The Tanakh Podcast

#274 | 2 Samuel ch.9 - Kindness to the House of Saul

David decides to show his kindness and loyalty to the House of Shaul. He seeks out any remaining descendants and discovers that Mefiboshet, Yonatan's son, a handicapped m

#273 | 2 Samuel Ch.8 - From Kingdom to Empire

David fights on every front: Philistines, Moav, Aram, Edom, Amalek, Amon, and succeeds in growing the kingdom to a veritable empire. The chapter ends with David's growin

#272 | 2 Samuel ch.7 - Why Can't David Build the Temple?

David requests to build the Temple. God says no. Why? Is it because he has blood on his hands? Our chapter offers a different reason. -- Whatsapp group - alexisrael.org

#271 | 2 Samuel ch.6 - David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

David has captured Jerusalem. But how does he bring God to the city? By making a home for the Aron - the Ark of God - in Jerusalem. But a terrible accident happens as th

#270 | 2 Samuel ch.5 - Jerusalem

In this chapter David becomes King over the entire nation and immediately sets to create a new capital city - Jerusalem. The entire chapter depicts the way that David sol

#269 | 2 Samuel ch.4 - The Murder of Ish-Boshet

Two officers of Ish-Boshet's army come into his house and murder him in broad daylight. What do they wish to achieve? What is their motivation? In this, the third of t

#268 | 2 Samuel ch.3 - Reconciliation or Assassination?

Avner argues with the King, Ish-Boshet, and as he realizes that the northern faction led by Sauls' son, is weakening, he decides to capitalize on the moment and create a

#267 | 2 Samuel Ch.2 - "Must the sword devour forever?"

David is crowned in Yehuda. But Avner crowns Saul's son, Ish-Boshet, over the Northern Tribes.  For seven years the generals - Yoav and Avner - are engaged in conflict.

#266 | 2 Samuel ch.1 - David's Lament

Today we address two questions:  1. Why do we receive two accounts of Saul's death? 2. Was Saul a success? Was he set up for failure?

#265 | 1 Samuel ch.31 - The Death of King Saul and His Sons

Saul and his three sons die in battle on Mount Gilboa. But whereas Saul's son's are killed by the enemy, Saul takes his own life. Was Shaul permitted to end his own life

#264 | 1 Samuel ch.30 - Ethics and Amalek

David and his men return to Ziklag. Amalek have attacked. The town has been burnt and the women and children taken captive. David goes on the chase. In this chapter we

#263 | 1 Samuel ch.29 - Dual Loyalties

The Philistines are mobilizing to fight Israel. And David and his men are mobilizing with them! Will David fight his own people? But if he doesn't fight, how will he ret

#262 | 1 Samuel ch.28 - Raising Samuel from the Dead

War has broken out. The Philistines are attacking. Saul is terrified. He needs reassurance. God won't answer him! He resorts to a necromancer, a woman who raises spirit

#261 | 1 Samuel ch.27 - Ziklag. David in Exile.

David leaves the land of Israel and the jurisdiction of King Saul. Now he is safe. But he still needs to play a double game - fighting the enemies of Israel on the one h

#260 | 1 Samuel ch.26 - David Spares Shaul ... Again!

Once again, David has a chance to assassinate Shaul, but he refrains from taking the king's life. But Chapter 26 seems almost a repeat of Chapter 24! What is the need to

#259 | 1 Samuel ch.25 - Naval, Abigail and David's Moral Test

While an outlaw, David and his men have been patrolling the Southern Border and ensuring the safety of local farms and polulations. When one of the local farmers - a ric

#258 | 1 Samuel ch.24 - Cutting a Corner (of Saul's Coat!)

In this chapter, David gets close enough to Saul that he can cut off the corner of his coat. Why doesn't David murder Saul? What moral principles guide David? -- Orig

#257 | 1 Samuel ch.23 - David Pursues the Philistines; Saul Pursues David

From Ke'ila to the wilderness of Zif, David pursues the Philistines ; Saul Pursues David. David defends the country even while on the run; Saul is consumed by his fear an

#256 | 1 Samuel ch.22 - Massacre of the Priests

A paranoid Shaul accuses his servants of conspiring against him. Doeg the Edomite informs Saul that the High Priest had given David food, a weapon, and even consulted God

#255 | 1 Samuel ch.21 - Wrestling with the Truth

David is on the run. He turns to the High Priest and has to lie in order to obtain some food supplies and a weapon.  He tries to defect to the Phillistines, but soon rea