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Genesis Chapter 1 and Modern Science
This essay argues that there is little concordance between Genesis chapter 1 and modern science, but it does bear some resemblance to other creation myths of the time, such as the Babylonian creation myth Enuma Elish. This chapter can best be understood as a polemic against the ideas of paganism. The creation story of Genesis I is not a scientific account. It is an allegorical poem written with imagery that would have been familiar and understandable to the generation receiving the Torah. Despite its outdated science, the contribution of this one chapter to the moral, and even scientific progress, of mankind is inestimable.
The Significance of Biblical Numbers
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
Numbers used in the Torah frequently have significance beyond their numerical value. Many of these number associations, such as for 6, 7 and 40, were probably well-known in the ancient Near East, but took on layers of new meaning when used in the Torah.
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
The question as to whether the Torah is history or allegory is not a simple one. Nevertheless, it is possible to postulate certain ideas that are compatible with a traditional belief in the authenticity and truth of the Torah.
Science, Faith and the Existence and Attributes of God
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
In this article, Dr Slyper argues that the scientific evidence for the existence of God is overwhelming, and it defies logic to confine His existence to the straightjacket of faith.
The dfferent names for God in the Torah
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
An understanding of the use of the Torah's different names for God is essential for an understanding of the progression of the text and for an appreciation of the error of Biblical criticism.
By Dr. Arnold Slyper
The question as to whether the Torah is history or allegory is not a simple one. Nevertheless, it is possible to postulate certain ideas that are compatible with a traditional belief in the authenticity and truth of the Torah.
The Garden of Eden story – sin, travail, death and hope
by Dr. Anold Slyper
It is suggested that the Garden of Eden story is an allegorical account that encapsulates some of the deepest philosophical underpinnings of Judaism. It is not a simple story, and it requires considerable analysis to reveal its profundity. But this is the hallmark of a great story.
Noah and the Flood: an Epic Poem of Mythological Proportions
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
Join the author in a fascinating journey as he explores the differences between the Biblical story of Noah and the Atrahasis and Gilgamesh epics, and examines the inappropriate attempt of Biblical criticism to split this story into two versions. This is an epic poem of considerable sophistication and beauty.
Satire in the Bible - the Ziggurat of Babylon
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
It is suggested that the Tower of Babel story is a satire on Mesopotamian paganism. It is also a lot more besides, being an integral part of the Biblical historical narrative..
God's seven blessings to Abraham
By Dr. Arnold Slyper
Abraham brought knowledge of the two aspects of God YKVK and Elohim to a world that had lost this knowledge. This is why intertwined stories about YKVK and Elokim are found in the Abraham account just as they are in the early chapters of Genesis. Abraham also demonstrated how to develop a relationship with YKVK, and in so doing established the foundations of the Jewish faith.
"Possessing" the land for the burial of Sarah
By Dr. Arnold Slyper
Why is the passage about the burial of Sarah written in such a detailed and repetitive way? It is argued that it has much to do with the Covenant of Circumcision and God's promise to Abraham and his offspring of a "possession" in the land of Canaan
Isaac and Abraham, Ishmael and Hagar - a Story yet Incomplete
By Dr. Arnold Slyper
The names Isaac and Ishmael were given by God. Not surprisingly, therefore, the significance of these two names will resonate throughout history.
The moral and religious conflict between Judaism and Islam
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
Many, if not most, of the concepts that Mohammad incorporated into his new religion have their origin in Judaism, although Jewish values were frequently distorted. It is suggested that much of the turbulence engulfing the Middle East is the result of an eschatological conflict between Judaism and Islam. Islam will only cease to be a threat to world peace when it comes to an accommodation with Judaism.
The Binding of Isaac - the Non-event that Changed the World
By Dr. Arnold Slyper
As with many stories in Genesis, the Binding of Isaac story (the Akeida) is multidimensional, and its 19 sentences contain layer upon layer of profound ideas.
Jacob and Esau - Blessings and Birthright and Jewish Powerlessness
By Dr. Arnold Slyper
Joseph- the right person in the right place at the right time
By Dr. Arnold Slyper
Joseph was an amazing person. Whenever possible he promoted the idea that God, through His aspect of Elokim, involves Himself in the affairs of nations. His family retained their belief in God despite living in a heavily pagan environment. He was a role model for how Jews in a position of power should use that power to safeguard their people. And he was an example as to how those in public service should use that position not to benefit themselves but to promote the welfare of everyone.
THE BOOK OF EXODUS
The Date of the Exodus: A Guide to the Orthodox Perplexed
By Mitchell First
This well-researched article argues that a 13th century Exodus, involving Ramesses II or Merneptah, is most compatible with modern archeological findings and Biblical scholarship.
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
THE BOOK OF NUMBERS
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
BABYLONIAN/PERSIAN EXILE PERIOD
Identifying Achashverosh and Esther in Secular Sources
By Mitchell First
This article explains how scholars were able to identify Achashverosh using secular sources. Esther can also be identified. Secular sources can be utilized to shed light on the story of the Megillah (Scroll of Esther).
by Arnold Slyper
(list of essays continued next column)
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Watch this short video about the book!
If you live in Israel, see the Homepage of my website inandaroundjerusalem.com for other purchasing options.
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NEW SERIES!
A HISTORY OF JEWISH, CHRISTIAN AND ISLAMIC MESSIANISM
God's blessings to Abraham - prosperity, exile, redemption and eternity
By Arnold Slyper
The mission statement of the Jewish people is to bring blessing to all of humanity through its beliefs and example. This chapter examines four of the seven blessings bestowed upon Abraham by God and their prophecies regarding material blessing, the eternity of the Jewish people, exile, redemption, and Abraham’s descendant’s eternal claim to the Land of Israel.
God's masterplan for a utopian society - righteousness, justice, and the way of God
The Sodom and Gomorra narrative appears at first glance to be a simple story about the destruction of several cities. In actuality, it is a detailed comparison between the righteousness, justice and way of God practiced by Abraham and the unrighteousness and injustice of the inhabitants of Sodom. Practicing righteousness, justice and the way of God will be the Torah’s master plan for the creation of a utopian society.
Two speeches of redemption and the Ten Plagues
Summary: Moses was recruited by God under His aspect of YHVH by two speeches, the first being at the Burning Bush. In these speeches, God promises He will deliver the Israelites from oppression as He had previously promised Abraham. Redemption will be God’s show and the Israelites need do nothing other than to be cognizant of God’s omnipotence. The Ten Plagues represent a struggle between Pharaoh and God as to who owns the Israelite slaves. By the seventh plague, Pharaoh admits to the supreme power of God and transfers ownership. The Jewish people are now to become servants of God. The remaining plagues are designed to overcome Pharaoh’s reluctance to carry out his words.
The Egyptian Exodus and Canaanite Conquest - Facts or Fiction?
A verse from the Book of Kings indicating that there were 480 years between the Exodus and the beginning of the building of Solomon’s Temple permits the Exodus to be dated to about 1446 BCE. The history of the early Pharaohs of the 18th dynasty fits in well with this date. A date for the conquest of Canaan of 1406 BCE is also not incompatible with the archeological findings. All this provides support (although not yet definitive proof) that there really was an Exodus from Egypt.
Isaiah the son of Amoz and King Hezekiah's Reforms
The Book of Isaiah contains the prophecies of two Isaiah’s. Isaiah the son of Amoz was the first prophet to describe a utopian messianic-like future. It is suggested that these prophecies were time related and were an encouragement to King Hezekiah to continue with his religious reforms. The prophet Micha living in the same historic period would use almost exactly the same words to describe a redemption from an Assyrian exile that he thought immanent, but which never occurred.
Redemption according to Jeremiah and the Second Isaiah
by Arnold Slyper
Both Jeremiah and the Second Isaiah prophesied about the same redemption. Those of Jeremiah relate to a non-miraculous return and are probably how the returnees to Zion imagined redemption would be. Most of the prophecies of the Second Isaiah relate to super-natural happenings, none of which came about. Traditionally, they have been regarded as describing the messianic era. It is debatable, however, whether this is truly what the Second Isaiah intended.
The prophets Haggai and Zechariah confront reality
by Arnold Slyper
The returnees to Zion from Babylon experienced many initial difficulties. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah were able to persuade the people that this was still redemption and that their initial difficulties in building God’s Temple and living in Judea would be overcome. The arrival of Ezra marked the end of the prophetic period and the beginning of Rabbinic Judaism. Zechariah’s apocalyptic visions at the end of his book, together with those of Daniel and Ezekiel, represent a new tradition in prophecy.
The apocalyptic ideas of the Essenes at Qumran, John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
John the Baptist and the Essenes at Qumran held apocalyptic beliefs, although there were significant differences in their approaches. On John’s death, his second-cousin, Jesus of Nazareth, took over the leadership of John’s mission and prepared people through repentance for the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God.
Messianic salvation according to Paul of Tarsus
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
Paul proposed innovative ideas regarding the messianic role of Jesus, all of which would have been unacceptable to Jews and the Christian Jews remaining in Jerusalem after Jesus’ death. He also moved the messianic vision of Judaism from this world to the next. A new theory for the etiology of antisemitism is proposed in which religions and social movements with messianic-type visions see themselves in opposition to the messianic ideas of Judaism.
Rabbi Akiva and the Bar Kochba Revolt
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
Rabbi Akiva provided the rabbinic stamp of approval for the Bar Kochba Revolt by calling its military leader the Messiah. This was the culmination of years of discussion with his rabbinic colleagues about a messianic redemption. This revolt could only have succeeded if it was messianic and this was not part of God’s plan for Jewish history. Instead, this revolt turned into preparations for 2,000 years of exile. Despite this, Rabbi Akiva’s messianic ideas have become embedded in Jewish tradition.
IIslam, unlike Christianity, believes in a revealed law. However, because Muhammad did not accept the authenticity of the Torah, and believed that only he had a true revelation, Islam does not accept the way of God or Imitatio Dei as the source of its ethics. Islamic ethics is therefore based on the words of the Qur’an and the reported behavior and words of Muhammad. Because man rather than God has become the model for all ethical behavior, atrocities can be committed in Allah’s name. Islamic law does not aim to create a utopia in this world but prepares a Muslim for bliss in the World to Come. By default, creating utopia in this world has been left to Judaism.
Maimonides (the Rambam) and Nachmanides(the Ramban) desribe the messianic era and the World to Come
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
Maimonides’ Mishna Torah provided him with a forum for pointing out the importance (to him) of a soul-predominant rather than body-predominant World to Come, and he thereby made room for a wider spectrum of beliefs within Judaism. Nevertheless, as noted by Nachmanides, these ideas are outside the aggadic Jewish tradition. Nachmanides describes a miraculous messianic era and gathers much Talmudic support for a change in the nature of man. In this, he is following thousands of years of Jewish tradition. However, the more details he provides, the more his words become guess-work and lacking in credibility.
Messianic Kabbalah and the approach of the Vilna Gaon
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
Lurianic kabbala became popular from the 1500’s as a way of promoting redemption, but its use was suppressed in the wake of the Shabtai Zvi debacle. By the 1700’s, it was practiced only by a few elite. This would change with the advent of Hasidism, a revivalist movement that swept through Eastern Europe and which popularized the use of kabbala. The Vilna Gaon is a pivotal figure in understanding the changes occurring in the use of kabbala and and a new approach to messianism in the 1700’s.
Theodor Herzl - Secular Utopianism and the First Steps of Redemption
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
Herzl's efforts at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century were the first steps in the redemption of the Jewish people. His ideas on the origin of antisemitism were off the mark, but the liberal non-religious utopian vision he presented in his novel “Altneuland” contained values of social justice that are completely Jewish in their origins. They would also form the foundations of the Jewish state.
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook (1865-1935), or Rav Kook as he is commonly called, was a one-of-a-generation rabbi. As the Rabbi of Jaffa, he devised a comprehensive, Zionist, messianic philosophy that broke down barriers between secular Zionism and Orthodoxy and in so doing ensured the unity of the Jewish people in Palestine. It also gave the Zionist enterprise a religious soul. The seeds of the projects he initiated within the modern orthodox world he helped create have continued to grow and impact the State of Israel.
Amin al-Husseini and Jewish Redemption
by Dr. Arnold Slyper
Amin al-Husseini (1897- 1997) invented modern-day Islamic antisemitism - not just hatred of Jews, but terrorism and killing of innocent Jews. He also planned together with the Nazis the genocide of all of Palestine’s Jews. He was one of the founding members of Muslim Brotherhood and highjacked the Palestinian people to the Brotherhood’s vision of a Pan-Islamic state. Ironically, his success in mobilizing Arab opposition to a Jewish state permitted the exact opposite of everything he intended to occur.