The Blasphemer: Why Would Someone Curse God? | A Book Like No Other Podcast S2:E1
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 чер 2024
- Rabbi David Fohrman and Imu Shalev study the tale of the blasphemer, a dark and puzzling episode buried deep in Leviticus. The details of this story are scarce: an anonymous man provokes a fight in the Israelite camp, curses God, and ultimately is stoned to death as punishment. But a close read of these few short verses sends Rabbi Fohrman and Imu on a surprising journey, raising provocative moral questions about God’s judgment and uncovering an unlikely connection between the condemned blasphemer and one of the Bible’s greatest heroes.
A Book Like No Other is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. A Book Like No Other is made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, as well as bonus content for Book Like No Other, please visit bit.ly/3Rk2fi0 .
0:00 Introduction
1:47 The Story of the Blasphemer
4:10 Questions About the Story
11:32 How Can You Curse God?
14:26 God's Speech
20:11 The Midrash and Rashi Answer Our Questions
28:16 The Midrash Opens Up Deeper Questions
34:00 Moses and the Mekallel (Blasphemer)
42:30 A Tease of the Next Episode
thank you. I'm eagerly waiting for the next episode.
Question? Looks a little like Moshe is trying to hide a witness to his murder of the Eygption ! If a man takes the life of another his life will be required. Will be waiting for your next lesson . G-D Bless U 🖖🙏🖖
Beautiful analysis.
This is so interesting!! It gets me thinking from there that perhaps this has some small similarity to the story with King David & Batsheva in a way also, but instead of the baby dying shortly after, was allowed to live to adulthood.... Maybe the Egyptian saw that the Jewish girl was beautiful and he took her against her will and she was supposed to be the promised bride or wife of another and he didn't want to honor the marriage or child now that she was damaged goods and this was what the fight Moses saw was about the next day. Perhaps Moses didn't t see what prompted the Egyptian to beat the outraged Israelite on the first day.
Very thought provoking! My mind is exploding with more questions about potential connections. Is there some connection here as to why Jacob "invited into his tent" (made like his own sons Bereshith 48:5) Ephraim and Manasseh? While their father was and Israelite, their mother was an Egyptian. Is this why there is no position of inheritance (literally no further mention) of the sons of Moshe, as they are sons of a mixed marriage and especially for a Levite (Wayyiqra 21:14)? Joshua fills Moshe's position rather than his sons in contrast with Aaron and his sons. Is there a connection to Aaron and Miriam's rebellion in questioning Moshe's marriage to the Cushite woman (Bemidbar 12:1) Is there any connection, possibly bringing the whole thing full circle, to the daughters of Zelophehad and their bringing their "case to court" and the determination being that they should inherit, but that they should marry within their tribe?
This made my mind explode also, but it went a different direction. I also thought about Dinah and Batsheva, but Batsheva especially. I had questions about Zipporah and children also, but it was pointed out to me that although Moses Children are not mentioned in the genealogy of Moses in the Torah itself, they became listed among the levites in Chronicles. So they did take up a relatively high positions among the Assembly unlike this particular son of the Egyptian.
(23.8) Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite, for he is thy brother; thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian, because thou wast a stranger in his land. (23.9) The children of the third generation that are born unto them may enter into the assembly of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 23.7-8, JPS) 22:49
This son was not a third generation, but now I understand why this son was allowed to live to adulthood. By cursing HaShem he lost the chance of having future progeny becoming part of the Assembly. Wow so thought provoking... Aleph Beta has such excellent teachings!