Tanach Thoughts

This is part 4 of a series of posts I made shortly after starting the blog (nos. 1 , 2 , 3 ). Back then, I noticed that there were many ties between the Tribe of Yehudah in particular and Egypt. This was most particularly apparent in their personal names, though there were a couple of other connections. I am now in the midst of conducting research for my latest seminar paper, in which I will attempt to propose a link between the Samaria Ostraca and the LMLK handles (more on that in a later post). As researching one fascinating topic goes, my search led me to many other fascinating topics, one being the subject of Egyptian icons in Judahite (i.e., of the Kingdom of Yehudah) material culture. For example, all LMLK handles feature variants of two main Egyptian symbols: A winged disk (many identify it with the Egyptian winged sun disk) or a winged scarab, a sacred Egyptian symbol. Another example are Judahite seals, many of which feature blatant Egyptian symbols, including idolatrous symbo...

As a continuation of my recent post on the rise of Omri and the special trait of his house, I noticed that this is how Yehu killed the descendants of Achav: Divide and conquer. In Kings 2:9:21-24 , Yehu approaches both King Yehoram, son of Achav and King Achazyah, son of Atlayah, daughter or sister of Achav and Yehoram, son of Yehoshafat. It may be understood from the verses that Yehu first barged towards Yehoram, cursing him, as though he did not notice Achazyah. This makes Yehoram conclude that Achazyah was betraying him and shouts at him "Treason, Achazyah!" before he is slaughtered by Yehu. Yehu then gives chase to Achazyah and slaughters him as well ( ibid. 27 ). Next he slays the 70 other sons of Achav ( ibid. 10:1-11 ). Finally, he kills the 42 kinsmen of Achazyah ( ibid. 10:13-14 ). All of this spilling of blood was appranetly caused by one man. The various branches of the House of Achav could have taken him on, but they were ill-prepared and divided (in some cases, g...

In Daniel 8, Daniel sees Persia falling at the hands of the Greek Empire. Persia is symbolized by a ram (the two horns representing Persia and Medea) and Greece by a "tzfir-izzim", which apparently means a "he-goat" (se'ir). Turns out, certainly the last part about the tzfir, is a fascinating bit of symbolism. In Efraim Tzoref's book "Yosef, Viceroy to the King of Egypt", Vol. 1, pg. 177, while discussing symbolism in dreams, he writes (translation from Hebrew): "Plutarch (Hadrian's teacher from the 2nd century CE) recounted: When Alexander the Great (from the 4th century BCE) laid siege upon the walls of Tyre and was not able to conquer them for a long time, he lost hope and decided to withdraw. That night he saw in his dream a satyr dancing before him victoriously. In the morning, Aristander, his dream-interpreter, interpreted the dream for him, that he would indeed manage to defeat Tyre, as the word satyr is comprised of Sa - yours and ...