{"id":63423,"date":"2018-07-09T17:44:33","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-316\/"},"modified":"2023-04-23T13:48:08","modified_gmt":"2023-04-23T10:48:08","slug":"wall-316","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-316\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-II Kings-7"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"316","date":"20261115","book":"II Kings","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"316","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"63015","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - 2 Kings Chapter 7 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - 2 Kings Chapter 7","slug":"jps-audio-bible-2-kings-chapter-7","old_id":"63015","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":"316","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 7","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_7","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":"7","chapter_main_number":"316","date":"20261115","wall_id":"316"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"114249","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Windows In The Sky ","post_title":"Windows In The Sky","slug":"windows-in-the-sky","old_id":"114249","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"316","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"On the unexpected sources of divine sustenance\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In order to demonstrate that the prophet had improbably, but precisely, predicted what would take place in the near future, verses are repeated at the beginning and end (v. 1-2, 18-19) of what is recounted:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

1\/18 This time tomorrow, a <\/span>seah<\/span><\/em> of choice flour shall sell for a shekel at the gate of Samaria, and two <\/span>seah<\/span><\/em>s<\/em> of barley for a shekel. 2\/19 The aide \u2026 said \u2026 \u201cEven if the LORD were to make windows in the sky, could this come to pass?\u201d And he retorted, \u201cYou shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The fact that the Arameans had fled and, therefore, were not only not going to carry out their attack, but the besieged city of Jerusalem would now be saved from famine, was discovered by four lepers. They were residing outside of the holy city (see Num. 5:2), quarantined until they could demonstrate that their malady had been cured. During a time of siege, the prospects of survival for such lepers was even more fraught, since obtaining a basic food supply was considerably more difficult for individuals who were beyond the city gates.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

These lepers decided to \u201croll the dice,\u201d and take their chances with the Arameans:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Come, let us desert to the Aramean camp. If they let us live, we shall live; and if they put us to death, we shall but die (<\/span>which we would have done anyway, if we were to remain here and starve<\/span><\/em>) (v. 4).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When they came upon the Aramean encampment, they discovered it full of food and precious objects, but empty of soldiers. They proceeded to satiate and enrich themselves, and then turned to inform the residents of the city that the threat posed by the besiegers had passed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After verifying the report, the residents of the city \u201cstampeded\u201d in their haste to reach the Aramean encampment, trampling anyone standing in their way, including the skeptical royal aide who had scoffed at Elisha\u2019s prediction in v. 2 only shortly before.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What was the implication of the bizarre simile - \u201cEven if the LORD were to make windows in the sky\u2026\u201d - uttered by the ill-fated royal functionary? According to one of the interpretations of Radak, it is a reference to a much earlier iconic biblical event (Exodus 16:32):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The bread (<\/span>manna<\/span><\/em>)<\/span> wherewith I (<\/span>God<\/span><\/em>) fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to this commentator, the aide was not only questioning God\u2019s ability to save the residents of Jerusalem from starvation; he was also demeaning one of the miracles associated with the Israelites\u2019 time in the wilderness, i.e., the feeding of the people, when \u201cmanna rained down almost daily from \u2018windows in the sky.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":88396,"alt":"","title":"ps104-windows 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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":"316","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Be careful of what you\u2019re skeptical of\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The chapter opens with the continuing siege of Samaria and the resulting famine. Elisha appears on the scene and predicts that God will quickly turn around the fortunes of the city causing a dramatic drop in food prices. A member of the king\u2019s guard mocks Elisha \u201cWill the Lord make windows in heaven? Might this thing be?\u201d (verse 2). Elisha turns to the guard and promises him that he will witness the coming miracle, but he will not partake of the bounty.\u00a0 The siege and resulting famine had been raging for a while. Elisha predicts that suddenly everything will turn around. The guard is suspicious. Even if it rained buckets, that would not be enough for the famine to subside. The guard could not imagine that the Aramean army would suddenly retreat and leave all of their provisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At the end of the chapter, Elisha\u2019s prophetic vision comes true after four lepers discover that the Aramean camp is abandoned. The people of the city rush the city gates to feast on the bounty. The skeptical guard is trampled to death:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Now the king had put the aide on whose arm he leaned in charge of the gate; and he was trampled to death in the gate by the people\u2014just as the man of God had spoken, as he had spoken when the king came down to him (verse 17).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The text goes on to repeat word for word what the guard said at the start of the chapter and then repeats his punishment. But why was the story repeated in full? The chapter could have simply ended with the last verse: \u201cThat is exactly what happened to him: The people trampled him to death in the gate\u201d (verse 20).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud in Sanhedrin 90a-b explains that this is the main source for the concept of <\/span>midah k\u2019neged midah<\/span><\/em>- \u201cmeasure for measure.\u201d God punishes in a manner that matches the transgression. This guard mocked the ability of God to feed the city while guarding the gate, so he was punished by not being able to partake in the bounty after the townspeople trampled him at the gate. The word for word repetition of the story triggers the idea of the <\/span>midah k\u2019neged midah<\/em> <\/span>punishment.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51569,"alt":"","title":"dt25-weightsmeasures","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt25-weightsmeasures.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt25-weightsmeasures-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt25-weightsmeasures-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt25-weightsmeasures-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt25-weightsmeasures-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt25-weightsmeasures.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt25-weightsmeasures.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt25-weightsmeasures-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt25-weightsmeasures-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"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":"Measure 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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":"316","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Daring solutions can come from the outcasts: wisdom doesn\u2019t always come packaged as an elder or a professor or a sage","post_main_content_content":"

One of the ways society holds itself back is with our own preconceived notion of where help might come from, what an expert is \u201csupposed\u201d to sound or look like, who counts and who doesn\u2019t, who looks presidential or ministerial and who doesn\u2019t. How often have we passed over the very person who has what might lift us up or put us back on the right path, only because we are blinded by our preconceptions of what our help should appear as.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Today\u2019s reading offers a radical break, so large, in fact, that the traditional commentators mostly missed it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As Israel is facing its worst famine, a result of the siege and war brought on by Aram and its kingdom, the only people not in the city starving are four <\/span>metzoraim<\/span><\/i>, four people banished for their skin disease. According to biblical law, these people, once diagnosed, are forced to reside alone, outside the protection and benefit of civil society.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Small wonder, then, that they are the most bold when it comes to addressing their famine. They have less to lose. As one remarks to his fellows: \u201cif we go into town \u2026 we shall die there; and if we just sit here, still we die.\u201d Their being expelled and isolated fuels their desperate courage. They wander into the very camp of the enemy and discover that it has been abandoned. Food and livestock and riches abound, left behind by the terrified Aramean soldiers on the run.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After satisfying their own hunger, the show a remarkable elevation of soul. Rather than despising the culture that had isolated them, they challenged themselves to respond with a loyalty greater than the residents of Samaria deserved: \u201cWe are not doing right. This is a day of good news, and we are keeping silent!\u201d So they report their finds and the siege is lifted.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

No one expects a great victory from a gaggle of lepers. No one in the city expected their starvation to end with such a miracle. And it is indeed a miracle, as every miracle was a surprise when it happens. Blinded as we often are by our prior expectations, our bias, our chauvinism, we don\u2019t really see the resource in front of us until it demands our attention by taking direct action.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What if we learned from this story that wisdom doesn\u2019t always come packaged as an elder or a professor or a sage? That inner strength doesn\u2019t always come wrapped in a warrior or soldier? That compassion can come from a man, that decisive leadership can come from a woman? That someone with a disability might be the very companion we need to get through a hard time or to help us delight in a good one?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Time to open our eyes, friends. The famine is about to break, and we can all break free together.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63525,"alt":"","title":"2kings7-beggar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar.jpg","width":1359,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-212x300.jpg","medium-width":212,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-725x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":725,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-725x1024.jpg","large-width":725,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar.jpg","1536x1536-width":1087,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar.jpg","2048x2048-width":1359,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-849x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":849,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-297x420.jpg","home_baner-width":297,"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":"Help From Those You Least Expect","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Daring solutions can come from the outcasts: wisdom doesn\u2019t always come packaged as an elder or a professor or a sage","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63525,"alt":"","title":"2kings7-beggar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar.jpg","width":1359,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-212x300.jpg","medium-width":212,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-725x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":725,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-725x1024.jpg","large-width":725,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar.jpg","1536x1536-width":1087,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar.jpg","2048x2048-width":1359,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-849x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":849,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-beggar-297x420.jpg","home_baner-width":297,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"316","date":"20261115","wall_id":"316"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"372","name":"Wisdom","old_id":"772"},{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"415","name":"food","old_id":"815"},{"term_id":"755","name":"Leprosy","old_id":"1155"}]},{"order":5,"id":"63540","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"What Can We Learn From Four Starving Lepers?\u00a0 ","post_title":"What Can We Learn From Four Starving Lepers?\u00a0","slug":"what-can-we-learn-from-four-starving-lepers","old_id":"63540","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":58418,"post_title":"Naomi (Jaffe) Eini","slug":"naomi-jaffe-eini","old_id":"58418","first_name":"Naomi (Jaffe)","last_name":"Eini","description":"Naomi (Jaffe) Eini is an educational psychologist, lecturer and workshop facilitator, and author of the book, \"Journey To The Real World\" (Hebrew). She is a graduate of Mandel School For Educational Leadership, works at Midreshet Lindenbaum, and is writing a doctorate in psychology at Bar Ilan University.","short_description":"Naomi (Jaffe) Eini is an educational psychologist, lecturer and workshop facilitator, and doctoral candidate in psychology.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":58420,"alt":"","title":"naomi eini","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini.jpg","width":960,"height":1135,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini-254x300.jpg","medium-width":254,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini-768x908.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":908,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini-866x1024.jpg","large-width":866,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":1135,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":1135,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1135,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini-355x420.jpg","home_baner-width":355,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"316","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A Rebbe Nachman tale from ancient Israel","post_main_content_content":"

Today\u2019s chapter reminds me of Rabbi Nachman of Breslav\u2019s tales.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

First, a summary: The king of Israel is very perturbed by the famine afflicting his people and kingdom. He is very angry with the prophet Elisha and wants to kill him. Elisha calmly replies that all is in the hands of God and tomorrow will be a new reality with plenty of food for all.\u00a0 On hearing this, the king\u2019s aide mocks him and doesn\u2019t believe the prophecy. Elisha retorts: You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.\u201d (v.2).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the next scene, the text describes how Elisha\u2019s prophecy is realized:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Four Hebrew lepers who were banished from Israel\u2019s camp, were starving and planning their next steps. If they stayed put \u2013 death was inevitable, but the same fate awaited them if they returned to the camp. They decide to \u201cdesert to the Aramean camp. If they let us live, we shall live; and if they put us to death, we shall but die\u201d (v.4).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Nighttime: The lepers stealthily slip into the enemy camp and lo and behold, it was deserted.\u00a0 God had performed a miracle. Having filled their stomachs and their bags with plundered treasures, they decide to share the news with the King of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Upon hearing this information, the king and his assistants had difficulty believing this amazing news, suspecting that the Arameans had laid an ambush \u201cThey know that we [Israelites] are starving\u2026 we [the Arameans] will take them alive\u201d (v.12). One of the aides proposes sending messengers to the camp, who see the deserted clothes and tools dropped as the Arameans fled and understand that the lepers were telling the truth that the camp was deserted. The Israelites pounced on the bounty and, in the ensuing rush, the king\u2019s aide who had mocked Elisha was trampled to death. The prophecy was realized.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We learn from the text that God manages overt and covert processes through various, and sometimes surprising messengers<\/span><\/p>\r\n

R\u2019 Nachman\u2019s <\/span>Tale of Seven Beggars<\/span><\/i> tells of a boy and girl lost in the forest who meet a different beggar with a physical defect everyday who saves them from starvation. It turns out that these are not defects but wondrous strengths.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The lepers in the Daily Chapter are also not what they seem to be at first glance. They are key players who discover the King - God\u2019s presence and miracles: \u201cThis is a day of good news \u2026Come, let us go and inform the <\/span>king<\/b>\u2019s palace\u201d (v.9).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God\u2019s ways are hidden, and we are tasked with freeing ourselves from the shackles of doubt and disbelief in His ability to overturn reality.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Each and every day has the potential to bring good news. To a great extent, realizing this potential depends on how well we listen to hidden moves and the extent to which we believe that change is possible.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Translated by Chava Wilschanski<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63549,"alt":"","title":"2kings7-nachman beggars","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","width":613,"height":400,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars-300x196.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":196,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","medium_large-width":613,"medium_large-height":400,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","large-width":613,"large-height":400,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","1536x1536-width":613,"1536x1536-height":400,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","2048x2048-width":613,"2048x2048-height":400,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","post_full_size-width":613,"post_full_size-height":400,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","home_baner-width":613,"home_baner-height":400}},"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":"What Can We Learn From Four Starving Lepers?\u00a0","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A Rebbe Nachman tale from ancient Israel","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63549,"alt":"","title":"2kings7-nachman beggars","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","width":613,"height":400,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars-300x196.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":196,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","medium_large-width":613,"medium_large-height":400,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","large-width":613,"large-height":400,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","1536x1536-width":613,"1536x1536-height":400,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","2048x2048-width":613,"2048x2048-height":400,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","post_full_size-width":613,"post_full_size-height":400,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-nachman-beggars.jpg","home_baner-width":613,"home_baner-height":400}},"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":"7","chapter_main_number":"316","date":"20261115","wall_id":"316"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"477","name":"Story","old_id":"877"},{"term_id":"666","name":"Mystic","old_id":"1066"},{"term_id":"675","name":"Hasidut","old_id":"1075"},{"term_id":"755","name":"Leprosy","old_id":"1155"},{"term_id":"850","name":"Secrets","old_id":"1250"}]},{"order":6,"id":"63465","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Wicked Skeptic And Some Unlikely Redeemers ","post_title":"A Wicked Skeptic And Some Unlikely Redeemers","slug":"a-wicked-skeptic-and-some-unlikely-redeemers","old_id":"63465","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"316","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A story on the inclusive properties of redemption, that gives people a chance to shine","post_main_content_content":"

An officer of the King, overhearing Elisha\u2019s prophesy that the siege of Samaria by the Arameans is about to come to a swift and decisive end, responds with these skeptical words, \u201cEven if God were to make windows in the sky, could this happen (7:2)?\u201d Meanwhile, four lepers, who have been relegated to live outside the gates of the city and thus not privy to hearing the prophecy, pragmatically determine that \u201cif we stay here we will die, and if we go into the city we will die (7:3).\u201d Seeing only one possible chance for survival they venture out to the Aramean army camp where, to their amazement, they find the camp abandoned and with plenty of food and supplies. Somewhat surprisingly, after having their fill of food and drink, they return to Shomron to alert the city that the siege has ended.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The gatekeeper who received this news is the very same officer who earlier in the chapter vehemently doubted Elisha\u2019s prophesy, and the words of the skeptic officer from 7:3 are repeated in 7:19 word for word.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Me\u2019am Lo\u2019Ez expounds on the sin of this sort of skeptic. Unlike the healthy skepticism that keeps us engaged in truth-finding, this officer demonstrates a character trait indicative of an unwillingness to accept that God is in control. He purposefully distances himself not only from divine decrees but also from divine blessings. Instead of running toward the camp to obtain food with the rest of the citizens, his arrogant need to prove that he is control made him choose to stay behind and suffer rather than accept God\u2019s blessing. It was no accident that he met his death at the same time as his neighbours received redemption.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But what of the unlikely redeemers, these four men who had been cast out of the city because of corruption? Why should they merit bringing the good news that the siege had ended? Rabbi Alex Israel (Virtual Beit Midrash) brings an explanation provided by Rav Aharon Soloveitchik.\u00a0 Rav Soloveitchik described this very episode as an example of the inclusive properties of redemption, in which no Jew is excluded from the possibility of receiving God\u2019s redemption, and even spiritual outcasts can be messengers of deliverance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Apropos of this season, perhaps these unlikely redeemers, in their decision to share the news of the abandoned Aramean camp, were demonstrating teshuva (repentance) and by choosing them as the messengers of redemption, God was answering them with forgiveness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Edwin Wilbur Rice, Easter Lepers, c. 1889 \/ internet archive<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63521,"alt":"","title":"2kings7-eastern lepers","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers.jpg","width":1473,"height":744,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-300x152.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":152,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-768x388.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":388,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-1024x517.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":517,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers.jpg","1536x1536-width":1473,"1536x1536-height":744,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers.jpg","2048x2048-width":1473,"2048x2048-height":744,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-1200x606.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":606,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-832x420.jpg","home_baner-width":832,"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":"A Wicked Skeptic And Some Unlikely Redeemers","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A story on the inclusive properties of redemption, that gives people a chance to shine \u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63521,"alt":"","title":"2kings7-eastern lepers","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers.jpg","width":1473,"height":744,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-300x152.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":152,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-768x388.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":388,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-1024x517.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":517,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers.jpg","1536x1536-width":1473,"1536x1536-height":744,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers.jpg","2048x2048-width":1473,"2048x2048-height":744,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-1200x606.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":606,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-eastern-lepers-832x420.jpg","home_baner-width":832,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"316","date":"20261115","wall_id":"316"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"403","name":"Redemption","old_id":"803"},{"term_id":"612","name":"Belief","old_id":"1012"},{"term_id":"755","name":"Leprosy","old_id":"1155"}]},{"order":7,"id":"63528","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Lepers at the Gate ","post_title":"Lepers At The Gate","slug":"lepers-at-the-gate","old_id":"63528","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. 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There is a mathematical theorem that postulates that \u201cthings equal to the same thing are equal to each other.\u201d In alphabetical terms, if A=B and B=C, then A=C. According to rabbinic and medieval exegesis, there is an instance of this equivalence in this chapter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The discovery that the Aramean army had miraculously fled in the middle of the night was made by \u201cfour men, lepers, outside the gate\u201d of Samaria (3). Rashi, relaying a Talmudic tradition (Sotah 47a), identified them as \u201cGehazi and his sons.\u201d Since Gehazi and his sons were lepers and the men who made the salvific discovery were lepers, the axiom would have us identify them with one another.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We recall that Gehazi had disobeyed Elisha and, by ruse, had extracted a gift from Naaman for the curing of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:20 ff.), earning the prophet\u2019s curse: \u201cSurely, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever\u201d (there, v. 27). They were sited outside the city gate in accordance with the Torah law that confines a leper to \u201cthe outskirts of the camp\u201d (Leviticus 13:46) and consistent with the Mishnaic stipulation that \u201cwalled cities are of a higher sanctity; therefore, lepers are evicted from them\u201d (Kelim 1:7).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A close reading indicates that these four harbingers of salvation decided, on the one hand, to share the news with their brethren in the city lest they incur \u201cguilt\u201d (9, arguably by prolonging the famine), and yet, on the other hand, still took the time not only to slake their own thirst and hunger but to carry off silver and gold and clothing from there and bury it (8) for later retrieval. Who would be better suited for this role than Gehazi whose take from Naaman consisted of silver and clothing?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is ironic, of course, that Elisha, who had the well-deserved reputation of curing lepers (5:3), inflicted it on his own assistant. In any case, it appears that Gehazi\u2019s role in hastening the end to the siege was redemptive since in the very next chapter we find him in direct conversation with no less than the king himself (8:4), something that clearly implies a resolution of his leprosy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Augustin Hirschvogel, Elisha Punishes Gehazi with Naaman's Leprosy, 1547 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63530,"alt":"","title":"2kings7-gehazi","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi.jpg","width":861,"height":706,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi-300x246.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":246,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi-768x630.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":630,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi.jpg","large-width":861,"large-height":706,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi.jpg","1536x1536-width":861,"1536x1536-height":706,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi.jpg","2048x2048-width":861,"2048x2048-height":706,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi.jpg","post_full_size-width":861,"post_full_size-height":706,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi-512x420.jpg","home_baner-width":512,"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":"Lepers at the Gate","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Some clear hints as to their surprising identity","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63530,"alt":"","title":"2kings7-gehazi","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi.jpg","width":861,"height":706,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi-300x246.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":246,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi-768x630.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":630,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi.jpg","large-width":861,"large-height":706,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi.jpg","1536x1536-width":861,"1536x1536-height":706,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi.jpg","2048x2048-width":861,"2048x2048-height":706,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi.jpg","post_full_size-width":861,"post_full_size-height":706,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings7-gehazi-512x420.jpg","home_baner-width":512,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"316","date":"20261115","wall_id":"316"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"755","name":"Leprosy","old_id":"1155"},{"term_id":"931","name":"Elisha","old_id":"1331"}]},{"order":8,"id":"63551","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"An Especially Miraculous Miracle ","post_title":"An Especially Miraculous Miracle","slug":"an-especially-miraculous-miracle","old_id":"63551","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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Sarah lives in Cleveland with her husband and four children, but is privileged to learn online with students all over the world through www.TorahTutors.org and www.WebYeshiva.org. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Sarah Rudolph is a freelance Jewish educator, writer, and editor.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34251,"alt":"","title":"Sarah R","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","width":2824,"height":4246,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-681x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":681,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-681x1024.jpg","large-width":681,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","1536x1536-width":1022,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","2048x2048-width":1362,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-798x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":798,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-279x420.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"316","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Perhaps because it happened through the desperation and luck of a few lepers...","post_main_content_content":"

Can God make a rock He can\u2019t lift? A round square?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

My philosopher father raised me on paradoxes like this one, and we enjoyed discussing them without (on my part, at least) caring much about the answers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sometimes, though, questions of potential limitations on God\u2019s abilities can be more serious \u2013 as when a servant of the king of Israel is punished for expressing doubt about a bold prophecy:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And Elisha replied, \u201cHear the word of the LORD. Thus said the LORD: This time tomorrow, a seah of choice flour shall sell for a shekel at the gate of Samaria, and two seahs of barley for a shekel.\u201d<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The aide on whose arm the king was leaning spoke up and said to the man of God, \u201cEven if the LORD were to make windows in the sky, could this come to pass?\u201d And he retorted, \u201cYou shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it\u201d (7:1-2).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Indeed, the servant saw the prophecy fulfilled \u2013 not as a result of any opening of the heavens, but through a[n apparently] lucky find of four individuals, whose conscience moved them to share the wealth they\u2019d discovered just in time for Elisha\u2019s stated deadline. And indeed, the servant did not partake of the discovery himself, as he was trampled by the hordes of people on their way there (v. 17).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Lord does work in mysterious, and sometimes ironic, ways.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One might wonder what was so awful about the servant\u2019s skepticism. After all, he didn\u2019t express any doubt in God\u2019s existence or in His power to provide rain. According to Radak\u2019s reading, he was even open to the possibility that God might rain down actual food, as He did with the <\/span>manna<\/span><\/i> in the desert. He was fully accepting of God\u2019s miraculous capabilities; his only objection was that even with a miracle, it would be simply impossible for the market to be affected as extremely and swiftly as the prophet had predicted.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What he failed to realize was that the Creator of all might have more creative ways to achieve His goals than any one human could necessarily think up. Within his own conceptual box of \u201cfamine-ending-miracles,\u201d it would perhaps have been impossible to achieve the result Elisha predicted. But God is not just omnipotent, but omniscient; even within the realm of logic, He can conceive of scenarios and ways to impact that world that we might never imagine. The royal servant\u2019s mistake was in projecting the limits of his own imagination onto God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God\u2019s box of possibilities, unlike ours, is infinite. For all we know, it can also be round.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Four lepers bring the news to the guards at the gate of Samaria; by the illustrator of Petrus Comestor\u2019s \u2018Bible Historiale\u2019, France, 1372; Miniature; at the Museum Meermanno Westreenianum, The Hague \/ 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She is originally from Pittsburgh and received a BA in philosophy from New York University.","short_description":"Ilana Symons is in her first year at Hebrew Union College where she is studying to become a rabbi.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":63325,"alt":"","title":"ilana symons","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ilana-symons.jpg","width":375,"height":388,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ilana-symons-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ilana-symons-290x300.jpg","medium-width":290,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ilana-symons.jpg","medium_large-width":375,"medium_large-height":388,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ilana-symons.jpg","large-width":375,"large-height":388,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ilana-symons.jpg","1536x1536-width":375,"1536x1536-height":388,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ilana-symons.jpg","2048x2048-width":375,"2048x2048-height":388,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ilana-symons.jpg","post_full_size-width":375,"post_full_size-height":388,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ilana-symons.jpg","home_baner-width":375,"home_baner-height":388}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"316","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What does this say about how we should treat people outside our communities\u2019 gates?\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

Tzara\u2019at<\/span><\/i>, generally translated as leprosy, is mentioned throughout the Tanach as a punishment for wrongdoing. Maimonides, in his Mishnah Torah (Book 10, 16:10), explained that <\/span>tzara\u2019at<\/span><\/i> has multiple forms (skin whiteness, hair loss\u2026) and causes (gossip, murder\u2026). An intricate, three step process must be done to re-purify the afflicted. Famously, God punished Miriam with <\/span>tzara\u2019at<\/span><\/i> after she slandered Moses\u2019 wife; she spent a week outside the Israelite camp, despite Moses\u2019 forgiveness and pleas to heal her (Numbers 12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Despite this threatening presence, the Tanach mentions few <\/span>mitzora\u2019im<\/span><\/i>, afflicted individuals, and does not aim to humanize them. Chapter 7 follows this pattern. Superficially, this chapter tells a story of luck: four nameless <\/span>mitzora\u2019im<\/span><\/i> sit outside the city gate (see: Leviticus 13:46), hungry, due to a city-wide famine. Out of options, they decide to try their luck in the Aramean camp. There, they discover abandoned tents and food, drink, and loot for the taking. But, instead of keeping the bounty for themselves, as we might expect, the<\/span> mitzora\u2019im<\/span><\/i> inform the king of the abandoned camp and save the city from famine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While making this decision, the <\/span>mitzora\u2019im<\/span><\/i> say, \u201cIf we wait until the light of morning [to share this good news], we shall incur guilt\u201d (7:9). Rashi claims that \u2018incurring guilt\u2019 refers to being held guilty by the king. Conversely, the Torah calls it a sin to hold something from someone in need (Leviticus 4:13 and 19:13). Perhaps they wanted to avoid further punishment or perhaps they wanted to do the right thing. Regardless, these men seem upstanding, especially for people in temporary exile. There are many takeaways here: repentance aids morality, no one is entirely good or bad, some punishments are undeserved, some people are judged too quickly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is possible God showed remorse for inflicting undeserved punishment by allowing this course of events (also explaining Elisha\u2019s prediction). In the beginning, we meet men at risk of starvation who choose to save themselves, then to save the entire city. After this incident, we do not hear anything further about the <\/span>mitzora\u2019im<\/span><\/i> and their healing, re-acceptance, or rightfully-deserved reward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What does that say about how we should treat people outside our communities\u2019 gates? It is easy to discount people bearing signs of wrongdoing; it is hard to accept that all people are capable of goodness. So, let us strive to see people more holistically, to see past their punishments and look towards their potential.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Leper camp outside Zion Gate, Jerusalem, 1860 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63538,"alt":"","title":"2kings7-Jerusalem 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This astounding deliverance from the Aramean army emerges from an unexpected source. Ironically, the prophet is not the instrument of salvation; he may know the timing of the collapse of the siege but he seems unaware precisely how it will conclude and who will be the instrument of relief. The Aramean retreat is discovered accidentally, by a group of unsuspecting lepers. What is the story telling us by granting these inglorious outcasts the historic role of heralding the nation's freedom?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The modern Hebrew poet Rachel wrote a poem based upon this chapter. It is a bold statement of refusal to accept a tainted miracle. She writes:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For a long while, the dreadful enemy <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Brought Samaria to siege; <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Our lepers to her brought tidings. <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>To her brought the tidings of freedom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As Samaria besieged, the entire land, <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The famine is unbearable. <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>But I do not want to receive news of redemption <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>From the lips of a leper.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The pure will bring news and the pure will redeem, <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And if his hand won't be there to redeem, <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Then I will choose to die from the suffering of the siege, <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>On the eve of the day of the great tidings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rachel is an idealist. She dreams of a pure, unblemished redemption, and she prefers to die in the suffering and squalor of the siege rather than receive the tidings of salvation from the unworthy. Does Rachel's poem express a classic Jewish perspective? Fascinatingly, the Talmud relates a scene in which the Messiah himself is a leper sitting at the gates of the city:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yehoshua b. Levi met Elijah standing by the entrance of R. Shimon b. Yochai's tomb.... He asked him, \"When will the Messiah come?\" \"Go and ask him,\" was his reply. \"Where is he sitting?\" \"At the entrance to the city.\" \"And by what sign may I recognize him?\" \"He is sitting among the poor lepers. All of them untie [their bandages] all at once, and reapply them together, whereas he unties and reapplies each [bandage] separately, thinking, 'Should I be called [if it is time for my appearance as the Messiah], I must not be delayed [through having to reapply all the bandages].\" (Sanhedrin 98a)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

On this basis we would say that Judaism does not always present redemption as pristine or flawless. For the Talmud, unlike for the poet Rachel, redemption may arrive precisely by means of a leper!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Alex Israel, II Kings: In a Whirlwind, Maggid Books, 2019, Siege and Salvation\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63310,"alt":"","title":"Alex Israel - 2_kings_cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","width":1711,"height":1821,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-282x300.jpg","medium-width":282,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-768x817.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":817,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-962x1024.jpg","large-width":962,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1443,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1711,"2048x2048-height":1821,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-1128x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1128,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-395x420.jpg","home_baner-width":395,"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":"Excerpts from: II Kings - In A Whirlwind","tile_main_caption":"A Tainted Miracle?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The poetess Rachel argues with the messiah","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63310,"alt":"","title":"Alex Israel - 2_kings_cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","width":1711,"height":1821,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-282x300.jpg","medium-width":282,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-768x817.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":817,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-962x1024.jpg","large-width":962,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1443,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1711,"2048x2048-height":1821,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-1128x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1128,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-395x420.jpg","home_baner-width":395,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"316","date":"20261115","wall_id":"316"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"373","name":"Literature","old_id":"773"},{"term_id":"403","name":"Redemption","old_id":"803"},{"term_id":"755","name":"Leprosy","old_id":"1155"}]},{"order":13,"id":"63108","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Stampede For Food ","post_title":"Stampede For Food","slug":"stampede-for-food","old_id":"63108","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":"316","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The violent fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy","post_main_content_content":"

7:17 \u201cAnd the king had appointed over the gate the official on whose arm he had leaned, and the people trampled him in the gate and he died, as the man of God had spoken, as he had spoken when the king came down to him.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

This is a credible detail: the people, on the point of death by starvation, stampede through the gate to get at the food and riches they have heard are available in the Aramean camp (or to get to those who have already expropriated the flour and are selling it at the prices announced in the previous verse), and so they inadvertently trample the official. Elisha\u2019s obscure prophecy is now violently fulfilled.<\/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":"Stampede For Food","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The violent fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy","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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"316","date":"20261115","wall_id":"316"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":14,"id":"63448","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"\u00a0Four Lepers ","post_title":"\u00a0Four Lepers","slug":"four-lepers","old_id":"63448","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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outside the camp<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>four lepers sit<\/span><\/p>\r\n

one blind<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> one deaf<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> one mute<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> and one secret leper who baked the city's bread<\/span><\/p>\r\n

one secret leper who hides<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> his leprosy lest anyone discover his skin<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> is paler than his dough<\/span><\/p>\r\n

his bakery is empty though<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>no muffins\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>no rolls<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>no cookies\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>no marzipan\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

the hungry baker cannot find the key<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>that opens the bakery's door<\/span><\/p>\r\n

outside<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>an owl sits<\/span><\/p>\r\n

on a branch<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> of a leafless tree<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

how the baker paces back and forth<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> how he bangs his fists against the window<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> how he bangs his head against the wall<\/span><\/p>\r\n

the baker lifts his eyes<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>and sees a cloud<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>shaped like\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>a camel\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>or is it<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0a weasel<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0or is it<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0a whale<\/span><\/p>\r\n

he does not see<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>behind the cloud, the owl<\/span><\/p>\r\n

is flying<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> watching<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> waiting\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

of course the owl is very wise<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i> she knows the truth beyond our lies<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i> beyond our mask and our disguise<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i> she knows the baker often cries<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i> because he burned his cakes and pies<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

beware<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>the one the owl loves<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>may take a sword<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>and plunge it<\/span><\/p>\r\n

(by mistake<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> or maybe not mistakenly at all)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

into the baker's heart<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 crying 'rat'<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 crying 'king'<\/span><\/p>\r\n

the owl begins to hoot<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>WHO can answer the question<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>WHO is the one<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>WHO loves and<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>WHO is the one<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> WHO flies away from love<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

WHO can uncover the connection between the one<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>WHO is hated and the one<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>WHO hates\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

three wicker baskets on the baker's head<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>and in each basket seven loaves of bread<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>and from each loaf, four hundred birds are fed<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>three lepers weep, in fear the baker's dead<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>'but is the owl alive?' the baker said<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

the blind leper sees and understands<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>the deaf leper hears and comprehends<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>they speak to the mute<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>who turns to the baker and shouts\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

be careful now<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>the owl is watching you tonight<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>you have been forewarned<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>beware<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>she may enter your dreams<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>she may nest inside your soul<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

(the owl is the baker's daughter, don't<\/span><\/p>\r\n

you know)<\/span><\/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":"","tile_main_caption":"Four Lepers","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"\u00a0...the owl is the baker's daughter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"316","date":"20261115","wall_id":"316"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"}]},{"order":15,"id":"63035","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Sefaria Source Sheets - 2 Kings 7 ","post_title":"Sefaria Source Sheets - 2 Kings 7","slug":"sefaria-source-sheets-2-kings-7","old_id":"63035","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42228,"post_title":"Sefaria","slug":"sefaria","old_id":"42228","first_name":"","last_name":"Sefaria","description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. We are assembling a free living library of Jewish texts and their interconnections, in Hebrew and in translation. With these digital texts, we can create new, interactive interfaces for Web, tablet and mobile, allowing more people to engage with the textual treasures of our tradition.","short_description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42230,"alt":"","title":"Sefaria Logo2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","width":1200,"height":1200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":1200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":1200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"316","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cThe 7 Species\u201d<\/a> by Michael Howald: Explore texts about the fruits of the Land of Israel.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe Outsiders\u201d<\/a> by Garry Wayland: Sources about those on the fringes.<\/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 7","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":"7","chapter_main_number":"316","date":"20261115","wall_id":"316"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":16,"id":"63058","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- 2 Kings 7 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- 2 Kings 7","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-2-kings-7","old_id":"63058","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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    \r\n\t
  1. Skepticism?\u00a0<\/em> Don\u2019t go there. The story of the salvation from hunger and siege\u00a0 is completely wrapped up in a clear message regarding skepticism, or unbelief. The heavy price that the king\u2019s aide pays for his lack of trust, and for his sarcastic answer to Elisha\u2019s prophecy are a clear warning sign: cynicism and skepticism are dangerous.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. One hand caresses, while the other slaps<\/em>. Elisha has an impressive record for deeds of lovingkindness. But the story of the aide and his fate reminds us that he has another side, less compassionate, such as the one he demonstrated in the story of the boys in chapter 2, who were attacked by bears after they insulted the prophet, and the king\u2019s messenger of the last chapter, who was almost crushed in the door, when he came to take Elisha.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Nothing to lose<\/em>. This is the reasoning of the lepers when they go over to the enemy camp. This is also the logic of sending a delegation to validate the report of the lepers. For in any event, the fate of the horses and their riders in Samaria, would be death: \u201cthey are like those that are left here of the whole multitude of Israel that have perished\u201d (13).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Lepers<\/em>. Why did the lepers merit the privilege of being the ones to bear the tidings of salvation? If for instance the story had waited until the morning, then the guards atop the walls would also have seen what had occurred in the camp of Aram. Is there a connection to the story of the leprosy of Naaman, from two chapters ago? Or is this a statement about peripheral people and their relationship to the larger society. 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