavior![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-254.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Torah3-7-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/impurity-happens/)

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Spiritual Awareness
URL: https://www.pshir.com/spiritual-awareness/
Last updated: 2026-10-06T19:28:34.000Z
In Joshua, we learn why a Canaanite prostitute saved the lives of Israelite spies. She saw something many Israelites did not see about themselves. In Joshua 2:9, she said, **Ki natan ADONAI lekhem et ha-arretz “**Hashem gave you the land.” Apparently, through whatever means of information they used, she heard about the Sea of Reeds and the victories God gave to the Israelites. And she perceived that God was behind it, and Jericho was doomed. She believed. What’s even more remarkable is that Joshua records her beautiful expression of faith in the God of Israel.

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### The Struggle of Darkness and Light (~ 1.5h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/darkness-and-light-1-5h/
Last updated: 2026-10-06T19:30:15.000Z
This teaching delves into the ongoing human struggle between the choice to serve God wholeheartedly and the temptation to serve personal ambitions. We follow the story of the Hasmonaean priestly family that led an uprising against Hellenistic oppression in the second century BCE. The Maccabees were granted a miraculous victory but became mired in political ambitions of statecraft and power struggles. This was a turbulent era of Jewish history when the movement of Pharisees formed their philosophy, and Sadducees established their priorities. This is also the story that explains how Herod the Great became the ruler of Judea. These events lead you right up to the moment when Gospel events begin. 

If you were curious about connecting the dots in this era, I draw heavily on the Books of Maccabees, Josephus, Talmud, and the Gospels. 

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This teaching was recorded live, and some of the Q&A audience interactions were left intact. The video was broken up into several 20-minute segments. Please ****consider a paid subscription** to watch all segments ad-free and support my independent publishing. 

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### Hearing Distant Echoes
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hearing-distant-echoes/
Last updated: 2026-08-23T14:00:15.000Z
I recently published a new book that has been "in the works" for a couple of years. I sat on it for a while because I kept making editorial changes that altered its overall flow. Those who know me well know that I am fond of series and broad themes because that is how ideas typically develop in my head, and this book is meant to be a follow-up to my "Missing Ingredients" title. In [*Missing Ingredients: Your Bible Study Recipe*](https://amzn.to/4w5Bb7L?ref=pshir.com), I laid out a strategy and method for a better and deeper exploration of the Bible that anyone can learn and follow. I shared many tools and gave examples of using them by working through selected passages. Now, in "Hearing Distant Echoes," I focus on one of the techniques that I highlighted in the book. 

[***Hearing Distant Echoes: Jewish Voices from the Second Temple Era***](https://amzn.to/4bBK4Pf?ref=pshir.com) is all about interpretation without being dogmatic about the specifics. Page after page, I demonstrate how awareness of authentic ideas found in various extrabiblical texts can significantly enhance our understanding of ancient Jewish culture and beliefs. As I offer select commentary, I base my judgments on observed similarities and overlap. I show how extrabiblical sources enhance our ability to understand what mattered most to ancient audiences. It's not about any particular text or a pet belief, but rather about the mindsets of people who lived in a world quite different from our modern one. 

I demonstrate this by reading through an array of different passages about the angels, prayer, the Messiah, judgment, sin, repentance, worship, charity, etc. Then I ask questions, connect the dots, draw correlations, and think out loud on possibilities that surface. In doing this, I invite the Bible and other texts into this conversation. In a sense, an extra-biblical passage that engages with similar topics that the Bible already speaks on becomes a possible broader context that many canonical texts do not always offer their readers. You can remain skeptical about the direction I go with these texts, or even my commentary, but you might still enjoy the book... 

Why? Because, as an author and guide, I do not point to a painting on a wall and tell you exactly what the artist meant when he painted his masterpiece. Instead, I take you on a tour of several levels of a museum filled with paintings done by other artists who were living down the street from the one you are really curious about. I consider the context that filled his mind. I introduce you to his friends and neighbors. Yes, these artists went to the same school, learned from some of the same teachers, and they probably walked the same trails in the same park after enjoying a similar breakfast. Sometimes they even painted the same landscapes and, in some cases, were influenced by each other. But you would never have met these other artists if you had never decided to come along and tour the entire museum. That is what this book offers: greater awareness of extrabiblical context... 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2026/08/Hearing-Front-Sm-1.jpg) 

#### Hearing Distant Echoes

This book captures many ancient voices, a collection of literary excerpts from ancient Jewish books: ****Jubilees, Josephus, 4 Ezra, Qumran Scrolls, Talmud, Enoch, Baruch, Maccabees, Mishna, Judith, Apocalypse of Moses, Philo, Mishna, Ben Sira, and many others,** fifty passages to be exact. The excerpts are mostly short, sometimes even intentionally abbreviated to be easily digested in small bites. They speak about the dynamics of prayer, experiences at the temple, God’s spirit, resurrection, sin, defilement, purity, friendship, heaven, etc. Some focus on the visions of the glorious Messiah; others on the dread of divine judgment to come. Some tell stories, and others seek to express reverence and simply praise God for his mighty works. ****These selected passages from extrabiblical books are meant to aid inquisitive students of antiquity to peer behind the veil of history and see the nuances of faith and culture, diverse beliefs, and practices of ancient Jews as they themselves expressed them in antiquity.**

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4gaOoHE?ref=pshir.com)
### Four Rivers and Four Kingdoms
URL: https://www.pshir.com/four-rivers-and-four-kingdoms/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T14:00:01.000Z
For anyone who follows Middle Eastern politics and history even a little, the cycles of aggression and conflict between different groups in the region never end. Frankly, that is not new. It has been this way ever since the beginning. There seems to be an unending struggle as new hungry powers rise to prominence with each passing age and generation. I wanted to share a curious midrash with you that pertains to this topic. If you are new to this verbal art form, *midrash* is a rabbinic teaching, a story told with the intention of making a spiritual impact. This particular midrash is quite ancient, written down in the 4th-5th century CE, but likely of much older origins. It was designed to instruct and inspire us, to help us see spiritual truths more deeply, in a way similar to how the parables do in the gospels. 

The story I want to relate is about four rivers and four kingdoms. It might remind you somewhat of Revelation, though, because it addresses the prophetic and symbolic visions of the future. Naturally, don't take it literally as you read it, because its central message is buried within the story's symbolism and unique language. 

Rabbi Tanhum said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: **In the future, the Holy One blessed be He will give the nations to drink from the cup of terror, from the place from which *hadin*** (the judgment) **emerges.** What is the source? “A river emerged from Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted” – “and became four rivers.” It is not written here "four rivers", but rather, “and became four headwaters (*rashim*)” – these are the four kingdoms, which correspond to the four headwaters. “The name of the one is Pishon” – this refers to Babylon, after: “Its horsemen come from afar (*pashu*)” (Habakkuk 1:8)…“And the name of the second river is Gihon” – this refers to Media, as Haman would decimate its people like a serpent, after: “Upon your belly (*gehonekha*) you shall go” (Gen 3:14)… “Tigris (*Hidekel*) ” – this name refers to Greece, which was quick (*kala*) and harsh (*hada*) in its edicts and decrees. Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Aha: **All the kingdoms may be called after *Ashur* (Assyria) because they all enrich themselves (*mitasherot*) through Israel.** Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina added: All the kingdoms may be called after Nineveh because they adorn themselves (*mitnaot*) through Israel. Rabbi Yosei bar Halafta also said: All the nations are called after Egypt (*Mitzrayim*) because they distress (*metzirot*) Israel. “The fourth river is Euphrates (*Perat*)” – this refers to Edom. Perat is called by this name because it voided (*hefera*) and distressed his (Jacob’s) descendants. Perat – because it brings fertility (*para*) and abundance due to the blessing of the elder (Isaac). Perat is the name because in the future I will exact retribution (*lehipara*) against it. But Perat after its demise: “I alone have trodden the winepress (*pura*)…” (Isaiah 63:3). **(Bereshit Rabbah 16)**

[Intro to the Talmud and Midrash by Strack and StembergerStrack (1848-1922) was a Professor of the Old Testament at the University of Berlin. His classic introduction to Rabbinic literature was revised and updated by Gunter Stemberger, an established expert on Rabbinic history and literature. This book is the only comprehensive one-volume introduction to the subject that I know. I![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-102.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/ITM-cover-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/intro-to-the-talmud-and-midrash-by-strack-and-stemberger/)

Students of Hebrew and Aramaic would appreciate the verbal puns scattered throughout this text. This translation intentionally highlights the key terms in play. The border aim, however, is to follow the conceptual trails of logic that the rabbis create as they offer their commentary, which goes back to the third or fourth century CE. They speak of four rivers and four kingdoms, each with oppressive and destructive power, all originating in the Mesopotamian region. Why? Because each mighty kingdom that brought war to Israel's doorstep sought to rule that ancient area of the four rivers. Rivers are everything in the Middle East. But the rivers are very problematic themselves if one examines their names and their geography is tied to the enigmatic descriptions of Eden in Torah. 

The midrash sort of builds on Daniel's visions of the four kingdoms and beasts (Daniel 2:31-45, 7:1-28). It interprets the Edenic rivers symbolically, seeing them as prophetic glimpses of the empires that would dominate the Jewish people. The geographical reality of Eden thus becomes a divine blueprint for understanding historical suffering and redemption, with the same God who created the rivers orchestrating the rise and fall of nations. Daniel 2:21 says, "He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings." Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome (Edom is rabbinic shorthand for Rome), these four kingdoms connected to the four rivers, represent the four exiles of Israel, and they complete the cycle of exile and divine redemption. The cup of God's anger, the cup of staggering and shaking (Is 51:17, 22; Jer 25:15), and even judgment (Ezek 21:33) is what God makes the warring nations drink. 

What is significant about number four? Besides the four exiles (*galuyot;* גָּלֻיּוֹת) of Israel, it is a symbol of something comprehensive, possibly even ultimate power and authority. There are many instances of four out there. The four cups and promises of Passover in (Mishnah, Pesachim 10:1), four Sukkot species (Leviticus 23:40), Asiyah, Yetzirah, Beriah, and Atzilut - the four worlds in Jewish mystical tradition, and even four winds and four corners of the world (1 Enoch 18:6-9). 

But perhaps the most picturesque symbol of four is that God's covenant name (YHVH, יהוה) revealed to Moses (Ex 3:13-14) consists of four letters. Its letters and their meaning are inextricably tied to "existence" and "being." Some may even be tempted to describe that with the word "history," but that is a human construct that seeks to understand our limited impact on the world. The Most High simply "was, is, and will be," and other factors of four are all tied to him because he defines all reality and existence. 

Thus, this symbolic framework of midrash about four rivers and four kingdoms reflects a fundamental Jewish understanding that history unfolds according to divine patterns established at creation, displayed in his nature, where even the geography of Eden prefigures the rise and fall of empires. And all of that should merely lead us to placing our faith and trust in the one (YHVH, יהוה) who truly reigns and always has. 

If you have enjoyed this article, I have recently published a book that is full of insights from ancient Jewish books similar to this one. It's available in Kindle format, in paperback, and in audio. The book needs reviews from readers, and you can be one of the first to offer some feedback. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2026/08/Hearing-Front-Sm-1.jpg) 

#### Hearing Distant Echoes

This book captures many ancient voices, a collection of literary excerpts from ancient Jewish books: ****Jubilees, Josephus, 4 Ezra, Qumran Scrolls, Talmud, Enoch, Baruch, Maccabees, Mishna, Judith, Apocalypse of Moses, Philo, Mishna, Ben Sira, and many others,** fifty passages to be exact. The excerpts are mostly short, sometimes even intentionally abbreviated to be easily digested in small bites. They speak about the dynamics of prayer, experiences at the temple, God’s spirit, resurrection, sin, defilement, purity, friendship, heaven, etc. Some focus on the visions of the glorious Messiah; others on the dread of divine judgment to come. Some tell stories, and others seek to express reverence and simply praise God for his mighty works. ****These selected passages from extrabiblical books are meant to aid inquisitive students of antiquity to peer behind the veil of history and see the nuances of faith and culture, diverse beliefs, and practices of ancient Jews as they themselves expressed them in antiquity.**

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4gaOoHE?ref=pshir.com)
### Come Render Praise to ADONAI
URL: https://www.pshir.com/come-render-praise-to-adonai/
Last updated: 2026-08-16T14:00:31.000Z
I want to share my recent musical reworking of Psalm 95\. It's meant to be a meditative call to worship that is built solidly on the message of this ancient psalm that moves from Hebrew to English and back to Hebrew. If you are learning the Hebrew language, singing it is a wonderful way to let the language sink in. If you connect with Psalms on a personal level, experiencing its words in the original can also be uplifting. 

**Psalm 95 says:** Come, let us sing to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our Salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. With songs, let's raise our voices to Him. Let us shout to the Rock of our Salvation.  
  
לְכוּ נְרַנְּנָה לַיהוה   
נָרִיעָה לְצוּר יִשְׁעֵנוּ  
לְכוּ נְרַנְּנָה לַיהוה   
נְקַדְּמָה פָנָיו בְּתוֹדָה  
לְכוּ נְרַנְּנָה לַיהוה   
בִּזְמִרוֹת נָרִיעַ לוֹ  
לְכוּ נְרַנְּנָה לַיהוה   
נָרִיעָה לְצוּר יִשְׁעֵנוּ

Come render praise to ADONAI, in Rock of Salvation rejoice. Let us come sing to the LORD, hopeful hearts, lift up your voice. O, come and sing to the LORD, make melodies, grateful noise. A sweet psalm to ADONAI, in Rock of Salvation rejoice.  
  
(Translation: For the LORD is a great God and a great King above all gods. In whose hand are the depths of the earth and the mountains are His. The sea is His, for He made it and the dry land His hands have formed.)  
  
כִּי אֵל גָּדוֹל יהוה   
וּמֶלֶךְ גָּדוֹל עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִים  
אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ מֶחְקְרֵי־אָרֶץ   
וְתוֹעֲפוֹת הָרִים לוֹ  
אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ הַיָּם וְהוּא עָשָׂהוּ   
וְיַבֶּשֶׁת יָדָיו יָצָרוּ  
  
For great is the LORD our God, above all gods, mighty King. Depths of the earth are in His hands, and the mountain tops are His. The sea belongs to Him alone, formed its depths by His command. In dry land too, His power shown, He is the One who shaped our land.  
  
Come render praise to ADONAI, in Rock of Salvation rejoice. Let us come sing to the LORD, hopeful hearts, lift up your voice. O, come and sing to the LORD, make melodies, grateful noise. A sweet psalm to ADONAI, in Rock of Salvation rejoice.  
  
Let us worship and humbly bow, ADONAI, our Maker be blessed. He is ours, and we are His now, a flock in the Shepherd's hand. If you hear His tender voice, do not harden your hearts today. In His gentle embrace rejoice, be the sheep who do not stray... 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Teh-Art-1.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Interlinear Psalms

For those who love Psalms, especially the way they sound in Hebrew, this handy volume presents them in an interlinear format. As it is with most poetry, sometimes translations are not so straightforward, and it's so easy to see the original words that stand behind the English text. This volume allows students of Hebrew to quickly build their biblical Hebrew vocabulary and, at the same time, immerse themselves in their favorite psalms. I have used it for both study and for devotional reading as well. And I can recommend it for those who would like to try the Psalms in their original language and grow in their comprehension of the biblical language as they read. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kY9k5e?ref=pshir.com)
### Stop Running
URL: https://www.pshir.com/stop-running/
Last updated: 2026-08-12T14:00:39.000Z
Do you ever feel stressed or pressured, feel like running away? It's a common response to encountering stress. The world we live in is not for the faint of heart. For people of faith, for those who look to God, it's difficult to stay on course and not be tempted to withdraw and get away from everything and everyone. We are bombarded with agendas and ideas that are antithetical to our faith every day, and some may feel like running is the only solution. Besides, the temptations are all around us, and in the culture, the majority of people seem to be headed in a direction away from the LORD. Some of us may even feel like Joseph, who needs to flee from Potiphar's wife. Should we flee to save ourselves? Maybe... But running is only a temporary solution. 

King Shlomo calls us to find the strength and courage to stand firm on the path of righteousness, even if that makes us different or a target. If we need to run, we run. But we need to make sure we're running for a good and sensible reason, because the option of courageously standing our ground could be a better one. So may we judge each scenario sensibly. 

**Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”**

The lion-like boldness that this verse speaks of comes from confidence in God. Being dauntless, brave, and confident is a trait of those who walk the path of righteousness because they actually have nothing to fear. Why does King Solomon say that “the wicked flee when no one is chasing them?” Those who live without Hashem’s direction in their lives are driven and guided not by Torah or values but by circumstances. Their path is extremely flexible as they are always reacting to what happens around them. They adjust to new cultural trends, adapt to new ideals, and measure up to emerging standards of success. Such a way of experiencing the world can indeed lead to paranoia, to running when no one is chasing you.

It's normal and natural to want to be a part of this big, beautiful world we live in, to be a part of the broader community around us. And we don’t always prefer to be in disagreement and contrary to others around us, but sometimes we must. Sometimes we must decisively part ways with others, walk away, and not join them in their pursuits because we know that our path is different and we cannot be like everyone else. We embrace values that do not change, and we hold fast to the standards we did not invent. We can't adjust in this area and adapt our way out of this. 

We, religious people, may be labeled as "old-fashioned" at times, but that is our stability. The righteous are called to live with confidence, with boldness and trust in their strength, as lions do. Lions are rarely afraid because when it comes to predators, they are at the top. Those who base their lives on faith in one who is much greater than the world have nothing to fear in the grand scheme of things. They know the true source of their strength even if it is hidden. So the next time the pressure comes, before you decide to run, pause, pray, and consider seriously if you should. Because maybe it's time to stand your ground as a lions do. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/01/40Days-Cover-5x8-06-13-23-front-sm.jpg) 

#### 40 Days of Hebrew Devotions

****From Amazon customer:** “40 DAYS of HEBREW DEVOTIONS, focuses on one daily Bible passage with a short discussion of significant Hebrew words… including a transliteration of pronunciation, & the meanings. A prayer using a Hebrew communal format ends the day's devotional. To read in one sitting (as I did last night for starters) & to use it as a daily devotional for 40 days or more, becomes a spiritual & intellectual journey, providing greater insights into these Scriptures than previously known. I recommend it for persons of either Jewish or Christian faiths or even people who are interested in historical cultural understanding.” ****Another reader’s review:** “..this book helps take a deep dive in a way I can understand. Worth every penny I paid.” ****Another Amazon reader:** “This book is for English readers, however it includes a lot of beginner-style Hebrew in it. It's a great, short daily read that is only about five minutes, and you find yourself thinking about it the rest of the day. I love this book.”

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3B3if39?ref=pshir.com)
### What is Kosher? by BimBam
URL: https://www.pshir.com/what-is-kosher-by-bimbam/
Last updated: 2026-08-09T14:00:17.000Z
This is a very simple introduction to kosher for everyone. Learn why people keep kosher, the basic rules, how to get started, or how to be thoughtful as a guest in a kosher home. A great intro to the topic for Jews and non-Jews alike. As an educator, I always enjoy simple and clear videos to introduce a complicated topic in an easy and entertaining fashion. So, I decided this one is worth sharing. Enjoy!

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

[Coming CleanIn Exodus 35:31, the craftsmen received abilities to do melakha “work” or “labor” or “craft” that was assigned to them. But besides all the knowledge and abilities, the Torah says in Exodus 35:35 ulehoret natan belibo “he put the ability to teach into his heart.” Betzalel was to![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-8.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Torah5.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/coming-clean/)

[Recreating Ancient Roman BreadHave you ever wondered what bread was like 2000 years ago? We often assume that bread is bread, and it has always been the same. But this is where archaeologists, historians, and food anthropologists will tell you that even the bread we know has gone through stages of development as![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-1f96d30c-a912-42cd-a474-ef4089ef64a0.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Pom-Bread1-ff89986f-ae68-4df1-a3f2-ad916d9ca5bd.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/recreating-ancient-roman-bread/)
### What Kinds of Fish Were Eaten in Ancient Jerusalem?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/what-kinds-of-fish-were-eaten-in-ancient-jerusalem/
Last updated: 2026-08-05T14:00:36.000Z
Over the past century and a half, archaeologists have excavated a variety of sites in Jerusalem, bringing to light many aspects of everyday life in the biblical city. The examination of ceramic vessels for cooking and serving, as well as the uncovering of food waste, mainly comprised of discarded bones, have taught us much about the diet of the city’s inhabitants in different periods.

In the early stages of archeology, archeologists concentrated on the bones of larger animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle, but later turned also to shells and the bones of small animals such as birds and fish. Fishbones are found in almost every excavation where proper measures of the collection are used. The bones tend to preserve fairly well over long periods of time and can be identified taxonomically by using a reference collection of modern fishbones. Moreover, by identifying the type of fish, we can also determine its origin: marine (i.e. saltwater) fish come from either the Mediterranean or the Red Sea, while freshwater fish come from either the Jordan River system, coastal rivers and streams, or from the Nile. This kind of information helps to asses trade connections in ancient times.

There is no doubt that fish comprised an important part of the diet of the population. Fish had to be imported to Jerusalem mainly from fish markets along the coast. The shelf life of fresh fish is short and therefore, in ancient times they were probably bought in the local market in Jerusalem dried, salted, or smoked.

### **What Kinds of Fish?**

Most of the bones found in Jerusalem digs belonged to Sparus Auratus, the gilt-head sea bream, locally known as “denis.” This is a marine fish inhabiting the Mediterranean. Isotope analysis of this fish’s teeth from different excavated sites across the country has shown that it was not captured in the open sea but rather imported to the Levant from the Bardawil hypersaline lagoon in Northern Sinai. This lagoon is rich in fish, and large numbers of gilt-head sea breams are caught there even today.

In addition to the gilt-head sea bream, 15 other species of fish were found. All of the fish were kosher, with the major exception of catfish, sharks, and rays. (post Second Temple period) Most of the bones were from marine fish from the Mediterranean (no Red Sea fish were found), but some freshwater fish, such as the Lates niloticus, the Nile perch, locally known today as “The Princess of the Nile,” were also found there.

The rich assortment of fish consumed by Jerusalemites during the First Temple period points to a community interested in maintaining multiple sources of food, through diverse sources of commerce. Nehemiah 3:3, a Persian Period source, in describing the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem, explicitly mentions “the fish gate” (שַׁעַר הַדָּגִים; Neh 3:3), which likely functioned as a fish market. Moreover, Nehemiah explicitly makes reference to Tyrian fisherman: נחמיה יג:טז וְהַצֹּרִים יָשְׁבוּ בָהּ מְבִיאִים דָּאג וְכָל מֶכֶר וּמֹכְרִים בַּשַּׁבָּת לִבְנֵי יְהוּדָה וּבִירוּשָׁלָ‍ִם. Neh 13:16 Tyrians who lived there brought fish and all sorts of wares and sold them on Shabbat to the Judahites in Jerusalem. This illustrates how even in the smaller Second Temple city of Jerusalem in the Persian period, it was still worthwhile for coastal Phoenicians to show up in Jerusalem and sell their fish to the local Judeans, again dried, salted, or smoked. Other, more modest assemblages give us a further glimpse of fish consumption during later periods.

### **Shilo’s Excavation (Late First Temple Period)**

The first study of fish bones in Jerusalem was based on a small assemblage of 245 bones uncovered in the excavations of the City of David in the 1980s by Yigal Shilo. Most of the bones were dated to the late Iron Age and the First Temple period, around the 7th century BCE.

In one building located in area G, known as “The House of Ahikam,” eight kinds of fish were found, including Nile perch, as well as freshwater catfish and tilapia, marine porgies, meager, mullets, sea bass, and another kind of catfish imported from the Nile. These, together with other finds in the same building, suggest a high economic and social status of the inhabitants.

### **Mazar’s Excavation (Late First Temple Period)**

Another assemblage of 530 fish bones was found in an excavation led by Eilat Mazar dated to the end of the First Temple period, and to the short Babylonian and later Persian periods. These were the same types of fish found in the Rock Cut Pool and Building 2348 excavations, including gilt-head bream from Lake Bardawil and Nile perch, both imported from Egypt.

### **Gadot’s Excavation (Second Temple Period)**

A site excavated by Yuval Gadot provides information about the consumption of fish in the Early Roman Second Temple period. A thick layer of garbage from this period covers the remains of the Iron Age city along the eastern slopes into the Kidron River. Wet sifting of the dirt produced 590 fish bones mainly from the Mediterranean but also from the Sea of Galilee.

### **Reich and Shukron’s Excavation (Second Temple Period)**

Also dated to the Early Roman Second Temple period is another layer of garbage, east of the Temple Mount, and excavated by Reich and Shukrun. They dubbed this site “the Holy Dump,” since the thick dirt piles they dug through appear to hold the remains of the Second Temple’s trash. The dirt here yielded remains of what seems to have been sacrificial animals, and also about 300 bones of fish of the same kinds found in the other digs surveyed above.

### **Amit and Wolff’s Excavation (Byzantine)**

A small number of fish bones were found in the remains of an Armenian monastery dated to the Byzantine period excavated by David Amit and Sam Wolff. Among them were again the remains of Nile perch, attesting to the very long period of Egyptian trade in these fish.

### **Ben Ami Excavation (Early Islamic)**

Another small assemblage of fishbones was found in garbage pits from the Early Islamic period by the Givati Parking Lot Excavation led by Doron Ben Ami. These pits were thought to have served as trash for a local market, and fishbones were found in two of them. There were 320 bones, half of them belonged to freshwater catfish and a few to parrot fish from the Red Sea. As a small Islamic town on the northern coast of the Red Sea near today’s Eilat was in existence at the time, these remains suggest trade connections between this town and Jerusalem.

### **Treif Fish in Jerusalem?**

According to the Torah, only fish with fins and scales may be eaten (Deut 14:9–10, Lev 11:9–12): דברים יד:ט אֶת זֶה תֹּאכְלוּ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּיִם כֹּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת תֹּאכֵלוּ. יד:י וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֵין לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ טָמֵא הוּא לָכֶם. Deut 14:9 These you may eat of all that live in water: you may eat anything that has fins and scales. 14:10 But you may not eat anything that has no fins and scales: it is unclean for you.

Nevertheless, each of these assemblages of fish bones from Jerusalem contained remains of catfish and cartilaginous fish (sharks and rays) none of which have scales. Their remains in the set of excavations in Jerusalem were quite common during the First Temple and Persian periods (up to 25%), rare in the later Second Temple period (less than 3%), and then again common in the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods (up to 50%). These findings suggest that the laws concerning pure and impure fish either evolved or became generally accepted among Jews only during the post-Persian Second Temple period.

Original Source: Prof. Omri Lernau, M.D (thetorah.com)
### Synagogues and the Spread of Christian Beliefs
URL: https://www.pshir.com/synagogues-and-the-spread-of-christian-beliefs/
Last updated: 2026-08-02T14:00:09.000Z
What do Synagogues have to do with the spread of Christian beliefs? If you are asking yourself this question, then you probably need to reread the Book of Acts. Early believers in Jesus were all members of synagogues, and wherever they went, those affiliations continued to play an essential role in their spiritual lives. Consequently, early churches, when they emerged, resembled home synagogues in many ways. This is Part 2 of a longer conversation with Dr. Parker in which we discuss the early Jewish Church. 

Israel Bible Podcast is produced by my colleague Dr. Cyndi Parker.

[Jewish Ecclesia in Acts (\~1hr)The book of Acts mentions the church, which is a translation of the Greek word “ecclesia.” This Greek term is ancient, but the word “church” is actually not. Where does this new word come from? What does it mean? How did the early Christ-followers see and describe themselves? Look deeper![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-123.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_1411760426b-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/jewish-ecclesia-in-acts/)

[Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins by George NickelsburgIn his book Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins, Professor George Nickelsburg examines the historical, religious, and social contexts of Second Temple Judaism (roughly 516 BCE to 70 CE) and how they influenced early Christianity. Nickelsburg explores topics like Jewish beliefs, messianic expectations, scriptural interpretations, and apocalyptic literature, showing how these![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-124.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/AJCO-cover.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/ancient-judaism-and-christian-origins-by-george-n/)
### One's Own Enemy
URL: https://www.pshir.com/ones-own-enemy/
Last updated: 2026-10-06T19:33:17.000Z
The Book of Ovadyah, or Obadiah, is very short. Only one chapter. The prophet's entire message is about Esau, or Edom, as he is also known. And since the Torah reading with which it corresponds is all about the reconciliation of Jacob and Esau, Obadiah’s words allow us to look beyond the ancient words in the Torah and see a much bigger picture. It's not all about Jacob and Esau either; it goes much deeper into the propensity of humans to strive for dominance and search for humility in God's presence. Listen?

_This post is for subscribers only._
### New Wind in the Early Jewish Church
URL: https://www.pshir.com/new-wind-in-the-early-jewish-church/
Last updated: 2026-07-26T14:00:45.000Z
A while back, I had an opportunity to develop a course for the institution where I teach, entitled "The Stories of the Jewish Church." The title was intended to be somewhat provocative, designed to emphasize that the early church was indeed Jewish. In this podcast interview, Dr. Parker asks me to share some of the stories I cover in the course, and that is what this episode is about. This is Part 1 of our conversation. 

Israel Bible Podcast is produced by my colleague Dr. Cyndi Parker.

[40 Days of Hebrew DevotionsWhat would you say if I introduced you to an insightful, short book with lots of takeaways from a trustworthy source? The book will gently lead you through a 40-day journey looking at Hebrew words and concepts to enrich your faith and worship. This could be an exhilarating 40-day journey![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-121.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/40day-cover-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/40-days-of-hebrew-devotions/)

[Jewish Ecclesia in Acts (\~1hr)The book of Acts mentions the church, which is a translation of the Greek word “ecclesia.” This Greek term is ancient, but the word “church” is actually not. Where does this new word come from? What does it mean? How did the early Christ-followers see and describe themselves? Look deeper![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-122.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_1411760426b.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/jewish-ecclesia-in-acts/)
### Multiple Heavens in the Bible and Three Books of Enoch
URL: https://www.pshir.com/multiple-heavens-bible-three-books-of-enoch/
Last updated: 2026-07-22T14:00:46.000Z
The corpus of texts attributed to the biblical figure Enoch represents some of the most significant apocalyptic literature from the Second Temple period. Named after the seventh patriarch from Adam, who, according to Genesis 5:24, “walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him” (וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ חֲנוֹךְ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים וְאֵינֶנּוּ כִּי־לָקַח אֹתוֹ אֱלֹהִים), these texts elaborate extensively on heavenly journeys, angelic revelations, and cosmic structures. The enigmatic biblical reference to Enoch's transfer to divine realm became the foundation for a rich tradition of mystical ascent literature that developed sophisticated models of the cosmos, particularly focused on multiple heavenly realms.

The notion of a multi-layered heaven represents a significant cosmological development in ancient Jewish thought. While early Hebrew texts often referred to “heaven” (*shamayim;* שָׁמַיִם) in seemingly singular or dual terms, apocalyptic literature of the Second Temple period introduced increasingly complex structures of multiple heavens.

The Hebrew Bible contains several references that hint at a more complex heavenly structure than a simple, singular heaven. For example, in Deuteronomy 10:14, we read this “Behold, to ADONAI your God belong the heavens and the heaven of heavens” (הֵן לַיהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם). Similarly, in 1 Kings 8:27, King Solomon declares, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You” (הִנֵּה הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם לֹא יְכַלְכְּלוּךָ). Psalm 148:4 also mentions “heavens of heavens” (שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם; *shemei ha-shamayim*) as well. These references suggest a very early recognition of celestial hierarchy that would later develop into the elaborate heavenly structures found in apocalyptic Jewish literature.

### **Multiple Havens in 1 Enoch**

The First Book of Enoch (3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE) features stories about Enoch's ascent through multiple heavenly realms. While 1 Enoch doesn't explicitly enumerate seven heavens, it describes Enoch's journey through various celestial regions. According to the story, the first heaven contains storehouses of snow, dew, and atmospheric phenomena. Higher levels are where Enoch witnesses the “Great Glory” seated on the throne. Certain segments of heaven house rebellious angels. In one of the heavens’ layers, Enoch saw the garden of righteousness and the Tree of Wisdom. He also caught a glimpse of the realm of celestial bodies and the angels who govern them. This ancient Jewish text establishes the motif of heavenly ascent and cosmic exploration that became foundational for later apocalyptic literature.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### The Revival of the Modern Hebrew Language
URL: https://www.pshir.com/continued-revival-hebrew-language/
Last updated: 2026-07-19T14:00:38.000Z
Hidden away between the dense trees of the Hebrew University’s Givat Ram campus lies the past, present, and future of the Hebrew language. Disguised by its modest exterior and dwarfed by impressive new university faculties, two small buildings are home to the supreme institution of Hebrew in Israel and the body responsible for the ongoing revival of the once near-extinct language of the Jewish people: the Academy of the Hebrew Language.

> “In some ways, we are continuing the spirit of the key pioneer in the revival of modern Hebrew, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda,” says Dr. Gabriel Birnbaum, a senior researcher at the academy’s Historical Dictionary project.

Sitting in an office lined with ancient-looking dictionaries, religious liturgy, and manuscripts, Birnbaum, whose enthusiasm for the Hebrew language and its unprecedented revival is infectious, pays tribute to Ben-Yehuda.

> “It was the work of one man, which is unbelievable. One man. Everyone mocked him: ‘You can’t make a dictionary of all the Hebrew language, all of its layers, all of its strata,'” Birnbaum says. “He never attended university, never learned linguistics, but he was a genius.”

Born Eliezer Yitzhak Perelman in Luzhky, Lithuania, in 1858, Ben-Yehuda arrived in Palestine in 1881, driven and focused to revive the Hebrew language. Others had attempted to revive the language but did not place the same emphasis as Ben-Yehuda on the importance of spoken Hebrew.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/12/galaxyai-image-1765774204182.png)

> “He decided with his wife that they would not say any word between themselves and the children in languages except for Hebrew,” Birnbaum explains. As a result, Ben Yehuda’s son, Itamar Ben-Avi, was said to be the first native speaker of Hebrew in modern times. “Very soon they realized that they were lacking words. But if we have such a vast literature of Bible, Mishnah, and Talmud, how could they lack words?” asks Birnbaum. “All these words in these sources deal with major topics: they speak about love, hatred, wars, sacrifice, and redemption. But how do you say ‘office’, ‘umbrella’ or ‘matchstick’? For these things, they lacked words.”

Birnbaum challenges the notion that Hebrew was a dead language prior to Ben-Yehuda’s extraordinary efforts, describing the claim as a “misnomer.” Although there was no such thing as a Hebrew-speaking family, people did, however, speak with God in Hebrew, pray in Hebrew, learn religious texts and write a vast amount of Hebrew literature. Coining new words for the Hebrew language, as Ben-Yehuda did until his death nearly a century ago, is only one part of the role of the academy. In Biblical Hebrew, there were approximately 7,000 words. Modern Hebrew has approximately 33,000 words.

> “In a way it’s a continuation of Ben-Yehuda’s dictionary but, of course, he didn’t have all the data that we have. He didn’t know of the existence of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were only discovered in the 1950s,” Birnbaum says. “What we do, which is unique to our dictionary, is that we work according to manuscripts.”

In contrast to other dictionaries, he explains, where there are existing words and example sentences are then sought or invented, the historical dictionary works in the opposite way. Words are added once examples are found, whether that might be in the Bible, Mishnah, Talmud or a range of other ancient Hebrew sources.

The academy has worked hard to improve its image in the last 25 years to change an old perception that it was disconnected from reality and uninvolved in the living language. To mark annual Hebrew Language Day, the academy published examples of new Hebrew words on the sides of milk cartons, quietly bringing their work into the homes of millions of Israelis. Unlike Ben-Yehuda, who advocated the eradication of all foreign words from the Hebrew language, the academy does not entirely oppose the influence of other languages.

> “Hebrew is already living and kicking. The academy tends not to Hebraize international words. International words like electronics (electronica), democracy (democratia), television (televizia) and chocolate (shokolad) – we don’t touch them,” says Birnbaum. “Even the name of the academy, the academia, is an international word.” “There is no ‘pure’ language,” Birnbaum says. “There is no living language that is not influenced by neighboring languages or other languages that it is in contact with.”

The acceptance of foreign words in the Hebrew lexicon is particularly notable in more technical languages, especially in scientific fields. Even in Hebrew’s most important, sacred source, the Bible, there are hundreds of words whose etymology can be traced back to Aramaic, Egyptian, and Persian. In the Talmud, there are hundreds of words from Greek and Latin.

Original Source: Jerusalem Post

[40 Days of Hebrew DevotionsWhat would you say if I introduced you to an insightful, short book with lots of takeaways from a trustworthy source? The book will gently lead you through a 40-day journey looking at Hebrew words and concepts to enrich your faith and worship. This could be an exhilarating 40-day journey![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-186.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/40day-cover-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/40-days-of-hebrew-devotions/)
### The Angels Made Them Do It:  The Origins of Evil
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-angels-made-them-do-it-the-origins-of-evil/
Last updated: 2026-07-15T14:00:02.000Z
Many people have heard an excuse: “The devil made me do it.” The great tempter, the Adversary, is often blamed for humanity’s weakness and moral collapse. The story of evil and sin usually begins in the Garden of Eden, where the serpent persuades Chava to eat from the forbidden tree (Gen 3:1-6). Though the serpent in Genesis is never explicitly identified as Satan in the Hebrew Bible, later interpretations frequently conflate the two figures. Thus, for many modern readers, the entrance of sin and evil into the world begins with Adam, Eve, and the serpent.

Yet many Jews during the Second Temple period preserved another explanation for the origins of catastrophic evil and utter human corruption. Adam and Chava certainly brought upon humanity exile and suffering, but another event in Scripture was often viewed as the true turning point that plunged the world into irreversible violence and depravity. Immediately before the Flood narrative, Genesis records a startling statement:

> **The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And ADONAI regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart. (Gen 6:5–6)**

The language is astonishing. Humanity had become so corrupt that God regretted creation itself. Very dramatic. But what caused such a collapse? Genesis offers only a cryptic clue:

> **The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took wives for themselves from any they chose. (Gen 6:2)**

These few lines of text in the Torah have generated an enormous number of deep spiritual discussions and speculations in the ancient Jewish world.

[The Angels of Punishment in Enoch and RevelationWhat comes to mind when you hear the word “angel?” Most people visualize some sort of human-looking figure with wings. Yes, some angels do have wings, but wings are not their most common feature. Best we can tell, there are many types of angels, and their duties, not their looks,![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-258.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1598656731313-eedbc5f80a2f.jpeg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-angels-of-punishment-in-enoch-and-revelation/)

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Follow The Steps
URL: https://www.pshir.com/follow-the-steps/
Last updated: 2026-10-06T19:34:06.000Z
Have you ever assembled one of those pieces of furniture that comes in a flat box? I have. You open a box and pull out a hundred tiny components. They come with many screws, bolts, and pegs of various sizes. All of the parts you pull out of the box are supposed to be combined in a specific order. And then there is the instruction manual. Some are pretty good, others make no sense. And then, there is also a human component to this venture. Some people can follow prompts pretty well, and others are terrible at following multi-step instructions. Listen?

_This post is for subscribers only._
### You Are God's Temple: 1 Corinthians 3:16
URL: https://www.pshir.com/you-are-gods-temple-1-cor-3-16/
Last updated: 2026-07-09T16:46:53.000Z
Apostle Paul was a first-century religious Jew, trained at the feet of the best rabbis of his time. Though he addresses primarily non-Jewish audiences, Shaul often writes as a rabbi, resorting to midrash and employing metaphors to illustrate his ideas. Sadly, his readers are not used to this style and can misunderstand this [common rabbinic technique](https://www.pshir.com/the-gospels-and-early-rabbis/). Some even turn his illustrations into theology and new religious doctrines. 

Take his famous “temple” statements in 1 Corinthians. 

> **“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells among you?” (1 Cor 3:16)**

> **“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you…?” (1 Cor 6:19)**

Over time, this vivid, practical metaphor meant to encourage sexual purity, morality, and holiness evolved into something much larger and unrelated in later theological traditions. What began as an exhortation for holy living and self-control eventually became, for some interpreters, a declaration that a new believing community of Christ-followers had replaced the Jerusalem Temple itself. 

[How Saul of Tarsus Became PaulMost people know that Apostle Paul was a pious Jew. Many New Testament readers would note that he was a Pharisee trained with the rabbis at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). And at the same time, an overwhelming majority of Christians also see Apostle Paul as a radical![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Paul4-1-4ceccfab5d6b02ce139c2480527d96bff4bf872306f713f5f1e90b13138e9bd2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/how-saul-of-tarsus-became-paul/)

Consider the take of Justin Martyr (c. 2nd century CE), for example. In his Dialogue with Trypho (a Jew), he writes, “For the true spiritual Israel… are we who have been led to God through this crucified Christ.” (Dial. 11). Later, he adds, “The former covenant is done away, and a new covenant has been given… We are the true high priestly race of God.” (Dial. 116) 

Following him is John Chrysostom (ca. 347–407 CE), who writes, “The Temple was destroyed because the things of the Jews had come to an end and had passed over to us.” (Against the Jews, *Adversus Judaeos*). I would venture to suggest their conclusions were fueled by Paul's writings, maybe even the verses I cited above. The problem is that once we place Paul’s words back into their historical and Jewish context, such rhetorical interpretations fall apart and become increasingly difficult to sustain.

### A New Superior Temple? 

Countless people have heard these verses explained as proof that the physical Temple no longer matters because, in Christ, all believers themselves have now become the new and superior temples of God. Since God’s Spirit indwells people directly, the argument goes, the old sanctuary in Jerusalem has become obsolete, surpassed by a spiritual universal temple made out of human beings. This logic makes sense, but it is a thousand-mile-long theological stretch from what the Apostle originally taught. 

Yes, Paul compares a community of believers to a temple. Yes, he uses sacred-space imagery to speak about holiness, purity, and God’s indwelling presence. But jumping from there to “the ecclesia replaced the Jerusalem Temple” requires importing much later theological assumptions into Paul’s letters. The apostle never says this, nor does the historical setting naturally leads in this direction.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Du Tillet Hebrew Matthew
URL: https://www.pshir.com/du-tillet-hebrew-matthew/
Last updated: 2026-08-17T15:58:51.000Z
For a long time, some have known the gospels are Jewish stories, assembled by Jews in the first century, and it is logical that many have hoped to find their Hebrew manuscripts. The Hebrew Book of Matthew, known as Du Tillet Matthew, is a manuscript that has surfaced among Jews in Rome in the 1500s. Later, it was kept in a notable library in Paris and was available for researchers. Despite the hopes of many for a real ancient text, the scholars have determined that it is not an original but, nevertheless, a remarkable translation, though not as old as the Greek gospel manuscripts, but still valuable and useful. Peek Inside?

What new or helpful aspects can reading the Gospels in Hebrew offer? There are many depending on the context, but perhaps the chief advantage is overall greater clarity. Transferring ideas from one language to another usually results in some loss of precision, and Greek and Hebrew as languages are not at all alike. Words and ideas are always imbued with cultural nuance, and though they can be analogical, they are not exactly the same. It's not to say that Greek manuscripts are somehow lacking, but any responsible interpreter should seek to get as close to the original as possible. 

Though the oldest versions of the apostolic writings we have today are in Greek, did the Galilean Rabbi teach in Greek as he traversed the towns of Judea? Not very likely. Greek can be very technical and precise, while Hebrew can be more fluid, a big-picture medium. Having a Hebrew version, especially if it was original, would be quite valuable!
### Are Those Horns on Moses' Head?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/are-those-horns-on-moses-head/
Last updated: 2026-07-01T14:00:57.000Z
One of the most magnificent statues of Moses was crafted by Michelangelo, a famed Italian artist from the 14th and 15th centuries. It was commissioned by one of the popes, and today it graces the church of St. Peter in Rome. Enjoying this beautiful work of art, one cannot help but notice that Moses has a pair of horns protruding from his head. They are not sharp, sort of nubby, and cannot be mistaken for some strange hairstyle. No, they are definitely horns! What a strange artistic idea to depict the great lawgiver and deliverer of Israel with horns.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/01/Horns4.jpg)

But Michelangelo was not alone. Many other medieval depictions of Moses clearly show horns on his head. What led so many artists to believe that Moses had horns? The answer is simple – the Bible. More accurately, [an imprecise translation of the Bible!](https://www.pshir.com/why-do-bible-translations-differ-so-much/) The Vulgate translation was composed in Latin in the 4th century CE by Jerome. The depiction of horns appeared in the phrase describing Moses as he came down the mountain with the commandments. The language of Vulgate is preserved even today in English translations – “…he knew not that his face was horned from the conversation of the Lord” (Ex 34:29 Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/01/Horns2.jpg)

The Hebrew phrase in question literally says כִּי קָרַן עוֹר פָּנָיו *(ki karan or panav),* which can be literally translated as “for glowed the skin of his face”. Jerome translated the verb, which means “to shine, glow, or radiate,” as “to horn” because it looks a lot like a Hebrew noun for “horn” קֶרֶן *(keren).* It’s an easy mistake to make since ancient Hebrew manuscripts he had at his disposal had no vowels and thus allowed for greater flexibility in translation. In fact, without vowels, the noun and verb would have looked identical. 

A simple inaccuracy in Jerome’s translation of Hebrew into Latin created an impression that some sort of horns protruded from Moses’ head as he came down the mountain. And this is how this tradition of depicting Moses with horns began.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/01/Horns3.jpg)

The broader context of the chapter, of course, shows that this miraculous occurrence was a glow, a radiance of some sort. It was caused by Moses being close to God and speaking with him face-to-face. In the following verses, it says that everyone who saw Moses’ face was afraid, and he had to cover his face with a veil when he spoke before people. Again, it is easy to be misled by the idea of the fear of Moses with horns. It may sound bizarre to some and conceivable to others, but the idea of horns was a simple misunderstanding of the Hebrew text. Unfortunately, the image of horned Moses was [fixed in ancient art forever.](https://www.pshir.com/the-art-of-protection/)

The mystery of Moses’ horns is solved. But a lesson to every serious student of the Bible is to seek the context in the original languages and not simply rely on a favorite translation. Even the best translations of the Bible in the world are still done by humans and can occasionally be imprecise and lacking. Take the time to look beyond the translations!

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/3Books1.jpg) 

#### ****Second Temple Era Jewish Literature**

This collection assembles English translations of Jewish writings from the Second Temple Era and other related Jewish spiritual texts from antiquity.

[See them on Amazon.com](https://amzn.to/49f7sy0?ref=pshir.com)
### Rethinking Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism
URL: https://www.pshir.com/rethinking-jewish-spirituality-and-mysticism/
Last updated: 2026-06-28T14:00:43.000Z
This is a lecture by Rachel Elior, a Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Mystical Thought at the Hebrew University, a talk given in front of an audience of peers. Her research is insightful and often challenges the status quo academic thinking. In this segment, she raises questions of definitions by which we categorize and understand religion, spirituality, and mysticism today. What is mysticism and what it is not? These are important questions as we frame our understanding of human spiritual experiences. 

**Disclaimer:** Academic lectures are not for everyone. But if you enjoy this sort of learning, Prof. Elior's ideas are quite insightful and should be considered. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

Dr. Elior's central thesis is that Jewish mysticism is not irrational, but rather a profound imaginative response to historical trauma and the absence of physical freedom. She identifies two major branches, both born from catastrophe: Chariot Mysticism (Merkavah), which emerged after the destruction of the Temple when mystics reconstructed the Temple in the heavenly realm, linking priests to angels and correlating sacrifices to prayer; and Kabbalistic, or Sefirot Mysticism, which arose after the expulsion of Jews from Spain, offering a new divine structure and messianic hope to make sense of suffering. Unlike Jewish law (Halakha), which sets communal boundaries, mysticism offered an individual, creative space for spiritual freedom.

Elior proposes that mysticism served as a vital survival mechanism for many Jews, a way for a historically marginalized people to decode painful realities and construct hopeful futures through radical reinterpretation of sacred texts. The enduring legacy of Jewish mysticism, she argues, is not a set of supernatural beliefs, but the profound freedom to reinterpret, reimagine, and continuously recreate meaning, sustaining a distinct identity across generations of exile and trauma.

If you are interested in Prof. Elior's books, she has one called ["Jewish Mysticism: The Infinite Expression of Freedom"](https://amzn.to/48tA0qb?ref=pshir.com) that unfolds the ideas in this lecture further. Another book that goes much more into history is ["The Three Temples: On the Emergence of Jewish Mysticism,"](https://amzn.to/43GTe99?ref=pshir.com) a volume that provides a solid grounding in the development of Jewish Mysticism. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/05/RSV_AJNT-1.png) 

#### The Annotated Jewish New Testament (NRSV)

This New Testament was not designed for an average reader. Edited by Amy-Jill Levine and published by Oxford University Press, this intriguing edition contains academic notes and verse-by-verse commentary on the New Testament by scholars of religion who happen to be Jews. This unique volume contains many helpful and concise topical articles that delve into cultural and historical issues that a student of the first-century Jewish context might encounter.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3ydHwpL?ref=pshir.com)
### Rouse Yourself
URL: https://www.pshir.com/rouse-yourself/
Last updated: 2026-06-21T14:00:22.000Z
In our reading from the prophets, Isaiah speaks to Jerusalem, which typically represents all of God’s people. They have just experienced a hard time, tasted his anger, but these are words of comfort, so the message is positive. In Isaiah 51:17, he says. **Hitor’ri, hitor’ri kumi Yerushalaim** “Rouse yourself, wake up, rise up, Jerusalem. The prophet tells Israel, “you drank from the cup of God’s anger, the cup of staggering.” You fell asleep, so wake up. Listen now?

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Galatians Without Romans: Part One (~2h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/galatians-without-romans-part-one-2h/
Last updated: 2026-06-17T14:00:55.000Z
It's not a secret that many people who read Paul's Letter to Galatians read it after they have already read the Letter to Romans (because that is the order in which they appear in the NT). Only that is not the order in which Paul wrote the letters. Thus, consequently, the theological teachings expressed in Romans influence how people perceive and interpret the Letter to Galatians. It should be the other way around! Beyond that, each letter's context (historical occasions, reasons, goals, and purpose) is so radically different, yet many modern Bible readers ignore that and read them together as if they were alike. Yet the context makes a huge difference. It's what drives the meaning of what we read the most, which is why I spend an hour in my videos explaining the difference. 

difference

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These lectures span about 3 hours and were broken up into shorter segments for convenience. Consider getting a ****paid subscription** to PSHIR.COM to support my independent publishing and to enjoy the teachings ad-free and at your leisure.

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### Was the Hebrew Bible Really Canonized at Jamnia?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-bible-really-canonized-jamnia/
Last updated: 2026-06-14T13:59:59.000Z
In the 1st century CE, Jamnia or Yavneh (יַבְנֶה) was a small town on Israel’s southern coastal plain, between Jaffa and Ashdod. It is widely believed that Jamnia hosted discussions on the establishment of the Jewish canon, and that the Hebrew Bible was canonized there. According to some rabbinic sources, when the [Jerusalem Temple](https://www.pshir.com/experiencing-worship-at-herods-temple-3h/) was destroyed by Titus in 70 CE, Yochanan ben Zakkai, a leading scholar from the Pharisaic school, established a learning center in Jamnia. Its not hard to imagine that this endeavor attracted many rabbis to the region, and Jamnia was established as a preeminent Jewish religious hub outside Jerusalem. 

### The Theory of Hebrew Canon

Since the late nineteenth century, many scholars have believed that in approximately 90 CE, a religious council convened in Jamnia and closed the boundaries of what eventually became the Jewish canon. According to the Talmud, after the Temple’s destruction, Jamnia indeed gradually became a new spiritual center in Israel. Israel’s legislative body (the Great Beit Din, later referred to as the [Sanhedrin](https://www.pshir.com/the-gospels-and-early-rabbis/)) relocated to Jamnia (Babylonian Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 31a). Other names often associated with Jamnia are Gamaliel II, the leader of the Beit Din, and Akiva ben Joseph, a charismatic leader from the days of the Bar Kochba Revolt. It would make sense that Jamnia was the new place where all important matters were decided.

The idea of the Council of Jamnia as a body that brought about the Hebrew Bible Canon was first introduced by Heinrich Graetz in 1871\. It was assumed that since Christians had the Nicean and Chalcedonian councils to establish such matters, something similar must have taken place in Jamnia at the turn of the century. This was an assumption built on Christian history. Graetz’s theory became a widely accepted view of scholars of his day. Phrases such as “on that day” contained in rabbinic discussions (Mishna, Yadaim 3:5-4:4 and Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 28a) on the topic of the authority of books created an impression that there was a deliberation that took place during a single day’s session, thus creating the misnomer of the Council of Jamnia. 

But Jamia was not exactly assembled like Nicea, and what scholars did there was quite different. The study circles made up of rabbis did not gather there to write decrees, but rather to learn from one another and to preserve ancient traditions and the words of their teachers. For Jews, preserving spiritual knowledge was a matter of cultural and religious survival. 

Since the 1960s, Graetz’s theory and his assumptions have been questioned. (Jack P. Lewis, Lee M. McDonald, James A. Sanders, Sid Z. Leiman, and others). Today, modern scholars are skeptical as to whether there was ever a synod or a council in Jamnia dedicated specifically to matters of canonization. There are only bits and pieces of such discussions and no clear evidence that the purpose of those dialogues was to establish any sort of scriptural standard. But in popular thinking, this old theory of Jewish Bible canonization survives to this day.

### What Really Happened in Jamina?

There are several important ancient sources (Josephus, *Against Apion* 1:8; 4 Ezra 14:44-45, Babylonian Talmud, *Baba Bathra* 14b, and others) which indicate that a generally accepted list of sacred writings already existed in the days of Jamnia. The Jamnia sages, for example, explored the merits of Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Ruth, Esther, Proverbs, and Ezekiel as reported in traditional Jewish sources. However, their inquiries into selected teachings, contained within those books, should not be seen as an attempt to determine the inspiration of those works, canonize or settle the status of those books. The parties involved never imagined that they had the authority to create a canon for Israel and, frankly, were not familiar with such a concept. 

Whether the sages held a special council or if their discussions about the holy books were ongoing, or had a canon in mind, the enduring significance of Jamnia lies not in the closing of the Jewish canon, but in ensuring the cultural and religious survival of the Jewish people. The story of the canon of the Hebrew Bible is long and gradual. It did not emerge in a way the New Testament did, as some imagine. But Yavneh is still important! 

Prior to 70 CE, Judaism was fragmented into various sects that did not agree on many key matters of Jewish life. The temple kept the people together, but now it was in ruins. The Jamnia sages intentionally promoted an inclusive, pluralistic, and non-sectarian Judaism. In light of new circumstances, they created a more flexible system of Torah interpretation that accounted for diversity and charted a new way to relate to God and his covenant with Israel (Shaye Cohen). They shaped the possibility of a Jewish faith and life without sacrifices, priesthood, and the centrality of the Jerusalem Temple. After all, the Jewish way of life has survived without sacrifices before, and this was yet another necessary stage. 

The spiritual developments that took shape at Jamnia proved to be very timely. The Second Jewish Revolt against Rome (132-135 AD) further destabilized the Jewish society. The loss of countless lives, destruction of Jerusalem itself, the expulsion of Jews from its vicinity and widespread persecutions under Hadrian devastated the nation and brought a new era of Jewish life outside of Judea (Josephus, Jewish Wars VI. 9.3; Cassius Dio, Roman History LXIX, 14:1). After the Bar Kochba Revolt in the days of days of Antoninus, the Yavneh scholars established a new center in the Galilean city of Usha (140 AD) and continued their task of preserving traditions and interpretations of Torah that became the foundation of the Mishna. (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 31b, Song of Songs Rabba II. 5).

[Why do Bible Translations Differ So Much?There are numerous Bible translations available in English. The number of options is related to the consumer market. English speakers spend more money on Bibles than many others; hence, the marketplace offers consumers a greater variety of choices competing for prominence and influence. Ultimately, publishing books is a complicated undertaking,![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-252.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_452948311-1-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/why-do-bible-translations-differ-so-much/)

[Hebrew Bible WalkthroughListen as an Orthodox Jewish teacher introduces the content of all 24 books of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). This is a quick and to-the-point walkthrough across pages and pages of Jewish sacred texts that focus only on the key highlights. It’s an excellent introduction for someone who does not know![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-253.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Second-Temple-tm.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-bible-walkthrough/)
### Is There Such a Thing as a Righteous War?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-righteous-war/
Last updated: 2026-06-19T15:58:39.000Z
War is among the darkest realities of human existence. It leaves cities in ruins, families divided, and generations marked by trauma and loss. No sane person celebrates war, and few emerge from it unchanged. Yet history repeatedly reminds us of an uncomfortable truth: war is sometimes unavoidable. Nations invade. Empires expand. Innocent people are threatened. Evil does not always yield to persuasion, so fighting breaks out. This raises an ancient and unresolved question: Is there such a thing as a righteous war?

For many modern readers, the answer is instinctively no. War appears inherently destructive and therefore morally indefensible and evil. Yet the Bible presents a more complex picture. The Scriptures consistently elevate peace as an ideal, but it does not treat peace as the only moral category in a fallen and broken world. More importantly, the God of Israel is not depicted as a passive observer of history. At times, He is described as a warrior who intervenes against oppression and evil:

> **“The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war…” (Isaiah 42:13) “The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name.” (Exodus 15:3)**

If God is perfectly just, and if God sometimes acts in judgment through war, then the concept of a “righteous war” cannot be dismissed outright. The real question is not whether such a thing exists in principle, but whether human beings are capable of recognizing it without distortion.

### **The Problem with Human Judgment**

The Hebrew Bible is deeply realistic about human moral perception. Within every person exists both the *yetzer hatov* (יֵצֶר הַטּוֹב), the inclination toward good, and the *yetzer hara* (יֵצֶר הָרַע), the inclination toward evil. Human motives are conflicted and rarely pure. Pride, fear, nationalism, revenge, and self-interest often disguise themselves as justice. For this reason, human declarations of righteousness must always be treated with caution.

> **“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)**

Nearly every side in every major armed conflict believes itself to be justified. Kings invoke divine approval. Nations appeal to morality and history. Armies march under banners of justice, peace, and liberation. Yet history repeatedly reveals mixed motives and unintended consequences. A biblical theology of war must therefore begin with humility: Human beings are not the final arbiters of justice. God is.

[The Paths of Repentance and Forgiveness (\~2.5 hrs)I teach about repentance and forgiveness on a regular basis. Every year, I am asked questions about how repentance works. I am asked questions about the dynamics of forgiveness. So, periodically, I take the core ideas and key questions I am asked over and over, reflect on them, and put![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-b7fea9ba-80b8-48c7-b607-16cb94ebf68b.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2024-10-08-133131-9feeec20-8541-4309-b8be-7c721f3de8f6.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-paths-of-repentance-and-forgiveness/)

### **The First War in the Bible**

The first recorded war in the Hebrew Bible appears in Genesis 14\. Four Mesopotamian kings invade Canaan and take captives, including Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Abraham responds by assembling a small force, pursuing the invaders, and rescuing the captives. This narrative is significant because Abraham is not seeking conquest or expansion. His action is restorative, and the emphasis falls on rescue, not domination. Later Jewish traditions often read this episode as a prototype of legitimate warfare undertaken for the protection of human life rather than territorial ambition.

### **War as a Divine Judgment**

The most difficult biblical texts on war are the conquest narratives concerning the Canaanite nations. These passages are frequently interpreted in modern discourse as an endorsement of genocide. However, within the biblical framework, they are presented differently: as acts of divine judgment against entrenched systemic evil.

The Promised Land was explicitly not given to Israel because of their moral high ground or righteousness: “It is not because of your righteousness… that the LORD is driving them out before you.” (Deut 9:4–6). Rather, the narrative frames the conquest as judgment upon nations whose corruption has reached a limit, in logic (though not in form) similar to the Flood narrative (Genesis 6-9).

This distinction becomes crucial for a proper framework on wars because the same God who authorized judgment against Canaan later authorized judgment against Israel.

### Righteous War Against Israel

One of the most sobering lessons of the Hebrew Bible is that Israel does not permanently occupy the moral high ground, and unfaithfulness to the God of Israel results in punishment. The prophets repeatedly warned that covenant violation, injustice, idolatry, and oppression would bring national catastrophe. Eventually, Babylon became the instrument of that painful judgment.

From Israel's perspective, the Babylonian invasion was a tragedy of unimaginable proportions. Jerusalem was destroyed. The Temple was burned. Thousands were exiled. Yet the prophets, such as Jeremiah, explicitly describe Babylon as carrying out God's purposes.

For those who believe the Bible, this creates an uncomfortable reality that is hard to ignore. If a war can be righteous because God ordains it, then God's people may find themselves on either side of that war. The lesson is profound and ominous: righteousness is determined by God, not by tribal loyalty.

[Embracing the SadnessAre you familiar with Tisha B’Av? On the Jewish calendar, it’s a day of fasting and introspection for many reasons. Throughout history, this day has been a day of calamity for Israel as a people at large and for various Jewish communities. In this 45-minute teaching, I explain about the![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-33de3b41-0a2f-4297-811f-d585929bf6ee.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/9Av1-1-ef580121-8b9a-4248-bd6c-08e0fc166d8a.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/embracing-the-sadness/)

### The Limits of Holy Wars

King David was victorious in many battles and greatly expanded Israel's borders. Yet his career also demonstrates a certain tainting and moral ambiguity that often accompanies prolonged warfare and violence. Although David was chosen by God and blessed in his victories, he was denied the privilege of building the Temple. The Almighty told David, "You have shed much blood and have waged great wars" (1 Chron. 22:8).

The statement does not necessarily condemn every war David fought. Many of his campaigns appear to be justified and necessary, and they were clearly not against God's purposes. Yet this strong sentiment reminds readers that even legitimate warfare leaves scars and bloodshed, necessary or not, bloodshed is a stain. Victory itself, even with God's help, does not sanctify violence.

### Obligatory and Optional Wars

Later Jewish tradition developed useful categories for thinking about warfare. The Mishnah and Talmud distinguish between a *milchemet mitzvah* (מִלְחֶמֶת מִצְוָה), a commanded or "obligatory war," and a *milchemet reshut* (מִלְחֶמֶת רְשׁוּת), a discretionary or "optional war." (Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 44b; Jerusalem Talmud, Sotah 8:10 \[44b-45a\] Sifre Devarim, 190-191; Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings and Their Wars, 5:1-2)

The first category includes wars of self-defense and wars explicitly commanded by God. Such conflicts are considered necessary for the preservation of the community. The second includes expansionary campaigns or conflicts undertaken for political or economic reasons. These required greater scrutiny and additional authorization. While later rabbis debated definitions and applications for some time, the distinction reflects an important principle they recognized: not all wars are morally equivalent.

The Torah consistently places clear constraints on warfare, presenting it not as sanctioned violence but as morally-bound action within a fallen and broken world. In some cases, the Torah directs defensive force in the protection of life (Ex 22:2-3). In others, it requires that even when conflict is unavoidable, an offer of peace must first be extended and unnecessary destruction should be avoided (Deut 20:10-19). There are also more difficult narratives, such as Numbers 31, where warfare is depicted within an extreme and unique framework of divine decree rather than ordinary human initiative. 

Outside the Torah, this same pattern of restrained violence continues in later biblical narratives: Nehemiah describes armed defense during the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Neh 4), while Esther records a sanctioned form of defensive survival warfare in light of an ethnic cleansing threat (Esther 8-9). Taken together, all these passages consistently portray warfare as something restrained, governed, limited, and morally guided rather than left to base human impulses.

### **The Just War Theory and Nonviolence**

In Christian thought, the ethical tension of biblical war was formalized into what became known as Just War Theory. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 CE) developed such reasoning in *City of God*, Book 19,and *Contra Faustum*, Book 22\. According to him, war may be morally permissible when: it is waged under legitimate authority, it aims at peace rather than hatred, it is motivated by love of neighbor rather than vengeance. Thus, war remains tragic, but not always avoidable in a fallen world.

Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274 CE) later outlined three criteria for a just war in *Summa Theologiae*, II–II, Question 40, Article 1\. He identified: Legitimate authority, just cause, and right intention. Aquinas did not present war as good in itself, but as conditionally permissible under certain constraints.

Later, Anabaptists and Quakers developed a strong pacifist ethic grounded in rejecting "eye for an eye" and embracing the teachings of "turning the other cheek" (Matthew 5:38-39). However, a careful reading of the text used to advance such a perspective through the Jewish tradition of that day would suggest that Jesus was illustrating a *middah k’neged middah* (מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה)“a measure for measure” principle, and not exactly violence. Ancient Rabbis (like Jesus) believed that God’s justice often operates in a reflective way. 

The Pharaoh drowned Israel's children, so the Egyptians drowned in the Sea of Reeds. Korah sought to elevate himself by rising up against Moses and Aaron and descended into the depths of the earth. Haman sought to eradicate all Jews and build gallows for Mordechai, but was hanged on those gallows as his sons and allies were defeated. If one wants to avoid the measure (*middah*), the cycle could be interrupted. Turning the other cheek is a proper behavior of kin choosing not to retaliate because they share a communal covenant bond that benefits the entire family. Voluntary giving up the option to retaliate for the sake of the greater, but less personal good. It's not a reasonable guideline for interacting with the broader world or with outsiders and attackers, though.

[Discover The World of First Century Rabbis Jesus KnewIt’s not uncommon for people to admit today that Jesus was a Jew and even a rabbi. After all that is how his disciples often addressed him (Matt 26:25, 26:49; Mark 9:5, 10:51, 11:21, 14:45; John 1:38, John 1:49, 3:2, 4:![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-ae86efee-3021-476b-b7e7-fb9cd5cadce8.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Sed1-1-1-5791d483-d0bd-4bac-a9ae-bb3347fd987f.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/discover-the-world-of-first-century-rabbis-jesus-knew/)

Outside of the Sermon on the Mount, the Bible speaks of defensive actions, wars of divine judgment, and divinely sanctioned warfare that sit uneasily with the ideal of absolute pacifism. A selective elevation of one ethical trajectory over others creates an imbalance. The Bible itself consistently holds multiple moral categories in tension rather than collapsing them into a single absolute.

### The Pursuit of Peace

Despite numerous military narratives, the Bible's ultimate vision is not endless warfare. The Bible is brutally honest in its portrayal of the harsh realities of human history. It paints human activities in a very believable light, but it always leads towards hope. Prophet Isaiah foresees a future in which nations "beat their swords into plowshares" and "learn war no more" (Isaiah 2:4). The Messiah in the Hebrew Bible is called *Sar Shalom* (שַׂר שָׁלוֹם), the Prince of Peace. Despite war Messiah wages to defeat his enemies (Is 11:4 63:1-6; Zech 9:13-15, 12:8-9, 14:3; Daniel 7:13-14, 26-27; Psalm 2:9, 110:5-6), peace remains the overarching biblical ideal.

War exists because humanity has fallen. Violence is tolerated because evil exists. It is sometimes necessary because injustice exists, and measures must be taken to set the course right. But even in apocalyptic end-time visions, war is never portrayed as the final goal of human history.

### The Limits of Moral Certainty

Is there such a thing as a righteous war? According to the Bible, yes. But the Bible presents righteous war very differently from the way human beings often imagine it. Righteous war is not defined by patriotism, military success, historical grievances, popular opinions, or eloquent political rhetoric. It is defined by God's desire for justice, which he himself reveals if he chooses. The challenge is that human beings rarely possess God's perspective.

This is why adhering to the Bible as a sacred text calls for both moral courage, discernment, and sincere humility. There are times when evil must be resisted. There are times when people must fight to defend the innocent. Yet there is also a great danger in assuming that our cause is automatically righteous simply because it is ours or that someone else is weaker.

The Bible leaves us with an unresolved tension that gnaws at our consciousness. War may sometimes be necessary. War may even sometimes be just. But human beings should be slow to claim certainty about either. The God of Israel alone sees every motive, every injustice, and every consequence. Ultimately, He alone can perfectly judge whether a war is truly righteous.

[Love Human, Love Divine (\~2hrs)These videos are inspirational talks and teachings about love. It is not a strictly academic topic but an interactive spiritual conversation about the meaning of love. How should we make sense of love in light of the core teachings about it in Torah and in Jewish tradition? Is it a![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-5795e0f5-0b21-4a6c-bbf0-404aa425c16e.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Hea1-77a11ae9-6212-413d-90f3-28e649143804.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/love-human-love-divine/)
### God is My Dwelling Place
URL: https://www.pshir.com/god-is-my-dwelling-place/
Last updated: 2026-06-07T14:00:32.000Z
If you read the words of Moses' Prayer (which was probably also a song), you will see how the lyrics are thoroughly inspired by his poetic verses. God's unique name Adonai Maon is somewhat mysterious, but to me it brought a sense of realization that everything, including us, all things come from him and to him they return. He is our home, our dwelling place. During the days of the Omer count, I meditated on Psalm 90, and this is how this song that speaks of learning how to count our days was born.

Lyrics:  
  
Before mountains were born, and the world had not yet grown.  
You didn't suddenly appear, You were a shelter, always near.  
Your design, we try discern, dust to dust, all men return.  
Eternal Master, always known as our God and as our home.  
  
Dwelling place - אֲדֹנָי מָעוֹן  
Heart of wisdom we put on.   
God, unchanging age to age,   
Teach us how to number days.  
  
אֲדֹנָי מָעוֹן אַתָּה  
וּמֵעוֹלָם עַד־עוֹלָם  
לִמְנוֹת יָמֵינוּ כֵּן הוֹדַע  
וְנָבִא לְבַב חָכְמָה  
  
Grass rises up with morning light; Men swept away in sleep of night.  
Beauty lasting through the day; by the evening blossom fades.  
From ages past, future untold, my God endures, standing bold.  
A thousand years in your light is like a whisper passing by.  
  
For seventy, eighty years yet, we strive to live without regret.  
Before You secret sins revealed, nothing in your sight concealed.  
Weeks of sorrow we’ve known, depart tomorrow after dawn.  
Then rich mercy comes anew and our hearts rejoice in You.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/02/Read-Hebrew-72.jpg) 

#### Read Hebrew in 22 Days or Less

Learn how to read Hebrew in 22 days or less, studying only one letter of the Hebrew Alphabet per day. This book will get you reading short Hebrew words on the very first day. The authors will walk you through all 22 Hebrew letters, giving you clear instructions, plenty of examples and easy-to-follow practice to get you reading Hebrew immediately.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kp2CVI?ref=pshir.com)
### The Salt of The Earth: Matthew 5:13
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-salt-of-the-earth/
Last updated: 2026-06-03T14:00:31.000Z
In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said to his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth..." but what exactly did he mean by that? Look beyond the English idioms. Look deeper into history. Consider how ancient Greeks and Jews perceived salt in antiquity. What did salt mean to the Romans? Study the context and investigate how the term was used in the Hebrew Bible, and you may uncover a meaning you never considered before. Drop in on this teaching recorded live.

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[The Jews and Anti-Judaism in John’s Gospel (\~2.5h)Does the Gospel of John genuinely express anti-Judaic ideas? In his first-century CE narrative, “the Jews” (hoi Iudaioi; οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι) do frequently oppose Jesus. Reading the story as an outsider, one may even feel that Jesus himself is not a Jew, and neither are his disciples. Yet we know that![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/iudaioi2-bd2e400e8f8b264f865eae1ffbd471319bbc1036c04edbc720de5708e3039e69.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-jews-and-johns-gospel/)

[Jewish and Greek ThinkingThis conversation is a segment from the IBC course titled “Jews and Greeks on Life and the Afterlife.” Yeshaya Gruber, Nicholas Schaser, Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg, and Pinchas Shir discuss the ways Greeks thought in a completely different manner than the Jews. Learn more about Jewish and Greek concepts of origin, afterlife,![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/generated-image--1--1a2ee6fdec86703c20d03182f30be6c9e08c7ebb482f06acdaf62c0bfa92f30b.jpeg)](https://www.pshir.com/jewish-and-greek-thinking/)

[Jesus: Nazarene or Nazarite?After reading the gospels some people walk away thinking that Jesus was a Nazarite. “And came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Mat 2:23 NASB) The writings of the Apostles, the New![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Naz1-60794f27c603796417700f33e96f70badb82fab7e2a897dcbb4adcf6b6930b3a.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/jesus-nazarene-nazarite/)

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### Rabbis who Witnessed the Power of Yeshua's Gospel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/rabbis-who-witnessed-the-power-of-gospel/
Last updated: 2026-05-31T14:00:39.000Z
The video below is a lecture given at Lanier Theological Library early in 2020 on a most intriguing topic, the interaction of Rabbis in the Talmud with early followers of the Nazarene. The lecturer, Joseph Shulam, grew up in Jerusalem, where he was introduced to the New Testament in high school. He became a follower of Yeshua (Jesus) and moved to the United States for college. After his return to Jerusalem, Shulam studied Biblical Archaeology and Bible at Hebrew University. He also attended for 3 years at a rabbinical college and pursued graduate studies at Hebrew University. 

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Dr. Shulam has written and also partnered in writing several books, including commentaries on Romans, Acts, and Galatians. His take on classical Jewish texts and the New Testament has been eye-opening for many audiences. If you are interested in his books, I suggest you [visit his Author page on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kpSWdM?ref=pshir.com) to learn more. 

[Was Jesus a Rabbi?Was Jesus a Rabbi? Some people would say yes, some no and some would be unsure how to answer. There is a good reason why the answers are often different. This is not a straightforward question. The term rabbi appeared sometime just prior to the first century CE and its![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Rabbi3-6-03a561fcdae22245ed53058d8a83e3ffff72d66bc9f76f22a7e96220d91341a5.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/01-was-jesus-a-rabbi/)

[Why Rabbinic Literature and the Gospels?Dr. Brad Young is head of the Gospel Research Center and author of several books on Jesus’ parables and ministry in their Jewish context. In this lecture, Dr. Young discusses why rabbinic literature is, unfortunately, so often dismissed as a valuable source for understanding Jesus’ teachings. A common response to![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Beard2-444fcd4c5a70f92adf2ba1873ff6159686dbabb03fd13b4b7698086fc12cf19c.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/why-rabbinic-literature-and-the-gospels/)

[The Puzzle of the Dead Sea ScrollsWhat are the Dead Sea Scrolls? In the area of biblical and historical studies, the Dead Sea Scrolls are considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of all time. That is not an exaggeration. The documents were awaiting the day of their discovery in 11 caves near the Dead Sea![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Dss5-2aa3bba2007a948710b0116ce73c8c7f5df7ef532788e4736f9c8da6f4374cca.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/puzzle-dead-sea-scrolls/)
### Second Temple Complex Walkthrough
URL: https://www.pshir.com/second-temple-complex-walkthrough/
Last updated: 2026-05-27T14:00:57.000Z
Enjoy a new musical rendition of a couple of verses from Psalm 16\. It is presented alongside an archaeologically based digital reconstruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The video is a digital extrapolation of what it might have looked like in the first century CE (thanks to bible-scenes.com). Take in the views and just imagine being there. The song lyrics are: "I keep ADONAI right before my eyes. He is always at my right and in front of me. And my heart rejoices that ADONAI is here, always at my right and in front of me." (Psalm 16:8-9).

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If you are interested in the temple and what happened inside on the holy precincts, then I can point you towards a recently recorded series of lectures that explain the worship in Herod's Temple.

[Experiencing Worship at Herod’s Temple (\~3h)Have you ever imagined what a worship experience was like at the Jerusalem Temple in the days of Jesus? In these lectures, we will delve briefly into the layout and setting of Herod’s Temple, but more importantly, we will imagine the daily lives and experiences of an average first-century CE![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Temple222.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/experiencing-worship-at-herods-temple-3h/)

If you want a deeper look at how the pattern the temple provided continues to manifest in Jewish worship even today, I have a series of videos that explain that explain that dynamic. 

[Jerusalem Temple in Jewish Life and Spirituality (\~4h)Rabbi Jesus famously taught his disciples to pray that “things on earth should be as they are in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) This is not entirely new. In Torah, Moses was shown an important pattern in heaven, which he was to implement on earth (Exodus 25:40). This is a![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Heaven2-3cdc5deff496bbdf895edc5a798ff4d65e2b6b0a31f8ded510532d354a140b65.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/jerusalem-temple-in-jewish-life-and-spirituality/)
### Shining The Light
URL: https://www.pshir.com/shining-the-light/
Last updated: 2026-06-10T15:07:30.000Z
Light can be very powerful. We are surrounded by it, so we don’t give it much thought because we are so used to it. But we also think of physical light in very scientific terms. In Isaiah 60, Hashem speaks uplifting words to Israel through the prophet. He says ***kumi ori ki ba orech*** “Rise and shine, give light, because your light has come.” ***uchvod ADONAI alayich zara*** \- “the glory of the LORD has risen upon you, like a dawn.” Biblical texts use the term light, but they often speak of a different sort of light. Listen?

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### Discover The World of First Century Rabbis Jesus Knew
URL: https://www.pshir.com/discover-the-world-of-first-century-rabbis-jesus-knew/
Last updated: 2026-05-20T14:00:44.000Z
It's not uncommon for people to admit today that Jesus was a Jew and even a rabbi. After all that is how his disciples often addressed him (Matt 26:25, 26:49; Mark 9:5, 10:51, 11:21, 14:45; John 1:38, John 1:49, 3:2, 4:31, 6:25, 9:2, 11:8, 20:16) and the parameters in which most people in the gospels interacted him (Matt 4:18-22, 8:19-22, 22:41-46; Mark 1:21-22, Mark 6:2; Mark 12:35-37, Luke 8:1-3, 20:27-40). But if he was truly a [first-century rabbi](https://www.pshir.com/meet-the-rabbis-by-brad-young/), what does that really mean, and how does that change anything? Countless Jesus-followers might admit they don't know very much about the lives of first-century rabbis and what they cared about the most. Yet that was the world in which Jesus lived, and most of his teachings reflect the concerns and values of that very world. 

To remedy this, I offer a series of lectures that help you discover the world of Jesus and his disciples and the culture and values they interacted with every day. Here are some of the most helpful topics that can lead you along this study path. 

[Jesus and Other Rabbis (\~3hrs)If Jesus was indeed a first-century Rabbi, then does that mean he embraced the beliefs, teachings, and conventions other rabbis of his day employed? Consider what it meant to be a teacher of Torah in the first century and explore the language and teaching techniques of ancient rabbis. Learn about![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-240.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Yes1-5.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/jesus-and-other-rabbis/)

[The Gospels and Early Rabbis (\~2hrs)The gospels are filled with ancient rabbinic theological teachings. The reason is simple, Jesus was a Rabbi, a first-century teacher of Torah. The more people understand this, the more they open a door to the depth of his words in their true context. Most of the people with whom he![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-238.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Yes3-3.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-gospels-and-early-rabbis/)

[The Origins and Teaching of Early Rabbis (\~3hrs)The Bible speaks about the spiritual duties of priests and Levites, about the exploits of the prophets, kings, and scribes, but it does not mention the Rabbis. To understand this new class of religious teachers, one has to trace their origins and history. What put Rabbis into the center of![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-239.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Yes5-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/origins-and-teaching-of-early-rabbis/)

You may also wish to investigate the way Jews worshiped in the First Century in the Jerusalem Temple. In the gospels, Rabbi Jesus was never too far from the temple, and many scenes are set around those worship occasions. In these lectures, I focus on people's worship experiences to better understand the spiritual needs the temple served in antiquity. These sessions are meant for background and primarily focus on what we know from the Bible, Josephus, Mishnah, and broader Jewish literature. 

[Experiencing Worship at Herod’s Temple (\~3h)Have you ever imagined what a worship experience was like at the Jerusalem Temple in the days of Jesus? In these lectures, we will delve briefly into the layout and setting of Herod’s Temple, but more importantly, we will imagine the daily lives and experiences of an average first-century CE![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w1200/2026/03/Temple222.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/experiencing-worship-at-herods-temple-3h/)

Speaking of the temple, the early church, the ecclesia of Acts, was a Jewish entity that frequented the Jerusalem temple. Their spiritual lives and hopes, their gospel, and many of their practices were also closely tied to their ancestral worship. The rich expressions of their faith need to be understood in context. 

[Jewish Ecclesia in Acts (\~1hr)The book of Acts mentions the church, which is a translation of the Greek word “ecclesia.” This Greek term is ancient, but the word “church” is actually not. Where does this new word come from? What does it mean? How did the early Christ-followers see and describe themselves? Look deeper![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-241.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_1411760426b-4.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/jewish-ecclesia-in-acts/)

As you study the first-century world of Jesus and his disciples, some topics may surprise you. I put together some interesting ideas about the Holly Spirit in early Judaism that may open your mind to questions you have never considered. And when anyone speaks of the Holy Spirit, Jews to whom we connect the Dead Sea Scrolls seemed to have an affinity for such unique terminology, well before the church ever did. 

[Holy Spirit in Early Judaism (1hr+)Holy Spirit is a special term that arose and became common at a certain time in history. It is often associated with the New Testament and Christianity, and not with Judaism. But we know that God’s Spirit is simply inseparable from God, and it should not surprise us that![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-242.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1619462420024-a966a72ddc34-1.jpeg)](https://www.pshir.com/holy-spirit-in-early-judaism-1hr/)

[Dead Sea Scrolls Explained (\~1.5hrs)Ancient Scrolls found in Israel, in the caves of the Qumran region near the Dead Sea in the 1940s, were the find of the 20th century. An impressive collection of ancient Jewish writings contained what is now the oldest known copies of Biblical texts. In this 1st session, I explain![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-243.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Dss10.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/dead-sea-scrolls-explained/)

The study trail just keeps meandering and takes you in so many directions. People often think they understand what Jesus meant when he spoke about [forgiveness](https://www.pshir.com/the-paths-of-repentance-and-forgiveness/) or [atonement and redemption](https://www.pshir.com/the-gift-of-atonement-and-messiah/). Yet they are oblivious of the ongoing Jewish communal conversation on these topics that the gospels only touch on briefly, but never fully reiterate. There is so much context that makes a huge difference in one's perception and interpretation. 

In one of my lecture series, I take on a famous saying in the gospels, and I explain what Yeshua said and what those words actually meant to those who were listening. Explaining the contexts step by step takes time, but it's worthwhile.

[The Sign of Jonah and Something Greater (\~3hrs)What is this Sign of Jonah? The traditional thinking is that it’s Jesus’ resurrection, three days and three nights... But the passage may not be so simple as it appears on the surface. Interested in taking a closer look and discovering another way to read the text? Go for the![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-244.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Jonah1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-sign-of-jonah-in-matthew-12/)

If you have not realized this yet, this topic is broad, and you probably should consider a subscription to PSHIR.COM to take full advantage of the access to exclusive materials and website membership offers. That is what my publication is all about: learning, researching, and going deeper. For a few dollars per month, you can pursue hours and hours of unique and out-of-the-box learning opportunities, month after month. Let's think and grow together!

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### How did the Jerusalem Temple Work?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/how-did-the-jerusalem-temple-work-cop/
Last updated: 2026-05-17T14:00:24.000Z
The Temple is a very important institution in the Bible. It is unique, deeply spiritual, and a key foundation for understanding countless biblical passages. This educational video is a quick, concise, and to-the-point explanation of the structure and function of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Gain a better understanding or simply review the basic facts about the Temple. Either way, enjoy a useful recap. 

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Take the time to explore PSHIR.COM... Besides many articles and books, the publication contains hours and hours of audio teachings and video seminars on all sorts of topics in Jewish and Biblical studies. There are plenty of open resources, but ****paid subscriptions** unlock access to so much more! 

[TRY IT FOR FREE ](#/portal/signup/free) 

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### Jerusalem Temple in Jewish Life and Spirituality (~4h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/jerusalem-temple-in-jewish-life-and-spirituality/
Last updated: 2026-05-13T14:00:33.000Z
Rabbi Jesus famously taught his disciples to pray that "things on earth should be as they are in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) This is not entirely new. In Torah, Moses was shown an important pattern in heaven, which he was to implement on earth (Exodus 25:40). This is a core principle of Jewish spirituality that relates to God's tangible presence in the midst of his people, which manifested as God's House (Gen 28:17, Ex 34:26, 1 Kings 5:5), the Temple. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

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These lecture series span about 4 hours and were broken up into 11 segments for convenience. Consider a ****paid subscription** to PSHIR.COM to enjoy the teachings ad-free and at your leisure. Paid subscribers simultaneously support my independent publishing and drive future research projects. 

**Disclaimer:** This topic might be interesting to some people, while others might find it irrelevant. These videos are a series of lessons I taught at my synagogue to explain the key role the Jerusalem Temple plays in modern Jewish worship. **It's a niche, nuanced topic, and it doesn't speak to the broad audiences I often address.** I am sharing these videos here reluctantly because I believe some students who study the first century CE and seek to better understand the essence of Temple worship may find these lessons helpful. I preserved some of the original audience comments. **Please be mindful of my disclaimer :)**

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Plans and Wishes
URL: https://www.pshir.com/plans-and-wishes/
Last updated: 2026-05-11T13:19:05.000Z
In 1 Kings 1, we read the story of David in his final days as Adoniya, one of his sons, tries to take over the throne of Israel. David intended for Solomon to succeed him, but Adoniya decided to make himself king instead of waiting for Solomon to assume the throne. It was a peaceful coup, a smooth and gentle political takeover of the throne. But if you look below the surface, this story is not merely about succession and politics. Listen?

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### Apostle Paul's Christian and Jewish Identity
URL: https://www.pshir.com/apostle-pauls-christian-and-jewish-identity/
Last updated: 2026-05-12T20:19:44.000Z
It is quite common for people to think of Paul as a Christian. After all, so much of what is called Christian is based on his teachings, which are a part of the Scriptures all Christians recognize. But surprisingly, though he had many opportunities to do so, Paul did not actually refer to himself as a Christian. Thus, calling Paul a Christian could be a bit of a misnomer. Defending himself before procurator Felix Paul, he said the following:

> “I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Torah and that is written in the Prophets” (Acts 24:14 NASB).

“The Way” was the name of the faith movement that the Jewish Apostle mentioned. Standing before another council, Paul identified himself as “a Pharisee, son of Pharisees.” Surprisingly, in this passage, he does not say he was a Christian who used to be a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). Paul implied that he was still very much [a Pharisee](https://www.pshir.com/in-quest-of-the-historical-pharisees-by-jacob-neusner-and-bruce-chilton/), someone who maintained unique Pharisaic beliefs, which is why he was actually being persecuted and brought before the council. 

Defending himself before King Agrippa, Paul insisted that he always “lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect” (Acts 26:5). Once again, Paul says he was a Pharisee when he could identify himself as a Christian. Surprised? Was he dishonest or duplicitous? Was he trying to mislead the king? [Did he lie to the council in Acts ](https://www.pshir.com/jewish-ecclesia-in-acts/)23:6, too? The problem for many modern Bible readers is that the apostle spoke these words long after his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul was not a deceiver; he was never shy or ashamed of Christ, yet he did not call himself a Christian on the pages of the New Testament.

[How Saul of Tarsus Became PaulMost people know that Apostle Paul was a pious Jew. Many New Testament readers would note that he was a Pharisee trained with the rabbis at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). And at the same time, an overwhelming majority of Christians also see Apostle Paul as a radical![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-177.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Paul4-1-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/how-saul-of-tarsus-became-paul/)

Of course, Paul was a vocal follower of Christ. There is no dispute about that. But for some mysterious and stubborn reason, he constantly chose to identify himself over and over with his Jewish heritage, even calling himself a Pharisee repeatedly. Why? There were groups of Jews in various cities across the Mediterranean who followed Jesus, as Paul did, and they never thought of themselves as a separate religion, either, always identifying themselves as Jews who followed “The Way.” 

In fact, it is also common to hear that before Paul became a follower of Christ, he persecuted Christians. Well... Acts 9:1-2 says he actually persecuted “The Way,” which we can identify as Jewish followers of Rabbi Jesus (Just like Paul later became).

> “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2 NASB)

**Historical Accuracy**

Does it make a difference what we call it, “Christianity” or “The Way”? To a serious student of the Bible, it does. And historical accuracy is very important when speaking of antiquity and reading the Scriptures! Even in the city of Ephesus, Paul proclaimed the teachings of “The Way” in the Synagogue (Acts 19:9), and the disturbance among the pagans that occurred there had to do with the teachings of “The Way,” not Christianity. [Paul preached the gospel (the good news) of the Messiah, ](https://www.pshir.com/reading-pauls-letter-to-romans-in-context/)but he never preached “Christianity.” This is the difference that most people do not recognize today, as these terms have now become synonymous, and thus, even Paul became a Christian. 

If this sounds strange or a bit awkward to you, it's because we are all too used to seeing the world from a contemporary point of view, through a lens of modernity. For many people today, the gospel and Christianity are one and the same. That is how they encounter these ideas in their modern daily lives. If I ever venture to mention "the Jewish gospel," I get bewildered and confused looks because these things do not line up in many people's minds. Everyone knows that pickles go with olives, bread goes with butter, and cheese is paired with crackers. Right? But was it always that way? Such food pairings are intuitive to many, but only in some cultures and only today, but not 300 or 1000 years ago. From a historical perspective, the emergence of the non-Jewish Church and the religious path called Christianity are post-gospel and post-apostolic developments, and the [Jewish gospel](https://www.pshir.com/the-jewish-gospels-by-daniel-boyarin/) predates them.

[Jewish Ecclesia in Acts (\~1hr)The book of Acts mentions the church, which is a translation of the Greek word “ecclesia.” This Greek term is ancient, but the word “church” is actually not. Where does this new word come from? What does it mean? How did the early Christ-followers see and describe themselves? Look deeper![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-178.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_1411760426b-3.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/jewish-ecclesia-in-acts/)

 There was no Christianity as an organized religious institution or a truly cohesive consolidated movement when Paul was alive. People could be called followers of Christ, but that merely described the lifestyle and way of thinking they embraced, grass-roots ideas, not yet their social or ethnic belonging. And by the way, the same can be said of Judaism. Judaism, as an organized religion with strictly defined boundaries, also did not yet exist in the first century CE. There was no unified, agreed-upon, by-consensus system called Judaism just yet, and what was deemed "Jewish" was much broader than it is today. The term existed, but it stood for a mode of life and ethnic behavior that expressed certain cultural loyalties. In fact, Ἰουδαϊσμός *(iudaismos)* mentioned in Galatians 1:4 should probably be translated “Jewish way of life,” not Judaism. In the first century, there was Paganism and Hellenism, the Greek way of life, the universal practice of recognizing many divinities and powers. Of course, the opposite of paganism was the henotheistic way of seeing the world, the Israelite culture, but Judaism, Ἰουδαϊσμός *(iudaismos)* in the first century, should be understood as an ethnic, familial, religious, and cultural affiliation which demanded loyalty to one God of Israel and was expressed in a broad list of practices and social norms.

What about Christians? Yes, that term already existed in the 1st century. In Acts 26:28, King Agrippa accused Paul of wanting to make him into a Christian. The author of Acts 11:25 tells us that many non-Jews embraced the good news as Jews from Cyrene proclaimed the good news of salvation in Antioch. And these non-Jews were indeed called Christians. Peter also uses this term in his sobering teaching:

> “…to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers *as a Christian*, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” (1 Peter 4:13-16)

In its earliest form, the term Χριστιᾱνός *(christianos)*, “Christian” or a Christ-follower, was a highly politically loaded term, affirming one’s loyalty to the Jewish Christ as opposed to Caesar and the gods of Rome. It was tied to Israel and Israel’s unique and exclusive God. Most Christians today do not see the term from such a national or politically charged perspective. No doubt, as people spread the good news of the Messiah’s sacrifice beyond the Jewish circles and more non-Jews embraced this teaching, the term came into broader use and changed its meaning. The social and political situation has changed, the monopoly of polytheism has disappeared, so now it is well-known and common, and few people have heard of “The Way.”

So, was Paul a Christian? Not in his own words. He would have insisted that who he was after the Damascus road experience was inseparable from Christ, and that the Messiah is whom he served with all his heart. But Christianity, as a social and religious identity, a community that stood apart from Judaism, did not exist in Pauline first-century-bound thinking. As a Jew, Paul’s loyalties to God and Israel were clear and unambiguous. He did not need another name to show his belonging to Christ, since the Messiah was already a thoroughly Jewish and unique concept. There was no one else around just yet to claim that idea for themselves. 

We may choose to think of Apostle Paul in narrow categories that work for us today, but perhaps, being a Jew and a Pharisee who followed the Messiah was enough for Paul himself. My invitation is always to study Paul on his own terms without placing him into a framework that would be very foreign to him. 

[Misunderstood Foundations: Part One (Romans 1-4 \~ 4h)This series of lectures addresses key passages and themes in Paul’s Letter to the Romans, a pivotal book for Christian theological understanding. They were delivered live to a mixed audience at a Messianic Synagogue. As such, they express a unique perspective, a presupposition of Paul as a traditional Jew![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-179.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/P2-4.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/misunderstood-foundations/)

[Untwisted Examples: Part Two (Romans 4-8 \~ 3h)This series of lectures on Paul’s Letter to the Romans raises multiple questions that some may consider controversial, as the apostle’s words are not explained in a traditional manner. The lectures are built on a presupposition of Paul not as a follower of a new religion (Christianity) but a![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-180.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/P1-1-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/untwisted-examples/)

[Branches of the Olive Tree: Part Three (Romans 9-11 \~ 4h)In this series of lectures on Paul’s Letter to the Romans, we move chapter by chapter, zeroing in on the most complicated sentences, periodically considering Greek and Hebrew concepts, background, and omitting only the most peripheral content. What may be most unusual in this study for many viewers is![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-185.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Paul6-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/branches-the-olive-tree/)

[Striving for Unity in Diversity: Part Four (Romans 12-16 - 2h)This series of lectures on Paul’s Letter to the Romans explains familiar concepts from a vector you may not have heard before. The structure of the letter itself informs us which topics are primary and which are peripheral. We move chapter by chapter, zeroing in on the most complicated![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-187.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Paul-court.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/striving-for-unity-in-diversity-part-four-romans-12-16/)
### A Prayer to Master of My Life
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-prayer-to-master-of-my-life/
Last updated: 2026-05-03T14:00:24.000Z
This musical creation was inspired by the words of Psalm 42\. You might have to read the entire psalm to see which parts of it made it into the video. What came of it is a prayerful reflection of praise that I wanted to share with others. 

Here are the lyrics:   
  
My soul it stirs, it churns inside in the land of Jordan, as I climb. From Hermon's peaks to Mitzar heights, my journey breaks and trail hides. Deep calls unto deep as I hear, waves of life, waters ripple near. I find no rest like a swelling sea, memories as waterfalls roll over me...  
  
יוֹמָם יְצַוֶה יהוה חַסְדּוֹ וּבַלַיְלָה שִׁירֹה עִמִּי  
At night the LORD gives me a song by day ADONAI his love decrees.  
תְּפִלָה לְאֵל חַיָּי אוֹמְרָה לְאֵל סַלְעִי  
A prayer to Master of my Life to you alone, my Rock I sing.  
  
As a deer thirsts for water streams, I long for God to dwell within my soul that hungers for his light, desires no food, I wait all night. They ask me, Where is your God? His shelter's presence, I forgot. Words flee as I attempt to pray. I feel no strength, yet I will wait...  
  
Taunting my sorrow, silent scream as a whisper interrupts my dream. This moment I was waiting for, a gentle voice I've heard before. Oppression flees, I rise to pray. My God is near, and I'm not afraid. Salvation comes in the dark of night, deep calls to deep, and I feel alive...

[Bless PSHIR.COM with a Gift of Support?Many people benefit from PSHIR.COM publications, but not everyone wishes to be a subscriber. That’s fine. Now you can support independent publishing by giving a simple gift (in any amount and anytime) as a thank you without subscribing. SUPPORT PSHIR.COM The gift works the same way as any![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w1200/2026/02/shutterstock_2443572533-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/bless-pshir-com-with-a-gift/)
### The Synagogue of Freedmen in First Century Jerusalem
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-synagogue-of-freedmen-in-first-century-jerusalem/
Last updated: 2026-04-29T14:00:56.000Z
The Synagogue of Freedmen (*sunagogeh ton libertinon;* συναγωγή των Λιβερτίνων) is mentioned in Acts 6:9\. The Greek term "Freedmen" (*Libertinos;* Λιβερτῖνος) is unfamiliar to many modern people. But it is a loanword from Latin *libertini*, and designates those who were "freed slaves." In the Roman world, this term denoted social status, typically to distinguish oneself from someone who was never a slave, "a freeborn" and thus of higher status in the Roman social order. 

In Acts 6:9, those who belonged to this synagogue, together with Cyrenian, Alexandrian, Cilician, and Asian Jews, argued with Stephen, one of the *deacons* (servants) in the first-century Jerusalem Assembly. As a result of this theological dispute, the story tells us how Stephen was falsely accused of blasphemy, tried on the spot, and stoned outside the city (Acts 6:11-7:59). As scholars consider this passage, only a handful of historical references provide clues to the nature and composition of this Synagogue of Freedmen in Jerusalem, producing multiple scholarly theories and speculations.

According to the New Testament, Josephus and rabbinic sources in the first century there were hundreds of synagogues across Israel. (Mark 1:21; Luke 7:1; Acts 9:2; Babylonian Talmud, Ketubot 105a, Tosefta, Sukkah 4.5, Josephus, War 2\. 285-290, Life 277, Antiquities XIX. 300). Despite the temple being the central place of worship, Jerusalem had many synagogues because they functioned as parallel institutions that supported the temple. The book of Acts mentions one of these Jerusalem synagogues that bears an unusual name.

> And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyre′nians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cili′cia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. (Acts 6:8-10 RSV)

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Being Near to God
URL: https://www.pshir.com/being-near-to-god/
Last updated: 2026-06-30T21:31:13.000Z
I came across some amazing words in this week’s reading. In Deuteronomy 4:7, Moshe exclaims, “What nation is there that has God as near to them, as ADONAI our God, when we call on him?” Immediately, in my heart, I heard, “See, Hashem is near. He will answer. There is none like him. He never abandons his people, and you should not ever doubt him.” But what about my prayers, then I pondered? Not just me, but thousands like me are also praying every day to stop the bloodshed, to heal our people, restore us, and unite us… If Hashem is so near, why don’t we feel like he is right now? And that’s when I realized I needed to read the rest of that passage carefully.

Listen?

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Kap_Tor-1.png) 

#### The Living Torah by Aryeh Kaplan (Hebrew-English)

This edition of the Torah features a Hebrew text of the Five Books of Moses and a new English translation by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. As a translator, Kaplan leans quite a bit on Targum Onkelos, and uses Aramaic to elucidate the text better. The volume is supplied with traditional commentaries and notes, maps, tables, charts and more. This new updated edition features a better layout then the previous versions of the Torah. If anyone wishes to read the books of Moses and be exposed to an orthodox Jewish take on these ancient words this translation and commentary do a superb job. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4ipCLvc?ref=pshir.com)
### The One God who is Two
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-one-god-who-is-two/
Last updated: 2026-04-22T14:00:32.000Z
This is a lecture by Shaye J. D. Cohen, who is a Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. He is a well-known historian who also holds a rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. His lectures often probe deep questions of history and theology and are filled with humor and candor.

If dropping in on an insightful University lecture is not something you find exciting, skip this one. However, if you don't mind lectures on broad ideas originating in antiquity, Dr. Cohen will take you on a complicated but very interesting journey discussing the duality of God. 

For students of religion and ancient history, there are several excellent books by Professor Cohen that I often recommend. Some of these you can flip through online right here on the website... 

[From the Maccabees to the Mishna by Shaye CohenShaye J. D. Cohen is a Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. He is a well-known historian who also holds rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. This book (link here) is one of my favorites. If you![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-182.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/MTM-Cover.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/from-the-maccabees-to-the-mishna/)

[“The Beginnings of Jewishness” by Shaye CohenIn this book, Shaye J.D. Cohen explores the formation and transformation of Jewish identity between Hellenistic times and the Roman era. Cohen, a renowned scholar in Jewish history, addresses complex issues related to ethnicity, religion, and cultural identity. He investigates how Jewish identity was defined and perceived both internally![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-181.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/TBJ-cover.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-begining-of/)
### "The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls" by James Charlesworth
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-bible-and-the-dead-sea-scrolls-by-james-charlesworth/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:15:14.000Z
James H. Charlesworth's "The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls" is a gateway to one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century: the Dead Sea Scrolls. The book explores how these scrolls, containing biblical manuscripts, sectarian writings, and apocalyptic literature, provide invaluable insights into Second Temple Judaism, the historical context of early Christianity, and the development of the biblical canon. Charlesworth's accessible style demystifies complex topics, making it an essential read for students, clergy, and lay readers interested in how the Scrolls affirm, challenge, and enrich our understanding of sacred Scriptures. [Printed edition is here.](https://amzn.to/3J8G2Ty?ref=pshir.com) 

Look Inside?

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### Facing the Holy and Each Other in Prayer
URL: https://www.pshir.com/facing-the-holy-and-one-another-in-prayer/
Last updated: 2026-05-12T20:20:47.000Z
For some, prayer is free-flowing, meandering from one topic to another, like a summer breeze, a living dialogue, or a musical improvisation. For others, prayer is something more formal, organized, and structured with care. It's not that one approach is superior to another, but there is room for both practices. I personally see the need for both approaches, which is why I use the Siddur and pray extemporaneously as well. If you were to ask me what I think [Rabbi Jesus](https://www.pshir.com/jesus-and-other-rabbis/) and the apostles' prayers were like, I would say they also blended some formulaic communal prayers with personal supplications voiced in their own words. But there was something in their prayer lives that many of their modern followers often lack. Direction. They oriented themselves in a very specific way. 

For thousands of years, Jews have been speaking to God while facing Jerusalem. Muslims today have a similar custom, only they bow toward the city of Mecca. Such cultural practice may seem a bit unusual for many Christians who direct their gaze elsewhere, to the church altar in front of them or to the heavens above. But for Jews, turning towards [Jerusalem](https://www.pshir.com/earliest-mention-of-jerusalem-outside-of-the-bible/) during prayer is an ancient custom etched on the pages of the Bible (Daniel 6:10; 1 Kings 8:29-35). Of course, it's not about the city itself, but about the holy mountain, the spot God himself chose for his house three thousand years ago (1 Kings 8:44, 1 Chron 22:1-10). Jerusalem is a special place where God manifested himself in the past, and people have not forgotten it. 

This tradition of orienting oneself, praying "towards God's house," has a long history, and I wanted to share a quote from an ancient Jewish source - Tosefta on Berachot 3, to expound on the exact reasons behind this unique custom. If you are wondering about how far back these words go, the text of Tosefta is quite ancient. It contains discussions of various Jewish traditions put into writing around the 3rd century CE. Of course, many of those traditions existed for much longer in oral form before they were finally fixed in writing in the second and third centuries CE. When Mishna was compiled, some of its content was redacted and set aside, and that body of text became known as "Tosefta," which means “supplement" in Aramaic. So here are some sentiments from the sages about the direction of prayers from a supplement to Mishnah, a document that preserved much of Jewish tradition followed in the first-century Israel.

[Shema: One God, One People, One Prayer, Part 1 (\~3h)In Jewish life, Shema is not exactly a typical prayer. It’s a recitation of three paragraphs from the Torah: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41\. What stands behind these sentences, however, communicates an entire set of deeply held spiritual beliefs, practices, and key theological![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w1200/2025/09/galaxyai-image-1754574646989.png)](https://www.pshir.com/one-god-one-pople-one-prayer-part-1/)

“A blind person and someone who cannot recognize the directions, \[should\] direct their hearts towards God, and \[only then\] pray, as it is said, **“And they should pray to Hashem…” (1 Kings 8:44)** Those that are standing outside of the Land of Israel \[should\] direct their hearts towards the Land of Israel, and \[only then\] pray, as it is said, **“And those that pray to You by the way of their land…” (1 Kings 8:48)** Those that are standing in the Land of Israel \[should\] direct their hearts towards Yerushalayim, and \[only then\] pray, as it is said, **“And they will pray to Hashem by the way of the city that You have chosen…” (1 Kings 8:44)** Those that are standing in Yerushalayim \[should\] direct their hearts towards Bet Hamikdash (Temple), as it is said, **“…and they should pray towards this house.” (2 Chronicles 6:32)** Those that are standing inside the Bet Hamikdash \[should\] direct their hearts towards the Holy of Holies and \[only then\] pray, as it is said, **“… they will pray towards this place.” (1 Kings 8:30).** It comes out that \[all of those\] standing in the north will be facing the south, \[all of those\] standing in the south will be facing the north, \[all of those\] standing in the east will be facing the west, \[and all of those\] standing in the west will be facing the east. And it will come out that all of the Jewish people will be praying towards one place.” **(Tosefta Berachot 3)**

Did you catch the core idea of focusing on the [Holy of Holies](https://www.pshir.com/altar-of-incense/) and, at the same time, actually facing each other as one imagines layers and concentric circles around God's chosen place of glory? Wherever Jews live in the world, our communal prayers are always spoken with a particular direction in mind, Jerusalem. This passage explains this common practice. Even the architecture of many modern synagogues today is designed to deliberately orient worshippers towards Zion. Today, many sway and rock as they whisper and pray, occasionally even bend their knees and bow, turning towards the last known resting place of God's glory. You may have noticed how traditional Jews tend to employ their entire bodies in prayer. People turn and even bow towards Jerusalem as an act of faith and enduring hope. The hope is that the Almighty's indescribable presence will return, and it will return in glory and power when we need it the most. It will return to the place where God previously manifested, a place he chose. 

More and more people today realize that when we are praying on the opposite sides of the globe, we are actually facing each other, orienting ourselves in a special way as we worship God across space and time. This sort of prayer never ceases. If you reflect for a moment, it's a beautiful picture of unity that many hope will bring about the promised restoration of the world. One day, every knee will bow, and on that day, every eye will also be drawn to that very place, and we can begin this practice today (Is 45:23; Rom 14:11). 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Teh-Art-1.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Interlinear Psalms

For those who love Psalms, especially the way they sound in Hebrew, this handy volume presents them in an interlinear format. As it is with most poetry, sometimes translations are not so straightforward, and it's so easy to see the original words that stand behind the English text. This volume allows students of Hebrew to quickly build their biblical Hebrew vocabulary and, at the same time, immerse themselves in their favorite psalms. I have used it for both study and for devotional reading as well. And I can recommend it for those who would like to try the Psalms in their original language and grow in their comprehension of the biblical language as they read. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kY9k5e?ref=pshir.com)
### Second Temple Era Stone Inscription Mentions Jerusalem
URL: https://www.pshir.com/stone-inscription-mentions-jerusalem/
Last updated: 2026-04-12T14:00:51.000Z
During the winter of 2017, archaeologists working in a Jerusalem suburb, discovered the foundations of a Roman structure dating to the 1st century B.C.E. What they found was building remnants and a part of a common round column. The exciting part is that the column had writing on it. Etched on the column was the oldest known inscription of the [city’s name spelled out in full in Hebrew script](https://www.pshir.com/earliest-mention-of-jerusalem-outside-of-the-bible/). When people talk or write about Jerusalem today, they call the city Yerushalayim in Hebrew. But in ancient times, a shorthand spelling was often used -Yerushalem. In fact, of the 660 times that Jerusalem is mentioned in the Bible, only five instances use the full spelling. The column inscription reads “Hananiah son of Dodalos of Jerusalem.”

The limestone drum on which the inscription was found recently went on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The stone appears to have been repurposed from a building even older than the Roman structure in which it was used. According to a statement from the museum, the inscription was written in Jewish Aramaic, a Semitic language commonly spoken by Jews of the ancient world, which was written using [Hebrew letters](https://www.pshir.com/trusting-in-biblical-hebrew/). According to experts, the style was typical of the era when Herod the Great, who ruled over Judea from 37 to 4 B.C., during the Second Temple Period.

> “First and Second Temple period inscriptions mentioning Jerusalem are quite rare,” Yuval Baruch, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Ronny Reich, a professor of archaeology at Haifa University, note together in the statement. But it is the unique spelling of Jerusalem that really makes the stone special. The full version of the city’s name has been found on just one other artifact from the Second Temple Period: a coin dating between 66 and 70 A.D., a period of Jewish revolt against the Romans.

Archaeologists don’t know who Hananiah son of Dodalos was, though they have a theory about his occupation. The name “Hananiah” was common in ancient Israel, but “Dodalos” is an unusual name. It might be a modification of “Daedalus,” the craftsman from Greek mythology. Perhaps Hananiah and his father, then, were craftsmen? According to Danit Levy, one of the archaeologists who has been leading excavations in the area, the stone inscription was found near the largest ancient pottery production site in the region of Jerusalem.

The ruins themselves indicate a pottery operation—kilns, water cisterns, pools for preparing clay, workspaces for drying and storing vessels. The area known as the Potter’s Quarter was active for three centuries. During Herod’s reign, the production seems to have been focused on cooking vessels, and activity at the site continued on a smaller scale following the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Of course, archaeologists can’t say for sure where the column drum originally came from. It may have been brought to the potter’s quarter.

Original Sources: Haaretz and Smithsonian

[The Walls of JerusalemThe walls of today’s Jerusalem are beautiful, but they are not very ancient, going back to the days of Suleyman in the 1500s. Well beneath those walls are the foundations of older walls, but only in some areas. In many instances, the new walls were moved to expand the city.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-228.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Wall1-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-walls-of-jerusalem/)

[Who Needs Temple Sacrifices?There is a common sentiment among those who embrace Christ – “Jesus paid it all. That is all you need for atonement of sin”. This is very true, but much more needs to be said about sacrifices in this context. There is a common and naïve assumption that all sacrifices are![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-229.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_1752040259a-3.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/who-needs-sacrifices/)
### Experiencing Worship at Herod's Temple (~3h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/experiencing-worship-at-herods-temple-3h/
Last updated: 2026-04-08T14:01:02.000Z
Have you ever imagined what a worship experience was like at the Jerusalem Temple in the days of Jesus? In these lectures, we will delve briefly into the layout and setting of Herod's Temple, but more importantly, we will imagine the daily lives and experiences of an average first-century CE pilgrim, a priest, and a Levite. The lectures attempt to reconstruct people's life experiences in the Temple from what we know in biblical texts, archaeology, traditions, and records such as Josephus and the Mishnah. Though many details remain unknown to us today, the ancient descriptions of the rituals and surroundings paint a vivid picture of intricate and deeply meaningful worship. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

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These lecture series span about 3 hours and were broken up into 8 segments for convenience. Consider a ****paid subscription** to PSHIR.COM to support my independent publishing and to enjoy the teachings ad-free and at your leisure. 

The temple played a major role in the lives of many ancient Jews. Understanding what went on in the temple on a daily basis helps better connect with typical thinking among first-century CE people and see the world from their perspective. Could that unlock for us some concepts in the Bible that we may be missing? Hopefully it will.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### A Morning Prayer: May Your Will Always Be...
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-morning-prayer-may-your-will-always-be/
Last updated: 2026-04-05T14:00:36.000Z
I wanted to share with you a Morning Prayer and, more specifically, a musical piece I created based on it. The words of this song are inspired by the words of the traditional morning blessings found in the Siddur (Jewish Prayer Book). The person who is praying in the early hours of the day is offered a list of "blessings" (בְּרָכוֹת; *brachot*) - expressions of gratitude to God for various things. The words are quite old, and some things that the prayer thanks God for may even sound odd to modern people. The video begins with Hebrew, but don't worry, I will include the English too. 

The phrase that strikes some people as odd is *"thank you, God, for not making me a non-Jew, a slave of a female."*  On the surface, it looks like - "thank God I am not one of those!" But that is not at all what these words mean. **In ancient minds, whether one is a Jew or a non-Jew, whether one is a slave or a free person, whether one is a male or a female, outlined one's specific religious and social responsibilities.** One's status determined what one was supposed to do. 

A Jew is responsible for more commandments than a non-Jew. So, more chances to honor God through action. Commandments are opportunities to show devotion to God, and some receive more of such opportunities than others, at least in traditional Jewish understanding. If God gave you more opportunities than someone else, then go ahead and thank him for the privilege and use the opportunities as intended. In Judaism, a male has more commandments than females do, particularly ones bound by the confines of time. And one of such commandments is "to come before his maker in the morning upon arising." In traditional Jewish practice, a morning prayer is a requirement for male Jews and an option for females. So the male worshipper thanks God for giving him greater opportunities to demonstrate faithfulness in obedience.   
  
The words of the prayer in this song are spoken from a male perspective, and hopefully, with my explanation, they make a bit more sense. The particular blessing that sometimes causes offence simply expresses a value that everyone should render worship unto the LORD in accord with one's status. A slave is expected to serve God differently from a free person, a male differently from a female, etc. Maybe that's old-fashioned for some people, but such are the ancient words with which traditional Jewish prayer in the Siddur leads.

Here are the lyrics:  
  
Blessed are You, ADONAI our God, King of this world... Who gave us the common sense to tell between day and night. You did not make me a non-Jew, a slave, or female, so here I am...  
  
The blind eyes you open, God, and you clothe the naked, the bound you release, and straighten the bent. You spread the soil over the waters, supply all my needs, and even now all my steps you arrange, oh-ooh-oh... With might you clothe Israel, crown your people with beauty, LORD, You always give strength to the weary, O God, and even now sleep and slumber remove from my eyes.  
  
May Your will always be, O, God of our fathers,   
Help us walk in your teachings, cling to your commandments.   
And do not lead us to sin, to test or fall in disgrace.  
  
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם   
אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לַשֶּׂכְוִי בִינָה לְהַבְחִין בֵּין יוֹם וּבֵין לָֽיְלָה  
שֶׁלֹּא עָשַׂנִי גּוֹי אוֹ עָבֶד אוֹ אִשָּׁה  
פּוֹקֵחַ עִוְרִים מַלְבִּישׁ עֲרֻמִּים מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים זוֹקֵף כְּפוּפִים   
רוֹקַע הָאָרֶץ עַל הַמָּיִם שֶׁעָשָׂה לִי כָּל־צָרְכִּי הַמֵּכִין מִצְעדֵי גָבֶר  
אוֹזֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּגְבוּרָה עוֹטֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתִפְאָרָה   
הַנּוֹתֵן לַיָּעֵף כֹּֽחַ הַמַּעֲבִיר שֵׁנָה מֵעֵינָי וּתְנוּמָה מֵעַפְעַפָּי  
  
יהִי רָצוֹן אֱלֹהֵינוּ   
וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ   
שֶׁתַּרְגִּילֵנוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ   
וְדַבְּקֵנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ  
וְאַל תְּבִיאֵנוּ לֹא לִידֵי חֵטְא   
וְלֹא לִידֵי נִסָּיוֹן אוֹ בִזָּיוֹן   
  
Thanks for listening...
### Simon and the Jews of Cyrene
URL: https://www.pshir.com/simon-and-the-jews-of-cyrene/
Last updated: 2026-05-12T20:21:14.000Z
During the Second Temple Period, many Jews lived outside of Israel. And the city of Cyrene in Northern Africa was one of the major Jewish Diaspora centers. You may not have heard much about this city because its glory has disappeared from the pages of history, and it stands in ruins to this day. But the presence and the influence of Jews from Cyrene are reflected in several New Testament passages. Consider the famous Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus’ cross (Matt 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26).

Many Bible readers assume that Simon was a native-born African. Therefore, the traditional depictions of Simon of Cyrene in church iconography imagine him as a dark-skinned man with traditional African features. He often looks like an Ethiopian and not very Middle Eastern. Naturally, the Bible does not tell us what he really looked like, so to be honest, all the images we have are the result of artistic imagination.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2026/03/Si2.jpg)

An Icon of Saint Simon

Whether Simon was dark-skinned or olive-skinned is not at all important, but he was probably not a native of Africa to begin with. History tells us that many Judeans were captured and taken into slavery under Pompey in 63 BC (Philo, Embassy to Gaius 23). They were scattered all over the Mediterranean Roman colonies, including the city of Cyrene, which the Romans occupied. So Simon was most certainly a Jew whose home was the African city of Cyrene, whether by choice or not.

Cyrene (Κυρήνη) was a city with an ancient history. Greek settlers from the Aegean island of Thera around 630 BC established it as an outpost (Herodotus, History, Book IV; Strabo, Geography, Book XVII). According to the ancient accounts, the Greeks who established this colony did so by following the instructions of the divine oracle in order to escape severe famine. The Greek colonists named their new African outpost after a nearby spring along the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the vicinity of the modern village of Shahhat in Libya. Of course, most locals in Libya look quite African, but Cyrene was a Greek city, a new colony, and it was populated by outsiders.

Reading the gospels, we realize that Simon of Cyrene was not an African tourist on vacation in Jerusalem. He was a part of the traditional Passover pilgrimage (2 Chron 30:1; John 11:55). He was not a random visitor to the city, but a fellow pilgrim, someone who came to Jerusalem to worship. Was he a follower of a Galilean Rabbi? No, the Romans randomly drafted him from the street crowd to carry the load that Jesus could not endure by himself. In those days, it was not at all unusual for Jewish pilgrims from Cyrene to come to Jerusalem for festivals, and the city's streets were crowded. 

[The Jews of Cyrene (\~45 min)The New Testament records that some Jewish followers of Jesus from Cyrene were responsible for the first Gentile converts in Antioch (Acts 11:19-21). Indeed, the Jewish inhabitants of Cyrene were fully engaged in world affairs and closely connected to Jerusalem and other Jewish communities throughout the Mediterranean. Yet, sadly,![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-237.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Cyrene5.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-jews-of-cyrene/)

According to Acts, the Jews of Cyrene were among the pilgrims who heard Peter’s moving speech during Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2:10). Some archaeologists think it is even possible that Jews from Cyrene had their own synagogue in first-century Jerusalem. In the book of Acts, we read about representatives of the Cyrene Jewish diaspora who belonged to the Synagogue of the Freedmen and opposed Stephen in Jerusalem (Acts 6:9).

 Jews who lived in Cyrene retained a strong sense of their Israel-tied identity and familial connections. Simon likely had friends or contacts in the holy city. Some Jews of Cyrene were quite well-known. A man named Jason of Cyrene is considered to be the chronicler who preserved the historical events recorded in the Second Book of Maccabees (2 Macc 2:23). Knowing the history of the Jewish diaspora, understanding the customs of pilgrimage for the three major feasts makes it easy to connect the dots and understand better who Simon of Cyrene really was and what he was doing in the crowd. Simon has been canonized as a saint and lot of lore has been added to fill in the details the gospel story never provides. But what history can tell us Simon was a pious Jew on pilgrimage who encountered Jesus up close in his darkest hour. 

[The Jews of Cyrene and the GospelThe New Testament records that some Jewish followers of Jesus from Cyrene were responsible for the first Gentile converts in Antioch. “So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-226.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Cyrene3-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-jews-of-cyrene-and-the-gospel/)

[Bless PSHIR.COM with a Gift of Support?Many people benefit from PSHIR.COM publications, but not everyone wishes to be a subscriber. That’s fine. Now you can support independent publishing by giving a simple gift (in any amount and anytime) as a thank you without subscribing. SUPPORT PSHIR.COM The gift works the same way as any![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-236.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_2443572533-1-3.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/bless-pshir-com-with-a-gift/)
### Seeking God
URL: https://www.pshir.com/seeking-god/
Last updated: 2026-03-29T14:00:29.000Z
I would venture to say that, depending on your unique interests, each one sometimes struggles with things that pull us in and captivate us completely. These interests could be good things, even very positive and honorable things. I am simply wondering if those are the things we need to focus on? I am wondering if they aligned with what Hashem wants for us or is it just us getting distracted? Naturally. Only you can answer this for yourself and your life. And you may even need Hashem’s help to answer that one. In our weekly reading, Moshe charges the Israelites not to copy what they see pagans do and not to learn from them, especially in how they worship. Devarim, Deut 12:4 literally says, “Don’t do this way to Hashem,” ***lo ta’asu ken l'ADONAI eloheykhem*.**

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### The Riddle of The Broken Matzah
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-riddle-of-the-broken-matzah/
Last updated: 2026-03-25T14:00:11.000Z
There is no Passover without Matzah. If you're not familiar with it, it's what Jews call the unleavened bread, a tradition dating back to the days of Moses. Every year, Passover is commemorated by eating this simple bread - *Matzah* (מַצָּה) and also by remembering the story of how this custom began. To make this long story shorter, allow me to summarize. In Torah, God liberated the Israelites from Egypt when they were slaves to Pharaoh and commanded people to eat this bread as a reminder of the Exodus experience (Ex 1:8–14, 12:8, 15-20; Deut 16:3, 8). Thus, eating unleavened bread on Passover became a statement of commemorating the past and celebrating the great future deliverance. 

As a bread product, Matzah is very simple: just flour and water. But the riddle I want to unravel is about a very unusual piece of Matzah. As people celebrate Passover, this particular piece is broken, wrapped in a cloth, and hidden shortly after the formal celebration begins. It's called by an unusual name - Afikomen (אֲפִיקוֹמַן). The *Seder* (סֵדֶר), the traditional Passover banquet, is all about explaining and teaching about God's deliverance, yet this breaking-and-hiding ritual and its symbolism are often left unexplained, or at least not clearly emphasized in traditional storytelling. And that adds more to this hidden Matzah riddle. 

But let's back up a little. It is traditional to have three pieces of Matzah on the Passover table, often in the bag or somehow set on top of the main plate. And as celebrants go through the festive meal, they ritualistically interact with each piece of Matzah. In the very beginning, one of the three pieces of the unleavened bread is broken, wrapped in a napkin, and hidden. The celebration goes on, and after the meal, this piece of Matzah is found and shared with everyone as if it were an after-meal dessert. This is the traditional explanation. 

Medieval commentators like Rashi (11th century CE) note that Afikoman means the portion after the meal, like the Greek ἐπικώμιον (Mishana, Pesahim, 10:8). This post-Talmudic custom uses the Greek term to denote the ritual's joyful conclusion. Ἐπί (*epi*) is a preposition "after," or "in addition to," indicating an extension. Κῶμος (*komos*) refers to carousing, or even to bacchanalian processions or a drinking party, probably related to κῶμα (*koma*) "deep sleep" from excess of wine. Thus, ἐπικώμιον (*epikomon*) was a moment when sweets and fruit were served in Greek celebrations. The Greek symposia term sort of fits, but the context of a wild Hellenistic afterparty does not align well with the holy tone of the Seder. It's truly puzzling why a Passover Afikomen (אֲפִיקוֹמַן) tradition would be tied to this.

[The Riddle of Passover BoneThe Jewish Passover Celebration is a remembrance of the chosen people’s exodus from Egypt. During this celebration, a special plate with symbolic items is set as the centerpiece of every festive table. One of the items on this special plate is a bone. The traditional name of the bone![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-222.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Pass1-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-riddle-of-passover-bone-copy/)

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Why Would Christians Say That Christ Has Not Risen?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-quarter-of-british-christians-say-christ-has-not-risen/
Last updated: 2026-03-22T14:00:54.000Z
A few years back, the Gospel Herald reported that according to a BBC poll, 25 % of Christians in Great Britain said, “Jesus’ resurrection was not real.” It turns out that according to the survey results, one in four of those who considered themselves Christians in Great Britain do not truly believe the resurrection of Jesus really happened as the gospels report it. Hard to believe? A total of 2,010 adults were interviewed for this curious study. Some who were questioned were not Christians, so their answers and skepticism are understandable. About half of the respondents were not Christians, but 50% indeed considered themselves Christians. And that is astonishing. Beyond that, a majority, about 57 % of the respondents, described themselves as “active Christians”, meaning they attend worship services at least once a month and believe in what the Bible teaches. However, among all the broader self-identified Christian groups who answered the survey (active and non-active), only 31 % take the message of the Bible word-for-word and factually.

Roughly 40% percent of these British Christians questioned said they believe the story of Jesus rising from the dead, but not exactly how the Bible puts it. The majority of Christians questioned in the survey affirmed that they embrace the idea of “life after death,” which in the survey included the concepts of heaven, hell, and even reincarnation. Interestingly, about 9 % of non-religious respondents claimed they actually believe in Christ’s resurrection, while 1 % of these said they believed the gospel story of Jesus’ resurrection literally. So the survey broadly concluded that about a quarter of Britain’s Christians do not really believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

What happened? It’s hard to say, exactly. Similar polls in the USA are not this disparaging. According to a Rassmussen poll, nearly 70% of registered US voters (not merely self-identified active Christians) believe that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead. It could be the particular BBC sample itself that revealed that nearly a quarter of respondents who identified as Christian in the UK don't believe that Jesus rose from the grave literally was off somehow. But it would not be a stretch to suggest that this could be a result of not reading the Bible or being told that the Bible should not be understood literally in general. 

How can those who never read the Bible have any sort of high regard for it? And for those who are reading the gospels, perhaps they are not understanding them in the proper historical context. The gospels are ancient Jewish documents and are permeated with Semitic thought patterns and relate their stories through Middle Eastern literary techniques, full of *kal vachomer* logic, *gezerah shava* comparisons, and *midrash,* too. Even the time rendering and chronology of the gospels follow how ancient Jews measured time, and this can be confusing. No wonder Westerners have always struggled to understand the Bible and even the New Testament. For centuries, many wanted to accept all information in the Bible literally, using the linguistic tools of English, and that wholesale approach caused them trouble. Now, as a result, many desire to see the Bible’s message non-literally, and that causes problems of its own, as the survey could be pointing out.

The answer to this problem is a responsible study and teaching of the Bible immersed in its native linguistic and cultural context. Understanding the authors, their values, and their world should precede the interpretations of their words and certainly precede theology. Sure, there is no lack of metaphor in the Bible, but not all of those stories are meant to be merely symbolic. And even though they were meant to be seen as symbolic, the points they make are tied to real people striving to live holy lives for God's glory. It is not uncommon for Jewish stories to be multi-layered, not presenting an interpreter with a singular choice but offering several things that are true simultaneously - "this is true, and that is true also" approach. 

Some traditional ideas of what the Bible passages mean have to be reconsidered, and the Bible has to be re-read in a new light. This could cause angst and even fear in some people. But why would honest and sincere people have fears? It may be painful and uncomfortable for those who are deeply entrenched in the status quo to move away from things as they are. I understand. But it would be even more painful if the trend the BBC survey showed continues, and more and more of those who consider themselves Christian would deny the fundamentals of their own faith. There is a better way, and people may find this surprising, but Jewish approaches to studying the Bible may actually help! 

[The Gospels and Early Rabbis (\~2hrs)The gospels are filled with ancient rabbinic theological teachings. The reason is simple, Jesus was a Rabbi, a first-century teacher of Torah. The more people understand this, the more they open a door to the depth of his words in their true context. Most of the people with whom he![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-208.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Yes3-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-gospels-and-early-rabbis/)

[Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha, and the Books of EnochI 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 feel uneasy,![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-206.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/All-Enoch2-1-1-6.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/pseudepigrapha-apocrypha-and-the-books-of-enoch/)

[How did Jesus “fulfill” the Torah?Messiah’s famous words about Torah declare, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Mat 5:17 NASB) This verse has been explained countless times in church sermons, academic lectures, and scholarly commentaries. What can![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-210.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Jes1-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/untitled/)

[Discover what is MISSING in your Bible Study!Have you ever felt as you read the Bible that it makes no sense? You understand the words but not the meaning or the point the text is trying to make. The truth is - you are not alone. This book (Missing Ingredients) is not intended for someone who is![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-214.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/MI-Bk1-2-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/what-is-missing/)
### Does Torah Teach Resurrection?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/does-the-torah-teach-resurrection/
Last updated: 2026-03-18T14:00:34.000Z
The resurrection of the dead *techiyat hametim* (תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים) has always been a belief that some embraced and some rejected. Historically, while some Jews were very optimistic about such prospects, others were doubtful of them. Pagans for the most part have not seen resurrection as possible. The skepticism among the Greeks and Romans stemmed from the fact that they had no foundational lore or evidence on which to base resurrection. Their worldview did not lead them in this direction at all, and it even seemed illogical. 

Still, most ancient peoples believed in some form of afterlife. The Mediterranean nations frequently imagined the underworld, where souls simply slept and rested in endless slumber, or a place where their wealth could provide them with extended comfort. That is why the wealthy were often buried with their wealth in antiquity. 

Homer (8th century BCE) writes, **"There is the house of Hades, the dreadful... where the souls of the dead dwell... They are like shadows flitting about" (Homer, Odyssey 11.155–157).** To the author of Gilgamesh, resurrection would be foreign: **"To the house of dust... they dwell in darkness... Their food is dust, their drink is mud."** **(Gilgamesh Tablet 7, Enkidu's vision).** Pausanias (c. 110–180 CE) explains that the goods in graves were meant to provide prolonged comfort: **"They bury with the dead... gold and silver, and pour libations of honey and milk to ease their repose." (Pausanias, Descr. 6.20.2).**

Among the Jews, however, skepticism about resurrection often stemmed from the lack of explicit biblical support for it. Those who believed in the possibility of an afterlife and resurrection lived mindful that their everyday actions mattered and could determine their future. Some would see She'ol (שְׁאוֹל) "pit" or "grave," a shadowy realm like Hades as the end. Yet certain Jewish sacred verses, such as Isaiah 26:19 and Daniel 12:2, suggest another path. Sadducees rejected resurrection ideas because Moses did not teach about them, while the Pharisees affirmed such ideas via the Oral Torah. 

In the first century CE, Josephus wrote, **"The Sadducees... deny the resurrection... saying that the soul perishes with the body and that there is no underworld" (Josephus, Jewish Wars 2.165).** In the gospels the Sadducees cited Deuteronomy 25:5-6, the laws of levirate marriage, to mock the idea of resurrection (Matt 22:23-33). The writer of Acts confirms for us, **"For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all" (Acts 23:8).** Some Jews believed in resurrection because they strongly believed in justice, accountability, and judgment. It made sense as a fitting reward. Another first-century CE Jewish writer, Philo of Alexandria, said this: **"The law says nothing of resurrection... but the wise understand the soul's immortality" (Philo, Rewards 163).** In 2 Maccabees 7:14 and 7:28-29 (first century BCE texts), we read about the tortures of Jews who believed they might die but hoped they would rise again. For some resurrection was a fervent hope to be vindicated in life to come.

[Unheard Voices of Hebrew Kings and ProphetsInside this book are new and updated translations of seven Jewish texts from the Second Temple Era: Prayer of Manasseh, Book of Baruch, Psalms of Solomon, Testament of Moses, Lives of the Prophets, Apocalypse of Moses, and Apocalypse of Abraham. Because these spiritual works are extra-canonical, their voices are often![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-215.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Unheard-cover-3.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/unheard-voices-of-hebrew-kings-and-prophets/)

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### Fifth Century Samaritan Inscription
URL: https://www.pshir.com/samaritan-master-adios-inscription/
Last updated: 2026-03-15T14:00:03.000Z
A new Tzur Natan neighborhood construction in central Israel was preceded by a dig. The excavation unearthed a rare written record. It points to a Samaritan business from 1600 years ago. The Greek inscription mentions a wealthy landowner, ‘Master Adios’. In the 5th century, the heartland of Israel was populated by the [Samaritans](https://www.pshir.com/samaritans-documentary/). Just outside of the excavated house structure is an ancient wine press. Inside the house, scientists found a well-preserved Greek inscription from the 5th century that appears to be a blessing.

According to Prof. Leah Di Segni of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the short inscription reads, “Only God help the beautiful property of Master Adios, amen.” Archaeological and historical evidence point to Adios as being a wealthy Samaritan landowner. Previous excavations have already uncovered an ancient Samaritan synagogue that was converted into a church in the 6th century, just nearby.

> “The inscription was discovered in an impressive winepress that was apparently part of the agricultural estate of a wealthy individual called Adios. This is only the second such winepress discovered in Israel with a blessing inscription associated with the Samaritans. The first was discovered a few years ago in Apollonia near Herzliya,” said Torge. Master Adios would have been an elite member of the society, said Torge. “The location of the winepress is near the top of Tel Tzur Natan, where remains of a Samaritan synagogue were found with another inscription, and reveals Adios’ high status,” said Torge.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2021/12/Adios2.jpg)

According to the detailed excavation report on Tzur Natan, there is ample evidence of agricultural activity in this region. The soil is especially good for vines and olives and during the Roman and Byzantine eras (2nd-5th centuries CE). And this land was heavily cultivated. Archaeologists note 120 wine presses, 50 olive presses, 50 cisterns and multitudes of agricultural terraces in the region.

> “These groups were repeatedly found every 100-200 meters… It was thus concluded that in this period the settlement was inhabited by farmers who own their own land and cut their own installations into their individual plots.” And the people who settled this land were the Samaritans according to archaeologists.

Many Jews were casualties of wars with Rome (1st and 2nd centuries CE). Thus, the Samaritan community prospered throughout the 3rd and 4th centuries. They thrived until the rise of Byzantine Christianity in Israel. This shift of power spelled the beginning of the end for this vibrant religious community. After Christian persecutions and desecrations of Samaritan holy sites, the community embarked upon a series of rebellions and fought the Byzantines for years. But Christians won. This newly discovered estate, the wine press, and the inscription in praise of a wealthy landowner add a further layer of understanding to the Samaritan culture and history of the rebellion 1600 years ago.

Original Sources: Times of Israel, Archaeology Institute of America.

[Listen to Yemenite, Samaritan, and Modern HebrewHebrew is an ancient language. And throughout thousands of years, different versions of Hebrew have emerged. Most people are familiar with the Modern Israeli Hebrew but rarely hear other forms. In this video, you can hear a Yemenite Jew showcase the differences in Hebrew pronunciation preserved in his community. And![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-224.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Heb1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/listen-to-yemenite-samaritan-and-modern-hebrew/)

[Samaritans: DocumentaryHow much do you know about the Samaritans? This video is a fascinating look into the life and history of the Samaritan community. Most people have heard the name “Samaritan” but know so little about these ancient people. It is a true miracle that some modern descendants of ancient Samaritans![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-225.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Samar1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/samaritans-documentary/)
### The Jews of Cyrene (~45 min)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-jews-of-cyrene/
Last updated: 2026-03-11T16:48:16.000Z
The New Testament records that some Jewish followers of Jesus from Cyrene were responsible for the first Gentile converts in Antioch (Acts 11:19-21). Indeed, the Jewish inhabitants of Cyrene were fully engaged in world affairs and closely connected to Jerusalem and other Jewish communities throughout the Mediterranean. Yet, sadly, many people don't know much about these North African Jews. Would you like to learn more about them in this video seminar? 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software

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### Bearing Fruit
URL: https://www.pshir.com/bearing-fruit/
Last updated: 2026-03-08T13:59:59.000Z
In Isaiah Chapter 28, God speaks of his people, Israel, poetically painting them as his vineyard. Isaiah 28:10 says, **“the fortified city is left alone, a deserted settlement and abandoned like the desert. Calves graze there, lie down, and eat from its branches.”** The fortified city that Hashem speaks of through the prophet is his own people, who think that defenses against the enemy are what is going to protect them. This city is left and deserted. Animals come and start eating up any of its greenery. It's a bleak picture, but that is not all the prophet says here. 

Listen?

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### Honor A Physician
URL: https://www.pshir.com/honor-the-physician/
Last updated: 2026-05-12T20:22:27.000Z
The Book of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus or [Ben Sira](https://www.pshir.com/hear-the-wisdom-of-ben-sira/), is a Jewish wisdom text from the Second Temple period, written by Jesus ben Sira around 180-175 BCE in Jerusalem. It is part of the Apocrypha in many Christian traditions and is included in the Septuagint, though it is not part of the Hebrew Bible canon.

**Honor a physician according to your need with the honors due to him, for truly the LORD has created him. For healing comes from the Most High, and he shall receive a gift from the king.** The skill of the physician will elevate him, and he will be admired in the sight of great men. **ADONAI created medicines on earth, and a prudent man should not ignore them.** Wasn’t water made sweet with wood that its power might be known? He gave men skill that He might be glorified in His marvelous works. With them, He heals and takes away pain. With these, the pharmacist makes a mixture. God’s works won’t be brought to an end. From Him, peace is upon the face of the earth. **My son, in your sickness, don’t be negligent, but pray to ADONAI, and He will heal you. Put away wrongdoing, and direct your hands in righteousness. Cleanse your heart from all sin. Give a sweet savor and a memorial of fine flour, and pour oil on your offering, according to your means. Then give what is due to the physician, for truly the LORD has created him.** Don’t let him leave you, for you need him. There is a time when recovery is in their hands. For they also shall ask the LORD to prosper them in diagnosis and in healing for the maintenance of life. He who sins before his Maker let him fall into the hands of the physician.My son, let your tears fall over the dead, and as one who suffers grievously, begin lamentation. Wind up his body with due honor. Don’t neglect his burial. Make bitter weeping and make passionate wailing. Let your mourning be according to his merit, for one day or two, lest you be spoken evil of; and so be comforted for your sorrow. For from sorrow comes death. **(Ben Sira 38, translation by P. Shir)**

[The Book of Ben Sira: New TranslationThis extrabiblical Jewish book was written in Hebrew around 2 Century BCE. The book is full of proverbial wisdom teachings, peppered with pre-rabbinic spiritual and moral ideas often resounded in the gospels and in apostolic era letters. Imagine hearing perspectives on death, happiness, honor, shame, sin, money, proper speech, social![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-64.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/BS-cover2-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-book-of-ben-sira/)

Ben Sira’s teachings sound a lot like Solomon’s proverbs. They are to the point and practical. The advice is almost poetic and at times almost repetitive, but such is the nature of teachers. They tend to repeat themselves. Reiteration is a technique meant to firmly ensconce an important idea, to establish it as a solid foundation. And here in the midst of giving directions to honor those who practice medicine, the wise teacher reminds his listeners that healing comes from God. Why? Because sickness comes from God as well. Surprised?

In antiquity, Jews did not think that only good things come from God. Sure, dualists believed that good comes from their gods and bad comes from some malevolent source, maybe an evil or a competing deity. And that sort of thinking worked in a polytheistic sense, but not in a system where one God is sovereign over all and nothing is outside of his purview. Isaiah 45:7 says, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.” There are no independent events or rogue actions by anyone outside of the divine will of one all-powerful God. If the Eternal is truly sovereign, then all things, good and bad, ultimately stem from him. 

I realize this may not be your personal outlook on life, but ancient Jews embraced the idea that everything comes from heaven. And it's not hard to see the evidence for such thinking. It's all over the Bible. That is why Job famously proclaimed, “ADONAI gave, and ADONAI has taken away, blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). The New Testament suggests that trials and hardships are actually good for us (James 1:2-3). When [Apostle Paul](https://www.pshir.com/untwisted-examples/) said "...we know that in all things God works for the good" (Rom 8:28), he probably meant all things, the good and the bad. Almighty, make it work as they were meant to work.

Nothing is owed to us in life. Even good health and physicians who are capable of helping us are really gifts from God, not privileges. That is why Ben Sira suggests we should pray for the LORD to heal us, cleanse our hearts from sin, offer gifts on the altar, and honor God first and foremost. Turning to the physician is the last step. Why? Because in Ben Sira's world, healing comes from God, and even physicians and pharmacists are under his constant guidance. So, honor the physicians but look to God first, says the teacher.

[Hear the Wisdom of Ben Sira!A remarkable Jewish book came out of Egypt in the second century BCE. It’s an impressive collection of Proverbs-like teachings of a Jew named Yeshua, son of Eleazar, son of Sira. The book’s prologue tells us that a grandson found his grandfather’s teachings and decided to translate them into Greek![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-65.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1587975844577-56dfe5d3fca8.jpeg)](https://www.pshir.com/hear-the-wisdom-of-ben-sira/)

[Bless PSHIR.COM with a GiftMany people benefit from PSHIR.COM publications, but not everyone wishes to be a subscriber. That’s fine. Now you can support independent publishing by giving a simple gift (in any amount and anytime) as a thank you without subscribing. SUPPORT PSHIR.COM The gift works the same way as any![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-204.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_2443572533-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/bless-pshir-com-with-a-gift/)
### Bless Adonai, Angels on High
URL: https://www.pshir.com/bless-adonai-angels-on-high-2/
Last updated: 2026-03-01T15:00:45.000Z
A portion of Psalm 103 paints a powerful reality that calls all of us to join the praises of angels and all of God's creation. They already praise the Almighty, so why can't we join them? Below is the song and the words to another musical composition inspired by this Psalm.

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בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יהוה   
וְכָל־קְרָבַי אֶת־שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ  
בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יהוה  
וְאַל־תִּשְׁכְּחִי כָּל־גְּמוּלוֹ  
  
Bless ADONAI, angels on high,  
Working his laws, never still.  
Bless ADONAI, armies of light,  
You mighty doers of will.  
Bless ADONAI, O creative works,  
In his vast dominion of worlds.  
Bless ADONAI, O my soul,  
O, bless the LORD, my soul.  
  
Bless my soul, ADONAI all within me bless His name.  
Bless my soul, ADONAI holy deeds do not forget.  
בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יהוה  
All within me bless His name.  
בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יהוה  
Holy deeds do not forget.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Teh-Art-1.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Interlinear Psalms

For those who love Psalms and especially love the way they sound in Hebrew, this handy volume presents them in an interlinear format. As it is with most poetry, sometimes translations are not so straightforward, and it's so easy to see what original words lay behind the English text. This volume allows students of Hebrew to quickly build their biblical Hebrew vocabulary and, at the same time, immerse themselves into their favorite psalms. I have used it for both study and for devotional reading as well. And I can recommend it for those who would like to try the Psalms in original and grow in their comprehension of the biblical language as they read. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kY9k5e?ref=pshir.com)
### Bless PSHIR.COM with a Gift of Support?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/bless-pshir-com-with-a-gift/
Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:40:03.000Z
Many people benefit from PSHIR.COM publications, but not everyone wishes to be a subscriber. That's fine. Now you can support independent publishing by giving a simple gift (in any amount and anytime) as a thank you without subscribing. 

[SUPPORT PSHIR.COM](https://www.pshir.com/#/portal/support)

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### Four Faces and Four Voices
URL: https://www.pshir.com/four-faces-and-four-voices/
Last updated: 2026-02-25T15:00:05.000Z
The books of Enoch preserve many curious visions. At times, they present ideas not mentioned by anyone else. And what always amazes me personally are all the rich details that Enoch texts include. Take this seemingly typical scene where Enoch describes what he saw in heaven, **"I saw a multitude beyond count or measure… I saw four distinct faces, different from those standing… I heard as voices came from those four faces... The first voice blessed the LORD of Spirits eternally." (1 Enoch 40 trans P. Shir)** The passage builds on the imagery of the familiar vision in Ezekiel 1:5-21 and 10:9-22, describing the four faces. But the details that describe the heavenly creatures in Enoch go beyond what [Ezekiel ](https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-ezekiel-1-3-hrs/)depicts. The four creatures that the faces represent are, in fact, four well-known angels. 

Revelation 4:6-8 also depicts four “living creatures” - חַיּוֹת *(chayot)* with four different faces, just like in Ezekiel 1:5-21 and 10:9-22, and it’s very similar to this passage in Enoch. **"...and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf, the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.'" (Rev 4:6-8 NASB)** These four are sometimes known as [“angels of presence”](https://amzn.to/3WdeQFT?ref=pshir.com) (מלאכי הפנים; *malachei hapanim*) mentioned in the Bible (Ex 23:20-23; 33:14-15). But in Enoch, each face has a distinct message to announce. We saw that the first one blesses God, but what about the other three? Let's keep reading...

_This post is for subscribers only._
### "Our Father Abraham" by Marvin Wilson
URL: https://www.pshir.com/our-father-abraham-by-marvin-wilson/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:14:50.000Z
Marvin R. Wilson is an experienced educator who invites his readers to rediscover the Hebrew foundations of Christian beliefs and practice as he attempts to bridge the worlds of Judaism and Christianity with clarity, depth, and warmth. Wilson presents Christianity as rooted in the story of Israel, the covenant with Abraham, the Hebrew Scriptures, and the rhythms of Jewish life and worship. The author explores themes such as the Jewishness of Jesus, the meaning of covenant, the role of Torah, the continuity between the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, and the enduring significance of Israel in God’s plan. Along the way, he challenges common misunderstandings, confronts historical distortions, and offers fresh insights into how Christians can embrace a more biblically grounded faith. 

Whether you are exploring the Jewish roots of Christianity for the first time or seeking to deepen your understanding of Scripture this book is a guide for recovering a more authentic biblical foundations for faith ([See the paper version of 2nd Edition on Amazon](https://amzn.to/46CQ3Bn?ref=pshir.com)). 

Look Inside Now?

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### The Angels of Punishment in Enoch and Revelation
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-angels-of-punishment-in-enoch-and-revelation/
Last updated: 2026-02-18T15:00:46.000Z
What comes to mind when you hear the word "angel?" Most people visualize some sort of human-looking figure with wings. Yes, some angels do have wings, but wings are not their most common feature. Best we can tell, there are many types of angels, and their duties, not their looks, are what define them the most. While most people think of angels as helpful and benevolent, some apparently administer punishments. 

In Exodus 12:23, God promises that a “destroyer” (*hamashchit;* הַמַּשְׁחִית) will pass over the houses of the Israelites who put blood on their doors. Tradition understands this as the work of an angel. In 2 Samuel 24:16, we encounter a destroying angel (*malakh hamashchit;* מַלְאַךְ הַמַּשְׁחִית) who is restrained by God from striking Jerusalem. 2 Kings 19:35 is another example of such angels. An angel of punishment, an angel of destruction, an angel who deals out brutal damage on God's behalf, is one of the many varieties of angels. 

One of the ancient sources that describes such punitive activity is the [First Book of Enoch](https://www.pshir.com/watch-and-listen-to-new-translation-of-enoch-1-7-2/). Its traditions were compiled between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century BCE, and today exist in one long book (1 Enoch). And here is what it relates to us. 

> **I have seen the angels of punishment preparing Satan’s chains. I asked the angel of peace accompanying me: “For whom have these items been prepared?” And he told me: “These are prepared for the kings and the mighty of this earth so they may be destroyed along with them…” (1 Enoch 53 trans P. Shir)** 

[1 Enoch, The Book of Watchers: New TranslationThe Book of Enoch is a well-known Jewish composition from the Second Temple era. Archaic English translations of Enoch are in the Public Domain and all over the Internet. This new translation presents the ancient text in modern, easy-to-read English. The primary goal of this new translation was to produce![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-95.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1EN-cover1-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/1-enoch/)

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### Thicker than Blood
URL: https://www.pshir.com/thicker-than-blood/
Last updated: 2026-02-15T15:00:08.000Z
The Prophets tells us a story of extraordinary friendship that tests the strengths of family loyalty against true friendship. Samuel’s books tell us that Jonathan loved David deeply as a friend: “he loved him as his own soul.” They have been friends ever since David killed Goliath. Jonathan and David shared something that many people do not understand, and it can be hard to explain, a deep connection that runs much deeper than blood. 

Listen?

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[Explore The World of Hebrew ProphetsA while back, I was asked to teach a course surveying the prophetic books of the Bible to a college class. As I compiled my notes together, I wanted to present my students not merely the information about the ancient texts themselves, but to describe the world in which the![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-192.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1554696468-19f8c7a71ad5)](https://www.pshir.com/explore-the-world-of-hebrew-prophets/)

[Unheard Voices of Hebrew Kings and ProphetsInside this book are new and updated translations of seven Jewish texts from the Second Temple Era: Prayer of Manasseh, Book of Baruch, Psalms of Solomon, Testament of Moses, Lives of the Prophets, Apocalypse of Moses, and Apocalypse of Abraham. Because these spiritual works are extra-canonical, their voices are often![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-193.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Unheard-cover-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/unheard-voices-of-hebrew-kings-and-prophets/)
### Why Study the Books of Enoch?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/why-study-the-books-of-enoch/
Last updated: 2026-02-11T15:00:55.000Z
To put things simply... Because ancient stories about the inner workings of the divine realm, the angels, both fallen and faithful, the origins of corruption, sin, and forbidden knowledge, the visions of the Messiah, and the coming judgment are scattered across ancient books like [Enoch](https://www.pshir.com/watch-and-listen-to-new-translation-of-enoch-1-7-2/). These stories were never meant to be forgotten or stopped from being told to one another. The New Testament writers assume that their listeners have access to these traditions just as they did. They did not imagine their spiritual messages would leave the holy land, the broader Mediterranean, and be adopted by people who don’t know and [have never heard all these stories...](https://www.pshir.com/pseudepigrapha-apocrypha-and-the-books-of-enoch/) Listen More?

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/All-Enoch-Front-2025-1.jpg) 

#### The Books of Enoch: Three Visions in New Translation 

****This volume is a collection of updated and easy-to-read modern English translations of three visions:** ****The Book of Watchers (1 Enoch), The Book of Secrets (2 Enoch), and The Book of Palaces (3 Enoch).** Countless readers of Enoch enjoy ancient stories but are often discouraged by struggling through the obscure and archaic language of older translations. This new and updated translation removes such obstacles. This collection of three visions of Enoch is ****supplemented with study footnotes** to aid curious readers and students of ancient apocryphal and Jewish literature alike. So, immerse yourself into the world of Enoch literature, and now, not only read the stories but listen to them in audio format!

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4l4eOLC?ref=pshir.com)
### Harps in the World-to-Come
URL: https://www.pshir.com/harps-in-the-world-to-come/
Last updated: 2026-02-08T15:00:29.000Z
I wish to share with you a curious ancient discussion about the inner workings of the temple that once stood in Jerusalem that I came across. Apart from the slaughter of the animals and the smoke that carried the flavor of sacrifices to the heavens, the Jerusalem Temple was a place of musical worship. At certain times, the Levites would come out to the steps of the temple, play musical instruments, sing verses from the sacred books, and loudly proclaim various biblical passages. In this passage from the *Babylonian Talmud* (c. 5th century CE), the rabbis recall the harps that were originally played in the temple. But then, anticipating the days of [Messiah](https://www.pshir.com/the-gift-of-atonement-and-messiah/) (*mashiach*, משיח) and the [World-to-Come](https://www.pshir.com/treasures-for-the-world-to-come-in-tosefta/) (*olam haba*, עולם הבא), they share a tradition that in those days, the music will change! 

Rabbi Yehuda says: **The harp used in the Temple was an instrument of seven strings,** as it is stated: “In your presence is fullness \[*sova*\] of joy” (Ps 16:11). Do not read “fullness \[*sova*\]” but as seven \[*sheva*\]. And (the harp) **in the days of the Messiah will have eight strings**, as it is stated: “For the Leader, on the eighth” (Ps 12:1)… the eighth string will be added to the harp. **And the harp played in the world-to-come will have ten strings**, as it is stated: “With an instrument of ten strings and with the lyre, with a solemn sound upon the harp” (Ps 92:1-4). And another verse states: “Give thanks unto the Lord with the harp; sing praises unto Him with the lyre of ten strings. Sing unto Him a new song” (Ps 33:2-3)… Gemara: You may even say that **in the World-to-Come, since the strings of the harp will be increased, its sound will be increased like that of the lyre**, and therefore he calls the harp a lyre. **(Babylonian Talmud, Arachin 13b, Sefaria translation)**

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### Do you know Angels?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/do-you-know-angels/
Last updated: 2026-02-04T15:00:08.000Z
I would venture to say that most of us have never seen angels, or maybe we have, and we had no idea we even had such an encounter. That, of course, all depends on what you think angels are and what you expect them to look like. The writer of the book of Hebrews warns us that ["some have entertained angels without knowing it"](https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-insights-from-revelation/) (Heb 13:2). And that is entirely possible. I believe most people may not recognize angels because they imagine them solely based on the art and lore they have been exposed to in their culture. They expect what they imagine and, in reality, encounter something completely different. 

In some people's imagination, angels are plump naked toddlers with curly hair and wings. Add bow and arrow, and you get Eros, the Greek deity of love, desire, and attraction (also frequently mixed up with Cupid). How many works of classical Western art depict angels like that? There are countless examples, so it's no wonder that this is the image that comes to people's minds when they hear the word "angel" - a naked baby with wings. Our minds are inundated with such imagery at every turn, so our mind forges the path. Yet these depictions and details are inspired entirely by Greco-Roman religious lore and don't have any bearing on the biblical descriptions of angels.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/09/Eros1.png)

Depictions of god Eros. Look familiar?

Let's dig a little deeper... [Why do people imagine angels to be creatures with two bird-like wings?](https://www.pshir.com/the-herald-angels-do-not-sing/) In fact, in Western culture, many people imagine angels as slender, tall, robed in loose clothing, often fair-skinned and long-haired, and particularly with two bird-like white feather wings. These angels are often male, but sometimes very effeminate-looking young males, and at other times they are depicted as attractive females with elegant wings. Sounds about right? What gives us the idea that this is what the creatures we call angels really look like? Certainly not the Bible.

In modern Western culture, the word "angel" is often associated with goodness and even exemplary behavior; people would sometimes exclaim, "He is such an angel!" But linguistically speaking, the English word comes from Greek *angelos* (ἄγγελος), which simply means an "envoy" or a "messenger." The messages they carry have nothing to do with them being "good." The Hebrew term *malakh* (מַלְאָךְ) means the same. In ancient Greek literature, some messengers were ordinary, and others were not so ordinary because they came from the gods. Similar ideas exist in Hebrew: some are humans, and others are supernatural and otherworldly beings in the service of the Most High. In each case, the word "angel" is closely tied to the function of delivering news and messages.

[“Missing Ingredients” by Pinchas ShirThis book is not intended for someone who is new to the Bible or has never seriously studied it. It is meant for those who took plenty of time but still feel like something is missing.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-115.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Mis-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/missing-ingredients-by-pinchas-shir/)

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### Listen to 3 BARUCH 4 - 5, New 2025 Translation
URL: https://www.pshir.com/listen-to-3-baruch-4-5-new-2025-translation/
Last updated: 2026-02-01T15:00:05.000Z
The Books of Baruch: Four Oracles in New Translation" - this edition presents you with a new, easy-to-read, and culturally nuanced English translation of four ancient oracles: 1 - The Book of Baruch, 2 - The Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, 3 - The Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch, and 4 - The Rest of the Words of Baruch. This is a sample of 3 Baruch - Chapters 4 and 5\.   

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This compilation of four books, ascribed to Jeremiah's scribe by tradition, may pleasantly surprise you. It's everything one can expect: prophecies, visions, angelic interpretations, parables, and gut-wrenching prayers searching for mercy from above. While thoroughly rooted in traditions of Jeremiah's lament, the message mourns not Babylon's calamity, but the destruction of the Second Temple. The oracles span the era from the second century BCE to the second century CE.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/11/All-Baruch-Front-SM.jpg) 

#### The Books of Baruch: Four Oracles in New Translation

Because 1 Baruch was incorporated into the Greek Septuagint (LXX), some are familiar with this ancient text. But many do not realize there are actually four books of Baruch in existence. ****Therefore, this edition presents a collection of four ancient texts attributed to Baruch in a new, modern, and culturally nuanced translation: The Book of Baruch, The Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, the Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch, and the Rest of the Words of Baruch.** The compilation of the four oracles in one volume was created with the hope that an easy-to-read translation would enable readers from all walks of life to explore the ancient lore. And now, not only can you read these stories, but you can also listen to them in audio format!

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/48bBB2x?ref=pshir.com)
### Coming Closer to God in Leviticus
URL: https://www.pshir.com/coming-closer-to-god-in-leviticus/
Last updated: 2026-01-28T15:00:12.000Z
I rarely run into people who tell me that [Leviticus](https://www.pshir.com/soncino-midrash-rabbah-leviticus/) is one of their favorite books in the Bible. Many people simply skip most of this book when they read the Bible because it does not speak to them on a spiritual level and does not even make much sense. I understand, but I think it's a shame so many people ignore this book. At the institution where I teach (Israel Bible Center), my colleagues and I actually like to get into the thick of Leviticus. We see very [deep spiritual ideas buried amidst a long list of slaughter instructions.](https://www.pshir.com/the-paths-of-repentance-and-forgiveness/) So, I wanted to share a video with you, an excerpt from one of our discussions about the book of Leviticus and its message. You may just hear something you did not realize was there... 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/02/Read-Hebrew-72.jpg) 

#### Read Hebrew in 22 Days or Less

Learn how to read Hebrew in 22 days or less, studying only one letter of the Hebrew Alphabet per day. This book will get you reading short Hebrew words on the very first day. The authors will walk you through all 22 Hebrew letters, giving you clear instructions, plenty of examples and easy-to-follow practice to get you reading Hebrew immediately.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kp2CVI?ref=pshir.com)
### Cleansing by Fire
URL: https://www.pshir.com/cleansing-by-fire/
Last updated: 2026-08-13T16:22:49.000Z
Have you ever seen a sign that simply says "Jesus is Coming"? My wife pointed out a better one for me as we traveled together recently. It read, "Jesus is coming, clear your browser history!" Even in modern times, purity is a tangible concern. Naturally, we have come up with new creative ways of defiling ourselves, but in the end, our mistakes, our messes, and our temptations have not changed that much, and the Torah speaks loudly to us thousands of years later. In our weekly reading, we observe Eleazar directing the Israelite army to go through a purification ritual in Num 31:21-24 Why? Because they engaged in war with idolatrous Midianites.

Listen?

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### Why do Bible Translations Differ So Much?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/why-do-bible-translations-differ-so-much/
Last updated: 2026-01-21T14:59:59.000Z
There are numerous Bible translations available in English. The number of options is related to the consumer market. English speakers spend more money on Bibles than many others; hence, the marketplace offers consumers a greater variety of choices competing for prominence and influence. Ultimately, publishing books is a complicated undertaking, whether it involves Bibles or spy novels. [Because the original text of the Bible is in ancient languages](https://www.pshir.com/the-oldest-bible-manuscripts/), producing a new, original, and accurate translation backed by expert scholarship requires a significant investment of time and resources. Many modern English Bible translations are very good, yet they differ when compared. I always encourage my students to use multiple Bible translations simultaneously as they study, especially if they don't consult the original. [The translation differences](https://www.pshir.com/english-translation-of-peshitta-by-george-lamsa/) they notice as they read usually mean that the text is not plain and simple, and nuance might be worth investigating deeper. 

Just recently, I was going over a passage in Romans during a lecture and showcased an array of translation options for just one verse.

> But now, irrespective of law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (Rom 3:21-22 NASB)

"righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ" (NIV)  
"righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ" (ESV)  
"righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ" (RSVCE)  
"righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ" (KJV)  
"righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ" (NRSV)  
"righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ (NET)  
"righteousness of God through putting trust in Messiah Yeshua" (TLV)  
"righteousness that comes from God, through the faithfulness of Yeshua the Messiah (CJB)

The answer to why Bible translations differ is complicated. The factors, such as manuscript families, theological commitments, skill level, project goals, and preferences of translators themselves, are just a few possible reasons. One aspect that is not as obvious to many people is the nature of the English language itself. English is considered a Germanic language (related to German), but the original languages of the Bible are Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Judeo-Greek. They are not at all related, and the way grammar flows from one language to another is very different. And this is where many translation problems could arise. 

[Hebrew Bible Translation and Commentary by Robert AlterWhen I first heard that Robert Alter was working on translating the whole Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and I was thrilled that this brilliant scholar decided to undertake such a monumental task. Professor Alter is well-known for his attention to the literary features of Hebrew. When his translation came out, it![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-120.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Altb.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-bible-translation-and-commentary-by-robert-alter/)

If you don't speak multiple languages, the reason I am highlighting now probably isn't very obvious to you. But that is OK, I found a funny video that demonstrates what it would sound like if one speaks English but builds sentences based on German grammar rules. It shows what happens when one uses precise and literal terminology unique to German while actually speaking English. If you watch it, I promise it will give you a chuckle. 

Sometimes the Bible sounds like that. This is one of the reasons why the translations of foreign texts, including the Bible, sometimes sound the way they do. You can see how transferring meaning from one language to another can become confusing and not very smooth. Translations have been polished so you don't see these occurrences, as all languages have their own unique idiosyncrasies. And English is a Germanic language, so presumably this should not be that hard between English and German. But texts in ancient Hebrew and Greek are much further apart from both English and German. 

So perhaps now you can imagine how creative people have to be and appreciate the hard work translators put into making it all work and sound good. A great deal of polishing work and numerous word choices go into an eloquent translation. It's those decisions that create many of the wording differences. And often one translator may see or capture something better than another one. Hence, my advice is not to settle for a single translation but to use multiple sources when studying in English. 

If you care about studying your Bible and understanding it better, I wrote a book a couple of years ago that highlights some of the study obstacles we frequently encounter. It's designed to help us see our weaknesses. And, of course, I offer you some hands-on solutions for overcoming them. That's what the book is all about... 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/01/Missing-Ingredients-500.jpg) 

#### Missing Ingredients: Your Bible Study Recipe

The book title contains an idiom that implies the absence of several fundamental techniques frequently missing in a typical Bible study. And that is what the book is all about! Each time these "missing ingredients" can be added to the recipe of how one studies the Bible, they produce better results. Curious? Then this book is for you.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3SmnqB6?ref=pshir.com)
### Two Seals from the First Temple Era
URL: https://www.pshir.com/seals-from-the-first-temple/
Last updated: 2026-01-18T15:00:34.000Z
Archaeological evidence from the First Temple era is very rare. The main reason is that the temple site has been off-limits for study and excavation in modern times. However, in 2013, a volunteer looking through the dirt that had been excavated from Robinson’s Arch found a 1-centimeter seal impression. After closer examination, some archaeologists came to believe that this was a First Temple era seal. Learn more about this discovery...

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[Students Discover Relics from Bar Kokhba RevoltIsraelis tend to take their history seriously, and it is not unusual for students to assist archaeologists to excavating, for example, the remains of a Jewish settlement dating to the Second Temple period. A group of Jerusalem high school students were searching the past to help finance their future. In![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-173.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1593543321113-8130d1958030.jpeg)](https://www.pshir.com/relics-bar-kokhba-revolt/)

[The Walls of JerusalemThe walls of today’s Jerusalem are beautiful, but they are not very ancient, going back to the days of Suleyman in the 1500s. Well beneath those walls are the foundations of older walls, but only in some areas. In many instances, the new walls were moved to expand the city.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-174.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Wall1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-walls-of-jerusalem/)

[A Gold Earring Discovered Near The City of DavidA gold earring portraying the head of a horned animal was unearthed under the Givati Parking lot near Jerusalem’s City of David National Park. The earring belongs to the second or third century B.C.E. > “The jewelry was found inside a building that was unearthed during the excavation,![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-176.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Ring1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/a-gold-earring-discovered-near-the-city-of-david/)
### Striving for Unity in Diversity: Part Four (Romans 12-16 ~2h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/striving-for-unity-in-diversity-part-four-romans-12-16/
Last updated: 2026-03-09T17:40:32.000Z
This series of lectures on Paul’s Letter to the Romans explains familiar concepts from a vector you may not have heard before. The structure of the letter itself informs us which topics are primary and which are peripheral. We move chapter by chapter, zeroing in on the most complicated sentences, considering Greek and Hebrew concepts, background, and omitting only the most peripheral content. I recommend you see parts one, two, and three. 

In Part Four of this study, we focus on Chapters 12-16, in which Shaul teaches on practical matters that separated people in Rome and how they should be resolved. These are not theoretical ideas, but responses to very real problems in the community. The goal is to respect the differences and to find how a unity can be forged amid the diversity. This is the final segment where Shaul wraps up the letter, and it is typical of good teachers; Paul repeats himself a little and summarizes. Everything in this section reinforces what he already said before. 

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Subscriptions make it possible for me to host and quickly stream educational videos without any commercials. **Consider a paid subscription** to support my independent publishing efforts and watch the rest of the series.

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### Out of Nothing
URL: https://www.pshir.com/out-of-nothing/
Last updated: 2026-07-09T17:04:25.000Z
Miracles of multiplication are great, but they don’t happen every day. And sadly, Elisha is not walking around for us to ask for his help. It’s really something extraordinary and unique as we read these stories. How, besides us running out and getting all the empty jars in the neighborhood and waiting for them to be filled with something good, does this story apply to us today?

Listen?

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/08/AS_TN_E-1.png) 

#### Stone Edition Tanach (English Only)

This English language edition of Tanach is perfect for anyone seeking to connect with Jewish heritage, understand unfamiliar biblical passages, or simply deepen their spiritual journey. Whether you're exploring the Prophets for the first time or revisiting familiar Torah stories, this edition makes every page meaningful. The volume contains all 24 books of the Jewish Bible supplied with expert commentary and insights. It includes sidebar guides, maps, timelines, and "at-a-glance" summaries. Rabbi Nosson Scherman's international team of experts also offers you Temple diagrams, genealogies, and biblical illustrations. This clear, flowing, and readable translation is faithful to the Orthodox Jewish perspective as it brings ancient texts to life to a new generation. 1,400 pages of eternal wisdom in beautiful English await you. The link below will take you to the 5x8 size.

[See it on AMAZON](https://amzn.to/3UTveuN?ref=pshir.com)
### The Fullness of Gentiles in Romans
URL: https://www.pshir.com/considering-the-fullness-of-gentiles/
Last updated: 2026-01-07T15:00:03.000Z
Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans is not easy reading. In my opinion, it is written from the perspective of a missionary to non-Jews, who wants them to understand that they are not the axis, but a part of a much bigger ancient plan. In this message, Paul speaks about the *fullness of Gentiles* and seeks to explain the ontological connection of Roman Christians to the Jewish people. If one reads the letter carefully with this in mind, it becomes obvious how Paul does this in a number of ways throughout the entire epistle.

[Reading Paul’s Letter to Romans in ContextThe Letter to the Romans emerges from a complicated social world shaped by Roman imperial politics, shifting relationships between Jews and Gentiles, and the trauma of Jewish diaspora being expelled and later readmitted to Rome. Behind Paul’s letter, which teaches deep spiritual principles that stimulate abundant theological reflection, lies![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-158.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1558297733-383c11030c44-1-2.jpeg)](https://www.pshir.com/reading-pauls-letter-to-romans-in-context/)

One of the most pictorial attempts in the core of the book is the imagery of the olive tree with Gentiles being grafted into it, thus becoming a part of something they previously were not. It's a beautiful and easy-to-understand agricultural metaphor. Contrary to their nature, they (Gentiles) were grafted into the cultivated olive tree among Jews because of their belief in the God of Israel. Paul calls this a mystery and tries to explain how this is possible.

> For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. (Rom. 11:25 KJV)

The preposition “until” gives one the impression that Israel’s blindness to Yeshua (Jesus) is temporary. Somehow, the *fullness of Gentiles* will bring this period of unbelief to its expiration. The blindness, by the way, in this context is Israel’s inability to see the “good news” (Rom. 11:28) and according to Paul, it was divinely initiated for the sake of non-Jews (Rom 11:30-32). So, what does Paul mean when he uses this phrase πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν (*pleroma ton ethnon*), – the *fullness of Gentiles* in Rom. 11:25? Because of this unclear terminology, this verse is one of those “tough” passages that can be understood in a number of ways, and indeed, interpretations abound.

The word πλήρωμα (pleroma) – fullness is very broad when it appears by itself (just like in English). To mind comes a passage from the Torah that speaks about “the fullness of the sin of Amorites” (Gen. 15:16). God gave opportunities to Canaanites to repent, waiting for their sin to reach the limit, and then the Israelites were allowed to take over their land. In the New Testament, one reads about the fullness of the time of Gentiles (Luke 21:23). The passage resonates with the prophets of Israel, predicting the rule of the Gentiles over Israel. But that rule comes to a conclusion as well, ending the times of the Gentile domination of Israel.

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### "The Books of Baruch: Four Oracles in New Translation" By Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-books-of-baruch/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:16:02.000Z
Because 1 Baruch was incorporated into the Greek Septuagint (LXX), some are familiar with this ancient text. But many do not realize there are actually four books of Baruch in existence. **Therefore, this edition presents a collection of four ancient texts attributed to Baruch in a new, modern, and culturally nuanced translation: The Book of Baruch, The Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, the Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch, and the Rest of the Words of Baruch.** The compilation of the four oracles in one volume was created with the hope that an easy-to-read translation would enable readers from all walks of life to explore the ancient lore. [The printed edition can be found here.](https://amzn.to/4qBlLGM?ref=pshir.com) 

Take a look inside now?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Branches of the Olive Tree: Part Three (Romans 9-11 ~4h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/branches-the-olive-tree/
Last updated: 2026-03-09T17:41:14.000Z
In this series of lectures on Paul’s Letter to the Romans, we move chapter by chapter, zeroing in on the most complicated sentences, periodically considering Greek and Hebrew concepts, background, and omitting only the most peripheral content. What may be most unusual in this study for many viewers is the overall approach we take. We do not extract ideas from Romans, turning them into freestanding theological principles. Instead, we stick so closely to the historical letter context and interpret Shaul's teachings solely in light of this letter's unique purpose and intent. 

In Part Three of this study, we focus on Chapters 9-11, which the lector believes are the core of the Letter to the Romans. What Paul wrote prior to this section was for the purpose of laying down a foundation, establishing the essential truths, or "mystery" as he calls it, that he shares in this particular segment of his letter. Paul's explanation of the relationship between Jews and non-Jews in Messiah is powerful if we stay focused on the author's purpose for presenting this idea. And the next section (12-16) will present very concrete ways in which people in a diverse Roman setting can find unity in such a relationship. Paul's overall goal is to respect the differences and find a way to forge unity in a diverse community. 

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Subscriptions make it possible for me to host and quickly stream educational videos without any commercials. **Consider a paid subscription** to support my independent publishing efforts and watch the rest of the series.

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### Almighty's Wings My Shelter Be
URL: https://www.pshir.com/almightys-wings-my-shelter-be/
Last updated: 2025-12-28T15:00:07.000Z
Psalm 91 is a favorite for so many people because its words express powerful promises of divine protection. Feeling safe is something we can all identify with. Since deep antiquity, Jews have recited these words on a regular basis. So here is a new musical rendition of this Psalm's message in the form of a song. 

Who finds the shelter of Most High, dwells in the shadow of Almighty.  
Rescue and Fortress, ADONAI, beneath the wings of mercy, hiding.  
The hunter's nets he will escape, God is his shield from arrow's flight  
Avoid disease and deadly plague, fear of night when terror strikes.  
  
Almighty's wings my shelter be  
יהוה מַחְסִי וּמְצוּדָתִי  
You rescue men from traps unseen  
יהוה מַחְסִי וּמְצוּדָתִי  
Salvation flows in times of need  
יהוה מַחְסִי וּמְצוּדָתִי  
  
As thousands fall on every side, my God, my Refuge, mighty song.  
And thousands more as swords collide, You, ADONAI, my fortress strong.  
As angels guard each step he takes, as evil stalks from left and right,  
His foot is firm; his path is safe, they lift him up and move aside.  
  
No evil shakes God's perfect plans; on serpents fierce, he treads with might.  
His soul secure in sovereign hands, young lions trampled in God's sight.  
No plague comes near the faithful tent; He sees the downfall of his foes.  
ADONAI is a shield that does not bend, no matter what the gale throws. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Teh-Art-1.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Interlinear Psalms

For those who love Psalms and especially love the way they sound in Hebrew, this handy volume presents them in an interlinear format. As it is with most poetry, sometimes translations are not so straightforward, and it's so easy to see what original words lay behind the English text. This volume allows students of Hebrew to quickly build their biblical Hebrew vocabulary and, at the same time, immerse themselves into their favorite psalms. I have used it for both study and for devotional reading as well. And I can recommend it for those who would like to try the Psalms in original and grow in their comprehension of the biblical language as they read. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kY9k5e?ref=pshir.com)
### The Herald Angels Do Not Sing
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-herald-angels-do-not-sing/
Last updated: 2025-12-24T15:00:51.000Z
There is a beautiful old song, often heard around the holidays, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” It was written sometime in the eighteenth century and is based on Luke 2:8-14, which explains its connection to Christmas. But I have to ask a question, “Do the angels actually sing?” You might be shocked, but according to the Bible, they don’t. I guess it all depends on which translation of the Bible you read. I am sure in some translations angels actually sing, but in Hebrew and Greek they typically don’t. When I started researching this question, I was surprised to see that angels often express themselves vocally, but it's not exactly called singing.

There are close to 300 passages in the Bible that mention angels: 135 in Hebrew and the rest in Greek. Out of all these verses in the Bible, only two passages come close to depicting angels as singing. And I mean, close, but even those references aren't that straightforward. If you want to look at the evidence, I will lay out the case and show you why I can’t prove that angels actually sing. Don’t worry, I will cite only a few examples and summarize the facts.

In Genesis 16:9-10; 22:11, 15; 31:11; 48:16, angels “speak” and sometimes “declare” (Ex 3:2; Jud 2:1-4). In a famous vision in Isaiah 6:1-3, the *seraphim* (שְׂרָפִים) "call" or "cry." The LXX renders their voices as cries (ἔκραζον; *ekrazon*). The Hebrew verb used in the passage is קָרָא (*qara*) “to call.” Their praise is not explicitly a “song” in Isaiah 6:3 either. In Ezekiel’s vision, the “living creatures” (חַיּוֹת; *chai’yot*) are described as moving and making sound, and a voice is heard, but no melodic singing. In Psalms, the angels often “praise” (הללוּ; *hallel*), but this Hebrew verb does not necessarily mean melodic performance. (Ps 148:104).

Job 38:7 says in English: “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (NASB). This is the clearest biblical passage where angelic beings are described with a verb that can be rendered “sang.” The verb is *yiriau* (יָרִיעוּ), which means they “shouted,” “jubilated,” or even “sang” in a poetic sense. Though this is not a typical term for singing, this poetic expression is probably the best single biblical witness to the “singing” of angels in the entire Hebrew Bible. That’s about as close as we will come to proving the case for now.

[Watch and Listen to New Translation of 1 Enoch 1-7I 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 well-known Jewish![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-160.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1EnA-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/watch-and-listen-to-new-translation-of-enoch-1-7-2/)

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Turning Hearts
URL: https://www.pshir.com/turning-hearts/
Last updated: 2025-12-21T15:00:52.000Z
The story of Eliyahu ha-navi, Elijah challenging the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, is iconic. A showdown between 1 prophet of Hashem and 450 prophets of a storm god on the slopes of the Carmel Mountain range. The contest is simple: each of them set up a sacrifice, called out to their God, and the deity was to supply the fire. What makes this story seem so amazing is not only the disproportionate odds 1 vs 450, but that Elijah deliberately drenches his sacrifice with water to show God's presence. 

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### How Saul of Tarsus Became Paul
URL: https://www.pshir.com/how-saul-of-tarsus-became-paul/
Last updated: 2026-05-12T20:22:51.000Z
Most people know that Apostle Paul was a pious Jew. Many New Testament readers would note that he was a Pharisee trained with the rabbis at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). And at the same time, an overwhelming majority of Christians also see Apostle Paul as a radical convert to Christianity. But how accurate is this idea? One common way of rationalizing Paul as a Christian is that a Jew, a Pharisee named Saul, was baptized, converted from Judaism to Christianity, and from then on was known as the Christian Apostle Paul.

The name-changing transaction can be truly misleading. It is broadly known that when people convert to another religion, they often change their names. To use a contemporary example, Cassius Clay converted to Islam, and most people today know this champion and boxing legend as Mohammad Ali. Indeed, through the ages, when pagans converted to Christianity, they received “Christian” names. And the reason for such practice makes perfect sense.

Imagine a man by the name Dion becomes a convert to Christianity. Dion is a wonderful Greek name. The problem is that Dion is a diminutive form of Dionysius – who is a Greek god of wine and grape harvest associated with drunken orgies and all sorts of debauchery. A new Christian named after a Greek deity was a problem. Thus, a common practice was to baptize him and give him a new, better-fitting name – Daniel, or David. There is nothing scandalous in that.

Though such name-changing is very common today, this is not what happened with Paul, despite what people imagine. Unlike Abraham or Jacob, he did not get a new name as a result of his encounter with God. He had more than one name from the beginning (Acts 13:9). A common Jewish custom, even today, especially among those who live outside of Israel, is to give multiple names to their children. One may be an ancestral Hebrew name, but another one is for use in the culture where they live, which is much more common and easier for locals to pronounce (Acts 13:9). We know that Yohanan in the gospels was also called Mark, and a common Greek name equivalent for Jesus (*Yehoshua*) was Jason (see Acts 17:5-9).

[Misunderstood Foundations: Part One (Romans 1-4 \~ 4h)This series of lectures addresses key passages and themes in Paul’s Letter to the Romans, a pivotal book for Christian theological understanding. They were delivered live to a mixed audience at a Messianic Synagogue. As such, they express a unique perspective, a presupposition of Paul as a traditional Jew![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-157.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/P2-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/misunderstood-foundations/)

Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin and had a name of Hebrew origin – Shaul (שָׁאוּל). It comes from the root that means "to seek," "to ask," "to inquire," and "to question" even. This is the name of the first king of Israel, who was also a Benjamite. A Greek spelling of that name would be Σαῦλος *(Saulos)* – “Saul”. This is the name by which Jesus addressed Paul in the Damascus road vision (Acts 9:4). But for some reason, Paul also had another name Παῦλος *(Paulos)* or “Paul” in English. Maybe it was tied to his Roman citizenship, or there was some other reason behind it. It is hard to know for sure. 

Παῦλος *(Paulos)* is not a very common Greek name. We do not find many people with this name prior to the first century. Paul was known to stress his insignificance (1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 12:9–10), and in Latin his name means "small," "little," or "humble." But perhaps it was a completely made-up name. That happens too. In fact, Παῦλος *(Paulos)* differs from Σαῦλος *(Saulos)* only by one letter. I can't be dogmatic about this, but it is possible that this is how this second name came to be. Paulos could simply be a slight alteration of the Greek spelling of the apostle’s Hebrew name *Shaul* (שָׁאוּל).

The idea that Paul converted and changed his name from Saul to Paul is merely an attribution to a known conversion-related practice, not a genuine historical explanation. Paul is how the apostle was broadly known in the non-Jewish world. And since he labored as an apostle to the Gentiles, Παῦλος *(Paulos)* \- Paul was the name he used most frequently in his ministry. There was no striking supernatural reason for a new name, and no official name change took place. The biblical fact is that many who knew him continued to address him as Shaul (Acts 11:25; 12:25). So, no, Paul was not his special “Christian” name. Jerome might have started this thinking unintentionally when he suggested that Paul changed his name for the reason of "humility." I would venture to say that Shaul was simply a Jew with more than one name, like millions of his kinsmen in the first century CE. 

[Reading Paul’s Letter to Romans in ContextThe Letter to the Romans emerges from a complicated social world shaped by Roman imperial politics, shifting relationships between Jews and Gentiles, and the trauma of Jewish diaspora being expelled and later readmitted to Rome. Behind Paul’s letter, which teaches deep spiritual principles that stimulate abundant theological reflection, lies![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-156.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1558297733-383c11030c44-1-1.jpeg)](https://www.pshir.com/reading-pauls-letter-to-romans-in-context/)
### Listen to 2 BARUCH 6-9, New 2025 Translation
URL: https://www.pshir.com/listen-to-2-baruch-6-9-new-2025-translation/
Last updated: 2026-07-07T17:33:21.000Z
Have you ever heard about the four books of Baruch? Recently, I published all of them in one volume. "The Books of Baruch: Four Oracles in New Translation" - this edition presents you with a new, easy-to-read, and culturally nuanced English translation of four ancient oracles: 1 - The Book of Baruch, 2 - The Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, 3 - The Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch, and 4 - The Rest of the Words of Baruch. Now I invite you to enjoy an audio sample from the Second Book of Baruch, a narration of Chapters 6 through 9\. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

This compilation of four books, ascribed to Jeremiah's scribe by tradition, may pleasantly surprise you. It's everything one can expect: prophecies, visions, angelic interpretations, parables, and gut-wrenching prayers searching for mercy from above. While thoroughly rooted in traditions of Jeremiah's lament, the message mourns not Babylon's calamity, but the destruction of the Second Temple. The oracles span the era from the second century BCE to the second century CE.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/11/All-Baruch-Front-SM.jpg) 

#### The Books of Baruch: Four Oracles in New Translation

Because 1 Baruch was incorporated into the Greek Septuagint (LXX), some are familiar with this ancient text. But many do not realize there are actually four books of Baruch in existence. ****Therefore, this edition presents a collection of four ancient texts attributed to Baruch in a new, modern, and culturally nuanced translation: The Book of Baruch, The Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, the Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch, and the Rest of the Words of Baruch.** The compilation of the four oracles in one volume was created with the hope that an easy-to-read translation would enable readers from all walks of life to explore the ancient lore. And now, not only can you read these stories, but you can also listen to them in audio format!

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/48bBB2x?ref=pshir.com)
### Untwisted Examples: Part Two (Romans 4-8 ~3h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/untwisted-examples/
Last updated: 2026-03-09T17:41:37.000Z
This series of lectures on Paul’s Letter to the Romans raises multiple questions that some may consider controversial, as the apostle's words are not explained in a traditional manner. The lectures are built on a presupposition of Paul not as a follower of a new religion (Christianity) but a traditional Jew seeking to help non-Jews and Jews in Rome to find a point of genuine unity of faith in the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) without compromising their distinct cultural identities. We move chapter by chapter, zeroing in on the most complicated sentences, considering Greek and Hebrew concepts, background passages, and omitting only the most peripheral content. The discussions were slightly edited to keep the lectures moving and to preserve the most pertinent commentary.

Part One of the lectures focused on foundational ideas such as good news, salvation, faith, works, the law, belief, unbelief, righteousness, and faithfulness as Paul presents them to a mixed Roman and Jewish audience. Part Two focuses on the colorful examples Paul uses to advance his teachings and on how people use his illustrations theologically.

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

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Subscriptions make it possible for me to host and quickly stream educational videos without any commercials. **Consider a paid subscription** to support my independent publishing efforts and watch the rest of the series.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Mastering Challenges
URL: https://www.pshir.com/mastering-challenges/
Last updated: 2025-12-07T15:00:26.000Z
In Deuteronomy Moses recounts the events that have already happened. He gives a summary of events that have transpired during many years in the wilderness. At the very beginning of his speech, he admonishes the Israelites to take possession of the land promised to them. And the way he spoke to the Israelites appeared somewhat intriguing to me. In Deut 1:8, he says ***rau natati lif’nei’khem et ha’aretz***, “See or look, I have given or set before you the land.” It is pretty straightforward. He wants Israel to physically see the land that was promised to them. 

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Reading Paul's Letter to Romans in Context
URL: https://www.pshir.com/reading-pauls-letter-to-romans-in-context/
Last updated: 2026-05-12T20:24:43.000Z
The Letter to the Romans emerges from a complicated social world shaped by Roman imperial politics, shifting relationships between Jews and Gentiles, and the trauma of Jewish diaspora being expelled and later readmitted to Rome. Behind Paul’s letter, which teaches deep spiritual principles that stimulate abundant theological reflection, lies a living community whose internal tensions were the very reason the letter had to be written. Jews and non-Jews who followed Yeshua (Jesus) in Rome did not see eye to eye on many issues, and Paul’s letter showed them a path towards unity.

The historical reality often missed is that in 49 CE, the emperor Claudius issued an edict expelling Jews from the city of Rome. The primary source is a Roman writer named Suetonius (*Claudius 25.4*) who writes that the emperor "*expelled the Jews from Rome since they were constantly rioting at the instigation of Chrestus."* The puzzling reference to *"Chrestus"* (presumed to be a name by the uninformed) is usually understood by historians as a garbled recollection of disputes within the Roman Jewish community over *Christos* (Χριστός), Messiah (*Mashiach;* מָשִׁיחַ) - Israel’s anointed one (2 Sam 7:12-16, Is 9:5-6; Jer 23:5-6; 33:14-16; Ezek 34:23-24; 37:24-25; Dan 7:13-14). 

These intra-Jewish disputes likely grew loud, possibly even tense, to the point of disturbances and concern for Roman authorities, who preferred urban peace above all else. If aristocratic families were involved, that made it even worse. There is some evidence that some Romans from prominent families flirted with embracing Jewish ways. This is enough of a reason for the emperor to get involved. Claudius wanted to purge Rome from foreign religious influence, not Jews alone, but other foreign religious groups as well. Luke indirectly mentions this imperial expulsion in Acts 18:2, when Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla: “because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome.”

[Jewish Ecclesia in Acts (\~1hr)The book of Acts mentions the church, which is a translation of the Greek word “ecclesia.” This Greek term is ancient, but the word “church” is actually not. Where does this new word come from? What does it mean? How did the early Christ-followers see and describe themselves? Look deeper![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-136.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/shutterstock_1411760426b-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/jewish-ecclesia-in-acts/)

Ancient sources document earlier expulsions, such as under emperor Tiberius (reported in Tacitus, *Annals 2.85*; Josephus, *Ant. 18.81-84*). It’s hard to be certain if the 49 CE expulsion emptied Rome of Jews entirely. It's possible that a few very connected families received letters of exemption. But the edict significantly weakened the community, displaced leaders, and created a vacuum in the synagogues. The Jewish presence in Rome dated back centuries, and by the first century CE, a vibrant network of synagogues existed in the capital. Now they were empty. Most religious gatherings were held in the homes of prominent community members in those days, and undoubtedly in Rome, non-Jews were interested in Moses' teachings and participated in such gatherings as well. When Jews were forced out, the Gentile believers in Jesus who remained in the Roman congregations inevitably assumed leadership roles in any gatherings of Messiah-followers established in Rome. Their community life must have continued without Jewish presence for several years.

When Claudius died in 54 CE, his stepson Nero became the next emperor. The expulsion order lapsed at this time, but it was not formally revoked; at least, we don’t have any surviving documents to prove that. It seems the edict was not strictly enforced under Nero, and Jews began returning to Rome slowly. This is supported indirectly by the reappearance of Jewish names in Roman inscriptions after mid-century and by the presence of Priscilla and Aquila back in Rome in Romans 16:3, which Paul writes in the late 50s. Thus, by Nero’s early reign, well before the horrors of the Jewish War (66-70 CE), Jewish life in Rome gradually revived.

With this return of Jews came understandable cultural tensions, both subtle and overt. Jewish believers in Jesus returned to communities now headed up by Gentile Christ-followers. Non-Jews, having grown accustomed to their own leadership and local customs, did not always know how to live and re-integrate peacefully with Jews who followed Torah and their ancestral ways. As a result, the returning Jews who followed Jesus as Messiah now were unwelcome within the very assemblies and networks they themselves had established years ago. Paul’s letter undeniably addresses these very real and nuanced tensions.

It is in this setting that Paul writes his message, most likely around 57 CE, during his three-month stay in Greece (Acts 20:2-3), probably in Corinth. Knowing that Jews who followed Jesus had recently begun returning to Rome and that Roman non-Jewish Christ-followers now formed a substantial majority, Paul sought to heal the divisions that could fracture the multicultural unity he taught. His repeated emphasis on God’s impartiality, that “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek” (Rom 10:12), addresses a real social problem manifesting in the house assemblies of Rome. 

The Romans exercised political control and complete military authority over the land of Israel. The Romans assisted Herod the Great in taking over Judea in 37 BCE. After his death in 6 CE, Rome annexed Judea and established its own governance (Josephus, *Ant.* 17.13.5; *War* 2.8). Judea was a Roman province in the first century. Roman Christians were in a difficult position due to the political tensions and periodic uprisings of Jews in Judea. They were Romans who were supposed to be loyal to Israel's God. Jews were seen more and more as troublemakers, revolutionaries, those who despised taxation, rejected the stability of Roman rule, and constantly objected to Roman involvement in Jewish internal affairs. They were subjected to those who clearly did not want to govern them. This was the case not merely in Jerusalem or Rome, but all over the Mediterranean. 

[A Wisely Build Roman Road in GolanMighty Romans are gone, but Roman roads remain all over the Mediterranean and in Israel. Originally, the roads ensured the smooth movements of troops and military equipment, but one can imagine the ancient highways came in handy in many situations. The history behind the Roman roads in Israel goes back![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-137.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/RRoad2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/a-wisely-build-roman-road-in-golan/)

Tensions between Jews and Romans were intensifying at that moment in history, and Roman citizens who professed loyalty to Israel's God were tied to Jews and naturally associated with them. One could see how that could not be very desirable or popular. There was a conflict between being good and loyal citizens of Rome and embracing the ethics and teachings of Israel's God. Spirituality was never separate from one's national belonging in the ancient world. Religion was an ancestral way of life, and thus, the loyalties were split. 

Shaul’s long argument in chapters 9-11 is the core of his message to the Romans, who did not fully understand Israel’s covenant and the role of Jews as a people in their faith. This was not as a theoretical or theological matter, because some Romans probably interpreted Jews falling into disfavor as a sign of their own rising influence and even as divine rejection of the Jewish people. Paul insisted that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom 11:29).

The social context behind Paul’s Letter to Romans is a living drama that shaped his message of unity despite diversity. A Jewish apostle and a rabbi writing to a primarily Gentile congregation urged unity, humility, and called for mutual respect precisely because the Roman expulsion of Jews was a painful experience in a social and honor-shame perspective. Paul wrote at a moment when the community needed a unifying vision that honored Israel’s election, affirmed Gentile inclusion, and preserved peace in a city with a long history of societal competition and conflict. His letter is therefore both theologically profound and practically exigent, crafted in the shadow of imperial politics, fragile multi-cultural relations, and a hope that unwavering trust in one God who called both Israel and the nations could forge the bond of unity in Rome.

[The Art of ProtectionAccording to researchers of antiquity driving away bad luck, the evil eye, and, in short, envious people—this was one of the purposes of mosaics in Ancient Rome. You may know of amulets, incantations, but art and specific mosaics were also used to ward off evil. Ancient literary sources and![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-134.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Altar1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-art-of-protection/)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/05/RSV_AJNT-1.png) 

#### The Annotated Jewish New Testament (NRSV)

This New Testament was not designed for an average reader. Edited by Amy-Jill Levine and published by Oxford University Press, this intriguing edition contains academic notes and verse-by-verse commentary on the New Testament by scholars of religion who happen to be Jews. This unique volume contains many helpful and concise topical articles that delve into cultural and historical issues that a student of the first-century Jewish context might encounter.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3ydHwpL?ref=pshir.com)
### Your PSHIR.COM and Gmail
URL: https://www.pshir.com/your-pshir-com-and-gmail/
Last updated: 2025-11-30T15:00:04.000Z
If you are a GMAIL user, keep in mind that updates and emails from PSHIR.COM will likely end up in the "Promotions" tab and sometimes even in spam. Unfortunately, the Google server sees them as institutional emails sent to multiple users and tags them as "marketing," sorting them away from your personal mail. This happens with my Gmail account, too. Sorry, I have no sway with Google :) but you can teach it some manners. Let me show you how!

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/Promotions1.jpg)

This is where PSHIR.COM emails often end up...

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/Email2.jpg)

Find an email from PSHIR.COM and uncheck the label "Promotions" manually, then click Apply. This is important because then Gmail will remember your choice. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/09/Email1.jpg)

Mark a desirable email from PSHIR.COM as "important." The "add star" feature helps too... The best way, however, is to add my address to your list of contacts in Gmail. This lets Google know that this is "personal." You can also choose to respond to one of my emails. I hear that helps Google see that this is something "desirable."

These screenshots were done from the desktop, but your phone apps have the same options in Gmail. They just look very different on your phones. 

[Get the Most out of PSHIR.COMWhen you sign up at PSHIR.COM, your free account gives you access to piles of resources in Jewish and Biblical studies, select audio and video segments, and many extended topic previews. At PSHIR.COM, you don’t have to keep up with passwords! Access to your personal account is via![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-143.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Most1-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/get-the-most-out-of-pshir-com/)
### Misunderstood Foundations: Part One (Romans 1-4 ~4h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/misunderstood-foundations/
Last updated: 2026-03-09T17:41:59.000Z
This series of lectures addresses key passages and themes in Paul’s Letter to the Romans, a pivotal book for Christian theological understanding. They were delivered live to a mixed audience at a Messianic Synagogue. As such, they express a unique perspective, a presupposition of Paul as a traditional Jew seeking to help both Jews and non-Jews in Rome find a genuine point of unity in faith in the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) without compromising their distinct cultural identities. 

The original lectures were entitled “Unity in Diversity.” We move chapter by chapter, zeroing in on the most complicated sentences, considering Greek and Hebrew concepts, background passages, and omitting only the most peripheral content. The discussions were slightly edited to keep the lectures moving and to preserve the most pertinent commentary.

**Disclaimer:** If you hold to the traditional theological reading of Apostle Paul, these teachings will challenge your understanding of his overall message. The lecturer believes that Shaul has been misread and misunderstood by many of his readers. The explanations of Paul’s teachings are built on historical and cultural Jewish presuppositions, ideas not embraced by the mainstream church traditions. The process of re-reading Paul as a Jew will be supplied with many references to follow this logic. **Feel free to agree or disagree, but hear out the alternative perspective that flows cohesively through all 16 chapters of the letter.**

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

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### Get the Most out of PSHIR.COM
URL: https://www.pshir.com/get-the-most-out-of-pshir-com/
Last updated: 2025-11-23T15:00:08.000Z
When you sign up at PSHIR.COM, your free account gives you access to piles of resources in Jewish and Biblical studies, select audio and video segments, and many extended topic previews. At PSHIR.COM, you don't have to keep up with passwords! Access to your personal account is via a link sent to your email. **There is only one catch with free membership - If you unsubscribe from email updates, your free account will eventually get deleted.** Naturally, a paid subscription to PSHIR.COM supports independent publishing, and in return, you receive access to everything on the website! Hours and hours of edutainment :) So what's inside? (By the way, you can read this article or watch the video instead - look below) 

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**Menu Sections:** On the front page, once you scroll down, simply tap the "See All" link to reveal more titles... That's how you get the most out of your PSHIR subscription quickly, or you can view site content by categories by using the Menu (at the top). 1 - WATCH - will take you to a page featuring a video lecture series. 2 - LISTEN - will lead you to a similar page with audio content. 3 - READ will take you to e-books you can read instantly. 

**Find What you Want:** You can find all sorts of things fast by searching PSHIR.COM (just look for the magnifying glass icon). Or you can tap on a tag (located next to most published items). For example, if you want extended video seminars or only articles, that specific tag will take you to a whole collection of similar content. Lock symbols next to the titles will quickly tell you if the items are open to members, paid subscribers only, or even to any casual website visitor. 

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### Watch and Listen to The Apocalypse of Abraham, Chapters 4-5
URL: https://www.pshir.com/apocalypse-of-abraham-chapters-4-5-video/
Last updated: 2025-11-19T15:00:53.000Z
I wanted to share with you a video I made recently for my YouTube channel. I created several similar videos where I like to present samples of ancient Jewish compositions people might have never read that I have translated. I decided to put them up on YouTube because videos allow me to dramatize the text a little, which elevates the experience beyond just simple reading of the text. If you are not familiar, The Apocalypse of Abraham (התגלות אברהם, *hitgalut Avraham*) is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic text that scholars estimate was composed sometime between 70 CE and 150 CE. Like many midrash stories about Abraham, it extols faith in one powerful and very real personal God.

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[The Apocalypse of Abraham: New TranslationThe Apocalypse of Abraham (התגלות אברהם, Hitgalut Avraham) is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic text believed to have been written between 70 and 150 CE. While the surviving manuscripts are in Old Slavonic, it is widely accepted that the original composition was in a Semitic language, evident from the presence of![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-16.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1aAbr-cover.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/apocalypse-of-abraham/)

The Apocalypse of Abraham is also one of several shorter translations included in my “Unheard Voices of Hebrew Kings and Prophets” book. Others are the Prayer of Manasseh, the Book of Baruch, the Psalms of Solomon, the Testament of Moses, the Lives of the Prophets, the Apocalypse of Moses… You can find the New Translation [here!](https://amzn.to/3WKip6v?ref=pshir.com)
### Losing God's Shadow
URL: https://www.pshir.com/losing-gods-shadow/
Last updated: 2026-07-24T19:27:48.000Z
In Torah, in Numbers, we encounter an insightful story of how bad news was brought back to the Israelite community. Ten investigators of the Land of Promise were thoroughly pessimistic about the prospects of the sons of Jacob conquering Canaan. The land was prosperous and fertile, but the enemy seemed too mighty to defeat. Of the twelve spies sent to investigate the Promised Land, only two believed that God would give Israel victory, even if the Canaanites seemed like formidable opponents. An atmosphere of discontent broke out in the camp of Israel. A disagreement, deep disappointment set in, a descent, and even threats of violence were voiced. People were angry that they had left Egypt, and the prospect of settling in Canaan now looked very unlikely. 

Listen?

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/08/AS_TOR1-1.png) 

#### Stone Edition Torah (Hebrew-English)

Transform your Torah study with the Stone Edition Chumash (the Five Books of Moses). The Stone edition of Torah is trusted by many orthodox synagogues and families worldwide. It features crystal-clear Hebrew text alongside English translation. The English text is supplied by select short insights crafted by Rabbi Nosson Scherman's team of Torah experts. This beautiful volume was built to last with care. It comes in reinforced hard binding and was printed on premium acid-free paper, fitting for a holy text. This isn't just another beautifully bound translation. It's a skillfully crafted personal guide to understanding the Torah through the eyes of history's greatest sages. Over 1,300 pages at your fingertips. There are multiple sizes of this edition, but this link leads to the large 8x9 edition. 

[See it on AMAZON](https://amzn.to/4oFMXmZ?ref=pshir.com)
### Fruits from the Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge
URL: https://www.pshir.com/tree-of-knowledge/
Last updated: 2025-11-12T15:00:18.000Z
Curiosity drives many of us. Knowledge is often sought after because it opens new opportunities and allows us to comprehend the world around us in a deeper and more nuanced sense. But not all doors we encounter are meant to be walked through. In the Garden of Eden, the offer of knowledge that could change everything was at the core of the temptation to disobey the Almighty's stern and very specific prohibition. Do not eat from this tree, Adam was told. Ironically, even today, in some ways, eating from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge remains on our minds. Mankind desires to transcend the boundaries of who we are. On one hand, our desire to be like God drives us towards greater knowledge, which in itself does not seem evil. But once acquired, that knowledge corrupts us, and humans desire to be god-like for the sake of self, not some greater holy purpose. In the end, mankind was created to be different from God, and knowing what God knows, knowing everything was never meant for us. 

I wanted to share a short excerpt from a 6th-century CE rabbinic commentary with you. In this passage, the rabbis are debating the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden and what sort of fruit it must have had. They don't know, but they take turns making educated guesses, explaining the reasoning behind their suppositions. That is the power of knowledge, the ability to reason, suppose, and extrapolate what is not known for certain. But then, the conversation ends on another note.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Jesus Among the Rabbis
URL: https://www.pshir.com/jesus-among-the-rabbis/
Last updated: 2025-11-09T22:16:15.000Z
Jesus, or as he was known to his family and friends, Yeshua, was a teacher of Torah's wisdom, a first-century rabbi. And he was surrounded by other rabbis with similar and sometimes alternative ideas that the gospels document well. This video is a lecture by Dr. Brad Young, who is an emeritus professor of the Graduate School of Theology at Oral Roberts University. In this presentation, he looks at some gospel passages and considers how they would have sounded in Hebrew to the original audience. How could these texts be understood today, taking into consideration the spiritual life of the first-century Jewish community, and the beliefs and practices of that day? 

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Dr. Young's book "Meet the Rabbis" is an excellent introduction to the early rabbinic world that laid the foundation of so many New Testament teachings. 

[Meet the Rabbis by Brad YoungDr. Brad Young invites readers to explore how rabbinic thought shaped the world of Jesus and the New Testament—and why that same tradition holds relevance for today’s readers of scripture. Rabbinic teachings provide profound insight into how to live meaningfully and ethically in harmony with God and with![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-112.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/MTR-cover.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/meet-the-rabbis-by-brad-young/)

[The Gospels and Early Rabbis (\~2hrs)The gospels are filled with ancient rabbinic theological teachings. The reason is simple, Jesus was a Rabbi, a first-century teacher of Torah. The more people understand this, the more they open a door to the depth of his words in their true context. Most of the people with whom he![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-128.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Yes3.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-gospels-and-early-rabbis/)
### The Ring of Pontius Pilate
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-ring-of-pontius-pilate/
Last updated: 2025-11-05T15:00:37.000Z
Anyone familiar with stories about Jesus, even those who have never read the gospels for themselves, has heard of Pontius Pilate, who ordered the crucifixion. Some see him as a villain, others as a calculating administrator of Roman affairs caught between his duties to law and order and religious tensions in first-century Jerusalem. The texts leave us some evidence about people, but we always endeavor to look beyond them. Now, some archaeologists believe they may have found Pilate's ring. Watch my video about it?

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Take the time to explore PSHIR.COM... Besides many articles and books, the publication contains hours and hours of audio teachings and video seminars on all sorts of topics in Jewish and Biblical studies. There are plenty of open resources, but ****paid subscriptions** unlock access to much more! 

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[“Missing Ingredients” by Pinchas ShirThis book is not intended for someone who is new to the Bible or has never seriously studied it. It is meant for those who took plenty of time but still feel like something is missing.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-109.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Mis.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/missing-ingredients-by-pinchas-shir/)

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### Encounter Baruch's Oracles!
URL: https://www.pshir.com/encounter-baruchs-oracles/
Last updated: 2025-11-02T15:00:13.000Z
The themes of ruin and restoration are at the core of the Jewish apocalyptic genre. Even the most bitter laments are accompanied by hope when one is tethered to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That is precisely what you will find in *The Books of Baruch.* This edition presents you with a new, easy-to-read, and culturally nuanced English translation of four ancient oracles: **1 - The Book of Baruch, 2 - The Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, 3 - The Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch, and 4 - The Rest of the Words of Baruch.** 

This compilation of four books, ascribed to Jeremiah's scribe by tradition, may pleasantly surprise you. It's everything one can expect: prophecies, visions, angelic interpretations, parables, and gut-wrenching prayers searching for mercy from above. While thoroughly rooted in traditions of Jeremiah's lament, the message mourns not Babylon's calamity, but the destruction of the Second Temple. The oracles span the era from the second century BCE to the second century CE.

In addition to the freshly revised text, I have supplied some study footnotes to aid those who wish to delve deeper, beyond the oracles themselves. [The book is now available in print, on Kindle, and in audio format.](https://amzn.to/3JAVIyW?ref=pshir.com) It's not a light read, but I hope it will speak to you in some way, since many others have found its message uplifting through the ages. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/10/All-Baruch-Front-SM.jpg) 

#### The Books of Baruch: Four Oracles in New Translation

Because 1 Baruch was incorporated into the Greek Septuagint (LXX), some are familiar with this ancient text. But many do not realize there are actually four books of Baruch in existence. ****Therefore, this edition presents a collection of four ancient texts attributed to Baruch in a new, modern, and culturally nuanced translation: The Book of Baruch, The Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, the Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch, and the Rest of the Words of Baruch.** The compilation of the four oracles in one volume was created with the hope that an easy-to-read translation would enable readers from all walks of life to explore the ancient lore. 

[See it on Amzon](https://amzn.to/47Bgjey?ref=pshir.com)
### The Jews and Anti-Judaism in John's Gospel (~2.5h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-jews-and-johns-gospel/
Last updated: 2025-10-29T14:00:14.000Z
Does the Gospel of John genuinely express anti-Judaic ideas? In his first-century CE narrative, "the Jews" (*hoi Iudaioi;* οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι) do frequently oppose Jesus. Reading the story as an outsider, one may even feel that Jesus himself is not a Jew, and neither are his disciples. Yet we know that all gospels take place in Judea, in Galilee, and only non-Jews present in the story are Pontius Pilate and a handful of Romans. How can words written by a Jewish author be anti-Jewish? Non-Jews began embracing the "good news" message decades after the resurrection. Yet John's gospel has been the favorite go-to text to use in church polemics with the Jews. There is more below the surface. Are you someone who is willing to look beyond the rhetoric to discover what it's really all about? Below are some lectures on the topic that can help (recorded live). 

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Whom can John have in mind as he makes references to "the Jews" throughout his gospel? In the next video segments, I consider and reason through several possibilities.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Eyes Set on the Ends of the Earth
URL: https://www.pshir.com/eyes-set-on-the-ends-of-the-earth/
Last updated: 2025-10-26T14:54:39.000Z
It is wonderful when people are optimistic, and they wish to discover the world, realizing how little they have seen. The world we live in is vast and beautiful, full of wonder. As a result, some set their sight on distant ambitions, on exotic destinations, on exciting places that others only talk about. It is most alluring to dream of visiting places unknown, undiscovered, to venture far. It's not hard to identify with this desire for adventure. It's exciting to experience something new that we have never seen. 

The words of King Shlomo (Solomon) draw an interesting contrast with such endeavors. Too often, when we set our eyes on the ends of the earth, we miss something precious right in front of us. What is right in front of us? Wisdom... But not just obscure or generic wisdom, it's the knowledge, experience, and understanding drawn from those near to us, usually our own family. King Solomon said,

> **Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. (Proverbs 17:24 NASB)**

One does not have to be a fool to recognize foolish behavior, impulses of the untamed heart, and decisions of the unwise made in haste. Our eyes lead us, and their guidance is not always the best for us; fools reveal themselves to be such because they give in to the guidance of their eyes too easily. Wisdom is not achieved overnight, and some of the best lessons we learn in life are the ones we learn on our own, often through mistakes. So mistakes are not the end of the world. Yet, we should not lose sight of the source of wisdom and experience that is right in front of us. Staying focused on the source of wisdom is how many mistakes can be avoided. 

Hopefully, we all have someone close who can be a source of such wisdom. For many of us, these are our own family members, often parents and grandparents. You may discover some wisdom at the ends of the world, too, but your parents and grandparents, your elders and mentors, have most likely already learned many of those lessons. They can’t explain to you everything in life, but they can explain to you what matters most and often how life works. 

Yet just because someone is an older family member, it does not mean they are automatically wise. They may be wiser than some, but not necessarily shrewd or insightful when it comes to making difficult life choices. That is never a guarantee. And wisdom does not always correspond to age, which brings us back to focusing on the source of wisdom. Those who recognize this source are the ones usually worth listening to. 

[Hear the Wisdom of Ben Sira!A remarkable Jewish book came out of Egypt in the second century BCE. It’s an impressive collection of Proverbs-like teachings of a Jew named Yeshua, son of Eleazar, son of Sira. The book’s prologue tells us that a grandson found his grandfather’s teachings and decided to translate them into Greek![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-76.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1587975844577-56dfe5d3fca8-1.jpeg)](https://www.pshir.com/hear-the-wisdom-of-ben-sira/)

As we set our eyes on the ends of the earth, we should not lose sight of the sound and sensible offers we have right in front of us. Many of us have been given gifts that we may not fully appreciate: wise family members, mentors, friends, who seek after Hashem’s wisdom themselves, who seek to grow and improve themselves, day after day. Allow them to speak and allow them to guide us right where we are, at the stage of life we are in. And the ends of the earth, those will be ours in due time.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Teh-Art-1.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Interlinear Psalms

For those who love Psalms and especially love the way they sound in Hebrew, this handy volume presents them in an interlinear format. As it is with most poetry, sometimes translations are not so straightforward, and it's so easy to see what original words lay behind the English text. This volume allows students of Hebrew to quickly build their biblical Hebrew vocabulary and, at the same time, immerse themselves into their favorite psalms. I have used it for both study and for devotional reading as well. And I can recommend it for those who would like to try the Psalms in original and grow in their comprehension of the biblical language as they read. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kY9k5e?ref=pshir.com)
### The Argaman of King Solomon's Robe
URL: https://www.pshir.com/argaman-king-solomon-robe/
Last updated: 2025-11-11T19:39:04.000Z
Some people read the Bible as a codex of religious law, others as ancient moralistic philosophy, and many see it as a book of fairy-tale-like legends and stories. We live in exciting days when, thanks to science, many legends start to look very real. Modern technology allows us to see things we have not been able to see before and learn from the artifacts of the ancient biblical past. Just a few years ago, Israeli archaeologists unearthed something unique - a fragment of dyed fabric. Not very exciting, right? Only these textiles were estimated to be about three thousand years old!

It is absolutely remarkable that something organic can survive three thousand years and even retain its unique properties. But then, Timna is a desert area, much like the Masada and Qumran region, where many Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered last century. The dry climate helped to preserve this rare find. While examining the textile remnants recovered from Timna Valley, an ancient copper production district in southern Israel, the researchers were surprised to discover some fragments of woven fabric, a tassel, and fibers of wool dyed with royal purple. The radiocarbon dating confirmed that the artifact dates to about 1000 BCE, an era that corresponds to the reign of biblical David and Solomon in Jerusalem.

It should be noted that the Timna copper mines are within the borders of modern Israel but are nowhere near Jerusalem. The very dye that was used to color the fabric fibers came from an exotic source, a certain species of mollusk found in the Mediterranean, over 300 km from Timna Valley. How did such fabric make it all the way to Southern Israel? Perhaps via travel or trade, but either way, these are signs of a well-organized civilization 3000 years ago.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### "In Quest of the Historical Pharisees" by Jacob Neusner and Bruce Chilton
URL: https://www.pshir.com/in-quest-of-the-historical-pharisees-by-jacob-neusner-and-bruce-chilton/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:17:06.000Z
This academic volume that reexamines one of the most influential yet often misunderstood groups in Jewish and Christian history - The Pharisees. Long portrayed in simplistic or negative terms, especially through the lens of the New Testament, here the Pharisees are portrayed in a fuller historical, social, and religious context. Jacob Neusner and Bruce Chilton bring together leading scholars of Judaism and early Christianity to explore who the Pharisees really were. Challenging stereotypes and opening fresh perspectives, In Quest of the Historical Pharisees offers readers a more nuanced understanding of this formative movement. This book contains essential information for students of biblical studies, Jewish history, and Christian origins. ([see it on Amazon in paper format](https://amzn.to/4mFTEmL?ref=pshir.com))

Peek Inside?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Divine Rejection
URL: https://www.pshir.com/divine-rejection/
Last updated: 2026-04-20T15:01:06.000Z
No one likes rejection… 1 Samuel 15, tells a tragic tale of how King Saul lost God’s favor. It was a time of war. He defeated the Amalekites, but did not fully follow Hashem’s instructions that he was given. He was told not to take any plunder and to spare no one. Saul acted in a way he thought was reasonable and best, yet by doing so, he rebelled against the orders from Hashem that Samuel passed on to him. That day, he lost divine favor and was rejected as a king. 

Listen?

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/08/AS_TNK1-1.png) 

#### Stone Edition Tanach (Hebrew - English)

Experience all 24 books of the Hebrew Bible like never before with this masterfully crafted edition. Featuring crystal-clear Hebrew text alongside expert English translation. Complete Torah, Prophets, and Writings in Orthodox Jewish English language rendering edited by Rabbi Nosson Scherman and a panel of international Torah experts. It's perfect for both study and worship. The Volume is in reinforced binding, with ribbon markers, and printed on specially-milled paper to last for many years. There are some helpful notes, and the layout is beautiful. This isn't just a quality hardcover book - it's your gateway to thousands of years of wisdom. 2,200+ pages of timeless wisdom await you. There are three sizes available, but the link (below) leads you to the large, easier-to-read 7x10 size! 

[See it on AMAZON](https://amzn.to/4mR4NSn?ref=pshir.com)
### Adonai, Please Hear Me
URL: https://www.pshir.com/adonai-please-hear-me/
Last updated: 2026-05-12T20:25:06.000Z
Psalm 4 spoke to me in a number of ways through the years. And one of those messages is the overwhelming sense of God's presence that one can experience even in the moments of distress and utter weakness. One's faith in the Eternal, in his faithfulness, is what empowers us when we barely have what it takes to stand up. And ADONAI not only watches over us, but sometimes even shines his light on us, which enables us to rise above any despair. So, this song is very much my prayer, but it was inspired and influenced directly by the ancient Hebrew words of Psalm 4\. Enjoy... 

In utter weakness, I confess, my prayers spoken in distress,  
In times of trouble, when I feel, I have no strength to even kneel,  
יהוה חָנֵּנִי וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי  
Your favor, LORD, is all I seek.   
יהוה חָנֵּנִי וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי  
O ADONAI, please hear me.   
  
בְּשָׁלוֹם יַחְדָּו אֶשְׁכְּבָה וְאִישָׁן תִּשְׁמֹרֵנִי   
כִּי־אַתָּה יהוה לְבָדָד לָבֶטַח תּוֹשִׁיבֵנִי  
(In peace, I will lie down and sleep as You will guard me.)  
(For You are alone, ADONAI, in safety You will restore me.)  
  
נְסָה־עָלָי אוֹר פָּנֶיךָ יהוה  
O let it shine, Your presence, ADONAI.  
שְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי נָתַתָּה שִׂמְחָה בְלִבִּי  
I pray You hear my plea, restore my joy to me.  
נְסָה־עָלָי אוֹר פָּנֶיךָ יהוה  
O let it shine, Your face upon me, ADONAI.  
שְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי נָתַתָּה שִׂמְחָה בְלִבִּי  
O ADONAI, please hear me, and restore my joy to me.   
  
Upon my bed, I'm staying still. I seek my safety in your will.  
My heart cries out to You within. I tremble, yet I do not sin,  
יהוה חָנֵּנִי וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי  
Your favor, LORD, is all I seek.   
יהוה חָנֵּנִי וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי  
Please, ADONAI, O hear me.   
  
In peace, I will lie down and sleep as You will guard me.  
For You are alone, ADONAI, in safety You will restore me.  
  
נְסָה־עָלָי אוֹר פָּנֶיךָ יהוה  
O let it shine, Your presence, ADONAI.  
שְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי נָתַתָּה שִׂמְחָה בְלִבִּי  
I pray You hear my plea, restore my joy to me.  
נְסָה־עָלָי אוֹר פָּנֶיךָ יהוה  
O let it shine, Your face upon me, ADONAI.  
שְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי נָתַתָּה שִׂמְחָה בְלִבִּי  
O ADONAI, please hear me, and restore my joy to me.   
  
Why would I wish to chase deceit? Why run, pursue what's obsolete?   
In You alone, I will confide. And offer righteous sacrifice,  
יהוה חָנֵּנִי וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי  
Your favor, LORD, is all I seek.   
יהוה חָנֵּנִי וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי  
O ADONAI, please hear me.   
  
In peace, I will lie down and sleep as You will guard me.  
For You are alone, ADONAI, in safety You will restore me.  
בְּשָׁלוֹם יַחְדָּו אֶשְׁכְּבָה וְאִישָׁן תִּשְׁמֹרֵנִי   
כִּי־אַתָּה יהוה לְבָדָד לָבֶטַח תּוֹשִׁיבֵנִי  

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Teh-Art-1.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Interlinear Psalms

For those who love Psalms and especially love the way they sound in Hebrew, this handy volume presents them in an interlinear format. As it is with most poetry, sometimes translations are not so straightforward, and it's so easy to see what original words lay behind the English text. This volume allows students of Hebrew to quickly build their biblical Hebrew vocabulary and, at the same time, immerse themselves into their favorite psalms. I have used it for both study and for devotional reading as well. And I can recommend it for those who would like to try the Psalms in original and grow in their comprehension of the biblical language as they read. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kY9k5e?ref=pshir.com)
### The Gospels and Early Rabbis (~2hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-gospels-and-early-rabbis/
Last updated: 2025-10-08T14:00:44.000Z
The gospels are filled with ancient rabbinic theological teachings. The reason is simple, Jesus was a Rabbi, a first-century teacher of Torah. The more people understand this, the more they open a door to the depth of his words in their true context. Most of the people with whom he interacted in his day-to-day life had some exposure to those ways of thinking. Unfortunately, many modern Bible readers do not. Sadly, long ago, Christians have cut ties with Jews and along with that lost valuable historical and theological points of reference for the very gospel teachings they admire and treasure. Are you up to exploring the gospels in that light? 

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### What is the Talmud and How Was it Created?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/what-is-the-talmud-and-how-was-it-created/
Last updated: 2025-10-05T14:00:33.000Z
Not many people have read the Talmud. Why? Because though it is a monumental work of Jewish literature it is comprised of 63 tractates and 523 chapters, totaling around 2 million words. It's like an encyclopedia with various contributions that span more than 1800 years. And its language is quite unique too, littered with archaic references, switching between Hebrew and Aramaic. You may have encountered references to the Mishnah and the Gemara before. But what are they really? This short and informative video is wonderful teaching tool that introduces you to the Talmud, its sections and its history in 5 minutes!

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[Essential Judaism by George RobinsonWhat happens at a synagogue service? What are the rules for keeping kosher? How do I light the Hanukkah candles? What is in the Hebrew Bible? What do the Jewish holidays signify? I frequently get questions about Jewish culture and life, both ancient and modern, practical and theoretical. A general![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-81.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/EJ-Cover.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/essential-judaism-by-george-robinson/)
### The Origins and Teaching of Early Rabbis (~3hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/origins-and-teaching-of-early-rabbis/
Last updated: 2025-10-01T14:00:14.000Z
The Bible speaks about the spiritual duties of priests and Levites, about the exploits of the prophets, kings, and scribes, but it does not mention the Rabbis. To understand this new class of religious teachers, one has to trace their origins and history. What put Rabbis into the center of Jewish religious life? What were some of their core values and teachings? How did early Rabbis understand their own place in Jewish society? 

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### Betrayal and Love
URL: https://www.pshir.com/betrayal-and-love/
Last updated: 2025-09-28T14:00:43.000Z
In our reading from the Prophets, Hosea speaks of his deep love for Israel and his people. But the book is not at all simple. Hashem deliberately asked the prophet to marry a wayward and promiscuous woman so that Hosea would understand how God felt betrayed in his love and care for Israel. As a prophet, Hosea is quite dramatic as he speaks on God’s behalf from a place of personal pain and understanding. And yet, despite the unfaithfulness that is compared to marital betrayal, God still loves his people.

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Our Sins and Offenses are Many
URL: https://www.pshir.com/our-sins-and-offenses-are-many/
Last updated: 2025-09-24T14:00:48.000Z
Not long ago, an acquaintance of mine, a seasoned gentleman, asked me, "What is sin?" It was an honest question, not a trick one, and without any sarcasm or ulterior motive. He was completely sincere and open-minded to hear my answer. It stunned me for a moment because I was genuinely surprised that someone so mature did not have clarity about such a foundational spiritual idea. And that was the hangup, exactly. [It's a spiritual matter, ](https://www.pshir.com/jewish-and-greek-thinking/)and he had a general idea, but felt that his understanding was not on the proper level, exactly. On the surface, people see sin as some evil deed, something quite physical and tangible, but it goes deeper than that. It is a truly intricate and deep concept that gets encapsulated into such a short English word that people use in so many diverse ways today. Having thought about it some, I can see how one can be unclear about what sin is.

I heard his question. I paused for two seconds. Thoughts raced through my head, ideas on how sin can be explained in the most succinct and profound way to someone who is earnestly seeking answers. So I said, "Sin is the opposite of what God desires us to do." He nodded because that made sense to him. I saw in his eyes that my answer did not fully satisfy him, so I added, "This is why we study what God revealed about himself to us, read the ancient scrolls, listen to the words of the prophets. That is how we can know what God wants us to live like, what qualities and values to embody, what his expectations of us are." He smiled because he knew that next, I was certainly going to invite him to come along and study the ancient words together with me each week. And as predictable as I can be, I did. The conversation ended because someone else came up to speak to us.

I tell you this story because I wish to explain that on the surface, sin is a simple idea, but it can also be complicated because [not all sins are the same.](https://www.pshir.com/if-you-forgive-the-sins-2/) We all act and behave in ways that God would not approve of from time to time, so the key is that with sin, repentance is something that we all need to thrive spiritually. These are tightly interconnected topics, a problem and a solution. I will save you the conversation about the solution this time, as I wish to show you something more profound about the problem. 

Sin seems simple, but oversimplifying it will often lead us away from true and proper repentance. So please consider what I share next as spiritual health advice, key information that could lead to greater harmony with our Creator, if used properly. As I hinted already, there is more than one type of sin. In English, all the terms I will mention are often conflated and treated as mere synonyms, so I will lean on Hebrew concepts to help me explain the difference between them.

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### Why Listen to the Sound of the Shofar?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/why-listen-to-the-sound-of-the-shofar/
Last updated: 2026-08-24T14:40:14.000Z
If you don't know what *shofar* is, it's an obscure item, a ritual instrument, and its name comes from ancient Hebrew. It is a special trumpet used in Jewish holiday observance, connected to the Jewish new year and Day of Atonement (Lev 23:24). S*hofar* (שׁוֹפָר) is unusual because it is a trumpet but made from an animal horn. Since antiquity, Jews have taken hollow horns, cleaned them out, and used them to make trumpets. They were used for all sorts of purposes in the past, but today are used exclusively for spiritual reasons. 

The sound that a hollowed-out horn makes may not be brilliant or even bright or clear. But the reason why the shofars are blasted today is not connected to music. It is the spiritual meaning that accompanies the sound of such a horn that is truly important. In this article, I will share three examples from Israel's history where the *shofar* comes up, and hopefully, you will see why the sound continues to be spiritually significant even today. Let's consider the following verses from Torah: 

> 16 On the third day in the morning there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud horn; all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their place at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire, and its smoke went up like the smoke of a great furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 When the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses was speaking and God was answering him with a voice. (Ex 19: 16-20 NET)

The special moment of the most enchanting and terrifying encounter with God, an encounter of the holy by a numerous multitude at *Horev* was accompanied by the sound of the *shofar*. The thunder, the lightning, the divine revelation to Israel, and the giving of the commandments are all forever fused with the sound of the *shofar* that accompanied that moment. Who sounded the horn then? Not Israelites themselves. For Jews, the notes of the *shofar* beckon to that time and to that [moment of standing at the foot of Mount Sinai.](https://www.pshir.com/sleeping-at-the-foot-of-sinai/) That's why the *shofar* is special. It's sound connects modern generations to their ancient heritage. 

Another powerful image tied to *shofar* in Jewish worship is the *Akedah*, the story of the binding of Isaac. In Genesis, Abraham was tested by God in a most unusual way. A man of very advanced age was asked to offer up his only son of promise as a sacrifice, as a sign of his complete devotion to the LORD. When Abraham was about to carry out God's instruction, he was stopped and told to sacrifice a ram caught in a nearby bush instead. And he did. [Ram's horn shofars are most common, in part because of this ancient story. ](https://www.pshir.com/reviving-ancient-shofar-sound-israel/)

> 13 Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So he went over and got the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place “The Lord provides.” It is said to this day, “In the mountain of the Lord provision will be made.” (Gen 22:13-14 NET)

The ram became an offering instead of Abraham's son, Isaac. And from Isaac came Jacob, and from him the twelve tribes of Israel. The *shofar* is a symbol of pure devotion and obedience to the great ancestor of Israel. Its sound reminds Abraham's heirs of the great miracles of the past and the closeness of Hashem to his people. When it sounds, many Jews remember this story of an extraordinary test Abraham passed. The sound of *shofar* reminds people how they must trust God in the face of any circumstances. 

Another spiritual dimension the *shofar* sound evokes is victory through divine presence. As Joshua was given the charge of conquering the cities of Canaan, he was told to follow an unusual practice to bring down the walls of Jericho. The priests were to march around the city and blow the horns, and the city and the walls would collapse. 

> 20 The rams’ horns sounded, and when the army heard the signal, they gave a loud battle cry. The wall collapsed, and the warriors charged straight ahead into the city and captured it. (Joshua 6:20 NET)

Israelites were not an army of trained warriors, yet through the divine presence and their obedience, they were [assured a certain victory over people mightier than they](https://www.pshir.com/war-and-peace/). Even the walls of fortified cities came down as the sounds of *shofars* pierced the air. The sound of *shofar* can be synonymous with victory and miraculous success with God's presence, with divine provision. No wonder the hollowed-out horn serves a spiritual purpose even today. It's simple, unpolished sound carries the deep spiritual significance of knowing God and walking with him, and ties modern Jews to the faith of their forefathers. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/01/40Days-Cover-5x8-06-13-23-front-sm.jpg) 

#### 40 Days of Hebrew Devotions

****From Amazon customer:** “40 DAYS of HEBREW DEVOTIONS, focuses on one daily Bible passage with a short discussion of significant Hebrew words… including a transliteration of pronunciation, & the meanings. A prayer using a Hebrew communal format ends the day's devotional. To read in one sitting (as I did last night for starters) & to use it as a daily devotional for 40 days or more, becomes a spiritual & intellectual journey, providing greater insights into these Scriptures than previously known. I recommend it for persons of either Jewish or Christian faiths or even people who are interested in historical cultural understanding.” ****Another reader’s review:** “..this book helps take a deep dive in a way I can understand. Worth every penny I paid.” ****Another Amazon reader:** “This book is for English readers, however it includes a lot of beginner-style Hebrew in it. It's a great, short daily read that is only about five minutes, and you find yourself thinking about it the rest of the day. I love this book.”

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3B3if39?ref=pshir.com) 

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### Jesus and Other Rabbis (~3hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/jesus-and-other-rabbis/
Last updated: 2025-09-17T14:00:05.000Z
If Jesus was indeed a first-century Rabbi, then does that mean he embraced the beliefs, teachings, and conventions other rabbis of his day employed? Consider what it meant to be a teacher of Torah in the first century and explore the language and teaching techniques of ancient rabbis. Learn about the literature that preserves the teachings and interpretations of famous ancient rabbis and about the synagogue functions. Sample the teachings of Hillel and Shammai that dominated the religious dialogues in those days. Make sense of the Sanhedrin and the legislative system that was established in Jerusalem generations before Jesus. Can the teachings of ancient Rabbis clarify the arguments in the Gospels? If you have not thought about this before, I invite you to reimagine Jesus as a first-century Rabbi with me. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

This 3-hour-long lecture has been slightly edited and broken up into shorter segments for your convenience. ****Consider a paid subscription** to support independent publishing and watch all 3 hours. There is even a free trial subscription available.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### "Meet the Rabbis" by Brad Young
URL: https://www.pshir.com/meet-the-rabbis-by-brad-young/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:17:38.000Z
Dr. Brad Young invites readers to explore how rabbinic thought shaped the world of Jesus and the New Testament—and why that same tradition holds relevance for today’s readers of scripture. Rabbinic teachings provide profound insight into how to live meaningfully and ethically in harmony with God and with others. Yet many Christians remain unfamiliar with this body of knowledge. In fact, across Western societies—regardless of religious or ideological background—people often know more about Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount than the *Ethics of the Fathers*, a key Jewish text. The author opens a doorway into Torah study, where the cultural and intellectual roots of Jesus’ teachings come to light. 

If you prefer to read printed books that you can hold in your hand, [Amazon often offers a selection of new and used copies of this title here.](https://amzn.to/4fq0CKs?ref=pshir.com)

Look Inside the Book?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Why Rabbinic Literature and the Gospels?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/why-rabbinic-literature-and-the-gospels/
Last updated: 2025-09-10T14:00:39.000Z
Dr. Brad Young is head of the Gospel Research Center and author of several books on Jesus' parables and ministry in their Jewish context. In this lecture, Dr. Young discusses why rabbinic literature is, unfortunately, so often dismissed as a valuable source for understanding Jesus’ teachings. A common response to this proposal has been that the writings of the rabbis are too late to be useful. In this session Dr. Young begins his discussion of why they are indeed quite useful and relevant to the study of the New Testament world. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

Dr. Brad Young wrote a couple very insightful books on this topic. One entitled ["Parables: Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation"](https://amzn.to/42aYSiS?ref=pshir.com) and another that comes to mind is ["Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and the Teachings of Jesus" ](https://amzn.to/3HRxjEA?ref=pshir.com)
### God is the Stronghold of my Life
URL: https://www.pshir.com/god-is-the-stronghold-of-my-life/
Last updated: 2025-09-07T14:00:35.000Z
I find the words of Psalm 27 comforting, and they always lift my spirit. God is my stronghold in so many ways. I pray that these words and music will lift your spirit as they do mine, and the deep awareness that God is our stronghold will never leave us. May your experience joy that only comes from Hashem. 

God is the stronghold of my life.   
Whom should I fear by day?   
יהוה מָעוֹז־חַיַּי מִמִּי אֶפְחָד יהוה   
ADONAI is my salvation light.  
Whom should I fear by night?  
יהוה אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי מִמִּי אִירָא יהוה  
  
My daily request to the Lord God above, to stand in His house, surrounded by love.  
His sure defense I seek day after day. Eyes on His beauty, right where I stay. Guarding my soul, He shields me from harm, the moments I feel I am held in his arms. Why look elsewhere when He’s my delight? In His blessings I walk, in brilliant light.  
  
With joy in my heart, I sing all my days, in God’s holy tent, I offer my praise...  
  
If troubles arise, the Lord is my shield, God is my salvation, and I will not yield  
He is my fortress, defending from strife, guarding my spirit, protecting my life.  
No fear, no dread, in front of my foes, I rise and stand tall, so everyone knows.  
My salvation, I trust, head lifted high, I stand on the rock, arms open wide.  
  
With joy in my heart, where I truly belong, in God’s holy place, I offer my song...  
  
Now enemies come to threaten my day, grant me endurance, so I will not stray.  
Let Your light shine, my path will clear, gaze through the shadow, and You are near. Darkness may loom, and winds may rise, but You, Lord, come and clear the skies. Why seek more? You're all that I need. In the eye of the storm, it's you that I see.  
  
With joy in my heart, I sing all my days, in God’s holy tent, I offer my praise...
### The Puzzle of the Dead Sea Scrolls
URL: https://www.pshir.com/puzzle-dead-sea-scrolls/
Last updated: 2025-09-03T14:00:53.000Z
**What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?**

In the area of biblical and historical studies, the Dead Sea Scrolls are considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of all time. That is not an exaggeration. The documents were awaiting the day of their discovery in 11 caves near the Dead Sea site of Khirbet Qumran in Israel for 2000 years. Just recently (2017), the archaeologists found a 12th cave. Someone looted the cave and disturbed its contents sometime in the fifties. No scrolls were found in the 12th cave.

The Dead Sea Scrolls date between 250 B.C.E. and 68 C.E. The collection is some 800 Hebrew, Aramaic, and even Greek texts in tens of thousands of fragments. The Dead Sea Scrolls offer us three main types of literary works. First, there are portions of books of the Hebrew Bible. Second are texts of non-canonical Jewish books known to us from other collections. Third are other religious writings of a more localized and sectarian nature. Most scholars contend that they describe the peculiar beliefs and practices of a group of Jews living in a settlement at Qumran. The very people who assembled the library and deposited it into caves for safekeeping.

The history of the Dead Sea Scrolls is quite enigmatic by itself. How the scrolls were found in the nineteen forties, how they were sold and resold, initially available to only a select few for study, and how they were eventually made available to the wider scholarly community. There are almost seven decades of controversy and intrigue associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Some of them were published early on in the fifties and sixties. Other scroll fragments remained unpublished for a long time, which led to much speculation. But keep in mind that putting the small fragments together is like assembling an enormous puzzle without having any references.

Originally, the DSS fragments were photographed as they were discovered. In the nineties, Israelis and NASA used infrared photography to see what the human eye cannot. Finally, in 1991, all the scrolls were published, and since then, their images have been digitized with the help of the Israel Museum and Google. Now, there are entire research institutes and academic departments in universities dedicated to the study of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

[High-Resolution Scans of the Dead Sea Scrolls OnlineThe Dead Sea Scrolls, considered by many to be the most significant archaeological find of the 20th century, are thought to have been written or collected by an ascetic Jewish sect that fled Jerusalem for the desert 2,000 years ago and settled at Qumran, on the banks of the![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-67.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/dscr1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/high-resolution-scans-of-dead-sea-scrolls-online/)

**What is so important about the Dead Sea Scrolls?**

First of all, these are often the oldest copies of canonical and extra-canonical books found in Qumran. Their age alone makes them extremely valuable for textual research. Manuscript studies help us arrive at the best source texts. Scholars are able to reconstruct passages of biblical literature before they were edited by multiple generations of scribes. In most cases, the scrolls validate the text we already had prior to the Qumran library discovery. These ancient texts also have the least textual corruptions, which can inadvertently occur in the process of copying. The mere fact that the earliest biblical manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible are from the Dead Sea Scrolls library should be enough. Still, the most significant treasures, beyond the texts themselves, are the unique descriptions of the life, worship, and beliefs of the Qumran Jews from the distant past. This information gives scholars a window into antiquity we have never seen before. What have we learned from the decades of scroll research?

> A DSS scholar Lawrence H. Schiffman, Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University explains,”Disagreements about Jewish law were the main factors that separated Jewish groups and movements in Second Temple times. Yes, many theological differences also existed. These, however, were manifested most clearly in the differing opinions about Jewish practice and ritual. The impact of the scrolls on our understanding of the history of halakhah (Jewish law) has been enormous.”

The material found in the scrolls fills in many gaps in our knowledge of ancient Israel, giving scholars an ability to reconstruct the past more accurately. Being aware of the practices and beliefs of the Essenes and Qumranites changes our perception of the New Testament that followed that era. But there is still a considerable amount of disagreement and many theories behind the research fueled by the scrolls. The scrolls continue to speak and continue to puzzle scholars.

[The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated by Florentino Garcia MartinezOne of the world’s foremost experts on the Dead Sea Scrolls provides an authoritative English translation of the two hundred longest and most important nonbiblical Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran. This book is also supplied with introductory information about the history, discovery, and publication of each manuscript. The author![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-69.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/DSSTr.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-dead-sea-scrolls-martinez/)
### Explore The World of Hebrew Prophets
URL: https://www.pshir.com/explore-the-world-of-hebrew-prophets/
Last updated: 2025-08-31T19:40:57.000Z
A while back, I was asked to teach a course surveying the prophetic books of the Bible to a college class. As I compiled my notes together, I wanted to present my students not merely the information about the ancient texts themselves, but to describe the world in which the prophets of Israel lived. Their messages were not spoken in a cultural vacuum and should be read in the context of their world and issues. There is so much culture in the lives of the prophets that we can miss if we don't attempt to study the ancient world. And this is how a series of these video lectures came to be, out of a college class I once taught. 

🎬

The original lectures were edited to preserve the most essential and pivotal material. The lectures were broken up into shorter, digestible segments (34 in total). The entire series is almost 15 hours long, hence the shorter bite-size segments. As you watch or listen, it will be helpful to have your favorite Bible translation open to follow along more easily. 

I highly recommend working through segments 01-05 first. They create a framework through which we can approach individual books of the prophets. 

[The World of Hebrew Prophets: 01-02 Geography and Era (\~1.5h)The words of the prophets can only be understood in their context. Only the books of the prophets themselves do not always give much context. Usually, we encounter their oracles without any explanations. To make sense of the world of the biblical prophets, we have to develop a grasp of![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-56.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/World-tm3-9.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-01-02/)

Not all prophets left us books, but they are still considered prophets. It's essential to understand who prophets really are and who they are not. 

[The World of Hebrew Prophets: 04-05 Prior to Monarchy (\~2h)What makes one a prophet? How can their words be validated? How can their calling from above be verified? In this socio-cultural study of ancient Israelite prophets, it would not be proper to only discuss the lives of those who left us books named after them, such as Isaiah, Amos,![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-57.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/World-tm3-2-5.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-04-05-prior-to-monarchy/)

Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel are not simple books to grasp, but Christians will find them very familiar because there are so many citations, references, and allusions to these prophets scattered throughout the New Testament.

[The World of Hebrew Prophets: 06-11 Isaiah (\~3 hrs)In the first part we explore the first 40 chapters of the Book of Isaiah, delving into its historical context and symbolic language. We consider Isaiah’s words in light of the Syro-Ephraimite War, crucial dates like the fall of Samaria and Jerusalem. We examine the covenant lawsuit against Israel, the![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-58.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/World-tm3-10.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-isaiah-3hrs/)

[The World of Hebrew Prophets: 12-17 Jeremiah (\~2.5 hrs)In this first lecture, we delve into the intricate details of the Book of Jeremiah, looking at Chapters 1-30, and examining its structure, themes, and historical context. A systematic approach connects historical events and prophetic messages in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the text. We discuss the setting![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-59.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/World-tm3-3-3.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-jeremiah/)

[The World of Hebrew Prophets: 18-21 Ezekiel (\~1.3 hrs)Peek into the life of a prophet caught between exiles, navigating through divine visions and relaying a timeless message of hope and restoration amidst judgment. In this lecture, originally delivered to a class at a Christian college, I explore how Ezekiel’s unique position defies traditional prophet categorizations and challenges ancient![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-60.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/World-tm3-11.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-ezekiel-1-3-hrs/)

Working through The Scroll of the Twelve Prophets (sessions 22-34) may force you to come back to a history and geography lecture. Each prophet presents a unique message to Israel, yet many of the themes overlap and speak with a united voice. 

[The World of Hebrew Prophets: 22-34 The Twelve (\~4h)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 of the![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-55.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/World-tm3-2-4.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-22-34-the-twelve-4h/)

**Special thanks to everyone who maintains a paid subscription to PSHIR.COM! Your support allows me to create and publish such learning resources online.** 

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#### Stone Edition Tanach (English Only)

This English language edition of Tanach is perfect for anyone seeking to connect with Jewish heritage, understand unfamiliar biblical passages, or simply deepen their spiritual journey. Whether you're exploring the Prophets for the first time or revisiting familiar Torah stories, this edition makes every page meaningful. The volume contains all 24 books of the Jewish Bible supplied with expert commentary and insights. It includes sidebar guides, maps, timelines, and "at-a-glance" summaries. Rabbi Nosson Scherman's international team of experts also offers you Temple diagrams, genealogies, and biblical illustrations. This clear, flowing, and readable translation is faithful to the Orthodox Jewish perspective as it brings ancient texts to life to a new generation. 1,400 pages of eternal wisdom in beautiful English await you. The link below will take you to the 5x8 size.

[See it on AMAZON](https://amzn.to/3UTveuN?ref=pshir.com)
### Dead Sea Scrolls Explained (~1.5hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/dead-sea-scrolls-explained/
Last updated: 2025-08-27T14:00:38.000Z
Ancient Scrolls found in Israel, in the caves of the Qumran region near the Dead Sea in the 1940s, were the find of the 20th century. An impressive collection of ancient Jewish writings contained what is now the oldest known copies of Biblical texts. In this 1st session, I explain about the location of the scrolls at Qumran, and retell the story of how they were discovered. Drop in on my multi-part seminar recorded live.

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

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### Extending Life
URL: https://www.pshir.com/extending-life/
Last updated: 2025-08-24T14:00:24.000Z
Some commandments in Torah are more elaborate and detailed, and others are somewhat straightforward and simple. Yet all of them teach how to apply wisdom in life in all situations. This week, I pondered over a commandment concerning the bird’s nest. Torah says if one comes upon a nest with a mother bird sitting on it, one should let the mother go. You may take her young or the eggs for food, but you should not take both the offspring and the parent at the same time. In fact, if you plan on taking the young, you are responsible for the removal of the mother. Torah says, ***shale’ach te’shalakh et haem*** – “certainly send away the mother.” You, the traveler, the decision-maker, are responsible for ensuring that the mother will not see the emptying of her nest. It sounds like an act of mercy.

Listen?

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### Gabriel's Revelation Stone
URL: https://www.pshir.com/gabriels-revelation-stone/
Last updated: 2025-08-20T19:33:33.000Z
The Gabriel Revelation is an inscription on a stone found in Jordan dating back to around the beginning of the Common Era, roughly to the time of the birth of Jesus. It is the subject of a book by Israel Knohl, *Messiahs and Resurrection in the Gabriel Revelation,* published in 2009 by Shalom Hartman Institute and Continuum Books. **Disclaimer:** Be aware that many claims that Prof. Knohl makes can be seen as controversial and even undermining core Christian beliefs. As an academic, however, he is not pursuing such a goal. Conversely, his broader points should be appreciated by many Christ-followers who study the Second Temple era. His research illustrates that by the first century, many Jews yearned for the Messiah, and the New Testament depicts those unique hopes with amazing precision. You don't have to agree with Knohl's overall conclusions, but his research is very interesting. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

You can find [Messiahs and Resurrection in the Gabriel Revelation book here.](https://amzn.to/4awEXNh?ref=pshir.com) Prof. Knohl has another title that might be of interest - [Messiah before Jesus: The Suffering Servant of the Dead Sea Scrolls. ](https://amzn.to/4g3CTAt?ref=pshir.com)

[The Messiah Before Jesus by Israel KnohlProf. Israel Knohl shares curious evidence for a messianic precursor to Jesus who is described as the “Suffering Servant” in recently published fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Many scholars have long argued that the concept of a slain savior Messiah who rises from the dead, was alien to Judaism![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-77.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/MBJ-cover.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/messiah-before-jesus-by-israel-knohl/)
### "The Messiah Before Jesus" by Israel Knohl
URL: https://www.pshir.com/messiah-before-jesus-by-israel-knohl/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:18:10.000Z
Prof. Israel Knohl shares curious evidence for a messianic precursor to Jesus who is described as the "Suffering Servant" in recently published fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Many scholars have long argued that the concept of a slain savior Messiah who rises from the dead, was alien to Judaism before Jesus. But, on the basis of hymns found at Qumran among the Dead Sea Scrolls, Knohl argues it was not, and this idea certainly predated Jesus. 

Professor speculates that one generation before Jesus, a messianic leader arose in the Qumran sect who was regarded by his followers as ushering in an era of redemption and forgiveness. He was killed by Roman soldiers amidst a revolt that broke out in Jerusalem in 4 BCE. His disciples even believed that he was resurrected and rose to heaven. Many Christians might feel uneasy reading this sort of research for the first time, and frankly, Jews might as well. The book is highly suggestive and imaginative in reinterpreting our current understanding of ancient Christianity and its relationship to Judaism. One can easily disagree with Prof. Knohl's conclusions and interpretations, but the evidence must be considered, nevertheless. 

Peek Inside the Book?

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### What's coming soon in the Fall of 2025
URL: https://www.pshir.com/whats-coming-soon-in-the-fall-of-2025/
Last updated: 2025-08-13T14:00:32.000Z
Thanks to everyone who supports the PSHIR.COM publication with a subscription! For only $7 per month, you help me develop and publish new learning resources week after week. I am excited that I finally finished the "World of Hebrew Prophets" series, which ended up being 15 hours. You can find all videos in the "WATCH" section. I have been working on a new lecture series I want to tell you about, but you should watch the video...

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.
### God Saves
URL: https://www.pshir.com/god-saves/
Last updated: 2025-09-01T14:48:34.000Z
The verses in the Prophets I want to highlight today, I like to call the divine promise of Israel’s salvation. Ezekiel is known to be the exiled prophet, and Chapter 36 speaks loudly and vividly about Israel’s salvation from exile, restoration through cleansing, transforming hearts, and filling Israel with God’s own spirit.

Listen?

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### The Sign of Jonah and Something Greater (~3hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-sign-of-jonah-in-matthew-12/
Last updated: 2025-08-06T14:00:45.000Z
What is this Sign of Jonah? The traditional thinking is that it's Jesus' resurrection, three days and three nights... But the passage may not be so simple as it appears on the surface. Interested in taking a closer look and discovering another way to read the text? Go for the deep dive into Matthew 12 me! Explore the Sign of Jonah in the context and language of the entire chapter, and you may uncover what this enigmatic reference really means. 

🎬

It turns out that the "Sign of Jonah" is not that simple. The entire video teaching that walks you through Matthew 12 is about 3 hours long, and it's broken up into segments for your convenience. Please **consider a paid subscription** to support independent publishing and hosting of commercial-free videos.

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### Where Can I Flee?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/where-can-i-flee/
Last updated: 2025-08-03T14:00:33.000Z
Psalm 139 meditates on God's pervasive presence in this world. There is no place where we can go that we escape God's presence, and there is no such place as too far away for God. Living with God in a world that He has made is a reality that one can either embrace or reject, but the facts remain the same... Enjoy this musical meditation based on the words of Psalm 139\. 

  
(אָנָה אֵלֵךְ מֵרוּחֶךָ  
וְאָנָה מִפָּנֶיךָ אֶבְרָח)

Where can I flee, where can I hide?  
Your Spirit stays close by my side.  
If I ascend to heaven’s heights,  
Or sink to She'ol's shadow night,  
If on the wings of dawn I soar,  
Or cross the seas to distant shores,  
Even there, Your hand will stay,  
To lead me on the narrow way.  
  
O Lord, You search my heart, You know,  
Each time I sit, each time I roam.  
From far away, You see my aims,  
Read my thoughts and know my name.  
You watch me rest, devise my plans,  
My secret roads, You know their end.  
No whisper weak escapes Your ear,  
You know it all and hold me near.  
  
אָנָה אֵלֵךְ מֵרוּחֶךָ   
וְאָנָה מִפָּנֶיךָ אֶבְרָח  
  
If darkness wraps me in its veil,  
Your light still shines and never fails.  
The night to You is bright as day,  
And darkness flees, I call your name.  
My soul You made in realms beyond,  
Inside my mother wove my bones.  
Each step I take, I know it's true,  
There is no way I'll part with You  
  
Your ways Adonai, how vast they are,  
Beyond men's reach, beyond the stars.  
Like grains of sand by distant sea,  
Your thoughts are mystery for me.  
Search me, O God, and test my ways,  
Reveal my heart, refine my days.  
If idols rise, then pull me through,  
And lead me on the path that’s true.  
  
אָנָה אֵלֵךְ מֵרוּחֶךָ   
וְאָנָה מִפָּנֶיךָ אֶבְרָח
### The 9th of Av: The Echoes of Destruction and Ruin
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-echoes-of-destruction-and-ruin/
Last updated: 2026-07-20T14:09:25.000Z
The 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av) stands as one of the key solemn dates on the Jewish calendar, marking a day when tragedies have repeatedly befallen the Jewish people throughout history. According to the Talmud, Ta'anit 29a, the origins of this day of mourning among Jews can be traced back to the incident of the spies sent to scout out the Promised Land. When the ten spies returned with their discouraging report (Numbers 13:31), "the people wept that night" (Numbers 14:1), and God decreed that this generation, because of their lack of faith and trust, would die in the wilderness over forty years (Numbers 14:1-35). The Talmudic era sages teach that this night of weeping was the 9th of Av, establishing it as a day marked by tragedy throughout Jewish history.

### **When Temples Burned**

The first major catastrophe occurred with the destruction of Solomon's Temple by the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar II. The biblical account records: "On the seventh day of the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the Lord and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem" (2 Kings 25:8-9). Jeremiah provides additional detail: "In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, who served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. And he burned the house of the Lord, and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem" (Jeremiah 52:12-13). Though these verses mention the 7th and 10th of Av respectively, Jewish tradition reconciles these dates by explaining that the fire began on the 7th, burned through the 9th, and was extinguished on the 10th, with the 9th day being the time when most of the Temple was consumed by flames.

[Embracing the SadnessAre you familiar with Tisha B’Av? On the Jewish calendar, it’s a day of fasting and introspection for many reasons. Throughout history, this day has been a day of calamity for Israel as a people at large and for various Jewish communities. In this 45-minute teaching, I explain about the![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-61.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/9Av1-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/embracing-the-sadness/)

The Second Temple's destruction by Roman forces under Titus in 70 CE created an even more devastating blow. Roman legions breached Jerusalem's defenses, and on the Ninth of Av, they ignited the Temple, eventually reducing it to ruins (Josephus, *Jewish War* 6.4.5-6). Josephus documented the siege's effect: "the soldiers, when they went up, were neither able to persuade the Jews to repent, nor were they themselves able to take the temple; but the fire caught hold of the cloisters immediately." The flames engulfed the holy place, fulfilling earlier predictions, such as those found in the Gospel of Matthew, where Rabbi Yeshua (Jesus) foretold the Temple's complete destruction (Matt. 24:1-2). The Roman historian Cassius Dio later recorded in his Roman History (69.14) the systematic destruction that followed, noting how "Jerusalem was razed to the ground" and the Jewish population was scattered. According to the Talmud, Yoma 9b, the Second Temple was destroyed due to "baseless hatred" (*sinat chinam*; שִׂנְאַת חִנָּם) among the Jewish people, emphasizing that internal discord in the Jewish community contributed to this catastrophe as much as the attack by external enemies.

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### Taking Orders
URL: https://www.pshir.com/taking-orders/
Last updated: 2025-07-27T14:00:38.000Z
If you have siblings, the odds are some of them, specific ones, would constantly take charge in any setting. Maybe you are the one who gave orders to everyone on what to do on the playground. Maybe you are the one who told all your schoolmates what the plan always was. That’s not a bad thing; that’s just reality. However, being the bossy one, giving orders, and being the one who follows them creates a dynamic that follows us throughout our lifetime. Our weekly reading, Numbers 4, mentions Gershonites. They were a clan of Levites tasked with transporting the Mishkan...

Listen?

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### Jewish and Greek Thinking
URL: https://www.pshir.com/jewish-and-greek-thinking/
Last updated: 2026-02-10T15:59:41.000Z
This conversation is a segment from the IBC course titled "Jews and Greeks on Life and the Afterlife." Yeshaya Gruber, Nicholas Schaser, Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg, and Pinchas Shir discuss the ways Greeks thought in a completely different manner than the Jews. Learn more about Jewish and Greek concepts of origin, afterlife, and resurrection. Compare, contrast, relate. 

Israel Bible Podcast is hosted by my colleague, Dr. Cyndi Parker. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/Cul-Back-NIV.png) 

#### NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

The notes in this Study Bible are very helpful. It is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of biblical times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3vDuTmo?ref=pshir.com)
### "Essential Judaism" by George Robinson
URL: https://www.pshir.com/essential-judaism-by-george-robinson/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:18:26.000Z
What happens at a synagogue service? What are the rules for keeping kosher? How do I light the Hanukkah candles? What is in the Hebrew Bible? What do the Jewish holidays signify? I frequently get questions about Jewish culture and life, both ancient and modern, practical and theoretical. A general resource I often send people to is [*Essential Judaism by* George Robinson](https://amzn.to/4lf258I?ref=pshir.com). The book is a broad compendium of knowledge the author sought to accumulate when he rediscovered his Jewish identity as an adult. George Robinson illuminates the Jewish life cycle at every stage and lays out many fascinating aspects of Jewish world, while keeping a firm focus on the different paths to living a good Jewish life in today’s world. The best part is, that the book is written in a very accessible style.

Decades after the book's first publication, the author added new sections on Jewish denominational shifts, same-sex marriage, the intermarriage debate, transgender Jews, the growth of anti-Semitism, and the changing role of women in worship, along with many other hotly debated topics. Like everything in life, it or leave it but the book is a handy resource for those who what to better understand the Jewish world.

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### Food Laws - Jewish Perspective
URL: https://www.pshir.com/food-laws-jewish-perspective-copy/
Last updated: 2025-07-16T14:00:16.000Z
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### Hostile Reality
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hostile-reality/
Last updated: 2025-07-13T14:00:27.000Z
Have you ever encountered a superhero story where a villain puts the hero in a very tough situation, an impossible choice even? The hero has to choose to do what is right at a great personal cost to save people in mortal danger. Creating scenarios like that is the trademark of true evil, the calling card of a villain. Unlike comics, in life, we are called to be the heroes, ordinary people acting righteously amidst a hostile reality. 

Listen?

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### Holy Spirit in Early Judaism (1hr+)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/holy-spirit-in-early-judaism-1hr/
Last updated: 2025-07-09T14:00:10.000Z
Holy Spirit is a special term that arose and became common at a certain time in history. It is often associated with the New Testament and Christianity, and not with Judaism. But we know that God’s Spirit is simply inseparable from God, and it should not surprise us that this name would come up from time to time. We read of Spirit's involvement in creation and know that it is also inseparable from us humans as well. It is by God's spirit that Adam became alive. So why would this idea not be present in Judaism? Learn more about how this term and concept developed in Judaism in this short seminar.

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

🎬

 I hope you enjoy watching the videos, as most seminars I share are hosted add-free. **Consider a paid subscription** to support this multimedia publication and get full access to everything! This Seminar on the Holy Spirit in early Jewish texts is relatively short (just over an hour), but it was broken up into smaller segments for your convenience. It can be watched bit by bit or all at once. Keep in mind it is interactive, and it was recorded in front of a live audience. 

[Paid Subscription?](#/portal/account/plans)

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### Bless ADONAI, O my Soul
URL: https://www.pshir.com/bless-adonai-o-my-soul/
Last updated: 2025-07-06T14:00:19.000Z
Psalm 104 helps us see ourselves as a part of God's marvelous creation, the awe-inspiring environment that we sometimes can take for granted. So, our nephesh, our soul, can connect with our Maker even through all he has fashioned. We are a piece of a much greater tapestry, and if we recognize it, we will be in greater harmony with the world around us. Enjoy another modern musical psalm rendition, and let ancient words ring as new expressions of praise. 

  
יִשְׂמַח יהוה בְּמַעֲשָׂיו הַמַּבִּיט לָאָרֶץ וַתִּרְעָד  
May Almighty rejoice in his works, let the earth shake at his gaze.   
יִגַּע בֶּהָרִים וְיֶעֱשָׁנוּ יְהִי כְבוֹד יהוה לְעוֹלָם  
As the mountains break out in smoke, may the glory of God never end.  
  
אָשִׁירָה לַיהוה בְּחַיָּי  
I will sing to the LORD as I live   
אֲזַמְּרָה לֵאלֹהַי בְּעוֹדִי  
Praise my God as long as I breathe  
בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יהוה הַלְלוּ הַלְלוּ־יָהּ  
Bless ADONAI, O my soul, hallelu, halleluyah!  
  
יֶעֱרַב עָלָיו שִׂיחִי אָנֹכִי אֶשְׂמַח בַּיהוה  
If my thoughts are pleasing to Him, my rejoicing will be in the LORD.   
יִתַּמּוּ חַטָּאִים מִן־הָאָרֶץ וּרְשָׁעִים עוֹד אֵינָם   
Sinners carried away by the wind, and the wicked prosper no more. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Teh-Art-1.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Interlinear Psalms

For those who love Psalms and especially love the way they sound in Hebrew, this handy volume presents them in an interlinear format. As it is with most poetry, sometimes translations are not so straightforward, and it's so easy to see what original words lay behind the English text. This volume allows students of Hebrew to quickly build their biblical Hebrew vocabulary and, at the same time, immerse themselves into their favorite psalms. I have used it for both study and for devotional reading as well. And I can recommend it for those who would like to try the Psalms in original and grow in their comprehension of the biblical language as they read. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kY9k5e?ref=pshir.com)
### Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha, and the Books of Enoch
URL: https://www.pshir.com/pseudepigrapha-apocrypha-and-the-books-of-enoch/
Last updated: 2026-04-28T02:47:09.000Z
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 feel uneasy, then allow me to explain why I think you should not be reticent about reading books like Enoch. 

📗

This summer, I released a new translation of the 3 Enoch. It is Available in [Paperback, Kindle, and Audible](https://amzn.to/3WxICGm?ref=pshir.com) formats. This volume complements the three separate translations released last year. The three-in-one volume contains the same base texts, but is unique because it offers hundreds of study notes. 

Some readers are more interested in 1 Enoch with its' lore of the Watchers, and others in 2 Enoch because of its descriptions of the structures of the heavenly realm and Melchizedek lore. Yet some wish to glimpse into God's many names and angelic hierarchy and encounter the mysterious Metatron. Each book offers something unique and different and deserves to be appreciated independently. 

Scholars refer to the three books of Enoch as "Enoch Literature" because, though they have obvious thematic connections, they are distinct literary works and, at times, are quite dissimilar. Unlike a cohesive trilogy or a long saga story written by the same author, each Book of Enoch stands on its own and pursues its own unique storytelling goals. What ties the volumes together is that these are all Jewish spiritual books that stem from related traditions, and Enoch is famously featured in each text as shared lore is utilized by each book. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/07/EN-Coll1-1.jpg)

The Book of Watchers, The Book of Secrets, The Book of Palaces.

*Pseudepigrapha* (Ψευδεπίγραφα) usually means that **the book was not written by the author to whom it is attributed**. That would describe a whole lot of ancient Jewish books, because in antiquity, people attached names of notable people to books, not merely to tell their story, but to tell it for them as they would have if they could. And they also do this to honor their memory. This custom goes back to the days long before books, when most stories were simply told by tying some remarkable person to them. 

Scholars who study ancient manuscripts recognize that many of the ancient books, even those part of the New Testament, were originally anonymous. For example, no one knows for sure who wrote the Book of Hebrews, but Christians are encouraged to read it anyway. Neither of the four gospels tells us plainly who wrote them, either, and the names we know them by today were attached to them later by tradition. There is no indisputable proof that the authors people believe wrote them actually did. People simply trust the long-established tradition. Ancient people treated books and authorship very differently, and we simply have to be aware of that. 

The term *Apocrypha* (Ἀπόκρυφα) refers to **books that some people** (often religious minorities and smaller groups) **consider to be inspirational and beneficial, in a way very similar to the canonical Bible, while others don't.** They may even be included along with the Bible texts in some manuscript collections, but they remain "hidden" to others. 1 Baruch appears among the old Greek Septuagint manuscripts and is included in Catholic Bibles, but to other Christian groups it is Apocryphal (hidden). Martin Luther wanted to exclude the book of James from the NT canon, which would have made it Apocrypha for Lutherans if he had actually succeeded. Since 1 Enoch is a part of the Orthodox Christian Bibles in Ethiopia, it can be classified under both of these categories depending on whom you talk to. Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha are merely technical classifications that don't reflect on what is inside those books. 

If you are still somewhat hesitant about reading books "outside of the Bible," my suggestion is to try them out and judge for yourself. Sample them with an open mind, but in a way, you approach everything in life. Don't read such books as the Bible. Instead, approach ancient Jewish literature as someone's sermons, if you want, just really old sermons. Read them as you would The Chronicles of Narnia, for example, as deeply spiritual literature that explores the realm of fantasy to convey deeply spiritual big picture messages. **Read Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha not for spiritual growth, but to forge for yourself tangible reference points for what ancient audiences enjoyed reading and listening to.** If you do that and study the ancient world as you read, your perceptions may slowly start to align more with their world. That is the world from which the Bible came...

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/All-Enoch-Front-2025-1.jpg) 

#### The Books of Enoch: Three Visions in New Translation 

****This volume is a collection of updated and easy-to-read modern English translations of three visions:** ****The Book of Watchers (1 Enoch), The Book of Secrets (2 Enoch), and The Book of Palaces (3 Enoch).** Countless readers of Enoch enjoy ancient stories but are often discouraged by struggling through the obscure and archaic language of older translations. This new and updated translation removes such obstacles. This collection of three visions of Enoch is ****supplemented with study footnotes** to aid curious readers and students of ancient apocryphal and Jewish literature alike. So, immerse yourself into the world of Enoch literature, and now, not only read the stories but listen to them in audio format!

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4l4eOLC?ref=pshir.com) 

If you wish, you can even listen to some sections read to you. These videos were designed to give you a feel for what's inside. 

[Watch and Listen to New Translation of 1 Enoch 1-7I 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 well-known Jewish![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-51.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1EnA.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/watch-and-listen-to-new-translation-of-enoch-1-7-2/)

[Watch and Listen to New Translation of 2 Enoch 7-10In 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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-52.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/2EnA.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/watch-and-listen-to-new-translation-of-2-enoch-7-10/)

[Watch and Listen to New Translation of 3 Enoch 48Since 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 for a![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-53.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/3EnA.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/watch-and-listen-to-new-translation-of-3-enoch-48/)
### War and Peace
URL: https://www.pshir.com/war-and-peace/
Last updated: 2025-09-03T12:54:23.000Z
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’s commandments and pay attention to what Hashem says, you will be led towards peace each time. But even walking the right path, we will encounter obstacles; we will meet enemies who will force us to make hard decisions, even those who will not make peace with us, no matter what. Such was the case with the Israelites and Sihon, king of Moab.

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### The World of Hebrew Prophets: 22-34 The Twelve (~4h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-22-34-the-twelve-4h/
Last updated: 2025-06-25T14:00:45.000Z
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 of the prophets, exploring the social world, history, and reflecting on the lives of ancient prophets. Before watching videos on individual prophets, I highly recommend watching some previous parts or at least the segments on geography and history related to the books of the lives and times of the prophets. 

[The World of Hebrew Prophets: 01-02 Geography and Era (\~1.5h)The words of the prophets can only be understood in their context. Only the books of the prophets themselves do not always give much context. Usually, we encounter their oracles without any explanations. To make sense of the world of the biblical prophets, we have to develop a grasp of![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-46.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/World-tm3-7.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-01-02/)

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

🎬

A couple of things were done for your convenience: 1 - a long lecture was broken up into several shorter segments. 2 - the subtitles were created via software, and thus, they should be mostly accurate. :) Please consider supporting the online publication with your ****paid subscription** so PSHIR.COM can continue delivering ad-free videos!

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### First Temple Era Seals Found in Jerusalem
URL: https://www.pshir.com/first-temple-era-seals-found/
Last updated: 2025-06-22T14:00:11.000Z
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 a scroll, a jar, or a container of some sort. It marked the identity of the author or the owner. 

What connects this artifact to the First Temple era is the writing itself. The find is estimated to be 2,700-years old. The bulla ascribes its ownership to the royal steward Adoniyahu. Curiously, Adoniyahu appears several times in the Hebrew Bible and most notably as the name of King David’s son. The Royal Steward was the highest-ranking position in the king’s court in Judah. And the bulla dates to the seventh century B.C.E., the period of Judah’s prominence. That is why scientists think it is connected to the days of the First Temple.

In Hebrew, the seal reads:  
לעדניהו (top)  
אשר על הבית (bottom)

The literal translation is:  
Belonging to Adoniyahu, who is over the house

Which would mean:  
Belonging to Adoniyahu the Royal Steward.

This amazing find follows a recent discovery of another interesting seal impression. The text of that bulla translates: “Nathan-Melech, Servant of the King.” A Nathan-Melech is mentioned once in the Bible, in connection to King Josiah of Judah (2 Kings 23:11). There can be no certainty that this seal refers to that very Nathan-Melech from the Bible, though the timing and circumstances seem right.

How can we make such a connection? The Nathan-Melech seal impression was found inside the ruins of a two-story building in Jerusalem, which was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E. A team from the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University led the excavation of this building as part of the Givati parking lot excavations, just south of the Temple Mount. The bullae of Adoniyahu, the primary official serving a biblical king, and Nathan-Melech, a figure who might be referenced in the Bible, are meaningful historical discoveries. These tiny pieces of clay from the First Temple period provide tangible archaeological evidence validating the history relayed in the Bible.

Sources: Biblical Archaeology, Times of Israel.
### Watch and Listen to New Translation of 3 Enoch 48
URL: https://www.pshir.com/watch-and-listen-to-new-translation-of-3-enoch-48/
Last updated: 2025-06-18T14:00:24.000Z
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 for a while to create this resource that I hope will help people to study the lore on their own. The Third Book of Enoch (Hebrew Enoch), or "The Book of Palaces," is an ancient Jewish mystical composition often dated to the sixth century CE. In this story, Rabbi Ishmael travels to heaven to witness the Merkavah throne of God. There, he meets a mysterious angel, Metatron, learns about his name, and discovers his secret. Enjoy this expert, a narration of Chapter 48\. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

📚

Below is my new release, which at the moment is severely lacking some readers' reviews. If you would be so inclined to write a review, it would go a long way in helping others discover this book on Amazon... 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/All-Enoch-Front-2025-1.jpg) 

#### The Books of Enoch: Three Visions in New Translation 

****This volume is a collection of updated and easy-to-read modern English translations of three visions:** ****The Book of Watchers (1 Enoch), The Book of Secrets (2 Enoch), and The Book of Palaces (3 Enoch).** Countless readers of Enoch enjoy ancient stories but are often discouraged by struggling through the obscure and archaic language of older translations. This new and updated translation removes such obstacles. This collection of three visions of Enoch is ****supplemented with study footnotes** to aid curious readers and students of ancient apocryphal and Jewish literature alike. So, immerse yourself into the world of Enoch literature, and now, not only read the stories but listen to them in audio format!

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4l4eOLC?ref=pshir.com)
### Returning to Your Own
URL: https://www.pshir.com/returning-to-your-own/
Last updated: 2026-05-01T15:08:04.000Z
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 Israel. It’s a holy time. Vayikra, Leviticus 25:11 says - on the fiftieth year ***lo tiz’rahu ve lo tik’tsaru***, “do not sow and do not harvest.” Torah instructs Israel not to plant and not to gather the harvest in the storage places. The vines were to be left unpruned because of the jubilee year. It’s a time of restoration for the land. 

Listen?

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Kap_Tor-1.png) 

#### The Living Torah by Aryeh Kaplan (Hebrew-English)

This edition of the Torah features a Hebrew text of the Five Books of Moses and a new English translation by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. As a translator, Kaplan leans quite a bit on Targum Onkelos, and uses Aramaic to elucidate the text better. The volume is supplied with traditional commentaries and notes, maps, tables, charts and more. This new updated edition features a better layout then the previous versions of the Torah. If anyone wishes to read the books of Moses and be exposed to an orthodox Jewish take on these ancient words this translation and commentary do a superb job. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4ipCLvc?ref=pshir.com)
### Watch and Listen to New Translation of 2 Enoch 7-10
URL: https://www.pshir.com/watch-and-listen-to-new-translation-of-2-enoch-7-10/
Last updated: 2025-06-11T14:00:46.000Z
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 Book of Enoch (Slavonic Enoch) or "The Book of Secrets or Enoch" is an ancient Jewish spiritual composition typically dated to the second century CE. In this book, Enoch reveals many secrets he was shown in the heavenly realm. This is an excerpt from the book, a video narration of Chapters 07-10\. Enjoy...

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

📚

Below is my new release, which at the moment is severely lacking some readers' reviews. If you would be so inclined to write a review, it would go a long way in helping others discover this book on Amazon... 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/All-Enoch-Front-2025-1.jpg) 

#### The Books of Enoch: Three Visions in New Translation 

****This volume is a collection of updated and easy-to-read modern English translations of three visions:** ****The Book of Watchers (1 Enoch), The Book of Secrets (2 Enoch), and The Book of Palaces (3 Enoch).** Countless readers of Enoch enjoy ancient stories but are often discouraged by struggling through the obscure and archaic language of older translations. This new and updated translation removes such obstacles. This collection of three visions of Enoch is ****supplemented with study footnotes** to aid curious readers and students of ancient apocryphal and Jewish literature alike. So, immerse yourself into the world of Enoch literature, and now, not only read the stories but listen to them in audio format!

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4l4eOLC?ref=pshir.com)
### Marking Heads
URL: https://www.pshir.com/marking-heads/
Last updated: 2025-06-24T20:28:12.000Z
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 eighteen Jewish poetic texts from around the first century BCE. Many scholars believe that these poems were originally composed in Hebrew or possibly in Aramaic. However, the oldest manuscripts that have survived to this day are the Greek and Syrian Aramaic translations of the original. Sadly, the original source text was lost, and translations alone have survived. Also, Solomon did not write them; the psalms are independent works, judging by their style, by several different authors, probably. But none of this detracts from the fact that these are ancient texts that allow us a rare look at ideas of the first century BCE. And that is what we are after, to peek into ancient worldviews. 

**Amid my trials, I cried out unto the LORD's name. I yearned for the aid of Jacob's God, and I found salvation.** For you, O God, a refuge and hope for the destitute. For who, O God, wields strength but to offer You thanks in sincerity. And where does a man's strength reside except in expressing gratitude to Your name? A fresh psalm voiced with a joyful heart, The product of one’s mouth, harmonized by the well-strung instrument of the tongue. The lips' first fruits are born of a devout and just heart. He who proffers these offerings shall never be swayed by malevolence. The searing flame and wrath directed at the wicked shall not graze him. When it emanates from ADONAI’s face against sinners to wipe away the presence of the sinful. **For God's mark rests upon the righteous that they may find deliverance.** Famine, sword, and plague shall remain distant from the just, for they shall scatter from the devout as men pursued in battle. But they shall chase down sinners and capture them. And those who practice lawlessness shall not evade God's judgment. **They shall be caught as by those who are seasoned in war, for the mark of ruin is upon their brow. The legacy of sinners is devastation and obscurity, and their transgressions will hound them to the depths of the underworld.** Their inheritance shall elude their offspring, for sins will ravage the dwellings of the sinful. And offenders shall vanish eternally on the day of the LORD’s reckoning when God graces the earth with His judgment. But those who revere ADONAI will encounter mercy and thrive in their God's compassion. Yet sinners will vanish forever. **(Psalms of Solomon 15, trans P. Shir)**

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Watch and Listen to New Translation of 1 Enoch 1-7
URL: https://www.pshir.com/watch-and-listen-to-new-translation-of-enoch-1-7-2/
Last updated: 2025-06-06T13:14:36.000Z
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 well-known Jewish composition from the Second Temple era. In this book, Enoch is taken to heaven, where he is shown many secrets. He learned much about the past, about the powerful Watchers who corrupted mankind, and why they were punished by God. This is a video narration of an excerpt of the story, Chapters 1-7, from the book.

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

📚

Below is my new release, which at the moment is severely lacking some readers' reviews. If you would be so inclined to write a review, it would go a long way in helping others discover this book on Amazon... 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/All-Enoch-Front-2025-1.jpg) 

#### The Books of Enoch: Three Visions in New Translation 

****This volume is a collection of updated and easy-to-read modern English translations of three visions:** ****The Book of Watchers (1 Enoch), The Book of Secrets (2 Enoch), and The Book of Palaces (3 Enoch).** Countless readers of Enoch enjoy ancient stories but are often discouraged by struggling through the obscure and archaic language of older translations. This new and updated translation removes such obstacles. This collection of three visions of Enoch is ****supplemented with study footnotes** to aid curious readers and students of ancient apocryphal and Jewish literature alike. So, immerse yourself into the world of Enoch literature, and now, not only read the stories but listen to them in audio format!

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4l4eOLC?ref=pshir.com)
### Sleeping at the Foot of Sinai
URL: https://www.pshir.com/sleeping-at-the-foot-of-sinai/
Last updated: 2025-06-01T14:00:24.000Z
In modern Shavuot celebrations, it is customary to stay up late and to study Torah into the morning hours. Why? Many rabbis would say that we follow this custom because when Hashem decided to give Israel the mitzvot (commandments), they were asleep at the foot of Sinai. They were not fully alert and ready to receive the Torah. Hashem continues to speak to his people even today, and if we want to be worthy in our generation to hear from him, we have to be ready to receive. How we demonstrate our readiness is by engaging with the very words the Almighty has already given us, i.e., studying Torah on the eve of Shavuot. *Tikkun Leil Shavuot* is a custom of correcting the mistakes of the past.

The puzzling part is, however, if you read through the narrative about how Israel received the commandments, the Torah itself does not say that our ancestors were asleep. That is a bit of a spiritual take on the situation and interpretation of the story, and to see it, one has to read between the lines. Exodus 19:16 says that "on the third day, it was morning," possibly very early morning, there was "thunder and lightning, and thick clouds over the mountain." So, it might have felt like a thunderstorm at Sinai, and setting aside the shofar sound, one can imagine how this can be conducive to sleeping. Though tradition hints at spiritual lethargy, not necessarily physical sleep. 

If anything, people were afraid of divine manifestation, "and all the people in the camp trembled" (*vayeche'rad kol-haam asher bamachaneh*; וַיֶּחֱרַד כָּל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בַּמַּחֲנֶה). Fear often results in staying put and feeling almost paralyzed, but not necessarily napping. Yet if one cannot rest because of ongoing fear for too long, one becomes exhausted and eventually sleepy. Why was the shofar heard on that morning? One could assume, similar to why we use it today, to awaken people (spiritually and sometimes even physically). 

Here is one traditional explanation of what might have occurred...

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Unhewn Stones
URL: https://www.pshir.com/unhewn-stones/
Last updated: 2026-04-20T14:58:02.000Z
Has anyone ever complained to you that you are a difficult person? Have you been described as “rough around the edges”? Don’t despair. It just means you are human, and you do not hide it very well. I will tell you, though, that life may throw you around a bit, and in the process, your rough edges will get smoother. Like stones, people come in all shapes and sizes, and God knows this. I want to share my reflections on the Torah passage that includes specific instructions for what the Israelites were to do immediately upon entering the land. Curiously, they were told to erect large stones with Moshe’s teachings inscribed on them on Mt. Ebal. These would be some sort of monuments that would remind them about God’s commandments. Listen?

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Kap_Tor-1.png) 

#### The Living Torah by Aryeh Kaplan (Hebrew-English)

This edition of the Torah features a Hebrew text of the Five Books of Moses and a new English translation by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. As a translator, Kaplan leans quite a bit on Targum Onkelos, and uses Aramaic to elucidate the text better. The volume is supplied with traditional commentaries and notes, maps, tables, charts and more. This new updated edition features a better layout then the previous versions of the Torah. If anyone wishes to read the books of Moses and be exposed to an orthodox Jewish take on these ancient words this translation and commentary do a superb job. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4ipCLvc?ref=pshir.com)
### The Harvest of Sheol
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-harvest-of-sheol/
Last updated: 2025-05-21T14:00:15.000Z
We live in a world full of people who think they know how everything works. The audacity of science and investigative thought is often revealed in claiming to have figured it all out, as mere theories are too often presented as facts. This is sadly true with all human knowledge about the world which we inhabit, but did not make, regardless of the field of study. There is so much we do not know and don't even have the capacity to comprehend fully. In acknowledgment of our limitations is where our rationality meets spirituality, as we seek to delve into the unseen and unknown. I think this is one of the reasons why Apocalyptic texts fascinate people so much; they touch this unknown. 

I want to share a short segment from the book of 4 Ezra (sometimes called 2 Esdras in Latin) with my readers. It is an extrabiblical apocalyptic Jewish work, very much like the book of Revelation in the New Testament, and a lot like the book of Daniel. In this ancient book, Ezra is shown visions, and Angel Uriel serves as a guide who helps him make sense of the visions. The visions themselves were put into writing between the first and third centuries CE, and it is not certain if any of their contents can be traced to Ezra in the Bible. Unfortunately, some parts of this ancient book have been edited and supplemented by generations of church scribes, obscuring the original text, and some portions exist in Latin only today. However, the bulk of the visions are very Semitic in their expressions and reasoning, so we can be fairly certain we are encountering authentic ancient Jewish ideas. Even if 4 Ezra has nothing to do with Ezra in the Bible, most scholars still see this book as a valuable Jewish apocalyptic book that provides us with context. 

One section of the book I want to share here highlights the aspect of waiting for the time of redemption. It speaks of those in Hades or *Sheol* (in Hebrew) as they are expecting a time when they will be released.

26 He answered me and said, “If you are alive, you will see, and if you live long, you will often marvel, because the age is hastening swiftly to its end. 27 For it will not be able to bring the things that have been promised to the righteous in their appointed times, because this age is full of sadness and infirmities. 28 **For the evil about which you ask me has been sown, but the harvest of it has not yet come. 29 If therefore that which has been sown is not reaped, and if the place where the evil has been sown does not pass away, the field where the good has been sown will not come.** 30 For a grain of evil seed was sown in Adam’s heart from the beginning, and how much ungodliness it has produced until now, and will produce until the time of threshing comes! 31 Consider now for yourself how much fruit of ungodliness a grain of evil seed has produced. 32 **When heads of grain without number are sown, how great a threshing floor they will fill!”** 33 Then I answered and said, “How long and when will these things be? Why are our years few and evil?” 34 He answered me and said, **“You do not hasten faster than the Most High, for your haste is for yourself, but the Highest hastens on behalf of many**. 35 Did not the souls of the righteous in their chambers ask about these matters, saying, ‘How long are we to remain here? **And when will come the harvest of our reward?**’ 36 And Yeremiel the archangel answered them and said, ‘**When the number of those like yourselves is completed; for he has weighed the age in the balance, 37 and measured the times by measure, and numbered the times by number; and he will not move or arouse them until that measure is fulfilled.’”**38 Then I answered and said, **“O sovereign Lord, but all of us also are full of ungodliness. 39 And it is perhaps on account of us that the time of threshing is delayed for the righteous—on account of the sins of those who dwell on earth.”**40 He answered me and said, “Go and ask a woman who is with child if, when her nine months have been completed, her womb can keep the child within her any longer. 41 “No, my lord,” I said, “it cannot.” He said to me, **“In Hades the chambers of the souls are like the womb. 42 For just as a woman who is in travail makes haste to escape the pangs of birth, so also do these places hasten to give back those things that were committed to them from the beginning.** 43 Then the things that you desire to see will be disclosed to you.” (4 Ezrah 4:26-43 RSV)

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### The World of Hebrew Prophets: 04-05 Prior to Monarchy (~2h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-04-05-prior-to-monarchy/
Last updated: 2025-05-21T12:28:21.000Z
What makes one a prophet? How can their words be validated? How can their calling from above be verified? In this socio-cultural study of ancient Israelite prophets, it would not be proper to only discuss the lives of those who left us books named after them, such as Isaiah, Amos, and Zechariah. Prior to the establishment of the Israelite monarchy, prophets like Moses or Samuel played slightly different roles. And then there are many prophets whom we know about, but we don't have any of their words in writing. Understanding these early prophets is yet another layer of context that helps us to read the biblical prophets better.

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### The World of Hebrew Prophets: 03 Prophets in the ANE (~1h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-03-prophets-in-the-ane/
Last updated: 2025-05-21T12:21:49.000Z
In this segment, the Hebrew Prophets are presented in the context of the broader Near Eastern culture. Israel is not the only people group that has had individuals endeavor to reach out and interact with the supernatural world. Understanding who the prophets were against the broader cultural backdrop of enquiring of the will of the gods is another necessary perspective to properly hear and understand their pronouncements.

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### The World of Hebrew Prophets: 01-02 Geography and Era (~1.5h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-01-02/
Last updated: 2025-05-20T16:45:25.000Z
The words of the prophets can only be understood in their context. Only the books of the prophets themselves do not always give much context. Usually, we encounter their oracles without any explanations. To make sense of the world of the biblical prophets, we have to develop a grasp of the basics: the world in which they lived, the geography, the neighbors who surrounded them (Part 01), and the historical era in which they lived (Part 02). 

Though we know very little about the lives of most individual prophets, we know a lot more about their world. This multi-part seminar lays a foundation for exploring the social world, history, and lives of ancient prophets. This is the broad, big picture context we need to properly frame their writings. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

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For your convenience, the lectures on the Hebrew Prophets were broken up into shorter segments. They are hosted ad-free, so you can watch them and learn without advertising interruptions. Please ****consider a Paid Subscription** to support PSHIR.COM and ensure we can offer more commercial-free videos.

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### The Scrolls of Apocalypse
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-scrolls-of-apocalypse/
Last updated: 2025-05-18T14:00:43.000Z
Many Jewish scrolls scribed between 300 BCE and 200 CE can be classified as “apocalyptical” because of their frequent focus on the heavenly scenes, secrets, revelations, and visions of the future. Apocalypse is a Greek word that means “to reveal” or “uncover something hidden.” So, these books contain a good dose of mystical and hidden tradition encapsulated in the thinking of that era. Yet their scope is often well beyond end times. The well-known biblical (canonical) examples of apocalyptic books include Daniel, Joel, Amos, Zechariah, Ezekiel, and select portions of other books. But most of the apocalyptic Jewish writings that exist in the world today are actually non-canonical. These are known as books “outside the Bible,” and in this article, I will offer a short overview of at least some of these books. 

Most of these are great works of ancient literature. However, their authors and editors are often anonymous or hidden behind the names of famous biblical characters such as Enoch, Ezra, Solomon, or even Moses. This is why such books are categorized as "pseudonymous" by scholars. These ancient spiritual works bear a resemblance to biblical authors and explore ideas similar to those found in canonical apocalyptic texts. That is why they are valuable to students of the Bible. They can be valuable points of reference for interpreting many biblical passages. Yet, historically, since the clear articulation of the canon, such books are now classified as "pseudepigrapha," a Greek term meaning "false writings." This, of course, assumes that there are other writings that are "true," creating an impression that these literary works are somehow untrue. 

But these works of Jewish literature are not Western books, and their authors were never guided by modern notions of accuracy, objectivity, or even crediting one's sources. These are works of ancient seers, prophets, and storytellers who were moved to share what they knew, felt, heard, or experienced. They express personal perspectives, lore, and ancient communal beliefs and often reveal the commonly accepted ideas about life from the past. The authors of these ancient books knew of no such thing as "canon" or even the Bible. They lived in a completely different world. 

[The Book of Ben Sira: New TranslationThis extrabiblical Jewish book was written in Hebrew around 2 Century BCE. The book is full of proverbial wisdom teachings, peppered with pre-rabbinic spiritual and moral ideas often resounded in the gospels and in apostolic era letters. Imagine hearing perspectives on death, happiness, honor, shame, sin, money, proper speech, social![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-26.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/BS-cover2-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-book-of-ben-sira/)

Anyone who reads Jewish apocalyptic books needs to understand what these Second Temple era books really are and how they were intended to be used by those who wrote them. The early church fathers who worked on establishing a "canon" did so not to condemn or put down these other books (many of them enjoyed these very books themselves) but rather to limit the books that were used to develop church doctrine. Thus, today, people call some books "canonical," i.e., the Bible. and others "non-canonical" or "extra-biblical." Sadly, in a binary way of thinking, if canonical is good, then non-canonical must be bad. That is a very shallow way of looking at things, but it reflects reality. 

These "outside of the Bible books" were never deemed as “holy” or “inspired” in Jewish communities that read them or copied them, but they were nevertheless popular and considered useful spiritual literature that added to human wisdom. The Jewish world of spiritual literature was far broader and more extensive than the canonical texts that Christians came to accept as their own. That is where non-canonical apocalyptic books came from. 

Here are some short summaries of a few such Jewish books that focus on the apocalyptic perspectives, the visions of God's realm, prophecy, the Messiah, and things to come. These are just a few examples. 

**The Book of Enoch (The Book of Watchers)**, also known as 1 Enoch belongs to c. 170 BCE, and some of its portions are presumed to be written much later. Enoch contains visions of history from the time of Enoch up to the Hellenistic era and looks toward the approaching end of days. It is probably the most useful for the interpreters of NT and Revelation. The Messiah is called “the Son of Man” in Enoch. Enoch’s history speaks of “weeks” understood as specific periods of time that appear to be varied in their length but all leading to the age to come.

[1 Enoch, The Book of Watchers: New TranslationThe Book of Enoch is a well-known Jewish composition from the Second Temple era. Archaic English translations of Enoch are in the Public Domain and all over the Internet. This new translation presents the ancient text in modern, easy-to-read English. The primary goal of this new translation was to produce![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-27.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1EN-cover1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/1-enoch/)

**The Book of Jubilees** is date to c. 150 BCE. It may not be completely apocalyptic in its aim, but it contains a considerable amount of Jewish apocalyptic thinking. but it belongs to the same milieu and contains definite apocalyptic features. The jubilees are of course refer to the special years calculated in seven sets of sevens (forty-nine) according to Torah or simply “weeks”. The book speaks of restoration; humans and nature will be transformed, while the forces of evil will be subdued by God.

**The Sibylline Oracles** is dated to c. 150 BCE. Its contents were utilized and edited by Christian scribes of later generations but scholars generally agree that several surviving sections are clearly of Jewish origin (Books III, IV and V especially). It is a Greek work of Hellenistic Jews who imitated the famous pagan oracles. The prophecies are spoken by a prophetess or Sibyl, who, according to period lore, was Noah’s daughter-in-law. The oracles focus on the coming age, peace, and the flourishing of the messianic era.

**The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs** belong to c. 140 BCE also slightly edited and improved by later Christian scribes. These are supposed to be the last words of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel) addressed to their descendants. The testaments are very ethical and instructive in nature but each of them contains predictions of what will happen in the last days.

**Psalms of Solomon** are usually dated to c. 50 BCE and are only partially apocalyptic. Psalms 17 and 18, however, speak frankly about Davidic Messiah, the messianic era, his reign and vindication of the poor and oppressed who will be glorified in their resurrection.

[The Psalms of Solomon 1-3 AudioThe Psalms of Solomon are a collection of eighteen Jewish poetic compositions from around the second or first century BCE. They were originally composed in Hebrew or possibly in Aramaic. But the oldest manuscripts that have survived to our times are the Greek and Syrian Aramaic translations of the original![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-29.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/PSol1c.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/psalms-of-solomon-audio/)

**The Assumption of Moses** is most probably written around 6-30 AD in Aramaic but survived only partially in Greek and Latin translations. In this apocalyptic book Moses is the hero who foresees Israel’s history from the conquest of Canaan to the 1st century. He highlights the persecution under Syrian king Antiochus IV (169-164 BCE) predicting the end of age.

**2 Enoch (the Book of the Secrets of Enoch)** belongs to the 1st century CE. The book appears to have been written in Greek by a Jewish author, but best manuscripts exist in Slavonic language. Many scholars see some evidence of Christian tampering with its original message. Enoch’s visions describe his trip through seven heavens and God’s redemptions of Israel from ancient times to the 1st century. The book mentions seven millennia, which are supposed to conclude in the final judgment.

**The Testament of Abraham** is dated to 1st century CE. It retells various visions of Abraham, his interaction with angel Michael and his trip to havens. Abraham sees glimpses of final judgment and is told that the human history will consist of seven ages (just like in 2 Enoch).

[Sample the Apocalypse of AbrahamMost people have never heard of The Apocalypse of Abraham (התגלות אברהם, hitgalut Avraham). It is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic text believed to have been written between 70 CE and 150 CE. Like many midrash stories about Abraham, it extols faith in one powerful and very real God. I recently![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-28.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/ApAbr1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/sample-the-apocalypse-of-abraham/)

**2 Esdras (The Apocalypse of Ezra or 4 Esdras)** is dated to the very end of the 1st century. Many scholars believe that chapters 3-14 are typically Jewish, but the introductory and concluding chapters appear to have been edited by later generations of Christ-followers. The book retells the seven visions of Ezra in Babylon. It speaks of the Messiah, resurrection, symbolic beasts similar to Daniel’s visions the “Son of Man” who comes on the clouds of heaven and destroys his enemies.

**2 Baruch (Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch)** belongs to c. 100-130 CE. The book seems to depend on 2 Esdars and addresses the question of suffering and defeat of evil. The author speaks of 12 troubling events that will usher in the Messianic age, the resurrection of the righteous, and the judgment of the wicked.

[The Book of 1 Baruch: New TranslationThe Book of Baruch (ספר ברוך, Sepher Baruch), also known as 1 Baruch, is a non-canonical text attributed to Baruch ben Neriyah (ברוך בן נריה), a scribe and close associate of the prophet Jeremiah. The current version of the text we have today was likely put together by a Jewish![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-32.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1Bar-cover.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-book-of-baruch/)

**The Qumran Scrolls (Dead Sea Scrolls)** have many fragmental apocalyptic passages. For example, 1QM fragment (The War Scroll) describes the end-time battle between forces of good and evil. The author utilizes Ezekiel 38 and applies it to the events of the 1st century BCE but in a cosmic or heavenly perspective.

These books offer immense value to students of the Bible. Their language, ideas, and concepts are in many ways complementary to the works of canonical literature. Because they come from Jewish antiquity, they speak the same language as biblical apocalyptic books, and thus, they are much better sources of reference than any modern apocalyptic notions or ideas. Many of these books are available in the public domain for free (often in older English translations). 

📚

Below is my new release, which at the moment is severely lacking some readers' reviews. If you would be so inclined to write a review, it would go a long way in helping others discover this book on Amazon... 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/All-Enoch-Front-2025-1.jpg) 

#### The Books of Enoch: Three Visions in New Translation 

****This volume is a collection of updated and easy-to-read modern English translations of three visions:** ****The Book of Watchers (1 Enoch), The Book of Secrets (2 Enoch), and The Book of Palaces (3 Enoch).** Countless readers of Enoch enjoy ancient stories but are often discouraged by struggling through the obscure and archaic language of older translations. This new and updated translation removes such obstacles. This collection of three visions of Enoch is ****supplemented with study footnotes** to aid curious readers and students of ancient apocryphal and Jewish literature alike. So, immerse yourself into the world of Enoch literature, and now, not only read the stories but listen to them in audio format!

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4l4eOLC?ref=pshir.com)
### Study the Three Visions of Enoch!
URL: https://www.pshir.com/study-the-three-visions-of-enoch/
Last updated: 2025-05-20T17:49:29.000Z
Over the years of teaching, I have often referred my students to the books of Enoch. But most of the time, I did so with some reservations. I knew that the broadly distributed copies they would likely come across would be littered with archaic and hard-to-digest language. Finally, between 2023 and 2024, I spent considerable time revising the translations of all three books of Enoch, publishing them as they were ready. Now, I have decided to assemble them into one volume as a collection, ["The Books of Enoch: Three Visions in New Translation."](https://amzn.to/4ciay7D?ref=pshir.com) 

But that is not all... In this edition, I decided to go a bit deeper in exploring the ancient texts and supplied each individual book of Enoch with introductions, notes, biblical references, and suggested parallel passages of interest. In my notes, I focused on unique names and terms that may not be very familiar to readers. I highlighted some pertinent linguistic features and mentioned occasional variant readings. My general explanatory notes were not designed to explain away the texts themselves, however, but rather to encourage an independent study of Enoch and stimulate a look beyond the text to broader ideas. The notes are for those who want to delve beyond the surface reading, but they are non-invasive and easy to ignore. 

I deliberately decided to publish this three-in-one volume in a slightly larger format (6x9) for ease of reading, as well as made it available in both paperback and hardcover. For Kindle readers, I highly recommend getting the audio version and simply following along. It's a whole new way of experiencing the story. In antiquity, most people were listeners, not readers. The books of Enoch are fascinating, and it's my hope that the footnotes in this collection of all three visions will be helpful as you explore these ancient Jewish apocalyptic texts on a new level. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/All-Enoch-Front-2025-1.jpg) 

#### The Books of Enoch: Three Visions in New Translation 

****This volume is a collection of updated and easy-to-read modern English translations of three visions:** ****The Book of Watchers (1 Enoch), The Book of Secrets (2 Enoch), and The Book of Palaces (3 Enoch).** Countless readers of Enoch enjoy ancient stories but are often discouraged by struggling through the obscure and archaic language of older translations. This new and updated translation removes such obstacles. This collection of three visions of Enoch is ****supplemented with study footnotes** to aid curious readers and students of ancient apocryphal and Jewish literature alike. So, immerse yourself into the world of Enoch literature, and now, not only read the stories but listen to them in audio format!

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4l4eOLC?ref=pshir.com)
### Baring Your Head
URL: https://www.pshir.com/bearing-your-head/
Last updated: 2025-05-13T21:31:25.000Z
In Vayikra, in Leviticus 21, verses 10-11 speak to a priest, who is the greatest among his brothers because he was anointed, should not tear his garments or bare his head. He should not defile himself even if his parents died because he was anointed to serve in the holy place. In Hebrew, Torah says, **et rosho lo yifrah,** “his head he shall not uncover,” **uvigadav lo yifras** “and his garments he shall not tear.” Why would he be expected to do so in the first place? Because the context of these verses is death. 

Listen?

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### Listen to The Apocalypse of Abraham, Chapters 1-6
URL: https://www.pshir.com/apocalypse-of-abraham-1-6/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T15:36:36.000Z
Recently, I created several videos where I offer some audio readings of segments from Jewish compositions that people might have never read, which I have translated. If you are not familiar, The Apocalypse of Abraham (התגלות אברהם, *hitgalut Avraham*) is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic text that scholars estimate was composed sometime between 70 CE and 150 CE. Like many midrash stories about Abraham, it extols faith in one powerful and very real personal God. As one might expect, it's a story of faith. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

[The Apocalypse of Abraham: New TranslationThe Apocalypse of Abraham (התגלות אברהם, Hitgalut Avraham) is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic text believed to have been written between 70 and 150 CE. While the surviving manuscripts are in Old Slavonic, it is widely accepted that the original composition was in a Semitic language, evident from the presence of![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-16.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1aAbr-cover.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/apocalypse-of-abraham/)

The Apocalypse of Abraham is also one of several shorter translations included in my “Unheard Voices of Hebrew Kings and Prophets” book. Others are the Prayer of Manasseh, the Book of Baruch, the Psalms of Solomon, the Testament of Moses, the Lives of the Prophets, the Apocalypse of Moses… You can find the New Translation [here!](https://amzn.to/3WKip6v?ref=pshir.com)
### Isolate from Culture or Fight It?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/isolate-from-culture/
Last updated: 2025-05-04T14:00:05.000Z
Are the Essenes the same people as the Jewish Qumran Sect? Who are the Zealots, and why does Josephus dislike them so much? Pinchas Shir helps us better understand the diverse beliefs among the Jews during the Second Temple Period by pointing out the similarities and differences. Stay tuned till the end of the episode when we discuss where these Jewish groups went and whether it is possible to follow their footsteps.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### The Path of Hezekiah's Tunnel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-path-hezeikiah-tunnel/
Last updated: 2025-04-30T14:00:22.000Z
The Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem carries a unique name, alluding to the "one who was sent." I have recently shared a couple of articles about the connection between this unique place and Jesus' miracles. I realize that such articles often fuel further curiosity and research about key landmarks in Israel. My writings typically demonstrate how geography, archaeology, and original languages often allow us to see so much deeper into the familiar biblical stories. A point I frequently make is how our knowledge of context literally makes these stories come alive in a new way. Hopefully, I was already able to show you some of that in my articles and videos. 

[The Gentle Waters of ShiloahNo doubt you have heard about the famed water source of ancient Jerusalem called Siloam. When someone hears Siloam, they immediately go to John’s gospel (Ch 9), and the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. Yes, that amazing miracle happened at this unique pool in Jerusalem. In![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-30.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/sil2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/gentle-waters-of-shiloah/)

Well, the story of Siloam goes much deeper (pun intended). The pool is fed with the fresh waters of the Gihon spring that travel via a tunnel. How they were able to reach from the nearby valley is a story worth studying on its own. An underground waterway was King Hezekiah’s creative solution to the city’s water problem during the enemy siege. He designed it to supply fresh water to those hidden behind the city walls.

Hezekiah’s water system was an engineering wonder that included the hewing of a 533-meter-long tunnel in the depths of the rock. There is a lot of fascinating and biblically relevant history tied to so many places in ancient Jerusalem. Siloam is one of those locations that keeps speaking to us through the ages, and each time the message is that God does not abandon his children. 

[Waters Bursting ForthTo readers of the Bible, Siloam (Σιλωάμ) is a familiar water source in ancient Jerusalem. It was there that Jesus healed the man born blind (John 9). In Hebrew, the pool is called Shiloach (שִׁלֹחַ) or Shiloah, meaning “sent.” Yeshua (Jesus) saw himself as שָׁלִיחַ (shaliach)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-31.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/bubling-waters.png)](https://www.pshir.com/waters-bursting-forth/)

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#### Read Hebrew in 22 Days or Less

Learn how to read Hebrew in 22 days or less, studying only one letter of the Hebrew Alphabet per day. This book will get you reading short Hebrew words on the very first day. The authors will walk you through all 22 Hebrew letters, giving you clear instructions, plenty of examples and easy-to-follow practice to get you reading Hebrew immediately.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kp2CVI?ref=pshir.com)
### Wisdom Jousting Pharisees
URL: https://www.pshir.com/wisdom-jousting-pharisees/
Last updated: 2025-04-30T12:26:58.000Z
We start with the Hasidim and discuss how the Pharisees emerged from this group. While the Sadducees were Temple-focused, the Pharisees were focused on purity in everyday life. They were an of-the-people-for-the-people kind of group scattered throughout Israel and the diaspora. Pinchas Shir helps us understand how the Pharisees used Scripture and why they appear to be arguing with Jesus all the time. Curious to listen in on our conversation? 

The Israel Bible Podcast is hosted by my colleague, Dr. Cyndi Parker. This is Part 2 of a much longer discussion. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/3Books1.jpg) 

#### ****Second Temple Era Jewish Literature**

This collection assembles English translations of Jewish writings from the Second Temple Era and other related Jewish spiritual texts from antiquity.

[See them on Amazon.com](https://amzn.to/49f7sy0?ref=pshir.com)
### Who's Who in the Gospels?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/whos-who-in-the-gospels-cop/
Last updated: 2025-04-23T14:00:29.000Z
What was Judaism like in the Second Temple period? It was diverse. Very diverse. In this discussion, Pinchas Shir tells us about where that diversity came from and why we primarily talk about four divisions of Judaism from that time. As the dialogue progressed, we ended up focusing on the Temple-oriented Sadducees, who had positions of power and political connections. Curious? Listen in on the conversation.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Stand on the Rock
URL: https://www.pshir.com/stand-on-the-rock/
Last updated: 2026-07-09T15:46:41.000Z
When this particular Hebrew poem is read in translation, its words sound very familiar to many Christian audiences. Why? Like Moses, Yeshua spoke very similar words, repeating the words preserved in Deuteronomy. Like Moshe, he criticized certain people who surrounded him, calling them “a perverse and crooked generation.” These words stem from the Ha’azinu poem. Like many before him, Yeshua called on God’s children to truly be the children of their heavenly Father. That means imitating their father, extending mercy, and seeking justice.

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Kap_Tor-1.png) 

#### The Living Torah by Aryeh Kaplan (Hebrew-English)

This edition of the Torah features a Hebrew text of the Five Books of Moses and a new English translation by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. As a translator, Kaplan leans quite a bit on Targum Onkelos, and uses Aramaic to elucidate the text better. The volume is supplied with traditional commentaries and notes, maps, tables, charts and more. This new updated edition features a better layout then the previous versions of the Torah. If anyone wishes to read the books of Moses and be exposed to an orthodox Jewish take on these ancient words this translation and commentary do a superb job. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4ipCLvc?ref=pshir.com)
### Waters Bursting Forth
URL: https://www.pshir.com/waters-bursting-forth/
Last updated: 2025-04-16T14:00:58.000Z
To readers of the Bible, Siloam (Σιλωάμ) is a familiar water source in ancient Jerusalem. It was there that Jesus healed the man born blind (John 9). In Hebrew, the pool is called Shiloach (שִׁלֹחַ) or Shiloah, meaning "sent." Yeshua (Jesus) saw himself as שָׁלִיחַ (*shaliach*), a son sent to represent the father, saying that he "must carry out the works of Him who sent me..." So, in John 9, the sent one sends the blind man to the waters of the pool called "the sent one" so that this man, blind from birth, can begin to see the world around him and testify of the "one who was sent." [I hope you appreciate the symbolism hidden in the original language of John's narrative. ](https://www.pshir.com/gentle-waters-of-shiloah/)

However, I wish to direct your attention to another gospel story that I suspect happened right around Siloam. A story that I believe many readers do not fully appreciate because they overlook the Hebrew wordplay and symbolism hidden behind the familiar words and narrative. Yes, studying Greek aids one immensely in understanding the gospels, but behind all these stories, Hebrew, as a foundation, still holds so many keys. I believe that Messiah's call to all who are thirsty (John 7:37) is directly connected to the Pool of Siloam and probably took place right there, on the steps of the pool. If you allow me to share why I suspect this happened at Siloam, you might suddenly see so much more in Messiah's iconic words. 

So, let's begin with some key context. In John 7:2, we learn that Jesus was in Jerusalem and *Sukkot* (סֻכּוֹת), the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) was approaching. I have a hunch that many verses in this chapter describe what happened during this elaborate festival commanded in the Torah (Lev 23:33-44; Deut 16:13-15; Ex 23:16, 34:22). This a seven-day-long celebration typically lingered into the eighth day because of the joy and expectations of the worshippers and pilgrims. 

The festival looks back to Exodus and deliberately depicts the tangible and observable reality of God's presence among his people at that moment in history. In Torah, the Israelites are commanded to live in temporary shelters to commemorate how God supplied all they needed, and their closeness to the Almighty was enough of a shelter. In every generation the reenactment of Exodus days created an anticipation of a return to that type of closeness when miracles occurred on a daily basis. The abundant agricultural provisions, thanksgiving, and prayers for future cycles of life-giving rain coincided with yearnings for the divine restoration of the kingdom of Israel. 

People meditated on Isaiah's promises to King Ahaz, a child named Imanu *el* (עִמָּנוּ אֵל), "God with us." This name became a proclamation of faith in Isaiah 8:10\. The expectation of God's presence and protection that Isaiah promised to Ahaz was yearned for deeply in the days of Herod. And a festival like Sukkot was linked to the popular expectations of the Messiah because of the promises of Zechariah 14: 16-19\. 

[The World of Hebrew Prophets: 01 Historical GeographyThis video is a lecture delivered to a group of students at a Christian University. It’s an introductory walkthrough of the map which highlights key civilizations that surrounded ancient Israel influenced the Hebrews and sometimes brought significant transformations to Israelites. It is focused on the development of nations and specific![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-21.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Pro5-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-01-historical-geography/)

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### Who is the King of Glory?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/who-is-the-king-of-glory/
Last updated: 2025-04-13T14:00:06.000Z
Psalms are ancient Jewish poetry, composed in classical Hebrew, yet somehow, these ancient songs, even in translation, still move people all over the world. Psalm 24 anticipates the King of Glory (*mekekh hakavod*, מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד), who would bring salvation to Israel. The words of this modern song are inspired by this vision of deliverer in Psalm 24\. 

Who would ascend the holy hill; then stand there quietly and still?  
One who speaks no words of lies and no oaths deceive the skies.  
Dwelling in the holy place clothed in purity and grace  
שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם  
Open ancient doors  
  
מִי זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד  
Lift up your heads O gates of old  
מִי זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד  
Ancient doors the story unfold  
  
Who can stand with hands so pure, heart so clean, intentions sure?  
Those who chase no false delight live in truth and walk the light  
Who would dwell on holy hill, serve the Lord, and do His will?  
One who is ready to redeem people from their sins.   
He who is the King of Glory worthy of this song and story  
שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם  
Open ancient doors  
  
מִי זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד  
Lift up your heads O gates of old  
מִי זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד  
Ancient doors the story unfold.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Teh-Art-2.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Interlinear Psalms

For those who love Psalms and especially love the way they sound in Hebrew, this handy volume presents them in an interlinear format. As it is with most poetry, sometimes translations are not so straightforward, and it's so easy to see what original words lay behind the English text. This volume allows students of Hebrew to quickly build their biblical Hebrew vocabulary and, at the same time, immerse themselves in their favorite Psalms. I have used it for both study and for devotional reading as well. And I can recommend it for those who would like to try the Psalms in original and grow in their comprehension of the biblical language as they read. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kY9k5e?ref=pshir.com)
### The Spirituality of Pesach and Omer Customs
URL: https://www.pshir.com/spirituality-of-pesach-and-omer-customs/
Last updated: 2025-04-09T14:00:18.000Z
As an educator, I experiment with different types of teaching. Most often, in my videos, I present all sorts of academic, historical, biblical, and religious information in classroom lecture format. Periodically, I also lead spiritual discussions, which are educational, but they are meant to be a learning of a different sort. This teaching video is a *shiur* (a lesson) about the spirituality of Passover and Omer customs. The objective of this lesson is to focus on questions rarely raised in academic studies. Though I lead the discussion, the comments and questions from the participants are very valuable and insightful. I am very fortunate to have a diverse, spiritual, and very mixed audience of Jews and non-Jews who embody a broad array of views on most topics. That is what makes such open-ended spiritual talks truly interesting. I hope you will enjoy this one. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

🎬

People enjoy watching videos online but are often annoyed by advertising. Here at PSHIR.COM, the teachings are add-free, but hosting such videos is not free. ****Please consider a Paid Subscription** and gain access to a library of add-free educational content in the area of Biblical and Jewish studies.

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### The Riddle of Passover Egg
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-riddle-of-passover-egg/
Last updated: 2025-04-06T14:00:43.000Z
When Jews celebrate Passover today, the festive tables feature a special plate with traditional foods tased during the celebration. There are bitter herbs of several kinds to remember the bitterness of slavery in Egypt (Num 9:11). There is also a lamb bone to remember the sacrifice that was offered for the firstborn (Ex 12: 7-13). And to some people’s surprise, there is also an egg בֵּיצָה *(beitzah)* on the traditional Passover plates. The explanation you will often hear is that the egg represents the cycle of life. Some will reason that it is somehow tied to Springtime and renewal. That sounds as if the egg is a symbol of fertility, just like Easter bunnies. Why would an item like this end up on the Passover plate? What does it have to do with the Exodus story? 

A roasted egg on a plate is a thoroughly Jewish symbol. It's not an Easter egg that got lost and ended up in the wrong neighborhood. And it has nothing to do with Spring or fertility. The answer is right in front of us. But we must know where to look to solve the riddle of the Passover egg.

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### The Gentle Waters of Shiloah
URL: https://www.pshir.com/gentle-waters-of-shiloah/
Last updated: 2025-04-03T14:48:14.000Z
No doubt you have heard about the famed water source of ancient Jerusalem called Siloam. When someone hears Siloam, they immediately go to John’s gospel (Ch 9), and the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. Yes, that amazing miracle happened at this unique pool in Jerusalem. In Greek, the water source is called Siloam (Σιλωάμ), and in Hebrew, its *Shiloach* (שִׁלֹחַ) or Shiloah. The English rendering of its name is not as important as the meaning that the original hides. People read this gospel story today and rarely realize how much is buried beneath the surface in the original Hebrew meaning of the pool's name. So, allow me to bring in a passage from the prophets where this same famous water source is mentioned by name. It might lead to a deeper appreciation of the context that is often completely missed. 

**"Because people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah... behold, the LORD is about to bring on them the abundant waters of a mighty river..." (Is 8:6-7)**

In Hebrew, the water source the prophet mentions in his warning is Shiloach (שִׁלֹחַ). And to fully appreciate the name symbolism, we have to be aware that it comes from the verb "to send" or "to commission" (*shalach*; שָׁלַח). Isaiah compares Israel's God to the easy-flowing "waters of Shiloah" (*mei Sheloach*; מֵי הַשִּׁלֹחַ). He is often gentle with his people, and the "waters walk/move slowly or leisurely" (הַהֹלְכִים לְאַט). What Israel's God is contrasted with are the fast-moving and violent waters of Ashur (אַשּׁוּר) Assyria. This judgment will not be gentle. In Hebrew, the wordplay and poetic symbolism are very obvious. But it is often lost in translations.

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### Hear the Wisdom of Ben Sira!
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hear-the-wisdom-of-ben-sira/
Last updated: 2025-03-28T16:54:54.000Z
A remarkable Jewish book came out of Egypt in the second century BCE. It's an impressive collection of Proverbs-like teachings of a Jew named Yeshua, son of Eleazar, son of Sira. The book's prologue tells us that a grandson found his grandfather's teachings and decided to translate them into Greek so that everyone could learn from them. This extrabiblical Jewish book addresses ancient Jewish views on death, happiness, honor, shame, sin, money, proper speech, social justice, table manners, and women. The book covers so much ground, but like many ancient books, its language can be hard to follow. However, I recently published an updated, easy-to-read version of the book, and I invite all my readers to hear a sample. 

[My new translation is on Amazon](https://amzn.to/40lbBh9?ref=pshir.com) (in paper, e-book and audio format), however, paid subscribers to PSHIR.COM can read it and flip through all the pages of the book right here! 

[The Book of Ben Sira: New TranslationThis extrabiblical Jewish book was written in Hebrew around 2 Century BCE. The book is full of proverbial wisdom teachings, peppered with pre-rabbinic spiritual and moral ideas often resounded in the gospels and in apostolic era letters. Imagine hearing perspectives on death, happiness, honor, shame, sin, money, proper speech, social![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-20.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/BS-cover2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-book-of-ben-sira/)
### The Message of Joseph's Name
URL: https://www.pshir.com/josephs-name/
Last updated: 2026-05-11T14:20:51.000Z
Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel (Gen 35:24), is a vibrant character in the Hebrew Bible. We know that God is with Joseph through the ups and downs of his life, but we do not always notice the significance that the Bible assigns to his name. We identify with Jacob’s love for Joseph as we imagine him wearing an elaborate and colorful robe (Gen 37:3); we are shocked by his brothers’ jealousy and hatred when they sell him into Egyptian slavery (37:28); we are upset when he is falsely accused and thrown into Potiphar’s jail (39:20); and we rejoice in his vindication when Pharaoh appoints him to the highest post in his kingdom (41:38-39). Finally, after Joseph confronts the brothers who betrayed him and reveals his identity amidst an outpouring of emotion, we are deeply moved (45:1-3). All these important and impactful events become even more significant when we understand that Joseph’s name alludes to the idea of “gathering together,” so that the biblical figure fulfills God’s vision of unity and *shalom*.

Joseph’s name (יוֹסֵף; yosef) is based on a Hebrew verb that literally means “he takes away.” What can be so significant in this meaning? Nothing on the surface. But ancient Hebrew is a root-based language, and the root of his name is אָסַף (*asaf*), also means “to gather, collect, bring in, or assemble.” A helpful keyword with this same root is אָסִיף (*asif*), meaning “harvest” — literally "that which was collected or gathered." Joseph’s name is related to the idea of “taking away” in the sense of “gathering” (just as the crops are taken away from the field) as occurs during the harvest.

Now consider the dream of the grain sheaves bowing to Joseph (Gen 37:7) in light of his name’s allusion to “gathering” and “harvesting.” Suddenly, Joseph is “taken away” to Egypt (removed from his homeland). At Potiphar’s house, Joseph was put in charge of everything, the “household and field,” except the food his master ate (39:5-6). In jail, Joseph encountered the royal cupbearer and a chief baker, people whose livelihood is directly associated with food and harvest as well (40:1). Moreso, Pharaoh’s dream was about the harvest (41:26-27), and as a result of this dream explanation, Joseph was put in charge of Egypt’s harvest and future food supply (41:47-49). Are you beginning to see a common thread running through these stories? There are so many more connections to the idea of “harvesting” and “gathering” in Joseph’s narrative and his name is a key!

In the end, Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt because of a famine (a lack of harvested food) and, eventually, the entire family is gathered there. Thus, Joseph’s entire life reflects the notion of “gathering” and “harvesting” all bound up within his Hebrew name! Considering the Hebrew terminology that stands behind these stories can help us see Scripture in new and deeper ways. But we have to look below the surface of English to see it. 

Maybe it’s time that you committed to taking your first steps in the study of Biblical Hebrew? However much you decide to advance yourself in this area, it will only enhance your walk of faith. There is a book I co-authored a couple of years ago that might get you started. I am pleased to say that other readers really love it. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/02/Read-Hebrew-72.jpg) 

#### Read Hebrew in 22 Days or Less

Learn how to read Hebrew in 22 days or less, studying only one letter of the Hebrew Alphabet per day. This book will get you reading short Hebrew words on the very first day. The authors will walk you through all 22 Hebrew letters, giving you clear instructions, plenty of examples and easy-to-follow practice to get you reading Hebrew immediately.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kp2CVI?ref=pshir.com)
### Meditative Journey in Israel's Wilderness
URL: https://www.pshir.com/meditative-journey/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T14:00:41.000Z
Bamidbar (במדבר) means "in the wilderness." It is not just a place but a metaphor for the inner journey, where, in the silence, you can hear the still, small voice of wisdom and discover clarity. As the golden dunes, rocky outcrops, and ancient ruins unfold before your eyes, let your spirit be still, and your mind reflect on the timeless connection between the land and biblical teachings. Perfect for moments of meditation, study, or relaxation, this video transports you to the peaceful, sacred deserts. The Dead Sea and Masada views, Ibex in the Judean hills, peaceful Negev and Wadi Qelt scenery, vast Judean wilderness, Jericho, Makhtesh Ramon, Ein Avdat, and Ein Gedi oasis. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

Enjoy the sights, and allow the music to lead you on a meditative journey as you ponder your favorite biblical passages. This video is perfect for meditation, relaxation, or simply unwinding after a long day. It offers an opportunity for purposeful moments of quiet introspection and spiritual renewal. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/01/40Days-Cover-5x8-06-13-23-front-sm.jpg) 

#### 40 Days of Hebrew Devotions

****From Amazon customer:** “40 DAYS of HEBREW DEVOTIONS, focuses on one daily Bible passage with a short discussion of significant Hebrew words… including a transliteration of pronunciation, & the meanings. A prayer using a Hebrew communal format ends the day's devotional. To read in one sitting (as I did last night for starters) & to use it as a daily devotional for 40 days or more, becomes a spiritual & intellectual journey, providing greater insights into these Scriptures than previously known. I recommend it for persons of either Jewish or Christian faiths or even people who are interested in historical cultural understanding.” ****Another reader’s review:** “..this book helps take a deep dive in a way I can understand. Worth every penny I paid.” ****Another Amazon reader:** “This book is for English readers, however it includes a lot of beginner-style Hebrew in it. It's a great, short daily read that is only about five minutes, and you find yourself thinking about it the rest of the day. I love this book.”

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3B3if39?ref=pshir.com)
### Covenant Relationships
URL: https://www.pshir.com/covenant-relationships/
Last updated: 2025-03-16T14:00:15.000Z
Human memory can fail, but in the Torah, it’s God who renews his covenant. In Deut 29:12, Hashem speaks about the need to establish his people as a people. It says, ***leman haqim otkha hayom*** “to establish you today.” God promised the patriarchs to produce a people, a nation out of them. But the identity of the people does not just materialize overnight. Hashem established it for Israel through many formative shared events. Yet Almighty wishes not only to establish Israel as a people in this text. He also desires to truly be their God, ***yihyeh lekha leElohim*** “to be as God to you.”

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Deeper Than Skin
URL: https://www.pshir.com/deeper-than-skin/
Last updated: 2025-11-21T13:41:53.000Z
The purpose of the priest is to serve Hashem and stand between God and his people. His place is in the center of the camp. But some people are very far away. They need us to go to them. And that means we may have to leave our holy place to leave the camp for their sake. Maybe you have encountered people whom you see as unclean and even defiling.

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### All, Everyone, and Anything in the Bible
URL: https://www.pshir.com/all-everyone-and-anything/
Last updated: 2025-03-05T15:00:05.000Z
Everyone knows that translations from one language to another can be misleading, and sometimes important ideas and concepts get lost in translation. When it comes to the Bible, that is true as well. As hard as translators work, the readers can still misconstrue the meaning of the text. The context becomes extremely valuable in such cases. All too often, general references common to English can become the enemies of sound biblical interpretations. 

> Simple words like any, all, every, everything, none, no one, always, never and etc. are very problematic in the Bible. 

We use such words rhetorically in speech, as exaggerations, as generalizations, and most often not in a literal way. General and absolute words like these, when taken at their face value, when reading the Bible narrowly, literally, and dogmatically, excluding sensible possibilities, can make God's words sound absolutely nonsensical. Allow me to illustrate...

![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1604282742204-1e7bb6ffbd9f?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=MnwxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDh8fGdhcyUyMHN0YXRpb258ZW58MHx8fHwxNjM1NDU0NDQ2&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&q=80&w=2000)

Photo by [Erik Mclean](https://unsplash.com/@introspectivedsgn?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)

On a road trip with my family, I make a stop. I walk into a gas station with my wife and say to her, “I am so thirsty!” My wife asks, “What do you want to drink, Dear?” I say, “Anything! Please, get me something good”, as I head for the restroom.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Adonai Roee - a Song Inspired by Psalm 23
URL: https://www.pshir.com/adonai-roee-a-song-inspired-by-psalm-23-2/
Last updated: 2025-03-02T16:27:05.000Z
This song is in English and Hebrew, inspired by the message of Psalm 23\. Psalm 23 is one of the most favorite in the Bible. This composition is a meditative journey that prompts you to allow yourself to feel the strength of the Shepherd’s hand as you are led to a place of peace and abundant blessing. Trust is required; faith is what it really takes to call on the Shepherd who guides us through the valleys of our lives. Give it a try?

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/AS_TNK-1.png) 

#### ArtScroll Hebrew-English Tanakh 

This is a beautifully done hardbound traditional Tanakh (Torah, Prophets, and Writings). The edition features both the Hebrew text and its English translation. Besides a clear presentation of biblical text, the valuable feature of this particular volume is the collection of traditional Jewish notes and short commentaries on various parts of the sacred text. The volume is over 2000 pages long, and the binding is excellent! This edition is available in different sizes - my favorite is 7x10.

[See it on Amazon!](https://amzn.to/3Tpm2hH?ref=pshir.com)
### "The Book of Ben Sira: New Translation" By Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-book-of-ben-sira/
Last updated: 2026-08-26T20:00:27.000Z
This extrabiblical Jewish book was written in Hebrew around the 2nd century BCE. The book is full of proverbial wisdom teachings, peppered with pre-rabbinic spiritual and moral ideas that often resound in the gospels and in apostolic-era letters. Imagine hearing perspectives on death, happiness, honor, shame, sin, money, proper speech, social justice, table manners, and women from a second-century BCE Jew named Yeshua (Jesus). The work is also known as "Ecclesiasticus" and as "Wisdom of Yeshua, son of Eleazar, son of Sira." [My new translation is on Amazon](https://amzn.to/40lbBh9?ref=pshir.com), but paid subscribers can read it right here!

Peek Inside the Book?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### No Judaism in Josephus
URL: https://www.pshir.com/no-judaism-in-josephus/
Last updated: 2025-02-23T15:00:50.000Z
This is a lecture by Daniel Boyarin, who taught at Hebrew University, Yale, Harvard, Yeshiva University, and now lectures at Berkley. Besides being a prolific writer, Professor Boyarin constantly challenges conventional scholarship with ideas that seem provocative but always well-researched. In this lecture, he proposes that Judaism is not an idea native to Jews. Furthermore, in the 1st-century writings of Josephus Flavius, the concept of "Judaism" as a Jewish religion simply does not exist! Intrigued? listen on...

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Purity Customs: Food, Hands and Beyond (~2.5 h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/purity-customs/
Last updated: 2025-09-03T19:25:37.000Z
This seminar explains various Jewish purity customs, such as washing hands and avoiding certain foods, as "fences" built around commandments that direct Israelites to be pure as they approach God (like in Ex 30:17-20). If you are not familiar with the rabbinic practice of "building fences" to protect people from transgressing commandments, it's easy to see this technique in practice in the Sermon on the Mount. As we study together, we consider how purity customs are depicted in the Letter of Aristeas and get into a discussion about John's baptism in Luke 3\. Besides the Bible, we peek into Mishna, Tractate Kelim, and Pirkei Avot and read from Avot deRabbi Natan to gain a better cultural understanding of ancient customs and ideas associated with spiritual and physical purity. Together, we discuss the Mark 7 handwashing incident to see how a common Jewish custom was completely missed and misunderstood.

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This Seminar on Purity Customs is over 2 hours long, and it was broken up into smaller segments for your convenience. It was recorded with a live audience, and you can hear participant's questions and feedback. Enjoy watching the videos, which are hosted add-free, but ****consider a paid subscription** to support this multimedia publication!

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### Price on Your Head
URL: https://www.pshir.com/price-on-your-head/
Last updated: 2025-02-16T15:00:55.000Z
In our weekly reading, Behukotai, Vaikra ch. 27, Leviticus, we encounter ***arakhin*** \- valuations related to vows made before Hashem. Torah is a very ancient document, which sometimes means it will be challenging for us to relate to the situations it describes. It speaks to a very different word. Nevertheless, I think we should try to relate to these instructions. Why would someone vow the value of a person to God? Most of us would struggle to think of such a scenario, but in antiquity, people vowed property to God, and they could even vow themselves. 

Listen?

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### The New Testament vs. New Covenant?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/new-testament-new-covenant/
Last updated: 2025-02-12T15:00:17.000Z
What is the difference between “Testament” and “Covenant”? In the Western world, many people are familiar with a “Final Will and Testament” — a legal document read when someone dies. The document expresses the wishes of the deceased, often in connection with estate and inheritance. As a unilateral declaration of one’s will, a “testament,” in this sense, is not the same as a "covenant," “contract” or “pact,” which necessitates an agreement between two or more parties. It's not hard to see the misalignment between the ideas of "covenant" and "testament."

The author of the Book of Hebrews makes an appeal to this Greek term to show that a “testament” (διαθήκη; *diatheke*) is initiated only after death (Heb 9:16-17). The English theological term “New Testament” comes from the Latin *Novum Testamentum* – The Latin for “New Testament”which is a translation of the Greek phrase καινὴ διαθήκη (*kaine diatheke*) that appears in the Septuagint (Jer 31:31 LXX; cf. Lk 22:20). Yet, upon closer examination, the original Hebrew term for “covenant” (בְּרִית; *berit*) does not line up to the idea of “testament” (διαθήκη; *diatheke*) exactly. So why would this particular Greek word be used in Luke, Hebrews, and 1 Corinthians (Lk 22:20, Heb 8:8; 9:11–15, Cor 11:25)? Hard to say, but perhaps the authors merely followed in the footsteps of the translators of the Jewish Bible into Greek who felt that this was the best word to translate the Hebrew “covenant” (בְּרִית; *berit*). We can't know this for sure.

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### Tu BiShvat: Tithes, 4 Cups and 7 Species
URL: https://www.pshir.com/tu-bishvat-tithes-4-cups-and-7-species-2/
Last updated: 2026-03-25T14:43:37.000Z
Jump into a segment of the teaching about the symbolism of TuBiShvat delivered in front of a mixed audience of Jews and Christians. To fully appreciate the pattern of restoration and redemption, we explore the agricultural concepts of *orlah*, bikkurim, and three tithes as they are expressed in the Torah. We look at the act of offering first fruits, tracing through the four cups of the TuBiShvat seder, and the bigger pattern that frames how we relate to God, who supplies our food.

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### All Books by Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/books/
Last updated: 2026-09-08T16:01:36.000Z
If you like perusing Pshir.com, then what are the odds you might enjoy my books? I invite you to consider the titles I highlight below in print, in digital format, or as audiobooks. **Paid Subscribers can flip through full digital versions of all these titles inside the** [**READ**](https://www.pshir.com/tag/pbooks/) **section**. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2026/08/Eco-cover.jpg) 

## Hearing Distant Echoes

This book offers an array of voices, a collection of literary excerpts from ancient Jewish books: Jubilees, Josephus, 4 Ezra, Qumran Scrolls, Talmud, Enoch, Baruch, Maccabees, Mishna, Judith, Apocalypse of Moses, Philo, Mishna, Ben Sira, Tosefta, and many others, fifty passages to be exact. These passages from extrabiblical books are meant to aid inquisitive students of antiquity in peering behind the veil of history and noticing the nuances of faith and culture, diverse beliefs, and the practices of ancient Jews as they themselves expressed them.

[See this Book on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4qaPXsF?ref=pshir.com) 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/10/All-B-cover2.jpg) 

## THE BOOKS OF BARUCH

Baruch ben Neriyah, a scribe and close associate of the prophet Jeremiah. Four Books have been attributed to him by tradition: The Book of Baruch, The Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, the Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch, and the Rest of the Words of Baruch. This collection was created with the hope that a new, easy-to-read translation would enable readers from all walks of life to explore the ancient lore. For those who wish to examine the ideas and terminology that come up in the text in a broader view, I included some study notes. 

[See this Book on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3WSR965?ref=pshir.com) 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/06/All-E-cover2-1.jpg) 

## THE BOOKS OF ENOCH

In this edition, I decided to go a bit deeper in exploring all three books of Enoch and supplied each individual composition with introductions, notes, biblical references, and suggested parallel passages of interest. In my notes, I focused on unique names and terms that may not be very familiar to modern readers. The notes are for those who want to delve beyond the surface reading, but they are non-invasive and easy to ignore if you simply want to enjoy a new culturally nuanced translation.

[See this Book on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4nWvoh2?ref=pshir.com) 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/06/3Books1-2-1-1.jpg) 

## Unheard Voices of Hebrew Kings and Prophets

Inside this book are new and updated translations of seven Jewish texts: ****Prayer of Manasseh, Book of Baruch, Psalms of Solomon, Testament of Moses, Lives of the Prophets, Apocalypse of Moses, and Apocalypse of Abraham.** Because these spiritual works are extra-canonical, their voices are often unheard. Curious? Let them speak to you.

[See this Book on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3WDH7pO?ref=pshir.com) 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2026/05/Un-cover2.jpg) 

## Unheard Wisdom of Hebrew Scribes and Teachers

This installment from the series "Unheard serries" contains modern and updated English translations of four Jewish texts: **The Letter of Aristeas, The Wisdom of Solomon, The Book of Ben Sira, and Biblical Antiquities of Philo.** It is not a secret that students of antiquity also survey many texts outside the Bible to understand the broader cultural context. These ancient texts enhance our understanding. 

[See this Book on Amazon](https://amzn.to/48N7lwd?ref=pshir.com) 

[**THE FIRST BOOK OF ENOCH**](https://amzn.to/3CiqU2v?ref=pshir.com)\>>> The First Book of Enoch is also called "The Book of Watchers" and Ethiopian Enoch. Outdated English translations of Enoch are in the Public Domain and can be found all over the Internet. What sets my rendition apart from others? My new translation presents the ancient text in modern and easy-to-read English, yet with a feeling that one is reading an ancient Semitic text. ([Listen to a sample on YouTube](https://youtu.be/Mxr7WjSDtww?si=l1FFpnYdcDiF3-1C&ref=pshir.com))

[**THE SECOND BOOK OF ENOCH**](https://amzn.to/42yf136?ref=pshir.com) \>>> Second Enoch, or "The Book of Secrets or Enoch," is an ancient Jewish book put together sometime during the first century CE. As the seer travels through the seven heavens, he gleans knowledge from the angels, which he passes on to his readers. This edition also includes intriguing lore about Melchizedek and his miraculous birth. 

[**THE THIRD BOOK OF ENOCH**](https://amzn.to/3Ctnh9Q?ref=pshir.com) \>>> Third Enoch is technically not from the Second Temple era, but a much later composition from around the sixth century CE. The story is about Rabbi Ismael's ascent to the heavenly realm and his encounter with Enoch himself. Unlike its predecessors, the style of 3 Enoch is heavily influenced by rabbinic Merkavah language and classical Talmudic traditions. ([Listen to a sample on YouTube](https://youtu.be/sKPDlr8wmaM?si=NmNg%5FVQWT4Ym8ZkR&ref=pshir.com))

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/02/BS-cover2.jpg)](https://amzn.to/4aPsqWl?ref=pshir.com)

[**THE BOOK OF BEN SIRA**](https://amzn.to/40QjRY2?ref=pshir.com) \>>> Ben Sira is a Jewish book from the Second Temple era, full of practical life advice and wisdom. Can you imagine a second-century BCE Jew named Yeshua (Jesus) telling you his thoughts about death, happiness, honor, shame, sin, money, proper speech, social justice, table manners, and women? That is exactly what this ancient text offers.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/06/Mis.jpg) 

## Missing Ingredients

Have you ever felt, as you read the Bible, that it makes no sense? You understand the words but not the meaning or the point the text is trying to make. The truth is - you are not alone. This book is not intended for someone who is new to the Bible or has never seriously studied it. It is meant for those who took plenty of time but still feel like something is missing. This book is for those who sense that there is more depth to those words and want to go deeper. 

[See this Book on Amazon](https://amzn.to/40IliXw?ref=pshir.com)
### Holiness and Wholeness
URL: https://www.pshir.com/holiness-and-wholeness/
Last updated: 2025-02-05T15:00:14.000Z
This etiquette of *shelomim* offering may sound strange to us today if we do not fully grasp the symbolism and the implications of the scenario Torah presents us. *Shelomim* is a special offering of well-being, shalom, and wholeness. It means everything is well between you and Hashem. A worshipper is not bringing it because of obligation, guilt, sin, oath, purification, request, or some other reason but simply as an act of worship. 

Listen?

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### Musical Journey Through the Wilderness
URL: https://www.pshir.com/journey-through-the-wilderness-2/
Last updated: 2025-02-02T15:00:53.000Z
Meditating and especially hearing God's voice is a challenge in a world filled with noise and distractions. But it's a healthy spiritual exercise, especially if you feel unsettled and agitated. If you have 30 minutes, I invite you to step into the wilderness to rediscover that quiet voice and connect with the divine presence that speaks in the silence of your heart. This musical meditative journey through the desert landscape is not just about finding external peace but about opening your soul to hear the ancient words that still speak today. Allow the music and scenery to be the background and focus on Almighty's presence, trying to perceive his voice in your life. I know this is not for everyone, but if you try it you might find it spiritually beneficial. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

This video is perfect for meditation, relaxation, or simply unwinding after a long day. It provides a calming escape from the chaos of daily life, offering moments of quiet introspection and spiritual renewal. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/01/40Days-Cover-5x8-06-13-23-front-sm.jpg) 

#### 40 Days of Hebrew Devotions

****From Amazon customer:** “40 DAYS of HEBREW DEVOTIONS, focuses on one daily Bible passage with a short discussion of significant Hebrew words… including a transliteration of pronunciation, & the meanings. A prayer using a Hebrew communal format ends the day's devotional. To read in one sitting (as I did last night for starters) & to use it as a daily devotional for 40 days or more, becomes a spiritual & intellectual journey, providing greater insights into these Scriptures than previously known. I recommend it for persons of either Jewish or Christian faiths or even people who are interested in historical cultural understanding.” ****Another reader’s review:** “..this book helps take a deep dive in a way I can understand. Worth every penny I paid.” ****Another Amazon reader:** “This book is for English readers, however it includes a lot of beginner-style Hebrew in it. It's a great, short daily read that is only about five minutes, and you find yourself thinking about it the rest of the day. I love this book.”

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3B3if39?ref=pshir.com)
### Listen to Chapters 38-43 of 2 Enoch
URL: https://www.pshir.com/listen-to-chapters-38-43-of-2-enoch/
Last updated: 2025-01-29T17:24:30.000Z
The Second Book of Enoch (Slavonic Enoch) or "The Book of Secrets or Enoch" is an ancient Jewish spiritual composition that follows the tradition of 1 Enoch. Analyzing the medieval manuscripts, scholars estimate the text's composition sometime after the second century CE. The "Book of Secrets" is not a sequel or even a part two of 1 Enoch, but another Jewish book that collects many similar traditions about Enoch and what he saw as he journeyed through the seven heavens. Intrigued? Jump into the story and give it a listen... 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

If you enjoyed listening, just consider that **in antiquity, most people did not read books; they listened to them.** People learned as someone else actually read out loud or told stories. This is how spiritual content was frequently consumed in the days before the printing press. Today, we are blessed to have books at our fingertips, which is a very modern experience. I am all about books, but listening can create an entirely different perception and alternative experience with the story. This video is an actual AI narration of the [1 Enoch I published on Audible](https://amzn.to/4j91KE1?ref=pshir.com). Enjoy! 

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/08/EN-Coll1-1.jpg)](https://amzn.to/4dIXYOc?ref=pshir.com)

🆕

By the way, if you are a fan of Enoch literature, be on the lookout for an announcement in the near future. I am working on a new publication of all the books of Enoch in one volume, with slightly improved and revised text, this time supplied with study notes!
### Students Discover Relics from Bar Kokhba Revolt
URL: https://www.pshir.com/relics-bar-kokhba-revolt/
Last updated: 2025-01-26T15:00:24.000Z
Israelis tend to take their history seriously, and it is not unusual for students to assist archaeologists to excavating, for example, the remains of a Jewish settlement dating to the Second Temple period. A group of Jerusalem high school students were searching the past to help finance their future. In an effort to raise funds for a Holocaust-studies youth delegation trip to Poland, 240 eleventh graders from Boyer High School left the confines of their classrooms to unearth relics from the Bar Kokhba Revolt, led by Simon Bar-Kochba, between 132 and 136 CE.

The Bar Kokhba Revolt is known as the Third Jewish Revolt – the final of three Jewish uprisings against the Romans due to religious and political persecution. It is estimated that many thousands of Jews died during the revolt, resulting in a massive depopulation of the communities inhabiting the Judean Hills. The excavations are being carried out with funding provided by the Construction and Housing Ministry in cooperation with the Israel Antiquities Authority prior to the construction of a new residential neighborhood in Ramat Beit Shemesh.

Students excavated remains of a Jewish settlement dating to the Second Temple period, including eight ritual baths, rock-hewn installations, and numerous underground hiding refugees from the time of Bar Kokhba Revolt. According to Sarah Hirshberg, Shua Kisilevitz and Sarah Levevi-Eilat, excavation directors on behalf of the Authority, the ancient settlement incorporated private ritual baths into residential quarters.

> “Each household had its own ritual bath and a cistern,” she said. “Some of the baths uncovered are simple, and others are more complex and include an otzar, or collection basin, into which the rainwater would drain.” Hirshberg continued: “It is interesting to note that the local inhabitants adhered strictly to the rules regarding purity and impurity.”

Underneath the dwellings and rock-hewn installations, the students and archeologists discovered a “winding labyrinth” of hiding refuges connected to sophisticated and elaborate complexes. The Bar Kokhba Revolt was a populist uprising and many zealots fought to the bitter end.

> “In some of the underground complexes, the rebels breached a cistern to provide those in hiding with access to water,” explained Kisilevitz. “One of the caves also yielded intact ceramic jars and cooking pots that were probably used by the rebels. The finds show that the settlement continued to exist even after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.”

Construction and Housing Minister Yoav Galant noted the importance of the students learning first-hand about their history.

> “The past and present are coming together in a city that has known division, and now lives in harmony,” said Galant. “There is nothing more positive than the fact that students learning about the attempts to annihilate their people are involved in strengthening our ties with Israel, and remembering the generations of the past.”

IAA director Israel Hasson said the Authority is also working with the Education Ministry to help defray travel costs for the student delegation, which is utilized to raise awareness of Jewish history, and “strengthen values of commitment and mutual responsibility.”

> “As part of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s activities aimed at making young people more aware of their roots, in cooperation with the Education Ministry, we invite schools to participate in the excavations, and in this way significantly reduce the travel costs,” said Hasson. “As well as learning about their heritage, the students are already learning valuable lessons about giving and mutual responsibility in Israel.”

Indeed, Dudi Shokef, director of the Poland delegation’s program for the Education Ministry, noted that the excavations can help forge an emotional connection with the past, while also engendering a sense of belonging, as well as awareness of the importance of preserving antiquities.

> “The aim of this initiative is to impart the heritage of the past to Israeli students by integrating them into a valuable educational project, such as excavating an archaeological site,” said Shokef.

The principal of Boyer High School, Dafna Menashe Baruch, also said the project helps the students meaningfully connect with Israel prior to their sojourn to Poland, where they will visit death camps.

> “By stepping outside the classroom and working in the field on an archaeological dig, students are exposed to many different worlds of knowledge,” said Baruch. “In addition to working with their hands, they get to know about a fascinating field of research.” Baruch continued: “This is a great privilege and an unforgettable experience, and we are full of appreciation and thanks to the staff of the Israel Antiquities Authority and to its director for initiating this valuable educational program that connects the past with the present.”

Shelly Kozlovich, a student at the school, described the experience as “closing a circle.” “It’s fantastic that we, Israeli students in the 21st century, are getting the opportunity to find out about the country, and are unearthing a Jewish settlement from 2,000 years ago with our own hands,” said Kozlovich. “With the money, we’re making, we’ll pay for our trip to Poland, and learn there about the Holocaust – an event that had a huge influence on Israel’s establishment. It’s a great way of closing a circle.”

Original Source: Jerusalem Post
### Free as a Bird
URL: https://www.pshir.com/free-as-a-bird/
Last updated: 2026-05-01T17:25:55.000Z
Have you ever heard the saying "free as a bird?" Birds are considered free creatures because they have an amazing ability to fly. They can get away from danger very quickly. We observe them sitting on tree branches, singing and chirping. The impression we humans get is that they are happy and carefree. Of course, we humans have no idea what is going on in their minds. Is this musical singing, or do they tell stories? Do they complain, or maybe they tell other birds some gossip...

Listen? 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/01/Alter-Bib-1.jpg) 

#### Robert Alter's Translation and Commentary of the Hebrew Bible

In his eloquent English translation, Alter captures the feel of Hebrew poetry and multiple angles of Hebrew prose. This translation offers a graceful balance between illuminating the meaning of the Hebrew and conveying the musical cadence of the ancient biblical text. In his insightful notes, Alter alerts the readers to the literary and historical dimensions of the text.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/47LEiWs?ref=pshir.com)
### "From the Maccabees to the Mishna" by Shaye Cohen
URL: https://www.pshir.com/from-the-maccabees-to-the-mishna/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:19:21.000Z
Shaye J. D. Cohen is a Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. He is a well-known historian who also holds rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. This book ([link here](https://amzn.to/3mYbyow?ref=pshir.com)) is one of my favorites. If you are a student of history and background of the Second Temple era, Professor Cohen has much to offer you. You may not always agree with his conclusions, but the research he does is outstanding. He will challenge you and make you think on your own. A trademark of good education is not just filling people's heads with facts but helping them think through possible scenarios of how what we know from the past can make sense. 

Peek inside the book?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### If You Forgive the Sins...
URL: https://www.pshir.com/if-you-forgive-the-sins/
Last updated: 2026-02-09T17:30:55.000Z
Have you ever wished you did not hear or see something? What we see and hear is hard to put back into a box of non-existence. Once we experience something we simply cannot put it out of our minds. Basically, we can’t unknow what we know. This is true when it comes to interpreting the Scriptures. Knowing the context of any passage usually helps immensely in interpretation. The original languages help too, but sometimes what holds us inches away from a better interpretation is what we know, or rather, what we have been told. Here is an example of what I am trying to explain. Take this verse from the Gospel of John.

> **“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” (John 20:23 NASB)**

A seemingly simple verse, very straightforward teaching. It is very easy for Catholics to interpret, but a tough one for non-Catholics. 

Is Jesus really saying that his disciples have the power to dispense the forgiveness of sins? It sure looks that way. They can also choose not to issue forgiveness and those sins will remain. The Protestants naturally struggle with sin absolution as they recall the practice of church selling indulgences in the Middle Ages. And for Jews, this teaching makes no sense either. This stubborn verse is hard to explain away. How else has can one read it except that the apostles have the power to dispense forgiveness of sins to anyone they find worthy?

One way the Protestant tradition deals with this verse is to suggest that this is not about “forgiveness” but the proclamation of salvation. In other words, the word “forgive” is not to be understood literally. If they proclaim the available forgiveness of sins to people, the people will have their sins forgiven, but if they withhold the message, those will not receive the forgiveness (because they will know about God’s gift of grace). Such a twist essentially makes this verse about evangelism. I do not know if this explanation satisfies you. Me… not so much.

By the way, I am not putting down Catholics or Protestants, each group has their reasons for understanding the Bible the way they do. But let’s look deeper into the context. There is another way to see this teaching and much of it has to do with context. First of all, there is a key phrase many people miss that precedes this passage. Verse 21 says, **“Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”** To me this means that this greater context is about Messiah sending his messengers out into the world to continue his mission. And the rest of what he says could be related to this sending. He breathes on them, giving them the spirit, and only then talks about forgiving people’s sins. This is the natural context that leads up to the teaching we are trying to understand.

Secondly, there is another important tidbit of information. The verb ἀφίημι (*afiemi*) is typically translated as “forgive” and κρατέω (*krateo*) as “retain” as in “not forgive.” There are some alternative ways to translate these key verbs in this enigmatic statement. For example, ἀφίημι (*afiemi*) can mean “let go,” “release,” “leave,” and even “allow.” And κρατέω (*krateo*) “hold on strongly,” or “hold back, “restrain,” “grasp,” and even “rule.” Allowing for these alternative translation choices, we see some broader possibilities and can read this verse in a whole new way. Still, the notion of forgiving or not forgiving seems to be what this is about, so let's keep looking deeper. 

Thirdly, this passage sounds so much like Matthew’s "binding and losing" promises. Let's review them for similarity.

> **“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (Mat 16:19 NASB)** 
>  
> **“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Mat 18:18-20 NASB)**

It is also interesting that just after this explanation of the legislative power Yeshua gives to his followers, Peter asks a question about, you guessed it… forgiveness. **“Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?…” (Mat 18:18-19).** 

This brings me to a very simple point. Who says that **“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them” (John 20:23 NASB)** is about forgiving the sins which were committed against God? There is absolutely nothing in this text to suggest that the disciples are dispensing forgiveness for the sins related to God. **My simple assertion is that this text is about letting go of the offenses that were committed against the disciples, not sins in general!** After all, Jesus is sending them out into the world. Their message will be rejected (just as he was rejected). “As my Father sent me, I am sending you.” Some people will mistreat them as they go out and proclaim the message of their teacher. They can choose to "let that go," and those sins will not be held against those who mistreated them. But if they choose to "hold on to those offenses," those who mistreated them will have to answer for their actions later. 

In Jewish tradition, we are encouraged to seek forgiveness directly from those whom we have wronged. That is why Jews familiar with traditional teachings do not ask God for forgiveness for wronging a fellow human being. Torah provides us a pattern of making proper restitution with one another on a personal level, eliminating sin between brothers. When it comes to sins against God, we take those matters directly to him. Torah provides for priestly mediation in such cases as well. But when transgressions are against our fellow humans, we settle those matters with them. This is a fundamental Jewish value of Teshuvah (repentance). Perhaps a good example would be Jesus' teaching to abandon the gift on the altar and make peace with one's neighbor (Matt 5:23-24). Unforgiveness impedes proper personal worship. 

[The Paths of Repentance and Forgiveness (\~2.5 hrs)I teach about repentance and forgiveness on a regular basis. Every year, I am asked questions about how repentance works. I am asked questions about the dynamics of forgiveness. So, periodically, I take the core ideas and key questions I am asked over and over, reflect on them, and put![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-13.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2024-10-08-133131-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-paths-of-repentance-and-forgiveness/)

**Thus, I offer a very simple alternative, a very straightforward interpretation. The only part that changes in this verse is "what type of sin" the disciples are supposed to be forgiving.** Each one of us has the power to not hold on to the pain of being wronged and forgive the offenses other people perpetrate against us. All the teacher was saying was, "If you forgive those sins, they will be forgiven to those who harmed you." This power of personal absolution, from one human to another, is always within our grasp. 

But to forgive the sins that others sinned against the Almighty himself… well, that is a tough one. Clearly, I do not see this passage teaching such practice. If human beings indeed have such authority, would there even be a need for judgment in the end of times? That is not the justice and righteousness of the age to come that I remember reading about. 

Hopefully, now you see what I meant by saying that sometimes a simple interpretation of biblical verse is just inches away. But the things we have been told before, the ideas we entertained in our minds, can hold us back from seeing the path clearly. If you assume that forgiveness for all sins is sought with God exclusively, then you would not be able to see the scenario I propose. If you assume that sin against people and against God are all the same, then this verse would read very differently. That is not the historical Jewish perspective on sin, however. 

[Heshbon Nefesh: Watching Our Speech (\~2hrs)Delve into the profound significance of how we misuse our speech with these series of interactive devotional discussions. Join me and the live audience as we embark on a journey through the Jewish practice of Heshbon Nefesh (searching one’s heart). In these lessons, we seek to examine our behavior related![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-15.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Hesh1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/heshbon-nefesh-our-speech/)

This article is one of the many examples I offer in my book, which explains what is commonly missing in how many people today read and interpret the Bible. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/01/Missing-Ingredients-500.jpg) 

#### Missing Ingredients: Your Bible Study Recipe

The book title contains an idiom that implies the absence of several fundamental techniques frequently missing in a typical Bible study. And that is what the book is all about! Each time these "missing ingredients" can be added to the recipe of how one studies the Bible, they produce better results. Curious? Then this book is for you.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3SmnqB6?ref=pshir.com)
### Lean to Read Greek with The Greek Academy
URL: https://www.pshir.com/lean-to-read-greek-with-the-greek-academy/
Last updated: 2025-01-12T20:15:35.000Z
It's not a secret that even surface familiarity with biblical languages opens a doorway to a better understanding of ancient texts. Recently, I ran across some videos by The Greek Academy that teach how to read Greek! I peeked inside, and almost right away, I fell in love with the teacher's style and creativity in teaching the language. So, I decided to post a couple of these videos on my e-zine and share them with my readers. If you ever wanted to learn how to read Greek, it may be easier than you could have imagined. So, give these videos a try. Just a couple of these videos and some basic memorization can propel you to reading Greek.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### The World of Hebrew Prophets: 18-21 Ezekiel (~1.3 hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-ezekiel-1-3-hrs/
Last updated: 2025-05-21T13:49:46.000Z
Peek into the life of a prophet caught between exiles, navigating through divine visions and relaying a timeless message of hope and restoration amidst judgment. In this lecture, originally delivered to a class at a Christian college, I explore how Ezekiel's unique position defies traditional prophet categorizations and challenges ancient beliefs. We'll unravel the symbolism behind his visions, idolatry's dire consequences, and the promise of a covenant-keeping God. Whether you're familiar with Ezekiel or discovering his story for the first time, join us for a journey through his powerful narrative that's as relevant now as it was in ancient times.

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

🎬

A couple of things were done for your convenience: 1 - this over an hour-long lecture was broken up into shorter segments. 2 - the subtitles were created via software, and thus, they should be mostly accurate. :)

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Hebrew Bible Walkthrough
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-bible-walkthrough/
Last updated: 2025-01-05T15:00:59.000Z
Listen as an Orthodox Jewish teacher introduces the content of all 24 books of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). This is a quick and to-the-point walkthrough across pages and pages of Jewish sacred texts that focus only on the key highlights. It's an excellent introduction for someone who does not know much about the Jewish Bible (Christian Old Testament) and a wonderful refresher for those who already know but like to be reminded about the core messages of the Bible. The video is only 10 minutes, and the highlights it offers allow us to see the masterpiece that has been changing the world from a bird's eye view. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the **"view in browser"** link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/AS_TNK-1.png) 

#### ArtScroll Hebrew-English Tanakh 

This is a beautifully done hardbound traditional Tanakh (Torah, Prophets, and Writings). The edition features both the Hebrew text and its English translation. Besides a clear presentation of biblical text, the valuable feature of this particular volume is the collection of traditional Jewish notes and short commentaries on various parts of the sacred text. The volume is over 2000 pages long, and the binding is excellent! This edition is available in different sizes - my favorite is 7x10.

[See it on Amazon!](https://amzn.to/3Tpm2hH?ref=pshir.com)
### Listen, Meditate and Hear the Still Small Voice
URL: https://www.pshir.com/listen-meditate-and-hear-the-still-small-voice/
Last updated: 2025-01-01T15:00:32.000Z
Jewish holy texts suggest the practice of meditation on the sacred words. This is a different type of meditation from transcendental techniques practiced in Buddhism. The goal is not to empty the self but to fill the self and to hear the voice. Not the inner voice of self, but the still small voice of God's spirit speaking to our souls. Hence, biblical meditation. If you are willing to try such a spiritual exercise, I offer you over an hour of instrumental, melodic Middle Eastern music and gorgeous views of the desert. Watch the video, play it in the background as you read and think, study with it, or simply close your eyes and unwind for a while. Your call, just try to listen...

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/11/40Days-Cover-5x8-06-13-23-front-sm.jpg) 

#### 40 Days of Hebrew Devotions

****From Amazon customer:** “40 DAYS of HEBREW DEVOTIONS, focuses on one daily Bible passage with a short discussion of significant Hebrew words… including a transliteration of pronunciation, & the meanings. A prayer using a Hebrew communal format ends the day's devotional. To read in one sitting (as I did last night for starters) & to use it as a daily devotional for 40 days or more, becomes a spiritual & intellectual journey, providing greater insights into these Scriptures than previously known. I recommend it for persons of either Jewish or Christian faiths or even people who are interested in historical cultural understanding.” ****Another reader’s review:** “..this book helps take a deep dive in a way I can understand. Worth every penny I paid.” ****Another Amazon reader:** “This book is for English readers, however it includes a lot of beginner-style Hebrew in it. It's a great, short daily read that is only about five minutes, and you find yourself thinking about it the rest of the day. I love this book.”

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3B3if39?ref=pshir.com)
### Psalm 27: Lord, You are my light...
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-27-lord-you-are-my-light/
Last updated: 2024-12-29T15:00:45.000Z
Psalm 27 offers us an enteral truth: God is our light and our salvation. External resources cannot harm us unless the Almighty allows them. Our response to adversity should not be fear but moving ever closer to the Lord. That is the message of this song inspired by Psalm 27.

ADONAI (LORD), You are my light, my salvation; whom should I fear? (יהוה אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי מִמִּי אִירָא) You are the breath that guards my life; what dread can touch me here?

When those with evil hunger in their eyes came near, seeking to tear my flesh, My enemies, my foes, they stumbled in defeat, carried by the wind like dust and ash. If I am surrounded by enemies' armies, my heart will rest, untouched by fear. When war calls like thunder at the gates, I find peace within my bones; ADONAI is near  
  
One thing I ask, and with every breath, I seek: to dwell in Your presence, ADONAI,  
To live in the warmth of Your house, all the days of my life כָּל־יְמֵי חַיַּי

Let me gaze upon Your endless beauty, LORD, in silence by the shade of your tent.  
For in times of trouble, You conceal me; in Your hidden place, ADONAI, I find rest. All the days of my life. כָּל־יְמֵי חַיַּי
### The Gift of Atonement and Messiah (~1hr)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-gift-of-atonement-and-messiah/
Last updated: 2025-09-18T12:39:13.000Z
People have diverse ideas about atonement because the topic is so multifaceted. In this particular lesson, I highlight some foundational truths that center around the imagery of "cleansing" and "purification." However, the questions I get most often about Atonement are tied to Jesus and the role of the Messiah in Atonement. I answer the often-asked question but also explain why the question I am most often asked is a tainted one. 

**Disclaimer:** I speak to a mixed audience of Jews and Christians, and in Part 2, I explain the "Replacement Theology" (often embraced out of ignorance) in the most unflattering terms. Theological Supersessionism aims at the erasure of Jewish identity, so I get very frank about its dangers. Unfortunately, the most common Christian notions about sacrifices in the Torah are informed by a supersessionist take on the topic. Apologies if you find this hard to take in. Agree, disagree, but be advised...

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Teaching in Your Heart
URL: https://www.pshir.com/teaching-in-your-heart/
Last updated: 2025-08-19T15:14:29.000Z
In Exodus 35 and 36, we read the stories about craftsmen Betzalel ben Uri and Ben Hur and how Hashem endowed them with his spirit, Ruach Elohim, the “breath of God,” as Torah says in Exodus 35:31\. Torah says that God filled the craftsmen who created all the items for God’s special Tent, **with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of craftsmanship.** I wonder what it must have been like for them to receive such gifts from Hashem supernaturally.

Listen?

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### Between the Testaments: 400 Years of Silence
URL: https://www.pshir.com/between-the-testaments/
Last updated: 2025-09-18T13:09:38.000Z
This is a lecture I gave to the freshmen class on the "Intertestamental Period" and 400 years of silence between the "Old Testament" and "New Testament." Since we are talking about the "testaments," I do a quick overview of biblical books, history related to them, what's in them, and how they are typically grouped. Then a discussion about all those other books that fall between the testaments begins... Curious?

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/3Books1.jpg) 

#### ****Second Temple Era Jewish Literature**

This collection assembles English translations of Jewish writings from the Second Temple Era and other related Jewish spiritual texts from antiquity.

[See them on Amazon.com](https://amzn.to/49f7sy0?ref=pshir.com)
### A Lamp that Carries Divine Light (~ 38 min)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-lampt-that-carries-divine-light/
Last updated: 2026-10-12T16:52:37.000Z
Hanukkiah is a special lamp used during Hanukkah celebrations. Though it comes in all shapes and sizes today, it was modeled on a seven-branched Menorah that once stood in Jerusalem Temple. But what did the Temple Menorah look like, and what did it seek to convey? In Talmud, we are told that Moshe struggled with making this unusual item. The description of the Menorah in the Torah leaves plenty of room for interpretation. Maimonides drew what he thought it looked like in his manuscripts. But we also have some very ancient depictions of this spiritual item, such as the Arch of Titus, ancient coins, and synagogue mosaics. Even Philo of Alexandria and Josephus expressed their fascination with Menorah's symbolism, meaning, and design. So, walk through the pages of history with me and explore the Menorah...

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Ancient Menorah Stone in Tiberias
URL: https://www.pshir.com/ancient-menorah-stone-tiberias/
Last updated: 2024-12-11T15:00:44.000Z
A few years ago, Israeli archaeologists unearthed a beautiful and ancient stone in the city of Tiberius in Galilee. It is an impressive piece of basalt rock with an image of a seven-branched menorah. Menorah is a special temple lampstand that the Bible describes in detail. It is one of the most ancient images depicting Israelite religious identity. Today, it rivals the "Star of David," but in antiquity, the menorah was an undisputed symbol that depicted Jewish spirituality. This uniquely shaped lampstand is connected to the divine light Israel received.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Psalm 1 in Hebrew with English Translation
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-1-in-hebrew-ennglsh/
Last updated: 2024-12-08T15:00:30.000Z
Psalm 1 describes two paths, two choices, and two directions that one can take in life. If you are on Hashem's path be strengthened. If you are not, wake up! Let these ancient words speak to you wherever you are.

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אַשְׁרֵי־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים  
וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד  
וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב  
כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת יהוה חֶפְצוֹ  
וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה  
וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל־פַּלְגֵי מָיִם  
אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא־יִבּוֹל  
וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ  
לֹא־כֵן הָרְשָׁעִים  
כִּי אִם־כַּמֹּץ אֲשֶׁר־תִּדְּפֶנּוּ רוּחַ  
עַל־כֵּן לֹא־יָקֻמוּ רְשָׁעִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּט  
וְחַטָּאִים בַּעֲדַת צַדִּיקִים  
כִּי־יוֹדֵעַ יהוה דֶּרֶךְ צַדִּיקִים  
וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד

Blessed is one who does not follow the advice of wicked  
And on the path of sinners does not stand  
Who does not stay in the gathering of scoffers  
But instead delights in the ADONAI’S (LORD’S) teachings  
And meditates on those instructions day and night  
Such a person is like a tree planted by flowing waters  
Which bears its fruit in a proper time and its leaves never turn  
And such a person succeeds in everything  
Not so with the wicked people  
They are like chaff carried by the wind  
Which is why the wicked cannot endure any scrutiny  
And sinners cannot remain in the company of righteous  
The way of the upright is known to ADONAI (LORD)  
But the way of wicked will be ruin.  
(Psalm 1, Translation by Pinchas Shir)
### The World of Hebrew Prophets: 12-17 Jeremiah (~2.5 hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-jeremiah/
Last updated: 2025-05-21T13:49:11.000Z
In this first lecture, we delve into the intricate details of the Book of Jeremiah, looking at Chapters 1-30, and examining its structure, themes, and historical context. A systematic approach connects historical events and prophetic messages in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the text. We discuss the setting of the impending Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, the themes of idolatry, social injustice, and misplaced trust in religious relics. The lecture also notes Jeremiah's personal challenges and his role as a prophet. Together, we explore the complex narrative and see significant theological insights in Jeremiah, uncovering its timeless relevance and enduring message.

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

📽️

These lectures were originally delivered to undergraduate students at a Christian university. A couple of things were done for your convenience: 1 - the long lecture was broken up into shorter segments. 2 - the subtitles were created via software, and thus, they should be mostly accurate. ****To help out with the cost of commercial-free video hosting, consider a paid subscription.**

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### "Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins" by George Nickelsburg
URL: https://www.pshir.com/ancient-judaism-and-christian-origins-by-george-n/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:19:54.000Z
In his book *Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins,* Professor George Nickelsburg examines the historical, religious, and social contexts of Second Temple Judaism (roughly 516 BCE to 70 CE) and how they influenced early Christianity. Nickelsburg explores topics like Jewish beliefs, messianic expectations, scriptural interpretations, and apocalyptic literature, showing how these elements contributed to Christian theology. He also discusses the diversity within Judaism during this period, highlighting the complexities and interactions between different groups, including Pharisees, Sadducees, and early Christian communities, emphasizing their shared roots and theological developments.

📗

 The book has been out for a few years, and you can [see what others are saying about it on Amazon. ](https://amzn.to/3Z5mbtp?ref=pshir.com) I often recommend it to those who want to research the roots of the Christian faith in the natural, historical setting of Ancient Judaism.

Peek inside the book...

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Making Israel Jealous?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/making-israel-jealous/
Last updated: 2024-11-27T15:00:06.000Z
In Romans 11, Shaul, apostle to the gentiles, writes, “Have they \[Israelites\] stumbled so as to fall? Certainly not! But through their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as **to** **make them** **jealous** (παραζηλῶσαι αὐτούς; *parazelosai autous*).” It’s not uncommon to hear that, according to this verse, “Gentiles are supposed to provoke Jews to jealousy.” **But how, in Paul's thinking, would a first-century Roman do that?** Needless to say, I have heard a few interpretations of how this might happen, and maybe you have as well.

According to one creative modern interpretation, this jealousy will come from the gentiles observing the Torah in the same way that Jews do, or even better, particularly by keeping the Sabbath, eating kosher, wearing ritual fringes, etc. Farfetched? I assure you, this is not something that most of Paul's first-century disciples would have imagined, but today, some people are actually attempting this. 

[One God, One Faith, Three Roads (\~3hrs)These seminar videos touch on the foundations of “Distinction Theology” - a teaching that maintains the continuity of the relevance of Israel and Jews and recognizes the nations that embrace Israel’s God in solidarity with Israel but distinct from Israel. The video sessions touch on the lives and faith of![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-10.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/JPaul9.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/one-god-one-faith-three-roads/)

The supposition is that by seeing this gentile Torah observance, Jews will become “jealous” of the nations, which, in turn, will lead to Jewish national repentance and revival. Honestly, I don't think this is what Saul of Tarsus had in mind.In Paul’s thinking, the nations were not supposed to adopt a Jewish lifestyle but rather learn how to reflect the core values of **love and forbearance** that they themselves have experienced by interacting with one true and living God of Israel. I believe that this **divine disposition of lovingkindness is what will make Israel jealous!**

The word for “jealous” in Romans comes from the Greek ζῆλος (*zelos*), which can also means “zealous.” It's pretty straightforward. Earlier in the letter, Paul had used this term to describe Israel’s “**zeal** (ζῆλος; *zelos*) for God, but not in accordance with knowledge” (10:2) — in other words an enthusiasm for God, but not according to the **knowledge** (ἐπίγνωσις; *epignosis*) of Messiah (10:4). In his letter to Romans, Paul asks and then answers his own questions. Often, the readers of Romans zero in on the answers but miss the pertinence of Paul's questions. But questions themselves frame his answers. The apostle asks if Israel did “not understand” the divine intention for Gentiles to worship God along with them (10:18) - what does that mean? He then responds to his own question by citing verses about the nations making Israel jealous. Let's looks at some details...

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### Life and Blood
URL: https://www.pshir.com/life-and-blood/
Last updated: 2024-11-24T15:00:26.000Z
In Vayikra, in Leviticus 17, we encounter a number of verses about not eating blood. Some of us may cringe when we read through them. We wonder… Should it not be self-evident to most people that this is not something good? No. Apparently not. Throughout history, this has not been the case. Many ethnic groups and cultures actually consume blood in various ways. Some are very direct, and others are through culinary means and creative recipes. Yet, Israel is barred from this practice explicitly with very clear and unambiguous language. Why?

Listen?

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### Why Smile at the Future?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/why-smile-at-the-future/
Last updated: 2026-02-10T15:45:16.000Z
Some of my favorite things about the people who surround me are their warm and happy smiles. It does not take much to quickly crack a few muscles in your face, to smile, and show a positive disposition towards someone else. It takes so little effort, yet it can mean so much. I realize that in some settings, there is a shortage of smiles, and there is little to smile about. The way I grew up, smiles were quite rare, so perhaps that is why I am always drawn to people who smile genuinely and easily. There are plenty of polite fake smiles, too, but most of us have learned to see through those. 

On Friday evening, as the Sabbath comes, in Jewish families, we sit around the dinner table and recite the traditional words from Proverbs 31, a chapter about e*ishet chail*, an amazing woman. And I wanted to share something about that woman that I personally never realized till just recently. Besides all the things she is known for (which are very impressive accomplishments), the Bible says "she smiles at the future." That's nice... 

> Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (Prov 31:25-26 NASB)

The message to all of us who read this chapter and admire the woman is that she is ready to face whatever is next. That is yet another admirable quality. She looks to the future with joy and not with dread because she is ready and resilient enough to take on the ups and downs of life. She is a wise woman, and, no doubt, her wisdom is entangled with her knowledge of God and his ways. So, she smiles at the future, but there is more... 

The Hebrew text does not exactly say, "she smiles." The phrase תִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן *(tish'chaq leyom aharon)* means "she rejoices about the coming day." In modern Hebrew, "smile" is חיוך (*hiyuch*). There is also another term for "smile" - שַׂחֲקָה (*shachaqa*), but "smile" as a noun does not appear across many chapters of the Bible. In biblical Hebrew, the verb שָׂחַק (*shachaq*) means “to laugh” or “to rejoice,” and that's probably the closest equivalent to a "smile" in biblical texts. There is another term בִּלְגָּה (*bil'gah*) "cheerfulness," something very close to a smile. I was somewhat surprised; there are so many instances in the Bible that describe celebratory settings, happiness, and rejoicing, but not too many mentions of smiles. I kept searching for smiles in the Hebrew Bible, but I could not find the descriptive language I expected to see. And then it dawned on me... Hebrew is a very idiomatic language, and smiles are represented via indirect references in ancient Hebrew, not with a straightforward noun, as I keep expecting. 

Consider this familiar verse and see if you can spot a smile... **"The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." (Num 6:24).** When Hebrew says, "may his face shine upon you," יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ (*yaer ADONAI panav eleykha*) - it's describing a smile. In biblical Hebrew, "smile" is a description of the "face that lights up." 

> I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down. (Job 29:24 RSV)

Yes, אוֹר פָּנַי (*ohr panai*) "light of my face" is a smile. Isn't that a beautiful and poignant way to describe a face beaming with a smile? But from where does such a type of light that illuminates the face come? I am pretty certain not from the sun or the stars or even electricity. A light that lights up our faces comes is a different kind of light. It comes from somewhere deep within us, and it was already there on day one when the Almighty created the world (Gen 1:3-4), so ultimately, it comes from him. So we rejoice, and our faces quite literally "light up with smiles" because we were made to be like our Maker, to shine forth some of his light. We were made in his image, and that alone should give you a good reason to smile at the future as a Proverbs 31 woman does! 

🌟

I hope you enjoyed my short meditation... I will share with you one of the ways I have been spreading smiles, quite literally. [It takes a few taps on the screen, but it works every time.](https://amzn.to/40IqeNB?ref=pshir.com) Anyway, that's my style, but you may have your own favorite methods of making people around you smile.
### A Name at the Bottom of the Sea
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-name-at-the-bottom-of-the-sea/
Last updated: 2024-11-17T15:00:56.000Z
In 2016 during an underwater excavation in the Mediterranean Sea, Israeli archaeologists from Haifa University uncovered a large stone with an ancient inscription. The writing was determined to be roughly 1900 years old and bore the name of mostly unknown procurator of Judea - Gargilius Antiquus. Curious? Watch this short video...
### Fists & Ritual Handwashing in Mark 7:3
URL: https://www.pshir.com/fists-ritual-handwashing-in-mark-7-3-2/
Last updated: 2024-11-13T15:00:04.000Z
Remember a story in the Gospel where some pious Jews asked Jesus about his disciples not washing their hands before they ate? What was the big deal with handwashing? You may not know this, but most Bible translations have struggled to translate these sentences quite a bit. Translators have come up with several ways to render the Greek text into English and could not agree on its meaning, all because they are obvious to something most religious Jews take for granted. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

I wanted to share a resource with you. I wrote a book that features passages like Mark 7:3 and explains how they should be studied better. You might enjoy it. 

[New Book - “Missing Ingredients” by Pinchas ShirHave you ever felt as you read the Bible that it makes no sense? You understand the words but not the meaning or the point the text is trying to make. The truth is - you are not alone. I have just published a new book entitled “Missing Ingredients: Your![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-4.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/MI-Header2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/missing-ingredients/)
### Remove the Ashes
URL: https://www.pshir.com/remove-the-ashes/
Last updated: 2024-11-10T15:00:36.000Z
Our weekly reading begins with explanations about the burnt offerings. Offerings can teach us a lot. Vayikra, Leviticus 6:2 tells us that Aaron was to leave the Olah on the altar all night long, and the fire is to be maintained by the priests all night long. I believe in my past teachings, I have highlighted how maintaining the fire of the altar of sacrifice is a lesson - we are to keep Hashem’s fire burning in our lives, not allowing the coals to go cold. Sometimes that happens.

Listen?

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### The World of Hebrew Prophets: 06-11 Isaiah (~3 hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-isaiah-3hrs/
Last updated: 2025-05-21T13:48:37.000Z
In the first part we explore the first 40 chapters of the Book of Isaiah, delving into its historical context and symbolic language. We consider Isaiah's words in light of the Syro-Ephraimite War, crucial dates like the fall of Samaria and Jerusalem. We examine the covenant lawsuit against Israel, the themes of judgment, deliverance, and devotion, through the parable of the vineyard and the prophetic symbolism of Immanuel.

📽️

This multi-part seminar, "The World of Hebrew Prophets," explores the ancient messages by seeking to understand the world, the events, and the circumstances that surround the lives of prophets and their audiences. The recordings are lectures from an undergraduate class I taught at a Christian college. The entire series of seminars on the prophets can be watched in any order, but I highly recommend watching them from the beginning. The best place to start with the Prophets are [these videos](https://www.pshir.com/the-world-of-hebrew-prophets-01-02/)! 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

The lecture on Isaiah is almost 3 hours long, so it was broken up into multiple shorter segments.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Bamidbar, In the Vastness of the Wilderness
URL: https://www.pshir.com/bamidbar-in-the-vastness-of-the-wilderness/
Last updated: 2024-11-03T15:00:48.000Z
Bamidbar (במדבר) means "in the wilderness." There, ancient prophets and seers found solitude and revelation. The wilderness is not just a place but a metaphor for the inner journey, where, in the silence, you can hear the still, small voice of wisdom and discover clarity. Perfect for meditation, relaxation, or simply unwinding after a long day, this video provides a calming escape from the chaos of daily life, offering moments of quiet introspection and spiritual renewal. 

Step into that same spiritual wilderness to rediscover that quiet voice and connect with the divine presence that speaks in the silence of your heart. This meditative journey through Bamidbar is not just about finding external peace but about opening your soul to hear the ancient words that still speak today. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/02/Koren_TNK-1.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Koren Tanakh Maalot (Magerman Edition)

Koren Tanakh is a hardbound one-volume edition of the entire Hebrew Bible (6x9). It features a fairly large Hebrew text in easy-to-read Koren font and a slightly smaller English translation on the opposing page. The translation done by well-known Rabbis is imaginative but accurate. The thumb tab index is also handy, but the best part is that it is just one volume. This quality edition is sturdy and is one of my favorite Bibles!

[See it on Amazon!](https://amzn.to/486cxIq?ref=pshir.com)
### The Meaning of Ba'al in Hebrew
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-meaning-of-baal-in-hebrew/
Last updated: 2024-11-04T14:24:05.000Z
I remember the first time I heard someone use the word "Beelzebub" in a sentence. It was a joke or pun of some sort, and everyone around me was laughing. Only I was not. I was clueless about what that word meant and clueless about why the comment was funny. It is one of those awkward moments many who did not grow up speaking English in America might experience. Language is very cultural, and how people use it is often dictated by their culture. In this case, the culture is the English Bible. Only later did I learn that Beelzebub is a stand-in for the Devil. The words stem from the English translation of Matthew 12:24\. It is actually a first-century Hebrew term - Ba'al Zevuv (בַּעַל זְבוּב) which means "Lord of the flies." 

People think they know things, especially when they encounter words, they are familiar with, but that could be deceiving when those words originate from languages they do not know. Baal is a Hebrew word, and though most know it as the name of the Canaanite idol, there is much more. Enjoy this informative video!

_This post is for subscribers only._
### What's Coming Soon...
URL: https://www.pshir.com/whats-coming-soon/
Last updated: 2024-10-27T17:07:04.000Z
Thanks to new subscribers PSHIR.COM continues to grow! And growth is exciting because that allows me to plan for the future better and to develop new quality multi-media content. For me, healthy and steady growth translates to doing the things I envisioned doing before but lacked the resources to achieve. The more subscribers that choose to support the online publication, the more I am able to turn the plans and ideas I had into reality. So here is what's on the horizon for PSHIR.COM...

> Very soon, you will see a newly edited and polished series of college lectures on **Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel**. (Lectures on the shorter prophets like Hosea, Amos, and Joel are in the works as well)

> Coming soon are series of video teachings dedicated to **Jewish Customs of Purity**. I explore some of the rationale and historical developments of practicing purity rituals in Judaism of the Second Temple era, delve into food and much more. 

> Sometime early in 2025 a new series of teachings on **Early Judaism** will debut as well. These video lectures will explore the ideology of Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, Hellenistic Jews, Samaritan beliefs, Qumran Jews, and early rabbinic ideas. The first century Judaism was quite diverse, and I believe that understanding that diversity is the key to understanding the New Testament. 

I am also working on a series of discussions that delve into Paul's Letter to the Romans and a couple of new books. So, special thanks to all PSHIR.COM subscribers, and especially to those who opt for paid subscriptions and make it all possible! 

If you are enjoying the digital publication, share some bits that speak to you personally with friends on whatever social channels you like and help others discover the e-zine.
### Listen to 10 Chapters of First Enoch
URL: https://www.pshir.com/listen-to-10-chapters-of-1-enoch/
Last updated: 2024-10-23T14:00:15.000Z
The First Book of Enoch (Ethiopian Enoch), also known as "The Book of Watchers," is a well-known Jewish composition from the Second Temple era.

"These are the words of Enoch, who bestowed a blessing upon the chosen and righteous who will exist during the days of great trouble when the wicked and impious will be eradicated. Enoch, a righteous man, received a special revelation from God. His eyes were opened, enabling him to witness a sacred vision in the celestial realms..."

If you enjoyed listening, just consider that in antiquity, most people did not read books; they listened to them. Whether they heard a story of someone else actually reading out loud, this is how spiritual content was frequently consumed. 

I am all about books, but listening is a wholly different experience. This video is an actual narration of the 1 Enoch I published on Audible. If you enjoy audiobooks, you probably know about what Audible offers. 

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/08/EN-Coll1-1.jpg)](https://amzn.to/4dIXYOc?ref=pshir.com)
### Managing Setbacks
URL: https://www.pshir.com/managing-setbacks/
Last updated: 2024-10-20T13:59:59.000Z
Everything was going well for Joseph until he deemed some amazing dreams that he unwisely shared with his brothers. He almost ended up dead because of that. Due to circumstances that were not entirely of Joseph’s own doing, the young man was sold into slavery and ended up in Egypt. As a slave, he was given a job. The LORD prospered Joseph, and he became a manager of the entire household and estate. This was a major improvement from dying in a ditch, so he was a trusted slave now.

Listen?

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### The Jews of Cyrene and the Gospel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-jews-of-cyrene-and-the-gospel/
Last updated: 2024-10-16T14:00:38.000Z
The New Testament records that some Jewish followers of Jesus from Cyrene were responsible for the first Gentile converts in Antioch.

> “So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:19-21)

This act of outreach to the Greeks is very notable because apart from some proselytes and occasional God-fearers as Cornelius (Acts 10:2, 23-29) Jewish believers in Jerusalem did not engage in direct mission to the Gentiles. The Jews of Cyrene were Diaspora Jews, zealous in their ancestral faith, but much more open-minded and more comfortable with Hellenistic culture and Greek language. It appears that God used them to spearhead the deliberate mission of the gospel to the non-Jews.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Build A Mikdash
URL: https://www.pshir.com/build-a-mikdash/
Last updated: 2024-10-13T14:00:23.000Z
In Exodus 25, verse 8, Hashem says, **veasu li Mikdash veshakhanti betokham** – “and they shall make me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in the midst of them.” It struck me that after giving instructions, God charged Israel to build him a Mikdash. He expects them to be able to do it and do it right. A Mikdash is an interesting word. We often translate this word as “sanctuary” because the root of this word - *Quf, Dalet Shin*, is where all the words that describe holiness in Hebrew come from.

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### The Paths of Repentance and Forgiveness (~2.5 hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-paths-of-repentance-and-forgiveness/
Last updated: 2024-10-09T14:00:56.000Z
I teach about repentance and forgiveness on a regular basis. Every year, I am asked questions about how repentance works. I am asked questions about the dynamics of forgiveness. So, periodically, I take the core ideas and key questions I am asked over and over, reflect on them, and put together a teaching in order to stimulate our thoughts on these important aspects of our spiritual life. I delve into stories told in the Torah. I present the words of Israel's prophets. I also read aloud and ponder on the words of the sages and great Jewish thinkers of the past to help us grasp how repentance and forgiveness work in our lives. It is a broad topic, and it's hard to encompass all that is important about it, but hopefully, the hours of lessons I put together hit the high points.

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📽️

Enjoy and stream the videos without annoying commercials! But keep in mind that commercial-free video hosting is not free. Consider ****a Paid Subscription** and support independent publishing for the price of a sandwich and a coffee!

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### Psalm 25 Meditation
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-25-meditation/
Last updated: 2024-10-06T14:00:26.000Z
This video was inspired by my reading and translation of Psalm 25\. As I meditated on the psalm, new words simply flooded my mind and quickly blended with what I read. I hope you enjoy the message of this psalm and my meditation. "To You, ADONAI, I lift my soul; in You alone, I trust. Let not shame touch me, nor let my foes rejoice over me. For those who wait upon You shall not be ashamed, but the treacherous shall fall in their own ways..."

Show me Your paths, O Lord, guide me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation, and I wait for You all day long. Remember Your mercy and love, ADONAI, for they have been from eternity. Forget the sins of my youth, my missteps in Your kindness. Look upon me with grace, for the sake of Your goodness, O LORD. Good and just is ADONAI, He teaches sinners the way to walk. He leads the humble with justice and shows the humble His way. All Your paths, ADONAI, are steadfast love and truth to those who keep Your covenant. For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my deep iniquities.  
  
Who is the one who reveres the Lord? You shall guide him in the choices he must make. His soul will find peace, and his children will inherit the land. The LORD reveals His secret counsel to those who honor Him, and His covenant shines in their hearts. My eyes forever seek You, LORD, for You will lift my feet from the snare.

[40 Days of Hebrew DevotionsWhat would you say if I introduced you to an insightful, short book with lots of takeaways from a trustworthy source? The book will gently lead you through a 40-day journey looking at Hebrew words and concepts to enrich your faith and worship. This could be an exhilarating 40-day journey![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/40day-cover.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/40-days-of-hebrew-devotions/)

[Psalm 3 (Hebrew-English)Psalm 3 is a desperate cry for help, praise from the lips of David. God rescued him from the grip of his foes as they sought his life. This poem is full of hope and assurance in God’s miraculous salvation amidst great danger. מִזְמוֹר לְדָ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/PS3-image.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/psalm-3-hebrew-english/)
### Wilderness Temptations
URL: https://www.pshir.com/wilderness-temptations/
Last updated: 2024-10-02T14:00:44.000Z
This is part 2 of a longer conversation. (Part 1 here). What was Jesus meditating on when he was in the wilderness for 40 days? It is speculation, but I like to think he was dwelling on the verses from Deuteronomy as he was contemplating Israel's tests, as he thought about all that lies ahead for him. When he faced the temptations, he only quoted from Deuteronomy 6 and 8, and these very verses have surprising parallels with the Israelite history in the wilderness.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Commandments and Eternal Life
URL: https://www.pshir.com/commandments-and-eternal-life/
Last updated: 2024-09-29T14:00:11.000Z
This is Part 1 of a longer conversation... Professor Shir has a great fondness for the book of Deuteronomy and its connections throughout the Bible. He authored a course that provides a small taste of how influential Deuteronomy is in the theology portrayed in the gospels. Take the concept of "eternal life," for example. Is this a heavenly life or a life full of God's blessing here on earth? The gospels record the sayings, but Deuteronomy holds the answers to their meaning. 

Israel Bible Podcast is hosted by my colleague Dr. Cyndi Parker. Drop on two colleagues from Israel Bible Center discussing biblical texts, traditions, and ideas they encounter as they read the Bible. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/05/JPS_JSB-1.png) 

#### JPS Jewish Study Bible

This is another Study Bible I sometimes recommend to my students who wish to broaden their perspective. Unlike publications produced by religious Jewish authorities, this JPS translation is published by Oxford University Press. It is supplied with helpful scholarly notes that stem from the academic Jewish perspective, which does not always conform to the established Jewish tradition. If you consider that such critical perspectives augment your study goals, then these notes and opinions might serve your aspirations of learning multiple takes on Jewish sacred texts. 

[See it on Amzon](https://amzn.to/3JV8k0l?ref=pshir.com)
### Sample the Apocalypse of Abraham
URL: https://www.pshir.com/sample-the-apocalypse-of-abraham/
Last updated: 2025-05-20T17:55:21.000Z
Most people have never heard of The Apocalypse of Abraham (התגלות אברהם, *hitgalut Avraham*). It is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic text believed to have been written between 70 CE and 150 CE. Like many midrash stories about Abraham, it extols faith in one powerful and very real God. I recently published my new, modern English translation of this text inside the book - ["Unheard Voices of Hebrew Kings and Prophets."](https://amzn.to/3WKip6v?ref=pshir.com) And here is a narrated video if you would like to sample it. 

Sometimes people ask me why I spend my time translating ancient texts like this one. There are several good reasons... 

The ancient Jewish lore, which was oral for ages and ages, lies at the core of the Bible. Next time you run into a story or reference about Abraham and say, wait a minute, I don't remember reading this in Genesis, you will realize that these stories are living traditions. Next time, you ask yourself why Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I am," and what he meant by that. You might want to consider stories like this one to fully appreciate his teachings. Texts like this one show us the spiritual struggles of the times when they were written, and knowing that might just lead us to a much deeper understanding of biblical revelation and its meaning. I can probably go on, but I will stop there and encourage you to read my explanations about these matters in ["Missing Ingredients: Your Bible Study Recipe."](https://amzn.to/3ThMaud?ref=pshir.com) 

[“Missing Ingredients” by Pinchas ShirThis book is not intended for someone who is new to the Bible or has never seriously studied it. It is meant for those who took plenty of time but still feel like something is missing.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/01/60x60-blk.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w1200/2024/05/Mis.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/missing-ingredients-by-pinchas-shir/)
### Being It
URL: https://www.pshir.com/being-it/
Last updated: 2026-04-20T14:54:26.000Z
A witness, or a testimony exists to bare the facts of something. It is connected to the idea of empirical accounting, a report, and an audit, a story one can see for himself and decide. Sometimes we need a cloud of witnesses. All the items in the *Mishkan* (Tabernacle): the altar, the water basin, Aaron’s clothes, the jewels, gold, all people, sacrifices, and rituals that were to take place inside the Tabernacle were visible depictions, representations of something that is not visible. They are the way they are because they are witnesses, earthly representations of the kind of relationship that Hashem established with Israel.

Listen?

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

[Altar of Incense in the Holy of Holies?Not long ago I received a curious question from a man who was struggling reading through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. His question had to do with the temple and with the tabernacle arrangement, which was originally described in the book of Exodus. In Exodus the מִ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/01/60x60-blk.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w1200/2021/12/Holy1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/altar-of-incense/)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/01/Alter-Bib-1.jpg) 

#### Robert Alter's Translation and Commentary of the Hebrew Bible

In his eloquent English translation, Alter captures the feel of Hebrew poetry and multiple angles of Hebrew prose. This translation offers a graceful balance between illuminating the meaning of the Hebrew and conveying the musical cadence of the ancient biblical text. In his insightful notes, Alter alerts the readers to the literary and historical dimensions of the text.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/47LEiWs?ref=pshir.com)
### Jewish Customs and the Cup in Passion Narratives
URL: https://www.pshir.com/customs-traditions-and-rituals-of-israel/
Last updated: 2024-09-18T14:00:27.000Z
The Bible is full of customs, traditions, and rituals. Many Jewish cultural practices seem unusual to the rest of the world, and others were successfully assimilated via the broader Christian culture. People don't even think of them as Jewish but the gospels read by millions of non-Jews today are full of peculiar ethnic traditions. Take the most fundamental of the gospel narrative, the bread and the cup, the cornerstone of Christian practice known as the Eucharist. Its symbols and story come from a Jewish Passover celebration. Many Christians know very little about Jewish Passover or about the deep symbolism of its message. Sadly, much is missed in the gospels because this connection has been severed for centuries. 

In the passion narratives after the Last Supper, Jesus ascends the Mount of Olives with his disciples. They are in the olive grove at nighttime, and the rabbi fervently prays to God about what is to come. It is a moment of agony, and Jesus is visibly uneasy in this story. He is resolute, he has no doubts, but in his humanity, he still struggles with what is approaching.

> He says, “...remove this cup from me” (Mark 14:29, Luke 22:42). In Matthew’s story, he says, “...my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” (Mat. 26:39).

Is this just a quaint phrase, or is there a deeper context behind it? Numerous Christian commentaries refer to this cup as the “cup of God’s wrath,” citing Psalm 11:6 and Isaiah 51:17 as background passages. In mere hours, Jesus will take sin upon himself and will have to carry its full weight. That makes sense and rings true. Similar ideas appear in another passage where rabbi Yeshua asks his disciples, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Mark 10:38). In this context, the cup, of course, is an idiom that stands for what Jesus must endure, his future fate, i.e. his suffering. Yeshua is speaking about his death and what he must suffer. We know that Jesus predicted his sufferings and hinted to his disciples a number of times about his future.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### A Wisely Build Roman Road in Golan
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-wisely-build-roman-road-in-golan/
Last updated: 2026-08-10T16:13:37.000Z
Mighty Romans are gone, but Roman roads remain all over the Mediterranean and in Israel. Originally, the roads ensured the smooth movements of troops and military equipment, but one can imagine the ancient highways came in handy in many situations. 

The history behind the Roman roads in Israel goes back to Alexander the Great, who entered the region around 332 BCE, looking to conquer Persia. After his death, Judea lived under Ptolemaic rule. In the second century BCE, Judea was conquered by the Seleucid Empire. This was a period of Hellenization and power struggles over Jerusalem and the Temple, leading to the Maccabean Revolt in 167 BCE. During a short time of independence, the Hasmonean family established control over Judea, the Galilee, and parts of Jordan and Idumea. However, infighting and internal politics in 67 BCE led to Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II asking Rome for help. The Romans got involved and helped out, but ultimately conquered Jerusalem in 63 BCE and continued to dominate Israel for centuries to come. Building roads was key to the mighty empire's management of things, and these ancient stones still tell their stories.

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### How did Jesus "fulfill" the Torah?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/how-did-jesus-fulfill-the-torah/
Last updated: 2026-04-03T16:08:42.000Z
Messiah’s famous words about Torah declare, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Mat 5:17 NASB). This verse has been explained countless times in church sermons, academic lectures, and scholarly commentaries. What can I possibly add to this ancient conversation? There are many angles from which to approach this topic, but I will focus on one by asking a simple question: How, exactly, and in which way did Jesus “fulfill” the Torah in Matthew’s gospel?

It is common for modern followers of Jesus to imagine that there is some sort of a celestial checklist that the Messiah had to complete. Many modern Jews think this way as well. There are lists of criteria Messiah must fit. Indeed, Matthew uses the Greek verb πληρόω *(plerao),* “fulfill,” in what looks amazingly like a “list of messianic prophecies". 

According to Matthew 1-2, Yeshua was born was **to fulfill Isaiah 7:14 –** “a virgin shall conceive…” (Matt 1:22-23); the Bethlehem birth was **to fulfill Micah 5:2**: “and you, Bethlehem…” (Matt 2:5-6); Yeshua’s presence in Egypt was **to fulfill Hos 11:1:** “out of Egypt I called my son” (Matt 2:15); Herod slaughtered children **to fulfill Jer. 31:15:** “a voice was heard in Ramah…” (Matt 2:17-18); Jesus went to live in Nazareth **to fulfill:** “he will be called a Nazarene”(Matt 2:23). A common notion that this list of prophetic passages awaited future “fulfillments” to be checked off the list may be quite far from what Matthew actually meant to convey.

> **All of these Scripture citations are "*recollections"* of the past, rather than “predictions” of the future. According to Matthew, Yeshua repeats, relives, and reenacts Israel’s experiences described in the Scriptures.** 

Yeshua of Nazareth was called "God's Son" just as Israel in Torah. Israel came out of Egypt, and so did Yeshua. Yeshua wandered the wilderness and was tempted just as Israel in the days of Moses. Both went through the waters of the Jordan River to enter a new stage of life. Like Israel, Yeshua (Jesus) was persecuted and afflicted. What happened to Israel happened to Yeshua. 

The Aramaic equivalent of Greek πληρόω *(plerao)* is קִיֵּם *(qiyem),* which means “to establish,” “to uphold,” or “to stand upright.” Likewise, קְיָים *(qiyam)* and קְיָימָא *(qiyama)* mean something "firm" like a law, vow, or covenant. In Hebrew קִיֵּם *(qiyem)* is “to fulfil” or “to perform” (Ps 119:28) but also “raise up” and “build up” (Isa 44:26; 58:12; 61:4) and “validate” or “confirm” (Ruth 4:7; Est 9:29).

This is the way in which Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets: the Messiah’s life explicitly mirrored all these events in Israel’s long journey as a people. Everything Yeshua did, established, confirmed, and validated is how God led his people through the pages of history.

[From Rabbi to Lord to Jesus (\~2hrs)Was Jesus truly a Rabbi? What did it mean to be a Rabbi in antiquity? What are some of the earliest historical references we have to rabbis? How did he go from Rabbi to Lord, and why? How did Hebrew Yeshua become English Jesus? I highlight these questions and many![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/01/60x60-blk.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w1200/2023/06/Rabbi3.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/from-rabbi-to-lord-to-jesus/)

[Binding and Loosing like JesusIn Matthew’s Gospel Jesus said to his disciple Peter, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt 16:19). A couple of![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/01/60x60-blk.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w1200/2022/12/Jes2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/binding-and-loosing-like-jesus-2/)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/Cul-Back-NIV.png) 

#### NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

The notes in this Study Bible are very helpful. It is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of biblical times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3vDuTmo?ref=pshir.com)
### Coming Clean
URL: https://www.pshir.com/coming-clean/
Last updated: 2024-09-08T14:00:45.000Z
In Exodus 35:31, the craftsmen received abilities to do ***melakha*** “work” or “labor” or “craft” that was assigned to them. But besides all the knowledge and abilities, the Torah says in Exodus 35:35 ***ulehoret natan belibo*** “he put the ability to teach into his heart.” Betzalel was to teach Ohiliav the skills he knew. Hebrew literally says he placed the capacity to instruct into Betzalel’s inner being, into his heart. That’s the verb yarah, as in “to instruct” or “to point to things.” The noun Torah comes from this verb.

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### Listen to 4 Chapters of 3 Enoch
URL: https://www.pshir.com/listen-to-4-chapters-of-3-enoch/
Last updated: 2024-09-05T14:04:43.000Z
The *Third Book of Enoch* (Hebrew Enoch), or "The Book of Palaces," is an ancient Jewish mystical composition. Though named after Enoch, it was not written by the biblical Enoch himself. He is, however, the main character in a story of Rabbi Ishamel’s ascent to see the divine Merkavah throne.

If you enjoyed listening, just consider that in antiquity, most people did not read books; they listened to them. People learned as someone else actually read out loud or told stories. This is how spiritual content was frequently consumed in the days before the printing press. Today, we are blessed to have books at our fingertips, which is a very modern experience. I am all about books, but listening can create an entirely different perception and alternative experience with the story. This video is an actual AI narration of the 1 Enoch I published on Audible. Enjoy! 

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/08/EN-Coll1-1.jpg)](https://amzn.to/4dIXYOc?ref=pshir.com)
### "3 Enoch, The Book of Palaces: New Translation" By Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/3-enoch-the-book-of-palaces/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T17:47:22.000Z
I am glad to offer readers my rendition of 3 Enoch in a new modern translation. The Third Book of Enoch (Hebrew Enoch), or "The Book of Palaces," is an ancient Jewish mystical composition. How ancient? Around the sixth century CE. Though it is built on the same ancient lore, 3 Enoch is quite different from 1 Enoch and 2 Enoch. It does not sound much like other Second Temple Era Jewish books. Instead, it sounds more like the Talmud. It builds on the esoteric themes of Enoch but reads more like rabbinic teaching, reminiscent of the Merkavah stories. It uses rabbinic terminology and introduces you to the angel Metatron in the most intimate way. Still, it's called 3 Enoch for a reason, as it pulls on the ancient threads that lead to the Book of Watchers so many people find highly intriguing. Look Inside?

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### Treasures for the World to Come in Tosefta
URL: https://www.pshir.com/treasures-for-the-world-to-come-in-tosefta/
Last updated: 2024-08-28T14:00:01.000Z
The Tosefta is a rabbinic text often unfamiliar to people. There is a perfectly good explanation why. When the text of Mishna, the Jewish oral traditions, was being compiled into writing by Yehudah HaNassi (second century CE), some discussions were set aside and edited out. It's not that they were somehow deficient. Some were just deemed more peripheral, and to keep the Mishna text manageable only the most important discussions were kept, and others set aside. Later, these discussions came to be known as Tosefta “additions,” a sort of appendix to Mishna that survived to our day. Today, only those who seek the broader context of Mishna's sayings venture into these ancient notes. For antiquity researchers, these notes are contemporary parallels to Mishna and help with background in understanding ancient dialogues.

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### The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated by Florentino Garcia Martinez
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-dead-sea-scrolls-martinez/
Last updated: 2024-08-25T14:00:20.000Z
One of the world's foremost experts on the Dead Sea Scrolls provides an authoritative English translation of the two hundred longest and most important nonbiblical Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran. This book is also supplied with introductory information about the history, discovery, and publication of each manuscript. The author provides the background necessary for placing the Dead Sea Scroll manuscripts in the broader context. An excellent volume to consult, or if you study DSS, to own for sure. 

Look Inside?

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### Magnifying and Sanctifying God’s Name (~ 5hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/magnifying-and-sanctifying-gods-name/
Last updated: 2024-08-21T14:00:50.000Z
One unique prayer is repeated multiple times daily in Jewish Prayer services besides the Shema (Deut 6:4-9). It's a prayer composed in Aramaic called Kaddish. In modern practice, it is never recited alone, and its ancient words seek to magnify and sanctify God's name corporately. Many people know it as "Mourner's Kaddish," but it has absolutely nothing to do with the dead or the afterlife. Its simple words of praise are comforting but in a different sort of way. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

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### Missing Out
URL: https://www.pshir.com/missing-out/
Last updated: 2024-08-18T14:00:29.000Z
Torah says that ***Olah*** was to be brought to the entrance of the tent. Why? Because not every offering is automatically accepted. The priests carefully examined offerings at the entrance, and only then were they presented to God on the altar. Today, people rarely think that their worship can be accepted or rejected. Some may think that God will accept whatever we offer. In reality, the Almighty has no needs. God is not desperate to accept from us just about anything we can muster, and treating Hashem this way is disgraceful. We give Hashem our best, always.

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### "The Book of Palaces" Translation by Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/new-book-3-enoch-the-book-of-palaces-by-pinchas-shir/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T16:31:37.000Z
Earlier, in 2023 and 2024, I crafted new translations of 1 Enoch and 2 Enoch. The book's archaic English versions are broadly available across the internet for free. Yet, my goal was to create modern and easy-to-read English texts for these classics. I received largely positive feedback from my new translations, so this summer, I released another one—3 Enoch. This book is also known as the "Book of Palaces" and sometimes called "Hebrew Enoch." 3 Enoch is a much later composition (about 6th century CE), but unlike 1 Enoch and 2 Enoch, we have a number of Hebrew manuscripts. Unlike its predecessors that fit much more into the Second Temple literary milieu, the style of 3 Enoch is influenced by rabbinic Merkavah language and Talmudic traditions. And that gives the Book of Palaces a uniquely pronounced character that sets it apart from 1 Enoch and 2 Enoch. 

📗

Take your pick... The [3 Enoch: The Book of Palaces](https://amzn.to/4bYf4pZ?ref=pshir.com) is available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, and Audible formats. 

Here is an excerpt from a Public Domain text: 

**And even the angel of fire, and the angel of hail, and the angel of the wind, and the angel of the lightning, and the angel of anger, and the angel of the thunder, and the angel of the snow, and the angel of the rain ; and the angel of the day, and the angel of the night, and the angel of the sun and the angel of the moon, and the angel of the planets and the angel of the constellations who rule the world under their hands, feared and trembled and were affrighted before me, when they saw me. These are the names of the rulers of the world: Gabriel, the angel of the fire, Baradiel, the angel of the hail, Ruchiel who is appointed over the wind, Baraqiel who is appointed over the lightnings, Za'amiel who is appointed over the vehemence, Ziqiel who is appointed over the sparks, Zi'iel who is appointed over the commotion, Zdaphiel who is appointed over the storm-wind, Ra'amiel who is appointed over the thunders, Rctashiel who is appointed over the earthquake, Shalgiel who is appointed over the snow, Matariel who is appointed over the rain, Shimshiel who is appointed over the day, Lailiel who is appointed over the night, Galgalliel who is appointed over the globe of the sun,'Ophanniel who is appointed over the globe of the moon, Kokbiel who is appointed over the planets, Rahatiel who is appointed over the constellations. And they all fell prostrate, when they saw me. And they were not able to behold me because of the majestic glory and beauty of the appearance of the shining light of the crown of glory upon my head. (Ch 14, Odeberg, 1928)**

Now, my rendition of the same verses:

**The angels of fire, hail, wind, lightning, storm, thunder, snow, rain, day, night, sun, moon, stars, and constellations who govern the world all shrank back in awe of me. These are the names of angels who govern the physical world: Gabriel, the angel of fire, Baradi’el who masters over thunder, Ruchi’el who harnesses the winds, Baraqi’el who is in charge of lightning, Za’ami’el who masters gales, Ziqiel who operates comets, Zi’iel, who wields tremors and tides, Zdaphi’el who operates hurricanes, Ra’ami’el who is over thunder, Ra’ashi’el who manages earthquakes, Shalgi’el who administers snow, Matari’el who is in charge of rain, Shimshi’el who is over the day, Laili’el who rules the night, Galgalli’el who is in charge of celestial orbits, Ophanni’el who manages phases of the moon, Kokhavi’el, who rules the stars, and Rahati’el, who manages the movement of constellations. Upon seeing me, they all prostrated themselves, unable to withstand the majestic glory and beauty emanating from the radiant crown which was placed upon my head.” (Ch 14, Shir 2024)** 

Hopefully, you can see the difference...

[“1 Enoch, The Book of Watchers: New Translation” By Pinchas ShirThe Book of Enoch is a well-known Jewish composition from the Second Temple era. Older English translations of 1 Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch) are in the Public Domain and widely available online for free. The problem is that the narratives of “The Book of Watchers” are ensconced in old English,![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-dbb6de0c-31f7-4327-b77d-dab12410fa75.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Enoch1-h5-1-132e27ad-0ab3-44ef-b144-27e2209e9bb6.png)](https://www.pshir.com/1-enoch/)

[2 Enoch, The Book of Secrets: New TranslationMany have heard about “The Book of Watchers,” 1 Enoch, largely because it’s a platform for some very sensational claims. But “The Book of Secrets” (Slavonic Enoch), or what scholars call 2 Enoch, seems to elude the masses. Nevertheless, this ancient Jewish book also builds on the Enoch tradition.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-7976ee73-f5cd-4c80-8de0-caee19235bf6.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/2EN-cover1-6320fc09-6d95-4692-9ee2-eeb9fcfdad26.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/2-enoch-the-book-of-secrets-new-translation/)
### The Art of Protection
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-art-of-protection/
Last updated: 2024-08-11T14:00:36.000Z
According to researchers of antiquity driving away bad luck, the evil eye, and, in short, envious people—this was one of the purposes of mosaics in Ancient Rome. You may know of amulets, incantations, but art and specific mosaics were also used to ward off evil. Ancient literary sources and data provided by archaeology offer much information about the religious beliefs of the Romans, such as their rituals and magic or funeral practices.

> “With this research, we are trying to find out how these beliefs are represented in Roman mosaics throughout the Empire,” said professor of Ancient History Luz Neira

The researchers stress that mosaics are not only works of art, but also documentary sources of the highest order for the study of history. Their analysis reveals the vision that the most powerful citizens had regarding these subjects, as it was mainly the elite classes who commissioned them for their domestic and private spaces.

> “The most common representations deal with marriage, sacrifices (the ritual act of religiosity par excellence), or scenes against the evil eye and which try to protect against envy,” explained Professor Neira.

This type of mosaic had an apotropaic effect; that is, it was a kind of defense mechanism in Roman superstition to ward off evil spirits. To protect oneself from the evil eye, for example, they resorted to the representation of an eye pierced by a lance and surrounded by animals, in some cases with inscriptions. 

Images of mythological characters with prominent phalli or other scenes that would drive away envious people were placed in the hallways of homes. One such depiction is in a mosaic on the island of Cephalonia, where an envious person is represented by someone writhing and strangling themselves because of the envy produced by the house they are looking at. These subjects are not confined to a specific epoch but instead are documented throughout the history of the Roman Empire.

Original Source: History of the Ancient World
### Embracing the Sadness
URL: https://www.pshir.com/embracing-the-sadness/
Last updated: 2024-08-07T14:00:27.000Z
Are you familiar with Tisha B'Av? On the Jewish calendar, it's a day of fasting and introspection for many reasons. Throughout history, this day has been a day of calamity for Israel as a people at large and for various Jewish communities. In this 45-minute teaching, I explain about the Ninth Day of Av and why Jews relive tragic events of our history year after year. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

Sorry for the interruption; part 2 is below. Do you like watching random ads and commercials? These videos are commercial-free for a reason... 

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Paid subscriptions offset the cost of add-free videos. ****Please consider subscribing!** These videos are commercial-free, but hosting many of them on the web is not free. You can support independent publishing for the price of a sandwich and a coffee :)

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### Fight For Your Future
URL: https://www.pshir.com/fight-for-your-future/
Last updated: 2024-08-04T17:35:28.000Z
Sometimes we get tired of fighting for just about everything in life. Moses was at the end of his life, well over a hundred, and yet he was still in a fight. In Numbers 31, Moses was told that he must exact vengeance for what Midian did to Israel, and then he can be free. For Moshe, this meant that once he is done, the tribes will move on to possess the land promised to them and he will die. This is his last assignment. Sometimes we must look beyond now to fight for the future. 

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### "Who wrote the Quran?" by Matt Baker
URL: https://www.pshir.com/who-wrote-the-quran/
Last updated: 2024-07-31T14:00:26.000Z
Though I am interested in other religions beyond Judaism and Christianity, I rarely talk about them because they are outside of my area of expertise. I came across a video that explains how Muslims view the Quran in a very succinct and genius way. I was impressed with how Matt Maker compared and contrasted the conceptualizations of the Torah, the Christian Bible, and the Quran. It helps one to understand why these religions overlap so much yet are so different. So, even though the video is a bit outside of my area, I decided to share it. 

Matt Baker (this video's creator) has a PhD in Religious Studies. As far as I remember, he is a theist and a convert to Judaism (a progressive and not very traditional group). So, as a Jew by choice, he has an interesting religious bias, but his personal views most often line up with secular scholars of religion. In some ways that makes him more objective in discussing differences between multiple religions.
### Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Genesis 2
URL: https://www.pshir.com/soncino-midrash-rabbah-genesis-2/
Last updated: 2024-07-28T14:00:04.000Z
Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish imagination in Hebrew, and this 1939 translation into English can now serve many more generations. Jews have always sought and found comfort and inspiration in the Midrash by understanding Biblical history in the light of their own experiences. And Midrash continues to be the means to move beyond the text even today.

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### Walking Through the Door of Midrash
URL: https://www.pshir.com/walking-through-the-door-of-midrash/
Last updated: 2024-07-24T14:00:00.000Z
For some, reading Midrash is a beloved preoccupation, and others find it frustrating. Midrash can be beautiful and very inspiring, yet for those who lean toward more strict analytical thought, it seems to take way too many liberties in explaining biblical texts. This is exactly why Midrash needs to be properly understood as an interpretive method utilized by ancient rabbis. Listen to Rabbi Joshua Maroof's lectures on using Midrash to study and internalize biblical truths.

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### Fear of the Unknown
URL: https://www.pshir.com/fear-of-the-unknown/
Last updated: 2025-08-19T15:16:15.000Z
In Torah, in parsha Shemot (Exodus 6), we read how a new king arose in Egypt, a king who did not know Joseph. This was not great for Jacob's family. His fear of the Unknown (in his case, foreigners living in his land) led to panic, and panic led to action, but in the end, his solution did not work How should we deal with the Fear of the Unknown?

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### Altar of Incense in the Holy of Holies?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/altar-of-incense/
Last updated: 2026-05-12T20:36:18.000Z
Not long ago I received a curious question from a man who was struggling reading through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. His question had to do with the temple and with the tabernacle arrangement, which was originally described in the book of Exodus. In Exodus the מִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹ֖רֶת (*mizbeach haketoret)* the *altar of incense* was stationed in the Holy Place. In Hebrews 9:4, however, it says that it was in the Holy of Holies. How can this be?

> 3 Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holy of Holies. 4 In it stood the golden *altar of incense* and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant (NRSV – Hebrews 9:3-4).

The Holy Place and Holy of Holies were two separate rooms sectioned off by a curtain in the wilderness. According to Flavius Josephus, the Herod’s Temple had not only a curtain, but also the doors. The Holy of Holies was visited only once a year and was supposed to contain only the Ark of the Covenant with its contents. The מִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹ֖רֶת (mizbeach haketoret) – *altar of incense*” was supposed to be on the other side of the separation in the Holy place and not in the Holy of Holies as Hebrews 9:3-4 describes.

> 26 He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the curtain, 27 and offered fragrant incense on it; as the Lord had commanded Moses. (NRSV – Exodus 40:26-27)

Was the writer of Hebrews not familiar with this? Did he not know Torah? Did he make a mistake concerning the arrangement of holy articles in the *mishkan* (tabernacle)? There certainly appears to be a gross discrepancy of some sort. The book of Hebrews was written in Greek in the first century C.E., and the Torah was written in Hebrew and naturally much earlier. But a couple of centuries before the Common Era, the Torah was already translated into Greek in Alexandria, Egypt. It is called the Septuagint today (abbreviated as LXX), and many Greek-speaking Jews utilized this translation. In the Greek translation of Exodus 40:1 the *altar of incense* was rendered as θυσιαστήριον θυμιάματος (*thusiasterion thmiamatos*). It is a straightforward translation of Hebrew where θυσιαστήριον (*thusiasterion*) is “an altar”. In Greek, θυσία (thusia) is “an offering,” and θυμιάματος (*thumiamatos)* is the word for “incense.”

[Experiencing Worship at Herod’s Temple (\~3h)Have you ever imagined what a worship experience was like at the Jerusalem Temple in the days of Jesus? In these lectures, we will delve briefly into the layout and setting of Herod’s Temple, but more importantly, we will imagine the daily lives and experiences of an average first-century CE![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-248.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Temple222-3.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/experiencing-worship-at-herods-temple-3h/)

When one takes a close look at Hebrews 9:4 in Greek, one would expect to find θυσιαστήριον (*thusiasterion*) in the text, since that is the word that means “altar” and that is the equivalent in the Koine Greek version to the Hebrew term in the Torah. But instead, one will find only θυμιατήριον (*thumiaterion*) which does not mean “an altar”. 

> χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα θυμιατήριον καὶ τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης περικεκαλυμμένην πάντοθεν χρυσίῳ, ἐν ᾗ στάμνος χρυσῆ ἔχουσα τὸ μάννα καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος Ἀαρὼν ἡ βλαστήσασα καὶ αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης **(Heb 9:4 in Greek)**

The words look a little bit alike, but the root is not θυσία (*thusia*) but θυμίαμα (*thumiama*) which actually means “incense”. This word, in fact, is a description of “something that holds incense”, but not an *altar of incense*. The word θυσιαστήριον (*thusiasterion*) – “altar” does not appear in Hebrews 9:3-4 in the Greek text at all, and apparently was supplied there by the translators in English. In the same manner the verb “stood” is also not in the original text. In its place, actually is the verb “to have”. So how can the incense be present in the Holy of Holies without the altar? The answer may be found in the Hebrew Bible, or more precisely in the Greek translation of Ezekiel 8:11.

> 11 Before them stood seventy of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the fragrant cloud of incense was ascending (NRSV- Ezekiel 8:11).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2021/12/Holy2.jpg)

The word θυμιατήριον (*thuimaterion*) appears in the second part of verse 11 and is translated as “a censer”. In Hebrew “censer” is מִקְטֶ֫רֶת (*mikteret*). It is a vessel that holds incense. It is portable and hard to confuse with the altar, which is usually stationary. In Ezekiel’s text, each man held this item in one’s hands. And Hebrews 9 clearly describes the priestly service in the Holy of Holies. It is not a secret that according to Lev. 16:13 the High Priest was instructed to take incense with him into the Most Holy place in order that the smoke would obscure the view of the ark. This was done by taking with him a portable device, a censer full of incense.

Such an intimate understanding of the priestly ritual would explain why the writer of Hebrews shows the presence of a censer in the Holy of Holies in Hebrews 9:4\. Thus the Greek text of Hebrews 9:3-4 reveals that behind the curtain in the Holy of Holies was a censer and not an *altar of incense*. Exodus 40 tells us that altar was in another area. So it appears that the author of Hebrews was not mistaken after all. An unfortunate translation is really to blame for the confusion. The answer to many confusing questions in the Bible often can be found by closely examining the original texts. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/05/JPS_JSB-1.png) 

#### JPS Jewish Study Bible

This is another Study Bible I sometimes recommend to my students who wish to broaden their perspective. Unlike publications produced by religious Jewish authorities, this JPS translation is published by Oxford University Press. It is supplied with helpful scholarly notes that stem from the academic Jewish perspective, which does not always conform to the established Jewish tradition. If you consider that such critical perspectives augment your study goals, then these notes and opinions might serve your aspirations of learning multiple takes on Jewish sacred texts. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3JV8k0l?ref=pshir.com) 

[Second Temple Era Stone Inscription Mentions JerusalemDuring the winter of 2017, archaeologists working in a Jerusalem suburb, discovered the foundations of a Roman structure dating to the 1st century B.C.E. What they found was building remnants and a part of a common round column. The exciting part is that the column had writing on![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-249.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Column1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/stone-inscription-mentions-jerusalem/)
### 40 Days of Hebrew Devotions
URL: https://www.pshir.com/40-days-of-hebrew-devotions/
Last updated: 2024-07-22T13:14:16.000Z
What would you say if I introduced you to an insightful, short book with lots of takeaways from a trustworthy source? The book will gently lead you through a 40-day journey looking at Hebrew words and concepts to enrich your faith and worship. This could be an exhilarating 40-day journey of discovery with 40 short prayers to help you along the way. Who knows what you will see behind ancient and modern Hebrew words around which short devotional passages are centered? You have to find out for yourself.

Peek Inside?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Around the Merkavah (~1.5hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/around-the-merkavah/
Last updated: 2026-04-29T13:55:55.000Z
Thousands of years ago, ancient Hebrews believed that their God was not tied to a specific place. They called his throne Merkavah (chariot). A throne with wheels and floating Keruvim moved to where He needed to be. The Bible depicted this reality in the visions seen by prophets of old, so today, this is not a revolutionary idea, yet most ancient people saw gods tied to specific locations. 

Enoch features several Merkavah throne scenes. In 1 Enoch 14, the author is taken up, not by his own effort, but carried into a realm that feels less like a place and more like a boundary between worlds. He approaches a vast structure, a house not built by human hands. Its walls shimmer like crystal, translucent and alive, and its floor seems to ripple with light. Later, in 1 Enoch 18, the prophet is shown the outer reaches of this same order—not the throne itself, but the zones that border its influence. He sees mountains burning day and night, great masses of fire that do not diminish. Rivers of flame flow like boundaries, marking divisions in the cosmos. In 1 Enoch 60, the seer encounters the “Head of Days” seated upon the throne of glory. The scene is no longer just overwhelming—it is structured. The heavens themselves respond to this presence; they tremble, as if the order of creation is aware of its source.

This movable Merkavah throne surfaces in the Book of Revelation. In fact, Revelation offers some very interesting imagery that is linked to Jewish traditions that are much older than two millennia. In this lecture, I dig into the Jewish cultural contexts of select verses from Revelation chapters 4 and 5\. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

👁️‍🗨️

This hour-and-a-half lecture was broken up into several smaller bite-sized segments for your convenience and is offered for streaming without advertising. Please ****consider a paid subscription** to support my independent publishing efforts.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Turning Away Anger
URL: https://www.pshir.com/turning-away-anger/
Last updated: 2026-05-01T17:24:10.000Z
The story of Pinchas can be hard to take in. Pinchas intervened by taking on God’s jealousy, and that changed everything. And in verse 12, God rewards him, and he says, **hineni notein lo et biriti shalom** “behold I give to him my covenant of peace.” Peace is not always the best translation of "shalom" because people often think of war as the opposite of peace. Some English versions opt for “friendship” or perhaps “well-being” - a far better option to translate *shalom*. But that describes God's formal relationship with Pinchas. 

Listen?

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/08/AS_TOR1-1.png) 

#### Stone Edition Torah (Hebrew-English)

Transform your Torah study with the Stone Edition Chumash (the Five Books of Moses). The Stone edition of Torah is trusted by many orthodox synagogues and families worldwide. It features crystal-clear Hebrew text alongside English translation. The English text is supplied by select short insights crafted by Rabbi Nosson Scherman's team of Torah experts. This beautiful volume was built to last with care. It comes in reinforced hard binding and was printed on premium acid-free paper, fitting for a holy text. This isn't just another beautifully bound translation. It's a skillfully crafted personal guide to understanding the Torah through the eyes of history's greatest sages. Over 1,300 pages at your fingertips. There are multiple sizes of this edition, but this link leads to the large 8x9 edition. 

[See it on AMAZON](https://amzn.to/4oFMXmZ?ref=pshir.com)
### The Direction of our Prayers
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-direction-of-our-prayers/
Last updated: 2026-05-11T14:31:33.000Z
For thousands of years, Jews have been praying to God while facing Jerusalem. Muslims have a similar tradition. Only they bow toward the city of Mecca. Such cultural practice may seem a bit unusual for Christians who direct their gaze elsewhere, to the altar in front of them or to the heavens above. But for Jews facing Jerusalem during prayer is an ancient custom etched on the pages of the Bible (Daniel 6:10; 1 Kings 8:29-35). Of course, it's not about the city itself, but about the holy mountain, the spot God himself chose for his house three thousand years ago (1 Kings 8:44, 1 Chron 22:1-10). There is a special place where God manifested himself in the past, and people have not forgotten it. 

This tradition of praying towards God's house has a considerable history, and I wanted to share a quote from Tosefta on Berachot 3 to expound on the exact reasons behind this unique custom. If you are wondering about how far back these words go, the text of Tosefta is quite ancient. It contains discussions of various Jewish traditions put into writing around the 3rd century CE. Of course, many of those traditions existed for much longer in oral form before they were finally expressed in writing. When Mishna was compiled, some of its content was redacted and set aside, and that body of text became known as Tosefta. It means “supplement" in Aramaic. So here are some sentiments from the sages about the direction of prayers from the supplement to Mishnah. 

**“A blind person and someone who cannot recognize the directions, \[should\] direct their hearts towards God, and \[only then\] pray, as it is said, “And they should pray to Hashem…” (I Kings 8:44)**

**Those that are standing outside of the Land of Israel \[should\] direct their hearts towards the Land of Israel, and \[only then\] pray, as it is said, “And those that pray to You by the way of their land…” (I Kings 8:48)**

**Those that are standing in the Land of Israel \[should\] direct their hearts towards Yerushalayim, and \[only then\] pray, as it is said, “And they will pray to Hashem by the way of the city that You have chosen…” (I Kings 8:44)**

**Those that are standing in Yerushalayim \[should\] direct their hearts towards Bet Hamikdash (Temple), as it is said, “…and they should pray towards this house.” (II Chronicles 6:32)**

**Those that are standing inside the Bet Hamikdash \[should\] direct their hearts towards the Holy of Holies and \[only then\] pray, as it is said, “… they will pray towards this place.” (I Kings 8:30)**

**It comes out that \[all of those\] standing in the north will be facing the south, \[all of those\] standing in the south will be facing the north, \[all of those\] standing in the east will be facing the west, \[and all of those\] standing in the west will be facing the east.**

**And it will come out that all of the Jewish people will be praying towards one place.”** (Tosefta Berachot 3, quoted from Sefaria.org)

Wherever Jews live, communal prayers are always spoken with a particular direction in mind, orientation towards the Holy of Holies. The architecture of many modern synagogues today is designed to orient worshippers towards Zion. Many sway and rock as they whisper and pray, occasionally even bend their knees and bow, turning towards the last known resting place of God's glory. Why? Because the hope is that this presence will return. Some today realize that when praying on opposite sides of the globe, they are actually facing each other while lifting their voices in prayer to Hashem. If you reflect for a moment, it's a beautiful picture of unity that many hope will bring about the promised restoration. One day, every knee will bow.
### "The Beginnings of Jewishness" by Shaye Cohen
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-begining-of/
Last updated: 2024-06-30T14:00:05.000Z
In this book, Shaye J.D. Cohen explores the formation and transformation of Jewish identity between Hellenistic times and the Roman era. Cohen, a renowned scholar in Jewish history, addresses complex issues related to ethnicity, religion, and cultural identity. He investigates how Jewish identity was defined and perceived both internally by Jews and externally by non-Jews. Cohen delves into various factors such as conversion, intermarriage, and the use of the terms "Jew" and "Judaism." He argues that Jewish identity was fluid and multifaceted, influenced by social, political, and religious contexts. The book examines primary sources, including literary, epigraphic, and legal texts, to understand the boundaries and uncertainties surrounding Jewish identity during this period.

Peek Inside?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Around the Merkavah Audio (~1.5 hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/around-the-merkavah-audio/
Last updated: 2026-04-29T13:55:22.000Z
Thousands of years ago, ancient Hebrews believed that their God was not tied to a specific place. They called his throne Merkavah (chariot). A throne with wheels and floating Keruvim moved to where He needed to be. The Bible depicted this reality in the visions seen by prophets of old, so today, this is not a revolutionary idea, yet most ancient people saw gods tied to specific locations. 

Enoch features several Merkavah throne scenes. In 1 Enoch 14, the author is taken up, not by his own effort, but carried into a realm that feels less like a place and more like a boundary between worlds. He approaches a vast structure, a house not built by human hands. Its walls shimmer like crystal, translucent and alive, and its floor seems to ripple with light. Later, in 1 Enoch 18, the prophet is shown the outer reaches of this same order—not the throne itself, but the zones that border its influence. He sees mountains burning day and night, great masses of fire that do not diminish. Rivers of flame flow like boundaries, marking divisions in the cosmos. In 1 Enoch 60, the seer encounters the “Head of Days” seated upon the throne of glory. The scene is no longer just overwhelming—it is structured. The heavens themselves respond to this presence; they tremble, as if the order of creation is aware of its source.

This movable Merkavah throne surfaces in the Book of Revelation. In fact, Revelation offers some very interesting imagery that is linked to Jewish traditions that are much older than two millennia. In this lecture, I dig into the Jewish cultural contexts of select verses from Revelation chapters 4 and 5\. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

⏰

A video version of this lecture is coming soon to the Seminar section of this e-zine - [HERE](https://www.pshir.com/tag/pvideo/). If this topic is of interest to you, check out [Revelation as a Jewish Apocalypse](https://www.pshir.com/revelation-as-a-jewish-apocalypse-full/) lecture and also [The Majestic Image of the Son of Man](https://www.pshir.com/the-majestic-image-of-the-son-of-man/).
### Look to Israel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/look-to-israel/
Last updated: 2024-06-23T14:00:12.000Z
Exodus 28:29 says, ***Venasa Aharon et shemot benei Israel*** “and Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel” ***bachoshen hamishpat, al libo*** \- “on the breastplate of decision, over his heart.” Aaron’s vestments had a breastplate with 12 precious stones, and the names of the 12 tribes inscribed on them. So he carried the names of Israel’s clans over his heart every day when he performed his priestly duties. Apparently, the breastplate was folded or somehow had a compartment because verse 30 says that Urim and Tumim were carried inside the breastplate.

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Recreating Ancient Roman Bread
URL: https://www.pshir.com/recreating-ancient-roman-bread/
Last updated: 2024-06-19T14:00:52.000Z
Have you ever wondered what bread was like 2000 years ago? We often assume that bread is bread, and it has always been the same. But this is where archaeologists, historians, and food anthropologists will tell you that even the bread we know has gone through stages of development as culture, technology, and techniques developed. In AD 79, a Roman baker put his loaf of bread into the oven. Then, a disaster struck: a volcanic eruption that destroyed the city of Pompeii. Nearly 2,000 years later, it was found petrified during excavations in Herculaneum. The British Museum asked Giorgio Locatelli to recreate the recipe. Enjoy this unusual cooking video as the baker recreates the loaf from the past. 

If you are a regular reader, you probably noticed my affinity for culinary contexts of antiquity. Many pieces I publish often mention food in some way. I have to confess that ancient diets, food production, and meal customs have been an area of my interest for years, so much so that this was the area in which I wrote my dissertation. 

💡

If you like this video, you might enjoy an article about [a 2000-year-old date palm]( Photo by Rafay Ansari / Unsplash Methuselah Date Palm From the Days of Jesus A tree grows in Israel, in Kibbutz Qetura – a Methuselah date palm tree. It is a very unusual tree, a living palm from the days of Jesus which was named Methuselah because of its origins. Technically, it is a young tree but it was sprouted from the seed of a very ancient tree, one that grew in Israel in the 1st century. In 1963, archaeologists began a dig around King Herod the Great’s palace at the ancient fortress of Masada. The ruins sit atop a jutting plateau of rock in Southern Israel, which overlooks the Judaean Desert to one side and the Dead Sea to the other. It’s naturally fortified by steep cliffs rising some 1,300 feet. About 100 miles north lay the Jordan Valley, with its forests of 40-foot date palms, a medicinal fruit tree that symbolized life and prosperity. FREE PUBLIC PREVIEW ↑ / ↓ ONLY VISIBLE TO MEMBERS In order to feed hundreds of subjects, Herod had dates and other delicacies shipped to the remote mountaintop — peaches, figs, olives, almonds, wine, and birds for meat, according to Roman historian Flavius Josephus. Then in 73 CE, the Romans attacked the fortress. The siege lasted a full year, during which time the Jews subsisted on what jarred food remained. Ultimately, rather than surrender, they set fire to Herod’s citadel and committed mass suicide. Most of the buildings were left to decay — along with a few tiny seeds that waited inside their warm jar. Two thousand years later, excavators discovered that curious clay jar buried deep in hot, dry dirt. It was undisturbed and intact. Inside they found several date palm seeds. Back at the lab, scientists broke off tiny chips of the seeds’ shells; carbon dating estimated their origin between 155 BC and 64 CE. Scientists preserved the seeds at Bar-Ilan University in Tel-Aviv. Forty years later, agriculture expert Dr. Elaine Solowey planted three of them. One seed sprouted. The plant would be named Methuselah, after Noah’s grandfather, the oldest man in the Bible. And that is how the Methuselah date palm appeared. Solowey still oversees Methuselah’s upbringing. Her job consists of finding new, useful crops for the dry Middle Eastern climate. She hadn’t planned to work with plants this old. “You want me to do what?” she recalls asking her future partner, Dr. Sarah Sallon, a natural medicine researcher in Jerusalem. Working together, they could test both the plant’s physical endurance and any medicinal potential that may have been lost to time. Solowey got to work. First, she soaked the seeds in hot water to activate absorption. From there, she bathed them in nutrients and fertilizer made from seaweed. She chose the Jewish holiday, New Year for Trees, which in 2005 fell on January 25, as the day to plant. After a few months, she noticed a crack in the soil…then a sprout. “I couldn’t believe it,” she told National Geographic later that year. “I could see it was a date shoot.” The leaves were almost white, with thin grey lines. The first leaves seemed flat and sickly, as if they were struggling to break from the seed. The team of researchers hoped Methuselah was a female palm. They wanted fruit. Both the Bible and the Koran praise the date palm. The tree provided shade, food, and medicine. In the “land of milk and honey,” dates were the honey. The fruit was large, dark, and very sweet, says Solowey. It had good “shelf life” and was in high demand in Rome. “Roman emperors wanted Judean dates for their tables,” Solowey told Timeline. “Since they had absolutely nothing else good to say about Jews, Judea, or Judaism, I assume they were very good dates.” The ancient fruit made tonics for longevity, laxatives, and aphrodisiacs; lore claims they could cure infections. The date was so important to the region that it featured on ancient coinage, and even on Israel’s 10-shekel coin today. But 800 years ago, Crusaders destroyed the last Judean palm and rendered the plant extinct. Dr. Sallon hopes Methuselah is the key to medicinal remedies once lost to history. By 2010, the plant stood 6.5 feet tall. “I have a date plant,” Solowey told The New York Times. “If it lives, it will be years before we eat any dates. And that’s if it’s female. There’s a 50–50 chance. And if it’s a male, it will just be a curiosity.” She waited. In 2011, it finally flowered. But Methuselah date palm is male. No fruit. “Unless we can get a female of the same era,” said Solowey. Her team wasn’t willing to give up the possibility of an ancient date just yet. First they had to test Methuselah’s, ahem, viability. They mated him with modern female date plants. His seed is healthy. “We got fruit and some 50% ancient date trees,” says Solowey. With Methuselah date palm pollinating like a teenager, the team is busy searching for more ancient mates. They recently got some seeds from an archaeologist working at the Dead Sea. If those sprout a female plant, and Methuselah likes her, humans could soon taste fruit of biblical times. Solowey says to check back this summer. For now, Methuselah date palm is sunning himself on an arid kibbutz in Southern Israel. He holds the record of the oldest seed ever successfully germinated. “[W]ithin a 2,000-year-old seed, a germ of life was still alive,” wrote Jane Goodall in her 2013 book Seeds of Hope, “waiting, waiting, waiting for the right conditions to wake, like Rip Van Winkle, into a strange and different world.” Original Source: Timeline.com 947 words Post settings Post URL methuselah-date-palm www.pshir.com/methuselah-date-palm/) and another article about the [recreation of ancient wine in Israel](www.pshir.com/recreating-ancient-israelite-wine).
### The Parable of Workers in the Vinyard
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-parable-of-workers-in-the-vinyard/
Last updated: 2024-06-16T17:00:24.000Z
Joseph Shulam, grew up in Jerusalem, where he was introduced to the New Testament in high school. He became a believer and moved to the United States for college. After his return to Jerusalem, Shulam studied Biblical Archaeology and Bible at Hebrew University. He attended 3 years of rabbinical college and did more graduate study at Hebrew University. Dr. Shulam has written and partnered in writing several books, including commentaries on Romans, Acts, and Galatians. His take on classical Jewish texts and New Testament has been eye-opening for many audiences.

Part 1

Part 2
### Recreating Ancient Israelite Wine
URL: https://www.pshir.com/recreating-ancient-israelite-wine/
Last updated: 2024-06-12T14:00:50.000Z
Both Jewish and Christian rituals today utilize wine. And the Bible is full of stories that mention wine's prominence. Perhaps the first one is about Noah planting a vineyard after the flood (Gen 9:20). Anthropologists will tell you that nomads do not plant vineyards. This was a sign of a settled civilization. Who can forget the biblical imagery of Israelite spies returning from their scouting mission to Canaan? Out of all the things they could have brought back to show the land's fertility, they carried a huge cluster of grapes back to the camp (Num 13:23-24).

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Letting Go
URL: https://www.pshir.com/https-vimeo-com-903921260-share-copy/
Last updated: 2024-06-09T14:00:36.000Z
In a touching Torah story, Judah offered himself instead of Benjamin to the Egyptian ruler. Judah has come to terms with an intense attachment Jacob had to Rachel's sons. He was not angry with Jacob for favoring Benjamin anymore, not like he was jealous of Joseph earlier. Moments like these may come into our lives even today. Letting go is not always easy. It was not easy for Jacob, not easy for Judah, not easy for Joseph. So, let’s learn some lessons for ourselves from this ancient story. 

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Methuselah Date Palm From the Days of Jesus
URL: https://www.pshir.com/methuselah-date-palm/
Last updated: 2024-06-05T14:00:37.000Z
A tree grows in Israel, in Kibbutz Qetura – a Methuselah date palm tree. It is a very unusual tree, a living palm from the days of Jesus which was named Methuselah because of its origins. Technically, it is a young tree but it was sprouted from the seed of a very ancient tree, one that grew in Israel in the 1st century.

In 1963, archaeologists began a dig around King Herod the Great’s palace at the ancient fortress of Masada. The ruins sit atop a jutting plateau of rock in Southern Israel, which overlooks the Judaean Desert to one side and the Dead Sea to the other. It’s naturally fortified by steep cliffs rising some 1,300 feet. About 100 miles north lay the Jordan Valley, with its forests of 40-foot date palms, a medicinal fruit tree that symbolized life and prosperity.

In order to feed hundreds of subjects, Herod had dates and other delicacies shipped to the remote mountaintop — peaches, figs, olives, almonds, wine, and birds for meat, according to Roman historian Flavius Josephus. Then in 73 CE, the Romans attacked the fortress. The siege lasted a full year, during which time the Jews subsisted on what jarred food remained. Ultimately, rather than surrender, they set fire to Herod’s citadel and committed mass suicide. Most of the buildings were left to decay — along with a few tiny seeds that waited inside their warm jar.

Two thousand years later, excavators discovered that curious clay jar buried deep in hot, dry dirt. It was undisturbed and intact. Inside they found several date palm seeds. Back at the lab, scientists broke off tiny chips of the seeds’ shells; carbon dating estimated their origin between 155 BC and 64 CE.

Scientists preserved the seeds at Bar-Ilan University in Tel-Aviv. Forty years later, agriculture expert Dr. Elaine Solowey planted three of them. One seed sprouted. The plant would be named Methuselah, after Noah’s grandfather, the oldest man in the Bible. And that is how the Methuselah date palm appeared.

Solowey still oversees Methuselah’s upbringing. Her job consists of finding new, useful crops for the dry Middle Eastern climate. She hadn’t planned to work with plants this old. “You want me to do what?” she recalls asking her future partner, Dr. Sarah Sallon, a natural medicine researcher in Jerusalem. Working together, they could test both the plant’s physical endurance and any medicinal potential that may have been lost to time. Solowey got to work. First, she soaked the seeds in hot water to activate absorption. From there, she bathed them in nutrients and fertilizer made from seaweed. She chose the Jewish holiday, New Year for Trees, which in 2005 fell on January 25, as the day to plant. After a few months, she noticed a crack in the soil…then a sprout.

> “I couldn’t believe it,” she told National Geographic later that year. “I could see it was a date shoot.” The leaves were almost white, with thin grey lines.

The first leaves seemed flat and sickly, as if they were struggling to break from the seed. The team of researchers hoped Methuselah was a female palm. They wanted fruit. Both the Bible and the Quran praise the date palm. The tree provided shade, food, and medicine. In the “land of milk and honey,” dates were the honey. The fruit was large, dark, and very sweet, says Solowey. It had good “shelf life” and was in high demand in Rome.

> “Roman emperors wanted Judean dates for their tables,” Solowey told Timeline. “Since they had absolutely nothing else good to say about Jews, Judea, or Judaism, I assume they were very good dates.”

The ancient fruit made tonics for longevity, laxatives, and aphrodisiacs; lore claims they could cure infections. The date was so important to the region that it featured on ancient coinage, and even on Israel’s 10-shekel coin today. But 800 years ago, Crusaders destroyed the last Judean palm and rendered the plant extinct. Dr. Sallon hopes Methuselah is the key to medicinal remedies once lost to history.

> By 2010, the plant stood 6.5 feet tall. “I have a date plant,” Solowey told The New York Times. “If it lives, it will be years before we eat any dates. And that’s if it’s female. There’s a 50–50 chance. And if it’s a male, it will just be a curiosity.”

She waited. In 2011, it finally flowered. But Methuselah date palm is male. No fruit.

> “Unless we can get a female of the same era,” said Solowey. Her team wasn’t willing to give up the possibility of an ancient date just yet. First they had to test Methuselah’s, ahem, viability. They mated him with modern female date plants. His seed is healthy. “We got fruit and some 50% ancient date trees,” says Solowey.

With Methuselah date palm pollinating like a teenager, the team is busy searching for more ancient mates. They recently got some seeds from an archaeologist working at the Dead Sea. If those sprout a female plant, and Methuselah likes her, humans could soon taste fruit of biblical times. Solowey says to check back this summer. For now, Methuselah date palm is sunning himself on an arid kibbutz in Southern Israel. He holds the record of the oldest seed ever successfully germinated.

> “Within a 2,000-year-old seed, a germ of life was still alive,” wrote Jane Goodall in her 2013 book Seeds of Hope, “waiting, waiting, waiting for the right conditions to wake, like Rip Van Winkle, into a strange and different world.”

Original Source: Timeline.com
### "Missing Ingredients" by Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/missing-ingredients-by-pinchas-shir/
Last updated: 2026-08-26T19:58:54.000Z
Have you ever felt, as you read the Bible, that it makes no sense? You understand the words but not the meaning or the point the text is trying to make. The truth is - **you are not alone**. This book is not intended for someone who is new to the Bible or has never seriously studied it. It is meant for those who took plenty of time but still feel like something is missing. **This book is for those who sense that there is more depth to those words and they want to go digging.** The book title contains an idiom that implies the absence of several fundamental techniques frequently missing in a typical Bible study. And that is what the book is all about! Each time these "missing ingredients" can be added to the recipe of how one studies the Bible, they produce better results. Curious? Then this book is for you.

💡

If you prefer reading books you can hold in your hands (I don't blame you), a paperback version is available on [Amazon.](https://amzn.to/3WJndL0?ref=pshir.com) If you prefer listening to books, it takes three and a half hours to listen to "Missing Ingredients" [on Audible. ](https://amzn.to/4dRObGq?ref=pshir.com)

_This post is for subscribers only._
### One God, One Faith, Three Roads (~3hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/one-god-one-faith-three-roads/
Last updated: 2024-05-29T14:00:16.000Z
These seminar videos touch on the foundations of "Distinction Theology" - a teaching that maintains the continuity of the relevance of Israel and Jews and recognizes the nations that embrace Israel's God in solidarity with Israel but distinct from Israel. The video sessions touch on the lives and faith of Ruth, Naaman, and Noah and consider the terms and framework through which they engaged with the God of Israel. God was satisfied with each one of these paths described in the Bible. This seminar was recorded with live audience participation. For the sake of convenience, this almost three-hour-long teaching has been broken up into shorter segments. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

This seminar was recorded with live audience participation. For the sake of convenience, this almost three-hour-long teaching has been broken up into shorter segments.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Treacherous Offers
URL: https://www.pshir.com/treacherous-offers/
Last updated: 2025-08-19T15:18:30.000Z
In Bereshit, in Gen 34, Jacob and his family settled near Shechem. Dinah was socializing with the local girls when Shechem the Hivite, a town’s nobleman, took advantage of her and violated her. Torah says he was drawn to her and so desperately wanted to marry her. So he asked his father to arrange for it. His father, Hamor went to speak to Jacob about Dinah. Jacob knew what had happened, but restrained himself and agreed to hear Hamor’s words.

Listen???

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### The Visions of Pearly Gates
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-visions-of-pearly-gates/
Last updated: 2024-05-22T14:00:21.000Z
The first time I heard about heaven’s pearly gates, I wondered how people knew what those gates looked like. The reason why many people believe that heaven’s gates are made from pearls is a reference in the book of Revelation. **“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Rev 21:21 NASB)** Indeed, in John’s vision, the streets are made of gold, and gates are made from pearl, only upon a closer look this is not heaven; this is Jerusalem that descends to the earth. And there is not one gate but twelve. But this is not all; each gate is inscribed with some names. Let’s read a little more:

> **“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… and names were written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.” (Rev. 21:10-13)**

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### "Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit" by Jodi Magness
URL: https://www.pshir.com/stone-dung/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:20:31.000Z
Jodi Magness is a Distinguished Professor of Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This book is cleverly subtitled "Jewish daily life in the time of Jesus" to afford it a broader Christian readership. The author is a prolific archeologist and historian who blends the exploits of material culture with testimonies of ancient records to reconstruct the realities of Jewish life around the 1st century CE. This book can be useful to those studying the Second Temple Judaism as well as those seeking to understand the historical and cultural background of the New Testament. 

💡

[****You can find this edition on Amazon.com**](https://amzn.to/43CwDt0?ref=pshir.com) or read it right here on the virtual reference shelves @ PSHIR.COM.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### The Symbolism of Doves
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-symbolism-of-doves/
Last updated: 2026-02-11T16:53:40.000Z
Few symbols have a tradition as long and as rich as the dove. A particular favorite in art and iconography, the dove often represents some aspect of the divine, and its use has been shared, adapted, and reinterpreted across cultures and millennia to suit changing belief systems. From the ancient world to modern times, this simple bird developed layer upon layer of meaning and interpretive significance, making it a complex and powerful addition to religious texts and visual representations.

In the Ancient Near East and the Mediterranean world, the dove became an iconic symbol of the mother goddess. Small clay shrines from the Iron Age Levant depict doves perched atop the doorways of these mini-temples. The doves represented feminine fertility and procreation and came to be well-recognized symbols of the Canaanite goddess Asherah and her counterpart Astarte, as well as her Phoenician and later Punic embodiment, Tanit.

First-century B.C. coins from Ashkelon bore a dove, which represented both the goddess Tyche-Astarte and the city mint. In Rome and throughout the Empire, goddesses such as Venus and Fortunata could be seen depicted in statues with a dove resting in their hand or on their head. Perhaps it is not so surprising, then, that the heirs of this Israelite religion incorporated the “feminine” symbol of the dove to represent the spirit of God (the word for “spirit,” ruach, is a feminine word in Hebrew). The Babylonian Talmud likens the hovering of God’s spirit in Genesis 1:2 to the hovering of a dove. Indeed, this same “hovering” language is used to describe God’s spirit in the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as the New Testament.

But that is not the only allusion to a dove in the Hebrew Bible. The best-known example comes from the flood story of Genesis 6—9\. In Genesis 8:8—12, after the ark has landed on the mountains of Ararat, Noah sends out a dove three times to see how far the floodwaters have receded. The first time it found nothing and returned to the ark. The second time it brought back an olive leaf, so Noah could see that God’s punishment was over and life had begun again on the earth. (The image of a dove holding an olive branch continues to be a symbol of peace to this day.) The third time, the dove did not return, and Noah knew that it was safe to leave the ark. 

A similar flood story is told in parallel passages in the ancient Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh. There, too, the hero (Utnapishtim) sends out a dove, which returns to the ship unable to find a perch. In fact, from Ancient Near Eastern records to nautical practices as recent as the 19th century, sailors the world over used doves and other birds to help them find and navigate toward land. So, while Noah made use of an ancient sailor’s trick, the dove came to represent a sign from God.

Dove imagery is also utilized in several of the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible. The low, cooing sound of a dove served as mournful imagery to evoke the suffering of the people of Judah (see Isaiah 38:14, 59:11; Ezekiel 7:16 and others). But doves were more than just a soundtrack for a people who had fallen away from God; they were also an instrument of atonement. Several passages of the Torah (especially Leviticus) specify occasions that require the sacrifice of two doves (or young pigeons)—either as a guilt offering or to purify oneself after a period of ritual impurity (including the birth of a child). Several columbaria, or dovecotes, have been excavated in the City of David and the Jerusalem environs. These towers were undoubtedly used to raise doves for sacrificial offerings, as well as for the meat and fertilizer they provided—a popular practice in the Hellenistic and Roman periods that continued into the modern period.

The atoning quality of doves led to comparisons in the Talmud and the Targums with Isaac and Israel. According to these extra-Biblical sources, just as a dove stretches out its neck, so too did Isaac prepare to be sacrificed to God, and later Israel took on this stance to atone for the sins of other nations. Thus, by the time of Jesus, the dove was already rich with symbolism and many interpretations—as a representation of Israel, atoning sacrifice, suffering, a sign from God, fertility and the spirit of God. All these meanings and more were incorporated into the Christian use of dove iconography.

Doves appear in the New Testament at scenes associated with Jesus’ birth, baptism and just before his death. The Gospel of Luke says that Mary and Joseph sacrificed two doves at the Temple following the birth of Jesus, as was prescribed in the law mentioned above (Luke 2:24). Yet in the Gospel of John, Jesus angrily drives out all of the merchants from the Temple, including “those who sold doves” to worshipers there (John 2:16).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2021/12/Dove2.jpg)

But perhaps the most familiar dove imagery from the New Testament is recounted in all four of the Gospels (though in varying forms) at the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. After Jesus came up out of the water, the \[Holy\] Spirit \[of God\] came from heaven and descended on him “like a dove” (see Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32). The baptism story built on the pre-existing symbol of the dove as God’s spirit (and its many other meanings) and firmly entrenched it as the preferred representation of the Holy Spirit—especially in later artistic depictions of the Trinity.

In Renaissance art, a dove became a standard element in the formulaic Annunciation scene, representing the Holy Spirit about to merge with the Virgin Mary. Doves were also shown flying into the mouths of prophets in Christian art as a sign of God’s spirit and divine authority. Even contemporary pop artist Andy Warhol used a (much more commercial) image of a Dove to represent the Holy Spirit in his, The Last Supper (Dove).

Another source associates a dove with the beginning of Jesus’ life. According to the second-century Protoevangelium of James, when the Temple priests were trying to choose a husband for Mary, a dove flew out of Joseph’s rod and landed on his head, marking him as the one selected by God. In fairytales throughout the world, birds have often been used to signify the “chosen one,” the true king or even the divine.

Before the cross gained prominence in the fourth century, the second-century church father Clement of Alexandria urged early Christians to use the dove or a fish as a symbol to identify themselves and each other as followers of Jesus. Archaeologists have recovered oil lamps and Eucharistic vessels in the shape of doves from Christian churches throughout the Holy Land. Since ancient times the dove was used to identify and represent the divine. It then helped countless people to envision and understand the many aspects of a God that could not be embodied by an idol or statue. It continues to be a favorite way to show the hand and presence of God in the world and remains one of our most enduring symbols.

Original Source: Biblical Archaeology

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/05/JPS_JSB-1.png) 

#### JPS Jewish Study Bible

This is another Study Bible I sometimes recommend to my students who wish to broaden their perspective. Unlike publications produced by religious Jewish authorities, this JPS translation is published by Oxford University Press. It is supplied with helpful scholarly notes that stem from the academic Jewish perspective, which does not always conform to the established Jewish tradition. If you consider that such critical perspectives augment your study goals, then these notes and opinions might serve your aspirations of learning multiple takes on Jewish sacred texts. 

[See it on Amzon](https://amzn.to/3JV8k0l?ref=pshir.com)
### Between Obedience and Blessing
URL: https://www.pshir.com/between-obedience-and-blessing/
Last updated: 2024-06-07T10:51:36.000Z
If you obey my laws, says Hashem, I will maintain a covenant with you, and you will experience a life of blessing. I am sure you have heard this before. We all want a blessing. It’s the obeying part that is not always easy. In fact, the hardest part is the road, the path, the endless choices that lie between obedience and blessing.

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### Pentecost, King David, and Rejected Corner Stones
URL: https://www.pshir.com/pentecost-king-david-and-rejected-corner-stones/
Last updated: 2024-05-14T14:34:25.000Z
Pinchas Shir joins us to continue the exploration of his course, The Stories of Jewish Church. We keep in mind the conversation in the previous episode about the initial believers being Jewish. Today we talk about Peter's use of the Psalms, the added cultural memory of the timing of Kind David's death, and the reasons behind why the early church sold property and gave all that they had to the larger community.
### Do the Words "Jewish" and "Church" Go Together?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/do-the-words-jewish-and-church-go-together/
Last updated: 2024-05-23T19:58:49.000Z
Professor Pinchas Shir joins me to talk about his course The Stories of Jewish Church. This is a wildly popular course at IBC because it takes familiar stories and brings to life new ideas. This week we talk about how Jewish the original church was, why we know they were Jewish, and how we better understand the Book of Acts by reading it as a Jewish narrative. Plus, what is Peter doing by quoting the prophets?
### 2 New Audiobooks!
URL: https://www.pshir.com/new-audiobooks/
Last updated: 2026-04-20T16:03:51.000Z
Do you like to listen to your books? I am excited to announce that thanks to my partnership with Amazon and Audible, some of my new translations are now available as audiobooks! **The Apocalypse of Abraham** [HERE](https://amzn.to/49e23Hq?ref=pshir.com) and **The Apocalypse of Moses** [HERE](https://amzn.to/3VJgOie?ref=pshir.com). I personally love holding paper books in my hand, but digital formats are very convenient, and many people love listening to books while traveling or exercising Why not?

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/04/Apoc1-1.jpg)](https://amzn.to/49gD1r3?ref=pshir.com)
### A Lost Jewish City Under an Army Base in Samaria
URL: https://www.pshir.com/lost-jewish-city-army-base-samaria/
Last updated: 2024-04-28T14:00:24.000Z
A lost Jewish city has been discovered by archaeologists hidden underneath an Israeli Defence Force training base, according to Tel Aviv daily Yedioth Aharanot. Archaeologists working for the IDF’s Civil administration were digging under the old parade grounds of a disused training center near the town of Beit El in Samaria (often called West Bank) when they made the surprising find. The excavations uncovered a Jewish settlement dating back to the First Temple period of Israel’s history (960-568 BCE), which is thought to have changed hands many times, according to the signs.

The city was still inhabited when the ancient Israeli Kingdom of Judah fell under the control of the Persians in 539 BCE. Later, the settlement expanded during the Hellenistic Period – which began when Alexander the Great absorbed much of what is now Israel into his vast empire. Subsequently, it came under the control of the Jewish Hasmonean dynasty. Later, Samaria fell into the hands of the Romans. The city was then abandoned for many years. But then, the area was resettled in the Byzantine period by a Christian population, which included monks who built a monastery there.

> “The findings are amazing,” said Yevgeny Aharonovitch, an archaeologist with the Civil Administration. “We found keys for doors that were intended for housing units, we found tools that were used by Jews, and seal types belonging to the \[Jewish\] period.”

Archaeologists think that the Byzantine settlement continued to exist until the 7th Century when the Christians were expelled by Muslim invaders. Remains from the Byzantine period include large numbers of containers that were used for trading olive oil. Archaeologists believe that the settlement was probably destroyed in a great earthquake near the end of the 8th Century CE. Thus, this ancient city faded out of history for centuries until just recently, when its ruins were discovered by accident.

Source: International Business Times

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/Cul-Back-NIV.png) 

#### NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

The notes in this Study Bible are very helpful. It is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of biblical times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3vDuTmo?ref=pshir.com)
### Jewish Ecclesia in Acts (~1hr)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/jewish-ecclesia-in-acts/
Last updated: 2025-10-24T19:59:05.000Z
The book of Acts mentions the church, which is a translation of the Greek word "ecclesia." This Greek term is ancient, but the word "church" is actually not. Where does this new word come from? What does it mean? How did the early Christ-followers see and describe themselves? Look deeper into the Jewish context of Acts in this multi-part seminar and uncover at least some answers...

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/Cul-Back-NIV.png) 

#### NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

The notes in this Study Bible are very helpful. It is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of biblical times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3vDuTmo?ref=pshir.com) 

[All Books by Pinchas ShirIf you like perusing Pshir.com, then what are the odds you might enjoy my books? I invite you to consider the titles I highlight below in print, in digital format, or as audiobooks. Paid Subscribers can flip through full digital versions of all these titles inside the READ section.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-85.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Book6-3.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/books/)
### The Words We Speak This Pesach
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-words-we-speak-on-pesach/
Last updated: 2026-02-10T16:17:05.000Z
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev used to teach his students an interesting spiritual lesson about Passover. This is how he explained the meaning of the Passover holiday (Pesach). “Pesach” literally means “the mouth" פה (peh) and "talks" שח (sach).” On the Festival of Pesach, we open our mouths and talk about the wonders and miracles of God. We remember the plagues of Egypt; we recount the stories of our deliverance. This Rabbi further explained that Pesach also represents the antithesis of פרעה (*paroh*), Pharaoh, and פה רע (*peh ra*) means a “bad mouth.” Pharaoh denied God’s providence in every aspect of human life. Yet our mouths were not given to us to slander or denigrate others, but to speak of God’s greatness and wonders.

So let this Passover celebration be filled with only speech that praised the God of Israel who, by his mighty hand and with miracles, broke the yoke of slavery. Yet as we recite the Maggid in our Haggadot this year, we realize some Jews are once again slaves, captives tortured and abused by an enemy. So this year, Passover takes on a new and deeply personal tone. What can we speak on this calamity? Rabbi Lau offered a prayer that should be inserted into our recitation of the Haggadah.

**"A Passover Prayer for the Captives"** by David Lau, Israel’s Chief Rabbi of Ashkenazi Jews

May it be the will of our Father in heaven, who brought His people Israel out from the suffering of Egypt that He bless and save our abducted brothers and sisters, bound with iron chains. May He strengthen their souls and faith, protect them from all harm and disease, have mercy on His sons and daughters awaiting His salvation, nullify all cruel decrees from upon them. In His great kindness, may He hasten their redemption, and may they quickly emerge from darkness to light, and from the pit of captivity to the freedom of the world, and return in peace to their families and to their homes. Please, plant brotherhood, peace, and friendship in the hearts of all, remove envy and baseless hatred, and spread over us the sukkah of Your peace, and may we merit to soon sing before You a ‘New Song.’
### A New King
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-new-king/
Last updated: 2025-08-19T15:20:12.000Z
In Shemot, Exodus 1:8 says that “a new king rose over Egypt” – ***vayakam melekh chadash al mitzraim.*** As generations pass, new leaders rise all the time. New leadership often brings changes, and most of us are resilient enough to make adjustments through those changes. But Torah adds one more important detail. ***Asher lo yada et Yoseph*** – this king “did not know Joseph. This simple fact made a big difference for Israel.

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Researching the Last Supper Menu
URL: https://www.pshir.com/researching-the-last-supper-menu/
Last updated: 2024-04-17T16:29:35.000Z
What did Jesus and his disciples eat during the Last Supper? What was on the menu? New research reveals a list of likely foods. A bean stew, lamb, olives, bitter herbs, a fish sauce, unleavened bread, dates, and aromatic wine likely were on the menu at the Last Supper, says recent research into cuisine during Jesus’s time.

The food wasn’t eaten during a formal seated gathering at a rectangular table, as shown in many religious art paintings, but with Jesus and his apostles reclining on floor cushions, as the Romans did at that time. The study by two Italian archaeologists relied on Bible verses, Jewish writings, ancient Roman works and archaeological data to investigate the eating habits in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century A.D.

> “The Bible discusses what happened during that dinner, but it doesn’t detail what Jesus and his 12 dining companions ate,” Generoso Urciuoli, an archaeologist at Italy’s Petrie Center and author of the Archeoricette blog on ancient food, told Discovery News. “The starting point is the assumption that Jesus was a Jew. He and his disciples observed the traditions transmitted by the Torah and its food related bans,” Urciuoli said.

Commemorated today by Christians, the Last Supper is the final meal that, according to the Gospel, Jesus shared with his closest disciples in Jerusalem hours before he was turned over by Judas to Roman soldiers and crucified. The scene was immortalized by Leonardo Da Vinci, but the masterpiece, one of the world’s most famous and powerful paintings, isn’t historically accurate, according to Urciuoli.

> “Leonardo’s mural derives from centuries of iconographic codes. Embodying the sacrament of the Eucharist, the Last Supper has a very strong symbolic meaning and this does not help the historical reconstruction,” Urciuoli said.

Putting together historical data and clues from artworks such as third century A.D. catacombs paintings, the researchers were able to reconstruct food and eating habits in Palestine 2,000 years ago. The picture that emerges is completely different from traditional renderings of the Last Supper. The dinner, which happened in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem, wasn’t a seated gathering at a rectangular table.

> “At that time in Palestine, food was placed on low tables and guests ate in reclining position on floor cushions and carpets,” Urciuoli said.

Plates, bowls and jars were likely made of stone. Evidence for 1st century A.D. stone vessels has been found at numerous sites near Jerusalem and Galilee.

> “Jews that observed the rules of purity used stone vessels because they were not susceptible to transmitting impurity,” Urciuoli said. “Another possibility is the use of fine red terra sigillata pottery, an international trend at that time,” he added.

The position of the guests around the table followed a precise rule, and the most important were those at the right and left of the main guest.

> “Verses from the gospels of John indicate Judas was very close to Jesus, probably to his immediate left. Indeed, we are told that Judas dipped bread into Jesus’s dish, following the practice of sharing food from a common bowl,” Urciuoli said.

Urciuoli and Berogno narrowed the search for the food present at the Last Supper by reconstructing two other important meals mentioned in the New Testament, the wedding at Cana, which records the water to wine miracle, and Herod’s banquet, famous for the beheading of John the Baptist.

> “The wedding at Cana allowed us to understand the Jewish religious dietary laws, known as kashrut, which established what foods can and cannot be eaten and how they must be prepared. On the other side, Herod’s Banquet allowed us to analyze Roman culinary influences in Jerusalem,” Urciuoli said.

Apart from wine and bread, tzir, a variant of the Roman fish sauce garum, was likely present both at the wedding of Cana and Herod’s banquet, as well as at the Last Supper, the authors said. If the Last Supper was indeed a Passover dinner, held by Jews then as now to commemorate the exodus from Egypt, then the meal would have likely included lamb. Scripture provides us with another clue: unleavened bread and wine were also on the menu. Jesus broke bread and blessed wine, telling his Apostles that the bread was his body and the wine was his blood – thus laying the basis for the communion.

According to Urciuoli and Berogno, other food on the table would have included cholent, a stewed dish of beans cooked very low and slow, olives with hyssop, a herb with a mint-like taste, bitter herbs with pistachios and a date charoset, a chunky fruit and nut paste.

> “Bitter herbs and charoset are typical of Passover, cholent is eaten during festivities, while hyssop was also consumed on a daily basis,” Urciuoli said.

Original Source: Seeker.com
### Rest is Trust
URL: https://www.pshir.com/rest-is-trust/
Last updated: 2024-04-14T20:02:37.000Z
Taking a break from cultivating the land for the whole year sounds good in theory, but it can impact people economically in a major way. Most of us are not farmers today, but it is not hard to imagine the implications of such a step of faith. Taking a break from commercial activity and business once every seven days is manageable. But a whole year off? That is a challenge. Shmitah Rest requires a lot of faith. Jubilee requires an abundance of trust in Hahsem.

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### The Riddle of Passover Charoset
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-riddle-of-passover-charoset-copy/
Last updated: 2024-04-07T14:00:33.000Z
First of all, what is *Charoset*? It is a special Passover menu item found on every Jewish table that celebrates the exodus from Egypt. Today *Charoset* (חֲרֽוֹסֶת), a sweet brown mixture eaten as a part of the memorial meal that looks back to the slavery of Pharaoh and the emancipation of Israelites recorded in the Bible. According to the famous Jewish sage Gamaliel, the Haggadah lists three things that are essential for Passover: *Pesach* (the festival offering), [*Matzah* (unleavened bread)](www.pshir.com/the-riddle-of-unleavened-bread/), and *Marror* (bitter herbs). So *Charoset* (חֲרֽוֹסֶת) is not on the list of essential components of Exodus remembrance. Yet when the three components are made into a sandwich, *Charoset* takes the place of the meat of sacrifice that is no longer available. So, there is something very special about it.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### The Riddle of Passover Bone
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-riddle-of-passover-bone-copy/
Last updated: 2025-03-24T18:54:12.000Z
The Jewish Passover Celebration is a remembrance of the chosen people’s exodus from Egypt. During this celebration, a special plate with symbolic items is set as the centerpiece of every festive table. One of the items on this special plate is a bone. The traditional name of the bone in Hebrew is זְרוֹעַ (*zeroah*), which literally means an “arm.” The bone symbolically represents the Passover lamb offered in the days when the Temple stood in Jerusalem but there is a riddle connected to its name *(zeroah)*. 

There is no actual lamb meat on the Passover menu today because God commanded his people to eat not just any lamb but a yearling lamb which was sacrificed to celebrate the feast (Ex. 12:1-14). Since the Temple sacrifices no longer take place, there can be no festival lamb on the Seder tables today. To eat lamb without sacrificing it would be deliberately ignoring what the Almighty explicitly commanded (Num 28:16-25). And that is why, traditionally, the lamb is excluded from the modern Passover menu. 

But why is this bone placed at the center of the Passover table and called an “arm” or זְרוֹעַ (*zeroah*)? After all, a lamb and an arm are entirely different things. The answer to this riddle lies in the description of how God promised to deliver Israel: 

> “Say, therefore, to the children of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an "outstretched arm" (בִּזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה) and with great judgments" (Exodus 6:6). 

Traditionally, the bone is supposed to be a shank bone of the lamb, not a rib or a shoulder, but a shank. And herein lies the hidden symbolism. The outstretched arm of the Lord, the זְרוֹעַ (*zeroah*)*,* can be seen as the sacrificed lamb whose blood shielded the firstborn of Israel from the plague of death. In other words, God delivered people through the sacrificed lambs. That is why the offering was holy and outsiders were prohibited to eat any of it (Ex 12:43). It was the means of redemption for the firstborn in Exodus. So, on one hand, it was the lamb, but on the other "God's own outstretched זְרוֹעַ (*zeroah*). And that is why the bone carries such a name in the Passover celebration. 

[The Riddle of Passover EggWhen Jews celebrate Passover today, the festive tables feature a special plate with traditional foods tased during the celebration. There are bitter herbs of several kinds to remember the bitterness of slavery in Egypt. There is also a lamb bone to remember the sacrifice for the firstborn. And to some![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-23.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Pass2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-riddle-of-passover-egg/)

A key component of understanding the spirituality behind Jewish traditions is the discovery of connections between ancient Judaism, the Scriptures, and modern-day interpretive paradigms. Culture is living and enduring and often has very deep and beautiful roots. Tradition and cultural use of language can help us see a nuance we would otherwise easily miss. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/01/Missing-Ingredients-500.jpg) 

#### Missing Ingredients: Your Bible Study Recipe

The book title contains an idiom that implies the absence of several fundamental techniques frequently missing in a typical Bible study. And that is what the book is all about! Each time these "missing ingredients" can be added to the recipe of how one studies the Bible, they produce better results. Curious? Then this book is for you.

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### Over 2000 Egyptian Deities - Ancient History
URL: https://www.pshir.com/2000-egyptian-deities/
Last updated: 2024-03-31T14:00:18.000Z
Egypt is a key ancient power to be understood by any serious student of the Bible. But who has the time to study their vast culture in detail? Thankfully general understanding of the topic can be gained pretty fast these days, and Encyclopedias are a huge help here. This is an excellent and fast-paced educational video that offers foundational information about religious observances of Egypt, their gods, and how Egyptians interacted with them. Enjoy... 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/Cul-Back-NIV.png) 

#### NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

The notes in this Study Bible are very helpful. It is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of biblical times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3vDuTmo?ref=pshir.com)
### What Wine Would Jesus Drink?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/what-wine-would-jesus-drink/
Last updated: 2024-03-24T14:00:19.000Z
What kind of wine would Jesus drink in his lifetime? Leonardo Da Vinci’s iconic painting, “The Last Supper,” missed a few marks, but it got the wine part right. Biblical historians have long pondered what dishes may have been on the table at the Last Supper. One thing that’s almost certain is that Jesus and his disciples were drinking wine. What sort of wine?

Many elements of the Last Supper remain contested. Scholars even dispute the question of whether the Last Supper was a Seder ― a traditional meal observed during the Jewish holiday of Passover ― which might have indicated the specifics of the meal. The canonical gospels appear to contradict one another on that front. Three out of four of them locate the Last Supper during the Jewish holiday, while one, the Gospel of John, says the meal happened “before the Feast of Passover.” So, with such broad disagreements, how can we even hope to know what kind of wine Jesus and the disciples drank? We have some ideas from the Passover ritual because it is an ongoing custom. 

Jonathan Klawans, a religion professor at Boston University and expert on ancient Judaism, weighed the evidence in a January article published by the Biblical Archaeology Society. Klawans noted that the traditional Seder ritual as we know it today didn’t emerge until around 70 A.D. ― nearly two generations after Jesus’s death. The Last Supper, the scholar concluded, likely “was not a Seder but a standard Jewish meal.”

Seder or no, a “standard Jewish meal” in Jesus’s day would have included wine. The land of Jesus’s life and death has a long history of winemaking. In 2016, Israeli archaeologists discovered an ancient wine ledger that contained what they believe to be the earliest written reference to Jerusalem outside the Bible.

Research conducted by Dr. Patrick McGovern, an anthropology professor at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the school’s Biomolecular Archaeology Project for Cuisine, Fermented Beverages, and Health, has indicated that winemaking in the Middle East may date back 5,000 years or more. Wine is known to have been made in the Holy Land since pre-biblical times, and it was even a major export at the time of Jesus during the Roman conquest.

> “All our scriptures are full with wine and with grapes — before the French were even thinking about making wine, we were exporting wine,” Israeli oenologist Eliyashiv Drori told The New York Times in 2015.

Today, archaeologists and winemakers alike are eager to know how this ancient wine may have tasted. Drori heads a team at Ariel University is using DNA testing to try to analyze and recreate the ancient wines King David and Jesus would have enjoyed. Dr. Drori’s research has revealed that white wine made from the Dabouki grape, native to Armenia, might be among oldest varieties in the region and a promising candidate for what Jesus might have had in his lifetime.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/01/Grap1.jpg)

In their book Divine Vintage: Following the Wine Trail from Genesis to the Modern Age, Joel Butler and Randall Heskett note that wines in Jesus’s day were often infused with honey, dried fruits and spices like pepper and curry. Winemakers also often added tree resins like myrrh, frankincense and terebinth to preserve the beverage.

A team of archaeologists uncovered a 3,700-year-old wine cellar near Nahariya, Israel in 2013 with evidence pointing to ancient wines that were mixed with honey, mint, cedar, tree resins and cinnamon bark.

> “It’s not wine that somebody is just going to come home from a hard day and kick back and drink,” Andrew Koh, one of the archaeologists working on the excavation, told the BBC.

Discoveries like this led McGovern to speculate the Last Supper wine might have tasted a bit like an Amarone, a rich red wine made in Northern Italy. But, of course, there’s no way of knowing for sure.

Original Source: Huffington Post

💡

PSHIR.COM features an ever-growing reference e-library [HERE.](https://www.pshir.com/tag/pbooks/) ****Just like in a brick-and-mortar library, you can flip through the pages of these books for hours if you wish.** One of the books devoted to the topic of Purity and Sacrifice is by Dr. Klawans (who is mentioned in this article) 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/01/Cul-Back-NIV.png) 

#### NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

The notes in this Study Bible are very helpful. It is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of biblical times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3vDuTmo?ref=pshir.com)
### "2 Enoch, The Book of Secrets: New Translation" by Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/2-enoch-the-book-of-secrets-new-translation/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T17:40:07.000Z
Many have heard about "The Book of Watchers," largely because it's a platform for some very sensational claims. But "The Book of Secrets" (Slavonic Enoch), or what scholars call 2 Enoch, seems to elude the masses. Nevertheless, this ancient Jewish book also builds on the Enoch tradition. My translation presents the text in easy-to-read modern English and goes one step beyond. Since most Enoch scholars agree that this ancient text may originally have been in Aramaic or Hebrew, my new translation is, by necessity, somewhat reconstructive. It seeks to create a sense of one encountering a Semitic document by periodically using Hebrew terms alongside the English. This gives the book a more culturally nuanced and different feel if compared to other existing translations. Peek inside?...

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### Embrace Your Kin
URL: https://www.pshir.com/embrace-your-kin/
Last updated: 2025-03-28T16:49:18.000Z
In the Torah (Genesis 28), we encounter a story of Jacob meeting his relatives in Haran. Jacob waters Rachel’s flock. He kisses her and breaks down crying. He tells her that he is Rebekah’s son. Rebekah was her aunt. When Rachel realizes that he is her relative from Canaan, she does something many modern readers do not understand. In Bereshit, in Gen 29:12, the Torah texts says that Rachel *vetaratz vataged leaviah*, “she ran, and she told her father.”

Listen?

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### Dust and Ashes: Jewish Mourning Customs
URL: https://www.pshir.com/jewish-customs-mourning/
Last updated: 2024-03-13T14:00:54.000Z
The world of the Bible is full of symbolism that modern readers at times notice and do not appreciate, but very often miss entirely. People’s customs, traditions, and folkways about most ordinary matters of life often reflect deep into their spiritual thinking. But our own culture obscures that and may not even allow us to notice those meanings. Take death and mourning customs, for example. They are so unique from culture to culture.

In some societies, people burn the bodies of their dead and reduce them to ashes. Other groups shun such practices. Some cultures preserve their dead, embalming the bodies and prolonging the farewell. Other cultures rush to bury those who died as soon as possible. Some cultures touch, kiss, and hug the dead and want to keep the bodies of the deceased close to them, even in their house. Other cultures do not touch dead bodies and distance themselves from the corpses.

 Some people groups have open casket ceremonies with large sums of exotic woods and elaborate finishes on the burial caskets. Other people prefer to bury the dead in a shroud and never wish to look at the face of the deceased. How people mourn the dead is so different, and it depends on societal values and beliefs about death and the afterlife. In the ancient times described in the Bible, the folkways were also very diverse from one people group to another.

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### Is This The Seal of Isaiah The Prophet?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/seal-isaiah-prophet/
Last updated: 2024-03-10T12:19:11.000Z
An amazing discovery has been just recently unveiled in Jerusalem: a seal that possibly belongs to Isaiah the Prophet. Archaeologists have been digging south of the walls of old Jerusalem in the area known as Ophel. Though outside of the current walls of the city, this is one of the most ancient parts of Jerusalem. In 2015, archaeologists found a collection of 33 clay seals with inscriptions of names and images on them. One of them was a seal of the biblical king Hezekiah. That was a monumental find in itself. However, another seal from the same collection attracted the scientists. The seal features the name Isaiah. In the Bible, Isaiah was a prophet who advised King Hezekiah in the Kingdom of Judah during the 8th century B.C.E.

> “We found the eighth-century B.C.E. seal mark that may have been made by the prophet Isaiah himself only 10 feet away from where we earlier discovered the highly-publicized bulla of King Hezekiah of Judah.” – Dr. Eilat Mazar

This remarkable artifact is 2,700-year-old clay seal (called bulla by scientists). It was found at the bottom of the southern wall of the Jerusalem Temple area in an excavation managed by Dr. Eilat Mazar from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The researchers who see the Hebrew Bible as a reliable record see Isaiah was a historical figure who lived in Jerusalem at the end of the 8th century. The Bible paints a picture of Isaiah and Hezekiah banded together when the Assyrian army laid siege to Jerusalem. In the Bible, Isaiah discouraged Hezekiah from accepting the Assyrians’ offer of surrender, promising him that God would save Jerusalem. And in the biblical story that salvation came shortly afterward.

Of course, “Isaiah” or יְשַׁעְיָהוּ “Yeshayahu” in Hebrew was a very common name at that time. The reason this seal attracted the most interest is the second part of the inscription “Yesha’yah\[u\] Nvy\[?\]”. Dr. Mazar and many other archaeologists admit that the most obvious initial translation is “Isaiah – Prophet”. The seal’s upper part is missing as well, but it had no writing, just an image. The lower section is slightly damaged which is why the inscription in the seal is still debated.

The problem of stating that this is a seal of Isiah the prophet unequivocally is that the second word on the seal – “Nvy” remains officially untranslated because of the last letter. It is missing. If this is a Hebrew word for “prophet” then it was an Alef. But that actual letter is missing from the seal due to damage.

> According to Dr. Mazar “It would not be the first time that seal impressions of two Biblical personas, mentioned in the same verse in the Bible, were found in an archaeological context. In our City of David excavations (2005–2008), the seal impressions of Yehukhal ben Sheleḿiyahu ben Shovi and Gedaliyahu ben Pashḥur, high officials in King Ẓedekiah’s court (Jeremiah 38:1), were found only a few feet apart.”

The proximity in which the seal with King Hezekiah’s name was found to this seal makes the argument for biblical Isaiah very logical. Though cautiously optimistic, Dr. Mazar thinks this is probably Isaiah’s seal and explains,

> “…according to the Bible, the names of King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah are mentioned in one breath 14 of the 29 times the name of Isaiah is recalled (2 Kings 19–20; Isaiah 37–39). No other figure was closer to King Hezekiah than the prophet Isaiah.”

All the evidence seems to point in the direction of the great prophet Isaiah himself. If this indeed is the seal of Isaiah the prophet, then just like in the case of King Hezekiah, this is the first non-biblical evidence for Isaiah. And that’s what makes this discovery so significant. But a significant possibility still remains that this was not a word for “prophet”. It could simply be another part of a person’s name that sounds like “Nvy”.

Another issue with interpreting the second word as “the prophet” is the absence of a definite article. Grammatically, the seal should read “of (belonging to) יְשַׁעְיָהוּ הַנָבִיא Isaiah the Prophet” not simply “Isaiah Prophet” without the definite article הַ *(ha)*. What we have to go by are just a few letters – ישַעיה נבי – and thus, the translation in the interpretation of the inscription remains inconclusive.

> “Whether or not the bulla we found in the Ophel excavations is the bulla of the prophet Isaiah, it remains, nevertheless, a unique and fantastic discovery” – Dr. Eilat Mazar

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/03/AS_TNK.png) 

#### ArtScroll Hebrew-English Tanakh 

This is a beautifully done hardbound traditional Tanakh (Torah, Prophets, and Writings). The edition features both the Hebrew text and its English translation. Besides a clear presentation of biblical text, the valuable feature of this particular volume is the collection of traditional Jewish notes and short commentaries on various parts of the sacred text. The volume is over 2000 pages long, and the binding is excellent! This edition is available in different sizes - my favorite is 7x10.

[See it on Amazon!](https://amzn.to/3Tpm2hH?ref=pshir.com)
### "1 Enoch, The Book of Watchers: New Translation" By Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/1-enoch/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T16:28:23.000Z
The Book of Enoch is a well-known Jewish composition from the Second Temple era. Older English translations of 1 Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch) are in the Public Domain and widely available online for free. The problem is that the narratives of "The Book of Watchers" are ensconced in old English, which could make them a challenging read. My new translation presents the ancient text of 1 Enoch in modern, polished, and easy-to-read English. The primary goal of this new translation was to produce the text of Enoch accessible to an average modern reader, intelligible, and aesthetically enjoyable. Since most Enoch scholars agree that the book was originally composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, my new translation seeks to convey the sense of reading a Semitic text by periodically using Hebrew alongside English. Look Inside...

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### The Image of Dan as a Serpent
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-image-of-dan-a-serpent/
Last updated: 2026-05-04T13:54:17.000Z
In Genesis 49, Jacob blesses each of his sons. The words he speaks are beautiful, but they can be hard to understand. When he gets to Dan, he compares his son to a serpent. A strange blessing for a child, isn't it? Therefore, the commentary on this imagery over the years of biblical interpretation and tradition has yielded some very curious explanations. Dan became a symbol of something very evil. In this 47-minute-long lesson (recorded live with audience participation), we take a closer look at the imagery and consider what it might actually mean.

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/01/Cul-Back-NIV.png) 

#### NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

The notes in this Study Bible are very helpful. It is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of biblical times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3vDuTmo?ref=pshir.com)
### When Experts Disappoint
URL: https://www.pshir.com/when-experts-disappoint/
Last updated: 2025-03-28T16:49:03.000Z
In our weekly reading, Pharaoh was not counting sheep. Instead, he saw disturbing dreams about sets of cows and stocks of grain. The dreams troubled him. He knew they were important but could not make sense of the message they carried. He realized that he himself did not have answers. In Gen 41:8, he called on experts, and they did not help him either.

Listen?

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### What is the Kingdom of Heaven?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/what-is-the-kingdom-of-heaven/
Last updated: 2024-02-21T15:00:08.000Z
The “Kingdom of Heaven” (מַלְכוּת הַשָׁמָיִם, *malchut hashamaim*) is an ancient Jewish idea easily traced back to the Hebrew Bible, where the prophets speak of a coming messianic age when God will establish His kingdom on earth. Isaiah prophesied that “the government will be upon” Messiah’s shoulder “and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). In reality, God was always supposed to be the king (מֶלֶךְ, *melech*) of Israel, but in 1 Sam 8:7, he says to Samuel, his servant, “they have rejected Me from being King over them.” A sad state of affairs. Yet many Hebrew prophets still look to the day when Israel and the whole world will be ruled by Hashem himself, “And the YHVH (יהוה, *Adonai*) will be King over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one” (Zech 14:19). 

The kingdom (מַלְכוּת, *malchut*) must have a proper ruler (מֶלֶךְ, *melech*). In Jewish thinking, this sovereign reign of God on earth is understood as the future. The LORD (יהוה, *Adonai*) will be king. And yet a measure of this spiritual reality of God's reign can be experienced at any moment, and that is the broader idea of the “Kingdom of Heaven” (מַלְכוּת הַשָׁמָיִם, *malchut hashamaim*) we encounter on the pages of the Jewish gospels in particular.

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### On The Other Side
URL: https://www.pshir.com/on-the-other-side/
Last updated: 2024-02-19T15:58:55.000Z
Every time I go on vacation I need to go somewhere. I can't stay at home. If I stay at home, I will end up doing things around the house. It will not be a vacation. I can't look at things that need to be done and just relax instead of getting things done. So, while for some people "staycation" works, for me not so much. I learned this about myself years ago and stopped fighting it. For a vacation, I leave my house. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2024/02/Koren_TNK-1.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Koren Tanakh Maalot (Magerman Edition)

Koren Tanakh is a hardbound one-volume edition of the entire Hebrew Bible (6x9). It features a fairly large Hebrew text in easy-to-read Koren font and a slightly smaller English translation on the opposing page. The translation done by well-known Rabbis is imaginative but accurate. The thumb tab index is also handy, but the best part is that it is just one volume. This quality edition is sturdy and is one of my favorite Bibles!

[See it on Amazon!](https://amzn.to/486cxIq?ref=pshir.com)
### Love Human, Love Divine (~2hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/love-human-love-divine/
Last updated: 2025-09-18T13:31:28.000Z
These videos are inspirational talks and teachings about love. It is not a strictly academic topic but an interactive spiritual conversation about the meaning of love. How should we make sense of love in light of the core teachings about it in Torah and in Jewish tradition? Is it a feeling, an emotion, or something entirely different, maybe an action? How do loving relationships between people reflect on our understanding of God's love and his relationship with his people? 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

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This discussion was recorded in front of a live audience, and a number of interactions with the audience were edited out (to preserve privacy), yet the main ideas covered in the talk were preserved. Consider a ****paid subscription** to support the hosting of commercial-free videos like this one.

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### Love in Three Holiday Megilot
URL: https://www.pshir.com/love-in-three-holiday-megilot/
Last updated: 2024-02-11T13:41:22.000Z
This enlightening video explores the profound message of love conveyed in the three sacred books (*Megilot*) read during the festivals of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Guided by the esteemed Rabbi Sacks, this teaching session will not only inspire you but also cultivate a deep desire to explore the depths of your Bible and immerse yourself in the divine words of love, wisdom, and revelation. Watch as Rabbi Sacks helps you uncover the timeless truths that these sacred texts encapsulate.

Rabbi Sacks (may his memory be a blessing) was a prolific writer, and his commentaries on the Torah are deep, relevant, and insightful. [See some of his books on Amazon. ](https://amzn.to/3Sxy46K?ref=pshir.com)
### "Unheard Voices of Hebrew Kings and Prophets" by Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/unheard-voices-of-hebrew-kings-and-prophets/
Last updated: 2026-08-26T19:54:16.000Z
Inside this book are new and updated translations of seven Jewish texts from the Second Temple Era: **Prayer of Manasseh, Book of Baruch, Psalms of Solomon, Testament of Moses, Lives of the Prophets, Apocalypse of Moses, and Apocalypse of Abraham.** Because these spiritual works are extra-canonical, their voices are often unheard. As witnesses to ancient Jewish spiritual thought, their voices can contribute to our awareness of historical contexts and even aid our reading of biblical texts. Look Inside...

[![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2026/08/Voices1-300.jpg)](https://amzn.to/4gfl17l?ref=pshir.com) 

As an author and an independent publisher, I have developed a strategic relationship with Amazon. Besides being a retail giant, Amazon's Kindle e-books allow for instant delivery, and Audiobook subscriptions open brand new avenues for auditory learners. 

[See this book on Amazon ](https://amzn.to/4gfl17l?ref=pshir.com)

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### Standing by Heaven’s Gates
URL: https://www.pshir.com/standing-by-heavens-gates/
Last updated: 2024-01-31T15:00:58.000Z
From time to time, I hear people make references to the pearly gates of heaven, where St. Peter stands and admits people into eternity. I have seen all sorts of depictions of this scene. I never understood this tradition until I realized that it is a bit of Christian cultural imagination and lore. Does apostle Peter indeed get to decide who gets into heaven?

The logic of this tradition suggests that Peter was given the keys to heaven itself. That turns him into a gatekeeper of sorts and, by extension, into an arbiter of who gets in and who does not. **"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (Matt 16:19 NASB).** Besides the fact that the very type of authority given to Peter is misunderstood (search for my article [“Binding and Loosing like Jesus”](www.pshir.com/binding-and-loosing-like-jesus-2/)), the “kingdom of heaven” (מַלְכוּת הַשָׁמָיִם; *malchut hashamaim*) is simply assumed to mean the afterlife. Is that a fair assumption?

 The concept of the “kingdom of heaven” indeed can speak of the divine realm, but it is much broader. In Matthew 3:2, Jesus says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Does that mean his audience is about to enter the afterlife? In Matthew 11:12, Jesus remarked, "…until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force." Is he speaking about heaven? Can heaven be captured by force? Clearly, equating the “kingdom of heaven” to heaven or the afterlife does not always work.

 We should not forget that the “kingdom” (מַלְכוּת; *malchut*) has a “king” or a “ruler” (מֶלֶךְ; *melech*). The very idea of a kingdom indicates something being ruled and governed. The gatekeeper or key-holder does not do that. One of the ancient roles of an Israelite ruler is to render “judgment” (מִשְׁפָּט; *mishpat*) for his subjects in all sorts of matters (2 Sam 15:1-6). Even in the first century CE, when Israel’s monarchy was almost symbolic, we see the apostle Paul presented to King Agrippa to be judged (Acts 25:13-15).

Students of the Scriptures realize that ultimately, God alone judges the hearts of men (Joel 3:1-8). He alone has the ability to do so perfectly (Is 41:21-24). In Dan 7, however, the Ancient of Days gives reign, authority (and judgment by extension) to the Son of Man. In John 5:21-23 Jesus explains that the Father indeed delegates his authority to the Son. According to the apostles, in the final days, Jesus will render judgment pertaining to one's standing with God (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). So, Peter might have been given some authority and even some keys, but it seems that the Son of Man is the one who makes final determinations. Before one stands at the pearly gates and petitions for entry, one has to stand before the King of Israel.
### Milk and Honey
URL: https://www.pshir.com/milk-and-honey/
Last updated: 2025-03-28T16:51:01.000Z
Sticky situations. Standing in front of pivotal decisions is something we all do. Many stories in the Torah inspire us about these very scenarios. This is one of those stories. Some of us face hard decisions quite often, and some of us are facing them right now. We face doubt. We encounter fear, perceive danger, and anticipate pain and possible failure. We wonder if we have what it takes to succeed. We struggle in our faith, in trusting the good promises God made us. 

Listen?

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### Dan Shall be a Serpent
URL: https://www.pshir.com/dan-shall-be-serpent/
Last updated: 2024-01-24T22:44:52.000Z
There is an intriguing and cryptic text about Dan in the Torah. In Jacob’s final blessing on his sons, in Genesis 49, Dan is compared to a “serpent” (נָחָשׁ; *nachash*).

**Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned viper in the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider falls backward. For Your salvation, I wait, LORD. (Gen. 49:16-18 NASB).**

Third-century CE Christian writers Hippolytus of Rome (*On Genesis*) and Tertullian (*On the Resurrection of the Flesh*) understood the imagery of Dan compared to a serpent to suggest that in the last days, the Antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan. To them, this was also a prediction of Dan's apostasy. Their contemporary, Origen, spiritualized Dan as the image of sin itself in his Homilies in *Genesis*. 

It is not surprising that people interpret this analogy as some sort of negative and disparaging comparison. Snakes carry negative connotations for most people. In the Near East, however, they are creatures who cause chaos but are not automatically tied to evil or sin. They symbolize healing and sometimes are associated with wisdom. Though typically, this reference is taken in a negative light, I believe it should not. If we deliberately set aside the involuntary negative bias against snakes and look at the text objectively, the blessing pronounced over Dan sounds quite positive and affirming.

Not all images of snakes in biblical tradition are necessarily evil or bad. Remember how, in the Exodus story, Moses’ staff would turn into a serpent in order to convince Pharaoh to listen to Moses (Ex 7:10)? Also, in the wilderness, the Israelites were healed from a plague by looking at a serpent set up on a pole in the (Num 21:9). Can we use these instances to help us read the blessing in a positive light?

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### The Origins and Beginnings of Hassidism
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-origins-and-beginnings-of-hassidism/
Last updated: 2024-01-21T15:00:46.000Z
This is a lecture by Prof. Rachel Elior of Hebrew University. If you are interested in Kabballah, Hassidism, Zohar, and the development of esoteric spirituality in Judaism, you will find this lecture very insightful. Dr. Elior is an expert in this area. However, a disclaimer needs to follow: Dr. Elior is a scholar, not a mystic herself, so her approach is from an academic perspective. You might enjoy this video if you love listening to academic lectures. The language can get quite technical. 

[If you are interested, you can check out her book "Mystical Origins of Hasidism" on Amazon. ](https://amzn.to/47mpfCs?ref=pshir.com)
### Shema: One God, One People, One Prayer, Part 2 (~2h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/one-god-one-people-one-prayer-part-2/
Last updated: 2025-09-03T16:12:02.000Z
The full Shema consists of three passages: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41\. Its words communicate an entire set of deeply held spiritual beliefs that forge a mindset that manifests in practices. This Part 2 of the teaching focuses on the second and third paragraphs of the Shema (Deut 11:13–21, and Num 15:37–41). Want to understand why this prayer is so central in Judaism? **But I highly encourage you to start with Part 1\.** 

[One God, One People, One Prayer, Part 1 (\~3h)In Jewish life, Shema is not exactly a typical prayer. It’s a recitation of 3 paragraphs from the Torah: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41\. What stands behind these sentences, however, communicates an entire set of deeply held spiritual beliefs, practices, and theological ideas.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-87.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/galaxyai-image-1754574646989.png)](https://www.pshir.com/one-god-one-pople-one-prayer-part-1/)

The lectures presented here were recorded with live audience participation and many of the questions and comments from the auditorium are included in the videos to enhance the learning experience. 

![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/09/PXL_20250430_131208805.PORTRAIT-EDIT.jpg) 

This part of the teaching is over 2 hours long, so for convenience's sake, it was broken up into shorter segments. A paid subscription gives you access to all study materials. ****Please consider supporting my independent publishing efforts.** A free trial is available...

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### Promises We Cannot Keep
URL: https://www.pshir.com/promises-we-cannot-keep/
Last updated: 2025-08-19T15:50:38.000Z
Why does Torah give fathers and husbands such power over promises their daughters and wives make? It’s unfair. Are women not capable of making good decisions or valid promises? Are they prone to overpromise? Of course, the answer to all these questions is NO. Women are just as capable of making good, reasonable, and fitting oaths and taking on meaningful promises and obligations as men are. So why does the Torah grant fathers and husbands such veto rights?

Listen?

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### Shema: One God, One People, One Prayer, Part 1 (~3h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/one-god-one-pople-one-prayer-part-1/
Last updated: 2025-09-03T15:50:00.000Z
In Jewish life, Shema is not exactly a typical prayer. It's a recitation of three paragraphs from the Torah: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41\. What stands behind these sentences, however, communicates an entire set of deeply held spiritual beliefs, practices, and key theological ideas. Want to understand why this prayer is recited daily and even more than once per day? Click PLAY and begin learning with me. 

![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/09/PXL_20250430_131208805.PORTRAIT-EDIT-1.jpg) 

This Part 1 focuses primarily on Deuteronomy 6:4-9\. The videos presented here are almost 3 hours long, so the teaching was broken up into shorter segments. Enjoy all the segments with a ****paid subscription** that supports my independent publishing efforts. A free trial is available.

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### The Worship of Reason...
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-worship-of-reason/
Last updated: 2024-01-07T14:00:01.000Z
> The worship of reason is arrogance and betrays a lack of intelligence. The rejection of reason is cowardice and betrays a lack of faith. 

> Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Anyone who reads Rabbi Heschel's writings knows that he was a man of reason, a truly deep thinker of his generation. Yet he did not hold reason in the highest regard if that reason was set above faith, and divorced from faith. He calls such disposition "a worship of reason", something that both scientists and philosophers are often guilty of.

True reason must embrace some measure of faith. A truly intelligent person honestly recognizes his or her limitations and realizes that the very foundation of any logical argument is based on presuppositions. Ironically, such presuppositions are faith, beliefs that cannot be independently established or verified. In trying to do so, one will end up relying on even more presuppositions. In other words, it is arrogant to think that reason is actually possible without faith of some sort. 

On the flip side, relying on faith and avoiding reason is cowardly, according to Heschel. Many religious people are guilty of such practice, unwilling to allow their beliefs to interact with reason, insisting on simply accepting them as they are, and even forbidding any questions. Questions are presented as doubt and skepticism, enemies of belief. But is blind faith what we truly want? 

Two thousand years ago, one Jewish writer explained that faith is "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen" because the Jewish experience of life is built on the foundation of unseen things. Five centuries before him, the God of Israel challenged his people through prophet Isaiah calling out, "Come, let us reason together." The Almighty is not afraid of questions and reason. Reason and faith are meant to work together, always recognizing the need for each other.
### "The Dignity of Difference" by Jonathan Sacks
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-dignity-of-difference-by-jonathan-sacks/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:21:32.000Z
"The Dignity of Difference" by Jonathan Sacks presents a compelling argument that diversity should not be feared or suppressed but rather celebrated and embraced. By acknowledging and respecting our differences, we can foster a more harmonious and peaceful society. Rabbi Sacks emphasizes the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, irrespective of race, religion, culture, or background. However, he also warns against the perils of homogenizing cultures and imposing a dominant way of thinking on others. This leads to a loss of diversity and hampers progress and innovation. Striking a balance between preserving one's own culture and being receptive to learning from others is crucial. 

💡

[See the "Dignity of Difference" on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3RKHImg?ref=pshir.com)

The book also delves into the role of religion in promoting diversity and nurturing understanding between different faiths.

Peek Inside

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### The Dignity of Difference Lecture
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-dignity-of-difference-lecture/
Last updated: 2023-12-31T15:00:29.000Z
This is a video of a lecture by Rabbi Sacks called "The Dignity of Difference" delivered at Duke University in 2007\. The lecture is about 40 minutes long and starts a bit slow (Rabbi Sacks begins it @ 12 min marker). But if you enjoy deeper and broader thinking you are in for a treat. The lecture challenges us to re-read the familiar narratives of Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau and see a story often missed. Rabbi Sacks is one of the best speakers I have witnessed on stage. Besides that, he is an incredibly talented writer and preacher, so I recommend his books often. It's a rare combination of talents.

His book (with the same title) as this 2007 lecture addresses the contemporary cultural and religious struggles. Very relevant even today! Rabbi Sacks affirms the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, irrespective of race, religion, culture and warns against the perils of homogenizing cultures and imposing a dominant way of thinking on others.

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0826468500&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Dignity-Difference-Avoid-Clash-Civilizations/dp/0826468500?crid=27CWRELKH5V5G&keywords=the+dignity+of+difference+by+rabbi+jonathan+sacks&qid=1701119289&sprefix=the+dignity+of+%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=9c7135a4dff9a75e0b19e03c46282ad0&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)

See it on Amazon
### A Wave Offering
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-wave-offering/
Last updated: 2024-02-29T17:03:47.000Z
Offerings serve a purpose, often a symbolic visual purpose, to express something that words alone cannot. Words are effective most of the time, but sometimes only the actions are adequate. The Torah describes how Levites were shaved, purified by water and sacrifice, and reborn. Does that in any way describe your relationship with God?

Listen?

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### One of Herod's Impressive Palaces - Herodion
URL: https://www.pshir.com/herodion-one-of-herod/
Last updated: 2024-02-29T17:05:06.000Z
Many students of the Bible and ancient history have heard about Herod the Great. Yet most visitors to the Holy Land never get to see these amazing historical ruins connected to the famous king. There is just so much to see in Jerusalem's vicinity, and Herodion is just a little off-sight (between Jerusalem and Bethlehem). Most tours do not include this stop. Plus, it takes a while to take in this enormous place. This video is a beautiful walk-through of the ruins and allows you to take in its sights in high-definition video. It's almost like being there.
### Byzantine Coins Found Near Highway
URL: https://www.pshir.com/byzantine-coins-found-near-highway/
Last updated: 2023-12-17T15:00:09.000Z
A buried treasure of nine well-preserved bronze Byzantine coins found by archeologists during an excavation near Highway 1 serves as evidence of the Persian invasion of Jerusalem at the end of the Byzantine period, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced. According to the IAA, the coins, from the 7th century AD, bearing the images of Byzantine emperors, were unearthed in June during salvage excavations conducted by the Authority as part of widening the highway near Ein Hemed, roughly seven kilometers west of Jerusalem.

The images of Turkish emperors Justinian (483-565 AD), Maurice (539-602 CE) and Phocas (547-610 CE), all wearing military garb, and carrying a cross, can be seen on the Byzantine coins. Annette Landes-Naggar, director of the excavation on behalf of the IAA, said the coins were found bundled in a cloth purse deep in the ground, by the wall of an ancient wine press.

> “The cache was buried adjacent to an area of collapsed large stones,” she said. “It appears that the owner hid them when there was danger, hoping to return to pick them up. But, now we know he was unable to.” “Apparently, this was during the time of the Persian Sassanid invasion, around 614 AD,” she added, noting that the invasion was among the factors that ended the reign of the Byzantine emperors in Israel.

“Fearing the invasion, residents of the area who felt their lives were in danger buried their money against the wall of a wine press, hoping to return home at the end of the conflict, which did not happen,” Landes-Naggar said.“The site was abandoned and destroyed.” The winepress building, she said, belonged to a larger site extending across what is now Highway 1, which was first revealed one year earlier, near a Byzantine church.

> “This site is situated alongside the main road from the entrance to Jerusalem, and was used by Christian pilgrims to enter the city,” said Landes-Naggar. “Settlements were developed along the road.”

Dr. Amit Shadman, an archaeologist in Judea, said the Authority and Israel Pipeline Company will work together to preserve the site for the public.

Original Source: Jerusalem Post
### Highlights of Ancient Canaan History
URL: https://www.pshir.com/highlights-of-ancient-canaan-history/
Last updated: 2023-12-13T15:03:27.000Z
I stumbled across this animated video on the historical developments of Cannan and was impressed by how simply and easily the author covered the events of history that we know so little about. I loved it, so I decided to share it will all my readers. Please keep in mind that this is not a biblical history (history based on the Bible) but a history that incorporates biblical records among many other diverse sources.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### "The Book of 1 Baruch: New Translation" by Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-book-of-baruch/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T17:58:41.000Z
The *Book of Baruch* (ספר ברוך, *Sepher Baruch*), also known as 1 Baruch, is a non-canonical text attributed to Baruch ben Neriyah (ברוך בן נריה), a scribe and close associate of the prophet Jeremiah. The current version of the text we have today was likely put together by a Jewish author around the second century BCE or a little later. This new translation of the *Book of Baruch* is one of the texts I decided to publish in Kindle format to solicit some preliminary feedback from my readers. You can download it from Amazon in digital format. It later became a part of a collection of ancient Jewish texts attributed to Baruch. 

[The Books of Baruch: Four Oracles in New TranslationBecause 1 Baruch was incorporated into the Greek Septuagint (LXX), some are familiar with this ancient text. But many do not realize there are actually four books of Baruch in existence. Therefore, this edition presents a collection of four ancient texts attributed to Baruch in a new, modern, and culturally![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-2d6b4d96-10f5-4a85-87ac-3376a37fcdc9.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Books-of-Baruch1-1-82e6082b-0f1e-4e08-9f71-5492aa5a509c.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/the-books-of-baruch/)

Look Inside 1 Baruch...

This translation of 1 Baruch is part of a larger collection of Second Temple-era works I translated. 

[“Unheard Wisdom of Hebrew Scribes and Teachers” by Pinchas ShirThe title mentions “unheard wisdom” because the spiritual texts presented in this book are not well known to the masses. Inside are modern, updated, and easy-to-read English translations of four Jewish texts: The Letter of Aristeas, The Wisdom of Solomon, The Book of Ben Sira, and Biblical Antiquities![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-d7dc05f2-9f3f-4f7e-9bf7-39a19b18c15a.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/contemporary-furnished-livi-7c7fb7f1-e263-47c8-a2a4-5663502c237e.png)](https://www.pshir.com/unheard-wisdom-of-hebrew-scribes-and-teachers/)

[“Unheard Voices of Hebrew Kings and Prophets” by Pinchas ShirInside this book are new and updated translations of seven Jewish texts from the Second Temple Era: Prayer of Manasseh, Book of Baruch, Psalms of Solomon, Testament of Moses, Lives of the Prophets, Apocalypse of Moses, and Apocalypse of Abraham. Because these spiritual works are extra-canonical, their voices are![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-a113bb05-07f1-4fae-9efb-65ab9b7b1ad5.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/Voices2-1-8bc3f3d8-3aee-4e27-babb-b985a1533d13.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/unheard-voices-of-hebrew-kings-and-prophets/)
### How much do you know about Hanukkah?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/how-much-do-you-know-about-hanukkah/
Last updated: 2023-12-07T14:29:55.000Z
For many people, Hanukkah is the Jewish Christmas. The Western (Christian) world has Christmas, so Jews have something similar, the holiday they call Hanukkah. Simple, right? I know that many of my readers and subscribers know better. In case you missed it, in past years, I published some seminars on the topic of Hanukkah. So, if you want to refresh your understanding of what the holiday is really about, they are available for streaming on PSHIR.COM.

The first one is called [**Beyond Menorah's and Dreidels**](https://www.pshir.com/beyond-menorahs-and-dreidels/). It's a concise introductory teaching about the holiday that I recorded with a live audience a while ago. In these videos, you can get all the basics and perhaps set aside some common misunderstandings people often have when it comes to Hanukkah. 

[Beyond Menorahs and DreidelsHanukkah is so much more than Menorahs and Dreidels. Learn more about this celebration and its history in this three-part seminar (exclusively on pshir.com) In this hour and a half we explore what the book of Maccabees tells us about Hanukkah. We also consider how Josephus explains those events![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/01/60x60-blk.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2023/06/Men1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/beyond-menorahs-and-dreidels/)

The second video-study is called [**Villains and Heroes of Hanukkah**](https://www.pshir.com/villains-and-heroes-of-hanukkah/)**.** This one is an exploration of Hanukkah from a historical point of view, reading ancient sources of all kinds to understand not just Hanukkah but the very era when those events occurred. You guessed it, this study focuses on people involved in the story. 

[Villains and Heroes of HanukkahThe story of Hanukkah is epic, much more epic than the books of Maccabees paint it. Yes, it’s the story of the Jewish wars against the mad and tyrannical Antiochus IV. But the Seleucid king himself was entangled in a series of wars that began long before he was![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/01/60x60-blk.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2023/06/Hanuk2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/villains-and-heroes-of-hanukkah/)

So, enjoy the videos... And may God's glorious light shine so deep in your hearts this season that nothing would ever be able to dim its radiance!
### Season's Greetings from Pinchas
URL: https://www.pshir.com/seasons-greetings-from-pinchas/
Last updated: 2023-12-03T14:00:18.000Z
It' December... To all my subscribers who celebrate Hanukkah, may Hashem continue to do miracles as he did for our ancestors so long ago. And may your light burn ever brighter! 

To all my subscribers who celebrate Christmas, may the warmth of best traditions shared with family and friends bring you joy and hope at this holiday season. May you and yours cherish the reason for this season!

Recently, a friend lent me a book, a commentary by Sir Iassac Newton on Daniel and Revelation. Yes, besides being a scientist Isaac Newton was a true believer in the Bible and was a biblical scholar! It was a laborious read (because of the archaic language from 1700's) but what can I say, I am geek when it comes to old books. I spent hours enjoying this unique publication. 

I am no Isaac Newtown, but consider giving someone else a gift of PSHIR.COM today. Share a link from a favorite video or article somewhere where you socialize these days. That will be a gift to me as well, as that is exactly how many of my subscribers discover new things themselves (even if they are quite archaic).

**Thank you for watching, listening, reading and sending occasional notes.** Most importantly thank you for making [PSHIR.COM](www.pshir.com) a part of your ongoing learning journey! Shalom.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2023/11/PXL_20230903_181942134.jpg)
### Was Naboth's Vinyard found?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/naboths-vinyard/
Last updated: 2024-02-29T17:06:39.000Z
Not long ago, archaeologists in Israel might have identified Jezreel winery featured in the Bible. The ancient winery was first discovered in 2013 and then explored in several seasons of excavations in the following years. The ancient production facility consists of several installations carved right into the bedrock.

In the Books of Kings, there is one Jezreel winery that becomes a setting of some of the most gruesome episodes of greed, violence, sin, and divine retribution. Researchers have identified elements that confirm the excavation carried out in northern Israel is very compatible with the biblical narrative, according to a paper published in a recent issue of the Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies. So here is the story...

_This post is for subscribers only._
### God Who Says "No"
URL: https://www.pshir.com/god-who-says-no/
Last updated: 2024-02-29T17:07:57.000Z
How many of us have a hard time saying "No"? How many of us say "No," only to hear back – "Why?" In our modern culture, saying "No" is completely out of style. If you say "No" and insist, you are looked upon as an alien from outer space. "No" is bad and forbidden.

Listen...

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Herod's Caesarea Aqueduct and City Ruins
URL: https://www.pshir.com/herodcaesarea-aqueduct-and-ruins/
Last updated: 2023-11-19T13:05:06.000Z
This is an amazing high-resolution video walk-through of one of the most beautiful archeological ruins in Israel. The views of the 2000-year-old Herodian aqueduct and the detail in this video are amazing. It's almost like being there yourself. Once I watched this video, I knew I had to share it with my subscribers. 

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0310431581&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/NIV-Cultural-Backgrounds-Study-Bible/dp/0310431581?crid=1MEN1CRR01QGR&keywords=culture+study+bible&qid=1699534294&sprefix=culutre+stud%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=ae0fc3015a48a2764edad5210e783d06&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)

This is one of the few study Bibles I recommend to my students. The notes are focused on culture and history, not theology, allowing readers to enter the world of the author and audience.
### Thankfulness beyond Hebrew
URL: https://www.pshir.com/thankfulness-in-hebrew-and-beyond/
Last updated: 2025-11-21T13:37:26.000Z
Most of us like it when someone values us. It feels good to know when we are appreciated. And it is not because we have some exigent need to be recognized. Many gifted and talented people do amazing things and never seek recognition or fame, or attention. But being on the receiving side of someone being thankful for something we did is always a good feeling.

A simple way to thank someone in Hebrew is תּוֹדָה *(todah)* “thanks!” A verb that expresses “giving thanks” הוֹדָה *(hodah)* surfaces all over the Hebrew Bible. In a noun form, the term means “thanksgiving” and, more precisely, “a thanksgiving offering” (זֶבַח תּוֹדָה, *zevach todah*) in the context of worship. Because of this context, in English translations of biblical texts, the term may be rendered as “praise.” 

In Ezra 3:11, the priests were singing as the foundations of the destroyed temple were being rebuilt. One group began, and another “responded in praises and thanksgivings to ADONAI” (וַיַּעֲנוּ בְּהַלֵּל וּבְהוֹדֹת לַיהוה, *vaya’anu behallel uv’hodot LADONAI*). Psalm 28:7 says, “my heart will rejoice and in my song I will thank you” (יַּעֲלֹז לִבִּי וּמִשִּׁירִי אֲהוֹדֶנּוּ, *ya’aloz libi umishiri ahodenu*). Expressing gratitude, giving thanks, and worshipping (praising) God are often interrelated activities in the Bible.

It’s important to know, however, that the basic root to which these Hebrew words are tied is יָדָה *(yadah)*, and it means to “throw” or to “cast,” to “show” as if to “point” with an extended “hand” יָד *(yad).* These actions are all relational, but the idea of gratitude is not explicit in the root meaning itself. You have to dig a little deeper to see it. If speaking is considered, the root suggests the idea of “speaking forth,” “admitting,” or “confessing” In Proverbs 28:13, we are told that one who hides his transgression will not prosper, but “one who confesses (יָדָה, *yadah*) and abandons (them) will find mercy” (וּמוֹדֶה וְעֹזֵב יְרֻחָם, *umodeh veozav yeruham*). The theme of gratitude is not obvious in this verse, but in Hebrew, the idea of confession includes some form of thanksgiving. 

The meaning of praise can be easily observed, but in order to see thanksgiving, we must actively imagine someone lifting hands in a motion of gratitude to see such a meaning. In Genesis 29:35, when Leah gave birth to her fourth son, she said, “It’s time to thank ADONAI” (הַפַּעַם אוֹדֶה אֶת־יהוה, *hapa’am odeh ADONAI*). And therefore, she named her son “Judah” (יְהוּדָה, *Yehudah*) because of her “gratitude” הוֹדָה *(hodah)*. It just so happens, then, that the terms “Judeans” or “Jews” (יְהוּדִים, *Yehudim*) originates from the same root יָדָה *(yadah)* “thanksgiving.”

So, it turns out that a simple “thank you” is not so simple. So much more is implied in this short word if we explore its origins in ancient Hebrew. Images of hands being lifted up, offerings, confessions, and gratitude stemming from God’s blessings, from songs that flow from our hearts. **Gratitude is a profound action, a fitting response to life circumstances. It's a powerful lesson to grasp!**

Here is a thought. Consider expressing your gratitude to someone in your life today! **Tap the image** to see one of my favorite ways to send a pleasant surprise to people I appreciate and value.

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/11/gift.jpg)](https://amzn.to/47oZXa2?ref=pshir.com)

If it's not your style, I am sure you will find a way that suits you best. :) Just express your gratitude...
### Psalm 3 (Hebrew-English)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-3-hebrew-english/
Last updated: 2023-11-12T13:56:49.000Z
Psalm 3 is a desperate cry for help, praise from the lips of David. God rescued him from the grip of his foes as they sought his life. This poem is full of hope and assurance in God’s miraculous salvation amidst great danger.

מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד בְּבָרְחוֹ מִפְּנֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּנוֹ  
יהוה מָה־רַבּוּ צָרָי רַבִּים קָמִים עָלָי  
רַבִּים אֹמְרִים לְנַפְשִׁי אֵין יְשׁוּעָתָה לּוֹ בֵאלֹהִים סֶלָה  
וְאַתָּה יהוה מָגֵן בַּעֲדִי כְּבוֹדִי וּמֵרִים רֹאשִׁי  
קוֹלִי אֶל־יהוה אֶקְרָא וַיַּעֲנֵנִי מֵהַר קָדְשׁוֹ סֶלָה  
אֲנִי שָׁכַבְתִּי וָאִישָׁנָה הֱקִיצוֹתִי כִּי יהוה יִסְמְכֵנִי  
לֹא־אִירָא מֵרִבְבוֹת עָם אֲשֶׁר סָבִיב שָׁתוּ עָלָי  
קוּמָה יהוה הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי אֱלֹהַי כִּי־הִכִּיתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבַי לֶחִי שִׁנֵּי רְשָׁעִים שִׁבַּרְתָּ  
לַיהוה הַיְשׁוּעָה עַל־עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶךָ סֶּלָה

A psalm of David as he fled from Avshalom, his son.  
ADONAI (LORD), How many are my foes,  
how many are those that rise up against me  
Many say about my life;  
there will be no salvation from God for him, Selah  
But you ADONAI (LORD) are a shield for me,  
my glory, one who lifts up my head  
With my voice to ADONAI (LORD), I cried out,  
and he answered me from his holy hill, Selah  
I laid down and restfully slept,  
then I awoke as ADONAI (LORD) lifted me  
I will not be afraid of the multitudes  
who surrounded me on every side  
Arise ADONAI (LORD), oh my God,  
and deliver me  
On their faces, you stuck my enemies,  
shattered teeth of the wicked  
To ADONAI (LORD) salvation belongs,  
and his blessing rests on his people, Selah  
(Translation by Pinchas Shir)

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1422613259&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Large-Type-Tehillim-Psalms-Pocket/dp/1422613259?pd%5Frd%5Fw=YFrse&content-id=amzn1.sym.76a0b561-a7b4-41dc-9467-a85a2fa27c1c&pf%5Frd%5Fp=76a0b561-a7b4-41dc-9467-a85a2fa27c1c&pf%5Frd%5Fr=RSJEDG9815CWFDJJBBDC&pd%5Frd%5Fwg=mfMmp&pd%5Frd%5Fr=805d1a59-faf5-41b4-84af-4f34b5c02ddc&pd%5Frd%5Fi=1422613259&psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=3390bc4628d1f1f0afd31cea7ad8d699&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)
### Anti-Judaism as Ideology by Mika Ahuvia
URL: https://www.pshir.com/anti-judaism-as-ideology-by-mika-ahuvia/
Last updated: 2023-11-08T14:34:06.000Z
This is a fairly long but very informative lecture by Dr. Mika Ahuvia from the Jewish Studies Department of the University of Washington. It focuses on the Jewish difference and how this notion has been historically perceived and treated by non-Jews. Unfortunately, this understanding gave rise to what we call anti-Judaism, which still exists and continues to fuel contemporary antisemitism. Since Christians engage with the Bible, a sacred text composed by ancient Jews, they should be especially aware of this dangerous ideology that can infect their faith. Keep in mind that this is an academic lecture focused on historical, religious, and sociological questions primarily, not theology. 

**Disclaimer:** Some of the historical material Dr. Ahuvia presents can be upsetting and unsettling to Christians (especially Catholics), and anyone watching her lecture can note her periodically ironic tone as she attempts to lighten some of the sharper points in her presentation. But as much as we may wish the historical events she mentions did not happen, the tangible implementations of practicing anti-Jewish ideology cannot be ignored. They usually turn ugly and violent. 

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1514392836&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Gospel-John-Discovering-Israel/dp/1514392836?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=51897636ee8ae7bcb543faeab30e283b&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)

The gospel of John can appear somewhat anti-Jewish and is utilized by those advancing anti-Judaism more than any other book in the New Testament. If you want to find out why and how this gospel could be understood better, I recommend a book written by my friend and colleague a few years ago.
### Glimpses of Shiloh Excavation
URL: https://www.pshir.com/glimpses-shiloh-excavation/
Last updated: 2023-11-05T14:36:01.000Z
*Shiloh* (שִׁלֹה) is a historic town situated in the lot of Ephraim, where Israel assembled under Joshua during the war of conquest (Joshua 18:1). It served as the location for the distribution of territories among the seven tribes that had not yet received their land allotments. A commission was dispatched to "describe the land into seven portions," and subsequently, the tribal inheritances were assigned by lot. In Shiloh, the Levites were allocated their portion within the territories of the various tribes (Joshua 18-21).

Furthermore, Reuben and Gad departed for their homes east of the Jordan from Shiloh. Notably, this town was also the gathering point for the tribes to confront these two tribes due to their misunderstanding of the construction of the Great Altar in the Jordan Valley (Joshua 22). According to the book of Judges 18:31, during that period, Shiloh was referred to as the "house of God" (בֵּית־הָאֱלֹהִים, *beit haElohim*) However, the precise timing of the sanctuary's relocation from Gilgal remains unclear. While the house of the Lord remained in Shiloh, it became a revered place of pilgrimage (1 Samuel 1:3). Samuel was brought to Shiloh and consecrated to God's service (1 Samuel 1:24). The sanctuary was under the oversight of Eli and his wicked sons, and through Samuel, the fate of their house was foretold. Subsequently, the capture of the ark by the Philistines, the downfall of Hophni and Phinehas, and the demise of the aged priest and his daughter-in-law swiftly followed (1 Samuel 3; 4).

The sanctuary in Shiloh is described as a "temple of the LORD" (*heichal ADONAI*, הֵיכַל יהוה) in 1 Samuel 1:9; 3:3), complete with doorposts and doors (1 Samuel 1:9; 3:15). Hence, it appears to have been a more permanent structure compared to the previous tent. However, it was likely destroyed, possibly by the Philistines. Consequently, the priests of Eli's house relocated to Nob, where they met their tragic fate by the order of Saul (1 Samuel 22:11). Although there is no direct account of the actual event, the calamity that befell Shiloh had a profound impact on the collective consciousness. The prophets effectively employed it as an illustration (Psalms 78:60; Jeremiah 7:12:14; 26:6). 

The location of *Shiloh* (שִׁלֹה) is clearly indicated in Judges 21:19 as "on the north of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah." This description specifically refers to Seilun, a ruined site situated on a hill in the northeast of a small plain. It is approximately 9 miles north of Beitin (Bethel) and 3 miles southeast of Khan el-Lubban (Lebonah), to the east of the highway to Shechem (Nablus). A deep valley runs to the north of the site, separating it from the adjacent hills, which contain rock-hewn tombs. Further up the valley, a reliable spring can be found. Although vineyards no longer exist in the area, traces of ancient cultivation are visible on the terraced slopes.

The ruins on the hill consist of relatively recent structures. At the foot of the hill stands a deteriorating mosque. A short distance southeast of the hill is a building that appears to have been a synagogue, known locally as Jami\` el-\`Arba\`in, or the "mosque of the Forty." Numerous cisterns can be found in the vicinity. Just beyond the northern crest of the hill, on a terrace, there is a rough quadrangle carved into the rock, measuring 400 feet by 80 feet. This may have been the site of "the house of the LORD" that was in Shiloh.

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0310431581&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/NIV-Cultural-Backgrounds-Study-Bible/dp/0310431581?crid=3K96GEZU5UF3S&keywords=Cultural+Backgrounds+Study+Bible&qid=1688665162&sprefix=cultural+backgrounds+study+bible%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=0a103e698513da3e38099b7bf04aea51&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)

I am not a huge fan of the NIV translation (especially when it comes to the NT), but the notes in this bible are totally worth it. The breadth of topics covered in them is impressive.
### Hebrew Insights from Revelation
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-insights-from-revelation/
Last updated: 2023-10-29T14:00:55.000Z
Discover the “Hebrew Insights from Revelation” with verse-by-verse explanations of Chapters 1-5 of John’s Apocalypse. This enriching study aims to reconnect readers with the Hebrew roots and Semitic essence of Revelation, bridging a significant cultural and linguistic divide that has existed for centuries. This book introduces you to a new way of reading Revelation as we delve into the beauty of the Hebrew literary structure and explore the Apocalyptic Jewish context. Be ready for our Hebrew insights that take you deeper and far beyond the surface of the verses. 

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B09LR4R1FC&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Insights-Revelation-Studies-Christians-ebook/dp/B09LR4R1FC?%5Fencoding=UTF8&pd%5Frd%5Fw=5t4qF&content-id=amzn1.sym.579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf%5Frd%5Fp=579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf%5Frd%5Fr=145-8067612-2402311&pd%5Frd%5Fwg=mQlhn&pd%5Frd%5Fr=625c36cf-bf80-4356-bc37-37a01b5f2ef1&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=c2d0c70ca93fdbbcee070d575832e1e4&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)

See it on Amazon

Look Inside...

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### Hebrew Visions of Revelation
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-visions-of-revelation/
Last updated: 2026-01-15T17:34:24.000Z
My friend Eli and I have just released a new and exciting book! 

We invite you to uncover the “Hebrew Visions in Revelation” with insightful explanations of key imagery from Revelation Chapters 6-14 of John’s Apocalypse. This book delves into the Jewish background and meanings of the visions that the author sees and the sounds he hears. Be ready to be surprised, as our Hebraic insights may transport you far beyond the surface of the verses you know. [See the Book on Amazon here. ](https://amzn.to/3Nl0qT4?ref=pshir.com)

Peek inside now...

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### "The Apocalypse of Abraham: New Translation" by Pinchas Shir
URL: https://www.pshir.com/apocalypse-of-abraham/
Last updated: 2026-09-25T15:54:48.000Z
The *Apocalypse of Abraham* (התגלות אברהם, *Hitgalut Avraham)* is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic text believed to have been written between 70 and 150 CE. While the surviving manuscripts are in Old Slavonic, it is widely accepted that the original composition was in a Semitic language, evident from the presence of Hebraisms throughout the work. Some have proposed the title “Last Day Vision of Abraham” (חזון אחרית הימים של אברהם) for this ancient text.

I decided to release my translation of the *Apocalypse of Abraham* in Kindle format ([on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3rs9mLQ?ref=pshir.com)) as a short sample to gather preliminary feedback from my readers. This particular translation is a part of a more diverse collection of Jewish texts I am about to release into print. It is being published together with *The Prayer of Manasseh,* *The Psalms of Solomon,* *The Testament of Moses,* *The Lives of the Prophets,* and *The Apocalypse of Moses.* I sincerely hope that you will enjoy delving into the lore of this ancient story. And as usual, I would love to hear what you think of the quality and clarity of my new translation.

Look Inside!

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### "Borderlines" by Daniel Boyarin
URL: https://www.pshir.com/borderlines-by-daniel-boyarin/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:21:07.000Z
This book by Prof. Daniel Boyarin explores the popular topic of the parting of ways between Christianity and Judaism. Only instead of tracing the historical circumstances of how the Synagogue and Church slowly drifted apart, he proposes a completely different outlook on how it really happened. I was deeply intrigued by his thesis years ago when I first read it. And I continue to recommend his book to many who are new to the study of early Judaism and Christianity. 

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0812219864&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Border-Lines-Partition-Judaeo-Christianity-Divinations/dp/0812219864?crid=26B3ZARBV2SBV&keywords=borderlines+daniel+boyarin&qid=1668006991&sprefix=borderlines+boyar%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=4ab9cd3ee977f81d9aa040797b422212&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)

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### Loving Your Master
URL: https://www.pshir.com/loving-your-master/
Last updated: 2024-01-16T14:26:39.000Z
The passage called Mishpatim in Torah begins with laws about slaves and slavery. It’s not an easy topic to discuss in America. Colonial slavery most people are familiar with in America, was truly brutal, unjust, and inhumane. The mistreatment of slaves in America in the not-so-distant past still has its ghosts today, and it forever colors any discussion that touches on the term “slavery.” The tensions are inescapable at the mere mention of the topic. What we encounter in Torah in regard to slavery, however, is quite different.

Listen?

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### How Much do You Know About the Jewish Calendar?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/how-much-do-you-know-about-the-jewish-calendar/
Last updated: 2023-10-04T14:00:45.000Z
Are you familiar with the Jewish calendar? The National Library of Israel presents an educational video that delves into the intriguing history of this calendar. By exploring their extensive collection of old and rare texts, the video offers a unique opportunity to understand the establishment, evolution, and eventual standardization of the Jewish calendar. Discover the captivating story behind its development and gain a deeper appreciation for this timeless tradition.

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1631369997&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Illuminations-Calendar-16-Month-Lighting/dp/1631369997?crid=T8ESO0OT2K4P&keywords=jewish+calendar&qid=1693335154&s=books&sprefix=Jewish+%2Cstripbooks%2C123&sr=1-4&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=b7b333ece9cdca333c03b49c53782c22&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)

A beautiful artistic calendar that follows the Jewish year.
### "Intro to the Talmud and Midrash" by Strack and Stemberger
URL: https://www.pshir.com/intro-to-the-talmud-and-midrash-by-strack-and-stemberger/
Last updated: 2026-09-22T18:26:02.000Z
Strack (1848-1922) was a Professor of the Old Testament at the University of Berlin. His classic introduction to Rabbinic literature was revised and updated by Gunter Stemberger, an established expert on Rabbinic history and literature. This book is the only comprehensive one-volume introduction to the subject that I know. I think will be invaluable as a textbook and reference guide for students and scholars of Jewish history and literature alike. It's an excellent and compact resource outlining rabbinic texts ([see this book on Amazon](https://link.amazon/B0hv6P0Ty?ref=pshir.com)). 

Peek Inside the Book now...

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Sukkot Commandments and Customs
URL: https://www.pshir.com/sukkot-commandments-and-customs-copy-2/
Last updated: 2023-09-27T14:00:15.000Z
This is a *shiur*, a recording of short thematic live and interactive teaching (broken up into 3 segments, about 50 minutes long in total). The lesson surveys the commandments and customs of the Festival of Tabernacles and examines some ancient texts that possibly reflect on the Sukkot customs practiced during the First Temple era. Curious? More like this [**HERE**](https://www.pshir.com/tag/pvideo/)

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### Chasing God's Anger
URL: https://www.pshir.com/chasing-gods-anger/
Last updated: 2023-09-24T19:08:58.000Z
In Numbers 17:7, Torah says that a cloud of God’s glory appeared all around them. God spoke to them, *hiramu mitoch haedah* “Get away from the midst of the assembly.” And God continued, *va’akhaleh otam ke’raga* “I will consume them in one moment,” or literally, “I will swallow them (as in eat them all) in a second.” Hashem was furious with the Israelites who assembled against Moses and Aaron, thinking that somehow Moses killed them. And indeed, God’s wrath, his indignation, *ketzef* fell on them.

Listen?

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### Heshbon Nefesh: Watching Our Speech (~2hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/heshbon-nefesh-our-speech/
Last updated: 2025-09-09T16:12:13.000Z
Delve into the profound significance of how we misuse our speech with this video series of interactive devotional discussions. Join me and the live audience as we embark on a journey through the Jewish practice of *Heshbon Nefesh* (searching one's heart). In these lessons, we seek to examine our behavior related to speech as we move towards sincere repentance that seeks to achieve genuine transformation in this area of our lives. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

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### Does God Ever Tempt us?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/does-god-ever-tempt-us/
Last updated: 2024-06-07T12:13:11.000Z
You may have heard it said that “God tests but does not tempt.” Such conviction is usually based on a well-known verse: “No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one” (James 1:13 NRSV). A question for me that begs an answer, "Is there really a difference between testing and tempting?" Can we even say that God only tests but never tempts? ‌

In Genesis 22:15, God tests Abraham with a command to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. The Hebrew verb for “test” is נָסָה (*nasah*), which also can be translated to “tempt,” to “try,” or even to “train.” The verb represents a “process of verifying if something is true or not”; an “attempt to determine the veracity or quality of something.”

_This post is for subscribers only._
### English Translation of Peshitta by George Lamsa
URL: https://www.pshir.com/english-translation-of-peshitta-by-george-lamsa/
Last updated: 2023-09-10T14:00:56.000Z
Geroge M. Lamsa was a native Aramaic speaker born in the Middle East. He translated the Aramaic Peshitta Bible, which means "simple" or "straight," into English. Without going into arguments of manuscript primacy, Aramaic was indeed spoken broadly in the first century across the entire Levant region. The Jewish community of Jesus' day certainly utilized it alongside Hebrew and Greek.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2023/08/Lam1.jpg)

see it on Amazon

Some claim that Peshitta preserves some of the most original wordings of Jesus' teachings, while others remain skeptical. Still, any Semitic presentation of biblical ideas, even translated into English, could be valuable in interpreting the nuances of the ancient texts. This makes the Aramaic Peshitta manuscripts preserved by Eastern churches particularly interesting to biblical scholars.

Take a look inside...

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### Unavoidable Humility
URL: https://www.pshir.com/unavoidable-humility/
Last updated: 2025-03-28T16:48:20.000Z
Sometimes people genuinely lack humility, and they are totally unaware of it. People can be very proud and self-important, conceited, pumped up about themselves, and have an inflated view of themselves. Sometimes people are arrogant and stubborn, overconfident, snobbish, obstinate, braggadocios, and pompous. Most of us see these character qualities, and we typically distance ourselves from such people if we can. 

Listen?

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### Dear PSHIR.COM readers
URL: https://www.pshir.com/dear-pshir-com-readers/
Last updated: 2023-09-01T14:00:25.000Z
Dear PSHIR.COM readers, thanks to you, my e-zine has really grown! In September of 2022, my new e-zine had only a couple of hundred subscribers, and now, a year later, my digital publication is quickly zooming towards two thousand free subscribers. The paid subscriber pool that supports my publication is still rather small, though, so if you are in a position to do so, consider a paid subscription to support independent publishing. My paid subscribers get access to hundreds of hours of curated educational video, audio, and articles, plus the ability to comment and interact with others.

[Paid Subscription to PSHIR.COM](#/portal/signup)

I am encouraged and humbled by the number of new subscribers who joined, and I hope that the word continues to spread. Since the number of my free subscribers grew so quickly this year, I decided to extend my weekly email publication announcements to all subscribers. Also, starting this September, besides the weekly update (each Wednesday,) my paid subscribers will now receive more frequent learning reminders with featured content (on Sundays).

💡

****SNEAK PEAK**: In the coming year, I plan to release new video teachings about the ancient prayer in Aramaic called **Kaddish*, and more lectures from the **World of Hebrew Prophets* series. I am working on the new translation of **The Psalms of Solomon* and hope to post some readings from that ancient book in the upcoming months. Plus, there is a brand-new book forthcoming. So, stay tuned…

I hope my e-zine publication is a personal blessing to you and a tool that enhances or motivates your study of the things that are truly important in our lives. Let's continue to think together! 

Blessings, Pinchas
### The Son of Man and The Serpent
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-son-of-man-and-the-serpent/
Last updated: 2025-10-09T21:00:40.000Z
One of the best-known verses from the Gospels is John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world..." But just before that, Jesus said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life (Jn 3:14-15). Here Yeshua the Son of Man, predicts that he will do something similar to what Moses’ serpent did when Israel wandered in the wilderness. What is he talking about?

_This post is for subscribers only._
### High-Resolution Scans of the Dead Sea Scrolls Online
URL: https://www.pshir.com/high-resolution-scans-of-dead-sea-scrolls-online/
Last updated: 2023-08-23T18:35:52.000Z
The Dead Sea Scrolls, considered by many to be the most significant archaeological find of the 20th century, are thought to have been written or collected by an ascetic Jewish sect that fled Jerusalem for the desert 2,000 years ago and settled at Qumran, on the banks of the Dead Sea. The hundreds of manuscripts that survived, partially or in full, in caves near the site, have shed light on the development of the Hebrew Bible and the origins of Christianity.

The most complete scrolls are held by the Israel Museum, with more pieces and smaller fragments found in other institutions and private collections. Tens of thousands of fragments from 900 Dead Sea manuscripts are held by the Israel Antiquities Authority, which has separately begun its own project to put them online in conjunction with Google.

See them up close and read them for yourself - [http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/](http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/?ref=pshir.com)

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0060684658&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Dead-Sea-Scrolls-Understanding/dp/0060684658?crid=279TCQ1BEZ9YO&keywords=dead+sea+scrolls&qid=1687457195&sprefix=dead+Sea+sc%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-16&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=82541cde649a58b08b0a00795cfc9c26&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)
### Messiah and the End of Days in Qumran Scrolls
URL: https://www.pshir.com/messiah-and-the-end-of-days/
Last updated: 2024-06-07T11:27:26.000Z
This is a lecture by Prof. Schiffman. Though it was delivered some time ago (2006), most of the material Rabbi Shiffman presents is still relevant and may be new and eye-opening to someone who has not studied the topic before. If you are up to spending an hour with an excellent and engaging lecturer and learning about the beliefs and expectations of Qumran Jews about the Messiah, it will be an hour well spent. Assuming you like listening to academic lectures, of course.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### New Discoveries in Judean Desert
URL: https://www.pshir.com/new-disvoveries-in-judean-desert/
Last updated: 2023-08-13T13:00:40.000Z
By now everyone has heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls. And this region of the world continues to furnish the research community with more archaeological discoveries. Another cave in the Judean desert was recently explored. This cave is known today as the "cave of horrors," and the main reason is the continents of this cave. Learn about what exactly the archeologists discovered there in this informative video put together by the Israel Antiquities Authority. 

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1426217048&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Archaeology-Bible-Greatest-Discoveries-Genesis/dp/1426217048?crid=DLYTR1K5JD9I&keywords=israel+archeology&qid=1681440259&sprefix=Israel+Arc%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-8&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=7ff73f73ffd2f7ad02a5e0d7b8a7fe5b&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)
### Revelation as a Jewish Apocalypse (~2hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/revelation-as-a-jewish-apocalypse/
Last updated: 2025-09-03T14:17:27.000Z
Are you puzzled by the visions of John's Revelation? Many people find his book inspirational and very interesting, but it remains a veiled message. These are audio excerpts from several lectures I gave live on "How to Read the Book of Revelation as Jewish Literature." The main idea is simple... You can appreciate the book for what it is if you understand that it is a part of a much broader array of books written with similar goals in mind. As usual, reading something in context is much more helpful than reading without a clue. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software. 

[Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha and the Books of EnochI 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 feel uneasy,![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-83.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/All-Enoch2-1-1-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/pseudepigrapha-apocrypha-and-the-books-of-enoch/)
### No Shirt, No Shoes...
URL: https://www.pshir.com/no-shirt-no-shoes/
Last updated: 2025-08-19T15:40:12.000Z
On the one hand, Leviticus offers us dull instructions for something that does not even happen anymore. Sacrifices, Offerings, the Altar. The Temple has been destroyed for almost two thousand years now. But on the other hand, these instructions to Aaron show us something significant about God and his expectation of how we are to approach him, even today. Circumstances change, but God does not change. Maybe Vayikra, the Book of Leviticus, has something we are not seeing about God at this moment. 

Listen?

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Who Needs Temple Sacrifices?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/who-needs-sacrifices/
Last updated: 2026-02-19T17:05:36.000Z
There is a common sentiment among those who embrace Christ – “Jesus paid it all. That is all you need for atonement of sin”. This is very true, but much more needs to be said about sacrifices in this context. There is a common and naïve assumption that all sacrifices are now useless since Jesus died on the cross. People rarely study the temple and its sacrifices diligently enough to realize that the actual purpose of the temple was not merely redemptive. Thus, the assumption rings true, but it is based on a lack of insight and insufficient understanding of what sacrifices actually entail and what they do. The overwhelming majority of sacrifices in ancient times did not concern sin or forgiveness at all. They had little to do with atonement. 

**Unnatural Connections**

Did the death of Messiah alter all sacrifices of the temple? Many verses are often quoted to support this perspective. Here is one example:

> “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (1 Pet 3:18 NASB)

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Mishna: English Translation by Herbert Danby
URL: https://www.pshir.com/mishna-english-translation-by-herbert-danby/
Last updated: 2023-07-23T13:00:07.000Z
The Mishna is a collection of written traditions of the oral Torah in the form of discussion. These discussions were preserved by the rabbis of the first and second centuries CE. A number of English translations of this ancient document are in existence. This English translation of the Mishnah by Herbert Danby has been the standard for scholars and other interested readers for many decades.

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1598569023&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Mishnah-Translated-Hebrew-Introduction-Explanatory/dp/1598569023?%5Fencoding=UTF8&pd%5Frd%5Fw=a1S7k&content-id=amzn1.sym.bc5f3394-3b4c-4031-8ac0-18107ac75816&pf%5Frd%5Fp=bc5f3394-3b4c-4031-8ac0-18107ac75816&pf%5Frd%5Fr=7PFGFN1VS9EVBWH5C92N&pd%5Frd%5Fwg=csDYg&pd%5Frd%5Fr=238c0a6d-8f55-492b-83e9-626ea926ad07&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=b0d7b3112325555fb1fa41903c9b2e68&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)

Peek Inside

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### The New Year of the Trees
URL: https://www.pshir.com/blessings-of-the-new-year-of-the-trees/
Last updated: 2024-05-17T17:34:25.000Z
The New Year of the Trees – *rosh hashanah la'ilanot* (ראש השנה לאילנות) is a special day on the Jewish calendar more commonly called - Tu BiShvat. The Bible is filled with agriculture, yet many of us today are city dwellers, and we feel distant and disconnected from these land and harvest-tied messages. We are probably missing many blessings in our lives because we are less connected to the land these days. That is why, perhaps, the spirituality behind agriculture in the Bible deserves to be deliberately preserved, and days like Tu BiShvat help us accomplish that.

This is a *shiur*, a recording of short interactive teaching (broken up into 3 segments, about 40 minutes long in total) that explains the spirituality of the New Year of the Trees. More like this [**HERE**](https://www.pshir.com/tag/pvideo/)

To engage with media inside your email, tap "view in browser" (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Let Dreamers Dream
URL: https://www.pshir.com/let-dreamers-dream/
Last updated: 2026-05-01T17:32:31.000Z
Joseph, Jacob’s youngest son, foolishly tells his brothers about his dreams. Torah tells us that the disposition of Joseph’s brothers towards him was extremely negative. In Gen 37:4 we read ***venisneu oto*** “and they hated him” ***velo yakhlu davro leshalom*** “and could not speak shalom, speak well to him.” They were annoyed to the degree that they could not even say anything friendly to Joseph. Should dreamers reveal their dreams to others? Listen?

To engage with media inside your email, tap "view in browser" (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/08/AS_TN_E-1.png) 

#### Stone Edition Tanach (English Only)

This English language edition of Tanach is perfect for anyone seeking to connect with Jewish heritage, understand unfamiliar biblical passages, or simply deepen their spiritual journey. Whether you're exploring the Prophets for the first time or revisiting familiar Torah stories, this edition makes every page meaningful. The volume contains all 24 books of the Jewish Bible supplied with expert commentary and insights. It includes sidebar guides, maps, timelines, and "at-a-glance" summaries. Rabbi Nosson Scherman's international team of experts also offers you Temple diagrams, genealogies, and biblical illustrations. This clear, flowing, and readable translation is faithful to the Orthodox Jewish perspective as it brings ancient texts to life to a new generation. 1,400 pages of eternal wisdom in beautiful English await you. The link below will take you to the 5x8 size.

[See it on AMAZON](https://amzn.to/3UTveuN?ref=pshir.com)
### The Walls of Jerusalem
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-walls-of-jerusalem/
Last updated: 2023-07-05T15:48:15.000Z
The walls of today's Jerusalem are beautiful, but they are not very ancient, going back to the days of Suleyman in the 1500s. Well beneath those walls are the foundations of older walls, but only in some areas. In many instances, the new walls were moved to expand the city. Still, walking the walls of the old city is a unique experience. Take a virtual 5-minute video stroll along the walls of Jerusalem with Nathan Steinmeyer of the Biblical Archaeology Society. 

To engage with media inside your email, tap "view in browser" (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there.

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1880317524&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Jerusalems-Temple-Mount-Ritmeyer/dp/1880317524?pd%5Frd%5Fw=ElINU&content-id=amzn1.sym.6ab4eb52-6252-4ca2-a1b9-ad120350253c&pf%5Frd%5Fp=6ab4eb52-6252-4ca2-a1b9-ad120350253c&pf%5Frd%5Fr=BY4JFZCJ2NS07YGVNYAC&pd%5Frd%5Fwg=4nC0k&pd%5Frd%5Fr=490b4b04-ebf4-4a0c-b198-130a2aafbe27&pd%5Frd%5Fi=1880317524&psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=81e0f4dad1eb0e20e566a677b2ddca02&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)
### My Favorite Bible Study Software
URL: https://www.pshir.com/logos-my-favorite-bible-study-software/
Last updated: 2025-10-31T19:28:49.000Z
If you are looking for a way to dig into the Hebrew and Greek of the Bible and get access to great dictionaries and research tools I frequently use, I have just partnered with [Logos - my favorite Bible Software](https://partner.logosbible.com/click.track?CID=431490&AFID=559952&ADID=2414321&SID=&ref=pshir.com). We share a common value of putting the Bible first, and this company has developed some impressive tools to help anyone to take their study to the next level. 

They are offering special discounts to all my readers [(packages starting as low as $49) and freebies of all sorts](https://partner.logosbible.com/click.track?CID=431852&AFID=559952&ADID=2421167&SID=&ref=pshir.com). I feel confident about sharing this resource with you because I have used this software for years myself, and I rate it 5 stars!
### Purity, Sacrifice and The Temple by Jonathan Klawans
URL: https://www.pshir.com/purity-sacrifice-and-the-temple-by-jonathan-klawans/
Last updated: 2023-06-21T13:00:29.000Z
Misconceptions about ancient Jewish sacrifice have led scholars to overlook the significance and symbolism of the Jerusalem temple to the ancient Jewish worshippers. The author of "Purity, Sacrifice, and the Temple," Jonathan Klawans, challenges the idea that the eucharist replaced ancient Jewish sacrifice and that these cultic rituals were meaningless primitive superstitions. Klawans integrates the study of sacrifice with the study of purity, a ritual structure that has often been viewed as symbolic. By removing contemporary religious and cultural biases, Klawans enables readers to better understand the meaning of sacrifice to early Jewish communities. Klawans reevaluates ideas about the temple from various ancient sources, including Josephus, Philo, Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, New Testament, and Rabbinic literature, with an emphasis on illuminating the symbolic meanings of sacrifice for ancient Jews. 

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000VI6YGK&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Purity-Sacrifice-Temple-Symbolism-Supersessionism-ebook/dp/B000VI6YGK?crid=30QT3QH8ILU3L&keywords=temple+sacrifices&qid=1679941878&sprefix=Temple+sacr%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-6&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=44ab3432fd5178592254fcde6d79bed3&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)

Look inside?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Impurity Happens
URL: https://www.pshir.com/impurity-happens/
Last updated: 2025-05-20T13:24:01.000Z
In Leviticus 16:1, our reading begins with the words, ***acharei mot shnei benei Aharon bekarbatam* *.*** It says that “Aaron’s two sons died because they drew too close to Hashem.” This is interesting because that is not how their story is always seen. Most readers focus on their behavior being inappropriate. Could some sort of impurity be at play here? 

Listen?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Paul and Antagonism in Rome
URL: https://www.pshir.com/paul-antigonism-rome/
Last updated: 2024-06-07T11:38:07.000Z
Paul's letters to Rome and to Galatia were written for two different communities who had different ideas about how gentiles belonged to the Jewish church. Geography mattered, but so did the social context. This week we focus primarily on Rome and how the antagonism towards the Jews influenced what Paul taught the Roman church.

Israel Bible Podcast is hosted by my colleague Dr. Cyndi Parker

[![](https://partner.logosbible.com/impression.track?CID=431490&AFID=559952&ADID=2414321&SID=)](https://partner.logosbible.com/click.track?CID=431490&AFID=559952&ADID=2414321&SID=&ref=pshir.com)

Logos is a five-star Bible Software I recommend to all of my students. Easy to use, intuitive and powerful research tool. Check out their offer.
### Galatians: To be or not to be Jewish?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/temp-slug-174/
Last updated: 2023-06-09T03:09:33.000Z
Some people read Galatians as an anti-Jewish letter, but the key to understanding Paul's message is rooted in the Galatian context. Galatian gentile believers wanted to be circumcised to become Jews. They felt that would give them something that they otherwise did not have, but Paul tried to dissuade them.

Israel Bible Podcast is hosted by my colleague Dr. Cyndi Parker

[![](https://partner.logosbible.com/impression.track?CID=431490&AFID=559952&ADID=2414326&SID=)](https://partner.logosbible.com/click.track?CID=431490&AFID=559952&ADID=2414326&SID=&ref=pshir.com)

Logos is a five-star Bible Software I recommend to all of my students. Easy to use, intuitive and powerful research tool.
### Acts 15: Are Gentiles Allowed in the Church?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/temp-slug-176/
Last updated: 2025-09-03T14:37:28.000Z
How is the message about a God who made covenants with a particular people in a particular land move into the gentile world? This was a perplexing issue for the early church, and the early Jewish leaders used the book of Leviticus to help solve the problem. The Apostle Paul was actively involved in sharing the gospel with the gentile world, and to understand his theology we need to understand the context of the churches.

Israel Bible Podcast is hosted by my colleague Dr. Cyndi Parker

[![](https://partner.logosbible.com/impression.track?CID=431490&AFID=559952&ADID=2414327&SID=)](https://partner.logosbible.com/click.track?CID=431490&AFID=559952&ADID=2414327&SID=&ref=pshir.com)

Logos is a five-star Bible Software I recommend to all of my students. Easy to use, intuitive and powerful research tool.
### Shavuot Commandments and Customs
URL: https://www.pshir.com/shavuot-commandments-and-customs/
Last updated: 2026-01-08T18:48:01.000Z
This recording is a shiur (a lesson), a teaching recorded live with audience participation at a messianic synagogue (about 45 minutes long). It explores the commandments and customs of Shavuot, focusing on their spiritual significance for Messianic Jews in particular. Yet even non-Jewish followers of the Messiah will find this teaching relevant. The latter part of the talk touches on the imagery of the Messiah in the custom of Omer.

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Shavuot by BimBam
URL: https://www.pshir.com/shavuot-by-bimbam/
Last updated: 2023-05-21T13:24:48.000Z
Do you know about Shavuot, the holiday called Pentecost in the Christain Bible? This is a short informational (and entertaining) video that gives a very brief overview of the festival and how it is celebrated today by various Jewish communities. 

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0062720082&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Holidays-Michael-Strassfeld/dp/0062720082?crid=37L19PYDHLSA9&keywords=Jewish+Holidays&qid=1684579114&sprefix=jewish+holidays%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=af6aee516b1a5101405d2dc49114bdb6&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)
### Being and Nothingness in Jewish Spirituality
URL: https://www.pshir.com/being-and-nothingness-in-jewish-spirituality/
Last updated: 2023-05-17T16:41:05.000Z
Rachel Elior is a Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Mystical Thought at the Hebrew University. In this talk, she delves deep into some foundational topics of Kabbalistic thought and focuses on the belief in nothingness. Disclaimer: this video is an academic lecture, an hour and a half, and definitely not for beginners. But it is very insightful material if you want to have a deeper understanding of the devolvement of Kabbalistic thinking in a historical framework.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### English Translation of Syriac NT by James Murdock
URL: https://www.pshir.com/english-translation-of-syriac-nt-by-james-murdock/
Last updated: 2024-05-21T20:48:00.000Z
Aramaic language is much closer to Hebrew than Greek. And since a version of Aramaic was widely spoken in Israel in the first century CE many feel that its valuable to consider the NT message in Syriac to see the nuance of meaning. The presumption is that much more in lost in transmission of ancient Semitic sayings into Greek than into Aramaic. This is an English translation of the New Testament from Syrian Aramaic into English, done by James Murdock in 1851\. 

Look Inside?

_This post is for subscribers only._
### New Testament in Syriac Language
URL: https://www.pshir.com/new-testament-in-syriac/
Last updated: 2023-05-16T15:34:09.000Z
Today, New Testament exists in many languages. But New Testament in Syrian Aramaic (Syriac) is a very ancient translation. Some Syrian Aramaic manuscripts even predate the copies of the Koine Greek New Testament used as a base of the original texts of the New Testament. Aramaic was widely spoken in Israel in the first century, and for this reason, because of its closeness to Hebrew, some people feel that New Testament in Aramaic is likely to preserve some of the original wordings that Greek may obscure. Thus a copy in the Syrian Aramaic dialect becomes a valuable ancient source in search of meaning and nuance.
### A Newly Discovered 1,750-year-old Gospel Fragment in Aramaic
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-newly-discovered-1-750-year-old-aramaic-new-testament-fragment/
Last updated: 2023-05-10T17:27:14.000Z
About 1,300 years ago, some unknown scribe in Roman-dominated Palestine took a book of the Gospels in Syriac, erased its original text, and reused the parchment for another purpose. The parchment was scarce in antiquity, so existing texts were sometimes erased, recicled and materials were reused for new books. A medievalist from the Austrian Academy of Sciences has recently been able to make legible the lost words on this multi-layered manuscript (palimpsest) using UV light technology. Grigory Kessel discovered one of the earliest translations of the Gospels in existence (c. 3rd century CE) overwritten with a newer text. 

> "The tradition of Syriac Christianity knows several translations of the Old and New Testaments," says medievalist Grigory Kessel. "Until recently, only two manuscripts were known to contain the Old Syriac translation of the gospels." 

One of these is kept in the British Library in London, and another was discovered as a palimpsest in St. Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai. Fragments from the third manuscript were just recently identified as part of the Sinai Palimpsests Project. This small manuscript fragment can now be considered the fourth textual witness. It was identified by Grigory Kessel using ultraviolet photography as the third layer of text, i.e., double palimpsest, in the Vatican Library manuscript. The fragment is so far the only known remnant of the fourth manuscript that attests to the Old Syriac version of the Gospels.

While the original Greek of Matthew chapter 12, verse 1 says, "At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and his disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat," the Syriac translation says, "\[...\] began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them."

What is the significance of this discovery? The Syriac translation of the Gospels was written at least a century before the oldest surviving Greek manuscripts, including the Codex Sinaiticus. The earliest surviving manuscripts with this particular Syriac translation date from the 6th century and are preserved in the erased layers, so-called palimpsests, of newly written parchment leaves. Textual witnesses such as this manuscript provide researchers with evidence about the transmission, translation, and circulation of New Testament texts. 

So maybe for an average Bible read this is not earthshattering, but this is a meaningful discovery for those who painstakingly study the ancient texts being the translations everyone enjoys. 

Original Source: Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2023/04/Missing-Ingredients-500.jpg)

#### Missing Ingredients: Your Bible Study Recipe

In case you have not heard, I have published a new book recently. It delves into the topic of ancient texts that stand behind modern Bible translations. If this topic is of interest to you, you might enjoy the book. It is available in both Kinde and Paperback!

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/3MM99eN?ref=pshir.com)
### The Majestic Image of the Son of Man (~1.5hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-majestic-image-of-the-son-of-man/
Last updated: 2024-11-21T19:53:40.000Z
The image of the Son of Man is not unique to the Bible. This portrayal of a heavenly messianic figure was not embraced by every Jew in antiquity, but some Jews clearly awaited this majestic figure to appear. The book of Revelation portrays the Son of Man with a sword coming out of his mouth, and that image is ominous. Both the Bible and Second Temple literature offer us a number of passages that show that the mouth can be a very deadly weapon. The words of the Son of Man themselves can slay; the breath of the mouth can be like a fire that destroys everything in its path. This Son of Man also holds the keys to Hades. The Son of Man in Revelation is not a mere human. His power is unmatched. 

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### Problems in Understanding Apostle Paul
URL: https://www.pshir.com/problems-of-understanding-paul/
Last updated: 2024-06-07T11:27:58.000Z
Apostle Paul has been misunderstood for centuries. Joseph Shulam (Netivyah Institute, Jerusalem) Mark Hamilton (Professor of Old Testament, Abilene Christian University) George Goldman (Associate Dean, Lipscomb University) David Rudolph (Director of Messianic Jewish Studies, The King’s University) Mark Lanier (Moderator). Listen to the dialogue of these very informed conversational partners about the issues involved in understanding Apostle Paul and his teachings.

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### Jewish Perspectives on the New Testament by Victor Strazhnik
URL: https://www.pshir.com/jewish-perspectives-on-the-new-testament/
Last updated: 2023-04-21T14:34:41.000Z
In this day and age, most Christian readers are aware that the "New Testament" is a Jewish composition. Yet because these writings have been read as anything but Jewish documents for so many generations now learning how to re-read them in a more natural way is a slow process for many. There is a new book called   
"Jewish Perspectives on the New Testament" that I believe can help. The book takes deliberate steps in illustrating how such re-reading can be done. Here is an excerpt from the book...

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**Semitic Logic**

The authors of the New Testament wrote in Greek but reasoned and thought in their native Hebrew. Some scholars believe that Luke was a Jew based on an analysis of his writing style, use of Hebrew idioms, and Semitic reasoning. Semitic people love analogy and use it very often. For them, analogy is one of the methods of logical and legal proof. In the Bible, analogy brings together individual events or sentences that would remain separate in all other modes of thinking. Jesus often used analogy in the form of a parable, and God the Father used analogy to interact with people. In the Jewish mind, descriptions of the miracle are often crafted in this form.

In Jewish reasoning, the analogy is similar to a stack of sheets of translucent paper. It is obvious that the entire stack is made up of separate layers, and that the top layer is not the same as the bottom. On the other hand, they all form a pattern that is accepted as a complete unit. In the Letter to Hebrews, the author argued for five such layers (3:7-4:11). Alfred Edersheim in 1883, was the first who described this type of reasoning to English-speaking Christians.

**Gezera Shava**

*Gezera shava* is another kind of Semitic logic which is even more challenging than kal vachomer and also unfamiliar to most believers. The rule is sometimes applied to two texts, descriptions, or events that are considered to be in agreement if they have at least one common word. Preferably, it should be a keyword offering the analogy. The repetition of a specific term in another context is an indication for a possibility of a comparison. In European/Western reasoning, analogies are built on a much more stringent connection. Naturally, it is necessary to identify this word and define the intent of the author. After all, there should be some restrictions in the use of *gezera shava*. One can find a perfect example in Matt. 2:17-18:

> 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.

The quotation is taken from Jer. 31:15, but it must be understood in the context of Jer. 31:1, 15-17:

> 1 At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they will be my people . . . 15 This is what the Lord says: A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more. 16 This is what the Lord says: Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded, declares the Lord. And they will return from the land of the enemy. 17 So there is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children will return to their own land.

Rachel is the name of the city of the Northern Kingdom which was destroyed in 722 B.C. Using *gezera shava*, Jeremiah mourns the Southern Kingdom, which perished in 586 B.C. Matthew adds his own events, comparing all the events that took place in different cities with different people and at different times, also applying *gezera shava*. In the application of this rule, the common word is “weeping,” and the goal of the rule would be accomplished by Jesus who comforts those who are in grief, and corrects everything that is wrong. Jeremiah makes use of *gezera shava* in his text, and in his turn, Matthew applies the same rule to the text of Jeremiah. Such a chain in Semitic logic might be considerably longer.

**Knowledge of the Bible**

The research on the white stone in Rev. 2:17 leads us to the Old Testament. The Lord commanded the creation of sacred garments for Aaron serving as the high priest. The breastplate was decorated with twelve precious stones representing each tribe of Israel (Ex. 28:15-29). The stone in the first row, Yahalom in Hebrew, carries the tribe’s name Zebulun or Zevulun. Matt. 4 connects us to Isa. 9.  
See Matt. 4:13-14:

> 13 And leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the sea in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah . . .

> Isa. 9:1-2: 1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.

Nazareth being the original home, and Capernaum as the base of Jesus’ ministry take place within the borders of the land assigned to the descendants of Zebulun and Naftali. The new name written on white stone belongs to Jesus, and those who receive it are His followers.

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### Would Christian Teachings Pave the Road to Holocaust?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/how-christian-teachings-paved-the-road-to-holocaust/
Last updated: 2023-04-18T14:00:26.000Z
It's Yom HaShoah today, an annual day of reembrace of the Holocaust. The question about certain Christian interpretations of the Bible and their role in the events of the Holocaust is a hard question that many people would rather ignore. And that is completely understandable. 

This video is a lecture given at La Jolla Public Library by Gabriel Wilensky. It highlights key historical developments that led ordinary people to become active participants in the senseless murder of Jews. It is sad but true. It is unpleasant but necessary to keep in mind. Our current generation is not immune from a similar path. Ideology, beliefs, and values can transform seemingly decent people in the most unexpected ways.

Here is a book authored by Gabriel Wilensky on this topic.

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### The Way God Leads
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-way-god-leads/
Last updated: 2026-07-09T16:04:12.000Z
In Exodus 13:17, the Torah says that God did not lead the Israelites through the land of the Philistines, a much shorter route. Hebrew texts literally says, ***ki karov hu*** “though it was closer.” Instead, God led the Israelites through the wilderness path, passing through the sea of reeds, a much longer way to the land of Canaan. There was a more direct path, but that shorter way was not the road Hashem wanted them to take. Why? Listen now...

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Kap_Tor-1.png) 

#### The Living Torah by Aryeh Kaplan (Hebrew-English)

This edition of the Torah features a Hebrew text of the Five Books of Moses and a new English translation by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. As a translator, Kaplan leans quite a bit on Targum Onkelos, and uses Aramaic to elucidate the text better. The volume is supplied with traditional Orthodox Jewish commentaries and notes, maps, tables, charts, and more. This new updated edition features a better layout than the previous versions of the Torah. If anyone wishes to read the books of Moses and be exposed to an orthodox Jewish take on these ancient words, this translation and commentary do a superb job. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4ipCLvc?ref=pshir.com)
### Jewish Belief in Resurrection
URL: https://www.pshir.com/jewish-belief-in-resurrection/
Last updated: 2026-02-19T17:07:17.000Z
We live in the age of science, logic, and information, when many spiritual beliefs that cannot be rationally explained are questioned and dismissed. There is one particular belief that lies at the core of Jewish and Christian faiths that is often doubted by skeptics from both sides. Yes, more and more Jews do not buy into the idea of resurrection easily anymore, and more and more who affiliate with Christianity are doubtful of this notion as well. It's a sad state of affairs. We could peek at many verses from the NT that firmly establish resurrection as a cornerstone hope (Matt 22:29-33, Luke 14:13-14, John 5:28-29), but since there is a growing skepticism for both Jews and Christians, I will cite an example of this belief that goes all the way to the BCE era, when neither Christianity nor Judaism as we know them today existed. 

The Books of Maccabees were authored in Greek in the second century BCE by a Jewish writer we know as Jason of Cyrene. This excerpt I am offering is a narrative that describes the martyrdom of a pious Jew named Razis brought on by Syrian general Nicanor. In the moment of Razis’ gruesome death, he hurls his inner organs at the enemy and prays to “the master of life and spirit” (τὸν δεσπόζοντα τῆς ζωῆς καὶ τοῦ πνεύματος) to restore those body parts to him at a later time, thus expressing his firm trust in the physical resurrection of the dead.

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### My New Book - Missing Ingredients
URL: https://www.pshir.com/my-new-book/
Last updated: 2023-04-07T16:28:44.000Z
Have you ever felt as you read the Bible that it makes no sense? You understand the words but not the meaning or the point the text is trying to make. The truth is - you are not alone. I have just published a new book entitled ["Missing Ingredients: Your Bible Study Recipe](https://amzn.to/3ZU16iZ?ref=pshir.com)" that may be of interest to you. 

The title contains an idiom that implies the absence of several fundamental techniques frequently missing in a typical Bible study. And that is what the book is all about! Each time these "missing ingredients" can be added to the recipe of how one studies the Bible, they produce better results.

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### If you enjoy this e-zine, my articles, and videos, you will probably enjoy this short but insightful book as well. The book is brand new, and it is missing much-needed reviews. [Be one of the first people to post one! ](https://amzn.to/3ZU16iZ?ref=pshir.com)
### The Riddle of the Unleavened Bread
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-riddle-of-unleavened-bread/
Last updated: 2024-02-22T14:53:39.000Z
One of the main features of the Jewish Passover celebration is *Matzah* (מַצָּה), the unleavened bread. In fact, there is no Passover without this basic ingredient. Its tale is central in the ritual of remembering the Exodus deliverance. So, each year, just prior to Passover, Jews clean out their homes of any *hametz* (חָמֵץ) "leavening," so that no fermentation of any sort is found in their homes for an entire week. And only unleavened bread is consumed for seven days of the festival (Ex 12:15, 20). 

The eating of *Matzah* (מַצָּה) is emphasized on Passover, and avoidance of any fermentation in the kitchen is crucial in celebrating the festival. But why? What's so bad about fermentation? Why is leaven fine on any day, but during Passover, it is suddenly forbidden? 

The reason only unleavened bread (מַצָּה, *matzah*) is eaten on Passover is quite simple. According to the Exodus account, Israelites had to leave Egypt in a rush, and their bread did not have time to rise. They baked what they had for the road, and their bread was flat and unleavened (Ex 12:39). Thus, Unleavened bread became the symbol of hasty departure from Egypt, reminding Israel of quick and sudden deliverance. Eating unleavened bread is a symbolic reenactment of that past. 

Fermentation is a natural process, but it takes time for bacteria to do their job. Today people use yeast to speed up the process, but in antiquity, people baked bread daily and used a portion of dough saved from the previous day to ferment the new batch. It took most of the day for the new dough to ferment and to rise because the fermentation was a naturally slow process. Some bakers still follow this ancient method today, utilizing what is called the "sour", "mother", or "starter." In this method, existing fermentation is literally passed from one day to another, from one loaf to the next. The commandment of Passover, however, instructs us to interrupt this chain, to break the cycle. 

> Unleavened bread (מַצּוֹת, *matzot*) shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing with fermentation (חָמֵץ, *chametz*) shall be seen among you, nor shall any dough with yeast (שְׂאֹר, *seor*) be seen among you in all your borders. (Ex 13:7)

So why is leaven forbidden on Passover? The answer to the riddle is found in understanding the symbolism of "leaven" - *hametz* (חָמֵץ). In itself, fermentation is not bad, it's actually good for digestion. But as a symbol, leaven represents stagnation, staleness, a continuous succession of old sour flavor from day to day. In light of a new beginning and fresh start of Exodus, stagnation is an obstacle. Israelites underwent a transformation from slavery to freedom, from Pharaoh to Almighty in the Exodus story. And this new begging requires a clean slate, thus the old cycle is broken. 

The old leaven is destroyed, and unleavened bread is eaten for a week to ensure that the chain of old things is thoroughly disrupted and a new beginning is firmly established. This is why Apostle Paul wrote to his disciples in Corinth, "Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Messiah our Passover also has been sacrificed." (1 Cor 5:7). Removing the *hametz* (חָמֵץ) "leaven" is the symbol of the new start with God.

💡

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### Be Careful with Compromises
URL: https://www.pshir.com/be-careful-with-compromises/
Last updated: 2023-06-18T21:49:38.000Z
In Chayei Sara we read the story of Abraham commissioning his servant to search for a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham is certain that he does not want a wife from any of the local families in Canaan. Why? But he is also very certain that he does not want Isaac to return there himself to look for a wife. Why?

Listen...

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### Earliest Mention of Jerusalem Outside of the Bible
URL: https://www.pshir.com/earliest-mention-of-jerusalem-outside-of-the-bible/
Last updated: 2023-03-19T13:00:49.000Z
In October of 2016 Israel Antiquities Authority unveiled a papyrus that is believed to be 2,700 years old. Israeli archaeologists have discovered an ancient wine ledger that they believe contains the earliest written reference to Jerusalem outside the Bible. This makes a very short text a remarkable and rare find. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) seized this 2,700-year-old papyrus from thieves who had taken it from a desert cave near the Dead Sea. Two lines in Hebrew detail the shipment of wine from the king’s household.

> The inscription reads, “From the king’s maidservant, from Na’arat, jars of wine, to Jerusalem…”

Many people are skeptical about the accuracy of the Bible, so discoveries such as this one serves as independent sources which confirm the information Bible presents.

> “The document represents extremely rare evidence of the existence of an organized administration in the Kingdom of Judah,” said Dr Eitan Klein of the IAA in his interview to BBC.

The archaeologists who studied the fragment dated the 11cm by 2.5cm (4.3in by 1in) piece of papyrus to the 7th Century BCE. If this is correct, this indeed is the earliest historical mention of the city of Jerusalem from a written source other than the Bible. And it seems that the weather in the Dead Sea region helped preserve this ancient ledger.

> “Organic material, such as documents, particularly delicate paper like papyrus, perish over time due to their sensitivity to moisture,” the IAA’s Amir Ganor said to BBC. “The dry climate of the desert is exceptional in that it facilitates the preservation of documents that provide invaluable information regarding the way of life in antiquity and the early development of religions,” he added.

Considering how short a bit of text is, it still gives us a lot of tangible extrabiblical evidence for Jerusalem being a true center of Israelite life. First, we see an organized and recognized monarchy in the 7th-century Jewish kingdom. We see gifts or possible business transactions conducted. Second, we see Jerusalem as the center or, at the least, a base of operations for the kingdom. There is no doubt here that the city is mentioned by name. Third, we see some sort of production, use, and transportation of wine in pottery in 7th-century Israel.

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### Why were the Dead Sea Scrolls forgotten?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/why-the-dead-sea-scrolls-were-forgotten/
Last updated: 2026-01-08T18:31:55.000Z
This is an audio lecture by Rachel Elior, a Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Mystical Thought at the Hebrew University, a talk given in front of an audience of peers. Her research is current and meticulous and often challenges the status quo thinking. She answers a question many who study Qumran scrolls have asked.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Trusting in Biblical Hebrew
URL: https://www.pshir.com/trusting-in-biblical-hebrew/
Last updated: 2026-01-08T18:29:13.000Z
It is hard to speak of trust in a world filled with deception. It is very hard to trust, especially if you have been misled and taken advantage of in the past. Life experiences often drive us to put up walls and to hold back our trust. Every day we find things we cannot trust, but deep inside, we want to trust. Deep inside, we want to believe that not everyone is out to mislead us. So what is trust? It's a big question that probably deserves a long answer. What can be said in a concise way?

Psalm 112 describes a person who has an amazing relationship with God, and one of the facets of this relationship is trust - מִשְּׁמוּעָה רָעָה לֹא יִירָא נָכוֹן לִבּוֹ בָּטֻחַ בַּיהוה *(mishmuah raah lo yira nachon libo batuach bAdonai) "*He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD." (Psalm 112:7 NASB).

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### From Rabbi to Lord to Jesus (~2hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/from-rabbi-to-lord-to-jesus/
Last updated: 2024-05-31T12:55:25.000Z
Was Jesus truly a Rabbi? What did it mean to be a Rabbi in antiquity? What are some of the earliest historical references we have to rabbis? How did he go from Rabbi to Lord, and why? How did Hebrew Yeshua become English Jesus? I highlight these questions and many more in this recording of a multi-part seminar that lasts a couple of hours. If you have never looked at Jesus as a rabbi, this study will be enlightening and hopefully a little bit entertaining as well. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

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### Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Genesis 1
URL: https://www.pshir.com/soncino-midrash-rabbah/
Last updated: 2023-02-17T16:42:00.000Z
Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish imagination in Hebrew and this 1939 translation into English can now serve many more generations. Jews have always sought and found comfort and inspiration in the Midrash by understanding Biblical history in the light of their own experiences. And Midrash continues to be the means to move beyond the text even today.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Exodus
URL: https://www.pshir.com/soncino-midrash-rabbah-exodus/
Last updated: 2023-02-17T16:38:57.000Z
Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish imagination in Hebrew, and this 1939 translation into English can now serve many more generations. Jews have always sought and found comfort and inspiration in the Midrash by understanding Biblical history in the light of their own experiences. And Midrash continues to be the means to move beyond the text even today.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Leviticus
URL: https://www.pshir.com/soncino-midrash-rabbah-leviticus/
Last updated: 2023-02-17T16:37:58.000Z
Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish imagination in Hebrew, and this 1939 translation into English can now serve many more generations. Jews have always sought and found comfort and inspiration in the Midrash by understanding Biblical history in the light of their own experiences. And Midrash continues to be the means to move beyond the text even today.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Numbers 1
URL: https://www.pshir.com/soncino-midrash-rabbah-numbers-1/
Last updated: 2023-02-17T16:37:34.000Z
Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish imagination in Hebrew, and this 1939 translation into English can now serve many more generations. Jews have always sought and found comfort and inspiration in the Midrash by understanding Biblical history in the light of their own experiences. And Midrash continues to be the means to move beyond the text even today.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Numbers 2
URL: https://www.pshir.com/soncino-midrash-rabbah-numbers-2/
Last updated: 2023-02-17T16:37:12.000Z
Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish imagination in Hebrew, and this 1939 translation into English can now serve many more generations. Jews have always sought and found comfort and inspiration in the Midrash by understanding Biblical history in the light of their own experiences. And Midrash continues to be the means to move beyond the text even today.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Deuteronomy
URL: https://www.pshir.com/soncino-midrash-rabbah-deuteronomy/
Last updated: 2023-02-17T16:36:47.000Z
Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish imagination in Hebrew, and this 1939 translation into English can now serve many more generations. Jews have always sought and found comfort and inspiration in the Midrash by understanding Biblical history in the light of their own experiences. And Midrash continues to be the means to move beyond the text even today.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Judaism of the Second Temple Period (Vol. 1) by David Flusser
URL: https://www.pshir.com/judaism-of-the-second-temple-period-by-david-flusser/
Last updated: 2023-02-15T16:07:29.000Z
Dr. David Flusser was a prolific scholar of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and his contributions to research in Jewish apocalypticism, and apocalyptic literature are considerable. With this English translation of many of his essays, Prof. Flusser's insights are now available to a wider audience than ever before. 

In this volume, Flusser examines the influence of apocalypticism on various Jewish sects. He states that the teachings of Jesus, while reflecting first and foremost the views of the sages, were also broadly influenced by Jewish apocalypticism. Examining the Essenes, their effect on the Hebrew language, the split of sects, and much more, Flusser's collected essays offer an important source of study for any student of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0802882471&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802882471?&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=c6c433b4a378aafecbf974e8e87ce7be&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)

take a look inside...

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### Deliver Us
URL: https://www.pshir.com/deliver-us/
Last updated: 2025-08-19T15:23:06.000Z
As soon as Jacob resolved to head back home to Canaan, he knew he would be in danger because of his brother. Him and his entire family. So, in Gen 32:12, Jacob prays - *hatizileni na meyad achi* “Deliver me please from the hand of my brother.” Jacob was gripped by the terror of what might happen when he encounters his brother Esau again.

Listen?

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### Psalm 15 in Hebrew & English
URL: https://www.pshir.com/palm-15-in-hebrew-english/
Last updated: 2026-05-11T14:19:22.000Z
Psalm 15 asks a question about the kind of person one has to be in order to be worthy to live near to God. And then it gives us the answer! Most people would assume that it is enough to simply believe in God. According to the psalm there is worthy standard to live up to. How close do we come?

  
מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד יהוה מִי־יָגוּר בְּאָהֳלֶךָ מִי־יִשְׁכֹּן בְּהַר קָדְשֶׁךָ  
הוֹלֵךְ תָּמִים וּפֹעֵל צֶדֶק וְדֹבֵר אֱמֶת בִּלְבָבוֹ  
לֹא־רָגַל עַל־לְשֹׁנוֹ לֹא־עָשָׂה לְרֵעֵהוּ רָעָה וְחֶרְפָּה לֹא־נָשָׂא עַל־קְרֹבוֹ  
נִבְזֶה בְּעֵינָיו נִמְאָס וְאֶת־יִרְאֵי יהוה יְכַבֵּד נִשְׁבַּע לְהָרַע וְלֹא יָמִר  
כַּסְפּוֹ לֹא־נָתַן בְּנֶשֶׁךְ וְשֹׁחַד עַל־נָקִי לֹא לָקָח עֹשֵׂה־אֵלֶּה לֹא יִמּוֹט לְעוֹלָם

A psalm of David, ADONAI (LORD), who can dwell in your tent?  
Who is worthy of living on your holy hill?  
One who walks blameless and does right  
One who speaks truthfully in one’s heart  
One whose tongue does not slander,  
One does no evil to a neighbor or disgrace someone close.  
In such a person’s eyes, the reprobate are despised  
But those who fear ADONAI (LORD) are honored  
Such a person will stand by an oath to its detriment  
Such a person does not lend money at interest  
Or accept gifts to speak against the innocent.  
A person who lives in this way will never be shaken.  
(translation by Pinchas Shir)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2025/03/Teh-Art-1.png) 

#### Hebrew-English Interlinear Psalms

For those who love Psalms, especially the way they sound in Hebrew, this handy volume presents them in an interlinear format. As it is with most poetry, sometimes translations are not so straightforward, and it's so easy to see the original words that stand behind the English text. This volume allows students of Hebrew to quickly build their biblical Hebrew vocabulary and, at the same time, immerse themselves in their favorite psalms. I have used it for both study and for devotional reading as well. And I can recommend it for those who would like to try the Psalms in their original language and grow in their comprehension of the biblical language as they read. 

[See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4kY9k5e?ref=pshir.com)
### Binding and Loosing like Jesus
URL: https://www.pshir.com/binding-and-loosing-like-jesus-2/
Last updated: 2024-01-17T19:05:29.000Z
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus said to his disciple Peter, **“I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt 16:19).** A couple of chapters later he said very similar words to his other disciples (Matt 18:18).

The most common explanation about these “binding and loosing” verses that people hear today is that they have something to do with spiritual warfare and binding the devil. Indeed, the surrounding context is about the disciple’s authority, only the devil is not involved here, not even remotely related to the context of these verses. Many modern Bible readers are not aware that these terms have a very specific meaning in the context of human behavior.

In the first-century Jewish context, “binding and loosing” are known technical legal expressions. The “binding and loosing” is simply older English for “tying up something” and “untying something.” In Greek, “to bind” is δέω (deo) and the Hebrew equivalent is אָסַר (*asar*) which means “to tie up,” “to bind,” “to confine,” “to imprison,” and idiomatically “to forbid” something. In Greek, “to loose” is λύω (luo) and the corresponding Hebrew term is הִתִּיר (*hitir*) means “to untie,” “to unbind,” “to free,” “to release,” and idiomatically “to permit” something. So it's simple, " to bind and to loose" really means "to forbid and to permit" something.

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### The Jewish Gospels by Daniel Boyarin
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-jewish-gospels-by-daniel-boyarin/
Last updated: 2023-01-30T01:25:34.000Z
One of the books I often recommend is "The Jewish Gospels" by Daniel Boyarin. A short but provocative book written by an eloquent and erudite professor who taught at Hebrew University, Yale, Harvard, Yeshiva University and now at Berkley. The book presents a cogent academic take on the Jewish nature of the Gospels. Though many would deem the gospels outside of the pale of Judaism, professor Boyarin insists they are quite Jewish.

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### Be One More
URL: https://www.pshir.com/be-one-more/
Last updated: 2026-01-08T18:28:52.000Z
In the weekly Torah reading Vayera (Gen 18-22), we read the story of Sodom and Amorah. It is a story of true sinners in the hands of an angry God. Only things are a bit different for them. They have an unexpected advocate. In Torah, we encounter Abram and see how he graciously pleads for the evil people of Sodom, imploring God not to destroy the entire city. Maybe there are some righteous among them? Abram assumes that not everyone is without hope. Could ten people truly stay in the wrath of God?

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### Hope in Revelation
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hope-in-revelation/
Last updated: 2025-09-09T15:07:43.000Z
The role of the prophet is not to predict what is to come, but to speak into their present moment, so how does Revelation fit into the prophetic category? We also discuss how the author uses imagery to connect the dots between the ideas of a suffering Messiah and a victorious Messiah. How do Christians and Jews view concepts of "A new heaven and a new earth," and how do those ideas influence the way we live life in the here and now? We conclude the Revelation series with a Big Concept idea about the character of God.

Israel Bible Podcast is a series of insightful discussions hosted by my colleague Dr. Cyndi Parker. If you can't listen inside your email, catch this episode and more by listening directly on [www.pshir.com ](https://www.pshir.com/)or tap VIEW ONLINE next to the title (top).

Not long ago, I partnered with my friend and colleague to write a book on Revelation. A year later, 500+ positive reviews from our readers. 

[Hebrew Insights from RevelationDiscover the “Hebrew Insights from Revelation” with verse-by-verse explanations of Chapters 1-5 of John’s Apocalypse. This enriching study aims to reconnect readers with the Hebrew roots and Semitic essence of Revelation, bridging a significant cultural and linguistic divide that has existed for centuries. This book introduces you to a![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-99.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1Ins.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-insights-from-revelation/)
### Revelation: Pop Culture and Armageddon
URL: https://www.pshir.com/pop-culture-and-armegeddon/
Last updated: 2026-01-19T18:16:49.000Z
Have you been fascinated by the Book of Revelation but felt that something must be missing in modern interpretations of this anti-Roman, Jewish document? Revelation is an extremely multifaceted book filled with rich cultural imagery and allusions that many people simply misread. Why? Because they know too little about the world to which this message speaks to us. In this week's episode, Dr. Parker and Prof. Shir explore what books like Enoch or Baruch or what geography and the Torah have to do with interpreting the book of Revelation.

Israel Bible Podcast is a series of insightful discussions hosted by my colleague, Dr. Cyndi Parker. If you can't listen to them right inside your email, catch this episode and more by listening directly on [www.pshir.com ](https://www.pshir.com/)or tap VIEW ONLINE next to the title (top).

If this topic interests you, not long ago, I partnered with my friend and colleague to write a couple of books on Revelation. A year later, they received hundreds of positive reviews from Amazon readers. Maybe they are worth your time as you delve deeper into John's Apocalypse. 

[Hebrew Insights from RevelationDiscover the “Hebrew Insights from Revelation” with verse-by-verse explanations of Chapters 1-5 of John’s Apocalypse. This enriching study aims to reconnect readers with the Hebrew roots and Semitic essence of Revelation, bridging a significant cultural and linguistic divide that has existed for centuries. This book introduces you to a![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-197.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1Ins-2.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-insights-from-revelation/)

[Hebrew Visions of RevelationMy friend Eli and I have just released a new and exciting book! We invite you to uncover the “Hebrew Visions in Revelation” with insightful explanations of key imagery from Revelation Chapters 6-14 of John’s Apocalypse. This book delves into the Jewish background and meanings of the visions that![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/icon/60x60-blk-196.png)PSHIR.COMPinchas Shir![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/thumbnail/1Vis-1.jpg)](https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-visions-of-revelation/)
### Revelation: The end of the world...or is it?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-end-of-the-world-or-is-it/
Last updated: 2023-06-22T04:05:20.000Z
What is apocalyptic literature, and how does it change the way we read Revelation? What were the cultural developments that birthed the apocalyptic genre, and is that genre a Greco-Roman or Jewish style of literature? This week we talk about the overall context of Revelation and why pop culture has given us the wrong impression about the end of times.

Israel Bible Podcast is a series of insightful discussions hosted by my colleague Dr. Cyndi Parker. If you can't listen inside your email, catch this episode and more by listening directly on [www.pshir.com ](https://www.pshir.com/)or tap VIEW ONLINE next to the title (top).

Not long ago, I partnered with my friend and colleague to write a book on Revelation. A year later, 500+ positive reviews from our readers. 

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B09LGW4MVY&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Insights-Revelation-Studies-Christians/dp/B09LGW4MVY?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=1672178425&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=0b954d626d3e6d25dc7852e516799a0f&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)
### Villains and Heroes of Hanukkah
URL: https://www.pshir.com/villains-and-heroes-of-hanukkah/
Last updated: 2025-09-18T13:03:44.000Z
The story of Hanukkah is epic, much more epic than the books of Maccabees paint it. Yes, it’s the story of the Jewish wars against the mad and tyrannical Antiochus IV. But the Seleucid king himself was entangled in a series of wars that began long before he was born. Learn more about the history behind those days and consider the villains and heroes of the Hanukkah story.

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

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### Hanukkah Modern and Ancient
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hanukkah-modern-and-ancient/
Last updated: 2023-11-28T16:26:38.000Z
Many people know what Hanukkah is like based on how it is celebrated today. But not many know how the ancient people viewed it. Hanukkah is over 2000 years old! Peek into some old perspectives on Hanukkah. 

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0B9T4TP7W&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9T4TP7W?pd%5Frd%5Fi=B0B9T4TP7W&pd%5Frd%5Fw=fqaLe&content-id=amzn1.sym.98eae024-ddf8-4aae-a3d1-746298cd5013&pf%5Frd%5Fp=98eae024-ddf8-4aae-a3d1-746298cd5013&pf%5Frd%5Fr=CF122220V9KJNP7E98B8&pd%5Frd%5Fwg=7BFec&pd%5Frd%5Fr=041e8b7c-40e4-4c98-8983-7b567b493974&s=hi&sp%5Fcsd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&smid=A3RYC3TYTQACOE&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyRUcwSE8zMjBXUzZIJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTQ3NTQ5MlkzNDFVS0xCT081VyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDczNjY4MTlJTk9JWDlCOE1aOCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbF90aGVtYXRpYyZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=ea81ea3888f27af3e919e36f3f1c6c8a&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)
### Development of Christmas Customs by History Channel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/development-of-christmas-customs-by-history-channel/
Last updated: 2022-12-21T15:00:34.000Z
Christmas is an important cultural holiday in the Western world. And while most Jews don't participate in it, it is a very meaningful celebration for the majority of Christians. Its foundation is the birth of Jesus in the New Testament. But did you know Christmas wasn't always celebrated on December 25th? This holiday has a very interesting history. Get some facts behind the holiday traditions of Christmas in this short video by the History Channel.
### Be The Light
URL: https://www.pshir.com/be-the-light/
Last updated: 2023-06-18T21:47:12.000Z
In Gen 1:14-19 the Torah says that Hashem has set the lights in the sky for several reasons. **First -** to separate the day from the night. **Second -** to serve as signs for the times, days, and years. In other words to display stable predictable patterns to help us track time. And of course, **Third** \- they were to shine, to give light to the earth. That is the primary purpose of lights we are told about in Genesis 1.

The creation story always puzzles people who try to read it as a straightforward sequential, step-by-step account of what actually happened. God made light on the very first day – “let there be light”, remember? But then he made the *meorot*, the lights in the sky, the sun, the moon, and the stars on the fourth day. Where did that light come from before the luminaries were around? That’s a puzzle.

Listen to the rest...

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### The History of Hanukkah by History Channel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-history-of-hanukkah-by-history-channel/
Last updated: 2022-12-14T15:00:32.000Z
How much do you know about Hanukkah? Though for many today presents are involved it's not a Jewish version of Christmas. History Channel explores the traditions of Hanukkah in this short video. Learn something new or see how much you really know about the Festival of lights.
### Atonement and Messiah's Sacrifice (~5hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/atonement-and-messiahs-sacrifice/
Last updated: 2024-05-30T15:14:41.000Z
Do you understand Atonement? What are the foundations of this concept in your mind? In this multi-part seminar, we look at the language of Atonement, Sacrifice, and Redemption in the New Testament as it is applied to Jesus and consider it in the broader light of the Hebrew Bible and tradition. It's an unusual journey, as we work through chapters 9 and 10 of Hebrews, Acts 13, some pages from the Talmud, selections from the Prophets, and other relevant texts. 

**ATTENTION:** To engage with media inside your email, tap the "view in browser" link (next to the title on top) or go to [www.pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/) directly and enjoy playing the media there. Not all videos play right inside the email software.

These video lectures are approximately 5 hours long. They include some interactions with questions and comments from the live audience.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Samaritans: Documentary
URL: https://www.pshir.com/samaritans-documentary/
Last updated: 2022-11-30T15:00:57.000Z
How much do you know about the Samaritans? This video is a fascinating look into the life and history of the Samaritan community. Most people have heard the name "Samaritan" but know so little about these ancient people. It is a true miracle that some modern descendants of ancient Samaritans mentioned in the Gospels still live in Israel and still continue to preserve their ancient traditions and culture. So why not learn about the Samaritans from the Samarians themselves? 

[![](https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1713300362&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=shir0c2-20&language=en_US)](https://www.amazon.com/Samaritan-Woman-Reconsidered-Eli-Lizorkin-Eyzenberg/dp/1713300362?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=1662759744&sr=1-14&linkCode=li3&tag=shir0c2-20&linkId=884b6212053f16a40932bbd135a647e9&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Fil&ref=pshir.com)
### Psalm 145 in Hebrew
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-145-in-hebrew/
Last updated: 2024-03-11T13:25:12.000Z
Psalm 145 expresses profound thanksgiving for the care God takes for all of his creatures. (Translation by Pinchas Shir)

תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד אֲרוֹמִמְךָ אֱלוֹהַי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַאֲבָרֲכָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד  
בְּכָל־יוֹם אֲבָרֲכֶךָּ וַאֲהַלְלָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד  
גָּדוֹל יהוה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד וְלִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵקֶר  
דּוֹר לְדוֹר יְשַׁבַּח מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וּגְבוּרֹתֶיךָ יַגִּידוּ  
הֲדַר כְּבוֹד הוֹדֶךָ וְדִבְרֵי נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ אָשִׂיחָה  
וֶעֱזוּז נוֹרְאֹתֶיךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְדוּלֹּתֶיךָ אֲסַפְּרֶנָּה  
זֵכֶר רַב־טוּבְךָ יַבִּיעוּ וְצִדְקָתְךָ יְרַנֵּנוּ  
חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם יהוה אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וּגְדָל־חָסֶד  
טוֹב־יהוה לַכֹּל וְרַחֲמָיו עַל־כָּל־מַעֲשָׂיו  
יוֹדוּךָ יהוה כָּל־מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יְבָרֲכוּכָה  
כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתְךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְבוּרָתְךָ יְדַבֵּרוּ  
לְהוֹדִיעַ לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם גְּבוּרֹתָיו וּכְבוֹד הֲדַר מַלְכוּתוֹ  
מַלְכוּתְךָ מַלְכוּת כָּל־עֹלָמִים וּמֶמְשֶׁלְתְּךָ בְּכָל־דּוֹר וָדוֹר  
סוֹמֵךְ יהוה לְכָל־הַנֹּפְלִים וְזוֹקֵף לְכָל־הַכְּפוּפִים  
עֵינֵי־כֹל אֵלֶיךָ יְשַׂבֵּרוּ וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן־לָהֶם אֶת־אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ  
פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת־יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל־חַי רָצוֹן  
צַדִּיק יהוה בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו וְחָסִיד בְּכָל־מַעֲשָׂיו  
קָרוֹב יהוה לְכָל־קֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת  
רְצוֹן־יְרֵאָיו יַעֲשֶׂה וְאֶת־שַׁוְעָתָם יִשְׁמַע וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם  
שׁוֹמֵר יהוה אֶת־כָּל־אֹהֲבָיו וְאֵת כָּל־הָרְשָׁעִים יַשְׁמִיד  
תְּהִלַּת יהוה יְדַבֶּר־פִּי וִיבָרֵךְ כָּל־בָּשָׂר שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד

1 A Psalm of David. I will lift you up, my God, O King, and I will bless your name forever.  
2 All day long, I will bless you; I will praise your name for eternity.  
3 Great is ADONAI (LORD), exceedingly praised, and his greatness cannot be measured.  
4 From generation to generation, people will praise your works and will recount your mighty acts.  
5 On the glorious beauty of your splendor and on your wonderful works I will meditate.  
6 People will speak of your astounding acts, and I will testify of your greatness.  
7 They will announce the memory of your rich goodness and speak joyfully of your justice.  
8 Gracious and merciful is ADONAI (LORD), patient and abundant in lovingkindness.  
9 ADONAI (LORD) is good to all, merciful towards all his creations.  
10 All your works will give thanks to you, ADONAI (LORD), and your faithful ones will bless you.  
11 They will mention the glory of your kingdom and will speak of your might  
12 To declare to mankind your mighty deeds and glorious splendor of your kingdom.  
13 For your kingdom is everlasting, and your dominion spans through all generations.  
14 For ADONAI (LORD) holds up all who fall and straightens all who are bent.  
15 With anticipation all eyes look to you, and you give them food each time.  
16 You open your hand and nourish the desire of every living thing.  
17 ADONAI (LORD) is fair in all his paths and faithful in all his deeds.  
18 Near is ADONAI (LORD) to all who draw near to him, to all who sincerely call out to him.  
19 The yearning of those who fear him he will satisfy, he will hear their cry and rescue them.  
20 ADONAI (LORD) safeguards all who love him, but the wicked he will destroy.  
21 My lips will utter ADONAI's (LORD's) praise, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever.  
(Translation by Pinchas Shir)

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### Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer
URL: https://www.pshir.com/pirke-de-rav-eliezer/
Last updated: 2026-06-11T15:12:36.000Z
Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer is an ancient Jewish commentary on various passages of the Torah. This book is attributed to Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, who lived in the 1st century CE. Yet most scholars do not see a direct connection between the contents of this volume and the early sage. Ascribing texts to famous people of the past is an ancient Jewish cultural practice, and this is probably what we have in this case. Yet even if the author is unknown, many interpretations in the book are quite old, possibly as old as the 1st century CE. Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer, as a collection of rabbinic exegetical insights on the Torah, was assembled into a single composition sometime around the 9th century CE. [See it on Amazon](https://amzn.to/49VI8jF?ref=pshir.com) or peek inside and read it now.

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### Embracing Spiritual Duty: Benei Mitzvah Tradition (~1.5h)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/benei-mitzvah-tradition/
Last updated: 2025-09-18T13:01:13.000Z
Many cultures around the world have rituals that signify the coming of age. Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies are customs of this variety that have developed in Jewish culture. In the Jewish context, however, the custom has to do with reaching spiritual maturity. It's a moment when a young man or a young woman embraces their spiritual duty as Jews and begins being responsible for their own decisions, whether they be good or bad. Below is a teaching on the values and history of this custom. 

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### Yom Kippur Customs and Observances by BimBam
URL: https://www.pshir.com/yom-kippur-customs-and-observances-by-bimbam/
Last updated: 2022-10-02T15:00:29.000Z
Learn the basics of the Day of Atonement in 3 minutes. Yom Kippur is the most holy day of the Jewish year and it is full of spiritual opportunity if you open yourself up to its customs, prayers and melodies. This short video is a basic primer on what Yom Kippur is, for everyone.
### Reviving the Ancient Shofar Sound in Israel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/reviving-ancient-shofar-sound-israel/
Last updated: 2022-09-21T14:00:22.000Z
The piercing note of a shofar – a ram’s horn used in Jewish religious ceremonies – cuts through the mountain air of the Galilee. Here in northern Israel, shepherdess Jenna Lewinsky is raising a flock of “Jacob Sheep” as a religious calling. With anything up to six horns on each animal, the breed is ideally suited for the manufacture of the horn traditionally blown during the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

According to the Hebrew Bible horns of animals like these have been used as ritual trumpets for thousands of years. It is a commandment to sound a shofar and hear its piercing sound at least once per year (Lev 23:24, Num 29:1). 

And Greek New Testament features several passages that mention sounding such simple instruments as well. (1 Cor 15:52, Col 2:15-17, Rev 8:6). Termed by some the “biblical trumpet” shofars are often a favorite souvenir for many who visit Israel. But shofars from “Jacob Sheep” are quite different and rare.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/08/Goa2.jpg)

Multi-horned and spotted “Jacob Sheep”

The spotted breed of “Jacob Sheep” was bred in England in the 17th and 18th centuries, and this flock was brought to Israel from Canada by Lewinsky in 2016\. But sheep have been recorded since antiquity across the Middle East, and the modern breed’s name echoes the ancient Biblical story from Genesis in which the patriarch Jacob took “every speckled and spotted sheep” as wages from his father-in-law, Laban.

> Turning her flock’s horns into shofars is part of God’s plan, says Lewinsky, who calls herself a “traditional and God-fearing Jew.” “The Jacob Sheep horns can probably be processed anywhere in the world but what makes the horns special is that we are processing them in Israel, which gives them a holiness,” she said.

Robert Weinger, a shofar-maker who works with the horns from Lewinsky’s farm, said that a ram’s horn made from the breed can sell for $500 to $20,000 or more, depending on its sound quality, as it produces a wider range of musical notes than other shofars do.

Original Source: Reuters

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### A person is not what he knows... Rebbe Nachman
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-person-is-not-what-he-knows/
Last updated: 2022-09-14T13:00:06.000Z
> "A person is not what he knows, a person is not what he does. A person is what he is longing for."

> Rabbe Nachman of Breslov 

When making an acquaintance, it is common for people to ask each other what they do for a living. Occupations can somewhat define us, often indicating our talents and interests. They highlight our skills, and passions, and even reveal our character traits. But jobs that support us financially should not define who we really are on the inside. They are just a living, means to an end. 

A Person

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The same is true with education. Opportunities to gain knowledge may pass us by. Life circumstances may not allow us to pursue studies that intrigue us. Perhaps Rabbi Nachman was acutely aware of this. His belief was that a person is best defined not by something already achieved, but by something he or she is presently and actively seeking. Thousands of years before him, Rabbi Jesus said something similar, "first and foremost seek the kingdom of God and all other things will be added"

Thoughts like these should cause us to ask ourselves, what is it that we long for the most? What is our yearning? What is our innermost desire? When we answer this honestly, we might discover who we really are. If that is not something worthwhile, we have a chance to alter our course and set a better one. Let your longing define who you are!
### Was Jesus a Rabbi?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/01-was-jesus-a-rabbi/
Last updated: 2024-05-21T23:42:09.000Z
Was Jesus a Rabbi? Some people would say yes, some no and some would be unsure how to answer. There is a good reason why the answers are often different. This is not a straightforward question. The term rabbi appeared sometime just prior to the first century CE and its exact meaning has changed considerably through the years of its use. 

There are very few historical examples of its early use, and you might be surprised where it is explained the best. 

This is the first segment from a 2-hour lecture [**TAP HERE**](https://www.pshir.com/tag/paudio/)to see the rest.
### From Rabbi to Lord to Jesus (~2hrs)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/from-rabbi-to-lord-to-jesus-audio/
Last updated: 2024-05-21T23:39:25.000Z
Was Jesus a Rabbi? Some people would say yes, some no and some would be unsure how to answer. There is a good reason why the answers are often different. This is not a straightforward question. The term rabbi appeared sometime just prior to the first century CE and its exact meaning has changed considerably through the years of its use. There are very few historical examples of its early use, and you might be surprised where it is explained the best. 

This lecture is about two hours long. It was broken up into shorter segments. 

What does the term Rabbi mean? Many people have a rough idea. But do we know what it meant when it first appeared? This segment looks at how this term came to be and how has its meaning changed over time.

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### The Psalms of Solomon 1-3 Audio
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalms-of-solomon-audio/
Last updated: 2023-06-19T13:53:43.000Z
The Psalms of Solomon are a collection of eighteen Jewish poetic compositions from around the second or first century BCE. They were originally composed in Hebrew or possibly in Aramaic. But the oldest manuscripts that have survived to our times are the Greek and Syrian Aramaic translations of the original text. Sadly, the original text was lost. Listen to my reading of Psalms 1, 2, and 3\.

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### Everything is in the hands... Rabbi Chanina
URL: https://www.pshir.com/everything-is-in-the-hands-rabbi-chanina/
Last updated: 2022-08-12T14:39:08.000Z
> "Everything is in the hands of heaven except the fear of heaven"

> Rabbi Chanina (Berakhot 33b)

When Rabbi Chanina mentions the "fear of heaven" - he means "the fear of God". And by "fear" he does not mean fear as most people see it. This is one of those moments when Hebrew does not translate into English precisely. The term often translated as "fear" really means "reverence", "respect", and "honor". There is a big difference between fear and honor. 

Fear of Heaven

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Being frightened or scared is involuntary. It could be the most disturbing, unsettling, and even traumatic experience. Respect and reverence, however, require our decision and intention. We always have a choice whether to respect and to honor someone. But fear is a reaction, not a decision. They are fundamentally different. 

Rabbi Chanina says that everything is in God's hands. Almighty is absolutely capable of all things. But in one specific matter, God restricts his limitless abilities and does so on purpose. He does not force us to do his will but allows us to make a choice to honor him voluntarily. Because honor not given freely is not really honor. Coerced reverence is not true respect. That is why the Rabbi explains, that the fear of heaven, the human choice to honor God, is truly in our hands.
### Listen to Yemenite, Samaritan, and Modern Hebrew
URL: https://www.pshir.com/listen-to-yemenite-samaritan-and-modern-hebrew/
Last updated: 2022-07-13T12:59:59.000Z
Hebrew is an ancient language. And throughout thousands of years, different versions of Hebrew have emerged. Most people are familiar with the Modern Israeli Hebrew but rarely hear other forms. In this video, you can hear a Yemenite Jew showcase the differences in Hebrew pronunciation preserved in his community. And then you can hear a Samaritan Israelite vocalize the type of Hebrew that his community preserved. Sit on their dialogue as they go back and forth together comparing their Hebrew pronunciations.
### God’s Name and Mount Ebal Inscription
URL: https://www.pshir.com/mout-ebal-inscription/
Last updated: 2022-08-13T09:18:21.000Z
A new exciting archeological discovery was recently announced – a small ancient tablet made of copper found on Mt Ebal, in Israel. The artifact was scientifically dated to the late Bronze age, maybe the 13th or 14th century BCE. That is quite old! The most exciting part is that the copper table contains an inscription consisting of forty proto-alphabetic characters. If the dating is accurate, this could be the oldest inscription in very archaic Hebrew in existence. And that is what makes this discovery so sensational.

The letters, which look more like drawings, could be made visible only with the use of special scanning, which was conducted in Prague by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. And so far, the texts that the researchers were able to translate appear to be an elaborate curse.

> “Cursed, cursed, cursed - cursed by the God YHW.  
> You will die cursed. Cursed you will surely die.  
> Cursed by YHW – cursed, cursed, cursed.”

What is remarkable is that the tablet was found on Mount Ebal, which is known as “the mount of curses” in the Bible. 

> 26 Take note—I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing if you take to heart the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, 28 and the curse if you pay no attention to his commandments and turn from the way I am setting before you today to pursue other gods you have not known. 29 When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are to possess, you must pronounce the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal (Deut 11:26–29 NET).

According to the Bible, six tribes, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naftali were sent to Mount Ebal, where the Almighty commanded that an altar be built of unhewn stones. And this is where the cursing ceremony took place. The altar was erected by Joshua, after his forces destroyed the city of Ai. 

> 30 Then Joshua built an altar for the LORD God of Israel on Mount Ebal, 31 just as Moses the LORD’s servant had commanded the Israelites. (Joshua 8:30–31)

In the 80’s, Adam Zertal conducted excavations on Mt. Ebal and found what appears to be an altar of Israelite construction. Some have identified the stone structure with Joshua, and others remained skeptical. This is where the tablet supposedly comes from, only it was not found at the time of the dig but much later, as a team was sifting through the previously excavated material in 2019.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/06/Alt6.jpg)

Another remarkable implication of this tablet is that it preserves the name of Israel’s God. Of course, it is spelled using consonants only, but curiously only three letters appear Yod, Hey, and Vav. The name known from the Bible has four consonants Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey. And the last letter is absent in two places where the name appears in the tests, so it's not an accidental omission.

For now, experts in the field eagerly await the opportunity to examine the scans of the text and attempt to translate it for themselves. Since the tablet was found in a discard pile and the precise strata where it laid for thousands of years is not documented, questions about its dating will continue. 

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At this point, only limited images of the artifact itself were released, and only one word from the text. The research findings were not yet officially published or presented to the scholarly community for examination. So far, all we know comes from epigraphers Gershon Galil of the University of Haifa and Pieter van der Veen of Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. 

Other experts have not yet examined any evidence, but already numerous suspicions and dismissals are being raised by skeptics. Why? The answer is simple. The implications of this discovery are truly sensational. And often, something that seems too good to be true, turns out to be so. Skepticism is to be expected. For now, everyone is waiting to examine the find...

Sources: Biblical Archaeology, Ha’atetz, Armstrong Institute.

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### New Finds and Excavations in Caesarea
URL: https://www.pshir.com/new-finds-caesarea/
Last updated: 2022-08-13T09:20:42.000Z
Israeli archaeologists working on a major Roman-era port city have unveiled new discoveries including an altar dedicated to Augustus Caesar and a centuries-old mother-of-pearl tablet inscribed with a menorah. The finds at Caesarea, a complex on the Mediterranean coast 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Tel Aviv, were the result of ‘one of the largest and most important conservation projects ever undertaken in Israel,’ the Israel Antiquities Authority said.

Caesarea was established some 2,030 years ago by Roman-appointed King Herod the Great, who ruled what was then Judea. In the year 6 CE, it became the seat of the Roman provincial government of Judea. The city had an artificial harbor made of concrete blocks and public buildings, along with an aqueduct that brought water from springs almost 10 miles away. Today, the archaeological site also contains ruins from later periods including the Byzantine, Muslim, and Crusader eras. The ruins right on the shore of the Mediterranean are a popular tourist destination where concerts are still held in the remains of an ancient Roman theater.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/05/Men-Caes.jpg)

 Archaeologists report that a small tablet engraved with a seven-branched menorah, discovered at the ancient harbor of Caesarea, indicates Jewish presence at the site dating back to the fourth or fifth centuries. They also found the head of a figurine depicting the Asclepius. Archaeologists said it likely dates to the fourth or fifth century AD.

The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation and local authorities have allocated more than 100 million shekels ($27 million, 25 million euros) for the Caesarea project. The site has been the focus of major excavation work over the decades but recent work has revealed new secrets.

Not long ago Israel’s Antiquities Authority revealed a newly-discovered cargo from a merchant ship that sank off the ancient Mediterranean port of Caesarea 1,600 years ago, including rare bronze statues and thousands of coins. The find happened upon by two divers, consisted primarily of ‘metal slated for recycling’ borne on the ship from Caesarea in the late Roman period, IAA experts said. 

It appears that a storm at the entrance to Caesarea harbor crashed the large ship into the seawall and rocks, spilling the cargo into the sea and preserving the ‘exciting finds’ for our generation. Metal statues are always rare archaeological finds because historically they were always melted down and recycled in antiquity.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/05/Lam-Caes.jpg)

The director of the Marine Archaeology Unit of the IAA noted that such a trove of underwater goods hasn’t been found in Israel for 30 years. The artifacts include ‘a bronze lamp depicting the image of the sun god Sol, a figurine of the moon goddess Luna, a lamp in the image of the head of an African slave (and) fragments of three life-size bronze cast statues.

The Caesarea project also aims to preserve the remains of an ancient synagogue and a nearby aqueduct. Officials said a small mother-of-pearl tablet engraved with a menorah was a testimony to an ancient Jewish presence at the site. 

Original Source: Daily Mail (UK)

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### Hebrew Bible Translation and Commentary by Robert Alter
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-bible-translation-and-commentary-by-robert-alter/
Last updated: 2022-08-13T09:44:22.000Z
When I first heard that Robert Alter was working on translating the whole Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and I was thrilled that this brilliant scholar decided to undertake such a monumental task. Professor Alter is well-known for his attention to the literary features of Hebrew. When his translation came out, it was supplied with commentary, and I was not disappointed! 

If you are looking for a new quality English translation of the Hebrew Bible, Robert Alter is a master, a deep thinker, and a literary expert who is passionate about transmitting not just the information, not just the content of the Bible but the feelings the original Hebrew text evokes, the wordplay and all. Three volumes are impressive, Torah, Prophets, and Writings. His commentary is also insightful and focused chiefly on the language of the Bible. A new way of looking at something, reading something familiar should be welcome. It will propel us towards growth and clarifying our own thoughts. 

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Click the image ([or this link](https://amzn.to/3zVPJf8?ref=pshir.com)) and read the reviews of other readers to get a better idea of what Professor Alter's work is all about.
### The Star Wars Saga...
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-star-wars-saga/
Last updated: 2022-06-05T12:00:00.000Z
> Why did the Star Wars Saga begin with Parts IV, V, and VI? In charge of planning, Yoda was! 

> Simon S.

Star Wars

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If you are a Star Wars fan, you might be chuckling, right now. And if you are not a Star Wars fan you are probably confused... Not all great stories begin from the very beginning or follow the sequential narrative flow. The greatest story ever written, the Bible appears to open with the creation and origins of the world. In the Beginning... But an intuitive reader knows that too many things simply do not add up in the first few chapters of the holy book. 

Many people notice that in Genesis 1 God first creates plants, then animals, then humans (male and female at the same time). In Genesis 2, however, God first creates humans, then plants, then animals, and only after that brings forth a female out of a male. This really takes a western liner thinker for a spin. But for ancient near-eastern people for whom this story was written thousands of years ago, it makes perfect sense. 

One does not have to become a quirky green alien to appreciate the Star Wars story even if it begins in the middle. The same is true with the Bible if we begin to treat it as a story of chaos and order it was meant to be and not a report on the biological development of our planet and its life. Perhaps it is best to let the Bible tell its story the way it wants to and not the way we wish it would.
### Privileges and Responsibilities
URL: https://www.pshir.com/privileges-and-responsibilities/
Last updated: 2025-03-28T16:46:15.000Z
Uncle Ben said to Peter Parker (Spiderman), “with great power comes great responsibility”. This is not a new idea. Parashat Emor (Leviticus 25) lists many privileges and responsibilities the priests must follow. What can we learn from these instructions?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Musaf - Additional Offering
URL: https://www.pshir.com/musaf-addtional-offering/
Last updated: 2023-06-22T04:00:28.000Z
Torah describes daily obligatory offerings that God commanded to be brought on his altar (Numbers 28). They are called korban Tamid. They are but a token of what we owe truly owe God. But on Shabbat, God expected another offering - Musaf.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Is prayer your steering wheel?... Corrie Ten Boom
URL: https://www.pshir.com/is-prayer-your-steering-wheel-corrie-ten-boom/
Last updated: 2022-04-24T17:33:59.000Z
> Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? 

> Corrie Ten Boom

Steering

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This saying may sound like a cliche, but you have to consider who said these words. If you have never heard of Corrie Ten Boom, she was a Dutch Christian woman who hid many Jews from the Nazis during the war. One of many חֲסִידֵי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם (*hasidei umot haolam*) "righteous among the nations" who had the courage to risk their own lives by saving Jews during the Holocaust. She was apprehended and sentenced to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Miraculously she survived and lived to tell her story.

Even in a concentration camp this remarkable lady never lost her faith. So when she compares prayer to a spare tire which comes into use only in an emergency, when a vehicle's original tire is damaged, she challenges our faith. If we only pray when we are in trouble, then our prayers are not necessarily heartfelt. Are they mere desperate attempts to escape our misfortune? Instead, our prayer can be like a vehicle's steering wheel, constantly directing us as our life makes necessary turns. Such prayer never stops correcting our course. It does not allow us to become complacent, creating a constant connection to the Almighty.
### Why Study Zohar and Kabbalah?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/why-study-zohar-and-kabbalah/
Last updated: 2022-04-21T03:39:00.000Z
This is a lecture by Daniel Matt a scholar of Kabbalah and a Professor at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He taught at Stanford University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Matt is a translator of the first nine volumes of the twelve-volume Zohar (Pritzker edition). In my opinion, he is one of the foremost experts on Zohar and Kabbalistic Jewish thought. Want to make sense of Zohar? Listen to his perspective.
### Roman Dining Room Mosaics in Egypt?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/roman-dining-room-mosaic-in-egypt/
Last updated: 2022-03-30T19:16:59.000Z
Recently, a team of Egyptian and Polish archaeologists discovered a well-preserved Roman mosaic floor in a house at the site of Kom El-Dikka. The archaeological site features a small theater, an imperial bath, and a group of 22 lecture halls that may have been part of a university of some sort. An impressive complex in Egypt, but Roman in design.

Grzegorz Majcherek of the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw said the mosaic floor, which includes six hexagonal panels decorated with images of lotus buds and flowers, showcases a distinctive Alexandrian style. The lotus flower is a Popular Egyptian art motif. He explained:

> “Overall, the design of the mosaic, additionally equipped with a transversal field in front decorated with astragals and rosettes, is typical for the triclinia—the most imposing of the dining rooms in a Roman house...”

What is a triclinium? It is a U-shaped dining room equipped with low to the ground couches and cushions on which free men (and certainly wealthy people) reclined during formal meals. People often forget how much Greco-Roman culture influenced the ancient Mediterranean and Egypt of that era was thoroughly infused with Hellenistic culture. 

In fact, in the first century, senators in Rome, Pilate in Caesarea, Herod in Jerusalem, Pharisees in Galilee, well-to-do craftsmen in Cyprus, and philosophers in Alexandria Egypt all followed a very similar custom of eating in a triclinium. Back then, a u-shaped triclinium was a dining arrangement as common as long rectangular dinging tables of the European tradition. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/03/Gr-dine1.jpg)

Greek Symposium Depicted in Pottery @ Archaeological Museum of Mykonos

Triclinium was the accepted way of formal dining that transcended the borders of many cultures. It was a commonly recognized way to mark a festivity over a meal. Some triclinium constructions were permanent and elaborate and had mosaics like the one discovered in Egypt and others were much simpler. Some are even temporary and makeshift, benches and ramps overlaid with cushions and blankets. 

In antiquity, only rich people had dedicated spaces for dining rooms. And only the very wealthy had actual kitchen rooms dedicated to cooking food at home. Outside cooking was by far most common. Most houses in antiquity were on the small side and usually, rooms were multi-purpose. Having a special room for food preparation was not practical. 

Most of the time average people simply brought in low tables and couches, arranged them in a semi-circle in a large room they had, and a triclinium worthy of a feast was ready for use. So, when archaeologists find a room dedicated to dining and an elaborate one with special mosaics, they know this is a place where people of status met to share formal meals.
### "Good people do not need laws..." Plato
URL: https://www.pshir.com/good-people-do-not-need-laws/
Last updated: 2022-03-27T13:30:00.000Z
> "Good people do not need laws to act responsibly and bad people will find a way around those laws."

> Plato

Good people do not need laws...

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Many people think that the laws and rules exist only to limit us. And that is partly true. But many laws also tell us the proper way to conduct ourselves in life and business. They express common standards and shared values. In some ways, Plato was right when he noted that good people do not really need laws. Good people tend to be considerate of others, and responsible. They follow the golden rule without any prompting. So one can imagine the reason why laws and rules really exist is for the bad people. 

But here Plato was right as well. Bad people will always find a creative way around the laws, find some way to avoid following them, or simply break them because they have no regard for others or society at large. 

Apostle Paul once taught that the reason laws exist is to help us understand that somewhere deep inside, we are law-breakers by nature. We would not even know of some ways of breaking God's commandments if those laws did not inform us about those possibilities. Our human relationship with laws and rules is complicated. For some reason, some of us break the laws even when we are trying not to do so. And many fight against the urge to do so daily. What does that tell us about ourselves?
### The Five Books of Moses by Robert Alter
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-five-books-of-moses-by/
Last updated: 2022-03-23T11:08:00.000Z
Early on in my study of Hebrew literature, I discovered the works of Robert Alter. His focus on the literary features of ancient Hebrew and its unique poteism, its powerful semiotic nature captivated me. Then I ran across his English translations of the Torah and they have enhanced my study for years. If you want to capture the rhythm of Hebrew verse, to feel the parallelism of Biblical Hebrew and sense some of the double entendre without reading the Torah in original, Robert Alter's translation will aid you better than most other translations.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Six Days a Week... Heschel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/six-days-a-week/
Last updated: 2022-03-15T16:55:31.000Z
> Six days a week we seek to dominate the world. On the seventh day, we seek to dominate the self. 

> Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Six Days

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Countless Bible readers have stumbled over verses where God tells Moses to instruct Israelites to sanctify the Sabbath. But what does that mean? How does one exactly make a day holy? Moses does not go into detail. In Rabbi Heschel's book "The Sabbath" he expresses a simple but profound idea. Instead of sanctifying things God sanctified time and that is what the Sabbath is. 

When Rabbi Heschel said that " for six days we seek to dominate the world" he meant that throughout the week we engage in our pursuits to transform this world, to shape it into a version that seems best to us. We use our gifts and talents. Whether we do this through making new things, gardening, cooking, or writing software we use our creativity to make changes to the world around us. That is work. But "on the seventh day", says Heschel, "we try to dominate the self". We make an intentional effort to stop transforming the world around us. We cease from the creativity of all sorts, from cooking and gardening, from reconciling budgets or repairing cars. Why? Because that is what the Sabbath means. 

After six days of changing the world, it is not easy to cease and just be. So, we seek to dominate ourselves and master our creative nature that does not wish to stop in its pursuit of transformation.
### Jesus Kept Kosher
URL: https://www.pshir.com/jesus-kept-kosher/
Last updated: 2022-08-13T09:25:02.000Z
Professor Daniel Boyarin can boast of a distinguished career in academia, both in Israel and in the USA, in religious and in secular institutions. His ideas and research often challenge preconceived notions of both Jews and Christians, and he receives plenty of criticism for his bold claims. His books are not always an easy read but they're always full of well-researched ideas which are hard to argue with academically. In this video, he looks at the Gospel of Mark, and to the surprise of many Christians concludes that Jesus kept Kosher... 

Below are a couple of Dr. Boyarin's books (my personal favorite picks). Explore the Amazon links, and read the reviews written by other readers for yourself. 

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### Short Stories by Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine
URL: https://www.pshir.com/short-stories-by-jesus/
Last updated: 2022-08-13T10:12:45.000Z
Amy-Jill Levine is well-known as the general editor for The Jewish Annotated New Testament. In this short book, she interweaves history and spiritual analysis to explore Jesus’ most popular teaching parables, exposing their misinterpretations and making them lively and relevant for modern readers. Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used parables from everyday life to effectively convey his message and meaning. 

Life in first-century Israel was very different from our world today, and many traditional interpretations of Jesus’ stories ignore this disparity and have often allowed anti-Semitism and misogyny to color their perspectives. In this wise, entertaining, and educational book, Amy-Jill Levine offers a fresh reinterpretation of Jesus’ narratives.

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_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Psalm 121 (Hebrew - English)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-121-in-hebrew-with-english-translation/
Last updated: 2024-05-20T12:47:49.000Z
Psalm 121 speaks of God's protection of those who trust in Hashem. God's ever-present hand, a shadow besides traveler.

שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן יָבֹא עֶזְרִי׃  
עֶזְרִי מֵעִם יהוה עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ׃  
אַל־יִתֵּן לַמּוֹט רַגְלֶךָ אַל־יָנוּם שֹׁמְרֶךָ׃  
הִנֵּה לֹא־יָנוּם וְלֹא יִישָׁן שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל׃  
יהוה שֹׁמְרֶךָ יהוה צִלְּךָ עַל־יַד יְמִינֶךָ׃  
יוֹמָם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לֹא־יַכֶּכָּה וְיָרֵחַ בַּלָּיְלָה׃  
יהוה יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל־רָע יִשְׁמֹר אֶת־נַפְשֶׁךָ׃  
יהוה יִשְׁמָר־צֵאתְךָ וּבוֹאֶךָ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם׃

A song of ascents… To the hills I will look up.  
From where will my help come?  
My help comes from ADONAI (LORD)  
Who created heaven and earth.  
May he not let your foot to stumble,  
The one who watches over you will not sleep.  
Behold the one who watches over Israel  
Will not slumber nor sleep.  
ADONAI (LORD) is your defense  
A shadow on your right side  
The sun will not strike you at daytime  
Or the moon harm you by night.  
ADONAI (LORD) will protect you from any harm.  
He will preserve your life.  
ADONAI (LORD) will watch over you as you come and go  
Form this moment and forever.  
(Psalm 121, Translation by Pinchas Shir)
### "Learn the Rules..." Picasso
URL: https://www.pshir.com/learn-the-rules/
Last updated: 2022-03-06T22:23:23.000Z
> “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

> Pablo Picasso

Learn the rules...

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Rules are not bad by default. Some rules should not be broken unless we wish to face some dire consequences. But Pablo Picasso was right, some rules are OK to break! And some rules should probably be broken. You may be able to think of a few right now...

Not all rules are just rules. Not all rules are the same. And that is why we need to learn them, to understand them fully before we can make a choice of how to deal with them. We have so many rules in our world that make no sense. Some were put in place for unworthy reasons. Some were instituted by tyrants and fools. Rule-breaking should not define us or be our life mission but sometimes when we break them something good may come out. For Picasso, that was his unique art.
### What is Judaism?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/what-is-judaism/
Last updated: 2025-10-18T03:16:36.000Z
This is a lecture by Shaye J. D. Cohen who is a Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. He is a well-known historian who also holds rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. His lectures often probe deep questions of history, theology and are filled with humor and candor.
### Psalm 150 in Hebrew (with English Translation)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-150-in-hebrew-with-english-translation-2/
Last updated: 2022-03-15T17:01:18.000Z
Psalm 150 in Hebrew is a song of praise that should ring in the hearts of all who live and move. The very breath we breathe is the breath of Hashem who made us alive.

הַלְלוּ יָהּ הַלְלוּ־אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ הַלְלוּהוּ בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ⁠  
הַלְלוּהוּ בִגְבוּרֹתָיו הַלְלוּהוּ כְּרֹב גֻּדְלוֹ⁠  
הַלְלוּהוּ בְּתֵקַע שׁוֹפָר הַלְלוּהוּ בְּנֵבֶל וְכִנּוֹר  
הַלְלוּהוּ בְתֹף וּמָחוֹל הַלְלוּהוּ בְּמִנִּים וְעוּגָב  
הַלְלוּהוּ בְצִלְצְלֵי־שָׁמַע הַלְלוּהוּ בְּצִלְצְלֵי תְרוּעָה  
כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ הַלְלוּ־יָהּ⁠

Praise ADONAI (LORD) everyone, praise God in his holy place  
Praise him in the expanse of his strength  
Praise him everyone for his mighty deeds  
Praise him for greatness abounding  
Praise him everyone with the shofar blast  
Praise him with notes of lyre and harp  
Praise him everyone with timbrel and dance  
Praise him with the sound of strings and flute  
Praise him everyone with resonant cymbals  
Praise him with cymbals ringing loud  
Let him who has breath praise ADONAI (LORD)  
Praise everyone ADONAI  
(Psalm 150, Translation by Pinchas Shir)
### Jesus: Nazarene or Nazarite?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/jesus-nazarene-nazarite/
Last updated: 2022-01-15T03:52:59.000Z
After reading the gospels some people walk away thinking that Jesus was a Nazarite.

> “And came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Mat 2:23 NASB)

The writings of the Apostles, the New Testament are Jewish literary works. Though the authors wrote in Greek there is always some Hebrew lurking behind their words. The writers of the New Testament wrote in Koine Judeo-Greek (common or colloquial Greek) and sometimes, linguistically-speaking, things got messy. Most of the time the Hebrew that stands behind the Greek is hard to see after the text was translated into English. Here is the source of confusion… Nazarene is not the same as Nazarite and Hebrew shows this clearly!

_This post is for subscribers only._
### 03 Hanukkah in First Maccabees Audio
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hanukkah-in-maccabees/
Last updated: 2023-06-09T03:56:23.000Z
This lesson on Hanukkah was recorded live with audience participation. Flavius Josephus describes the days before the Maccabean Revolt. His version is not that different from the book of First Maccabees, which paints those events as a story of heroic struggle for the survival of Jewish ways of life and preservation of Jewish ancestral worship.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### 02 Hanukkah in Josephus Audio
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hanukkah-in-josephus/
Last updated: 2023-06-09T03:56:06.000Z
his lesson on Hanukkah was recorded live with audience participation. A late first century CE Jewish writer, Josephus Flavius, describes the history of the days before the Maccabean Revolt. How and why did Antiochus IV get involved in Israel’s cultural landscape, and why did he decide to force Israelites to abandon their ancestral customs. Find out what happened.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### 01 Three Ways to See Hanukkah Audio
URL: https://www.pshir.com/three-ways-to-see-hanukkah/
Last updated: 2024-05-21T21:15:39.000Z
This lesson on Hanukkah was recorded live with audience participation. Three ways to see the holiday: Pop-culture, Spiritual and Historical perspectives. How far back do Hanukkah traditions go?

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Beyond Menorahs and Dreidels
URL: https://www.pshir.com/beyond-menorahs-and-dreidels/
Last updated: 2025-11-27T21:45:13.000Z
Hanukkah is so much more than Menorahs and Dreidels. Learn more about this celebration and its history in this three-part seminar (exclusively on [pshir.com](https://www.pshir.com/)) In this hour and a half we explore what the book of Maccabees tells us about Hanukkah. We also consider how Josephus explains those events of 2200 years ago.
### Who Was Judah the Maccabee? by Breaking Matzo
URL: https://www.pshir.com/who-was-judah-the-maccabee/
Last updated: 2021-12-13T19:36:46.000Z
Spend a couple of minutes and get a quick summary about Judah Maccabee in this informational video by Breaking Matzo. Learn who Judah was and why he is significant in Jewish history.
### God's Name in the Hebrew Bible: Yahweh, Jehovah & Adonai
URL: https://www.pshir.com/temp-slug-165/
Last updated: 2021-11-15T06:12:59.000Z
I was lecturing to a group of students at a Christian University and one of the students asked me about God's name in the Hebrew Bible. Is it Yahweh, is it Jehovah? This video an excerpt from my lecture. I put my notes aside and explain the popular pronunciations of God's name and the Jewish tradition of not pronouncing the four-letter name.
### Was Jesus the First Christian? by Bible History
URL: https://www.pshir.com/was-jesus-the-first-christian/
Last updated: 2021-11-15T04:45:03.000Z
If Jesus was a Jew, and Christianity became his religion, then it makes sense that Jesus was the first Christian. However, Dr. James Charlesworth, of Princeton Theological Seminary argues that this was just not the case; Jesus did not part ways with Judaism.
### Did Paul Actually Convert to Christianity? by Bible History
URL: https://www.pshir.com/did-paul-actually-convert-to-christianity/
Last updated: 2021-11-15T04:45:27.000Z
The late Dr. Krister Stendahl, of Harvard Divinity School, suggests that he did not. This video summarizes his reasons why. Stendahl notices that Paul and the author of Acts describe Paul's transformative experience with Jesus in the same terms as the Jewish prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel describe there own, yet we do not describe these prophets as having converted from Judaism.
### Have Kosher Laws Been Abolished? by Bible History
URL: https://www.pshir.com/have-kosher-laws-been-abolished/
Last updated: 2021-11-15T04:45:38.000Z
In his book, Torah Praxis After 70 CE: Reading Luke-Acts as Jewish Texts, Dr. Isaac Oliver of Bradley University argues that Peter's vision in Acts is not about the abolishment of kosher laws, but the “purification and sanctification of Gentile believers"
### 3 Ways Scholars View Paul's Relationship to Judaism by Bible History
URL: https://www.pshir.com/3-ways-scholars-view-pauls-relationship-to-judaism/
Last updated: 2021-11-15T04:45:57.000Z
In the Jewish Annotated New Testament, Dr. Paula Fredriksen summarizes 3 of the top ways scholars view Paul's relationship to Judaism. Was Paul against Judaism? Alongside? Or did he remain within Judaism throughout his entire life?
### Did Jesus Abolish the Torah? by Bible History
URL: https://www.pshir.com/did-jesus-abolish-the-torah/
Last updated: 2021-11-15T04:09:56.000Z
Erik and Jonathan, the hosts of the YouTube Bible History channel consider this controversial question and present opinions that some would agree with and others would wish to challenge. It's a loaded question.
### The Best Hebrew-English Bibles 3: Artscroll Tanakh
URL: https://www.pshir.com/temp-slug-189/
Last updated: 2023-11-28T16:31:02.000Z
The ArtScroll Hebrew-English Tanakh (Stone Edition) consists of 24 books of the Jewish Bible broken up in the customary divisions of Torah, Prophets, and Writings all in one 2200 page volume. The edition follows the right to left order with Hebrew on the right side and English translation on the left. The volume is supplied with brief explanatory notes from classic sages of Talmudic and Rabbinic literature located below the main text. This edition was translated and edited by Rabbi Nosson Scherman in collaboration with an international team of scholars. The hardback binding has a beautiful etched Judaic design which adds to the aesthetics of the holy text.

7 x 10 edition ISBN: 9780899062709 – $60  
5.5x 8.5 edition ISBN: 9781578191123 – $50
### The Best Hebrew-English Bibles 2: JPS Tanakh
URL: https://www.pshir.com/temp-slug-188/
Last updated: 2024-08-14T19:51:50.000Z
The JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh (Student Edtion) features the traditional Masoretic Hebrew text (Biblia Hebraic Stuttgartensia) and the Jewish Publication Society’s renowned English translation. The Jewish Publication Society English translation is widely read in American Jewish congregations, a result of a 30-year interdenominational collaboration by respected Jewish Bible scholars. The Hebrew and English texts are proportionate and laid out two-column format that enables readers to move quickly from one language to another. It is supplied with small markings for liturgical readings. The padded leatherette bounding volume is 2038 pages and follows the right to left Hebrew pagination.

6×9 edition ISBN: 9780827606975 – $45
### The Best Hebrew-English Bibles 1: The Koren Jerusalem Tanakh
URL: https://www.pshir.com/koren1/
Last updated: 2025-04-16T06:00:57.000Z
The Koren Hebrew-English Tanakh (Magerman Edtion) offers an eloquent and faithful modern translation of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings with beautiful Koren Hebrew text. This 2096 page volume uses the standard Hebrew text broken up in a traditional way and supplied with some minimal notes. Though this edition follows the traditional right to left pagination, the pages are mirrored with Hebrew on the left side (aligned to the right) and corresponding English on the right side (aligned to the left) which creates a sense of visual symmetry. The new translation was authored by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, and several other scholars. The edition is hardback bound with slightly off-white pages.

6.5×9.5 edition ISBN: 9789657766460 \~ $60

5.3×8.15 edition ISBN: 9789657766408 \~ $45
### Psalm 112:7-8 - Trusting in the LORD
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-1127-8-trusting-in-the-lord/
Last updated: 2023-10-10T03:19:01.000Z
Psalm 112 describes a person who has an amazing relationship with God and one of the key facets of this relationship is trust. "He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, he trusts in the LORD. His heart is resolute, he is unafraid; in the end, he will see the fall of his foes." (Ps. 112:7-8 JPS) The secret to being steadfast is that one’s trust in the LORD is an intentional attitude, a purposeful behavior of confidence, and an unshaken sense of security. Such trust can only come from knowing God and what He is like intimately.
### Psalm 119:29 - Teach Me Your Law
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-11929-teach-me-your-law/
Last updated: 2021-10-17T04:31:34.000Z
If you love to read the book of Psalms, then you are aware of how often it mentions God’s law. When reading Psalms in English, people do not realize what Hebrew words lay behind the English translations. Consequently, the depth of their meaning often evades people. Take this verse for example…

 דֶּרֶךְ־שֶׁקֶר הָסֵר מִמֶּנִּי וְתוֹרָתְךָ חָנֵּנִי׃ 

“Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law.” (Psalm 119:29, NIV)
### Christian Bible Explained by Truetube.co.uk
URL: https://www.pshir.com/christian-bible-explained-by-truetube-co-uk/
Last updated: 2022-01-13T19:28:23.000Z
A range of different people from a vicar to a translator describe how the Bible was put together and why it means so much to Christians.
### Traditional Jewish Life Explained by Truetube.co.uk
URL: https://www.pshir.com/traditional-jewish-life-explained-by-truetube-co-uk/
Last updated: 2022-01-13T19:29:00.000Z
Meet Rabbi David. He kindly allowed TrueTube to follow him around with a camera to see what he does all day.
### Torah Explained by Truetube.co.uk
URL: https://www.pshir.com/torah-explained-by-truetube-co-uk/
Last updated: 2022-01-13T19:29:48.000Z
A Rabbi and two Jewish scribes describe the Torah - what it contains, how the scrolls are copied, and the ways in which the Torah is used in worship.
### Name at The Bottom of the Sea
URL: https://www.pshir.com/name-at-the-bottom-of-the-sea/
Last updated: 2022-01-13T19:36:43.000Z
In 2016 during an underwater excavation in the Mediterranean Sea, Israeli archaeologists from Haifa University uncovered a large stone with an ancient inscription. The writing was determined to be roughly 1900 years old and bore the name of mostly unknown procurator of Judea – Gargilius Antiquus.

The stone laid at the bottom of the sea near Tel Dor, the site of an important port in Roman times which was in operation till at least the fourth century CE. Over the years many artifacts were recovered at Tel Dor: anchors, pottery, and other common items but this giant stone found by students was the only item with inscription discovered at this site. The researchers believe that this 1300-pound (or 6oo kg) stone was originally a part of a statue base.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/01/Sto2.jpg)

The inscription is missing a section but most of it is legible and it read this way: “The City of Dor honors Marcus Paccius, son of Publius, Silvanus Quintus Coredius Gallus Gargilius Antiquus, governor of the province of Judea, as well as \[…\] of the province of Syria, and patron of the city of Dor.”

The name of prefect Antiquus was first found on another inscription about 70 years ago but it was not clear whether he governed Syria or Judea. This newly found stone made it clear that Gargilius Antiquus governed Judea in the year 131 CE, just before the legendary Bar-Kochba revolt. Between the years 132-136 CE, the forces of Shimon Bar-Kochba waged war against Romans in Judea. They temporarily pushed out Romans and captured key strongholds, including Jerusalem. But eventually, Romans regrouped and crushed the rebellion.

What is most significant about this stone is that outside of ancient texts this stone is only the second mention of Judea on artifacts. The first mention of Judea by name was discovered 80 years ago in Caesarea, on the famous Pontius Pilate inscription.

It was in the wake of the Bar-Kochba’s revolt when Romans decided to abolish the province of Judea and even erase its name. Emperor Hadrian intentionally renamed Jerusalem into Aelia Capitolina. Then the entire territory of Judea was administratively connected to Syria and from this time forward it became known as Syria Palaestina and not Judea. The inscription on this stone dates just a few years prior to these historical developments.

This stone is an amazing find which now fills in the gaps in the timeline of Roman rule of Judea when both Christianity and Judaism emerged. Another piece of the puzzle which helps us to confirm what we know with tangible evidence.

Original Sources: Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, Archaeology.org
### Psalm 23 in Hebrew (with English translation)
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-23-in-hebrew-with-english-translation/
Last updated: 2022-01-13T19:42:26.000Z
Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known in the Bible. It touches the hearts of so many people. This video is a reading of this Psalm in Hebrew accompanied by a new translation supplied by the reader. Let it speak to you in a new way today!

ADONAI (LORD) is my shepherd, I will lack nothing. He gives me rest besides grazing land, To refreshing waters He guides me. He restores my life and strength In the right paths he leads me for his own sake Even as I travel through the darkest valley I will not fear any danger for You are with me Your rod and Your staff reassure me You set a table before me in plain sight of my foes. You refresh my head with oil; My cup is filled to the rim. Your faithfulness will pursue me All the days of my life And I will live in the house of ADONAI (LORD) To the end of my days (translation by Pinchas Shir)
### Psalm 23 Explained in Judean Desert
URL: https://www.pshir.com/psalm-23-explained-in-judean-desert/
Last updated: 2022-01-13T19:51:36.000Z
Joe Amaral explains the context behind why David wrote Psalm 23:3 near Jericho.
### Dead Sea Scrolls Explained 1
URL: https://www.pshir.com/dead-sea-scrolls-explained-1/
Last updated: 2025-08-06T17:45:16.000Z
Ancient Scrolls found in Israel, in the caves of Qumran region near the Dead Sea in the 1940s were the find of the century 20th century. An impressive collection of ancient Jewish writings contained what is now the oldest known copies of Biblical texts. In this 1st session, I explain about the location of the scrolls at Qumran, and retell the story of how they were discovered. Drop-in on my multi-part seminar recorded live.
### Dead Sea Scrolls Explained 2
URL: https://www.pshir.com/dead-sea-scrolls-explained-2/
Last updated: 2022-10-12T19:42:53.000Z
The scholars assume that the Dead Sea Scrolls library found in Qumran belonged to Jews who inhabited a nearby settlement. Where did Qumran Jews fit in in the greater Jewish society? What do we know about their practices from the ruins? What do we know about their beliefs from the records they left behind? In this 2nd session, I look at their settlement, beliefs, and practices and begin reading some of their writings.

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### Dead Sea Scrolls Explained 3
URL: https://www.pshir.com/dead-sea-scrolls-explained-3/
Last updated: 2022-10-12T19:45:29.000Z
What are the contents of the scrolls found in the caves of Qumran? Why did the scholars debate their translations for so long? What new things did these findings teach us about the Hebrew Bible and other ancient texts? In this 3rd session, I explore the contents of the Qumran library and bring out a few new ideas that have transformed our thinking about Jewish beliefs and Biblical texts of that era.

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### Dead Sea Scrolls Explained 4
URL: https://www.pshir.com/dead-sea-scrolls-explained-4/
Last updated: 2022-10-12T19:49:06.000Z
For generations, the scholars were wrong about the Jewish spirituality of the first century. The evidence from the Dead Sea Scrolls found in the Qumran region shows uncanny similarity with some of the teachings found in the New Testament. In this 4th session, I compare the words of Qumran Jews with New Testament ideas. You might be surprised. Drop-in on my multi-part seminar recorded live.

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### Passover Seder Traditions by BimBam
URL: https://www.pshir.com/passover-seder-traditions-by-bimbam/
Last updated: 2025-03-24T18:52:45.000Z
If you're heading to a Passover Seder, it helps to know a little bit about what to expect. This video explains the basics, from the props on the table to the songs people sing.
### Development of Halloween Customs by History Channel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/development-of-halloween-customs-by-history-channel/
Last updated: 2025-11-22T03:27:18.000Z
It's one of America's favorite holidays, but what's the real story behind the tricks and treats of Halloween? For Jews Haloween is foreign and pagan, clearly prohibited by Torah. Many Christians feel uneasy with imagery of evil, witchcraft, and death but many jump into the candy-filled fun anyway. History Channel put together a short explanation of How Halloween got started and where some of the popular customs come from.
### Did We Find Pontius Pilate's Ring?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/did-we-find-pontius-pilates-ring/
Last updated: 2021-12-27T12:18:41.000Z
Anyone familiar with stories about Jesus, even those who have never read the gospels for themselves heard of Pontius Pilate who ordered the crucifixion. Besides the New Testament Pilate was also mentioned by Josephus at the end of the 1st century CE. Yet, skeptics have doubted the existence of Pilate for centuries until a stone with his name and title was unearthed in the 1960’s in the ruins of coastal Caesarea in Israel. Now some archaeologists believe they may have found Pilate’s ring!

The ring itself was found by Professor Gideon Forster back in 1969 during the excavation of the Herodion. Herodion is one of Herod’s famous fortresses in Judea, very impressive and not far from Bethlehem. Many believe that this fortress was Herod’s final resting place. The ring was among hundreds of small items taken for study from the dig. When it was first examined it revealed a depiction of a krater, a wine vessel, and an inscription, but it was not legible. Recently, with the help of modern technology, scientists were able to read the inscription. It was a Greek inscription ΠΙΛΑΤΟ (PILATO), which could be the name of Pontius Pilate!

But of course, nothing is that simple when it comes to investigating the past and trying to figure it out by putting together all the pieces. The spelling PILATO is problematic. In Latin Pilate’s proper name would have been PONTIUS PILATUS, and if it was to be spelled by using Greek letters, it would have been not PILATO, but ΠΙΛΑΤΟΣ (PILATOS) with Sigma on the end. If the ring was meant to say “belonging to Pilate” then it would have spelled out ΠΙΛΑΤΟΥ (PILATU) literally “of Pilate” in Greek. But the ring does not show any damaged or missing letters, PILATO is all it says. This alone casts some doubt in connecting the ring to the famous character of the Passion stories.

It is easy to see why some archeologists want to believe this ring belonged to Pontius Pilate. Pilate is not at all a common name in Judea, not like John, Joseph, or Mary. The location fits, the era and the dating fits as well. From roughly 26 to 36 CE Pilate was the appointed governor, of the province of Judea, which was the eastern fringes of the Roman Empire. The design of the ring is a bit too elaborate for an average citizen. Most rings from this era, such as ones worn by Roman soldiers are crafted in a similar style but usually simple in design. On the other hand, it was made of copper which was hardly proper adornment for a wealthy governor.

A solution for the unusual spelling of the governor’s name may be that ΠΙΛΑΤΟ is a Greek transliteration, not a translation, but a phonetic sounding out of Latin name – PILATUS. The ring bears Pilate’s name, but that does not mean it was ever worn by him. Signet rings were used as seals by clerks, and some administrator may have simply used this ring on Pilate’s behalf. This would explain the copper and the unusual spelling. This relic found at Herodion may not be Pontius Pilate’s personal ring, but it may still be a tangible artifact that confirms Pilate’s rule in Judea as it was described in the stories of Jesus' crucifixion. This may be another durable piece of history, a fascinating artifact that adds to the puzzle of history and that confirms the accuracy of gospel accounts.

Sources: Haaretz, NY Times, Biblical Archaeology
### Mark Kinzer and N. T. Wright on the Meaning of Israel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/mark-kinzer-and-n-t-wright-on-the-meaning-of-israel/
Last updated: 2021-10-22T14:49:54.000Z
Dr. Mark Kinzer is one of the most prominent Messianic Jewish theologians. And Dr. Wright is a very well-known author and theologian, a retired archbishop of the Church of England who authored a long list of theological books. This video is their discussion on the meaning of Israel in Pauline writings
### Sunday vs. Saturday and Messianic Jews
URL: https://www.pshir.com/sunday-vs-saturday-and-messianic-jews/
Last updated: 2024-03-11T13:27:16.000Z
There is a long-standing debate over Sunday and Saturday among Christ-followers, both Jewish and non-Jewish. The institution of Sunday in historical Christianity is a well-known fact and for many Christians, their very identity is tied to Sunday and what it means. It carries deep meaning and substance. On the other hand, there is an entire denomination of Christians, Seventh-Day Adventists who reject the idea of doing away with the biblical Sabbath in favor of Sunday. And thus the argument… And then there are Messianic Jews who are often caught in the middle of this battle.

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### A City from the days of David and Saul Discovered
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-city-from-the-days-of-david-and-saul-discovered/
Last updated: 2021-10-22T19:13:55.000Z
Researchers from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority and Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, believe they have discovered the Philistine town near Kiryat Gat, immortalized in the Biblical narrative. Ziklag is mentioned multiple times in the Bible in relation to David (in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel). According to the Biblical narrative, Achish, King of Gat, allowed David to find refuge in Ziklag while fleeing King Saul and from there David also departed to be anointed King in Hebron. According to scripture, Ziklag was also the scene of a dramatic event, in which the Amalekites, desert nomads, raided and burned the town taking women and children captive.

The excavation, which began in 2015 at the site of Khirbet a-Ra‘i in the Judaean foothills – between Kiryat Gat and Lachish, has proceeded in cooperation with Prof. Yosef Garfinkel, Head of the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Saar Ganor of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Dr. Kyle Keimer and Dr. Gil Davis of Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. The excavation was funded by Joey Silver of Jerusalem, Aron Levy of New Jersey, and the Roth Family and Isaac Wakil both of Sydney. The excavation has been ongoing for seven seasons with large areas being exposed – approximately 1,000 sq.m., leading to this new identification for Ziklag.

The name Ziklag is unusual in the lexicon of names in the Land of Israel, since it is not local Canaanite-Semitic. It is a Philistine name, given to the town by an alien population of immigrants from the Aegean. Twelve different suggestions to identify Ziklag have been put forward, such as Tel Halif near Kibbutz Lahav, Tel Sera in the Western Negev, Tel Sheva, and others. However, according to the researchers, none of these sites produced continuous settlement which included both a Philistine settlement and a settlement from the era of King David. At Khirbet a-Ra‘i, however, features from both these populations have been found.

Evidence of a settlement from the Philistine era has been found there, from the 12-11th centuries BC. Spacious, massive stone structures have been uncovered containing finds typical of the Philistine civilization. Additional finds are foundation deposits, including bowls and an oil lamp – offerings laid beneath the floors of the buildings out of a belief that these would bring good fortune in the construction. Stone and metal tools were also found. Similar finds from this era were discovered in the past in excavations in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron and Gath–the cities of the Lords of the Philistines.

Above the remains of the Philistine settlement was a rural settlement from the time of King David, from the early 10th century BC. This settlement came to an end in an intense fire that destroyed the buildings. Nearly one hundred complete pottery vessels were found in the various rooms. These vessels are identical to those found in the contemporary fortified Judaean city of Khirbet Qeiyafa—identified as biblical Sha‘arayim—in the Judaean foothills. Carbon 14 tests date the site at Khirbet a-Ra‘i to the time of King David.

The great range of complete vessels is a testimony to the interesting everyday life during the reign of King David. Large quantities of storage jars were found during the excavation- medium and large-which were used for storing oil and wine. Jugs and bowls were also found decorated in the style known as “red slipped and hand burnished,” typical to the period of King David. Following a regional archaeological study in the Judaean foothills managed by Professors Garfinkel and Ganor, a picture of the region’s settlement in the early Monarchic era is emerging: the two sites – Ziklag and Sha‘arayim-are situated on the western frontier of the kingdom.

They are both perched atop prominent hills, overlooking main routes passing between the Land of the Philistines and Judea: Khirbet Qeiyafa in the Elah Valley sits opposite Philistine Gath, and Khirbet a-Ra‘i, sits opposite Ashkelon. This geographic description is echoed in King David’s Lament, in which he mourns the death of King Saul and Jonathan in their battle against the Philistines: “Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon.”

Original Source: Arutz Sheva
### Top Useful Websites for Bible Study
URL: https://www.pshir.com/useful-websites-for-bible-study-part-1/
Last updated: 2021-12-27T15:28:19.000Z
From time to time, I get asked to recommend some good websites for studying Biblical texts and for free research resources. So in this article, I decided to offer a collection of links with some brief annotations. If you are not using the web for reading and studying the Bible already, you probably should consider it. The main reason is the speed with which you can find biblical passages, cross-reference them in multiple translations, and keyword searches you can perform inside those texts. Here some useful pages (in no particular order): 

1. One of my favorites in [BibleGateway.com](https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?ref=pshir.com) The site is easy to navigate and offers the Bible in many languages and so many English translations. They even have Bible in Audio format.
2. Another great one is [BibleStudyTools.com](https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/?ref=pshir.com). This site has free Bible Dictionaries, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia for free, and even access to Hebrew Lexicons. ([here](https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/?ref=pshir.com)).
3. Another great site for Reading and studying is [BlueLetterBible.org.](https://www.blueletterbible.org/?ref=pshir.com) This site is based on the KJV and Textus Receptus. They offer great language study tools for Biblical research – Strong’s Concordance (Hebrew and Greek), Thayer’s Lexicon (Greek) and Gesenius’ Lexicon (Hebrew/Aramaic). These dictionaries may be older an now is in the public domain, but they contain excellent info.
4. If you are looking for even more technical and deeper way of looking into the original text of the Bible then I can recommend [BibleHub.com](https://biblehub.com/interlinear/genesis/1.htm?ref=pshir.com) Besides the numerous Bible versions, dictionaries and valuable reference tools this website has a very nice interlinear Bible layout. You can see the original text, the corresponding English terms and all the grammatical features of the original words, such as what part of speech the word it, its gender, number, (for verbs – Tense and Aspect). This is useful if you like to be very clear on the grammatical flow of the original texts. BibleHub has an impressive array of free tools and taking the time to learn how to use them is well worth it.
5. If you like to compare texts [Biblia.com](https://biblia.com/library?ref=pshir.com) has a collection of Textus Receptus versions and Wescott Hort text as well. They also have Vulgate in Latin and R.H. Charles’ Apocrypha of the OT.

Now if you bought all these books to use them on occasion it would be hundreds of dollars, so having these resources for free on the internet is very helpful!
### Aramaic Comics
URL: https://www.pshir.com/aramaic-comics/
Last updated: 2021-12-27T15:49:16.000Z
Archaeologists in Jordan have uncovered a Roman-era tomb decorated with spectacular frescoes (Aramaic Comics) that include some very elaborate drawings. The unique feature of the frescoes is that the titles and descriptions were written in Aramaic, but using the Greek letters. Imagine speaking Aramaic but being surrounded by Greek culture and really knowing only the Greek alphabet, not your native one. That is how someone can write in Aramaic while using letters from unrelated language. It is akin to dictionary transliteration practice when foreign words a spelled phonetically using Latin characters. The drawings provide a testimony to how truly diverse and how cosmopolitan was the environment in the Hellenistic towns of the Roman empire. The dominant Greco-Roman culture and language permeated even the most traditional non-western societies. 

Like other amazing discoveries, the nearly 2,000-year-old burial chamber was unearthed completely by chance. It happened during 2016 roadworks, in front of a school in the Jordanian village of Beit Ras. Since than a team of local and international researchers has been studying the find. They believe the tomb to be part of a necropolis in the ancient Greco-Roman settlement of Capitolias. This city was a part of the Decapolis, a region that brought together ten Hellenized cities. Each city provided key Greek-style institutions but was a part of the Roman Empire.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2021/12/Comic3.jpg)

The 52-square-meter tomb is divided into two burial chambers and contains a large basalt sarcophagus. All images are in very good condition considering that there are indications the tomb has been looted in the past, says archaeologist and epigraphist Julian Aliquot. The tomb dates to the early days of the city, which was founded in the late 1st century C.E.

The most striking feature of this burial is the amazing tapestry of elaborate paintings that cover the walls and ceiling of the tomb. The drawings were dubbed “Aramaic comics” and they depict gods, humans, and animals, all painted on the walls of the largest burial chamber. Some 260 figures are represented in the colorful panels that show gods happily banqueting while humans bring them propitiatory offerings; peasants tending fields and vineyards, and construction workers building a rampart for the city.

![](https://alonschool.online/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/aram-com-1024x576.jpg)

> **“These teeming figures compose a narrative that is arranged on either side of a central painting, which represents a sacrifice offered by an officiant to the tutelary deities of Capitolias and Caesarea Maritima, the provincial capital of Judaea,” says Aliquot.**  

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2021/12/Comic2.jpg)
  
  
**“This combination of the two primary idioms of the ancient Near East is extremely rare, and will help to better identify the structure and evolution of Aramaic. The inscriptions are actually similar to speech bubbles in comic books, because they describe the activities of the characters, who offer explanations of what they are doing (‘I am cutting (stone),’ ‘Alas for me! I am dead!’), which is also extraordinary.”**

The researchers are inclined to see the art as an illustration of the various stages involved in the founding of Capitolias. This could have been a visual history of the city and it's life preserved for posterity. 

Sources: CNRS News, Haaretz, Smithsonian Magazine, Biblical Aracheology.
### A Mysterious Hebrew Title
URL: https://www.pshir.com/mysterious-hebrew-title/
Last updated: 2021-12-27T16:02:54.000Z
A handful of ancient Israelite inscriptions feature an enigmatic title that has been variously translated as “governor of the city” and “commander of the fortress.” Who was this figure? This late eighth-century B.C.E. bulla discovered near Jerusalem’s Temple Mount displays the inscription le-śar ‘ir. BAR author William M. Schniedewind contends that the translation “the governor of the city” is incorrect and that the inscription should refer to the ancient Israelite military title “commander of the fortress.”

In 2017, archaeologists announced the discovery of a late eighth-century B.C.E. seal impression (bulla) during the wet-sifting of dirt excavated from the Western Wall plaza next to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The bulla features two figures holding what may be a sun disk—a Judahite royal symbol—and an inscription that reads le-śar ‘ir. The archaeologists translated the inscription as “the governor of the city,” and the rare seal was celebrated in the media. Schniedewind contends, however, that the seal should instead be translated as “commander of fortress,” and in his BAR article, he explains why the distinction is important—both to understanding the development of the Hebrew language and script and to understanding Judahite bureaucracy.

Schniedewind points to a number of other eighth-century inscriptions that include the phrase le-śar ‘ir. For example, inside the fortress of Kuntillet ‘Ajrud in the barren land of northeastern Sinai, three storage jars dated to c. 800 B.C.E. were discovered with the inscription le-śar ‘ir. The fortress of Kuntillet ‘Ajrud served as a military outpost and waystation. Schniedewind discusses the translation of this inscription in BAR:

The spelling of this title in Hebrew without the definite article—thus “commander of fortress” instead of “commander of the fortress”—reflects an early stage of the Hebrew language before the use of the definite article (“the”) had been standardized. Although this title is usually translated as “belonging to the governor of the city,” this translation does not at all fit at Kuntillet ‘Ajrud, which was no city. In this instance, the title can refer only to the person in charge of a small fortress during its heyday around 800 B.C.E. The (mis)translation reflects the development of the Hebrew word ‘ir, which later came to mean “city.” However, these inscriptions prove that the original meaning of ‘ir could be applied to a much smaller walled settlement, like a small remote fortress.

As the point where three of the world’s major religions converge, Israel’s history is one of the richest and most complex in the world. Sift through the archaeology and history of this ancient land in the free eBook Israel: An Archaeological Journey, and get a view of these significant Biblical sites through an archaeologist’s lens. Going back to the inscription found near the Temple Mount, Schniedewind explains why he believes in translating le-śar ‘ir as “the governor of the city” is incorrect:

The word śar is a loanword from Akkadian, and it refers to a military commander or an officer. We find the term in a number of Hebrew inscriptions, including Lachish Letter 3, line 14, which refers to “the commander of the army” (śar ha-ṣaba’). A complaint from an agricultural worker at the small fortress of Metzad Hashavyahu is also addressed to the śar. It seems likely, then, that the title in the seal impression from Jerusalem should be translated as “commander of (the) fortress.”

Indeed, it makes little sense to think of it as a civilian title since the king also resided in Jerusalem. Rather, the parallels for this title indicate that this was the military commander in charge of the fortified town of Jerusalem—or perhaps, more narrowly, a fortress within Jerusalem.

Source: Biblical Archaeology, 2019
### Three Witnesses of Christ
URL: https://www.pshir.com/three-witnesses-of-christ/
Last updated: 2021-12-27T18:17:50.000Z
Occasionally I bump into people who doubt that Jesus (Yeshua) ever existed, deeming him to be a fictional character like Hercules, Lochness Monster, or Santa Claus. I am not surprised that people have trouble recognizing who Yeshua was, what he did. I am not even surprised that people fail to recognize the significance of the Messiah coming into the world. But to doubt, his very existence reveals lack of awareness about non-biased historical witnesses that assume his existence as a mundane fact. Yes, today the historians possess numerous historical mentions of Jesus from three different categories of witnesses: Christian, Jewish, and Roman.

_This post is for subscribers only._
### How December 25 Became Christmas
URL: https://www.pshir.com/how-december-25-became-christmas/
Last updated: 2021-12-27T18:20:34.000Z
On December 25, Christians around the world will gather to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Joyful carols, special liturgies, brightly wrapped gifts, festive foods—these all characterize the feast today, at least in the northern hemisphere. But just how did the Christmas festival originate? How did December 25 come to be associated with Jesus’ birthday?

The Bible offers few clues: Celebrations of Jesus’ Nativity are not mentioned in the Gospels or Acts; the date is not given, not even the time of year. The biblical reference to shepherds tending their flocks at night when they hear the news of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:8) might suggest the spring lambing season; in the cold month of December, on the other hand, sheep might well have been corralled. Yet most scholars would urge caution about extracting such a precise but incidental detail from a narrative whose focus is theological rather than calendrical.

The extrabiblical evidence from the first and second century is equally spare: There is no mention of birth celebrations in the writings of early Christian writers such as Irenaeus (c. 130–200) or Tertullian (c. 160–225). Origen of Alexandria (c. 165–264) goes so far as to mock Roman celebrations of birth anniversaries, dismissing them as “pagan” practices—a strong indication that Jesus’ birth was not marked with similar festivities at that place and time.1 As far as we can tell, Christmas was not celebrated at all at this point.

This stands in sharp contrast to the very early traditions surrounding Jesus’ last days. Each of the Four Gospels provides detailed information about the time of Jesus’ death. According to John, Jesus is crucified just as the Passover lambs are being sacrificed. This would have occurred on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Nisan, just before the Jewish holiday began at sundown (considered the beginning of the 15th day because in the Hebrew calendar, days begin at sundown). In Matthew, Mark and Luke, however, the Last Supper is held after sundown, on the beginning of the 15th. Jesus is crucified the next morning—still, the 15th.a

Easter, a much earlier development than Christmas, was simply the gradual Christian reinterpretation of Passover in terms of Jesus’ Passion. Its observance could even be implied in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 5:7–8: “Our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the festival…”); it was certainly a distinctively Christian feast by the mid-second century C.E., when the apocryphal text known as the Epistle to the Apostles has Jesus instruct his disciples to “make commemoration of \[his\] death, that is, the Passover.”

Jesus’ ministry, miracles, Passion and Resurrection were often of most interest to first- and early-second-century C.E. Christian writers. But over time, Jesus’ origins would become of increasing concern. We can begin to see this shift already in the New Testament. The earliest writings—Paul and Mark—make no mention of Jesus’ birth. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide well-known but quite different accounts of the event—although neither specifies a date. In the second century C.E., further details of Jesus’ birth and childhood are related in apocryphal writings such as the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and the Proto-Gospel of James.b These texts provide everything from the names of Jesus’ grandparents to the details of his education—but not the date of his birth.

Finally, in about 200 C.E., a Christian teacher in Egypt makes reference to the date Jesus was born. According to Clement of Alexandria, several different days had been proposed by various Christian groups. Surprising as it may seem, Clement doesn’t mention December 25 at all. Clement writes: “There are those who have determined not only the year of our Lord’s birth, but also the day; and they say that it took place in the 28th year of Augustus, and in the 25th day of \[the Egyptian month\] Pachon \[May 20 in our calendar\] … And treating of His Passion, with very great accuracy, some say that it took place in the 16th year of Tiberius, on the 25th of Phamenoth \[March 21\]; and others on the 25th of Pharmuthi \[April 21\] and others say that on the 19th of Pharmuthi \[April 15\] the Savior suffered. Further, others say that He was born on the 24th or 25th of Pharmuthi \[April 20 or 21\].”2

Clearly there was great uncertainty, but also a considerable amount of interest, in dating Jesus’ birth in the late second century. By the fourth century, however, we find references to two dates that were widely recognized—and now also celebrated—as Jesus’ birthday: December 25 in the western Roman Empire and January 6 in the East (especially in Egypt and Asia Minor). The modern Armenian church continues to celebrate Christmas on January 6; for most Christians, however, December 25 would prevail, while January 6 eventually came to be known as the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the arrival of the magi in Bethlehem. The period between became the holiday season later known as the 12 days of Christmas.

The earliest mention of December 25 as Jesus’ birthday comes from a mid-fourth-century Roman almanac that lists the death dates of various Christian bishops and martyrs. The first date listed, December 25, is marked: natus Christus in Betleem Judeae: “Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea.”3 In about 400 C.E., Augustine of Hippo mentions a local dissident Christian group, the Donatists, who apparently kept Christmas festivals on December 25, but refused to celebrate the Epiphany on January 6, regarding it as an innovation. Since the Donatist group only emerged during the persecution under Diocletian in 312 C.E. and then remained stubbornly attached to the practices of that moment in time, they seem to represent an older North African Christian tradition.

In the East, January 6 was at first not associated with the magi alone, but with the Christmas story as a whole. So, almost 300 years after Jesus was born, we finally find people observing his birth in mid-winter. But how had they settled on the dates December 25 and January 6? There are two theories today: one extremely popular, the other less often heard outside scholarly circles (though far more ancient).4

The most loudly touted theory about the origins of the Christmas date(s) is that it was borrowed from pagan celebrations. The Romans had their mid-winter Saturnalia festival in late December; barbarian peoples of northern and western Europe kept holidays at similar times. To top it off, in 274 C.E., the Roman emperor Aurelian established a feast of the birth of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun), on December 25\. Christmas, the argument goes, is really a spin-off from these pagan solar festivals. According to this theory, early Christians deliberately chose these dates to encourage the spread of Christmas and Christianity throughout the Roman world: If Christmas looked like a pagan holiday, more pagans would be open to both the holiday and the God whose birth it celebrated.

Despite its popularity today, this theory of Christmas’s origins has its problems. It is not found in any ancient Christian writings, for one thing. Christian authors of the time do note a connection between the solstice and Jesus’ birth: The church father Ambrose (c. 339–397), for example, described Christ as the true sun, who outshone the fallen gods of the old order. But early Christian writers never hint at any recent calendrical engineering; they clearly don’t think the date was chosen by the church. Rather they see the coincidence as a providential sign, as natural proof that God had selected Jesus over the false pagan gods.

It’s not until the 12th century that we find the first suggestion that Jesus’ birth celebration was deliberately set at the time of pagan feasts. A marginal note on a manuscript of the writings of the Syriac biblical commentator Dionysius bar-Salibi states that in ancient times the Christmas holiday was actually shifted from January 6 to December 25 so that it fell on the same date as the pagan Sol Invictus holiday.5 In the 18th and 19th centuries, Bible scholars spurred on by the new study of comparative religions latched on to this idea.6 They claimed that because the early Christians didn’t know when Jesus was born, they simply assimilated the pagan solstice festival for their own purposes, claiming it as the time of the Messiah’s birth and celebrating it accordingly.

More recent studies have shown that many of the holiday’s modern trappings do reflect pagan customs borrowed much later, as Christianity expanded into northern and western Europe. The Christmas tree, for example, has been linked with late medieval druidic practices. This has only encouraged modern audiences to assume that the date, too, must be pagan. There are problems with this popular theory, however, as many scholars recognize. Most significantly, the first mention of a date for Christmas (c. 200) and the earliest celebrations that we know about (c. 250–300) come in a period when Christians were not borrowing heavily from pagan traditions of such an obvious character.

Granted, Christian belief and practice were not formed in isolation. Many early elements of Christian worship—including eucharistic meals, meals honoring martyrs and much early Christian funerary art—would have been quite comprehensible to pagan observers. Yet, in the first few centuries C.E., the persecuted Christian minority was greatly concerned with distancing itself from the larger, public pagan religious observances, such as sacrifices, games and holidays. This was still true as late as the violent persecutions of the Christians conducted by the Roman emperor Diocletian between 303 and 312 C.E.

This would change only after Constantine converted to Christianity. From the mid-fourth century on, we do find Christians deliberately adapting and Christianizing pagan festivals. A famous proponent of this practice was Pope Gregory the Great, who, in a letter written in 601 C.E. to a Christian missionary in Britain, recommended that local pagan temples not be destroyed but be converted into churches, and that pagan festivals be celebrated as feasts of Christian martyrs. At this late point, Christmas may well have acquired some pagan trappings. But we don’t have evidence of Christians adopting pagan festivals in the third century, at which point dates for Christmas were established. Thus, it seems unlikely that the date was simply selected to correspond with pagan solar festivals.

The December 25 feast seems to have existed before 312—before Constantine and his conversion, at least. As we have seen, the Donatist Christians in North Africa seem to have known it from before that time. Furthermore, in the mid- to late fourth century, church leaders in the eastern Empire concerned themselves not with introducing a celebration of Jesus’ birthday, but with the addition of the December date to their traditional celebration on January 6.7

There is another way to account for the origins of Christmas on December 25: Strange as it may seem, the key to dating Jesus’ birth may lie in the dating of Jesus’ death at Passover. This view was first suggested to the modern world by French scholar Louis Duchesne in the early 20th century and fully developed by American Thomas Talley in more recent years.8 But they were certainly not the first to note a connection between the traditional date of Jesus’ death and his birth.

Around 200 C.E. Tertullian of Carthage reported the calculation that the 14th of Nisan (the day of the crucifixion according to the Gospel of John) in the year Jesus diedc was equivalent to March 25 in the Roman (solar) calendar.9 March 25 is, of course, nine months before December 25; it was later recognized as the Feast of the Annunciation—the commemoration of Jesus’ conception.10 Thus, Jesus was believed to have been conceived and crucified on the same day of the year. Exactly nine months later, Jesus was born, on December 25.d

This idea appears in an anonymous Christian treatise titled On Solstices and Equinoxes, which appears to come from fourth-century North Africa. The treatise states: “Therefore our Lord was conceived on the eighth of the kalends of April in the month of March \[March 25\], which is the day of the passion of the Lord and of his conception. For on that day he was conceived on the same he suffered.”11 Based on this, the treatise dates Jesus’ birth to the winter solstice.

Augustine, too, was familiar with this association. In On the Trinity (c. 399–419) he writes: “For he \[Jesus\] is believed to have been conceived on the 25th of March, upon which day also he suffered; so the womb of the Virgin, in which he was conceived, where no one of mortals was begotten, corresponds to the new grave in which he was buried, wherein was never man laid, neither before him nor since. But he was born, according to tradition, upon December the 25th.”12

In the East, too, the dates of Jesus’ conception and death were linked. But instead of working from the 14th of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, the easterners used the 14th of the first spring month (Artemisios) in their local Greek calendar—April 6 to us. April 6 is, of course, exactly nine months before January 6—the eastern date for Christmas. In the East, too, we have evidence that April was associated with Jesus’ conception and crucifixion. Bishop Epiphanius of Salamis writes that on April 6, “The lamb was shut up in the spotless womb of the holy virgin, he who took away and takes away in perpetual sacrifice the sins of the world.”13 Even today, the Armenian Church celebrates the Annunciation in early April (on the 7th, not the 6th) and Christmas on January 6.e Thus, we have Christians in two parts of the world calculating Jesus’ birth on the basis that his death and conception took place on the same day (March 25 or April 6) and coming up with two close but different results (December 25 and January 6).

Connecting Jesus’ conception and death in this way will certainly seem odd to modern readers, but it reflects ancient and medieval understandings of the whole of salvation being bound up together. The notion that creation and redemption should occur at the same time of year is also reflected in ancient Jewish tradition, recorded in the Talmud. The Babylonian Talmud preserves a dispute between two early-second-century C.E. rabbis who share this view, but disagree on the date: Rabbi Eliezer states: “In Nisan the world was created; in Nisan the Patriarchs were born; on Passover Isaac was born … and in Nisan they \[our ancestors\] will be redeemed in time to come.” (The other rabbi, Joshua, dates these same events to the following month, Tishri.)14 Thus, the dates of Christmas and Epiphany may well have resulted from Christian theological reflection on such chronologies: Jesus would have been conceived on the same date he died, and born nine months later.15

In the end we are left with a question: How did December 25 become Christmas? We cannot be entirely sure. Elements of the festival that developed from the fourth century until modern times may well derive from pagan traditions. Yet the actual date might really derive more from Judaism—from Jesus’ death at Passover, and from the rabbinic notion that great things might be expected, again and again, at the same time of the year—than from paganism. Then again, in this notion of cycles and the return of God’s redemption, we may perhaps also be touching upon something that the pagan Romans who celebrated Sol Invictus, and many other peoples since, would have understood and claimed for their own, too.16

****Original Source: Andrew McGowan, Dean and President of the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale**

Notes:

a. See Jonathan Klawans, “Was Jesus’ Last Supper a Seder?” Bible Review, October 2001.

b. See the following Bible Review articles: David R. Cartlidge, “The Christian Apocrypha: Preserved in Art,” Bible Review, June 1997; Ronald F. Hock and David R. Cartlidge, “The Favored One,” Bible Review, June 2001; and Charles W. Hedrick, “The 34 Gospels,” Bible Review, June 2002.

c. For more on dating the year of Jesus’ birth, see Leonora Neville, “Origins: Fixing the Millennium,” Archaeology Odyssey, January/February 2000.

d. The ancients were familiar with the 9-month gestation period based on the observance of women’s menstrual cycles, pregnancies and miscarriages.

e. In the West (and eventually everywhere), the Easter celebration was later shifted from the actual day to the following Sunday. The insistence of the eastern Christians in keeping Easter on the actual 14th day caused a major debate within the church, with the easterners sometimes referred to as the Quartodecimans, or “Fourteenthers.”

1. Origen, Homily on Leviticus 8.
2. Clement, Stromateis 1.21.145\. In addition, Christians in Clement’s native Egypt seem to have known a commemoration of Jesus’ baptism—sometimes understood as the moment of his divine choice, and hence as an alternate “incarnation” story—on the same date (Stromateis 1.21.146). See further on this point Thomas J. Talley, Origins of the Liturgical Year, 2nd ed. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991), pp. 118–120, drawing on Roland H. Bainton, “Basilidian Chronology and New Testament Interpretation,” Journal of Biblical Literature 42 (1923), pp. 81–134; and now especially Gabriele Winkler, “The Appearance of the Light at the Baptism of Jesus and the Origins of the Feast of the Epiphany,” in Maxwell Johnson, ed., Between Memory and Hope: Readings on the Liturgical Year (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2000), pp. 291–347.
3. The Philocalian Calendar.
4. Scholars of liturgical history in the English-speaking world are particularly skeptical of the “solstice” connection; see Susan K. Roll, “The Origins of Christmas: The State of the Question,” in Between Memory and Hope: Readings on the Liturgical Year (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2000), pp. 273–290, especially pp. 289–290.
5. A gloss on a manuscript of Dionysius Bar Salibi, d. 1171; see Talley, Origins, pp. 101–102.
6. Prominent among these was Paul Ernst Jablonski; on the history of scholarship, see especially Roll, “The Origins of Christmas,” pp. 277–283.
7. For example, Gregory of Nazianzen, Oratio 38; John Chrysostom, In Diem Natalem.
8. Louis Duchesne, Origines du culte Chrétien, 5th ed. (Paris: Thorin et Fontemoing, 1925), pp. 275–279; and Talley, Origins.
9. Tertullian, Adversus Iudaeos 8.
10. There are other relevant texts for this element of argument, including Hippolytus and the (pseudo-Cyprianic) De pascha computus; see Talley, Origins, pp. 86, 90–91.
11. De solstitia et aequinoctia conceptionis et nativitatis domini nostri iesu christi et iohannis baptistae.
12. Augustine, Sermon 202.
13. Epiphanius is quoted in Talley, Origins, p. 98.
14. b. Rosh Hashanah 10b–11a.
15. Talley, Origins, pp. 81–82.
16. On the two theories as false alternatives, see Roll, “Origins of Christmas.”
### The Danger of Knowing Too Little Greek
URL: https://www.pshir.com/danger-too-little-greek/
Last updated: 2021-12-29T03:40:21.000Z
#### ****Why Greek Tools Can Be Dangerous**

Never before have there been such powerful tools for zooming in on the details of Greek. These are useful and I’m glad to have them. But I wince when they are misused. And they are often misused. By zeroing in on single words, and magnifying some aspect of the Greek in isolation, you are far more likely to distort the meaning than to clarify it. If you don’t grasp the meaning of the whole sentence and its context, the “tools” are destructive.

#### ****The Seminary Professors’ Debate**

![](https://www.seekthecontext.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Greek-Tools.png)

When I taught at a seminary, many of the professors argued that taking the trouble to learn Greek is as outdated as wearing spats. The full definition and parsing of any word is now available with the click of a mouse. Why bother cluttering your mind with Greek?

Here’s why: There is no substitute for actually reading the Bible in Greek. Just because you can describe the parts doesn’t mean you understand the whole. In fact, using the tools usually results in an atomistic focus that warps the meaning.

**An Example from Chemistry**

Imagine that you could click on any element of the physical universe and receive a description of its chemical makeup. That would not make you an expert in chemistry. Chemistry requires an understanding of the living interaction between the elements. Language is a living system too. It cannot be understood only by focusing on the parts. It’s not just the words in isolation that convey meaning. It’s the way they interact. And to understand this, you must be able to read the language.

**An Example from Bananas**

Let’s take an English sentence and see how a focus on the parts distorts the meaning. Let’s say I’m talking to my wife and say,

*“I’m going to the store to buy some bananas.”*

Being the good wife that she is, she uses some “tools” to make sure she understands me. She discovers that…

“****I’m going”** is present continuous, describing an event already in motion. She is puzzled. I’m not presently going. I’m sitting on the couch.

“****to the store”** She focuses on the word “to.” I will be going *to* the store, not *into* it.

“****to buy** ****some bananas**.” She focuses on the word “some.” Why “some” bananas? Which ones? Will I consider only the elect bananas?

I don’t mean any of these nuances that were “uncovered” by her focus on particular words. It’s a silly example but I hope you get the point. The meaning of the sentence only makes sense a whole, when you understand the context and how the sentence works together.

**The Real Solution: Learn Greek!**

There is no such thing as a Greek hack. it would be dishonest to say there is a shortcut. Greek is a magnificent language, arguably the most elegant form of communication in human history. It’s worth the effort to learn. When you learn Greek you don’t just know another language. You become better at all forms of communication. It will make you better at English and give you the power to learn any other language. Best of all, it will allow you to hear the message of the New Testament like never before. You won’t just be studying words in dead isolation. You’ll hear the living language.

Original article by Dr. Maury Robertson
### Conversion of Constantine
URL: https://www.pshir.com/video-lecture-conversion-of-constantine/
Last updated: 2021-12-29T03:58:37.000Z
Historians have argued for centuries – in the face of contradictory primary sources – both about when and how the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and the nature and extent of his faith. Was he a convinced believer, brought to a new understanding of God and the world by his own Damascene moment? And, if so, what exactly did he believe in? Or was he a pragmatist who saw his in new religious affiliation great opportunities for cementing both his own authority and the stability of the Empire he controlled? This lecture will explore the nature of religious affiliation more generally in the world of the later Roman Empire, and use it to offer new perspectives both on the received narratives of Constantine’s conversion and the broader process by which Christianity turned itself, as a result, from minority sect to world religion.

This is a video of a live lecture by Peter Heather given at Kings College London (October 2012) – “The conversion of Constantine and the Christianisation of Europe” Peter Heather is currently Professor of European Medieval History at Kings College London.
### One Scribe, Many Scrolls
URL: https://www.pshir.com/one-scribe-many-scrolls/
Last updated: 2021-12-29T04:02:14.000Z
As research in Qumran scrolls continues some questions are answered and new ones arise. There is still so much we do not know about the Qumran texts collection. There are still so many things we are trying to piece together in regards to the people who left those scrolls behind.

Not so long ago Israeli paleographer Ada Yardeni has identified over 50 Qumran scrolls penned by the same scribe. That is remarkable! Dr. Ada Yardeni was a renowned expert of Hebrew and Dead Sea Scrolls who sadly passed away in June of 2018\. Still, her research lives on and continues to help us to answer questions.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2021/12/Yardeni.jpg)

Ada Yardeni

What is more amazing about linking some scrolls to one particular scribe is that the handwriting of this same ancient scribe was found on various Qumran scrolls which were recovered from six different caves. This is another significant development. Some scientists have proposed that the Qumran scrolls were not connected to the Essene sect or tied to the settlement on the other side of the wadi. Some suggested that this was just a general Jewish library and not a proper sectarian collection. Another theory was that different caves represent independent collections by separate sects. In light of liking the same scribe to multiple scrolls in multiple caves, the theory is no longer viable and research into one scribe’s handwriting may now prove otherwise.

The scribe whose style has now been documented was likely a member of the Qumran sect, who copied many scrolls which were deposited into different caves by the same group. Moreover, the handwriting of this same scribe was found on an Apocryphon woven on the Book of Joshua that was discovered at Masada. Masada is quite a distance away from the Qumran settlement. Many researchers doubted any connections of Qumran settlers to the Masada site. The texts found at Masada indeed bear resemblance to some Qumran scrolls. Even before Yardeni’s handwriting analysis, some scholars have speculated that the Joshua manuscript may have been the product of a Qumran scribe. But now this suspicion can be confirmed.

Now there is a scribal connection between Masada and the Qumran scrolls. Nine copies of the sectarian Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice manuscripts were discovered in two caves at Qumran, and another was discovered at Masada in the same locus as the Joshua Apocryphon. Professor Sidnie White Crawford of Nebraska University concluded,

> “it seems likely that some manuscripts from Qumran were carried south by refugees fleeing the Roman destruction of Qumran in 68 C.E. But that’s only a best guess.”

These are exciting new developments that emerge not from any new scrolls, but from ongoing research into existing documents.

Source: Biblical Archaeology Society
### John 3:16 - Context, Terminology, Translation
URL: https://www.pshir.com/context-terminology-and-translation/
Last updated: 2023-10-10T03:17:57.000Z
In this article, I want to discuss the importance of context, terminology and precise translation of the original text (be it Greek or Hebrew). When it comes to the interpretation of biblical texts and conclusions drawn from them these building blocks are the foundation. Theology cannot exist without interpretation and interpretation rests on the accurate examination of the sacred text.

In a well-known movie “The Matrix” a lead character Morpheus tells a young programmer who wants to understand how the world around him really works, how it is all an illusion, a computer program. He offers him a choice “Take the blue pill, wake up and forget we have met. Take the red pill and see how deep the rabbit hole goes”. The “rabbit hole” is a reference to Lewis Carrol’s story “Alice in Wonderland”. In Carrol’s tale, Alice discovers a strange and bizarre world when she follows the rabbit deep into his whole.

What does any of this have to do with context, terminology, and translation? Sometimes when I invite people to examine a biblical text deeper and in context, I feel like Morpheus. Especially if it is a well-known Bible verse that people think they actually understand.

_This post is for paying subscribers only._
### Beyond English Bible: The Original
URL: https://www.pshir.com/reading-the-original/
Last updated: 2023-11-28T16:29:23.000Z
Can you read the Bible in the original languages? Yes, anyone can! Well, if you don’t know how yet, you can certainly learn… And there is a way to do that without taking many years to learn Greek and Hebrew. Don’t get me wrong some study is required, just not years and years necessarily.

If your goal is to read the Bible in original languages then simply learn how to read Hebrew and Greek. No, I am not suggesting you master these languages completely. I am merely proposing you learn their alphabets and the reading rules that go with them. It will not happen in one day, but if you already learned how to read one language (presumably, English) so you can add a couple more. You just need some guidance in understanding the rules and do some rudimentary memorization.

If your goal is to merely master reading, then you do not need to know how the grammar works. You do not need to memorize vocabulary lists, paradigms, and endings. Just develop your ability to read Hebrew and Greek and even if you barely orient yourself in those languages and you will be able to do so much more with your Bible study. The language tools like [Lexicon Dictionaries](https://www.seekthecontext.com/beyond-bible-lexicons/?ref=pshir.com) and [Concordances](https://www.seekthecontext.com/beyond-english-concordances/?ref=pshir.com) I have been explaining in other articles will make much more sense once you can read Hebrew and Greek. You will also be able to use [Interlinear Bibles](https://www.seekthecontext.com/beyond-bible-interlinear/?ref=pshir.com) with greater ease.

For example, I have put together an online course just like that [here](https://israelbiblecenter.com/courses/biblical-hebrew-first-steps/?ref=pshir.com). It is very easy step-by-step, self-paced method that gets you reading quick. You can also try courses by others[ here](https://courses.biblemesh.com/biblemesh-biblical-languages?ref=pshir.com).

This path is clearly a “second best” in comparison to learning the language properly with grammar and vocabulary. Nothing is as good as that and nothing will compare to traditional full-length language courses. But being able to make out words and read even slowly will give you access to language tools not available to those who cannot read Greek and Hebrew at all. This would be a significant advantage.

A whole world of dictionaries and language resources will suddenly open up to you if you can read original languages. There are many dictionaries that can only be used by those who can look up words in the original languages. I shared about a few resources that accommodate those who do not read Greek and Hebrew already. But just knowing how to read in Hebrew and Greek is enough expertise to be able to use them and go far beyond them.
### A Gold Earring Discovered Near The City of David
URL: https://www.pshir.com/a-gold-earring-discovered-near-the-city-of-david/
Last updated: 2021-12-29T04:14:25.000Z
A gold earring portraying the head of a horned animal was unearthed under the Givati Parking lot near Jerusalem’s City of David National Park. The earring belongs to the second or third century B.C.E.

> “The jewelry was found inside a building that was unearthed during the excavation, dating to the early Hellenistic period—a fascinating era about which we know very little when it comes to Jerusalem,” explained dig directors Yuval Gadot of Tel Aviv University and Yiftah Shalev “During the course of over a century of archeological digs in the city, many small discoveries have been made from this period—mainly consisting of pottery fragments and a few coins—but hardly any remains of buildings that could be accurately dated to this period.”

The animal on the earring has large eyes, a mouth, and other facial features. It is hard to determine the horned animal, perhaps it is an antelope or a deer. Experts say the piece was created using a technique called filigree in which threads and metal beads are combined to create complex patterns. Similar earrings have been found across the Mediterranean but they are rare in Israel.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2021/12/Ring2.jpg)

> **“We also learned from this excavation that the residents of this area were not peasants who settled in empty areas on the periphery of the central area, but rather the opposite—they were well-off people. The discovery of familiar Hellenistic pieces of jewelry can teach us about how Hellenistic influences reached Jerusalem during this time.”**

The Hellenistic period sat between Jerusalem’s conquest by Alexander the Great and the Jewish revolt against pagan rule recounted in the biblical Books of the Maccabees.

Although the archaeologists can’t say for now whether the earring belonged to a man or woman or what the owner’s cultural or religious identity was, they can surmise that the owner was a member of the elite. The rare discovery also gives researchers a glimpse into Hellenistic-period Jerusalem.

Sources: Haaretz, Times of Israel.
### Beyond the English Bible: Lexicon
URL: https://www.pshir.com/beyond-bible-lexicons/
Last updated: 2022-01-14T17:15:18.000Z
Many people know that the Bible they read is a transition. How can a serious student of the Bible go beyond the English text of the Bible? The answer to this question is not always simple and it is not the same for everyone. The translations are never perfect, no matter how good the translators are. This is where a good Lexicon becomes a useful tool. We are all merely human and every translation is an interpretation as we bring our own baggage to the translation process.

Before I get much further I have to say that the best, most amazing, yet most difficult path is to take the time to learn Hebrew and Greek. But I realize that is not possible for everyone. And there are some alternatives which I promise to share with you. In my first article on the topic ([Beyond the English Bible I: Concordance](https://www.seekthecontext.com/beyond-english-concordances/?ref=pshir.com)) I shared some concordance resources and links where you can find some of them for free. Some Bible students are satisfied with looking things up in Strong’s Concordance. But Stong’s is not the end of the line. In my second article on the topic ([Beyond the English Bible II: Interlinear](https://www.seekthecontext.com/beyond-bible-interlinear/?ref=pshir.com)) I explained which English edition suites the beginners best. In this article, I want to take you a little deeper.

If you learned how to use Green’s Interlinear Bible than you can find any word in Hebrew or Greek. And if you have some original dictionaries, you should be able to look up the words that interest you in dictionaries besides the one provided by Strong’s. The trouble is most Hebrew and Greek dictionaries do not use numbers like Strong’s. You need to find the words by using their spelling and that means using the Hebrew and Greek alphabets.

The good news is that there are some trusted lexicons by Hendriksen Publishers which have an index to Strong’s numbers in the back. That means you can use these numbers to find the same words in this particular Lexicon editions even without knowing the Hebrew alphabet. One such lexicon is called BDB or Brown-Driver-Briggs English and Hebrew Lexicon (free online at [www.biblehub.com](http://biblehub.com/hebrew/4912.htm?ref=pshir.com)) is an excellent tool for looking up words in Hebrew. BDB will take you much deeper into the meaning of original terms!

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/01/Greek4.jpg)

Another lexicon supplied with the Strong’s numbers (in the index section) by Hendriksen Publishers is Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. This dictionary will also take you far beyond most concordances. The definitions this Lexicon provides are much fuller and much more detailed. Sometimes we need the breadth in our study.

Unlike a Concordance (which does not require you to know Greek and Hebrew alphabets) a Lexicon is a dictionary that was designed to move you from Hebrew or Greek to English translation. But once you find those words in the Lexicon you will be surprised how much more detailed these tools compared to brief notes in Concordances. They provide more abundant reference information and give concrete examples.

If you are willing to do some work, you may be able to search Lexicons even without learning the original language alphabets, but it will be a real challenge. Without knowing Greek and Hebrew alphabets it may take a long time to look up even one word. This is why some people do not study the text on their own, get discouraged and run straight to the commentaries. I recommend studying the Greek and Hebrew alphabets. Many people who do not know the Hebrew and Greek alphabets use Bible software. And indeed, original language Lexicons can be accessed on many Bible Study websites that provide some of these excellent tools, absolutely for free.

Whether you choose to learn the Hebrew and Greek alphabets or not I can still provide you with some lexicons that can take you very deep in your word studies. Not all of them can be found for free and some of them are much more detailed than others. There is always a value in using multiple sources for research.

Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament (free online at [Tindale House](http://www.tyndalearchive.com/tabs/Gesenius/?ref=pshir.com)). Another great resource. It is slightly older, but it will differ from BDB in scope and variety of notes and definitions it will provide on many words. Use these two resources simultaneously and you will get a fuller picture of what those words really mean.

A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament by William L. Holladay is another good and very affordable language resource. HALOT or Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament by Koehler, Baumgartner and Stamm’s is a superb resource, very detailed and broad. It is 5 volumes, though and thus it is expensive. You may want to use this one at the library.
### Ancient Wine Jugs and Cooking Pots Discovered in Western Galilee
URL: https://www.pshir.com/ancient-wine-jugs-discovered-western-galilee/
Last updated: 2022-01-14T17:17:28.000Z
Researchers from Israel Antiquities Authority, the Safed Academic College, and the Israel Cave Explorers Club embarked on an intricate excavation mission to the cave on a cliff face near the Lebanon border. And their daring efforts paid off. Inside the cave, they found large wine jugs, a cooking pot, and other pottery vessels completely intact.

> Dr. Danny Syon of the Israel Antiquities Authority said: “As a first impression, the finds seem to date back to the Hellenistic period – between the 3rd and 1st centuries BCE. Considering that cooking and serving vessels were found, it would appear that those who brought them planned to live there for a while.”

The group began their survey of the western Galilee in 2017 under the leadership of Dr. Yinon Shivtiel, a speleologist (cave specialist) and senior lecturer in Land of Israel Studies at the Safed Academic College. A fully intact 2,300-year-old pottery and wine amphorae is a rare find. Because the cave was not far from the Lebanon border, the operation was coordinated with the IDF.

Dr. Syon believes that the 2,300-year-old wine jugs were almost certainly hidden during a frantic attempt at an escape, and believes that with more accurate dating archaeologist may even be able to determine what its owners were running from after analyzing violent events that may have taken place in the region during the time these individuals would have lived there.

> “We assume that whoever hid here escaped some violent event that occurred in the area. Perhaps by dating the vessels more closely, we shall be able to tie them to a known historical event. It is mind-boggling how the vessels were carried to the cave, which is extremely difficult to access. Maybe an easier way that once existed disappeared over time.”, remarked Dr. Syon

With further research, archaeologists should have a better picture of life in this Israeli cave when the 2,300-year-old cooking artifacts and wine jugs would have been used.

Original Sources: Jerusalem Post and Inquisitr.com
### Akedah in An Egyptian Magical Papyrus
URL: https://www.pshir.com/akedah-in-egyptian-magical-papyrus/
Last updated: 2022-01-14T17:18:33.000Z
A remarkable papyrus written in Coptic was uncovered during a 1934 expedition by New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The manuscript was preserved by the Met but had never been deciphered or detailed in a scientific journal until now. It is a 1,500-year-old ‘magical papyrus’, probably meant to be used in some sort of a ritual. It was found near the pyramid of the Pharaoh Senwosret I. The unnamed person(s) who wrote the incantations in Coptic (an Egyptian language that uses the Greek alphabet), invoked God many times.

> “God of Seth, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, God of Israel, watch over everyone who suffers. My word, may it come to pass with power,” reads part of the translated papyrus.

The text dates to a time when Christianity was widely practiced in Egypt

> “May every spirit that is in the air obey me,” the papyrus user asks God.

Several times in the papyrus God is called “the one who presides over the Mountain of the Murderer” a phrase that likely refers to a story in the Book of Genesis in which God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah, wrote Michael Zellmann-Rohrer, a researcher in the department of classics at Oxford University, who described the magical papyrus in the journal Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde. Zellmann-Rohrer became aware of the text while looking through the Met’s digital catalog of its holdings.

In Jewish tradition, the story of Abraham taking Isaac to Moriah is called *Akedah* – “the binding”. It is one of the most significant and spiritual stories in the Torah, reiterated by many pious Jews in daily prayers. The Book of Genesis says that God stopped Abraham before he actually killed his son.

![](https://alonschool.online/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/aked-rembrandt-1024x576.jpg)

However, in this papyrus tells the story in such a way that it sounds as if the sacrifice wasn’t stopped wrote Zellmann-Rohrer noting that other texts from the ancient world also claim that the sacrifice was completed. “The tradition of a literal sacrifice seems, in fact, to have been rather widespread,” Zellmann-Rohrer wrote.

> “The text surely belongs to a Coptic phase of habitation at the pyramid complex, noted by the excavators, which is marked by substantial burials,” wrote Zellmann-Rohrer in his paper. He told Live Science that it’s possible that the papyrus was put in one of the burials.

The papyrus is likely a copy of another text, possibly part of a book. Based on the handwriting, the text seems to have been copied onto the papyrus by two or possibly three people, Zellmann-Rohrer wrote. He added that the writing “lacks professional proficiency” and that those who copied the text were likely not professional scribes.

The papyrus makes little reference to the New Testament, referring mainly to individuals mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The papyrus also mentions terms and names often used by followers of Gnosticism, a religion that incorporated some of the beliefs of Christianity, explained Zellmann-Rohrer. Those who copied the text onto the papyrus may have been Christians who “made use of a textual tradition that owed much to Jewish belief and lore and to Gnosticism”. The papyrus never mentions the name of the person who used the artifact for the magical ritual it was intended.

Original Source: Owen Jarus, Live Science
### Radiocarbon Dating Inaccuracies Could Shift History
URL: https://www.pshir.com/radiocarbon-dating-inaccuracies-could-shift-history/
Last updated: 2022-01-14T17:20:30.000Z
Minute inaccuracies in radiocarbon dating may cause a massive overhaul of the historical timeline, researchers studying anomalies in this dating method have found. By questioning certain assumptions underlying radiocarbon dating, a team of researchers at Cornell University have uncovered 20-year offsets in the calibration of radiocarbon dating used in the archaeologically significant region of the southern Levant, which is composed of Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. These offsets could markedly alter the calendar dates of significant historical events and could have huge implications for the study of archaeology and history.

****How Does Radiocarbon Dating Work?**

Radiocarbon dating is a widely used method to establish the age of plant and animal fossils as well as other relics composed of organic material. Researchers use radiocarbon dating to establish the archaeological timescales for certain periods in history and pre-history. In pre-modern timescales, archaeologists use standardized calibration curves for both Northern and Southern hemispheres to determine the dates of organic material. This method rests on the assumption that, at any given period, radiocarbon levels are similar and stable across all places within a hemisphere. It is this very assumption that Stuart Manning, director of the Cornell Tree-Ring Laboratory, and his team dared to challenge.

****Variations In Radiocarbon Levels Cause Offsets**

Analyses of modern atmospheric conditions reveal fluctuating radiocarbon levels over the last 50 years. It is also a given that plants in both Northern and Southern hemispheres grow in different places at different times. What Manning and his team set out to discover is if radiocarbon levels relevant to radiocarbon dating also varied in different areas during a certain period of time. They also wanted to know if any variations could cause massive changes in how historical events have been placed across the timeline.

![](https://alonschool.online/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/wjars1-1024x576.jpg)

To answer their question, the researchers took tree ring samples from plant material aged between 1610 and 1940 in southern Jordan and measured their carbon-14 ages. They found that there was a 19-year offset in organic material compared to the standard calibration curve for the Northern hemisphere.

****Implications Of A 20-Year Offset**

Applying the 20-year offset to previously established timescales, the researchers found that even a small variation can create changes in the historical calendar, enough to cause heavy implications in historical, archaeological, and paleoclimate debates. Because studies have been using radiocarbon dating, the 20-year offset could create inaccuracies in the research that could have led researchers to different findings.

The southern Levant region is a historically significant area, where scholars accumulate to study the remnants of the Iron Age and the Biblical period. The sophisticated research projects conducted in the area call for very precise findings, which then go on to become established history.

> “Our work indicates that it’s arguable their fundamental basis is faulty,” Manning says. “They are using a calibration curve that is not accurate for this region.”

He is calling for a rethinking of archaeological research, particularly studies that are done in the southern Levant region, and the possible revision of archaeological timescales that may very well alter the timeline of history. Details of the study are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Original Source: Nicole Arce, Tech Times
### Beyond the English Bible: Interlinear
URL: https://www.pshir.com/beyond-bible-interlinear/
Last updated: 2024-02-22T14:51:22.000Z
A majority of serious students of the Bible realize that what they study is not an English Book. The Jewish Bible was written in Hebrew and some sections in Aramaic. Christian writings were authored in Koine Greek. And Bibles in all other languages are translations of those early originals. One look at an Interlinear Bible should help anyone see the reality.

The need to look at the original usually arises when you study a particular text deeply. And this is where most people run into a problem. They are not sure how to do that. The most popular solution is to look at a concordance like Strong’s (the most popular one). And that means you can sort through all the possible definitions of the original word in question. But even if you use several concordances they barely scratch the surface because their definitions are very short. They can only take you so far. Still, concordances provide a way for someone who does not know Hebrew or Greek to take a look at the original words behind English.

Another excellent tool available to those who are not afraid to dig is an Interlinear Bible. So if learning the original language is out of the question for you a good Interlinear Bible is a great place to begin looking at the original text of the Bible. I will explain how to chose a good Interlinear Bible and how to use it for study.

There are many Bibles that present the original text on one side and the translation on the other. That’s fine, but this is helpful only for someone who already knows Greek and Hebrew. But how would someone who is only learning Greek, for example, be able to find the word “cross” in that Greek text without already knowing the word? So the column with original text is only useful to you if you can read and translate that language. And Hebrew would have the same problem. It works only for those who already know what those words mean.

![](https://www.seekthecontext.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Heb-Eng.jpg)

A better version of an Interlinear Bible for beginners in language is the one which presents the English text directly underneath the original Hebrew or Greek. This way you can see which words in the original correspond to which English words. Or at least you can see which words the translators chose to translate the original. Either way, you can take an original word and look it up in a language dictionary (often called lexicon). The obstacle here is that the word will not appear in the biblical text in its infinitive form. Dictionaries list words in infinitive forms, but in the biblical text, the word will be in its functional form. So you are back to English and you can find an infinitive form using Strong’s Concordance.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/01/Heb-Greek2.jpg)

There is an edition of an Interlinear Bible which has Strong’s numbers printed directly over the original words. The print is not very large and can be hard to read because it is compiled into one volume. But Green’s Interlinear Bible offers the original Hebrew (Masoretic text) and Greek (Textus Receptus texts) with English directly written under each phrase. The interlinear English text is hard to read because the English words follow the flow of original language grammar. Thus Green augmented it with a literal translation on the side that follows the rules of English grammar.

The most useful and important feature of this interlinear Bible is the Strong’s numbering system. This is the most important feature! These numbers provide those who do not read the original language a direct link to Strong’s Dictionary. This way any words which appear in any grammatical form in the original text can be traced to their dictionary form through the Strongs’ Dictionary, essentially skipping the English index. This Interlinear Bible is a valuable tool for those who do not possess Greek and Hebrew reading skills. But there is so much more. Once you find the dictionary form of any word in Hebrew or Greek you can take it far beyond any concordance. I explain how to do this in another article – [Beyond the English Bible III: Lexicon](https://www.seekthecontext.com/beyond-bible-lexicon/?ref=pshir.com)
### An Unknown Biblical King from 9th Century BCE
URL: https://www.pshir.com/unknown-biblical-king/
Last updated: 2022-01-14T19:06:48.000Z
A carefully sculpted head of an unknown 9th century BC Biblical king has been discovered in Israel and archaeologists are working hard to try and discover just who this mystery king was. The two-inch sculpture constructed out of faience is in excellent condition with only a small portion of the king’s beard missing, and is a dazzling example of art 3,000 years ago in the Holy Land, as AP News reports. Discovered in 2017 at the site of Abel Beth Maacah close to the Lebanon border, archaeologists have never come across a find quite like this before.

The sculpture was first found when archaeologists were working on excavating the floor of a structure that dates back to the Iron Age, and a volunteer ended up accidentally discovering the head. Researchers are certain that the sculpted head with a golden crown affixed to it was once a king, but they are unsure as to what kingdom this man would have once been in charge of in the distant past.

Archaeologists are aware that the 9th-century sculpture of the Biblical king’s head was found in a location that was once known as Abil al-Qamh, which bears a strong resemblance to another town that was described in the Book of Kings. At the time that this head would have been sculpted, Tyre, a Phoenician city, would have been found to the west, while the Arameans of Damascus were in control of the East. Archaeologists note that in Kings 1 15:20 it describes the site of Abel Beth Maacah as being one that was ruthlessly ransacked by King Ben Hadad.

Archaeologist Naama Yahalom-Mack explained that the site where the sculpted king’s head was discovered is a crucial one as Judah and Israel were at this time rival kingdoms.

“This location is very important because it suggests that the site may have shifted hands between these polities, more likely between Aram-Damascus and Israel.”

The recovery of the sculpture was such a profound one that the Israel Museum immediately put it out on display, with curator Eran Arie remarking that it is a beautifully crafted and highly unique piece of figurative art.

> “In the Iron Age, if there’s any figurative art, and there largely isn’t, it’s of very low quality. And this is of exquisite quality.”

In terms of its construction, Yahalom-Mack described the 9th century sculpted Biblical king’s head as being one that could be defined as looking quite Semitic.

> “The color of the face is greenish because of this copper tint that we have in the silicate paste. The guy kind of represents the generic way Semitic people are described.”

In terms of different Biblical kings that this sculpture could represent, the list of candidates is long and includes Ben Hadad, Ithobaal of Tyre, Hazael of Damascus, Ahab or Jehu of Israel. While archeologists continue to try and unravel the mystery of just who the sculpted Biblical king’s head could be, researchers from the Hebrew University will be performing further excavations in the area where the sculpture was first discovered.

Source: Kristine Moore published at www.inquisitr.com
### Beyond The English Bible: Concordance
URL: https://www.pshir.com/beyond-english-concordances/
Last updated: 2022-01-14T18:55:06.000Z
Many students who wish to begin studying beyond the English translations of the Bible do not know how and where to begin. I get questions about this frequently and they deserve a good and thorough answer. I will provide helpful links to free resources and specific book titles in a series of articles on this topic.

Most people’s idea of going to the original texts is to use the Stong’s Concordance. Strong’s is a fine tool. It may be a good place to start, but it is not a place to stop. Imagine that you can look up a word in a Webster’s dictionary. That’s good. But then there are encyclopedias where this item you are researching is explored in depth. Stong’s Concordance is similar to training wheels on a bicycle. Once you know how to ride it well, you move on and take off the wheels.

So what is the next level? Before I go much further I should make a disclaimer and say that the best path is to take the time and learn ancient Greek and biblical Hebrew. But I fully realize this is not practical for many people. Most people are not ready to commit to years of study to achieve such level of skill in original languages. Still, this is the best and most direct path. I will try to map out an alternative path, however. It will come with corresponding limitations because even most sophisticated English resources cannot fully substitute for a true expertise in language. There are no magic shortcuts. Still, there are some helpful resources even for those who do not read Hebrew or Greek.

First, there are some very literally translated Bibles? I personally recommend NASB and RSV. There is also Young’s Translation (you can find a scan of it [here for free](https://archive.org/details/holybibleconsist00youn)). Most of these Bible versions are updated with fairly recent manuscript discoveries. KJV may speak in outdated English but it is a good literal translation. It is based on a different family of New Testament manuscripts from the majority of modern translations, so you may notice some differences. You can buy these in any format. You can also read them for free on numerous Bible websites.

Many people believe that “the most literal translation” is the best one. I do not share that opinion. Literal can be very helpful, but they are very cumbersome for regular reading. So I recommend them, but primarily for study, not for devotional or esthetic reading.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/92/cb92d6e7-47ce-4f97-8940-40310199fb9b/content/images/2022/01/Greek1.jpg)

You may be already studying from a very literal translation, but you want to know what stands behind those English words. If you have compared different Bible versions you noticed that translations are somewhat flexible. Very often there are no exact and precise equivalents in English to accommodate the Hebrew and Greek words. Translators chose the words they feel are the best match, but there is no exact correlation and sometimes the context drives us to chose one option over another. Well, it is good to know what those options are. And this is where a concordance can help.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is the most popular and it works like this. Imagine that you are reading 2 Cor 6:6 and come across a teaching about “long-suffering” You want to know what it means so you go the English index (front part), find that word and located 2 Cor 6:6 reference. You may find that the word you study has several numbers associated with it. That’s because several words in the original language may have been translated with the English word “suffering”. Besides the 2 Cor 6:6 reference the concordance will give you a snippet of that verse to make sure that is the passage you want and it will give you a Strong’s Number.

You take that number and go to the back of the Concordance and find that number in the Greek Dictionary since this is New Testament. Naturally, for Hebrew Bible/Old Testament you look up words in Hebrew dictionary. And that is where you find some definitions of that original term. Most people cross-reference with some other places in the Bible where the word is used and this is the end of researching of the original term. I can show you how to keep going.

One alternative to Strong’s for Greek is “Englishman’s Concordance” (you can find a scan of it [here for free](https://archive.org/details/englishmansgreek00wigrrich)). It is not necessarily superior, but the information you might discover will differ somewhat. So it does not hurt to be informed by several sources and not rely on one resource alone. Young’s Analytical Concordance is another good choice (you can find a scan of it [here for free](https://archive.org/details/analyticalconcor00inyoun)). The point of using multiple concordances is the variance between translators. Some authors bring out nuances the others leave out. Each resource may have their strengths and weaknesses. This one is particularly useful with Young’s translation of the Bible

Another option is Nelson’s Concordance which is also known as “World’s Concise Bible Concordance” This one works very well with NASB Bibles. It is yet another resource that has some unique linguistic treasures. In some places, it is more updated than other concordances. And another volume that should be mentioned is “Cruden’s Complete Concordance to the Old and New Testaments” (you can find a scan of it [here for free](https://www.dropbox.com/s/zhxufq6wdisocbd/4Q265.docx?dl=0&ref=pshir.com)). It is an older concordance, but it may still prove valuable to a Bible student limited to the English language.

All Concordances work from English to Hebrew or Greek and are keyed to different versions of the Bible. They are big bulky books and their definitions are short. Keep in mind there are specific versions keyed to KJV, NASB, NIV and etc. Concordances allow you look up words in English and them move to more data in English. These resources will give you the words in original and will also provide a phonetic transliteration in English. Concordances do not require you to know how to read Greek or Hebrew. These are all great study tools for a beginner, but you will not be able to go very deep with just a Concordance. Words studies are helpful but they have their limits. If you want to know how to dig a bit deeper read the next article [Beyond the English Bible ](https://www.seekthecontext.com/beyond-bible-interlinear/?ref=pshir.com)II : Interlinear.
### The Proof of Isaiah The Prophet?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-proof-of-isaiah-the-prophet/
Last updated: 2024-05-17T17:51:13.000Z
An ancient clay seal bearing King Hezekiah was found in Jerusalem in 2015\. As a part of the same collection of seals revealed the name of Isaiah. Is this a seal of the famous prophet Isaiah a contemporary of King Hezekiah? If it is, then this is the first tangible piece of non-Biblical, archaeological evidence for the prophet!
### The Thinker Jug
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-thinker-jug/
Last updated: 2021-11-01T04:44:37.000Z
Israeli archaeologists and high school students found this jug in Yehud, a town near the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. It depicts “the thinker” a figure of a human in a retrospective pose.

While jugs like this are fairly common finds in a region dense with ancient objects, the statue on top of this jug is unusual. More than unusual: archaeologists have never seen anything like it in the area before.”It is a very unique vessel,” explained Elisheva Kamaisky, the Israeli Antiquities Authority’s head of pottery conservation. “There is no other one like it that we know about as of today.”

On their excavation, the archaeologists and students also found arrowheads, an axe head, daggers and sheep and donkey bones.

Original Source: The Grapevine
### Signs of Babylonian Destruction In The City of David
URL: https://www.pshir.com/signs-babylonian-destruction-city-david/
Last updated: 2021-11-01T04:45:18.000Z
Evidence of the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians has recently been unearthed in the City of David in excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority at the Jerusalem Walls National Park, funded by the City of David Foundation (Elad). 

In the excavations – concentrated on the eastern slope of the City of David, structures dating to more than 2,600 years ago have been unearthed after having been covered over by collapsed layers of stone. Nestled within the collapse, many findings have surfaced: charred wood, grape seeds, pottery, fish scales and bones, and unique, rare artifacts. These findings depict the affluence and character of Jerusalem, capital of the Judean Kingdom, and are mesmerizing proof of the city's demise at the hands of the Babylonians.
### Stone Tableware Factory Near Biblical Cana in Israel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/stone-tableware-factory-biblical-cana-israel/
Last updated: 2021-10-29T03:28:00.000Z
Archaeologists discovered an unusual cave is in the town of Reineh (between Nazareth and Kana). It was a stone quarry cave that doubled as a workshop and a first-century factory of tableware. Several stone bowls and cups in various stages of completion were found in the bowels of the cave, suggesting the cave may have been home to an active limestone goods manufacturing. The soft stone surfaces of chalk vessels were covered with chisel marks, showing where the rock had been hewn out. Inside were thousands of chalk cores and other waste from making bowls, drinking mugs and other tableware in various stages of production.

This is the fourth 2000-year-old workshop found in Israel. The first two were found near Jerusalem, the third one just a kilometer from the Reineh site. The archaeologists were surprised to find the two stone workshops, within a kilometer of one another, in Galilee. People around the ancient world generally used pottery to eat on and to store food. Pottery is common. However pious Jews in the late Second Temple Era used stoneware.

The village of Canna in the Gospel of John is the site of Jesus’s first miracle – turning water into wine (John 2). The special jars that Jesus used to turn water into wine were typically used for purity rites.

> Now there were set there *six waterpots of stone*, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. (Jon 2:6 NASB)

![](https://alonschool.online/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/sotne2-1024x576.jpg)

Some Jews in the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE were very focused on matters of ritual purity in their life and worship. These were not ordinary clay jars, but ones carved out of stone (limestone rock). Leviticus 11 teaches that cloth, a wooden or leather vessel if defiled by an impurity, could be purified through a special ritual. Pottery, however, can not be redeemed and must be broken. But there is no mention of stone vessels in connection with defilement. It appears that this omission led some ancient rabbis at to assume that stone simply could not become impure.

> “Some scholars would claim Galilee Jews were different from Judean Jews with respect to Judaism, that the Judeans were more religiously observant particularly in respect to the purity laws. Some scholars would claim the Galilee Jews were more lax,” Dr. Adler noted. “In ancient times, there was no such thing as being religious or nonreligious. It didn’t exist. People read the Bible and believed it and led their lives accordingly,” said Adler.

![](https://alonschool.online/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/sotne1-1024x576.jpg)

Stone vessels became popular in Judea in the mid-second century BCE and remained in use into the Roman period. The perceived value of such stone vessels is their inability to be contaminated and that is why they were used for purity rituals. Such large-scale production of stone vessels in Galilee for the local market point to the strength of purity observance in Galilee at the time.

> “Stone vessels played an integral role in the daily religious lives of Jews during this period. Perhaps because stone wasn’t among the materials mentioned in the Levitic purity codes it was deemed an exception. Either way”, he said in a statement released by the university, “It was a Jewish ‘Stone Age’ of sorts.” “The fact that we have such large-scale production of stone vessels in Galilee for the local market really shows the strength of purity observance in Galilee at the time,” he concluded.

For now, excavations of the cave have only yielded stone mugs and small bowls, nothing of the size mentioned in the Book of John.

Sources: Haaretz and Times of Israel
### New Hebrew Inscription – Send Wine!
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hebrew-inscription-first-temple-era/
Last updated: 2021-10-29T03:41:40.000Z
It was a ground-breaking discovery that was hiding in plain sight for more than half a century. Utilizing advanced multispectral imaging technology, Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered an “invisible” Hebrew inscription on the back of a pottery shard. The pottery shard has been on display at the Israel Museum for more than 50 years. The ostracon (ink-inscribed pottery shard) was dated to 600 BCE, the era of the First Temple and Kingdom of Judah roughly to the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s attack of Jerusalem. The piece of pottery was first unearthed in a poor condition in 1965 at the desert fortress of Arad.

> “Tel Arad was a military outpost a fortress at the southern border of the kingdom of Judah—and was populated by 20 to 30 soldiers,” said Dr. Anat Mendel-Geberovich of Tel Aviv University. “Most of the ostraca unearthed at Arad are dated to a short time span during the last stage of the fortress’s history, on the eve of the kingdom’s destruction in 586 BCE by Nebuchadnezzar. Many of these inscriptions are addressed to Elyashiv, the quartermaster of the fortress. They deal with the logistics of the outpost, such as the supply of flour, wine, and oil to subordinate units.”

According to TAU researchers, the Hebrew inscription on its front side begins with a blessing by Yahweh and then discusses money transfers.

>  
> “While its front side has been thoroughly studied, its back was considered blank,” said Arie Shaus, one of the scientists from Tel Aviv University. “Using multi-spectral imaging to acquire a set of images, Michael Cordonsky of TAU’s School of Physics, noticed several marks on the ostracon’s reverse side. To our surprise, three new lines of text were revealed.”

As a result, the researchers deciphered 50 characters, comprising 17 words, on the back of the ostracon. The message on the back was a continuation of the Hebrew Inscription found on the front part of the shard.

> “The new inscription begins with a request for wine, as well as a guarantee for assistance if the addressee has any requests of his own,” said Arie Shaus. “It concludes with a request for the provision of a certain commodity to an unnamed person, and a note regarding a ‘bath,’ an ancient measurement of wine carried by a man named Ge’alyahu.”

This newly-discovered Hebrew inscription begins with a request for wine and continues with a guarantee for assistance if the addressee has any special requests. Then It concludes with a request for the provision of a certain commodity to an unnamed person and a note regarding a ‘bath’ (an ancient measurement of wine) carried by a man named Ge’alyahu. The newly-discovered text appears to be the continuation of the originally discovered message. The reverse side of the pottery shard carried the rest of the ancient letter the researchers were not able to see it when they originally studied it.

On a larger scale, this discovery stresses the importance of using multi-spectral imaging analysis on materials traditionally used for inscriptions. How many pieces of ostraca might have been dismissed as unremarkable during the digs because no one noticed the inscriptions not visible to the human eye? With new technology, the future may hold few additional surprises. Just as with this piece of pottery we may yet discover new texts on the items previously studied and now held in museums and collections.

Original Sources: Jerusalem Post and Newsweek
### Why Should We Seek The Biblical Context?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/why-seek-context/
Last updated: 2021-10-29T04:04:21.000Z
What is so important about seeking the Biblical context? Why devote such an effort to this task? Do we even need the original context? The truth is – yes, very much so. The effort of many hours of study and research is justified because the understanding of the Bible out of context is simply not acceptable. Taking anything that can affect us profoundly out of context is quite dangerous. When one is taken out of context on a personal level, it is highly frustrating. Just imagine, you giving a speech, say something important, but those who hear you speaking misunderstand your words, misinterpret your intent and as a result miss the whole point of your speech. Your listeners can be misled into a completely different direction without the proper knowledge of the background of your words. I wonder how often this happens with the words of the Bible because we are unaware of the background of what it says?

Besides, seeking the context really means seeking God. When speaking about the Bible, the context refers to the context of God’s words, the context of the Scriptures that express divine will. God has revealed himself to humanity through his words, through messages which were transmitted by people faithful to him. But this happened centuries ago. The words are ancient, they come through layers of culture and language. Modern listeners have to make a special effort to perceive those messages the way they were meant to impact people when they were first given. It is not an easy task because the world we live in today is a vastly different. Yet, it is imperative because only when we perceive the original meaning of the message can we see how it can be applied to our reality. So seeking the context is seeking God and the effort is hard but quite intentional and worth it.

![](https://alonbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/bib3-1024x576.jpg)

Seeking the context also means seeking to understand. The words by themselves are tools, they are images and symbols, the building blocks of language woven tether to produce a cohesive message. And the message has a particular meaning. This meaning may not be obvious. The meaning obvious to a modern reader may not be the one the author had in mind. A true seeker of understanding is not after the words themselves, but after the meaning that these words seek to transmit.

The original meaning of the biblical text can be quite elusive and the biggest risk of misunderstanding has to do with misreading and misinterpreting the meaning. Sometimes people focus on the wrong keywords. Sometimes the meaning is idiomatic and it could be literal. Sometimes the meaning is connotative, situational, and particular words used may evoke a strong emotional resonance in the ancient audience. Projecting the ancient words into our modern world and deriving a meaning that suits us personally in our setting the biggest pitfall of uncovering the authorial intent. If the interpreter can perceive this sensitive context through a careful study of the setting of the message that he or she may hit the bullseye. True understanding is rarely achieved without an intentional study of peculiar context that explains the words which transmit messages.
### 53 Biblical People Confirmed by Archaeology
URL: https://www.pshir.com/people-confirmed-archaeology/
Last updated: 2021-10-31T16:01:56.000Z
Lawrence Mykytiuk writes that there are figures “mentioned in the Bible have been identified in the archaeological record. Their names appear in inscriptions written during the period described by the Bible and in most instances during or quite close to the lifetime of the person identified.” 

Here is a list of 53 Biblical People Confirmed by Archaeology and found in Authentic Inscriptions.

|                                | Name                                         | Position                               | Date – B.C.E.                     | Where in the Bible?                      |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| **Egypt**                      |                                              |                                        |                                   |                                          |
| 1                              | Shishak (= Sheshonq I)                       | pharaoh                                | 945–924                           | 1 Kings 11:40, etc.                      |
| 2                              | So (= Osorkon IV)                            | pharaoh                                | 730–715                           | 2 Kings 17:4                             |
| 3                              | Tirhakah (= Taharqa)                         | pharaoh                                | 690–664                           | 2 Kings 19:9, etc.                       |
| 4                              | Necho II (= Neco II)                         | pharaoh                                | 610–595                           | 2 Chronicles 35:20, etc.                 |
| 5                              | Hophra (= Apries)                            | pharaoh                                | 589–570                           | Jeremiah 44:30                           |
| **Moab**                       |                                              |                                        |                                   |                                          |
| 6                              | Mesha                                        | king                                   | early to mid-ninth century        | 2 Kings 3:4–27                           |
| Aram-Damascus                  |                                              |                                        |                                   |                                          |
| 7                              | Hadadezer                                    | king                                   | early ninth century to 844/842    | 1 Kings 11:23, etc.                      |
| 8                              | Ben-hadad, son of Hadadezer                  | king                                   | 844/842                           | 2 Kings 6:24, etc.                       |
| 9                              | Hazael                                       | king                                   | 844/842–c. 800                    | 1 Kings 19:15, etc.                      |
| 10                             | Ben-hadad, son of Hazael                     | king                                   | early eighth century              | 2 Kings 13:3, etc.                       |
| 11                             | Rezin                                        | king                                   | mid-eighth century to 732         | 2 Kings 15:37, etc.                      |
| **Northern Kingdom of Israel** |                                              |                                        |                                   |                                          |
| 12                             | Omri                                         | king                                   | 884–873                           | 1 Kings 16:16, etc.                      |
| 13                             | Ahab                                         | king                                   | 873–852                           | 1 Kings 16:28, etc.                      |
| 14                             | Jehu                                         | king                                   | 842/841–815/814                   | 1 Kings 19:16, etc.                      |
| 15                             | Joash (= Jehoash)                            | king                                   | 805–790                           | 2 Kings 13:9, etc.                       |
| 16                             | Jeroboam II                                  | king                                   | 790–750/749                       | 2 Kings 13:13, etc.                      |
| 17                             | Menahem                                      | king                                   | 749–738                           | 2 Kings 15:14, etc.                      |
| 18                             | Pekah                                        | king                                   | 750(?)–732/731                    | 2 Kings 15:25, etc.                      |
| 19                             | Hoshea                                       | king                                   | 732/731–722                       | 2 Kings 15:30, etc.                      |
| 20                             | Sanballat “I”                                | governor of Samaria under Persian rule | c. mid-fifth century              | Nehemiah 2:10, etc.                      |
| **Southern Kingdom of Judah**  |                                              |                                        |                                   |                                          |
| 21                             | David                                        | king                                   | c. 1010–970                       | 1 Samuel 16:13, etc.                     |
| 22                             | Uzziah (= Azariah)                           | king                                   | 788/787–736/735                   | 2 Kings 14:21, etc.                      |
| 23                             | Ahaz (= Jehoahaz)                            | king                                   | 742/741–726                       | 2 Kings 15:38, etc.                      |
| 24                             | Hezekiah                                     | king                                   | 726–697/696                       | 2 Kings 16:20, etc.                      |
| 25                             | Manasseh                                     | king                                   | 697/696–642/641                   | 2 Kings 20:21, etc.                      |
| 26                             | Hilkiah                                      | high priest during Josiah’s reign      | within 640/639–609                | 2 Kings 22:4, etc.                       |
| 27                             | Shaphan                                      | scribe during Josiah’s reign           | within 640/639–609                | 2 Kings 22:3, etc.                       |
| 28                             | Azariah                                      | high priest during Josiah’s reign      | within 640/639–609                | 1 Chronicles 5:39, etc.                  |
| 29                             | Gemariah                                     | official during Jehoiakim’s reign      | within 609–598                    | Jeremiah 36:10, etc.                     |
| 30                             | Jehoiachin (= Jeconiah = Coniah)             | king                                   | 598–597                           | 2 Kings 24:6, etc.                       |
| 31                             | Shelemiah                                    | father of Jehucal the royal official   | late seventh century              | Jeremiah 37:3, etc.                      |
| 32                             | Jehucal (= Jucal)                            | official during Zedekiah’s reign       | within 597–586                    | Jeremiah 37:3, etc.                      |
| 33                             | Pashhur                                      | father of Gedaliah the royal official  | late seventh century              | Jeremiah 38:1                            |
| 34                             | Gedaliah                                     | official during Zedekiah’s reign       | within 597–586                    | Jeremiah 38:1                            |
| **Assyria**                    |                                              |                                        |                                   |                                          |
| 35                             | Tiglath-pileser III (= Pul)                  | king                                   | 744–727                           | 2 Kings 15:19, etc.                      |
| 36                             | Shalmaneser V                                | king                                   | 726–722                           | 2 Kings 17:3, etc.                       |
| 37                             | Sargon II                                    | king                                   | 721–705                           | Isaiah 20:1                              |
| 38                             | Sennacherib                                  | king                                   | 704–681                           | 2 Kings 18:13, etc.                      |
| 39                             | Adrammelech (= Ardamullissu = Arad-mullissu) | son and assassin of Sennacherib        | early seventh century             | 2 Kings 19:37, etc.                      |
| 40                             | Esarhaddon                                   | king                                   | 680–669                           | 2 Kings 19:37, etc.                      |
| **Babylonia**                  |                                              |                                        |                                   |                                          |
| 41                             | Merodach-baladan II                          | king                                   | 721–710 and 703                   | 2 Kings 20:12, etc.                      |
| 42                             | Nebuchadnezzar II                            | king                                   | 604–562                           | 2 Kings 24:1, etc.                       |
| 43                             | Nebo-sarsekim                                | official of Nebuchadnezzar II          | early sixth century               | Jeremiah 39:3                            |
| 44                             | Nergal-sharezer                              | officer of Nebuchadnezzar II           | early sixth century               | Jeremiah 39:3                            |
| 45                             | Nebuzaradan                                  | a chief officer of Nebuchadnezzar II   | early sixth century               | 2 Kings 25:8, etc. & Jeremiah 39:9, etc. |
| 46                             | Evil-merodach (= Awel Marduk = Amel Marduk)  | king                                   | 561–560                           | 2 Kings 25:27, etc.                      |
| 47                             | Belshazzar                                   | son and co-regent of Nabonidus         | c. 543?–540                       | Daniel 5:1, etc.                         |
| **Persia**                     |                                              |                                        |                                   |                                          |
| 48                             | Cyrus II (= Cyrus the Great)                 | king                                   | 559–530                           | 2 Chronicles 36:22, etc.                 |
| 49                             | Darius I (= Darius the Great)                | king                                   | 520–486                           | Ezra 4:5, etc.                           |
| 50                             | Tattenai                                     | provincial governor of Trans-Euphrates | late sixth to early fifth century | Ezra 5:3, etc.                           |
| 51                             | Xerxes I (= Ahasuerus)                       | king                                   | 486–465                           | Esther 1:1, etc.                         |
| 52                             | Artaxerxes I Longimanus                      | king                                   | 465-425/424                       | Ezra 4:7, etc.                           |
| 53                             | Darius II Nothus                             | king                                   | 425/424-405/404                   | Nehemiah 12:22                           |

53 Figures: The Biblical and Archaeological Evidence

EGYPT

1\. Shishak (= Sheshonq I), pharaoh, r. 945–924, 1 Kings 11:40 and 14:25, in his inscriptions, including the record of his military campaign in Palestine in his 924 B.C.E. inscription on the exterior south wall of the Temple of Amun at Karnak in Thebes. See OROT, pp. 10, 31–32, 502 note 1; many references to him in Third, indexed on p. 520; Kenneth A. Kitchen, review of IBP, SEE-J Hiphil 2 (2005), www.see-j.net/index.php/hiphil/article/viewFile/19/17, bottom of p. 3, which is briefly mentioned in “Sixteen,” p. 43 n. 22\. (Note: The name of this pharaoh can be spelled Sheshonq or Shoshenq.)

Sheshonq is also referred to in a fragment of his victory stele discovered at Megiddo containing his cartouche. See Robert S. Lamon and Geoffrey M. Shipton, Megiddo I: Seasons of 1925–34, Strata I–V. (Oriental Institute Publications no. 42; Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1939), pp. 60–61, fig. 70; Graham I. Davies, Megiddo (Cities of the Biblical World; Cambridge: Lutterworth Press, 1986), pp. 89 fig. 18, 90; OROT, p. 508 n. 68; IBP, p. 137 n. 119\. (Note: The name of this pharaoh can be spelled Sheshonq or Shoshenq.)

Egyptian pharaohs had several names, including a throne name. It is known that the throne name of Sheshonq I, when translated into English, means, “Bright is the manifestation of Re, chosen of Amun/Re.” Sheshonq I’s inscription on the wall of the Temple of Amun at Karnak in Thebes (mentioned above) celebrates the victories of his military campaign in the Levant, thus presenting the possibility of his presence in that region. A small Egyptian scarab containing his exact throne name, discovered as a surface find at Khirbat Hamra Ifdan, now documents his presence at or near that location. This site is located along the Wadi Fidan, in the region of Faynan in southern Jordan.

As for the time period, disruption of copper production at Khirbet en-Nahas, also in the southern Levant, can be attributed to Sheshonq’s army, as determined by stratigraphy, high-precision radiocarbon dating, and an assemblage of Egyptian amulets dating to Sheshonq’s time. His army seems to have intentionally disrupted copper production, as is evident both at Khirbet en-Nahas and also at Khirbat Hamra Ifdan, where the scarab was discovered.

As for the singularity of this name in this remote locale, it would have been notable to find any Egyptian scarab there, much less one containing the throne name of this conquering Pharaoh; this unique discovery admits no confusion with another person. See Thomas E. Levy, Stefan Münger, and Mohammad Najjar, “A Newly Discovered Scarab of Sheshonq I: Recent Iron Age Explorations in Southern Jordan. Antiquity Project Gallery,” Antiquity (2014); online: http://journal.antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/levy341.

2\. So (= Osorkon IV), pharaoh, r. 730–715, 2 Kings 17:4 only, which calls him “So, king of Egypt” (OROT, pp. 15–16). K. A. Kitchen makes a detailed case for So being Osorkon IV in Third, pp. 372–375\. See Raging Torrent, p. 106 under “Shilkanni.”

3\. Tirhakah (= Taharqa), pharaoh, r. 690–664, 2 Kings 19:9, etc. in many Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions; Third, pp. 387–395\. For mention of Tirhakah in Assyrian inscriptions, see those of Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal in Raging Torrent, pp. 138–143, 145, 150–153, 155, 156; ABC, p. 247 under “Terhaqah.” The Babylonian chronicle also refers to him (Raging Torrent, p. 187). On Tirhakah as prince, see OROT, p. 24.

4\. Necho II (= Neco II), pharaoh, r. 610–595, 2 Chronicles 35:20, etc., in inscriptions of the Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal (ANET, pp. 294–297) and the Esarhaddon Chronicle (ANET, p. 303). See also Raging Torrent, pp. 189–199, esp. 198; OROT, p. 504 n. 26; Third, p. 407; ABC, p. 232.

5\. Hophra (= Apries = Wahibre), pharaoh, r. 589–570, Jeremiah 44:30, in Egyptian inscriptions, such as the one describing his being buried by his successor, Aḥmose II (= Amasis II) (Third, p. 333 n. 498), with reflections in Babylonian inscriptions regarding Nebuchadnezzar’s defeat of Hophra in 572 and replacing him on the throne of Egypt with a general, Aḥmes (= Amasis), who later rebelled against Babylonia and was suppressed (Raging Torrent, p. 222). See OROT, pp. 9, 16, 24; Third, p. 373 n. 747, 407 and 407 n. 969; ANET, p. 308; D. J. Wiseman, Chronicles of Chaldaean Kings (626–556 B.C.) in the British Museum (London: The Trustees of the British Museum, 1956), pp. 94-95\. Cf. ANEHST, p. 402\. (The index of Third, p. 525, distinguishes between an earlier “Wahibre i” \[Third, p. 98\] and the 26th Dynasty’s “Wahibre ii” \[= Apries\], r. 589–570.)

MOAB

6\. Mesha, king, r. early to mid-9th century, 2 Kings 3:4–27, in the Mesha Inscription, which he caused to be written, lines 1–2; Dearman, Studies, pp. 97, 100–101; IBP, pp. 95–108, 238; “Sixteen,” p. 43.

ARAM-DAMASCUS

7\. Hadadezer, king, r. early 9th century to 844/842, 1 Kings 22:3, etc., in Assyrian inscriptions of Shalmaneser III and also, I am convinced, in the Melqart stele. The Hebrew Bible does not name him, referring to him only as “the King of Aram” in 1 Kings 22:3, 31; 2 Kings chapter 5, 6:8–23\. We find out this king’s full name in some contemporaneous inscriptions of Shalmaneser III, king of Assyria (r. 858–824), such as the Black Obelisk (Raging Torrent, pp. 22–24). At Kurkh, a monolith by Shalmaneser III states that at the battle of Qarqar (853 B.C.E.), he defeated “Adad-idri \[the Assyrian way of saying Hadadezer\] the Damascene,” along with “Ahab the Israelite” and other kings (Raging Torrent, p. 14; RIMA 3, p. 23, A.0.102.2, col. ii, lines 89b–92). “Hadadezer the Damascene” is also mentioned in an engraving on a statue of Shalmaneser III at Aššur (RIMA 3, p. 118, A.0.102.40, col. i, line 14). The same statue engraving later mentions both Hadadezer and Hazael together (RIMA 3, p. 118, col. i, lines 25–26) in a topical arrangement of worst enemies defeated that is not necessarily chronological.  
On the long-disputed readings of the Melqart stele, which was discovered in Syria in 1939, see “Corrections,” pp. 69–85, which follows the closely allied readings of Frank Moore Cross and Gotthard G. G. Reinhold. Those readings, later included in “Sixteen,” pp. 47–48, correct the earlier absence of this Hadadezer in IBP (notably on p. 237, where he is not to be confused with the tenth-century Hadadezer, son of Rehob and king of Zobah).

8\. Ben-hadad, son of Hadadezer, r. or served as co-regent 844/842, 2 Kings 6:24, etc., in the Melqart stele, following the readings of Frank Moore Cross and Gotthard G. G. Reinhold and Cross’s 2003 criticisms of a different reading that now appears in COS, vol. 2, pp. 152–153 (“Corrections,” pp. 69–85). Several kings of Damascus bore the name Bar-hadad (in their native Aramaic, which is translated as Ben-hadad in the Hebrew Bible), which suggests adoption as “son” by the patron deity Hadad. This designation might indicate that he was the crown prince and/or co-regent with his father Hadadezer. It seems likely that Bar-hadad/Ben-hadad was his father’s immediate successor as king, as seems to be implied by the military policy reversal between 2 Kings 6:3–23 and 6:24\. It was this Ben-Hadad, the son of Hadadezer, whom Hazael assassinated in 2 Kings 8:7–15 (quoted in Raging Torrent, p. 25). The mistaken disqualification of this biblical identification in the Melqart stele in IBP, p. 237, is revised to a strong identification in that stele in “Corrections,” pp. 69–85; “Sixteen,” p. 47.

9\. Hazael, king, r. 844/842–ca. 800, 1 Kings 19:15, 2 Kings 8:8, etc., is documented in four kinds of inscriptions: 1) The inscriptions of Shalmaneser III call him “Hazael of Damascus” (Raging Torrent, pp. 23–26, 28), for example the inscription on the Kurbail Statue (RIMA 3, p. 60, line 21). He is also referred to in 2) the Zakkur stele from near Aleppo, in what is now Syria, and in 3) bridle inscriptions, i.e., two inscribed horse blinders and a horse frontlet discovered on Greek islands, and in 4) inscribed ivories seized as Assyrian war booty (Raging Torrent, p. 35). All are treated in IBP, pp. 238–239, and listed in “Sixteen,” p. 44\. Cf. “Corrections,” pp. 101–103.

10\. Ben-hadad, son of Hazael, king, r. early 8th century, 2 Kings 13:3, etc., in the Zakkur stele from near Aleppo. In lines 4–5, it calls him “Bar-hadad, son of Hazael, the king of Aram” (IBP, p. 240; “Sixteen,” p. 44; Raging Torrent, p. 38; ANET, p. 655: COS, vol. 2, p. 155). On the possibility of Ben-hadad, son of Hazael, being the “Mari” in Assyrian inscriptions, see Raging Torrent, pp. 35–36.

11\. Rezin (= Raḥianu), king, r. mid-8th century to 732, 2 Kings 15:37, etc., in the inscriptions of Tiglath-pileser III, king of Assyria (in these inscriptions, Raging Torrent records frequent mention of Rezin in pp. 51–78); OROT, p. 14\. Inscriptions of Tiglath-pileser III refer to “Rezin” several times, “Rezin of Damascus” in Annal 13, line 10 (ITP, pp. 68–69), and “the dynasty of Rezin of Damascus” in Annal 23, line 13 (ITP, pp. 80–81). Tiglath-pileser III’s stele from Iran contains an explicit reference to Rezin as king of Damascus in column III, the right side, A: “\[line 1\] The kings of the land of Hatti (and of) the Aramaeans of the western seashore . . . \[line 4\] Rezin of Damascus” (ITP, pp. 106–107).

NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

12\. Omri, king, r. 884–873, 1 Kings 16:16, etc., in Assyrian inscriptions and in the Mesha Inscription. Because he founded a famous dynasty which ruled the northern kingdom of Israel, the Assyrians refer not only to him as a king of Israel (ANET, pp. 280, 281), but also to the later rulers of that territory as kings of “the house of Omri” and that territory itself literally as “the house of Omri” (Raging Torrent, pp. 34, 35; ANET, pp. 284, 285). Many a later king of Israel who was not his descendant, beginning with Jehu, was called “the son of Omri” (Raging Torrent, p. 18). The Mesha Inscription also refers to Omri as “the king of Israel” in lines 4–5, 7 (Dearman, Studies, pp. 97, 100–101; COS, vol. 2, p. 137; IBP, pp. 108–110, 216; “Sixteen,” p. 43.

13\. Ahab, king, r. 873–852, 1 Kings 16:28, etc., in the Kurkh Monolith by his enemy, Shalmaneser III of Assyria. There, referring to the battle of Qarqar (853 B.C.E.), Shalmaneser calls him “Ahab the Israelite” (Raging Torrent, pp. 14, 18–19; RIMA 3, p. 23, A.0.102.2, col. 2, lines 91–92; ANET, p. 279; COS, vol. 2, p. 263).

14\. Jehu, king, r. 842/841–815/814, 1 Kings 19:16, etc., in inscriptions of Shalmaneser III. In these, “son” means nothing more than that he is the successor, in this instance, of Omri (Raging Torrent, p. 20 under “Ba’asha . . . ” and p. 26). A long version of Shalmaneser III’s annals on a stone tablet in the outer wall of the city of Aššur refers to Jehu in col. 4, line 11, as “Jehu, son of Omri” (Raging Torrent, p. 28; RIMA 3, p. 54, A.0.102.10, col. 4, line 11; cf. ANET, p. 280, the parallel “fragment of an annalistic text”). Also, on the Kurba’il Statue, lines 29–30 refer to “Jehu, son of Omri” (RIMA 3, p. 60, A.0.102.12, lines 29–30).

In Shalmaneser III’s Black Obelisk, current scholarship regards the notation over relief B, depicting payment of tribute from Israel, as referring to “Jehu, son of Omri” (Raging Torrent, p. 23; RIMA 3, p. 149, A.0\. 102.88), but cf. P. Kyle McCarter, Jr., “‘Yaw, Son of ‘Omri’: A Philological Note on Israelite Chronology,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 216 (1974): pp. 5–7.

15\. Joash (= Jehoash), king, r. 805–790, 2 Kings 13:9, etc., in the Tell al-Rimaḥ inscription of Adad-Nirari III, king of Assyria (r. 810–783), which mentions “the tribute of Joash \[= Iu’asu\] the Samarian” (Stephanie Page, “A Stela of Adad-Nirari III and Nergal-Ereš from Tell Al Rimaḥ,” Iraq 30 \[1968\]: pp. 142–145, line 8, Pl. 38–41; RIMA 3, p. 211, line 8 of A.0.104.7; Raging Torrent, pp. 39–41).

16\. Jeroboam II, king, r. 790–750/749, 2 Kings 13:13, etc., in the seal of his royal servant Shema, discovered at Megiddo (WSS, p. 49 no. 2; IBP, pp. 133–139, 217; “Sixteen,” p. 46).

17\. Menahem, king, r. 749–738, 2 Kings 15:14, etc., in the Calah Annals of Tiglath-pileser III. Annal 13, line 10 refers to “Menahem of Samaria” in a list of kings who paid tribute (ITP, pp. 68–69, Pl. IX). Tiglath-pileser III’s stele from Iran, his only known stele, refers explicitly to Menahem as king of Samaria in column III, the right side, A: “\[line 1\] The kings of the land of Hatti (and of) the Aramaeans of the western seashore . . . \[line 5\] Menahem of Samaria.” (ITP, pp. 106–107). See also Raging Torrent, pp. 51, 52, 54, 55, 59; ANET, p. 283.

18\. Pekah, king, r. 750(?)–732/731, 2 Kings 15:25, etc., in the inscriptions of Tiglath-pileser III. Among various references to “Pekah,” the most explicit concerns the replacement of Pekah in Summary Inscription 4, lines 15–17: “\[line 15\] . . . The land of Bit-Humria . . . . \[line 17\] Peqah, their king \[I/they killed\] and I installed Hoshea \[line 18\] \[as king\] over them” (ITP, pp. 140–141; Raging Torrent, pp. 66–67).

19\. Hoshea, king, r. 732/731–722, 2 Kings 15:30, etc., in Tiglath-pileser’s Summary Inscription 4, described in preceding note 18, where Hoshea is mentioned as Pekah’s immediate successor.

20\. Sanballat “I”, governor of Samaria under Persian rule, ca. mid-fifth century, Nehemiah 2:10, etc., in a letter among the papyri from the Jewish community at Elephantine in Egypt (A. E. Cowley, ed., Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C. (Oxford: Clarendon, 1923; reprinted Osnabrück, Germany: Zeller, 1967), p. 114 English translation of line 29, and p. 118 note regarding line 29; ANET, p. 492.

Also, the reference to “\[ \]ballat,” most likely Sanballat, in Wadi Daliyeh bulla WD 22 appears to refer to the biblical Sanballat as the father of a governor of Samaria who succeeded him in the first half of the fourth century. As Jan Dušek shows, it cannot be demonstrated that any Sanballat II and III existed, which is the reason for the present article’s quotation marks around the “I” in Sanballat “I”; see Jan Dušek, “Archaeology and Texts in the Persian Period: Focus on Sanballat,” in Martti Nissinen, ed., Congress Volume: Helsinki 2010 (Boston: Brill. 2012), pp. 117–132.

SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH

21\. David, king, r. ca. 1010–970, 1 Samuel 16:13, etc. in three inscriptions. Most notable is the victory stele in Aramaic known as the “house of David” inscription, discovered at Tel Dan; Avraham Biran and Joseph Naveh, “An Aramaic Stele from Tel Dan,” IEJ 43 (1993), pp. 81–98, and idem, “The Tel Dan Inscription: A New Fragment,” IEJ 45 (1995), pp. 1–18\. An ancient Aramaic word pattern in line 9 designates David as the founder of the dynasty of Judah in the phrase “house of David” (2 Sam 2:11 and 5:5; Gary A. Rendsburg, “On the Writing ביתדיד \[BYTDWD\] in the Aramaic Inscription from Tel Dan,” IEJ 45 \[1995\], pp. 22–25; Raging Torrent, p. 20, under “Ba’asha . . .”; IBP, pp. 110–132, 265–77; “Sixteen,” pp. 41–43).

In the second inscription, the Mesha Inscription, the phrase “house of David” appears in Moabite in line 31 with the same meaning: that he is the founder of the dynasty. There David’s name appears with only its first letter destroyed, and no other letter in that spot makes sense without creating a very strained, awkward reading (André Lemaire, “‘House of David’ Restored in Moabite Inscription,” BAR 20, no. 3 \[May/June 1994\]: pp. 30–37\. David’s name also appears in line 12 of the Mesha Inscription (Anson F. Rainey, “Mesha‘ and Syntax,” in J. Andrew Dearman and M. Patrick Graham, eds., The Land That I Will Show You: Essays on the History and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East in Honor of J. Maxwell Miller. (JSOT Supplement series, no. 343; Sheffield, England:Sheffield Academic, 2001), pp. 287–307; IBP, pp. 265–277; “Sixteen,” pp. 41–43).

The third inscription, in Egyptian, mentions a region in the Negev called “the heights of David” after King David (Kenneth A. Kitchen, “A Possible Mention of David in the Late Tenth Century B.C.E., and Deity \*Dod as Dead as the Dodo?” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 76 \[1997\], pp. 39–41; IBP, p. 214 note 3, which is revised in “Corrections,” pp. 119–121; “Sixteen,” p. 43).

In the table on p. 46 of BAR, David is listed as king of Judah. According to 2 Samuel 5:5, for his first seven years and six months as a monarch, he ruled only the southern kingdom of Judah. We have no inscription that refers to David as king over all Israel (that is, the united kingdom) as also stated in 2 Sam 5:5.

22\. Uzziah (= Azariah), king, r. 788/787–736/735, 2 Kings 14:21, etc., in the inscribed stone seals of two of his royal servants: Abiyaw and Shubnayaw (more commonly called Shebanyaw); WSS, p. 51 no. 4 and p. 50 no. 3, respectively; IBP, pp. 153–159 and 159–163, respectively, and p. 219 no. 20 (a correction to IBP is that on p. 219, references to WSS nos. 3 and 4 are reversed); “Sixteen,” pp. 46–47\. Cf. also his secondary burial inscription from the Second Temple era (IBP, p. 219 n. 22).

23\. Ahaz (= Jehoahaz), king, r. 742/741–726, 2 Kings 15:38, etc., in Tiglath-pileser III’s Summary Inscription 7, reverse, line 11, refers to “Jehoahaz of Judah” in a list of kings who paid tribute (ITP, pp. 170–171; Raging Torrent, pp. 58–59). The Bible refers to him by the shortened form of his full name, Ahaz, rather than by the full form of his name, Jehoahaz, which the Assyrian inscription uses.  
Cf. the unprovenanced seal of ’Ushna’, more commonly called ’Ashna’, the name Ahaz appears (IBP, pp. 163–169, with corrections from Kitchen’s review of IBP as noted in “Corrections,” p. 117; “Sixteen,” pp. 38–39 n. 11). Because this king already stands clearly documented in an Assyrian inscription, documentation in another inscription is not necessary to confirm the existence of the biblical Ahaz, king of Judah.

24\. Hezekiah, king, r. 726–697/696, 2 Kings 16:20, etc., initially in the Rassam Cylinder of Sennacherib (in this inscription, Raging Torrent records frequent mention of Hezekiah in pp. 111–123; COS, pp. 302–303). It mentions “Hezekiah the Judahite” (col. 2 line 76 and col. 3 line 1 in Luckenbill, Annals of Sennacherib, pp. 31, 32) and “Jerusalem, his royal city” (ibid., col. 3 lines 28, 40; ibid., p. 33) Other, later copies of the annals of Sennacherib, such as the Oriental Institute prism and the Taylor prism, mostly repeat the content of the Rassam cylinder, duplicating its way of referring to Hezekiah and Jerusalem (ANET, pp. 287, 288). The Bull Inscription from the palace at Nineveh (ANET, p. 288; Raging Torrent, pp. 126–127) also mentions “Hezekiah the Judahite” (lines 23, 27 in Luckenbill, Annals of Sennacherib, pp. 69, 70) and “Jerusalem, his royal city” (line 29; ibid., p. 33).

25\. Manasseh, king, r. 697/696–642/641, 2 Kings 20:21, etc., in the inscriptions of Assyrian kings Esarhaddon (Raging Torrent, pp. 131, 133, 136) and Ashurbanipal (ibid., p. 154). “Manasseh, king of Judah,” according to Esarhaddon (r. 680–669), was among those who paid tribute to him (Esarhaddon’s Prism B, column 5, line 55; R. Campbell Thompson, The Prisms of Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal \[London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1931\], p. 25; ANET, p. 291). Also, Ashurbanipal (r. 668–627) records that “Manasseh, king of Judah” paid tribute to him (Ashurbanipal’s Cylinder C, col. 1, line 25; Maximilian Streck, Assurbanipal und die letzten assyrischen Könige bis zum Untergang Niniveh’s, \[Vorderasiatische Bibliothek 7; Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs, 1916\], vol. 2, pp. 138–139; ANET, p. 294.

26\. Hilkiah, high priest during Josiah’s reign, within 640/639–609, 2 Kings 22:4, etc., in the City of David bulla of Azariah, son of Hilkiah (WSS, p. 224 no. 596; IBP, pp. 148–151; 229 only in \[50\] City of David bulla; “Sixteen,” p. 49).

The oldest part of Jerusalem, called the City of David, is the location where the Bible places all four men named in the bullae covered in the present endnotes 26 through 29.

Analysis of the clay of these bullae shows that they were produced in the locale of Jerusalem (Eran Arie, Yuval Goren, and Inbal Samet, “Indelible Impression: Petrographic Analysis of Judahite Bullae,” in The Fire Signals of Lachish: Studies in the Archaeology and History of Israel in the Late Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Persian Period in Honor of David Ussishkin \[ed. Israel Finkelstein and Nadav Na’aman; Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2011\], p. 10, quoted in “Sixteen,” pp. 48–49 n. 34).

27\. Shaphan, scribe during Josiah’s reign, within 640/639–609, 2 Kings 22:3, etc., in the City of David bulla of Gemariah, son of Shaphan (WSS, p. 190 no. 470; IBP, pp. 139–146, 228). See endnote 26 above regarding “Sixteen,” pp. 48–49 n. 34.

28\. Azariah, high priest during Josiah’s reign, within 640/639–609, 1 Chronicles 5:39, etc., in the City of David bulla of Azariah, son of Hilkiah (WSS, p. 224 no. 596; IBP, pp. 151–152; 229). See endnote 26 above regarding “Sixteen,” pp. 48–49 n. 34.

29\. Gemariah, official during Jehoiakim’s reign, within 609–598, Jeremiah 36:10, etc., in the City of David bulla of Gemariah, son of Shaphan (WSS, p. 190 no. 470; IBP, pp. 147, 232). See endnote 26 above regarding “Sixteen,” pp. 48–49 n. 34.

30\. Jehoiachin (= Jeconiah = Coniah), king, r. 598–597, 2 Kings 24:5, etc., in four Babylonian administrative tablets regarding oil rations or deliveries, during his exile in Babylonia (Raging Torrent, p. 209; ANEHST, pp. 386–387). Discovered at Babylon, they are dated from the tenth to the thirty-fifth year of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylonia and conqueror of Jerusalem. One tablet calls Jehoiachin “king” (Text Babylon 28122, obverse, line 29; ANET, p. 308). A second, fragmentary text mentions him as king in an immediate context that refers to “\[. . . so\]ns of the king of Judah” and “Judahites” (Text Babylon 28178, obverse, col. 2, lines 38–40; ANET, p. 308). The third tablet calls him “the son of the king of Judah” and refers to “the five sons of the king of Judah” (Text Babylon 28186, reverse, col. 2, lines 17–18; ANET, p. 308). The fourth text, the most fragmentary of all, confirms “Judah” and part of Jehoiachin’s name, but contributes no data that is not found in the other texts.

31\. Shelemiah, father of Jehucal the official, late 7th century, Jeremiah 37:3; 38:1 and 32\. Jehucal (= Jucal), official during Zedekiah’s reign, fl. within 597–586, Jeremiah 37:3; 38:1 only, both referred to in a bulla discovered in the City of David in 2005 (Eilat Mazar, “Did I Find King David’s Palace?” BAR 32, no. 1 \[January/February 2006\], pp. 16–27, 70; idem, Preliminary Report on the City of David Excavations 2005 at the Visitors Center Area \[Jerusalem and New York: Shalem, 2007\], pp. 67–69; idem, “The Wall that Nehemiah Built,” BAR 35, no. 2 \[March/April 2009\], pp. 24–33,66; idem, The Palace of King David: Excavations at the Summit of the City of David: Preliminary Report of Seasons 2005-2007 \[Jerusalem/New York: Shoham AcademicResearch and Publication, 2009\], pp. 66–71). Only the possibility of firm identifications is left open in “Corrections,” pp. 85–92; “Sixteen,” pp. 50–51; this article is my first affirmation of four identifications, both here in notes 31 and 32 and below in notes 33 and 34.

After cautiously observing publications and withholding judgment for several years, I am now affirming the four identifications in notes 31 through 34, because I am now convinced that this bulla is a remnant from an administrative center in the City of David, a possibility suggested in “Corrections,” p. 100 second-to-last paragraph, and “Sixteen,” p. 51\. For me, the tipping point came by comparing the description and pictures of the nearby and immediate archaeological context in Eilat Mazar, “Palace of King David,” pp. 66–70, with the administrative contexts described in Eran Arie, Yuval Goren, and Inbal Samet, “Indelible Impression: Petrographic Analysis of Judahite Bullae,” in Israel Finkelstein and Nadav Na’aman, eds., The Fire Signals of Lachish: Studies in the Archaeology and History of Israel in the Late Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Persian Period in Honor of David Ussishkin (Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2011), pp. 12–13 (the section titled “The Database: Judahite Bullae from Controlled Excavations”) and pp. 23–24\. See also Nadav Na’aman, “The Interchange between Bible and Archaeology: The Case of David’s Palace and the Millo,” BAR 40, no. 1 (January/February 2014), pp. 57–61, 68–69, which is drawn from idem, “Biblical and Historical Jerusalem in the Tenth and Fifth-Fourth Centuries B.C.E.,” Biblica 93 (2012): pp. 21–42\. See also idem, “Five Notes on Jerusalem in the First and Second Temple Periods,” Tel Aviv 39 (2012): p. 93.

33\. Pashhur, father of Gedaliah the official, late 7th century, Jeremiah 38:1 and 34\. Gedaliah, official during Zedekiah’s reign, fl. within 597–586, Jeremiah 38:1 only, both referred to in a bulla discovered in the City of David in 2008\. See “Corrections,” pp. 92–96; “Sixteen,” pp. 50–51; and the preceding endnote 31 and 32 for bibliographic details on E. Mazar, “Wall,” pp. 24–33, 66; idem, Palace of King David, pp. 68–71) and for the comments in the paragraph that begins, “After cautiously … ”  
ASSYRIA

35\. Tiglath-pileser III (= Pul), king, r. 744–727, 2 Kings 15:19, etc., in his many inscriptions. See Raging Torrent, pp. 46–79; COS, vol. 2, pp. 284–292; ITP; Mikko Lukko, The Correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon II from Calah/Nimrud (State Archives of Assyria, no. 19; Assyrian Text Corpus Project; Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2013); ABC, pp. 248–249\. On Pul as referring to Tiglath-pileser III, which is implicit in ABC, p. 333 under “Pulu,” see ITP, p. 280 n. 5 for discussion and bibliography.

On the identification of Tiglath-pileser III in the Aramaic monumental inscription honoring Panamu II, in Aramaic monumental inscriptions 1 and 8 of Bar-Rekub (now in Istanbul and Berlin, respectively), and in the Ashur Ostracon, see IBP, p. 240; COS, pp. 158–161.

36\. Shalmaneser V (= Ululaya), king, r. 726–722, 2 Kings 17:2, etc., in chronicles, in king-lists, and in rare remaining inscriptions of his own (ABC, p. 242; COS, vol. 2, p. 325). Most notable is the Neo-Babylonian Chronicle series, Chronicle 1, i, lines 24–32\. In those lines, year 2 of the Chronicle mentions his plundering the city of Samaria (Raging Torrent, pp. 178, 182; ANEHST, p. 408). (“Shalman” in Hosea 10:14 is likely a historical allusion, but modern lack of information makes it difficult to assign it to a particular historical situation or ruler, Assyrian or otherwise. See below for the endnotes to the box at the top of p. 50.)

37\. Sargon II, king, r. 721–705, Isaiah 20:1, in many inscriptions, including his own. See Raging Torrent, pp. 80–109, 176–179, 182; COS, vol. 2, pp. 293–300; Mikko Lukko, The Correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon II from Calah/Nimrud (State Archives of Assyria, no. 19; Assyrian Text Corpus Project; Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2013); ABC, pp. 236–238; IBP, pp. 240–241 no. (74).

38\. Sennacherib, king, r. 704–681, 2 Kings 18:13, etc., in many inscriptions, including his own. See Raging Torrent, pp. 110–129; COS, vol. 2, pp. 300–305; ABC, pp. 238–240; ANEHST, pp. 407–411, esp. 410; IBP, pp. 241–242.

39\. Adrammelech (= Ardamullissu = Arad-mullissu), son and assassin of Sennacherib, fl. early 7th century, 2 Kings 19:37, etc., in a letter sent to Esarhaddon, who succeeded Sennacherib on the throne of Assyria. See Raging Torrent, pp. 111, 184, and COS, vol. 3, p. 244, both of which describe and cite with approval Simo Parpola, “The Murderer of Sennacherib,” in Death in Mesopotamia: Papers Read at the XXVie Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, ed. Bendt Alster (Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag, 1980), pp. 171–182\. See also ABC, p. 240.

An upcoming scholarly challenge is the identification of Sennacherib’s successor, Esarhaddon, as a more likely assassin in Andrew Knapp’s paper, “The Murderer of Sennacherib, Yet Again,” to be read in a February 2014 Midwest regional conference in Bourbonnais, Ill. (SBL/AOS/ASOR).

On various renderings of the neo-Assyrian name of the assassin, see RlA s.v. “Ninlil,” vol. 9, pp. 452–453 (in German). On the mode of execution of those thought to have been conspirators in the assassination, see the selection from Ashurbanipal’s Rassam cylinder in ANET, p. 288.

40\. Esarhaddon, king, r. 680–669, 2 Kings 19:37, etc., in his many inscriptions. See Raging Torrent, pp. 130–147; COS, vol. 2, p. 306; ABC, pp. 217–219\. Esarhaddon’s name appears in many cuneiform inscriptions (ANET, pp. 272–274, 288–290, 292–294, 296, 297, 301–303, 426–428, 449, 450, 531, 533–541, 605, 606), including his Succession Treaty (ANEHST, p. 355).

BABYLONIA

41\. Merodach-baladan II (=Marduk-apla-idinna II), king, r. 721–710 and 703, 2 Kings 20:12, etc., in the inscriptions of Sennacherib and the Neo-Babylonian Chronicles (Raging Torrent, pp. 111, 174, 178–179, 182–183\. For Sennacherib’s account of his first campaign, which was against Merodach-baladan II, see COS, vol. 2, pp. 300-302\. For the Neo-Babylonian Chronicle series, Chronicle 1, i, 33–42, see ANEHST, pp. 408–409\. This king is also included in the Babylonian King List A (ANET, p. 271), and the latter part of his name remains in the reference to him in the Synchronistic King List (ANET, pp. 271–272), on which see ABC, pp. 226, 237.

42\. Nebuchadnezzar II, king, r. 604–562, 2 Kings 24:1, etc., in many cuneiform tablets, including his own inscriptions. See Raging Torrent, pp. 220–223; COS, vol. 2, pp. 308–310; ANET, pp. 221, 307–311; ABC, p. 232\. The Neo-Babylonian Chronicle series refers to him in Chronicles 4 and 5 (ANEHST, pp. 415, 416–417, respectively). Chronicle 5, reverse, lines 11–13, briefly refers to his conquest of Jerusalem (“the city of Judah”) in 597 by defeating “its king” (Jehoiachin), as well as his appointment of “a king of his own choosing” (Zedekiah) as king of Judah.

43\. Nebo-sarsekim, chief official of Nebuchadnezzar II, fl. early 6th century, Jeremiah 39:3, in a cuneiform inscription on Babylonian clay tablet BM 114789 (1920-12-13, 81), dated to 595 B.C.E. The time reference in Jeremiah 39:3 is very close, to the year 586\. Since it is extremely unlikely that two individuals having precisely the same personal name would have been, in turn, the sole holders of precisely this unique position within a decade of each other, it is safe to assume that the inscription and the book of Jeremiah refer to the same person in different years of his time in office. In July 2007 in the British Museum, Austrian researcher Michael Jursa discovered this Babylonian reference to the biblical “Nebo-sarsekim, the Rab-saris” (rab ša-rēši, meaning “chief official”) of Nebuchadnezzar II (r. 604–562). Jursa identified this official in his article, “Nabu-šarrūssu-ukīn, rab ša-rēši, und ‘Nebusarsekim’ (Jer. 39:3),” Nouvelles Assyriologiques Breves et Utilitaires2008/1 (March): pp. 9–10 (in German). See also Bob Becking, “Identity of Nabusharrussu-ukin, the Chamberlain: An Epigraphic Note on Jeremiah 39,3\. With an Appendix on the Nebu(!)sarsekim Tablet by Henry Stadhouders,” Biblische Notizen NF 140 (2009): pp. 35–46; “Corrections,” pp. 121–124; “Sixteen,” p. 47 n. 31\. On the correct translation of ráb ša-rēši (and three older, published instances of it having been incorrect translated as rab šaqê), see ITP, p. 171 n. 16.

44\. Nergal-sharezer (= Nergal-sharuṣur the Sin-magir = Nergal-šarru-uṣur the simmagir), officer of Nebuchadnezzar II, early sixth century, Jeremiah 39:3, in a Babylonian cuneiform inscription known as Nebuchadnezzar II’s Prism (column 3 of prism EŞ 7834, in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum). See ANET, pp. 307‒308; Rocio Da Riva, “Nebuchadnezzar II’s Prism (EŞ 7834): A New Edition,” Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 103, no. 2 (2013): 204, Group 3.

45\. Nebuzaradan (= Nabuzeriddinam = Nabû-zēr-iddin),  
a chief officer of Nebuchadnezzar II, early sixth century, 2 Kings 25:8, etc. & Jeremiah 39:9, etc., in a Babylonian cuneiform inscription known as Nebuchadnezzar II’s Prism (column 3, line 36 of prism EŞ 7834, in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum). See ANET, p. 307; Rocio Da Riva, “Nebuchadnezzar II’s Prism (EŞ 7834): A New Edition,” Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 103, no. 2 (2013): 202, Group 1.

46\. Evil-merodach (= Awel Marduk, = Amel Marduk), king, r. 561–560, 2 Kings 25:27, etc., in various inscriptions (ANET, p. 309; OROT, pp. 15, 504 n. 23). See especially Ronald H. Sack, Amel-Marduk: 562-560 B.C.; A Study Based on Cuneiform, Old Testament, Greek, Latin and Rabbinical Sources (Alter Orient und Altes Testament, no. 4; Kevelaer, Butzon & Bercker, and Neukirchen-Vluyn, Neukirchener, 1972).

47\. Belshazzar, son and co-regent of Nabonidus, fl. ca. 543?–540, Daniel 5:1, etc., in Babylonian administrative documents and the “Verse Account” (Muhammed A. Dandamayev, “Nabonid, A,” RlA, vol. 9, p. 10; Raging Torrent, pp. 215–216; OROT, pp. 73–74). A neo-Babylonian text refers to him as “Belshazzar the crown prince” (ANET, pp. 309–310 n. 5).

PERSIA

48\. Cyrus II (=Cyrus the great), king, r. 559–530, 2 Chronicles 36:22, etc., in various inscriptions (including his own), for which and on which see ANEHST, pp. 418–426, ABC, p. 214\. For Cyrus’ cylinder inscription, see Raging Torrent, pp. 224–230; ANET, pp. 315–316; COS, vol. 2, pp. 314–316; ANEHST, pp. 426–430; P&B, pp. 87–92\. For larger context and implications in the biblical text, see OROT, pp. 70-76.

49\. Darius I (=Darius the Great), king, r. 520–486, Ezra 4:5, etc., in various inscriptions, including his own trilingual cliff inscription at Behistun, on which see P&B, pp. 131–134\. See also COS, vol. 2, p. 407, vol. 3, p. 130; ANET, pp. 221, 316, 492; ABC, p. 214; ANEHST, pp. 407, 411\. On the setting, see OROT, pp. 70–75.

50\. Tattenai (=Tatnai), provincial governor of Trans-Euphrates, late sixth to early fifth century, Ezra 5:3, etc., in a tablet of Darius I the Great, king of Persia, which can be dated to exactly June 5, 502 B.C.E. See David E. Suiter, “Tattenai,” in David Noel Freedman, ed., Anchor Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), vol. 6, p. 336; A. T. Olmstead, “Tattenai, Governor of ‘Beyond the River,’” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 3 (1944): p. 46\. A drawing of the cuneiform text appears in Arthur Ungnad, Vorderasiatische Schriftdenkmäler Der Königlichen Museen Zu Berlin (Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1907), vol. IV, p. 48, no. 152 (VAT 43560). VAT is the abbreviation for the series Vorderasiatische Abteilung Tontafel, published by the Berlin Museum. The author of the BAR article wishes to acknowledge the query regarding Tattenai from Mr. Nathan Yadon of Houston, Texas, private correspondence, 8 September 2015.

51\. Xerxes I (=Ahasuerus), king, r. 486–465, Esther 1:1, etc., in various inscriptions, including his own (P&B, p. 301; ANET, pp. 316–317), and in the dates of documents from the time of his reign (COS, vol. 2, p. 188, vol. 3, pp. 142, 145\. On the setting, see OROT, pp. 70–75.

52\. Artaxerxes I Longimanus, king, r. 465-425/424, Ezra 4:6, 7, etc., in various inscriptions, including his own (P&B, pp. 242–243), and in the dates of documents from the time of his reign (COS, vol. 2, p. 163, vol. 3, p. 145; ANET, p. 548).

53\. Darius II Nothus, king, r. 425/424-405/404, Nehemiah 12:22, in various inscriptions, including his own (for example, P&B, pp. 158–159) and in the dates of documents from the time of his reign (ANET, p. 548; COS, vol. 3, pp. 116–117).  
“Almost Real” People: The Biblical and Archaeological Evidence

In general, the persons listed in the box at the top of p. 50 of the March/April 2014 issue of BAR exclude persons in two categories. The first category includes those about whom we know so little that we cannot even approach a firm identification with anyone named in an inscription. One example is “Shalman” in Hosea 10:14\. This name almost certainly refers to a historical person, but variations of this name were common in the ancient Near East, and modern lack of information on the biblical Shalman makes it difficult to assign it to a particular historical situation or ruler, Assyrian or otherwise. See Francis I. Andersen and David Noel Freedman, Hosea (The Anchor Bible, vol. 24; Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1980), pp. 570–571\. A second example is “Osnappar” (=Asnapper) in Ezra 4:10, who is not called a king, and for whom the traditional identification has no basis for singling out any particular ruler. See Jacob M. Myers, Ezra-Nehemiah (The Anchor Bible. vol. 14; Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1981), p. 333.

The second category of excluded identifications comes from the distinction between inscriptions that are dug up after many centuries and texts that have been copied and recopied through the course of many centuries. The latter include the books of the Bible itself, as well as other writings, notably those of Flavius Josephus in the first century C.E. His reference to Ethbaal (=’Ittoba’al =’Ithoba’al), the father of Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31). is not included in this article, because Josephus’ writings do not come to us from archaeology. See IBP, p. 238 n. 90; cf. Raging Torrent, pp. 30, 115–116 (p. 133 refers to an Ethbaal appointed king of Sidon by Sennacherib, therefore he must have lived a century later than Jezebel’s father).

AMMON

Balaam son of Beor, fl. late 13th century (some scholars prefer late 15th century), Numbers 22:5, etc., in a wall inscription on plaster dated to 700 B.C.E. (COS, vol. 2, pp. 140–145). It was discovered at Tell Deir ʿAllā, in the same Transjordanian geographical area in which the Bible places Balaam’s activity. Many scholars assume or conclude that the Balaam and Beor of the inscription are the same as the biblical pair and belong to the same folk tradition, which is not necessarily historical. See P. Kyle McCarter, Jr., “The Balaam Texts from Deir ‘Allā: The First Combination,” BASOR 239 (1980): pp. 49–60; Jo Ann Hackett, The Balaam Text from Deir ʿAllā (Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1984), pp. 27, 33–34; idem, “Some Observations on the Balaam Tradition at Deir ʿAllā,” Biblical Archaeologist 49 (1986), p. 216\. Mykytiuk at first listed these two identifications under a strong classification in IBP, p. 236, but because the inscription does not reveal a time period for Balaam and Beor, he later corrected that to a “not-quite-firmly identified” classification in “Corrections,” pp. 111–113, no. 29 and 30, and in “Sixteen,” p. 53.

Although it contains three identifying marks (traits) of both father and son, this inscription is dated to ca. 700 B.C.E., several centuries after the period in which the Bible places Balaam. Speaking with no particular reference to this inscription, some scholars, such as Frendo and Kofoed, argue that lengthy gaps between a particular writing and the things to which it refers are not automatically to be considered refutations of historical claims (Anthony J. Frendo, Pre-Exilic Israel, the Hebrew Bible, and Archaeology: Integrating Text and Artefact \[New York: T&T Clark, 2011\], p. 98; Jens B. Kofoed, Text and History: Historiography and the Study of the Biblical Text \[Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2005\], pp. 83–104, esp. p, 42). There might easily have been intervening sources which transmitted the information from generation to generation but as centuries passed, were lost.

Baalis, king of the Ammonites, r. early 6th century, Jeremiah 40:14, in an Ammonite seal impression on the larger, fairly flat end of a ceramic cone (perhaps a bottle-stopper?) from Tell el-Umeiri, in what was the land of the ancient Ammonites. The seal impression reveals only two marks (traits) of an individual, so it is not quite firm. See Larry G. Herr, “The Servant of Baalis,” Biblical Archaeologist 48 (1985): pp. 169–172; WSS, p. 322 no. 860; COS, p. 201; IBP, p. 242 no. (77); “Sixteen Strong,” p. 52\. The differences between the king’s name in this seal impression and the biblical version can be understood as slightly different renderings of the same name in different dialects; see bibliography in Michael O’Connor, “The Ammonite Onomasticon: Semantic Problems,” Andrews University Seminary Studies 25 (1987): p. 62 paragraph (3), supplemented by Lawrence T. Geraty, “Back to Egypt: An Illustration of How an Archaeological Find May Illumine a Biblical Passage,” Reformed Review 47 (1994): p. 222; Emile Puech, “L’inscription de la statue d’Amman et la paleographie ammonite,” Revue biblique 92 (1985): pp. 5–24.

NORTHERN ARABIA

Geshem (= Gashmu) the Arabian, r. mid-5th century, Nehemiah 2:10, etc., in an Aramaic inscription on a silver bowl discovered at Tell el-Maskhuta, Egypt, in the eastern delta of the Nile, that mentions “Qainu, son of Geshem \[or Gashmu\], king of Qedar,” an ancient kingdom in northwest Arabia. This bowl is now in the Brooklyn Museum. See Isaac Rabinowitz, “Aramaic Inscriptions of the Fifth Century B.C.E. from a North-Arab Shrine in Egypt,” Journal of the Near Eastern Studies 15 (1956): pp. 1–9, Pl. 6–7; William J. Dumbrell, “The Tell el-Maskhuta Bowls and the ‘Kingdom’ of Qedar in the Persian Period,” BASOR 203 (October 1971): pp. 35–44; OROT, pp. 74–75, 518 n. 26; Raging Torrent, p. 55.  
Despite thorough analyses of the Qainu bowl and its correspondences pointing to the biblical Geshem, there is at least one other viable candidate for identification with the biblical Geshem: Gashm or Jasm, son of Shahr, of Dedan. On him, see Frederick V. Winnett and William L. Reed, Ancient Records from North Arabia (University of Toronto Press, 1970), pp. 115–117; OROT, pp. 75\. 518 n. 26\. Thus the existence of two viable candidates would seem to render the case for each not quite firm (COS, vol. 2, p. 176).

SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH

Shebna, the overseer of the palace, fl. ca. 726–697/696, Isaiah 22:15–19 (probably also the scribe of 2 Kings 18:18, etc., before being promoted to palace overseer), in an inscription at the entrance to a rock-cut tomb in Silwan, near Jerusalem. There are only two marks (traits) of an individual, and these do not include his complete name, so this identification, though tempting, is not quite firm. See Nahman Avigad, “Epitaph of a Royal Steward from Siloam Village,” IEJ 3 (1953): pp. 137–152; David Ussishkin, The Village of Silwan (Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 1993), pp. 247–250; IBP, pp. 223, 225; “Sixteen Strong,” pp. 51–52.

Hananiah and his father, Azzur, from Gibeon, fl. early 6th and late 7th centuries, respectively, Jeremiah 28:1, etc., in a personal seal carved from blue stone, 20 mm. long and 17 mm. wide, inscribed “belonging to Hananyahu, son of ‘Azaryahu” and surrounded by a pomegranate-garland border, and (WSS, p. 100, no. 165). This seal reveals only two marks (traits) of an individual, the names of father and son, therefore the identification it provides can be no more than a reasonable hypothesis (IBP, pp. 73–77, as amended by “Corrections,” pp. 56‒57). One must keep in mind that there were probably many people in Judah during that time named Hananiah/Hananyahu, and quite a few of them could have had a father named ‘Azariah/‘Azaryahu, or ‘Azzur for short. (Therefore, it would take a third identifying mark of an individual to establish a strong, virtually certain identification of the Biblical father and/or son, such as mention of the town of Gibeon or Hananyahu being a prophet.)

Because the shapes of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet gradually changed over the centuries, using examples discovered at different stratigraphic levels of earth, we can now date ancient Hebrew inscriptions on the basis of paleography (letter shapes and the direction and order of the strokes). This seal was published during the 19th century (in 1883 by Charles Clermont-Ganneau), when no one, neither scholars nor forgers, knew the correct shapes of Hebrew letters for the late seventh to early sixth centuries (the time of Jeremiah). We now know that all the letter shapes in this seal are chronologically consistent with each other and are the appropriate letter shapes for late seventh–century to early sixth–century Hebrew script—the time of Jeremiah. This date is indicated especially by the Hebrew letter nun (n) and—though the photographs are not completely clear, possibly by the Hebrew letter he’ (h), as well.

Because the letter shapes could not have been correctly forged, yet they turned out to be correct, it is safe to presume that this stone seal is genuine, even though its origin (provenance) is unknown. Normally, materials from the antiquities market are not to be trusted, because they have been bought, rather than excavated, and could be forged. But the exception is inscriptions purchased during the 19th century that turn out to have what we now know are the correct letter shapes, all of which appropriate for the same century or part of a century (IBP, p. 41, paragraph 2) up to the word “Also,” pp. 154 and 160 both under the subheading “Authenticity,” p. 219, notes 23 and 24).

Also, the letters are written in Hebrew script, which is discernably different from the scripts of neighboring kingdoms. The only Hebrew kingdom still standing when this inscription was written was Judah. Because this seal is authentic and is from the kingdom of Judah during the time of Jeremiah, it matches the setting of the Hananiah, the son of Azzur in Jeremiah 28.

Comparing the identifying marks of individuals in the inscription and in the Bible, the seal owner’s name and his father’s name inscribed in the seal match the name of the false prophet and his father in Jeremiah 28, giving us two matching marks of an individual. That is not enough for a firm identification, but it is enough for a reasonable hypothesis.

Gedaliah the governor, son of Ahikam, fl. ca. 585, 2 Kings 25:22, etc., in the bulla from Tell ed-Duweir (ancient Lachish) that reads, “Belonging to Gedalyahu, the overseer of the palace.” The Babylonian practice was to appoint indigenous governors over conquered populations. It is safe to assume that as conquerors of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E., they would have chosen the highest-ranking Judahite perceived as “pro-Babylonian” to be their governor over Judah. The palace overseer had great authority and knowledge of the inner workings of government at the highest level, sometimes serving as vice-regent for the king; see S. H. Hooke, “A Scarab and Sealing From Tell Duweir,” Palestine Exploration Fund Quarterly Statement 67 (1935): pp. 195–197; J. L. Starkey, “Lachish as Illustrating Bible History,” Palestine Exploration Fund Quarterly Statement 69 (1937): pp. 171–174; some publications listed in WSS, p. 172 no. 405\. The palace overseer at the time of the Babylonian conquest, whose bulla we have, would be the most likely choice for governor, if they saw him as pro-Babylonian. Of the two prime candidates named Gedaliah (= Gedalyahu)—assuming both survived the conquest—Gedaliah the son of Pashhur clearly did not have the title “overseer of the palace” (Jeremiah 38:1), and he was clearly an enemy of the Babylonians (Jeremiah 38:4–6). But, though we lack irrefutable evidence, Gedaliah the son of Ahikam is quite likely to have been palace overseer. His prestigious family, the descendants of Shaphan, had been “key players” in crucial situations at the highest levels of the government of Judah for three generations. As for his being perceived as pro-Babylonian, his father Ahikam had protected the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24; cf. 39:11–14), who urged surrender to the Babylonian army (Jeremiah 38:1–3).

The preceding argument is a strengthening step beyond “Corrections,” pp. 103–104, which upgrades the strength of the identification from its original level in IBP, p. 235, responding to the difficulty expressed in Oded Lipschits, The Fall and Rise of Jerusalem: Judah under Babylonian Rule (Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2005), p. 86 n. 186.

Jaazaniah (= Jezaniah), fl. early 6th century, 2 Kings 25:23, etc., in the Tell en-Naṣbeh (ancient Mizpah) stone seal inscribed: “Belonging to Ya’azanyahu, the king’s minister.” It is unclear whether the title “king’s minister” in the seal might have some relationship with the biblical phrase “the officers (Hebrew: sarîm) of the troops,” which included the biblical Jaazaniah (2 Kings 25: 23). There are, then, only two identifying marks of an individual that clearly connect the seal’s Jaazaniah with the biblical one: the seal owner’s name and the fact that it was discovered at the city where the biblical “Jaazaniah, the son of the Maacathite,” died. See William F. Badè, “The Seal of Jaazaniah,” Zeitschrift für die alttestamentlishe Wissenschaft 51 (1933): pp. 150–156; WSS, p. 52 no. 8; IBP, p. 235; “Sixteen Strong,” p. 52.

Hezir (=Ḥezîr), founding father of a priestly division in the First Temple in Jerusalem, early tenth century, 1 Chronicles 24:15, in an epitaph over a large tomb complex on the western slope of the Mount of Olives, facing the site of the Temple in Jerusalem. First the epitaph names some of Ḥezîr’s prominent descendants, and then it presents Ḥezîr by name in the final phrase, which refers to his descendants, who are named before that, as “priests, of (min, literally “from”) the sons of Ḥezîr.” This particular way of saying it recognizes him as the head of that priestly family. See CIIP, vol. 1: Jerusalem, Part 1, pp. 178‒181, no. 137.

Also, among the burial places inside that same tomb complex, lying broken into fragments was an inscribed, square stone plate that had been used to seal a burial. This plate originally told whose bones they were and the name of that person’s father: “‘Ovadiyah, the son of G . . . ,” but a break prevents us from knowing the rest of the father’s name and what might have been written after that. Immediately after the break, the inscription ends with the name “Ḥezîr.” Placement at the end, as in the epitaph over the entire tomb complex, is consistent with proper location of the name of the founding ancestor of the family. See CIIP, vol. 1, Part 1, p. 182, no. 138.

As for the date of Ḥezîr in the inscriptions, to be sure, Ḥezîr lived at least four generations earlier than the inscribing of the epitaph over the complex, and possibly many more generations (CIIP, vol. 1, Part 1:179–180, no. 137). Still, it is not possible to assign any date (or even a century) to the Ḥezîr named in the epitaph above the tomb complex, nor to the Ḥezîr named on the square stone plate, therefore this identification has no “airtight” proof or strong case. The date of the engraving itself does not help answer the question of this identification, because the stone was quarried no earlier than the second century B.C.E. (CIIP, Part 1, p.179, no. 137–138). Nevertheless, it is still a reasonable identification, as supported by the following facts:

1) Clearly in the epitaph over the tomb complex, and possibly in the square stone plate inscription, the Ḥezîr named in the epitaph is placed last in recognition of his being the head, that is, the progenitor or “founding father” of the priestly family whose members are buried there.

2) This manner of presenting Ḥezîr in the epitaph suggests that he dates back to the founding of this branch of the priestly family. (This suggestion may be pursued independently of whether the family was founded in Davidic times as 1 Chronicles 24 states.)

3) Because there is no mention of earlier ancestors, one may observe that the author(s) of the inscriptions anchored these genealogies in the names of the progenitors. It seems that the authors fully expected that the names of the founders of these 24 priestly families would be recognized as such, presumably by Jewish readers. In at least some inscriptions of ancient Israel, it appears that patronymic phrases that use a preposition such as min, followed by the plural of the word son, as in the epitaph over the tomb complex, “from the sons of Ḥezîr,” functioned in much the same way as virtual surnames. The assumption would have been that they were common knowledge. If one accepts that Israel relied on these particular priestly families to perform priestly duties for centuries, then such an expectation makes sense. To accept the reasonableness of this identification is a way of acknowledging the continuity of Hebrew tradition, which certainly seems unquenchable.

See the published dissertation, L. J. Mykytiuk, Identifying Biblical Persons in Northwest Semitic Inscriptions of 1200–539 B.C.E. (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2004), p. 214, note 2, for 19th- and 20th-century bibliography on the Ḥezîr family epitaph.

Jakim (=Yakîm), founding father of a priestly division in the First Temple in Jerusalem, early tenth century, 1 Chronicles 24:12, on an inscribed ossuary (“bone box”) of the first or second century C.E. discovered in a burial chamber just outside Jerusalem on the western slope of the Mount of Olives, facing the site of the Temple. The three-line inscription reads: “Menahem, from (min) the sons of Yakîm, (a) priest.” See CIIP, vol. 1, Part 1, pp. 217–218, no. 183, burial chamber 299, ossuary 83.

As with the epitaph over the tomb complex of Ḥezîr, this inscription presents Yakîm as the founder of this priestly family. And as with Ḥezîr in the preceding case, no strong case can be made for this identification, because the inscriptional Yakîm lacks a clear date (and indeed, has no clear century). Nevertheless, it is reasonable to identify Yakîm with the Jakim in 1 Chronicles 24 for essentially the same three reasons as Ḥezîr immediately above.

Maaziah (= Ma‘aziah = Maazyahu = Ma‘azyahu), founding father of a priestly division in the First Temple in Jerusalem, early 10th century, 1 Chronicles 24:18, on an inscribed ossuary (“bone box”) of the late first century B.C.E. or the first century C.E. Its one-line inscription reads, “Miriam daughter of Yeshua‘ son of Caiaphas, priest from Ma‘aziah, from Beth ‘Imri.”

The inscription is in Aramaic, which was the language spoken by Jews in first-century Palestine for day-to-day living. The Hebrew personal name Miriam and the Yahwistic ending –iah on Ma‘aziah, which refers to the name of Israel’s God, also attest to a Jewish context.

This inscription’s most significant difficulty is that its origin is unknown (it is unprovenanced). Therefore, the Israel Antiquities Authority at first considered it a potential forgery. Zissu and Goren’s subsequent scientific examination, particularly of the patina (a coating left by age), however, has upheld its authenticity. Thus the inscribed ossuary is demonstrably authentic, and it suits the Jewish setting of the priestly descendants of Ma‘aziah in the Second Temple period.

Now that we have the authenticity and the Jewish setting of the inscription, we can count the identifying marks of an individual to see how strong a case there is for the Ma‘azyahu of the Bible and the Ma‘aziah being the same person: 1) Ma‘azyahu and Ma‘aziah are simply spelling variants of the very same name. 2) Ma‘aziah’s occupation was priest, because he was the ancestor of a priest. 3) Ma‘aziah’s place in the family is mentioned in a way that anchors the genealogy in him as the founder of the family. (The inscription adds mention of ‘Imri as the father of a subset, a “father’s house” within Ma‘aziah’s larger family.)

Normally, if the person in the Bible and the person in the inscription have the same three identifying marks of an individual, and if all other factors are right, one can say the identification (confirmation) of the Biblical person in the inscription is virtually certain.  
But not all other factors are right. A setting (even in literature) consists of time and place. To be sure, the social “place” is a Jewish family of priests, both for the Biblical Ma‘azyahu and for the inscriptional Ma‘aziah. But the time setting of the Biblical Ma‘azyahu during the reign of David is not matched by any time setting at all for the inscriptional Ma‘aziah. We do not even know which century the inscriptional Ma‘aziah lived in. He could have been a later descendant of the Biblical Ma‘azyahu.

Therefore, as with Ḥezîr and as with Yakîm above, we cannot claim a clear, strong identification that would be an archaeological confirmation of the biblical Ma‘azyahu. We only have a reasonable hypothesis, a tentative identification that is certainly not proven, but reasonable—for essentially the same three reasons as with Ḥezîr above.

Original Source: Biblical Archaeology Society, Lawrence Mykytiuk, 2017

Permalink: http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/50-people-in-the-bible-confirmed-archaeologically/
### No such place as Calvary in Ancient Jerusalem
URL: https://www.pshir.com/no-calvary-ancient-jerusalem/
Last updated: 2022-06-22T21:43:40.000Z
An old Christian hymn evokes God’s help to never to forget the suffering of Jesus – “King of my life, I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be; lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary… Lest I forget Thy love for me, lead me to Calvary.” These are heartfelt and meaningful words. But you might be shocked… There was no such place as Calvary in ancient Jerusalem.

Search all over the New Testament and you will not find it. You will not find it in any of the gospel passages, describing how Jesus was executed. You may find it in the English translations, but not in the Greek text. Mark, Matthew, and John all mention Golgotha – a word which according to them translates as “the place of the skull”. Luke also mentions the “skull place” but does not mention the original Semitic name.

Three gospels mention that Golgotha is a Hebrew word, though no one is certain if it was truly Hebrew, Aramaic, or some mixture of the two. In Aramaic גֻלגָלִתָא *(*gulgulita*)* could mean a "skull" or a "head". According to the Dictionary of the Targumim (Jastrow) it means “a round stone” or “a ball”. The association with the round-shaped skull makes sense. But that is not exactly the same as Γολγοθά *(*golgotha*)* the original word preserved in the Greek manuscripts. So we are actually not sure about the original term and we are left with the translations supplied to us by the gospel authors themselves.

Indeed, Golgotha was a real place situated somewhere outside the walls of first-century Jerusalem, not far from the garden with tombs of wealthy people. But the name Calvary comes from the Latin word *calvaria* which translates as “skull”. The Latin word Calvary was not in use in Jesus’s day and his followers did not call the place where he died Calvary. 

Only when Jerome created the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible (late 4th century) the word Calvary came into gradual Christian use. So here is the mystery – Calvary is not a biblical word, but rather a post-biblical one. Today people sing songs about Calvary, not even realizing they are using a Latin word from the Vulgate translation. Calvary is not a true biblical word since the 1st-century inhabitants of Jerusalem and the gospel writers themselves never used it.

So, if you wish to continue to use Latin terminology then, by all means, please continue calling the place of Jesus’ death Calvary. But if you want to be biblically and historically accurate call it - Golgotha as New Testament texts do. When I say there was no such place as Calvary in ancient Jerusalem I am not suggesting that such a location did not exist. I am saying that the gospel writers and the disciples never heard of Calvary because they did not know Latin. Some may say that I am nitpicking. But language is never superficial. It has specific meanings and it conveys powerful images and ideas into our minds.

Some may argue, “what’s the difference what we call it? Greek, Hebrew, Latin… That does not change anything.” Actually, it does. Using Latin terms which did not exist in the 1st century Jerusalem creates a false sense that the setting is not really Jewish and as if it all happened in Rome or somewhere else. It changes the context and transforms it. The English Bible has already been thoroughly de-Judaized and stripped of its Semitic feel over the centuries. People’s names, geographical locations, many cultural customs have all been changed and transformed through language beyond recognition. Many theological ideas and terms from ancient Hebrew were smoothed out to the degree they are not recognizable.

It may seem like not a big deal and a trivial matter. But that is exactly the reason why modern readers misunderstand the meaning of so many Biblical passages. The context is missing, so Bible readers take the words and ideas out of context and come up with new meanings. The words matter but the context changes everything!
### Ancient Texts in Original Languages
URL: https://www.pshir.com/ancient-texts-languages/
Last updated: 2021-10-31T16:06:00.000Z
The Bible was not written in English. In fact, throughout history Jews communicated in multiple languages, Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, and their ancient texts are a product of this multilingual mix. Of course, Classical Hebrew is the language in which most of the Biblical stories came down to us. But Aramaic, the language spoken by many near-eastern people was not far behind. Only select portions of the canonical Bible were composed in Aramaic, but later the entire Five Books of Moses and many other scrolls were translated into Aramaic and into Greek as well.

Sacred texts in Aramaic were used in Synagogue worship for many years. Many Jews remained in Babylon after the great exile and continued to speak and write in Aramaic. Today we call these Aramaic translations of the Bible Targums.

With the advance of Greeks, civilization, and Hellenization of the entire Mediterranean more and more people began speaking Greek. For, Jews, however, the Hebrew and Aramaic did not go away. Jews simply added the Greek. From the second century B.C.E. Many Jews conversed and wrote in Koine Greek, a Judeo-Greek adaptation of this language. As a result, many works of Jewish literature of the Hellenistic era were written not in Hebrew but in Greek, a language most common in the Jewish diaspora. The books of the Hebrew Bible began to be translated into Greek as well. And more than half of Jews lived outside of the borders of their ancestral lands for various reasons. Greek became the language of business, learning, and interaction with the rest of the world. Take, Philo of Alexandria, for example. His writings are all in Greek and they are quite extensive. But from them, it is very clear that he knows Hebrew quite well as he explains Moses’ words and ponders their philosophical applications.

And the New Testament was written by Jews in Greek as well. Yet it is apparent that they know Hebrew and Aramaic as well because they draw a lot of their terminology from both of these languages. Later, Roman dominance brought Latin to the forefront. But at that point the Jewish community was in decline, decentralized and scattered, so Latin was never embraced by Jews to the degree in which Greek was. With the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. and leveling of Jerusalem in 136 C.E., a lot has changed in the Jewish world. In the east Aramaic continued to influence Jewish culture quite heavily, so the Hebrew of rabbinic academic was often mixed with Aramaic.

![](https://alonbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/scr1-1024x576.jpg)

Over many years of Jewish dispersion other languages such as Ladino (Jewish dialect based on Spanish) and Yiddish (a language influenced by German, Polish, Ukrainian and Russian) appeared in diverse and distant Jewish communities. But the primary languages which pertain to Biblical studies were always Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. These three languages often hold the keys to the understanding of proper terms, names, places and major ideas. Without interacting with these three languages interpretation of biblical passages becomes impossible. So much of the meaning depends on the original languages and much gets lost in translation.

In our materials on the website, we devote a substantial place to the discussion of original languages. We feel that any serious study of the text and context often begins with Hebrew and Greek, not with English. Though we use existing translations we often suggest better or alternative ways to read and hear the ancient texts. If this is something you are looking for, the articles on this website might prove to be very helpful to you.
### The Roots of Your Faith Go Deep
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-roots-of-your-faith/
Last updated: 2021-10-31T16:10:32.000Z
Do you know how deep? Somewhere inside you suspect there must be so much more. As you read the Bible some pieces of the puzzle are missing and some things just do not make any sense. The roots of your faith run deep, indeed, they are quite ancient. The matter of the disconnect and misunderstanding which many people experience is related to the fact that the faith experienced through the pages of the Bible stems from ancient Israel. But how much do most people know of ancient Israel? How much teaching from the Jewish perspective have you personally experienced? What about those from whom you learned what you know? How much do they actually know about the Jewish thought world to lay the accurate foundations to take people deep into the world of ancient Israel?

The stubborn fact is that the Scriptures present us with living world of ideas and values that cannot be discovered from the pages of the Bible itself. Israel are a people, a nation which has an unbroken link of spiritual thought, traditions, customs, heritage, a long and intimate relationship with God’s words that sustained the people till today. Yet so many seekers of the roots of their faith choose to discover their own alternative path. Having a living faith and God’s Spirit helps, but the God has chosen not to reveal all objective truths supernaturally. That does not appear to be God’s only way of revelation. That is why we have always had teachers and disciples. Our human shortsightedness, pride, lack of hunger for truth is the limit of our capacity to know his way. The roots of faith the Bible inspires run so deep, yet many people do not even try digging and settle for the most surface understanding. It is the lack of satisfaction, the yearning for more that keeps people seeking and pursuing deeper and deeper truths. And the if you are still reading this, it is likely you are at that point.

Imagine that the Scriptures gave us only snapshots, frozen frames of reality that could be compared to a movie footage. We look at these ancient still images, as if perusing someone’s old family album, analyze them the best we can and walk away with an idea of what this could mean. Besides that, each one of us has paradigms, systems, prisms through which we perceive and interpret everything in this world. You may not recognize it consciously, but you have a system which you utilize to interpret what you perceive. We all have a unique prism through which we view the world. The Bible you read has some built-in cultural paradigms too, some schemes that lead one to read it in a particular light. However, it is most unfortunate that early in their history Christians developed their own way of reading Israel’s Scriptures.

The roots were severed or ignored, depending on how one looks at it. The history transpired in such as way that there was a rift between Israelite culture from which the gospel message came and the Greco-Roman world from which the new majority of Jesus-followers came. The Jewish followers of Jesus, the Apostles, their disciples who understood the original Jewish context of their message peculiar were eventually outnumbered by the new majority of those to whom the Jewish context was quite foreign and even strange. As a result, many early Christians used their own cultural paradigms, their philosophical training and Greco-Roman thought to understand God’s revelation that came to them through the people Israel. The historical roots were ignored and dismissed.

![](https://www.seekthecontext.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bible4.jpg)

That is the understandable but truly unfortunate turn of events. This reality divorced from its natural context, however, produced a trajectory and tradition of reading the Scriptures which Israel has never taken on its journey. And now, centuries later, after countless strange heresies and reactions to an untold amount of biblical misinterpretations, after many highly sophisticated theological ideas and political twisting, Christians follow the well-worn path to reading their Bible. Yet this path was unknown to Jesus and his disciples. Can the original path be hoped to be discovered?

The sad part is that so many teachings of the Bible are read of out of their natural cultural context. But that is not all. They are often infused with new non-natural, foreign context, and as a result, misunderstood and misinterpreted. Yes, new meaning comes out of that process. Often they are spiritual and seem to be good and beneficial. But is that what God meant for us to see? The depth that lays deep below at the roots is rarely reached and Scriptures remain veiled, locked away and incomprehensible to so many people. The roots of your faith go deep. Are you beginning to realize how deep? Without hunger, without seeking, without digging they cannot be uncovered. Today they lay below the well-worn paths and roads of modern biblical interpretations.
### The Lost Tomb of Jesus in Talpiot, Really?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/the-lost-tomb-of-jesus-in-talpiot-really/
Last updated: 2021-10-31T16:29:30.000Z
The archaeologist who excavated a Jerusalem burial cave in Talpiot, featured in a new film is among the experts who have slammed the movie’s claim that the cave is the tomb of Jesus, his wife, and their son. The film—The Lost Tomb of Jesus, directed by Canadian journalist Simcha Jacobovici and produced by Hollywood director James Cameron—is set to air this Sunday on the Discovery Channel. The movie presents what the filmmakers say is archaeological, statistical, and genetic evidence suggesting that the family of Jesus might have been interred in the burial cave.

> “The evidence is compelling,” Jane Root, president of the Discovery Channel, said during a press briefing. “The consequences are enormous.”

But the Israeli archaeologist who originally excavated the tomb insists the claims are preposterous. And a leading Christian scholar who appears in the film agrees.

> “Their movie is not serious,” Amos Kloner, the Bar Ilan University professor who led the excavation in the 1980s, told National Geographic News. “They \[say they\] are ‘discovering’ things. But they haven’t discovered anything. They haven’t found anything. Everything had already been published. “And there is no basis on which to make a story out of this or to identify this as the family of Jesus.”

![](https://alonschool.online/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/oss1-1024x576.jpg)

Talpiot Tomb Ossuaries (Israel Museum – Wikimedia Commons)

Workers first discovered the burial cave in 1980 while building apartments in the Talpiot neighborhood of southern Jerusalem. An excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority revealed ten ossuaries, or burial boxes, inside. Aramaic inscriptions on three of the boxes read “Judah, son of Jesus,” “Jesus, son of Joseph,” and “Mariamne,” a Greek name linked by the film to Mary Magdalene.

The findings were published in 1994 by archaeologist Levy Yitzhak Rahmani in A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries in the Collections of the State of Israel and in a 1996 scholarly article by Kloner. According to Kloner, the Talpiot cave was a typical middle- to upper-class Jewish family’s tomb from the Second Temple period, which lasted from about 538 B.C. to A.D. 70.

About 900 similar tombs have been found within a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) radius of Jerusalem’s Old City. Filmmaker Jacobovici now says the tomb belonged to Jesus of Nazareth. He adds that DNA testing suggests that the individuals from the “Jesus” and “Mariamne” ossuaries might have been a couple and that Judah may have been their son. But Kloner said archaeological and historical evidence trumps the film’s claims.

> “Joseph, Mary, and their son Jesus were a poor family from Nazareth. There is no proof they even lived in Jerusalem,” he said.

Stephen Pfann, president of the Jerusalem’s University of the Holy Land and an expert in Semitic languages, appears in The Lost Tomb of Jesus. Pfann told National Geographic News that he also has doubts about the movie’s claims.

> “I don’t think it says Yehoshua \[Jesus\]. It says Hanun or something,” Pfann said, after viewing high-resolution images of the ossuary inscription in question.

The film also presents a statistical study indicating that “the odds are at least 600 to 1 in favor of the Talpiot tomb being the Jesus family tomb” because of the connections between the names found. But Pfann and Kloner both said it is not surprising to find a tomb containing this combination of Jewish names, which are among the most common of that period.

> “The pool of names that was available during the 1st century A.D. in this country was very limited,” Pfann said. He said scholars have also found inscriptions reading “Jesus, son of Joseph” in other tombs. In addition, Pfann said, the ossuary ascribed to Jesus was very plain, compared to the others found in the cave. “The idea that the originator of a religion like this would end up in such a plain ossuary is kind of telling as to whether this is really potentially the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth or not,” he said.

![](https://alonschool.online/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/oss2.jpg)

Talpiot Tomb (Israel Museum – Wikimedia Commons)

Even if the film’s claims are proven to be true, Pfann said, the finds shouldn’t significantly affect religious beliefs.

> “\[The film\] doesn’t disprove that Jesus rose from the dead from another tomb,” he said. “This tomb doesn’t disprove the resurrection.

Attallah Hana, a Greek Orthodox clergyman in Jerusalem, is one of the many Christian leaders decrying the movie’s theories.

> “The historical, religious, and archaeological evidence show that the place where Christ was buried is the Church of the Resurrection \[also known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre\],” Hana told the Associated Press. “The documentary contradicts the religious principles and the historic and spiritual principles that we hold tightly to.”

The Latin Patriarchate said it would not issue any statements in response to media reports. Kloner, of Bar-Ilan University, also has concerns about a second burial cave filmed for the documentary.

> The movie says that researchers discovered this “second, as-yet unexplored tomb” near the original site and that their camera crews filmed the “first ever recorded footage of an undisturbed burial cave from Jesus’ time.”

However, Kloner said, he personally excavated the second cave years ago and managed to extricate one of its eight sarcophagi before protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews shut down the dig.

> “The filmmakers combined this cave with the other and lowered a camera inside just so that they would have a story,” Kloner said. “And you know what? That was really out of line.”

Original Source: National Geographic News
### Looking for the bones of John the Baptist
URL: https://www.pshir.com/looking-for-the-bones-of-john-the-baptist/
Last updated: 2021-10-31T16:31:29.000Z
Excavated from Bulgarian church ruins, remains are from the right time and place. Purported skeletal remains of John the Baptist have been dated to the first century A.D. and so could conceivably have belonged to the “forerunner of Christ,” who baptized Jesus, the scientists say. Discovered in 2010 among the ruins of a Bulgarian church, the remains include six human bones: a knucklebone from the right hand, a tooth, part of a cranium, a rib, and an ulna, or forearm bone. DNA and radiocarbon testing of collagen from the knucklebone show that the remains likely belonged to a Middle Eastern man who lived in the first century A.D., which fits with the story of John the Baptist.

![](https://alonbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/jo2-1024x576.jpg)

Worshipper touches the bone box, photograph by Valentina Petrova

According to the Bible, John was a cousin of Jesus Christ, so the finding means scientists might have DNA from a relative of the Christian savior himself—although proving it is likely impossible.

> “The problem is we don’t have a baseline for comparison,” said study team member Thomas Higham, an archaeological scientist at the U.K.’s University of Oxford. “We don’t have a solid, reliable piece of bone that belongs to \[John the Baptist or Jesus\].”

As such, the current study can’t confirm—or for that matter, disprove—that the bones belonged to John the Baptist.

> “It’s really stretching it to think that material from the first century can end up all the way in this church in Bulgaria and still be there for archaeologists to excavate,” Higham said. “But stranger things have happened.”

The fate of John the Baptist’s remains is a topic of much speculation among biblical scholars, but what is known is that, in the third and fourth centuries, reports began to appear of his bones being housed in various churches as holy relics to attract pilgrims—not an uncommon fate for the supposed remains of biblical figures.

> “We thought that, since this \[Bulgarian\] church dates to the fifth century, this gives us a minimum age for this material,” Higham said.”And we thought that perhaps these bones would be fourth or fifth century as well. But we were surprised when they turned out to be much older than that,” said Higham, whose work on the bones was funded in part by the National Geographic Society’s Expeditions Council.

The scientific analysis of the bones hasn’t yet been submitted to a journal, though the results are featured in the National Geographic documentary Head of John the Baptist, airing Thursday in the U.K.

The relics were found during an excavation on the island of Sveti Ivan—”St. John” in Bulgarian. Entombed in a small marble sarcophagus, the bones had been buried beneath the church altar.

For the time being, they’ll remain in Bulgaria as the property of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and are currently being showcased in the country’s capital, Sofia. Unfortunately, all of the attention has resulted in the theft of a rib bone, and, Higham said, the local bishop has issued an edict saying “hell and damnation will rain down from God, not only on the person who stole it but also on his family and anyone else who knows about it, and even the village where it was taken.”

Curiously, three animal bones—from a sheep, a cow, and a horse—were also part of the cache. Tests showed they were about 400 years older than the human remains.

> “The animal bones are the biggest of the group, and they may have just been put there to bulk up what looks like a pretty minimal collection of bones … ,” Higham said.

The archaeologists who originally discovered the bones also found a small box made of hardened volcanic ash buried nearby in an older part of the church. The case bears an ancient Greek inscription that mentions John the Baptist and his birthday. It also asks God to “help your servant Thomas.” One theory is that “Thomas” brought the box—which tests suggest originated from Cappadocia, a region of what’s now Turkey—to the island.

![](https://alonbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/jo4-1024x576.jpg)

> “We think this box was the original box that brought the bones to the island,” Higham said. “When the new church was built, the bones were put into the marble sarcophagus.”

While the new results suggest the bones are from John the Baptist’s time and place, archaeologist Andrew Millard said scientists will probably never be able to definitively say whether the relics belonged to the biblical figure.

> “Whether they’re the remains of John the Baptist or whether they were simply obtained from another first-century tomb, we can’t tell,” said Millard, of the U.K.’s University of Durham, who wasn’t part of the study. “The question really is how well they could have identified the remains of John the Baptist in the fourth century. They could’ve opened the wrong tomb in a cemetery.”

Original Source: Ker Than, National Geographic News
### Can Jesus' DNA be found?
URL: https://www.pshir.com/can-jesus-dna-be-found/
Last updated: 2021-10-31T16:41:26.000Z
Apparently, some scientists are trying to find out if this is possible to find Jesus’ DNA. It was the first stop on an extraordinary journey. On a bright but bitterly cold January afternoon earlier this year, I found myself on a small island in the Black Sea, just off Sozopol on the east coast of Bulgaria. Sveti Ivan has long been a destination for travelers: it boasted a temple of Apollo in ancient times. But I was there to speak to an old Bulgarian archaeologist about the most important find of his career.

In 2010, Kasimir Popkonstantinov discovered what he believes are the bones of one of the most famous of all saints: John the Baptist. I was interested in what DNA analysis could tell us about these bones, and other ones. Jesus’ DNA would be related to John’s since they were close relatives. Together with biblical scholar Joe Basile, I was traveling around the world filming a documentary about the religious and scientific evidence linking archaeological artifacts to Jesus Christ himself. Can Jesus’ DNA be found?

Popkonstantinov made his discovery when excavating a sixth-century church on the island, built on top of a basilica from the century before. As he carefully scraped through the mud where the altar would have been, he came across a stone slab and was amazed to find a small marble box underneath. He immediately knew what it was. For a church to be consecrated in this part of Europe in the fifth century, it needed to contain a relic from a holy saint or religious person. This box, known as a reliquary, would have housed such a relic.

He continued to dig around and found another, smaller box about a meter away. On the edge of the inferior box was an inscription: “May God save you, servant Thomas. To Saint John.” When Kasimir later opened the reliquary, he found five bone fragments. The epitaph on the smaller box, probably used to carry the bones when traveling, was the key piece of evidence that led him to believe that the bones could perhaps be those of John the Baptist. The finding is hugely important, partly because John the Baptist was both a disciple of Jesus and his cousin – meaning they would share DNA.

Thanks to a number of scientific advances, the field of ancient DNA – the extraction and analysis of genetic material from bones and fossils of organisms dug up out of the ground – is booming. We now have DNA sequences from hundreds of people who are long since dead, and analysis of these sequences is further refining our understanding of human history.

DNA as proof of identity

I was initially skeptical about what the Bulgarian bones could teach us. For a start, no DNA test can prove that these were bits of John the Baptist, Jesus or any other specific person. We can’t extract and analyze an unknown DNA sample and magically say that it belonged to this or that historical character. To do that, we’d need to have a DNA sample that unambiguously came from John the Baptist that we could compare the bones to. So sequencing DNA in itself is not going to be too helpful.

Another major consideration is the risk of contamination. In an ideal scenario, the ancient material we want to use for genetic analysis should be untouched by anyone since that person had died. The best ancient samples are dug out of the ground, put into a bag, and then sent straight to an ancient DNA lab. In the 500 years between John’s death and the bones being sealed in the church, any number of people could have handled them and left their DNA behind.

But this doesn’t mean that all is lost. DNA degrades over time, so we can test any DNA extracted from ancient remains for telltale signs of degradation. That means we can differentiate modern contamination from ancient genomes. We can also try to take DNA from the inside of bones and sequence DNA from the people who are known to have come into contact with the artifacts to help tell the ancient DNA and modern contaminants apart.

What DNA can tell you

DNA should be used as an additional tool to archaeology. In my opinion, there are two clear benefits that the analysis of DNA can bring to this particular party. We can compare the DNA from a relic to DNA from other relics. If we find other relics purported to be from John the Baptist, or a close relative like Jesus, then we could use genetics to compare the two to see if they are likely to have come from the same or related people. Also, we have growing collections of DNA sampled from people around the world, which we can use to make a guess on the geographical origins of the relics.

So what did the Bulgarian bones tell us? Radiocarbon dating suggested they were indeed 2,000 years old. Their DNA sequence appeared to show an affinity to modern-day Middle Eastern populations. Unfortunately, when I spoke to the geneticist who did the research, he told me they had since discovered that the DNA sequence matched the person who’d actually extracted the bone material – meaning it was more than likely contamination. And they only had a small amount of material to work with, so it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to use DNA to get to the bottom of who the bones belonged to.

Material from the James Ossuary, which some believe carried the remains of Jesus’s brother, is currently being sequenced by geneticists. I also visited other scientists who had other relics, where DNA analysis could be possible. For example, recent research identified multiple people’s DNA on the Turin Shroud, which is a piece of cloth that some believe wrapped Jesus when he was taken down from the cross.

In Jerusalem, we also met with a man who is in the process of sequencing material from the James Ossuary, a first-century chalk box that may have held the bones of Jesus’s brother. We also met an archaeologist in Israel with several crucifixion nails, one of which was still embedded in a poor crucified soul’s heel bone. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to extract DNA from rusty iron.

While DNA analysis can’t prove that these are the artifacts some believe them to be, the hope is that these and other items could one day provide insight into the relationships between them and their modern descendants. Let’s assume for a moment that contamination could be completely ruled out and that DNA analysis demonstrated that DNA from the Shroud was a familial match to DNA from the James Ossuary – and that they are both related to the Bulgarian bones. Could this then have been the DNA of Jesus and his family? To answer that, all you need is a little belief.

Original Souce: thecoversation.com
### An Ancient Ship Sets Sail in Israel
URL: https://www.pshir.com/an-ancient-ship-sets-sail-in-israel/
Last updated: 2021-10-31T18:01:54.000Z
A replica of a 2,500-year-old merchant ship from the Hellenistic era set sail during its launch ceremony in Haifa, Israel, on March 17, 2017\. This was an identical copy of a ship which that ran aground off the coast of present-day Israel about 500 years before Christ’s birth. It was discovered in 1985 south of the northern Israeli city of Haifa. The small vessel was pulled from the depths three years later, a statement from the University of Haifa and the Israel Antiquities Authority said.

It had been exceptionally conserved as it was buried under sand for two millennia and was therefore protected from erosion, archaeologist Avner Hilman of the Antiquities Authority said.

> “The ship was loaded with a very heavy cargo of shale coming from Cyprus, and following a navigation error it ran aground on a sandbank near the coast and was buried,” he told AFP. He said the wreck’s state was “exceptional” considering its age.

The keel, numerous wooden plates, 14 crossbars and the base of the mast were found intact, offering researchers rare insights into how such ships were built, the statement said. Work on building a replica began two years ago using ancient techniques, including a toolbox found in the wreck. Hilman said that shipbuilding techniques were so different back then that they had to work out things for themselves. "No boatbuilder could help us,” he said.

He gave as an example the fact that the ribs of the ship were installed last, after the keel and the outer shell. Today the ribs are among the first sections to be put in place.

Original Source: AFP
### Introducing The Hazarah Eschatology
URL: https://www.pshir.com/introducing-hazarah-eschatology/
Last updated: 2023-01-27T03:55:43.000Z
מַה־שֶּׁהָיָה הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה  
וּמַה־שֶּׁנַּעֲשָׂה הוּא שֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂה  
וְאֵין כָּל־חָדָשׁ תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃

*What happened before will happen again,*  
*what was done before will be done once more,*  
*there is nothing new under the sun. (Kohelet 1:9)*

Hazarah Eschatology is not really new. First, about eschatology… While some people are preoccupied and captivated by biblical prophecy others seem not share their passion. For some Bible readers, *eschatology* (the study of the last days) has little to do with how they practice their faith and live their lives, while the theology and the daily practice of others is directly tied to their beliefs about the end times. There are sharp and very divisive disagreements on these issues among Christians. There are pre-millenialists, pre-wrath rapture pre-millenianists, post-milenialists, amilenialists, and countless many who are simply tired of the plethora of end-time speculations and arguments. They call themselves pan-millenialists and say that it will all “pan out” in the end.

Many modern Christ-followers are weary of the bold end-of-the-world predictions and say it does not matter what we think about end-times, whether we are incorrect or accurate about the future. They have a point. God will do what he will do regardless of the theological books men choose to write. He is sovereign. But to brush off end-time ideas entirely would be to move away from the hopeful Jewish outlook of life that nurtured Christianity to form. Hazarah Eschatology may help put things in perspective, but first, some history…

_This post is for subscribers only._
### Ancient Roman Road and 2,000-Year-Old Coins
URL: https://www.pshir.com/ancient-roman-road-2000-year-old-coins/
Last updated: 2021-10-31T18:07:48.000Z
Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered an ancient Roman road dating back 2,000 years ago. This impressive man-made structure had been beautifully preserved beneath the ground in Bet Shemesh, near the modern Highway 375\. This ancient Roman road stunned archaeologists not only by the impeccable state in which it was conserved but also through its impressive size: it was found to measure around 6 meters in width (or approximately 20 feet) and stretched on a distance of almost 1.5 kilometers (or about a mile).

Further examinations revealed it was associated with the famed Emperor’s Road, an imposing transportation artery built during Emperor Hadrian’s visit to this region, circa 130 A.D. Other historical accounts place the famous ancient highway a few years after, in the time of the Bar Kokhba revolt — between 132 and 135 A.D.

> According to Amit Shadman, the IAA’s district archaeologist for Judah, due to its location — close to the Israel National Trail — the ancient road will undoubtedly spark interest among hikers and therefore “will be conserved in situ, for the public’s benefit.”

Irina Zilberbod, IAA director of the excavation, believes the newly discovered ancient road had an important function for the region’s society. It was designed to connect the Roman settlement thriving in the proximity of Beit Natif to the main transportation route, in this case, the Emperor’s Road. As Zilberbod explains in an IAA news release, the Emperor’s Road was actually a highway designed to link the large settlements of Eleutheropolis (Bet Guvrin) to Jerusalem.

Archaeologists base these suppositions on the previous discovery of a milestone in the vicinity, which had been engraved with emperor’s name. Greatly expanded during the Roman occupation, roads in this region evolved from mere rudimentary trails to a thriving network of routes that connected agricultural villages to the main artery. They also served a significant commercial purpose, being used for the transportation of grain, oil, and wine to large markets in the area as well as abroad.

While closely examining the paving stones of this ancient Roman road, the archaeologists were amazed to come upon an assortment of ancient coins from different periods pertaining to the same timeline. One of the recovered coins was dated from the second year of the Great Revolt (67 A.D.), and another coin came from the Umayyad period. A third coin depicting Pontius Pilate, the prefect of Judea, dates back to 29 A.D. The fourth coin discovered, dated 41 A.D., was manufactured in Jerusalem and adorned with the image of Agrippa I.

Original Source: Alexandra Lozovschi, Tech Times
### Four Things Hollywood Gets Wrong About Archaeologists
URL: https://www.pshir.com/hollywood-gets-wrong-archaeologists/
Last updated: 2021-10-31T18:11:32.000Z
Quick, think of an archaeologist… You pictured Indiana Jones, right? That’s not surprising. Harrison Ford’s popular character didn’t just grab the attention of movie audiences. As National Geographic previously reported, the film franchise inspired a lot of real-world interest in the field of archaeology.

Of course, actual archaeology involves fewer boulder traps, melting faces, and big golden statues than the series indicates. In fact, there are certain tropes and clichés that Hollywood tends to get wrong across the board when it comes to archaeology.

Business Insider spoke with three archaeologists about their opinions on some of the archaeological tropes portrayed in television shows and movies.

Here’s what they had to say:

Myth: Archaeology is all about finding treasure

![](https://www.seekthecontext.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/arch1.jpg)

The film “National Treasure” is about an epic quest for hidden riches. Touchstone Pictures

“Since Indiana Jones, people will ask, ‘What are you finding?'” said Dr. Bill Kelso, the director of research and interpretation at Historic Jamestowne. “We’ll say, ‘Here’s a line of post holes — this means that there was a wooden fence here.’ And they’ll say, ‘No, no. What are you finding?'”

He said that it’s natural to get excited about big discoveries or shiny artifacts, but that archaeology is mostly about trying to reconstruct and answer questions about the past. Kelso said that this is something he tries to instill in the students who enroll in the field school at Jamestown.

“I think that they think archaeology is finding objects that you can pick up and hold,” Kelso said. “It takes a while before they understand that, ‘Hey, this post hole is the most exciting thing I’ve seen, and you can’t put it in a bag and put it in a museum.'”

Chelsea Rose, a Southern Oregon University research faculty member and former member of the archaeology TV show “Time Team: America,” said that most movies tend to get artifacts wrong.

“Most artifacts are like broken glass or broken pieces of dishes, but when you put it all together, you can get at a story that has meaning,” Rose said.

Myth: Archaeologists basically collect stuff for museums

![](https://www.seekthecontext.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/arch2.png)

In the film “The Mummy,” the titular monster haunts archaeologists on the hunt for the Book of Amun-Ra in Egypt.Universal Pictures

Rose said that many fictional works also seem to misunderstand the relationships between archaeologists and museums. By focusing so much on the quest for lost treasure or bejeweled idols, movies sometimes portray archaeologists as going out and acquiring items on the behalf of museums.”It kind of bypasses what we really are after, which is learning about the people who created the stuff,” Rose said.

Myth: It’s alright if one or two artifacts gets destroyed over the course of your adventure

In “Raiders of the Last Ark,” Indiana Jones must flee dangerous traps.Paramount/Youtube  
Whether it’s Indiana Jones disrupting Venetian catacombs and stealing golden idols from a Peruvian temple, or the characters in the 1932 version of “The Mummy” appropriating artifacts and tangling with a resurrected priest, it’s safe to say that many fictional archaeologists treat their profession with a certain degree of recklessness.

Kelso recalled a scene in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” where Jones uses the femur of a perfectly preserved skeleton to make a torch. A real archaeologist would likely be a bit more careful with such a find.

“It hasn’t been touched in so many centuries,” he said. “We need to study this. How did this person die? How old were they? Who are they? The fragility of things is what’s missing there. You don’t just rip them apart.” However, not all archaeology is dusting off tiny scraps of pottery with toothbrushes, either.

“It’s not unusual for some archaeological excavations to look more like a construction site than this so meticulous brushing off with paintbrushes,” said Tony Boudreaux, a sociology and anthropology professor at the University of Mississippi and director of the University’s Center for Archaeological Research.

“You’re just as likely to have heavy equipment moving dirt and people walking around wearing hard hats,” he told Business Insider. “But, in some cases, the excavations that you’re doing very much require you to go very slowly when you’re dealing with delicate, sensitive remains.”

Myth: Archaeology only happens in faraway places

Sites like Stonehenge in England, the Terracotta Army in China, and, of course, the pyramids in Egypt loom large in the popular imagination. Boudreaux said that growing up in Mississippi, he never conceived that one could pursue a career in archaeology close to home.

“I didn’t really think about being able to do archaeology without traveling to Israel or Egypt or places like that,” he said. Rose said that archaeology in the US can really happen anywhere.

“Anytime there’s a development like if they’re going to build a new road, they’ll send archaeologists in to make sure there’s nothing of cultural significance there, like Native American sites or an old homestead that could be important,” she said. “In fact, most archaeology in America just happens on the roadsides.”

You can definitely travel a lot as an archaeologist, but you don’t necessarily have to go zipping around the globe like you’re in one of those Indiana Jones map sequences.

True: It’s a good idea to wear a hat if you work outside

![](https://alonbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/for1-1024x576.jpg)

Indiana Jones wears his trademark fedora. Paramount Pictures

There actually might be a pretty fitting health reason behind Indiana Jones’s famous fedora.

“The reason he wears the hat is that all archaeologists suffer the risk of getting skin cancer, eventually,” Kelso said. “They’re outside all of the time. It’s there for a reason. Now, a bullwhip… I don’t see a real reason for that.”

True: It is exciting

All that being said, the three archaeologists all seemed to agree that there is a lot of excitement to be had in the profession.

“I’m definitely in the Indiana Jones generation,” Rose said. “I’m sure that that was part of the mystique of it, thinking it was going to be a lot of adventure. That part’s true.”

Boudreaux agreed, adding that there’s plenty of drama at any given archaeological site, whether it’s faulty equipment or an unexpected find.

“There is a true sense of discovery,” he told Business Insider. “When you go to these sites, you don’t know what you’re going to be finding.”

Kelso said that embellishment in the realm of fictional depictions of archaeology is quite alright if it can get people thinking about the past.

“If it’s a catalyst that helps people become interested, I think that’s okay,” he said.

Source: Aine Cain