In Hebrew Gospel Pearls PLUS #5 (Matthew 2:16-23), Nehemia and Keith discuss why the verse “he shall be called a Nazarene” can’t be found in the Tanakh, whether Jeremiah prophesied about modern Israeli prisoners of war, and the mystery of Rachel’s tomb.
Be sure to first watch Hebrew Gospel Pearls #5, before watching this PLUS episode.
In Hebrew Gospel Pearls PLUS #13, Matthew 5:3, Nehemia and Keith discuss the Hebrew word for “happiness” (Ashrei), why it is usually translated as “Blessed”, and the biblical keys to rejoicing in eternity.
Be sure to first watch Hebrew Gospel Pearls #13, before watching this PLUS episode.
In Hebrew Gospel Pearls PLUS #15, Nehemia and Keith discuss the two main manuscript variants of Matthew 5:4, how this discrepancy might have come about, and look at a manuscript which seems to indicate that the Hebrew text was altered to make it more similar to the Greek.
Be sure to first watch Hebrew Gospel Pearls #15, before watching this PLUS episode.
In this episode of The Original Torah Pearls, Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35), we begin with a passionate discussion on "Tradition" vs. Scripture, which leads to the golden calf of the Exodus event. Who was the calf supposed to represent? There follows a fascinating discussion of God's appearance to Moses, and what we can learn about God from it. Finally, the trio discuss the very sensitive matter of whether or not Jewish people really do have horns.
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In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Tetzaveh (Ezekiel 43:10-27), Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss Ezekiel describing the sin offering and the building plan for the Temple. Nehemia and Keith consider whether a spiritual or literal interpretation fits best with the minute details of the plan. We learn the iniquity for which Ezekiel’s listeners were (and we are) to be ashamed of, as well as the literal meanings of “temple” and “synagogue” and that word choice indicates world view.
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In this special episode of Hebrew Gospel Pearls, Tricks of Translation 2, Nehemia and Keith compare translations of a verse in Hosea, discuss the tricks and difficulties of translation, and recount the struggles of 19th century Jews in America.
In this episode of Hebrew Gospel Pearls Special PLUS, Tricks of Translation 2, Nehemia and Keith explore a divide between the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint, how it may have been caused by a mistake of only one letter, and the doctrinal consequences of the variance in translation.
This episode of The Original Torah Pearls is on the Torah portion of Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19). The episode opens with a lively discussion on the difference between tithes and offerings. There follows a brilliant discussion of the "Mercy Seat" of the Ark, and what that means to different cultures and faiths. What could have been a boring discussion of the "furniture" in the tabernacle becomes a passionate discussion of the implements that were really contained within the Ark.
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In this Support Team Study, Calculating Passover in the Middle Ages, Nehemia speaks with a scholar at University College London about how Karaite Jews implemented the biblical calendar in exile, how they determined the beginning of the year when faced with bedouin bandits, and the vagaries of the vernal equinox. As a bonus they discussed when Karaites stopped observing the Aviv biblical calendar and the significance of Yom Kippur in 1844.
In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Mishpatim Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26, ever obedient servants of context, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson begin at the beginning—with two verses moved to the end of this Portion by the Rabbis. In these two verses in which the unfailing laws of nature are equated with God’s promises to Israel, Gordon makes a connection between the theories of physicists and the views of pundits regarding the land of Israel. Gordon and Johnson further explore why these two verses (and eight others) are missing from the Septuagint and why the spelling of Isaac differs here from elsewhere in the Tanakh.
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