Rabbi Natasha Mann

Background of Amos Time:  8 th Century BCE Place: Israel (North)             Born in Tekoa, Judah; Prophesied in Bethel, Israel Kings:  Uzziah (Judah); Jeroboam II (Israel) Political Backdrop: ·        Jeroboam II enjoyed wealth and military success. o    HOWEVER: Idolatry and abuse of the poor. ·        Bethel (where Amos prophesied) = one of the Northern temples with the golden calves, built by Jeroboam I. ·        When was Amos written? Scholars disagree, but likely an early work. o    Arguments for Amos being later are centred around the prophecies of monarchy falling come true (Amos 9:11-15). Primary Themes of Amos: ·        Classic prophetic outline: Sin – Punishment – Redemption ·        Morality > Sacrifices ·        The relationship between idol worship and social injustice ·        Expectations of Israelites and Others o    Israel is unique: 3:2; Israel is just like the other nations: 9:7 ·        God’s justice a

Hadassa Goldvicht: Jonah Leviticus 12:1-6 וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר ה' אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִשָּׁה֙ כִּ֣י תַזְרִ֔יעַ וְיָלְדָ֖ה זָכָ֑ר וְטָֽמְאָה֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים כִּימֵ֛י נִדַּ֥ת דְּוֺתָ֖הּ תִּטְמָֽא׃ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים יוֹם֙ וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים תֵּשֵׁ֖ב בִּדְמֵ֣י טָהֳרָ֑ה בְּכָל־קֹ֣דֶשׁ לֹֽא־תִגָּ֗ע וְאֶל־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ לֹ֣א תָבֹ֔א עַד־מְלֹ֖את יְמֵ֥י טָהֳרָֽהּ׃ וּבַיּ֖וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֑י יִמּ֖וֹל בְּשַׂ֥ר עָרְלָתֽוֹ׃ וְאִם־נְקֵבָ֣ה תֵלֵ֔ד וְטָמְאָ֥ה שְׁבֻעַ֖יִם כְּנִדָּתָ֑הּ וְשִׁשִּׁ֥ים יוֹם֙ וְשֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים תֵּשֵׁ֖ב עַל־דְּמֵ֥י טָהֳרָֽה׃ וּבִמְלֹ֣את ׀ יְמֵ֣י טָהֳרָ֗הּ לְבֵן֮ א֣וֹ לְבַת֒ תָּבִ֞יא כֶּ֤בֶשׂ בֶּן־שְׁנָתוֹ֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה וּבֶן־יוֹנָ֥ה אוֹ־תֹ֖ר לְחַטָּ֑את אֶל־פֶּ֥תַח אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ The Eternal spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelite people thus: When a woman at childbirth bears a male, she shall be tamei  seven days; she shall be tamei  as at the time of her menstrual infirmi

Background of Joel Time:  UNKNOWN Place: Judah Kings:  UNKNOWN Political Backdrop: UNKNOWN Pre-Exilic Work: ·        Oncoming day of destruction could be Babylonian exile ·        Joel doesn’t need to identify the Babylonians – because it’s obvious? ·        References the Temple – is the Temple still standing? (1:14) Post-Exilic Work: ·        Against Edom (4:19), who aided in the destruction of the First Temple. ·        Mention of Ionians in 4:6 – Greek inhabitants from Ionia (today’s Turkey), implies quite late. ·        Intertextuality implies later than other books, e.g. Jonah, Amos, Ezekiel. ·        Is Joel prophetic or apocalyptic? Primary Themes of Joel: ·        Famine and/or Invasion / the ‘Day of the Lord’ (Natural/Supernatural) o    Real or imagined? o    Past or present? ·        Intertextuality    o    Joel refers to: Torah, Jeremiah, Amos, Jonah, etc ·        Unknown Sin of Israel/Judah ·        Disas