2,199 texts · Page 3 of 46
So, there he is, Tobiyyah, son of Tobit, traveling with the angel Raphael – disguised as a human named Azaryah, of course. They're making their way to Media, and things are already...
In chapter 7, we find Tobiyyah, son of Tobit, on a journey to a faraway land. He's seeking to claim a debt owed to his father, but as we'll see, destiny has much grander plans in s...
The Book of Tobit, a beautiful story nestled in the Apocrypha, knows all about that feeling. We find ourselves with Tobiyyah, son of Tobit, who's just married Sarah, daughter of Re...
The Book of Tobit, a beautiful story nestled within the Apocrypha, touches on just that. It's a tale filled with faith, healing, and the surprising intervention of angels. We find ...
The Letter of Aristeas, an ancient text attributed to a courtier in the service of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (that's Ptolemy the Second, Philadelphus – quite a name. ) suggests that’...
I want to tell you a story, a personal one, about a mission I undertook. It all started with a plea. I saw an opportunity to speak to the king, to advocate for the Jewish captives....
The Letter of Aristeas, an ancient text that purports to describe how the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek, touches on this very thing. Why, it asks, should we even bother ta...
It’s a question that’s sparked debate and curiosity for centuries. But what if I told you the answer isn’t just about dietary rules, but about something much deeper – about ethics,...
This ancient text, purporting to be a letter from Aristeas, an official in Ptolemy's court, describes the remarkable story of how the Septuagint – the Greek translation of the Hebr...
It's fascinating to peek behind the curtains of power and see what advice they valued. The Letter of Aristeas gives us just that glimpse. It's a pseudepigraphical letter—meaning, i...
I'm talking about the Letter of Aristeas. It's an incredible text that purports to describe how the Septuagint, that famous Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, came to be. But t...
The scene: a king, eager to tap into the minds of wise men. He poses a question to one of them: "What is the highest form of glory?" The answer? It's not what you might expect. The...
That’s the scene set in the Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating historical text. The king, overflowing with generosity, had just finished toasting his guests. But his generosity wasn...
The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating text from the Hellenistic period, gives us a glimpse into just that, through a series of thought-provoking exchanges. Imagine this: a king, ea...
The Letter of Aristeas offers a fascinating glimpse into that world, particularly the Hellenistic Jewish world of ancient Alexandria. This text, presented as a letter, recounts the...
This wasn't just any translation; this was the creation of the Septuagint, a pivotal moment in Jewish history and its interaction with the Hellenistic world. But amidst this grand ...
The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating text that purports to describe how the Septuagint – the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible – came to be, gives us a glimpse into just such ...
More than just inspiration, more than just beautiful writing. Sometimes, it takes a good old-fashioned curse. I’m talking about the story of the Septuagint, the Greek translation o...
You get glimpses of a world so different, yet so familiar. And the stories! Oh, the stories… Today, I want to share a little snippet from the end of the Letter of Aristeas. It's no...
The Prayer of Manasseh, though considered apocryphal by some, gives voice to that very human feeling. It's a raw, honest cry from the heart of someone who knows they've messed up –...
It paints a picture of a community whose very speech and thoughts are a force for good. It begins by telling us where their minds are: "Their meditation is on the Law of the Most H...
That feeling – that’s what I want to talk about today. Imagine a time of immense struggle. Your people are oppressed, your sacred places desecrated. Hope seems lost. Then, a voice ...
That feeling echoes through the ages, all the way back to the time of the Maccabees. And it’s where our story begins. These aren’t my words, mind you. This is straight from The Sec...
The Second Book of Maccabees tells a harrowing, yet inspiring, story of faith and resistance. It recounts the persecution of Jews under the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleuc...
That’s what happens when I think about the story tucked away in the Second Book of Maccabees. We find ourselves in a moment of intense persecution. The Seleucid Empire, under Antio...
The story unfolds in a time of exile, a time of vulnerability for the Jewish people. Shoshana, a woman renowned for her beauty and piety, becomes the target of unwanted attention. ...
A righteous woman, on the verge of execution, her reputation shredded. The injustice is palpable. But just when all seems lost, a young voice pierces the darkness. She was about to...
It's at the heart of the story of Susanna, a tale of beauty, betrayal, and ultimately, justice. We jump into the narrative with Susanna already accused of adultery by two elders of...
Like your thoughts aren't just floating around in your head, but somehow... accountable? The Book of Wisdom, a powerful Jewish text from the Second Temple period preserved in the S...
The Book of Wisdom, one of the fascinating texts in the Apocrypha (writings related to the Bible but not included in the Jewish or Protestant canons), grapples with these very ques...
Today, we're diving into one of those fascinating, lesser-known works: the Book of Jasher. Now, it's important to understand that this isn't part of the Tanakh. Its authenticity an...
The Book of Jasher isn't part of the canonical Hebrew Bible, but it's referenced within it (Joshua 10:13 and (2 Samuel 1:1)8). It's considered by some to be a valuable historical s...
What about the generations that followed? What were they up to? The Book of Jasher, an ancient text referenced in the Bible itself (Joshua 10:13 and (2 Samuel 1:1)8), offers some f...
After Abram's bold declaration against idol worship (in the previous chapter), King Nimrod isn't too pleased. According to the Book of Jasher, Nimrod had Abram thrown into prison f...
We often associate it with powerful Egyptian rulers, but its origins are a bit…unconventional, to say the least. Buckle up, because the Book of Jasher has a wild story to tell abou...
Sometimes, looking to other texts can give us a fuller picture. Take, for example, this passage from the Book of Jasher. It begins with a rumble of war. Chedorlaomer, king of Elam,...
We know the broad strokes of Abraham, the patriarch, and the destruction of Sodom. But what about the details? Sometimes, the lesser-known texts fill in the gaps, offering a richer...
We all know the story of their destruction, but the Book of Jasher, a non-canonical Jewish text that elaborates on stories from the Hebrew Bible, really paints a vivid picture. Cha...
We often focus on the big, dramatic moments – the covenant, the near-sacrifice of Isaac. But what about the everyday stuff? The family dynamics? The sibling rivalry? The Book of Ja...
While not part of the accepted biblical canon, Jasher (meaning "Upright" or "Correct Record") offers a fascinating, if sometimes embellished, account of biblical events. And Chapte...
We all know the ending – the angel intervenes, a ram is sacrificed, and Isaac is spared. But what about the emotional turmoil, the agonizing choices, and the sheer human drama unfo...
There are so many fascinating texts just lurking on the fringes, offering alternative perspectives and filling in the gaps in ways you wouldn't expect. Today, we're diving into one...
The chapter opens with Jacob finishing his seven years of service to Laban, all for the hand of Rachel. The wedding day arrives, a feast is prepared, and everyone gathers to celebr...
So, picture this: Jacob, after leaving his previous location, arrives in the land of Shalem, near the city of Shechem – a place in Canaan. He buys a piece of land for five shekels ...
That’s where texts like the Book of Jasher come in, offering us a glimpse into those "untold" stories. Chapter 40 of Jasher picks up right after the sons of Jacob have plundered Ga...
The Book of Jasher, a collection of Jewish legends and lore, fills in some of those gaps, offering a more detailed (and sometimes surprising) account.. So, the brothers have just t...
That’s the emotional whirlwind that engulfs the sons of Jacob after selling their brother Joseph into slavery, as recounted in Chapter 43 of the Book of Jasher. The chapter opens w...
We pick up the story of Joseph in Egypt, after his brothers sold him and he's been bought and sold a couple more times. According to Jasher, the Ishmaelites who initially bought Jo...
