Jewish Texts

What is the “wild ox” (re’em) referred to in the Torah? Wild oxen still existed in Biblical times. They were proverbial for their strength and for their ability to gore their opponents; see, e.g., Num. 23:22 and 24:8; Deut. 33:17.

What is a “behemoth”? A “behemoth” is a huge wild ox (Targum on Psalms 50:10).

What things are never satisfied? Four such things are listed in Prov. 30:15: The grave (sheol), the barren womb, arid land, and fire.

Who were the first people to say “Baruch Ha-Shem”? Noach, Eliezer, and Yisro said it; see Gen.9:26, Gen.24:27. and Ex.18:10, respectively. Lavan and Avimelech used the very similar phrase “B’ruch Ha-Shem”; see Gen.24:31 and 26:29.

What is the meaning of Isaiah 7:14? The Hebrew word “almah” means “young woman” or “girl”, not “virgin”. Rashi, the premier Jewish commentator, says that Isaiah 7:14 refers to the same event as Isaiah 8:3, where Isaiah has relations with…

What is the significance of the two olive branches in Zechariah4:11-14? The branches represent the two Jewish leaders — the king and the high priest — who were anointed with olive oil. The king (a descendant of David) and the…

Who is the person speaking in Proverbs Ch. 8? The “person” speaking in that chapter is Wisdom. Since wisdom is a characteristic of G-d, it existed before the world was created, and it “assisted” at the creation; but it’s an…

Who is the “fierce-featured king” in Daniel 8:23? There’s wide disagreement over the identity of that king. Rashi says he’s Titus, the Roman who destroyed the Second Temple; Ibn Ezra says he’s Antiochus (Epiphanes), the Seleucid who polluted the Second…