Book Review: Jewish biblical exegesis

Jewish biblical exegesis

Author: Louis Jacobs

Publisher: Behrman House, Inc., hardcover, 196 pages, including Introduction

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author

Louis Jacobs (17 July 1920 – 1 July 2006), was the Rabbi of New London Synagogue, in the United Kingdom, an author of several books, and a leading Jewish theologian. Rabbi Dr Jacobs’ books are on all aspects of Judaism, everything from mainstream theology, to mysticism, to Chassidism, to the Talmud. Jewish biblical exegesis is volume four of a seven volume “The Chain Of Tradition Series.”

Contents

The volume includes an Introduction, and 19 chapters. The chapters highlight excerpts from significant scholars and rabbis of the 11^th century through to the 20^th century. 

Brief Observations

Rabbi Dr Jacobs explains two terms Rabbis employ regarding Scripture and interpretation—Midrash or Derash, which means “to inquire,” and Peshat, which means “plain meaning.” Midrash or Derash involves reading something into a text, and can be creatively far-fetched. Commentators who favoured Peshat are referred to as Pashtanim. Commentators who favoured Derash are referred to as Darshanim. In some instances however, commentators may have employed both methods. Rabbi Dr Jacobs provides brief biographical notes and explanations for each of the commentators.

Here are four Rabbinic examples of how they interpreted Scripture.

Rabbi Dr Jacobs provides this introductory comment on one of the most familiar scholars: “Moses ben Nahman (Nahmanides) was born in Gerona, Spain in 1195 and died at Acre in Palestine around the year 1270. He is known as Ramban, after the initial letters of his name (Rabbi Moshe ben Nahman). Nahmanides’ Commentary to the Pentateuch...was also the first...to use the teachings of the Kabbalah” (p. 46). 

Nahmanides provides this answer to the question: What is the image of God? “The word “image” means “form”....And the word “likeness” means a resemblance in character and deed since of things close to one another in idea it can be said that they resemble one another” (p. 47). 

Rabbi Dr Jacobs explains Nahmanides’ comment on the command to be holy in Leviticus 19:2 and 11:44 as follows: “over and above the detailed rules and regulations there is a general command to be holy, that is, for Nahmanides, to keep oneself apart from too much indulgence even in permitted things” (p. 59). One example Nahmanides refers to is moderation in drinking wine: “He (or she) should sanctify himself (herself) in the matter of wine, only drinking a little....” (p. 58). 

“Rabbi Jacob ben Asher (died in Toledo, Spain, before 1340) was the author of a great and authoritative Code of Jewish law...known as the Tur (“Row”), but more specifically as the Turim....” (p. 100). 

“There is a Midrash which says that the reason the Torah begins with the letter bet and not with the letter alef is that bet stands for berachah (“blessing”), whereas alef stands for arirah (“curse”)” (p. 101). 

“The numerical value of bereshit bara (“In the beginning He created,” the first two words of the Pentateuch) is the same as that of be-rosh ha-shana nivra (“On Rosh Ha-Shanah it was created”)” (p. 103).

Hayim ben Moses ibn Attar was born in Morocco in 1696, and died in Jerusalem in 1743. In his answer to the question: Why should one help the poor? He states: “Whoever gives alms to the poor (person) and supports (them), thereby causes that poor (person’s) quarrel with Heaven to cease” (p. 164). Rabbi Dr Jacobs, commenting on this, suggests that: “It is sometimes claimed that religion, by turning (people’s) minds away from the sufferings of this world, fails to encourage (people) to alleviate that suffering” (p. 164). Hence, in this sense, religion contributes to the injustices in the world.

Rabbi Baruch Epstein was born in 1860, and murdered by the Nazis in 1942. He cites several Rabbinic interpretations of Leviticus 19:14: “Thou shalt not...put a stumbling-block before the blind....” For example, the verse may refer to: the blind as one who is in the dark on a particular matter; or not giving a cup of wine to a blind Nazirite; or a hint of the necessity of marking graves; or not striking a grown-up son, who might retaliate and strike their parent and thereby violate the fifth commandment; or a prohibition of selling wood/trees to fire-worshippers; or a prohibition to lenders and borrowers of money regarding interest; or a prohibition to lend money without witnesses—to list some of the Rabbinic interpretations. Rabbi Epstein suggests that the verse could refer to both a figurative and a literal-physical stumbling-block and blindness. 

Reading this volume reminded me of the Rabbinic view of Shiv’im Panim La-Torah –each verse of Torah has 70 different faces/i.e., interpretations. Those who are interested in learning more about the wide range of Rabbinic interpretations will likely appreciate this volume. 

Read the Bible in a Year final: The New Testament

By the grace of God, I finished my commitment to read the Bible in one year, ahead of schedule, on December 23, 2021. If you haven’t already, you can read my previous blog posts on this commitment here and here and here. 

The Process

Some days were very challenging; having to read up to seven chapters. Reading seven chapters and making notes and writing brief introductions to each biblical book added to the time required to keep up with the suggested daily schedule. However, with much discipline, and God’s grace, I was able to finish ahead of the schedule that I was following in the Good News Translation of the Bible. My actual reading involved a rotation of seven additional translations though, including: the New Revised Standard Version, the Revised English Bible, the Revised Standard Version, the King James Version, the New American Standard Bible, The Jerusalem Bible, and the New International Version. 

Notes and Introductions

As I mentioned, I wrote brief notes on every chapter and wrote introductions to each biblical book. Some days it was a struggle to concentrate and write, especially when those days were filled with other commitments. The days I wasn’t able to read the required number of chapters, I spent more time reading to catch up on other days. Taking notes and writing introductions helped me to reflect more on the content than if I were only reading. Altogether, I filled nearly four spiral note books with my notes and introductions! I plan on consulting these from time to time in the future, and possibly even expanding on them for my own devotional purposes; as well as for Bible studies and sermon preparation. 

The New Testament

I enjoyed reading the synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John and noting some of their unique theological and biographical presentations of Jesus. Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah who has come and fulfilled the Hebrew Bible messianic prophecies; Mark describes Jesus as the God/Man of action with a heavy itinerary of preaching, teaching and healing; and Luke sees Jesus as friend of sinners, seeker of the lost, and companion of the poor; John has a multi-pictured Jesus, including: the Word working with God the Father to create the universe, the bread of life, the way, truth and life, the true light, the Saviour/Messiah of the world who brings eternal life, and several others. 

The Pauline epistles, of course, are most profound theologically, as Paul was likely “the” key early theologian and intellectual of the Christian faith, as well as missionary to the Gentile world. His message—which he was able to preach while considering the specific context of each audience—of salvation by grace alone; and his emphasis on responding to that saving grace through faith active in love; obviously appealed to many Gentiles throughout the Mediterranean world. 

Many of the other New Testament letters focus on specific misunderstandings, divisions and troubles within the early faith communities: including false teachers and teachings, good works, illness and healing, prayer, worship, persecution, the meaning and implications for believers of Jesus’s suffering, death and resurrection. 

The final Book of Revelation is a difficult one. Apocalyptic literature, often written in the context of persecution to give those persecuted encouragement and hope for the future, is hard to interpret. It lends itself to fundamentalists having a field day by coming up with outlandish scenarios of the end-times; and interpreting events that are described in Revelation as referring to present-day events, people and places. Such events described in Revelation are highly symbolic—most likely by design an underground language to avoid being censored by authorities hostile to Christian communities—and referred to events back at the time the author wrote Revelation, not events happening today. Because of the difficult nature of Revelation, Christians were reluctant to include it in the biblical canon. One wonders if, through the centuries, it has done more harm than good to its readers. 

Final Thoughts

One thing I appreciated about this project was the opportunity to read many of the biblical stories in their larger context. I also appreciated reading some of the books that I hadn’t read for a long time. We all have our favourite books, as well as those we tend to avoid. All-in-all, I do believe that my faith has been strengthened by reading the Bible in one year—as has my appreciation for God the Author of the Bible, and for my ancestors, both Jewish and Gentile, who preserved, canonized, translated and passed on the Bible from generation to generation, right up to the present day. May the Bible continue to be a best seller, if not “the” best seller for generations to come! I would encourage readers of this blog post to commit to reading the Bible in one year—you will be blessed! 

Read the Bible in a Year continued: The Prophets

I realize that it has been some time since I wrote a blog post on my journey of reading the Bible in one year. In my last blog post of March 1, 2021, I had completed the Torah, which, if you haven’t read it, you can do so here.

Now I have completed reading the Hebrew Bible/Older Testament. As I reflect on my commitment to this project, which I continue to find challenging some days, regarding the time factor, my thoughts turn to the prophets and the prophetic books. The following are a few brief reflections on them.

The difficult ministries of the Prophets

God called most of the prophets into difficult ministries, which meant that they did not win any popularity contests! God’s people often failed to listen to their messages, rejecting them personally and their messages, ridiculed them, persecuted them, arrested them, and, as in the case of Jeremiah, even threatened to kill them. The lives of God’s prophets were not easy, often lonely, and extremely challenging physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. 

Symbolic Prophetic actions

The prophets, so they believed, were called by God to do some rather weird, and difficult symbolic prophetic actions. For example, in the case of Isaiah (see chapter 20) God called him to go naked and barefoot for three years. Jeremiah was told by God to wear a yoke (chapter 27:2), and the prophet Hananiah took it from Jeremiah and broke it as a sign that the oppressive yoke of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar would be removed from all nations within two years (chapter 28:10-11), and Jeremiah’s oracle regarding an iron yoke, in opposition to Hananiah’s words and action (chapter 28:12ff). God told Ezekiel to lie on his left side for 390 days symbolizing the number of years of Israel’s punishment; and then Ezekiel was to lie on his right side 40 days symbolizing the number of years of Judah’s punishment. Hosea was instructed by God to marry a prostitute symbolizing the unfaithfulness of God’s people. He was also instructed to name a daughter Lo-ruhamah, meaning Not pitied, and a son Lo-ammi, meaning Not my people. Jonah was called by God—fleeing, resisting, kicking and screaming all the way!—to go to the capital city of the enemy, Nineveh, which had inflicted so much suffering on God’s people to preach to them.

Preaching difficult messages

Speaking of preaching, many of the prophets were given God’s messages that God’s people did not want to hear, let alone obey. God called on the prophets to preach messages of repentance, judgement and punishment for violating God’s ways, condemnation of idolatry (a constant sin in the Hebrew Bible), confrontation of unethical merchants with their false weights and measures cheating the poor, criticism of self-indulgent priests and political leaders who thought God would be pleased with their worship, even though they neglected to care for widows, orphans and resident aliens. The prophets were strong advocates of justice, which is linked to keeping God’s covenant and commandments. Violation of the covenant and commandments proved disastrous as the prophets warned—e.g., the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, destruction of the Jerusalem temple, and famines in the land.

The Day of the LORD

The prophets proclaim a day of the LORD. It is a day of darkness and to be dreaded. It refers to disastrous cataclysmic events, God’s enemies will be punished; see Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20; and Zechariah 1:14-15. However, there are also more hopeful, and blessed references that to the day of the LORD; see Isaiah 4:2-6; 25:6-10; 30:26; Hosea 2:18-23; Joel 2:28-32; Amos 9:11-15; Zechariah 14:6-11.

Good News

In addition to the prophets being messengers of “bad news,” they were also blessed by God with “good news.” For example, Isaiah speaks of the wonderful beautiful vision of perfect Shalom in chapters 2 and 11. Jeremiah purchased a plot of land as a sign of hope that God’s people would eventually return from exile to the promised land. Jeremiah also spoke of a new covenant in chapter 31, highlighting the importance of forgiveness. Isaiah 7:14 has been interpreted by Christians as a reference to the birth of Jesus the Messiah, as well as Micah 5:2. Isaiah 52-53 refer to the Suffering Servant, whom Christians interpret as Jesus. There are also references in the prophets to Jerusalem as the capital of the world, when all nations shall live in peace.

Read the Bible in a Year continued: The Torah

As I shared in my January 18, 2021 bog post, which you can read here, I have made the commitment to read the whole Bible this year. I recently completed reading the Torah, and am now well into the Book of Joshua. I'm following the Good News Translation Bible's plan, titled: "Read the Bible in a Year." However, each day I read a different translation, I'm blessed to have eight English translations of the Bible. For those readers who may have only one or two translations, I recommend the Bible Gateway website, where you can select several translations.

I confess, there are some days I find it quite challenging to read the assigned chapters. For example, when I began the Book of Joshua, chapters 1 to 7 were assigned on that day. This takes time, as I like to write brief notes on each daily reading. It is rather challenging some days to devote the necessary time required--especially when one has a busy day with other commitments. Being retired makes one grateful to be able to choose these kind of commitments. 

With regards to now having read the Torah, which literally means "teaching" or "instruction," here are a few notes. 

Two of the most significant defining moments in the history of Israel are, of course, God giving Moses the decalogue (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:1-21) on Mount Sinai; and the exodus combined with the institution of the Passover (Exodus 12-14) as a festival to be celebrated in perpetuity to remember the exodus out of Egyptian slavery. Both of these defining moments are acts of God's grace toward Israel, and lay the foundation for their nation. The other religious celebrations, including the Sabbath, and such festivals as Sukkot/Tabernacles, and Weeks are also rooted in God's grace.

However, after reading about the origins of the tabernacle and the sacrificial system associated with it, one does wonder about God's requirements. This time round, after reading about all of the minute details of the offerings and sacrifices; their contents and quantities, and the rituals connected with them; I have more empathy towards the levitical priests. They were given huge responsibilities, and I think their work would have been endless. It would have required a lot of time to prepare many of the offerings and sacrifices prior to officiating in their rituals. Moreover, one wonders where and how the levitical priests were able to find all of the animals required for the offerings and sacrifices. It would have helped them a great deal if they were people who had the gift to remember details. 

We like to view God as "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." However, with regards to the sacrificial system, one wonders--sometimes God seems overly legalistic and unmerciful, quick to anger and punish those who even make a minor mistake regarding the content and/or quantity of a particular offering or sacrifice. The punishment seems, at times, extreme. For example, in Numbers 15:32-36, a man who gathered sticks on the sabbath was commanded by the LORD to be stoned to death. 

On the other hand, there are occasions when God is gracious and merciful. For example, he does listen to both Abraham and Moses when they intercede for their people; that God not destroy them in his wrath. God heard their pleading and had mercy on his people. 

God's grace also blessed Abraham and Sarah with their son Isaac in their old age.

God's grace endowed Moses with the energy, wisdom and leadership skills and gifts to lead the Israelites through the sea, the wilderness, and up to the promised land. God's grace provided for the Israelites throughout their wilderness wanderings. God's grace provided for the needs and status of resident aliens, orphans and widows. 

After reading the Torah, I am grateful however that I'm not required to remember, let alone keep, all of the 613 laws therein--even though a number of those laws do make sense in their context and even today (for example the dietary laws), and promote the health and well-being of society as a whole. 

There but by the grace of God go you and I.

Read the Bible in a Year

Beginning in January 2021, I've been following the Good News Translation's "Read the Bible in a Year" schedule. This Bible is published by the Canadian Bible Society.

It has been a number of years since I've read the Bible in one year-so I thought it would be an edifying discipline to do so again this year. If you haven't done so before; or if it's been some time since you've done so; I encourage you to undertake this commitment. 

So far, I've read through the Book of Genesis, and the first eleven chapters of Exodus. When one reads larger portions of the Bible in one sitting, one discovers a greater appreciation for the context of events in many of the stories that one might miss or forget in a briefer reading. Since the Bible is a Living Word of God, one notices certain things that were perhaps overlooked in previous readings of the text. Here are a few notes from my reading so far.

In the first creation story, human beings are created as male and female in God's image, which implies God is both male and female, and, of course, more than the two genders as well. At the end of the the sixth day: "God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31)

Even after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (nowhere does it identify the fruit as an apple or any other fruit) God, in an act of grace, made clothes for them. 

In the story of Cain's and Abel's offerings, no reason is explicitly given for God favouring Abel's offering and not Cain's. However, in observing Cain's anger, God warns him to "master it," or it will lead him into sin. (Genesis 4:1-7) Another mystery with regards to Cain is his wife: we are not told where she came from, and she remains nameless in the story. (Genesis 4:17)

Throughout the Book of Genesis the names of far too many wives and daughters are rarely given--reflecting the patriarchal society out of which Genesis originated. For example, in Genesis 5:4, the writer mentions Adam (not Eve) having a son named Seth and other sons and daughters who are not named. The same is true of Seth, 5:6, he had a son named Enosh, his wife remains nameless, and he had other sons and daughters who remain nameless. 

In Genesis 19:30-38, an account is provided of the incestuous origins of the Moabites and Ammonites. Lot, after drinking wine, had sexual intercourse with his two daughters, who are also nameless. Centuries later, God chose Ruth, a Moabite, to be the ancestor of David and Jesus. Although there are certainly good reasons to avoid incestuous sexual relations, (it is not promoted in the Bible as being a normal sexual practice) perhaps one of the lessons from this story is that God's ways are not our ways.  

Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel are all barren and eventually able to give birth with implicit or explicit divine intervention. For example: "Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived." (Genesis 25:21) Indeed, the main purpose of women in the Book of Genesis is giving birth to children. There is little or no room in Genesis for women to choose occupations beyond domestic ones. Most of the stories in Genesis focus on the patriarchs rather than the matriarchs.

In the Book of Exodus, the political, economic and social status of the Israelites has changed radically--they are now reduced to slaves in Egypt. 

The story of Moses reveals how God is at work through Pharaoh's daughter to save Moses. She has compassion on him, spares his life as an act of disobeying her Pharaoh-dad, and with the help of Moses' sister and mother, he is cared for until Pharaoh's daughter adopts him and raises him. 

Moses' humanity is revealed when he is hesitant to accept God's call to him to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. I hazard to guess that many a pastor down through the ages have identified with Moses' hesitation to accept God's call-I know I have! 

The divine drama in Exodus is portrayed by God hardening Pharaoh's heart, and Moses and Aaron confronting him to release the Israelites. As God's servants and spokespersons, Moses and Aaron are given the capacity to assist the LORD by announcing divinely orchestrated events that threaten Pharaoh and the Egyptians, causing hardships and suffering. The plagues serve to heighten the drama; revealing God's power over Pharaoh and his unsuccessful resistance.    

 

Brief Book Review: Forty Days with the Messiah Day-by-day reflections on the words of Handel's oratorio

Forty Days With The Messiah: Day-by-day reflections on the words of Handel's oratorio

Author: David Winter

Publisher: Abingdon Press

138 pages, including: Forward by Simon Over, Introduction, eight sections, and Notes For Group Study

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

David Winter, at the time of publishing this volume, was a priest in the diocese of Oxford and the author of What's in a Word: 40 Words of Jesus for the 40 Days of Lent, also published by Abingdon Press. 

   As the title suggests, this volume is a devotional-meditative work based on G.F. Handel's Messiah. 

   According to Simon Over, Messiah was often revised by Handel to suite a variety of circumstances. 

   The oratorio's text--compiled by Handel and Charles Jennens--is comprised of many Hebrew Bible prophetic passages and New Testament passages of the King James Version of the Bible, and passages from the Psalter of the Book of Common Prayer.  

   One of the concerns of the author is that many people are very familiar with Messiah, and that familiarity may lead to taking the words too much for granted, without appreciating their significance for our faith. Hence Winter endeavours to provide important information about the biblical contexts of the passages; as well as unpack meanings of a few Hebrew and Greek words. 

   The section titles are: The Coming Messiah: Promise And Warning, The Birth Of Messiah, The Life Of The Messiah, The Suffering Messiah, The Risen Messiah, The Messiah King, Life Through The Messiah, and The Triumph Of The Messiah. 

  The volume can be read by sections or as daily devotions; alone or with family members; and along with listening to the music. It could also be a resource for groups. 

   According to Winter: "The text of Messiah is a finely constructed piece of biblical interpretation, bringing together prophecy, narrative, worship, and praise to create an integrated picture of the whole scheme of redemption" (p.10).

   Although some of the devotions are quite inspirational and insightful; I would have appreciated it if the author and/or publisher of this volume had employed inclusive language. A bit more information on Handel, and the context surrounding the composition of Messiah would also have been appreciated by this reviewer.  

Clergy Comment column

Here is my article published in the March 29, 2018 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

   Hope and joy. What or who gives you hope and joy?

   The Bible mentions hope and joy well over 100 times. Stories of hope and joy abound in the Bible. For example, in the Hebrew Bible there are stories like those of Abraham and Sarah, thanks to God’s promise and intervention, being able to conceive and give birth to a son Isaac in their senior years. There is God liberating the Israelites from Egyptian slavery as they miraculously make their Exodus into the Promised Land. In the New Testament, there is Mary being chosen by God to miraculously give birth to the long-awaited Messiah. There is the promise fulfilled that Jesus is the Messiah and Saviour of the world by conquering the powers of sin, death and evil through his life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection. The Christian faith therefore is, among other things, one of hope and joy.

   In the movie Good-Bye Girl, a relationship develops between a woman and a man. The man leaves, and promises to return to her later. She doesn’t believe his promise, and thinks he’s left her until she realizes that he has left behind his most important possession—his guitar.  It was a sign of his promise and his full intention to return.

   The Bible is God’s promise to us of Jesus the Messiah’s return—both his resurrection after three days in the grave, and his return again at the end of time. As Christians, we celebrate that hope every Sunday as we worship together.

   We also are a people of joy. Joy however, as many may think, is far more than a fleeting emotion. Joy goes down deep into our being since it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, listed by the apostle Paul in his Letter to the Galatians 5:22. Joy deep within us, thanks to the Holy Spirit, reminds us that Jesus is always with us in our day-to-day living.

   Author and scholar C.S. Lewis wrote a book titled, Surprised by Joy. Lewis didn’t come into the Christian faith eagerly. Rather, he had the impression that Christianity was a faith that brought people misery and sadness. He was surprised by joy to discover otherwise. Joy comes in realizing that the gift of being in relationship with Jesus gives deep meaning and quality to life, even when one least expects that to be the case. Such was the case for the first disciples as they met the risen Jesus. “And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” (Luke 24:52)

    

Profound Augustine quotation

The following quote, attributed to Augustine of Hippo, is quite profound and provides food for thought.

   "The

world
is a

book,
and those who don't travel only read one page."

   I personally know this to be true. In my travels to different places-whether here in Canada or other countries-I believe that it has expanded my horizons, and facilitated growth and inspiration as well as a deeper appreciation for other people, their culture and history, as well as God's creation.

   The photo of the Bible I deliberately inserted into this post also reminds me that there is a huge, wonderful world within the Bible itself-the greatest book ever written, which continues to be a best-seller. If we dig deep into the Bible we shall be deeply enriched in our faith and life journey. Augustine's quote, I think, can also be applied to the world of the Bible. If one doesn't travel much into its pages, then it is like reading only one page, and we then lose out on so much of what God wants for each one of us. So, dear readers, be sure to do a lot of travelling in the world of the Bible, there are discoveries beyond measure, just waiting for you! :-)  

Creative Challenge 251: Searching

Searching the Bible for God's endless and priceless, eternal treasures. You can view other entries here.