Nehemiah 8: 1-3,5-6,8-10 The return of God’s people from exile in Babylon happened sporadically and with some difficulty.  The rebuilding of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem with the re-establishment of religious and civic order made progress and then … Continue reading →

Isaiah 62: 1-5 After a long, unexplained silence, the Lord speaks, the Book of Isaiah reports, and it is a damn-burst!  The Lord announces a “vindication” for the Lord’s people that will be the cause for a “new name that … Continue reading →

Numbers 6: 22-27 Embedded in this amended and expanded account of God’s people wandering in the wilderness for forty years in the book of Numbers is a priestly blessing, which has become iconic in synagogue and church.  Its origin is from the … Continue reading →

Joel 2:23-27 Prompted by the destruction caused by a wave of “locusts” that utterly wiped out the crops, this text, attributed to a “Joel,” addresses the “soil” and the “animals” and then the “children of Zion” with assurance that all will … Continue reading →

II Samuel 23:1-7 This version of David’s story concludes with what are characterized as his “last words.”  David lists the attributes  with which he was endowed: skill with words, favor with God, his lineage as the “son of Jesse,” “the … Continue reading →

I Samuel 1:4-20 When Elkanah [perhaps a son of Korah who led the revolt against Moses] made sacrifice, he gave some portion to one wife, Penniah, but to another wife, Hannah, he gave a double portion, because he loved her, … Continue reading →

Ruth 1:1-18 Seeking relief from the latest famine, Eliemlech, a Jew from Bethlehem, took his wife, Naomi, and their sons to Moab, (the land occupied with the tribe of descendants from Lot’s incest with his sister), which had become a … Continue reading →

Wisdom of Solomon 3: 1-9 Reflecting extensive exposure to ancient Greek thinking, the “wisdom” attributed to King Solomon in this text develops themes that also became increasingly important in Christian texts, especially Paul’s letters, the Letter to the Hebrews and … Continue reading →

Job 42:1-6, 10-17 All the sophisticated explanations and arguments about good, evil and God by Job and his friends crumble.  Job now acknowledges to God, “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me….”  He then … Continue reading →

Job 38:1-7,[34-41] The sophisticated arguing among Job’s friends about evil and death in the world vis a vis God has explored many possible answers.  Job makes one final plea to God, defending his honor, (chapter 31).  [Chapters 32-37 are presumed … Continue reading →