{"id":63152,"date":"2018-07-09T17:44:30","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-312\/"},"modified":"2023-04-17T08:57:40","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T05:57:40","slug":"wall-312","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-312\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-II Kings-3"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"312","date":"20261109","book":"II Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"63007","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - 2 Kings Chapter 3 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - 2 Kings Chapter 3","slug":"jps-audio-bible-2-kings-chapter-3","old_id":"63007","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"2 Kings Chapter 3","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/JPS_Audio_Bible_2_Kings_Chapter_3","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","date":"20261109","wall_id":"312"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"114141","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Principles Of Discipleship ","post_title":"The Principles Of Discipleship","slug":"the-principles-of-discipleship","old_id":"114141","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"When is washing someone\u2019s hands not just washing their hands?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Our<\/span> chapter<\/span><\/a> details the war with Moab in the time of Jehoram, King of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah. The historicity of events in this Biblical account was corroborated in the 19<\/span>th <\/span>century by the discovery of the<\/span> Mesha Stele<\/span><\/a> dated to circa 840 BCE. Here, King Mesha of Moab relates how Chemosh, the god of Moab, while angry with his people, allowed them to be subjugated to Israel. But at length, Chemosh assisted Mesha to overcome Israel and restore the lands of Moab. [Compare<\/span> II Kings 3:26-27<\/span><\/a>: \u201c\u2026A great wrath came upon Israel, so they withdrew from him and went back to their own land\u201d]. Though told from a Moabite perspective, this series of events is roughly parallel to what is related, from the Israelite perspective, in<\/span> II Kings 3:4-5<\/span><\/a>. Our Biblical narrative continues with a detailed account of how the combined forces of the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah together with their Edomite allies eventually devastated the Moabite kingdom. But, as a result of King Mesha\u2019s sacrifice to Chemosh of his own first born son and heir apparent, the Israelite forces returned to their own land without subjugating the Moabites (<\/span>II Kings 3:6-27<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this military history (<\/span>II Kings 3:9-20<\/span><\/a>), when the Israelite forces at first seem faced with imminent defeat, King Jehoshapat cries out: \u201c'Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?' One of the courtiers of the king of Israel spoke up and said, 'Elisha son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah, is here\u2019\" (<\/span>II Kings 3:11-12<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The graphic image of Elisha pouring water on the hands of Elijah seems a midrash-like expansion of the earlier story of how Elisha became the disciple of Elijah (<\/span>I Kings 19:19-21<\/span><\/a>), which concludes with Elisha \u201cgoing after\u201d Elijah \u201cand serving him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The rabbinic sages viewed the graphic description of how Elisha physically \u201cserved\u201d Elijah as a Biblical precedent for how a disciple (<\/span>talmid<\/span><\/i>) should attend to his rabbinic master (<\/span>rabbo<\/span><\/i>). For example,<\/span> Talmud Bavli<\/span><\/a> learns that attending to Torah [scholars] is greater even than Torah Study. [By serving a Torah scholar, one learns from his actions every aspect of the life of Torah]. For when<\/span> Scripture<\/span><\/a> identifies Elisha as a prophet, it says that he \u201cpoured water over Elijah\u2019s hands\u201d. It does not mention that Elisha \u201clearned\u201d to be a prophet from Elijah, but that he humbly poured water for Elijah to wash his hands. This illustrates that the \u201cservice of Torah\u201d is even greater than the \u201cstudy of Torah.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Indeed, Elisha learned to serve his teacher, Elijah, from Elijah himself! For according to<\/span> Talmud Yerushalmi<\/span><\/a>, Elisha would honor Elijah by performing even the most menial tasks such as pouring water on Elijah\u2019s hands for him to wash his face. For when Elijah would stand before his own teacher, it was for him as if he stood before the <\/span>Shekhinah <\/span><\/i>[Divine Presence].<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","date":"20261109","wall_id":"312"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"390","name":"Prophets","old_id":"790"},{"term_id":"858","name":"Elijah","old_id":"1258"},{"term_id":"931","name":"Elisha","old_id":"1331"},{"term_id":"933","name":"Mesha","old_id":"1333"}]},{"order":3,"id":"114138","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Mesha\u2019s Rebellion ","post_title":"Mesha\u2019s Rebellion","slug":"meshas-rebellion","old_id":"114138","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"As described in Moabite, on the Mesha Stele\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 3 follows a similar structure to I Kings 22. The king of Israel, this time Jehoram the son of Ahab, calls on the king of Judah, still Jehoshaphat, to battle against Moab. This time Jehoshaphat brings along his ally, Aram. Jehoram was not as evil as his father and grandfather, but he still followed in the ways of Jeroboam.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Mesha was the king of Moab who was a subject of Ahab. When Ahab died, Mesha rebelled against Israel. The repeat from chapter 22, and other similar stories throughout Kings shows this was a regular practice. One nation would conquer another and make that nation its vassal. Sometime later, for one reason or another, the vassal would rebel and assert its independence. Then the cycle would continue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What makes chapter 3 unique is that the background of this story appears on a stone tablet found in Jordan called the Meshe Stele (pictured here with the author). The Stele is written in ancient Canaanite script in the Moabite language. It is one of the few archeological artifacts that reference a story in the Tanach, including character names. The relevant part reads:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Omri was king of Israel, and oppressed Moab during many days, and Chemosh was angry with his aggressions. His son succeeded him, and he also said, I will oppress Moab. In my days, he said, Let us go, and I will see my desire upon him and his house, and Israel said, I shall destroy it forever. Now Omri took the land of Madeba, and occupied it in his day, and in the days of his son, forty years. And Chemosh had mercy on it in my time. And I built Baal-meon and made therein the ditch, and I built Kiriathaim.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At the end of Chapter 3, Mesha sacrifices either his son or the son of the king of Edom in the city of Kirchareshet. That\u2019s when the tide turns and Israel flees the battle. In the Stele, Mesha describes it thus:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I assaulted the wall and captured it, and killed all the warriors of the city for the well-pleasing of Chemosh and Moab, and I removed from it all the spoil, and offered it before Chemosh in Kirjath.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is possible that this references the end of chapter 3. While it makes sense that the depiction of the battle would be different from the point of view of Moab and of Israel in Kings, it is quite extraordinary that many of the details line up between the two. The Meshe Stele can be viewed in the Near Eastern wing of the Louvre museum in Paris.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: courtesy of the author.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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Julie most recently served as the Interim Executive Director and Director of Education at Kevah, a national non-profit facilitating home-based Torah study groups. After receiving her PhD in European history with a focus on Jewish women, gender and sexuality, Julie moved to Colorado, where she was a professor of Jewish Studies for many years. Julie regularly teaches for the Wexner Heritage Program, has taught for the Melton program and the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education. ","short_description":"Dr. Julie Lieber is a Jewish educator, and is the Director of the Pardes-Kevah Teaching Fellowship.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":40789,"alt":"","title":"Julie Lieber","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","width":627,"height":680,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688-277x300.jpg","medium-width":277,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","medium_large-width":627,"medium_large-height":680,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","large-width":627,"large-height":680,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","1536x1536-width":627,"1536x1536-height":680,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","2048x2048-width":627,"2048x2048-height":680,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","post_full_size-width":627,"post_full_size-height":680,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688-387x420.jpg","home_baner-width":387,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"He is able to identify his psychological state and knows what tools will work for him in such a situation","post_main_content_content":"

Maimonides, in his Guide of the Perplexed<\/em>, discusses a variety of requirements for becoming a prophet. In addition to possessing perfected intellectual, moral, and imaginative faculties, Maimonides also identifies anger and sadness as emotional states that prevent one from receiving prophecy. Social science research supports the idea that when we are consumed with anger our brains function differently and certain faculties cannot be easily accessed. The Talmud summarizes the concept that one cannot receive prophecy in a state of anger and bases this assertion on the story of Elisha\u2019s first prophecy, which appears in our chapter, 2 Kings Chapter 3.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The story of Elisha unfolds as follows: Jehoram King of Israel, Jehoshafat King of Judah and the King of Edom have all joined forces to wage a war against Moab. But, on their journey to the battle they run out of water. When Jehoram turns to the prophet Elisha for a solution, instead of jumping at the opportunity to guide the people of Israel through delivering God\u2019s word, Elisha lashes out in anger and mocks Jehoram. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you call out to your father\u2019s and mother\u2019s idolatrous prophets (instead of turning to me for help)\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Putting aside questions of Elisha\u2019s reluctance to simply serve as prophet to the King of Israel in his time of need, more fascinating is Elisha\u2019s next step. When he finally does decide to deliver a prophecy, he first calls for a musician to play music for him. The various commentaries suggest that his was his mechanism for diminishing his state of anger and bringing himself to a better place, one in which he would be able to receive God\u2019s message.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What does it mean that Elisha could not hear the word or God in his state of anger? If we think of prophecy as a line of communication between God and human beings it makes sense that those lines might be cut off or blurred at times. Elisha\u2019s ultimately achieves success in his first solo prophetic moment because he is able to readily employ a two-pronged approach: He is able to identify his psychological state and knows what tools will work for him in such a situation. Once Elisha acknowledges his anger, his chosen method for shifting his emotional state is listening to music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While prophecy may not be a part of our general experience today, we certainly understand what it means to participate in productive dialogue and have lines of communication be truly open. Elisha models for us a path to achieve this: honing our emotional self-awareness and developing a set of tools to employ in moments that require an emotional recalibration. That is when we may merit to see authentic communication, of all sorts, flourish.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63279,"alt":"","title":"2kings3-music 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He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And we have the archaeological proof","post_main_content_content":"

In this chapter, we encounter a historical figure: Mesha, King of Moab. Not that Ben Hadad of Aram (see 1 Kings 20) was unhistorical, but Mesha is unique in respect of the fact that we have concrete evidence of his existence in the form of a monumental inscription called The Mesha Stele. Comprising 30 lines of text inscribed on a black basalt stone, it describes Mesha\u2019s victories over Israel\u2014particularly those that occurred after the death of King Ahab of Israel\u2014just as recounted here.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

An endearing feature of the stele is its accessibility. Written in the Moabite language and in the same script that served Hebrew in the biblical period, it can be read by anyone who has a reasonable acquaintance with biblical Hebrew. Here, for example (and in transliteration), are its opening words: <\/span>anokhi mesha` ben kemosh melek moab hadiboni<\/span><\/em>.<\/em>\u00a0\"I am Mesha (v.4), son of Kemosh, the national god of Moab\" (Numbers 21:29, Judges 11:24), king of Moab, the Dibonite, the capital of Moab (Numbers 21:30, Joshua 13:9). In the continuation, Mesha referred directly to \u201cthe king of Israel,\u201d writing: <\/span>umelekh yisrael bana\u2019 et yahatz, vayeshev bah behiltahamoh bi, vayegarshehu kemosh mipanai<\/em> <\/span>(l. 18-19). \u201cThe king of Israel built Yahatz (Num. 21:23, Deut. 2:32) and dwelt there while he fought against me, [however] Kemosh chased him out before me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The inscription was discovered in Diban, Jordan, in 1868. It was deciphered by the French Consul, Clermont Ganeau, an avid archaeologist, who was then able to put it back together after the Bedouin, who discovered it, broke it into pieces to prevent it falling into the hands of the infidel Christians. It was transferred to the Louvre in Paris where it remains.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Mesha Stele, Louvre \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63269,"alt":"","title":"2kings3-mesha 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King Mesha of Moab Was a Sheep Breeder\u201d","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And we have the archaeological proof","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63269,"alt":"","title":"2kings3-mesha 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Jehoshaphat! What\u2019s he doing here again?","post_main_content_content":"

The Bible has a certain format to conclude a reign of a king. It goes like this: \"The other events of [the king]\u2019s reign, and all his actions are all recorded in the Annals of the Kings of [Israel\/Judah]. [The king] slept with his fathers, and his son [The new King] succeeded him as king\". After using this format the bible says goodbye to the late King and starts talking about the new king.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Bible chooses to conclude the reign of King Jehoshaphat in the last chapter of 1 Kings. \"As for the other events of Jehoshaphat\u2019s reign and the valor he displayed in battle, they are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Judah... Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David, and his son Jehoram succeeded him as king\" (1 Kings 22: 46, 51).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After this conclusion no more stories are expected to be told about King Jehoshaphat. But surprisingly only three chapters forward the Bible tells a new story about Jehoshaphat. According to our chapter (2 Kings 3), King Jehoshaphat of Judah joined King Jehoram of Israel and the king of Edom to make war on Moab which had rebelled against Israel. Jehoshaphat cooperated militarily with King Jehoram son of Ahab of Israel as with Jehoram's father not forgetting to inquire of the LORD (1 Kings 22, 4-7; 2 Kings 3, 7-12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In our chapter Prophet Elisha helped the kings of Israel, Judah and Edom to inquire of the LORD and to get the LORD's help in renewing their water supply and in delivering Moab into their hands.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Elisha who has just been appointed to the main prophet of the LORD seems to be the most important character in our chapter, as well as in the previous chapter and in the next five chapters (2 Kings 2-8). King Jehoshaphat's role in our story is smaller than Elisha's. So no place to conclude King Jehoshaphat's reign is given in it. Therefore the conclusion of Jehoshaphat's reign is delivered three chapters before not long after the conclusion of the reign of his great ally King Ahab of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Josaphat (Jehoshaphat), published by Guillaume Rouille(1518?-1589) - \"Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63260,"alt":"","title":"2kings3-Josaphat_rex","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","width":431,"height":436,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex-297x300.jpg","medium-width":297,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","medium_large-width":431,"medium_large-height":436,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","large-width":431,"large-height":436,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","1536x1536-width":431,"1536x1536-height":436,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","2048x2048-width":431,"2048x2048-height":436,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","post_full_size-width":431,"post_full_size-height":436,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex-415x420.jpg","home_baner-width":415,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Return Of The King","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Jumping Jehoshaphat! What\u2019s he doing here again?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63260,"alt":"","title":"2kings3-Josaphat_rex","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","width":431,"height":436,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex-297x300.jpg","medium-width":297,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","medium_large-width":431,"medium_large-height":436,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","large-width":431,"large-height":436,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","1536x1536-width":431,"1536x1536-height":436,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","2048x2048-width":431,"2048x2048-height":436,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex.jpg","post_full_size-width":431,"post_full_size-height":436,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-Josaphat_rex-415x420.jpg","home_baner-width":415,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","date":"20261109","wall_id":"312"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"835","name":"King","old_id":"1235"},{"term_id":"931","name":"Elisha","old_id":"1331"}]},{"order":7,"id":"63247","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Melody Of Prophecy ","post_title":"The Melody Of Prophecy","slug":"the-melody-of-prophecy","old_id":"63247","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":44909,"post_title":"Ben Freed","slug":"ben-freed","old_id":"44909","first_name":"Ben ","last_name":"Freed ","description":"Ben Freed is a third-year Rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.\r\nBen grew up primarily in Ann Arbor, Mich. and studied journalism at the University of Texas. Before rabbinical school, Ben worked as a news reporter, yoga instructor, Uber driver, and Bar Mitzvah DJ as well as the education director of Camp Tel Yehudah\u2014the senior leadership camp of Young Judaea, a pluralist Zionist youth movement. 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How can we prepare ourselves to hear God\u2019s voice?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For many of the Biblical prophets, their connection with God is something that is seemingly thrust upon them. In II Kings Chapter 3, Elisha shows us a different paradigm, a man of God who is not arrested by a divine call but rather seeks to bring the presence of God to him. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel might say he is a \u201cMan in Search of God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So what can we learn from Elisha\u2019s searching? What tools does he use to access the Divine voice? When Elisha seeks the word of God\u2014this is his first attempt at prophecy after the disappearance of Elijah\u2014he does not consult scrolls of wisdom, he does not wander out into the desert, and he does not cry out to the heavens. Elisha\u2019s method of bringing the \u201chand of God\u201d onto him is one that is recognizable to many in our day and age who have sought spiritual connection: \u201cNow then, get me a musician.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The musician then plays and, \u201cThe hand of God came upon him.\u201d But what sort of song was it that allowed Elisha to hear the word of God? What music inspires prophecy?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Most early commentators imagine that the musician sang a happy song. A number of collections of Midrash quote this verse in support of the aphorism, \u201cThe divine presence does not rest upon a person unless they are in a state of joy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Ba\u2019al Shem Tov, the founder of European Hasidism has a different take on the situation. He acknowledges the power of music to open the Gates of Heaven and finds a parallel in the power of tears, \u201cfor the Gates do not open except with tears.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The common thread here is that connection to God is achieved through an intense emotional response to music. Through the power of melody, music can peel us open in a way that allows us to listen for God\u2019s still small voice. As the first Chabad Rabbi, Shneur Zalman of Liadi said, \u201cspeech is the quill of the heart, and song is the quill of the soul.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Today, find one song that brings out your truest emotions and give yourself time to smile, to laugh, or to cry. And in that moment, listen for the voice of God.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61168,"alt":"","title":"2sam23-quill","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill.png","width":640,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-150x300.png","medium-width":150,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-512x1024.png","medium_large-width":512,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-512x1024.png","large-width":512,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill.png","1536x1536-width":640,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill.png","2048x2048-width":640,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-600x1200.png","post_full_size-width":600,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-210x420.png","home_baner-width":210,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Melody Of Prophecy","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Speech is the quill of the heart, and song is the quill of the soul","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61168,"alt":"","title":"2sam23-quill","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill.png","width":640,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-150x300.png","medium-width":150,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-512x1024.png","medium_large-width":512,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-512x1024.png","large-width":512,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill.png","1536x1536-width":640,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill.png","2048x2048-width":640,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-600x1200.png","post_full_size-width":600,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-quill-210x420.png","home_baner-width":210,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","date":"20261109","wall_id":"312"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"386","name":"Psychology","old_id":"786"},{"term_id":"437","name":"Prayer","old_id":"837"},{"term_id":"512","name":"Music","old_id":"912"},{"term_id":"616","name":"Spirit","old_id":"1016"}]},{"order":8,"id":"63275","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Elisha, The People\u2019s Prophet ","post_title":"Elisha, The People\u2019s Prophet","slug":"elisha-the-peoples-prophet","old_id":"63275","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34250,"post_title":"Sarah Rudolph","slug":"sarah-rudolph","old_id":"34250","first_name":"Sarah ","last_name":"Rudolph","description":"Sarah Rudolph is a freelance Jewish educator, writer, and editor. 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Elisha is often seen as the \u201cpeople\u2019s prophet,\u201d in contrast to his predecessor, Elijah. For Elijah, God is first and foremost, and communication with the people often involves literal or metaphorical fire and brimstone. Elisha tends towards a softer approach, roaming the countryside and helping the common people in mundane though miraculous ways.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet, when he first takes over from Elijah, Elisha displays a harshness reminiscent of his teacher; for instance, when he sends a couple of bears after some kids who mocked him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Less fatal, but more biting in the figurative sense, is Elisha\u2019s response when asked to advise the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Elisha said to the king of Israel, \u201cWhat have you to do with me? Go to your father\u2019s prophets or your mother\u2019s prophets\u201d (3:13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Remarkably, the king keeps his head; instead of responding angrily, he simply says \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d Commentaries suggest he meant \u201cDon\u2019t bring up something (my parents\u2019 idolatry) that might arouse harsh judgment when we\u2019re in danger!\u201d Perhaps there is also something more basic here, along the lines of the contemporary phrasing: \u201cDon\u2019t go there!\u201d Don\u2019t talk about my parents and their mistakes; I\u2019m trying to come to you for help!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Whether partly due to the reproach in that sharp \u201cDon\u2019t\u201d or purely because of the involvement of the king of Judah (as Elisha claims in verse 14), Elisha then prepares himself to receive the prophetic answers requested.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cNow then, get me a musician.\u201d (v. 15)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why music? To calm down, because he was angry and anger interferes with prophecy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Several things are striking here: One is the awareness of music\u2019s power to soothe the soul (even older than rock and roll) \u2013 but of course we knew that, and we knew from David and Saul that the Prophets knew it too. What is particularly remarkable in this moment is not that music will help Elisha, but that he realizes and admits he needs it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It can be hard to recognize one\u2019s own psychological state, to anticipate its potential negative effects, to understand what will help, or to ask for that help. Elisha, to his credit, does all of that.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Radak suggests that actually, Elisha was in a bad mood \u2013 and therefore missing his prophetic connection \u2013 even before this encounter, ever since he lost his teacher. In that light, we can perhaps better understand Elisha\u2019s harsh moments, in the throes of mourning the man he called \u201cfather, father! Israel\u2019s chariots and horsemen\u201d (2:12). (We might also wonder whether that negativity contributed to the bear incident \u2013 though it seems there must be more to it.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We might imagine Elisha stuck in a cycle: His prophetic predecessor was gone, he was depressed and unable to access his own prophecy, which only sent his mood further downhill, which led to his biting reaction to the king of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But ultimately, he broke the cycle by seeking the help he needed to move forward and become the people\u2019s prophet Providence provided.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Elisha the Prophet, by vebelfetzer (CC 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See his website www.alexisrael.org, and his podcasts at https:\/\/elmad.pardes.org\/ and https:\/\/tanachstudy.com\/ \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33693,"alt":"","title":"alex israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","width":1657,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":679,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","large-width":679,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1018,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","2048x2048-width":1357,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-795x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":795,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"4","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Tanakh Podcast","tile_main_caption":"2 Kings 3: War With Moab","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Israel, Judah and Edom join forces to attack Moab. 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Artson is married to Elana Shavit Artson, and they are the parents of twins, Shira and Jacob.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson is the Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33993,"alt":"","title":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","width":204,"height":199,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-256x300.png","medium-width":256,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","medium_large-width":204,"medium_large-height":199,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","large-width":204,"large-height":199,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","1536x1536-width":204,"1536x1536-height":199,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","2048x2048-width":204,"2048x2048-height":199,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","post_full_size-width":204,"post_full_size-height":199,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","home_baner-width":204,"home_baner-height":199}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What is necessary for prophets in their prophecy, is no less important for our ability to connect in prayer","post_main_content_content":"

An alliance of three unlikely kings, Israel in the North, Judah in the south, and Edom in the east, unite in an effort to suppress the rebellion of King Mesha, the Moabite.\u00a0 As they approach the place, they run short of water and fall into terrible despair. In an attempt to figure out their own future, they turn to the prophet at hand, Elisha. And before he can prophesy to them, he asks for a musician!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Commenting on this unusual demand, Rambam points out that one must be in a joyous mood in order to be able to reach the levels of holiness that prophecy requires. And Rashi adds that he requested musicians because music has the capacity to lift one\u2019s spirits and bring about a sense of joy and calm. So important is that insight that our rabbinic sages insist that one should not initiate prayers if one is sad. Prayer, like prophecy, can only emerge from a state of deep joy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This teaching has been largely lost in a popular association of prayer with a kind of check list mentality (three times a day, check! Step forward, step back, bow three times, check! Bend from the knees, bounce on your heels three times, check!). And how much have we lost in the process! No one can pray on command, and it\u2019s hard to imagine God desiring a formal adherence to an empty ritual if it doesn\u2019t come with heartfelt honesty as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Prayer, real prayer, wells up from our deepest springs of soul. Flowing streams of joy and engagement open the heart, allowing us to connect ourselves to the ever-present One. Small wonder that King David danced the ark into Jerusalem. Small wonder that the Baal Shem Tov <\/span>davened <\/span><\/i>in ecstasy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And our chapter of Tanach sees this as so self-evident that it mentions the musician without even sensing a need for explanation. Isn\u2019t it obvious that connecting to God presumes calm, quiet, and joy?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Maybe it\u2019s time to remind ourselves of this fundamental Jewish teaching, one that emerges from the Torah itself, flows through the prophetic writings, and flowers out in the Talmud and beyond.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Tap into joy. Search within for whatever makes your heart smile. Then, and only then, pray.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63245,"alt":"","title":"2kings3-joy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy.png","width":1250,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-293x300.png","medium-width":293,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-768x786.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":786,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-1000x1024.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy.png","1536x1536-width":1250,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy.png","2048x2048-width":1250,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-1172x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1172,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-410x420.png","home_baner-width":410,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Deep Joy","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"What is necessary for prophets in their prophecy, is no less important for our ability to connect in prayer","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63245,"alt":"","title":"2kings3-joy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy.png","width":1250,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-293x300.png","medium-width":293,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-768x786.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":786,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-1000x1024.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy.png","1536x1536-width":1250,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy.png","2048x2048-width":1250,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-1172x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1172,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-joy-410x420.png","home_baner-width":410,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","date":"20261109","wall_id":"312"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"437","name":"Prayer","old_id":"837"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"},{"term_id":"512","name":"Music","old_id":"912"},{"term_id":"743","name":"Joy","old_id":"1143"}]},{"order":11,"id":"63241","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Orchestra ","post_title":"The Orchestra","slug":"the-orchestra","old_id":"63241","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. 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\"\u2026 and it came to pass, when the musician played, the hand of the Lord touched him\" (2 Kings 3:15).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I lost an orchestra.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I lost the silver trumpet my grandfather gave me for my Bar-Mitzvah,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The trumpet on which I practiced every night.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I lost Rashi's violin,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The Rambam's flute,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The clarinet the Baal-Shem-Tov used to play.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I lost the music-stand<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Bezalel built from acacia wood.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I lost notes, clefs, staffs, bars, keys, scales.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I lost pitch and tone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

All that remains is a melody<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>That burst forth, at times, from my memory,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A melody from the orchestra I once knew.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And when the melody plays in my mind,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I get down on my knees, bow down<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And prostrate myself on the ground,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Like a pilgrim in the Temple<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>When the High Priest pronounced<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The unpronounceable name of God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Klezmer musicians at a wedding, playing an accompaniment to the arrival of the groom, Ukraine, ca. 1925. Photograph by Menakhem Kipnis (YIVO \/ wikimedia).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63242,"alt":"","title":"2kings3-KLEZPO","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","width":549,"height":703,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO-234x300.png","medium-width":234,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","medium_large-width":549,"medium_large-height":703,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","large-width":549,"large-height":703,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","1536x1536-width":549,"1536x1536-height":703,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","2048x2048-width":549,"2048x2048-height":703,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","post_full_size-width":549,"post_full_size-height":703,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO-328x420.png","home_baner-width":328,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"The Orchestra","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"All that remains is a melody","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63242,"alt":"","title":"2kings3-KLEZPO","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","width":549,"height":703,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO-234x300.png","medium-width":234,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","medium_large-width":549,"medium_large-height":703,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","large-width":549,"large-height":703,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","1536x1536-width":549,"1536x1536-height":703,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","2048x2048-width":549,"2048x2048-height":703,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO.png","post_full_size-width":549,"post_full_size-height":703,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-KLEZPO-328x420.png","home_baner-width":328,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","date":"20261109","wall_id":"312"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"512","name":"Music","old_id":"912"}]},{"order":12,"id":"63239","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Why Total Devastation? ","post_title":"Why Total Devastation?","slug":"why-total-devastation","old_id":"63239","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. His first book \"I Kings - Torn in Two\" was published in 2013. See his website www.alexisrael.org, and his podcasts at https:\/\/elmad.pardes.org\/ and https:\/\/tanachstudy.com\/ \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33693,"alt":"","title":"alex israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","width":1657,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":679,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","large-width":679,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1018,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","2048x2048-width":1357,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-795x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":795,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The Mesha Stele confirms and explains the biblical account","post_main_content_content":"

You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones. (3:19)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This prophetic injunction is problematic, however, in that it seems to contravene an explicit ordinance that guides the Torah's ethics of war: The mitzva of<\/span> bal tashhit<\/span><\/i> (do not destroy) (Deut. 20:19) mandates a besieging army to respect the countryside, and specifically to preserve the fruit trees. Why would Elisha issue a policy of total devastation, making the Moabite landscape absolutely uninhabitable, in contravention of a Torah law?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi, Radak and Ralbag assert that the war against Moab was anomalous in its aggression, demanding nonstandard rules of engagement. But why? Rashi suggests that there was something \"disgraceful,\" unusually degenerate, about Moab. What could it be?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The answer may be found in a stunning archaeological discovery, the Mesha Stele. In 1868, a Prussian missionary named Fredrik Klein identified a remarkable historical artifact some twenty miles east of the Dead Sea, at Dibhan, Jordan. When it was assembled and deciphered, archaeologists determined that this was a victory tablet in which King Mesha records the Moabite revolt against the dynasty of Ahab, king of Israel. It is a remarkable piece of textual evidence, if only because it corroborates the Tanakh so strongly \u2014 mentioning Mesha and Ahab, and also the Tetragrammaton. The stele narrates Moab's vicious revolution against Israel in which Moab attacks Israelite towns and villages throughout the Transjordan, killing the Israelite inhabitants and humiliating Israel's God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We may propose the following reconstruction of the events: After Ahab's death and during Ahaziah's reign, Mesha stages his bloody rebellion against Israel as recorded in the Mesha Stele. This revolution is characterized by widespread slaughter of the Israelites living in Transjordan as well as the abasement of the God of Israel. Jehoram launches a war to regain control. If Moab's strength is concentrated in the northern territories, as recorded by the Mesha Stele, this goes some way to explain why the Israelite force attacks specifically from the south. However, whereas for the king, the campaign is about regaining prestige, recovering lost territory, and recouping tax monies, the motivation for the prophet and for God is most certainly about avenging the religious insult wielded by Moab. And so, as prophesied by Elisha, God issues a writ of devastation to Moab to avenge Moab's blasphemy and disgrace of God.'<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This war is indeed extraordinary, and only on this basis can we better comprehend the inconsonant divine directive to destroy fields, trees, and water sources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Alex Israel, II Kings: In a Whirlwind<\/em>, Maggid Books, 2019<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63310,"alt":"","title":"Alex Israel - 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Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","date":"20261109","wall_id":"312"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":14,"id":"63100","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The First Trance Party ","post_title":"The First Trance Party","slug":"the-first-trance-party","old_id":"63100","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54356,"post_title":"Robert Alter","slug":"robert-alter","old_id":"54356","first_name":"Robert ","last_name":"Alter","description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1967. He has written over twenty books, focusing on such topics as the European novel from the 18th century to the present, contemporary American fiction, and modern Hebrew literature. He has also written extensively on the literary aspects of the Bible. His most recent work is his monumental three volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019 - from which the selections in 929 are taken. ","short_description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of the three-volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Musical stimuli for prophetic inspiration","post_main_content_content":"

3:15 \u201c\u2018...but now, fetch me a lyre player.\u2019 And it happened, as the lyre-player played, the hand of the Lord was upon him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\r\n

The use of stringed instruments and percussion instruments to induce a vantic trance though their hypnotic rhythm is known in many different traditions of ecstatic religion. In the Bible, it is typically linked with bands of professional prophets (see, for example, 1 Samuel 10:5-6). What is unusual here is that an individual prophet feels he has to have recourse to these musical stimuli in order to gain access to God\u2019s word.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"The First Trance Party","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Musical stimuli for prophetic inspiration","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","date":"20261109","wall_id":"312"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"390","name":"Prophets","old_id":"790"},{"term_id":"512","name":"Music","old_id":"912"}]},{"order":15,"id":"63050","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- 2 Kings 3 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- 2 Kings 3","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-2-kings-3","old_id":"63050","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40936,"post_title":"David Silber","slug":"david-silber-2","old_id":"40936","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Silber ","description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. 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\u201cPeople of the Land: Biblical Judaism and Environmental Thought\u201d<\/a> by Jacob Kaplan-Lipkin: Explore texts about our relationship to the Earth.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cMusic in Jewish Texts\u201d<\/a> by Rabbi Rebeccah Yussman: What is the significance of music in Jewish sources?<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Source Sheets - 2 Kings 3","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","date":"20261109","wall_id":"312"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":17,"id":"63237","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - 2 Kings 3 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - 2 Kings 3","slug":"points-to-ponder-2-kings-3","old_id":"63237","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. Jehoram gets a passing grade<\/em>. Elisha at first wouldn\u2019t agree to prophecy for him. But the text gives him the grade of \u201cgood enough.\u201d At least as compared with his parents. While he does do (some) evil the eyes of God, it was \u201cyet not like his father and mother,\u201d for he even \u201cremoved the pillars of Baal that his father had made\u201d (verse 2). And so he was only guilty of some of the sins that go all the way back to Rehoboam.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Mesha the sheep breeder.<\/em> What do we know about Mesha? According to verse 4, he was a sheep breeder. And in the days of Ahab, he even was able to pay a sizable tax on lambs and wool. Mesha the King of Moab is also known from extra-biblical sources: the Mesha Stele, a stone inscribed to the glory of Mesha and his victory over Israel (that he had made for himself). Reading the stele, you can read his version of events. You can see it in the Louvre, or on line.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. History repeats itself.<\/em> There are striking similarities between the war on the heights of Gilead, described three chapters ago, in 1 Kings 22, and the war here, against Moab: cooperation between Judah and Israel, Jehoshaphat\u2019s answer \u201c\u2018I will do what you do: my troops shall be your troops, my horses shall be your horses.\u2019\u201d Not to mention the search for a prophet to inquire of the Lord.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. \u00a0Musical inspiration.<\/em> You want prophetic inspiration? Bring a musician. That\u2019s what Elisha requests: \u201c\u2018Get me a musician.\u2019 As the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him\u201d (verse 15). Several of today\u2019s pieces relate to this enticing image.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Are the trees of the field not human?<\/em> The Deuteronomic law (chapter 20) states that during wartime it is forbidden to chop down fruit trees. But here, Elisha orders the total devastation of Moab, including all the trees. Why? Commentators suggest a range of answer (see also Alex Israel\u2019s piece on this today).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  6. Human sacrifice - and wrath.<\/em> What was the king of Moab attempting to achieve with his human sacrifice -and from whom? Why is there \u201c\u201dwrath upon Israel,\u201d and from whom? The answers are not obvious.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"2 Kings 3","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"312","date":"20261109","wall_id":"312"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/63152"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}