Author: Ben Zion
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Galil – lecture 4
Three approaches to giving the cities of Galil to Hiram: 1. Exchange of territories. 2. The land was given only on lease, for produce. 3. Critical approach: Solomon in his later years had a crave for gold, and could no longer send Hiram only grain and oil, but had to give him cities in Galilee,…
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Galil – lecture 3
After examining the references to Galil in the Bible, and in Joshua’s Galilean War, we will come to the conclusion that the word “Galil” does not indicate a topographical region (like “Negev” or “Shfela”) but a political region. That is why it is written: “Galil of the Philistines,”, or: “Galil of the Gentiles”, in Isaiah.…
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Galil – lecture 2
Where is Galil mentioned in the Bible? And does the word Galil refer to the region in the north that we today call Galil? We will learn about Joshua’s first war to conquer the Galil and ask why the Bible does not mention that Joshua conquered the Galil? While other areas in the country are…
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Galil – lecture 1
Introducing the site: The Galil. Is the Galil mentioned in the Bible? And in what contexts? When did the Galil become the center of Judaism? When did the distinction between Upper and Lower Galil begin? This lecture will include a kahoot quiz that presents initial questions and answers about the Galil.
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Bet Lechem – lecture 16
So if we summarize the messages of Bet Lechem that we learned: Bet Lechem epresses a message of humility, of focusing on the essence and not on appearances, a place that symbolizes good, from which those who leave arrive at bad places. It is also a place that symbolizes unity, as the people of Bet…
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Bet Lechem – lecture 15
Bet Lechem in the Book of Ruth. It is constantly mentioned that they left Bet Lechem and returned to Bet Lechem? Boaz too, is described as “coming from Bet Lechem.” Why? We learn several things from the Book of Ruth: Bet Lechem represents not only a geographical place but also what is good from a…
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Israeli Sea Coast – lecture 13
Why is Isaiah walking around naked and barefoot? What is he trying to say to the righteous King Hezekiah by this? And why does he call the land of Judah by the name: “Island”? Isaiah is trying to prevent Hezekiah from making an alliance with Assyria. Why is this different from many alliances that our…
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Israeli Sea Coast – lecture 12
To conclude our study of Ashdod, we will examine chapter 20 of Isaiah, which deals with a prophecy about Egypt, but opens with a puzzling mention of a military commander who was sent by Sargon, king of Assyria, to conquer Ashdod. Who was Sargon? Why is it important to mention the conquest of Ashdod here?…
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Bet Lechem – lecture 14
We learned three similar stories. Two lead to the situation: “Every man did what is right in his own eyes.” And the third leads to the kingdom of David, about whom God says: “He who has done what is right in my eyes.” What is the message of this contrast and how does it relate…
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Bet Lechem – lecture 13
The recurring motif in the story of Micah’s statue and the story of the concubine of Givah is the Levite who comes from Bet Lechem. What does this mean? and why is it emphasized? It seems that both stories that end the Book of Judges and the opening story of the Book of Samuel contain…
