The Era of Judges

Found 11 Search results

Requesting a King
Haftarot: Korah
Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein
Why does the nation ask for a king? When is a judge preferable to a king, and when is a king the better option? The nation requests a king when Shmuel is the leader, and he believes his leadership is preferable to the leadership of a king. Shmuel presents the spiritual dangers of monarchy and a world that is less sensitive to God's intervention.
The Right Man at the Wrong Time
Haftarot: Hukat
Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein
Yiftah of Gilad is described between the era of saviors and the era of leadership. Yiftah could become a savior, having won the war for Israel, but he desired to be a leader - which is beyond his reach. He demonstrates this desire by taking a frivolous oath. Instead of finding a way to nullify the oath and spare his daughter, he stubbornly decides to see it through. This lack of willingness to compromise is inappropriate for a leader in times of peace.
Boaz and Ploni Almoni
Dr. Yael Ziegler
Who is the main character of the book – Ruth or Naomi? Elimelech and Naomi deal with the problems of famine and children in ways that represent the era of the Judges, while Ruth and Boaz's solutions represent a new way. The potential redeemer is nameless because he refuses to establish his deceased relative's name.
A Blessing on Both Your Houses: Rachel and Leah
Dr. Yael Ziegler
Elimelekh's abandonment of his personal and national house and Ruth and Naomi's homelessness come full circle with Ruth entering Boaz's house. In the book of Judges the national house is threatened with collapse. Ruth is likened to Rachel and Leah who together symbolize unity. Her union with Boaz will establish David's kingdom, which will unify the Nation.
Naomi's Child: The Movement toward Kingship
Dr. Yael Ziegler
In Ruth and Naomi's struggle for food and progeny, God gives both through his agent Boaz. The story is filled throughout with blessings symbolizing the end of the accursed era of the Judges and the ushering in of the blessed Davidic dynasty. Boaz and Ruth disappear from the narrative leaving only Naomi's character.
Mirror Characters in the Bible: The Case of Samson and David
Dr. Yael Ziegler | Hour and 8 minutes
There is a phenomenon of "mirror characters" in Tanakh - characters with many similar actions, personality traits, and characteristics, and often the Tanakh will go out of its way to use similar linguistic styles in order to highlight these similarities. Often examining these similarities also serves to highlight the differences between the two characters- including their successes and failures. This shiur focuses on the characters of David and Shimshon, highlighting the major similarities between them, and the similar choices they make, but also the crucial differences. By examining these differences we learn about the importance of channeling one's powers and strengths only towards productive, meaningful actions and national goals.
Tanakh and Archaeology
Part 7 - The Era of Settlement
Rabbi Amnon Bazak
All scholars working in the field of biblical archaeology recognize the existence of a significant process of settlement in the central mountainous region of Eretz Yisrael, starting from the 13^th century B.C.E., as manifest in the establishment of hundreds of small points of settlement bearing a unique character. The main controversy among archaeologists concerns the question of the identity of these new settlers. The minimalist school maintains that what became known as Am Yisrael was actually formed out of a collection of local nomadic groups who abandoned their villages on the coastal plain or in the Negev, and settled in these new areas.
Shoftim 1-2
Matan Al Haperek
Matan Al HaPerek - Neta Shapira
The book of Shoftim opens with a description of events from the days of Yehoshua told from a new perspective. The people of Israel must now transform conquest of the Land into permanent settlement and grapple with the vicissitudes that life in Israel brings.
Shoftim 3-4
Matan Al Haperek
Matan Al HaPerek - Neta Shapira
These perakim detail the events Am Yisrael experience during the period of the first three judges. We will examine the overarching characteristics of this period’s leadership, focusing also on each judge’s unique qualities.
Lesson 5: The Nature of Samuel’s Leadership
Prof. Yehuda Elitzur
There is remarkable contrast in the personalities of the period of Samuel and the earlier Judges. This article highlights these differences in leadership styles and characteristics of the various leaders.
Archaeology and the Era of Settlement
Rabbi Amnon Bazak