In these lectures, David Solomon will examine how the Jewish idea of the messiah changed over history. He starts by explaining the messiah idea is the expectation that a special time or “end of days” will come when a leader or redeemer will make the world much better. David says this idea kept evolving based on the real circumstances Jewish people faced. This first lecture looks at where the messiah idea first began in the Hebrew Bible.
#71 A Prophetic Revolution In One Hour
In the first millennia BCE, the prophets of Israel launched an unprecedented spiritual revolution, the impact of which has resonated throughout the ages and across the world. In this fascinating lecture, David presents an overview of the twelve ‘minor’ prophets of Israel. Although their messages contained profound insight, analysis, and inspiration, these prophets are known in English as ‘minor’ because their books are short compared to those of the ‘major’ prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. With lightning speed and characteristic clarity, David takes us through the story of these prophets and reminds us of the remarkable relevance of their words for us today.
In this podcast episode, David examines the life and ideas of the following prophets:
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Hosea
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Joel (Yoel)
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Amos
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Obadiah (Ovadiah)
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Jonah (Yonah)
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Micah
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Nachum
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Habakkuk
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Zephaniah
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Haggai
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Zechariah
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Malachi
He places these prophets in their historical context, looking at the following periods and events:
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life in the northern Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judea (Judah)
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the destruction of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians
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the assault on Jerusalem by the Assyrians
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the defeat of the Assyrians by the Persians
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the Babylonian exile
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the return to Zion and the rebuilding of Jerusalem under the proclamation of Cyrus
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the beginning of the Second Temple Period.
#47 Two Temples (part 3)
A Podcast on Tanach (Hebrew Bible) and Jewish History
When the Persian King Cyrus the Great sponsored a Jewish return to the Land of Israel to rebuild a temple in Jerusalem he launched an era in Jewish History known as the Second Temple Period. In this podcast episode, David explores the first four centuries of the Second Temple Period. Beginning with the return from exile in Babylonia, he charts a historical path through Alexander’s conquest, examining the consequences of Hellenism on Jewish life. David then discusses the extraordinary rise of the Hasmonean Dynasty, its ultimate decay, and final disastrous consequences.
#19 Visionaries, Reformers and Agitators – the Rise of the Prophets of Israel (part 4)
Building the dream
Following the return to the Land of Israel from the Babylonian exile, the Jewish nation found itself grappling with issues associated with the reconstruction of a society and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Two extraordinary figures to emerge at this crucial juncture in Jewish history were the prophets Ḥaggai and Zechariah. In this podcast episode, the final instalment in his series on the Rise of the Prophets of Israel, David Solomon looks at the incredible lives and messages of Ḥaggai and Zechariah; their historical and geopolitical contexts; and the powerful words they uttered to the Jewish people during the period of the return to Zion – many ideas and insights which continue to resonate for us today.
#5 Players upon Thrones: Kings and Queens of Israel part 5
The period of the Josianic kings, from Menasheh to Zedekiah, was the last chapter for the Judean Kingdom before the Babylonian exile. This podcast explores the personalities and actions of these kings and the overall historical setting of their reigns, including the domination and fall of the Assyrian Empire, the defeat of Egypt, and the rise and supremacy of Babylon. David looks at the lead up to the destruction of the Temple, the Babylonian exile, the return to Zion and the project to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
Continue reading “#5 Players upon Thrones: Kings and Queens of Israel part 5”
#4 Players upon Thrones: Kings and Queens of Israel part 4
The historical period from King Joash (Yehoash) to King Hezekiah (Heskiyahu), exploring the histories, personalities and fates of these kings and all those in between is the focus of this episode. David discusses the House of Jehu and the circumstances that led to the end of the Northern Kingdom. He provides an overall picture of the region at the time, including the kingdoms’ geo-political competition with Aram and the rise of Assyria. Tune in for another action-packed lecture.
Continue reading “#4 Players upon Thrones: Kings and Queens of Israel part 4”