Torah Study April 19

Torah and Bible Study: How is it Different Today?


The Talmud, in Tractate Shabbat (30b), relates a story about King David’s Bible study: it was so devoted that "the Angel of Death stood before him but could not prevail against him, because learning did not cease from his mouth." Bible study combines our two highest pleasures: intellectual achievement and devotion to God.
And yet, if Bible study is infinitely rewarding, it is also challenging on multiple levels. Scripture does not readily reveal its secrets to us. We must spend effort and time to begin to understand the Holy Book. As our skills increase, and we begin to learn in original languages, the effort only increases – for the Bible is difficult to understand, even at the narrative (in Hebrew, "peshat") level. If we follow the Bible study method recommended in the classic of Jewish mysticism, the Zohar, we not only need to study at the narrative level, but also at deeper levels such as allegorical ("remez"), homiletical ("derash"), and mystical ("sod"), which are even more difficult. Areas that have been smoothed over or interpreted by a translator must be tackled anew by the reader. A book such as Job, with most chapters full of hapax legomenon (words only used once in Scripture) can be impenetrable, and indeed, translators often interpret a single verse in diametrically opposing ways. by Doug Tygar



Listen below to our first evening of group Torah/Bible study. To alleviate nerves we focused the camera on the ceiling. All are free to join us at the Pastor's house. Next week's questions are:



1.) Why would God not want Adam and Eve to have the Knowledge of good and evil?

2.) Would not Adam and Eve already have to have some knowledge of right and wrong to obey God's command?

3.) Was the serpent lying and if not what was he punished for?