The Tanakh Podcast

The year is 520 BCE. the second year of the reign of Darius. Jews returned to Judea 17 years previously. But the Temple project has stalled ... Haggai quotes the people who say that "It isn't the right time to build the House of God." Haggai communicates that God feels differently: "Build the House and I will be pleased and glorified..." TO DONATE VIA PATREON see this link: https://patreon.com/user?u=51407457

From the day of destruction to the day of jubilation, Tzephaniah charts the process whereby Jerusalem will be purged of its evil elements and will return in joy and safety to God's protection and service.

We focus on the difficult phrase which opens ch.2 and the moral lessons that we can learn from it.

Zephania predicts a terrifying apocalypse that will be visited upon Jerusalem Music: Noga Erez

Here is Habakkuk's prayer. Is he continuing to challenge God or has he submitted? As we will see his prayer calls on Jewish history and askes God: "In anger; recall Your compassion!"

What does God answer Habakkuk's protest about the prevalence of evil in the world? This answer becomes the basis of one of the most famous pronouncements in Judaism.

Habbakuk opens his book asking God how it can be that "the evil surround the righteous - that is why Torah is weakened!" How can God allow evil and bloodshed to gain the upper hand in our world?

Chapter 3 describes: 1. Nineveh as the City of Blood 2. Her promiscuity and witchcraft - possibly a reference to her idolatrous culture, or to he double-dealing in international relations (Radak) 3. The Assyrian conquest of Thebes, and that the same fate will befall Nineveh 4. The siege of Nineveh 5. The collapse of the leadership, the economy and the military Interestingly, neither God or Israel are explicitly mentioned in this chapter.

Our chapter begins with the restoration of the fortunes of Judah and Israel. It then proceeds to portend the fall of Nineveh.

Chapter one of Nahum presents God as filled with Fury and vengeance, and predicting the demise of the Assyrian empire and its capital city Nineveh.