Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

In this podcast I do a little review of the last class, and then we pick up at Exodus Ch. 22 verse 17.  We cover three profound verses Ex. 22: 17, 18, and 19.  While they may seem antiquated, cruel, or perhaps just strange; I think after listening to this class they will hold new meaning which is actually applicable to today.  Below are the verses:

Exodus 22 (JPS 1917)

17Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live.

18Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.

19He that sacrificeth unto the gods, save unto the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.

Also,  I would love to hear from you if you have any comments regarding the tangential discussions during class.  No offense was ever intended, so I apologize if there is any lashon hara in the class.  I try to keep it open, honest, and dispassionate when a faith outside of Judaism is referenced.  I truly wish I had  expert believers from other faiths on call for questions during class.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Apparently you must hit the “record” button to record something.  I did not do that at the start of the class and only caught it half way through the class (thankfully I figured it out eventually.)  So when I got back to my studio I proceeded to record myself giving the class to… myself.

Eventually the podcast transitions to the original class when I finally pressed “record”.  The equipment is only as good as the operator…

This class covers Exodus Ch. 22 verse 6 (as I do a very brief intro) and goes to verse 17.  Below you will find the relevant verses:

Exodus 22 (NIV):

6“If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.

7“If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. 8But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they must^a determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. 9In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges.^b The one whom the judges declare^c guilty must pay back double to the other.

10“If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, 11the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. 12But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner. 13If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.

14“If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution. 15But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.

16“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.

Footnotes:
a 8 Or before God, and he will
b 9 Or before God
c 9 Or whom God declares

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Welcome back!  This week we cover Exodus Ch. 21 verse 33 and actually make it to a new chapter… 22 verse 9!  As I mention on the intro to the podcast I apologize for the occasional sniff that you might hear.  I use several microphones in recording the class in order to better record the comments students make.  On this particular class, I guess someone had a cold, and one of the mics picked up a sniffling student.  It is not constant or continuous, and it may not come across in the podcast.  But in an effort to be forthright, I wanted to let you know and apologize for my recording transgressions.

Below are the relevant verses:

Exodus Ch. 21 (NIV)

33“If anyone uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange.

35“If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. 36However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.

Exodus Ch. 22

1“Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.

2“If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; 3but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.

“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft. 4If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.

5“If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution from the best of their own field or vineyard.

6“If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.

7“If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. 8But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they musta determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. 9In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges declarec guilty must pay back double to the other.

Psalm 59 (NIV)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Who knew that learning about goring oxen laws could be so interesting!  And don’t worry if you missed the last class, this week’s class begins with a bit of a review of the previous class.  Then we continue from Exodus Ch. 21 verse 26 and make it to verse 32.  Below are the relevant verses:

Exodus Ch. 21 (NIV)

26“An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.

28“If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. 29If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. 30However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded.31This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. 32If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Hold on for a ride.  This week tackle three difficult verses due to the vague and ambiguous language (in Hebrew at least).  We cover Exodus Ch. 21 verses 22 – 25.  Thank you for listening and if you’d have any thoughts or opinions you’d like to share you can do so in the comment area below.

Exodus 21 (NIV)

22“If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely^e but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 23But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

Verse 22 in Hebrew:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

This week we cover Exodus 21:12 – 21:21.  There are more discussions on slavery, theft, murder, what to do with murderers,  manslaughter, and so much more! Thank you for listening… Below you will find the relevant verses:

Exodus 21 (NIV)

12“Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. 13However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. 14But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.

15“Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death.

16“Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.

17“Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

18“If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, 19the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.

20“Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result,21but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

This week we cover Exodus 21:3 – 21:13.  The discussion includes further analysis of the Eved Ivri (Hebrew “Slave”) and Amah (“Female Maidserveant”).  Towards the end of class we begin discussing the theme regarding: What to do with murderers?

Here are the relevant verses from the beginning of Exodus Ch. 21:

1“These are the laws you are to set before them:

2“If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. 3If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. 4If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

5“But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ 6then his master must take him before the judges.a He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.

7“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. 8If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself,b he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. 9If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. 10If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. 11If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.

12“Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. 13However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate.

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

This week the class returns from the winter break and we resume our Torah study.  This class covers finishes Exodus Ch. 20 and goes into the very beginning of Ch. 21.

Below are the relevant verses:

Exodus Ch. 20 (JPS 1917)

19And the LORD said unto Moses: Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel: Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 20Ye shall not make with Me—gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you. 21An altar of earth thou shalt make unto Me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come unto thee and bless thee. 22And if thou make Me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast profaned it. 23Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto Mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon.

Chapter 21

1Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them.
2If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve; and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

After the Torah relates the Ten Commandments it relates back some narrative information, and that’s what we begin this weeks class with – covering Exodus 20:18-24 (NIV) or 15-21 (JPS).

Exodus 20 (JPS -1917)

15And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. 16And they said unto Moses: ‘Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’ 17And Moses said unto the people: ‘Fear not; for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before you, that ye sin not.’ 18And the people stood afar off; but Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

19And the LORD said unto Moses: Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel: Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 20Ye shall not make with Me—gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you. 21An altar of earth thou shalt make unto Me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come unto thee and bless thee.

Exodus 20 (NIV)

18When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”

20Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

21The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

22Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.

24“ ‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

This week we finally complete the TEN COMMANDMENTS… Hooray!!!  And we continue into the following verses in Exodus.  There is much to discuss regarding some of the issues “Do NOT Covet” and the following verses bring up.

Below are the relevant verses:

Exodus 20 (JPS -1917)

14Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

 15And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. 16And they said unto Moses: ‘Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’ 17And Moses said unto the people: ‘Fear not; for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before you, that ye sin not.’

Exodus 20 (NIV)

18When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”

20Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”