In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss the Prophets portion for Pinchas covering 1 Kings 18:46-19:21. Following the smack-down at Mount Carmel, Elijah flees to the desert. But was he “afraid” or did he just “see” what he needed to do? Gordon parses “ra’ah” (reish, aleph, hei) and explains why this word could be translated “afraid” or “saw.” Continue reading
In this episode of The Original Torah Pearls, Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1), we discuss what is the qualification of the first born? Who inherits the land if a father has no sons but only daughters? Did Pinchas impale a princess of Midian? Double portion or two thirds – what did it mean for Moses to impart some of his glory to Joshua, or Elijah’s spirit to Elisha? Continue reading
In this episode of Hebrew Voices, The Last Bastion of Free Speech, Nehemia Gordon takes us on an extraordinary tour of Speaker's Corner in London's Hyde Park. Speaker's Corner is the most famous location for free speech in the world. Join Nehemia as he speaks with a diverse group of people with varied perspectives on religion, science, and politics. Continue reading
![Prophet Pearls Balak, Micah 5:7[6]-6:8, balak, biblical idolatry, haftarah, hebrew paragraph divisions, Yehovah, yhvh, Keith Johnson, micah 6:8, nehemia gordon, obedience sacrifice, paragraph divisions, samech pei, parashah, Parsha, parshas, parshat, prophet micah, prophets, remnant, samech pei, what the lord requires](https://cdn.nehemiaswall.com/wp-content/uploads/Prophet-Pearls-40-Balak.jpg?iv=1103)
In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss the Prophets portion for Balak covering Micah 5:6-6:8. The portion begins with Micah drawing from the song of Moses to illustrate what the remnant of Jacob will look like—“as showers upon grass.” The prophet also provides a list of things that will be cut off “in that day.” And lest we think biblical idolatry is obsolete, Gordon and Johnson provide modern day examples that masquerade as piety. We learn the uses of the paragraph divisions of “samech” and “pei” and Gordon scours the Tanakh for other uses of “in that day.” Continue reading
In The Original Torah Pearls, Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9), we discuss was Yehovah Balaam’s God? What kind of prophet was Balaam? Why did God seek to kill Balaam? Does Numbers 22:22 really say that the angel of Yehovah was Satan? Did Balaam announce the first recorded messianic prophecy in the Torah? Continue reading
In Leviticus 19:27-28 we are commanded:
"(27) You shall not round the edge of your head, nor shall you destroy the edge of your beard. (28) And you shall not make a cutting for the dead in your flesh, nor shall you make a written tattoo upon you; I am Yehovah." Continue reading
In Hebrew Gospel Pearls #3 (Matthew 2:1-12), Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss whether the Jesus of the New Testament is the same as the Jesus of the Talmud, who the three wise men or magi really were, and why the Romans said it was better to be Herod’s pig than his son. Continue reading
In this episode of Hebrew Voices, Rooftop Revelations, Nehemia Gordon meets with Jerusalem Miri, who kept watch over the walls of Jerusalem by greeting the dawn and calling God's people to prayer, with songs from her heart to Yehovah, from a Jerusalem rooftop for nearly a decade. Linda wrote: “Wonderful interview, and thank you so much for the beautiful music, Miri. I've downloaded it and am enjoying it very much. It really speaks to the heart and spirit because it is from God's Word.” Continue reading
In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss the Prophets portion for Chukat covering Judges 11:1-33. Gordon and Johnson draw parallels between events in this portion and current diplomatic strategies over the land of Israel. For a clearer understanding of Jephthah, the exiled son of a prostitute who brings deliverance to Israel, Gordon provides a summary of the history, religions, and geography of the Ammonites and Moabites. This portion provides an example of properly translating “malach”—where only context determines if it’s “angel” or “messenger.” Gordon and Johnson point out the striking word play found with the word-of-the-week yihyeh “he will be” (yud-hei-yud-hei). Gordon reads from Deuteronomy concerning the seriousness of vowing to Yehovah and provides rabbinical interpretations of Jephthah’s tragic vow. Continue reading
In this episode The Original Torah Pearls, Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1), we discuss, is there a red heifer in Israel? What is the water of menstruation for cleansing? Does a corrupt priesthood invalidate the water of purification and are we cut off without it? Is the site of the Temple off limits today? What exactly did Moses do wrong when Yehovah brought water from the rock? How did the snake on the pole cross the line into idolatry? Continue reading