Jewish Texts
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Moses, Aaron, and Exodus 2:1-2
Exodus 2:1-2 states: “And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid…
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Virgin Birth of Isaiah 7:14
In Isaiah 7:14, it says that “a virgin” will give birth to a son. I‘m arguing with my friends and they say the word means nothing other than “young” in the old Hebrew. Is that true? They also say that…
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Famine in the Land
In Genesis 43:11, Jacob told his sons to take honey, lotus, nuts and other things to give to the Viceroy of Egypt (who was, unbeknownst to Jacob at the time, Joseph). Now, if there was a famine in the land,…
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Two Creation Narratives
Does Genesis Chapters 1 & 2 tell the story of two creations (i.e. one spiritual and one physical)? If not, please explain the following: A. Genesis 1:3 in contrast to Genesis 1:16; B. Genesis 1:25-27 in contrast to Genesis 2:18-19;…
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Satan and the Serpent
As I read Genesis, I find the description of the serpent to be not that of Satan, but of a snake. What is the Jewish position on this subject: Snake or devil? And, if the devil, why should the snake…
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Did Jephtah Kill His Daughter as an Offering?
In Judges 11:29-40, did Jephtah (Yiftach) kill his daughter as an offering? Although there are commentators who say that he did kill his daughter, most understand that he placed her in seclusion for the rest of her life. The Talmud…
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The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53
In Isaiah 53 we read of a suffering servant who makes his soul an offering for sin. In the Christian interpretation of this verse the suffering servant is Jesus who atones for human sin by his death on the cross.…
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Doctrine of “Original Sin” & Psalm 51:7
I am curious as to what David is referring to when he says, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” More specifically, I know Judaism does not believe in the “original sin”…
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Skin of the Tachash
At least 6 times, G-d calls for the covering of the sacred parts of the Tabernacle (see Exodus 25) “with the skin of the dolphin.” Why the dolphin? I assume that you have read some translation of the Torah that…