Jewish History
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Judah and Israel
What are Judah and Israel? Jacob was given the name Israel after he wrestled with the angel (Gen.32:24-28), and Judah was one of Jacob’s sons. But when Solomon’s kingdom was split into two parts after he died (1 Kings 12:17-25),…
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The “Man of G-d”
Who was the “man of G-d” mentioned in 1 Kings Ch. 13? The Midrash Sifrei on Deut.33:1 says that the “man of G-d” was the prophet Edo; see 2 Chron. 12:15, 13:22. He may be the same person as the…
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Achiyah Ha-Shiloni
Who was Achiyah ha-Shiloni? He was a prophet who lived in Shiloh in the time of Shelomoh and Yerovam. He was an instigator of Yerovam’s revolt against Shelomoh (1 Kings 11:29-40), and even endorsed Yerovam’s establishment of idol worship (see…
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Elijah as a Kohen
If Elijah was Pinchas, he was a KOHEN; how was he allowed to touch the dead body of the boy he brought back to life (1 Kings 17:17-23)? Since the commandment to save lives takes precedence over (most) other prohibitions,…
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The Twelve Minor Prophets
Who are the twelve “minor prophets”? They are Hoshea, Yoel, Ovadiah, Yonah, Michah, Nachum, Chavakuk, Tzefaniah, Chagai, Zechariah, and Malachi; they authored the last 12 books of Neviim Acharonim.
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The Moabite Stone
What is the Moabite Stone? It is a monument erected by Mesha, king of Moab, around 850 BCE. The inscription on it tells how Omri and his son (Ahab), kings of Israel, subjugated Moab, but Mesha revolted and Moab became…
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The Karaites
Who are the Karaites? They are a sect who don’t accept the authority of the Rabbis. There’s a good article on the Karaites in the Encyclopedia Judaica. They have existed continuously since their founding (around the eighth century) in Iraq.…
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The Population of Jerusalem
What was the population of Jerusalem at the time of the destruction of the Temple? The population of Jerusalem in Second Temple times was about a million; this can be derived from the numbers of people killed or sold into…
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The Sadducees
When did the Sadducees split off from mainstream Judaism? How did they get their name? According to Rabbinic tradition, the Sadducees split off from the Pharisees around 200 BCE. Their first leader may have been named Zadok, or they may…