The Tanakh Podcast

This chapter, immortalized in a historic painting by Rembrandt, tells how Belshazzar, drinking at a royal feast from the Temple vessels, is startled by the appearance of a hand, writing an indecipherable script on the wall of the banquet hall. Why could he not read it? What did it mean? And what is the meaning of this enigmatic story?

The king has a dreadful dream (- yet again!) Daniel interprets it. It is all about a tree being cut down. What does it mean?

In an exciting story of religious defiance, self-sacrifice, and miraculous salvation, Daniel's three friends prefer death rather than bow to the great statue in Dura, set up by Nebbuchadnezzar. They prefer martyrdom than renouncing their religious identities. This story has become a foundation for many Jewish acts of sacrifice, from the times of the Hasmoneans, to the Ten Martyr Rabbis, to the Crusades, Inquisitions and the Holocaust.

In a nail-biting chapter, the king threatens his "wise-men" if they fail to recall and interpret his dream. Daniel prays to God and succeeds.We discuss the comparisons and contrasts to the Joseph-Pharaoh episode, and we ask whether Daniel was indeed a prophet.

Today we introduce the book and figure of Daniel.Daniel is a personality who is very much in dialogue with other "Jews in a foreign court" - the Biblical Joseph and Mordechai and Esther (And Nehemiah) - but quite different. Daniel is a proud, open Jew, who observes his Jewish practices loudly and unashamedly even as he serves as an advisor to a world leader.

The final chapter of Esther seems such an anti-climax. Do we need to hear about taxes and royal prowess? Why is this a suitable close to this story? Through intertextuality we will see that it packs quite a punch.

How did Purim become a holiday in the Jewish calendar? This is the first post-biblical chag or festival. It must have been controversial. We will see how Esther and Mordechai work hard to craft and form the rituals of celebration, enabling it to enter the calendar.

Haman is dead. Let's go celebrate! But no - we cannot relax! The decree to annihilate the Jews is still in full force. Mordechai and Esther will discover that it is no easy matter to annul and abolish the genocide plan. How will they save the situation? 

We are at the second feast. Esther needs to bring the king to a point at which he sees Haman as the enemy. How does she do it?

Why can't the king fall asleep? What is he worrying about? Why does Achashverosh want Mordechai to be paraded around Shushan? Does he suspect Haman? Of what? The tables are beginning to turn!