The Tanakh Podcast

Episodes

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  #312 | Melakhim Bet ch.1 - Whose Messengers? 04.11.2026 8m

  King Ahaziyahu (Israel) has a domestic accident and is inured, bedridden and concerned for his life.He sends messengers to the God of Ekron: "Will I live?"Elijah is sent to intercept the King's delegates.The critical narrative here is the question of who controls the delegates: Will the king's servants follow the king's instructions or Elijah's, in God's name?
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  #311 | Melakhim Aleph ch.22 - Yehoshafat & the Price of National Unity 03.11.2026 9m

  Today we study about Yehoshafat King of Yehuda, righteous king by any assessment but also a man who seeks unity with the Northern Kingdom. Tragically this pursuit has devastating consequences.
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  #310 | Melakhim Aleph ch.21 - Nabot. The Perfect Murder 02.11.2026 10m

  This is the Bible's quintessential story of governmental corruption.The King wants a Nabot's vineyard. Nabot won't sell it. How will the king obtain the vineyard? How does one commit the perfect murder? And who gets the blame?
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  #309 | Melakhim Aleph ch.20 - Understanding Ahab 01.11.2026 13m

  In our chapter Ahab goes to war with Aram - twice.Each time, God sends a prophet to support Ahab.Is God on Ahab's side? Have things shifted in Ahab's royal court?
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  #308 | Melakhim Aleph ch.19 - Elijah the Zealot 31.10.2026 10m

  After Elijah's great victory on Mt. Carmel, Elijah is thrust into deep crisis - he goes into the desert to end his own life!Why is Elijah so despondent? And what does God try to teach him?
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  #307 | Melakhim Aleph ch.18 - Make a Choice! 28.10.2026 10m

  What is the purpose of Elijah's duel at Mt. Carmel. What does it seek to achieve? And why do we hear about Achav's official - Ovadiah - in such detail?
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  #306 | Melakhim Aleph ch.17 - Meet Eliyahu! 27.10.2026 9m

  Eliyahu decrees a famine, a drought, that endures for three years! Why did he do it? Was God commanding Eliyahu or was Eliyahu instructing God?There are three stories of Eliyahu in this chapter:1. In Nahal Karit - the ravens and the stream2. The widow in Zerafat - And the miracle of the oil and flour3. The revival of the widow's son.Are these stories Eliyahu's training? Or are they God trying to send Eliyahu a message to rescind the famine?
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  #305 | Melakhim Aleph ch.16 - The North: From Instability to Stability 26.10.2026 11m

  Our podcast today describes the Northern Kingdom; how after 50 years of great volatility and insecurity, it finds wealth, power and political stability under the royal house of Omri and Achav. But at what spiritual price?
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  #304 | Melakhim Aleph ch.15 - Rechavam. Aviyam. Assa (Kings of Judah) 25.10.2026 9m

  In this chapter we encounter the histories of the Kings of Judah - Rechavam, Aviyam and Assa. What is happening in Judah during this period?
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  #303 | Melakhim Aleph ch.14 - Yerovam's Wife and the Blind Prophet 24.10.2026 11m

  Jeroboam's son is sick. He asks his wife to disguise herself and approach the prophet. Why doesn't Yerovam go himself? Why did she need to wear a disguise? And what did the prophet say to her?
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  #302 | Melakhim Aleph ch.13 - New Religion 21.10.2026 11m

  Yerovam has become king in the North. But he needs a new religious center. If the prople keep celebrating their holidays at the Temple in Jerusalem, he will lose legitimacy.Yerovam builds two new Temples in Dan and Bethel setting up a golden calf (!) in each shrine. But, the Tanakh tells us that this was a grave error.Chapter 13 reveals the people's confusion. Is Yerovam legitimate or illegitimate?
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  #301 | Melakhim Aleph ch.12 - The Kingdom Splits 20.10.2026 12m

  Solomon is dead. The people come to crown his son Rechavam (Rehoboam) and ask for a tax break.Rechavam takes bad advice and responds to the people in an imperious, disdainful manner.In response, the northern tribes revolt and split from Rehoboam's kingdom, forming their own State and appointing Yerovam (Jeroboam) as king.This is the moment that split the kingdom, never to be reunited.
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  #300 | Melakhim Aleph ch.11 - Solomon's Sins 19.10.2026 13m

  "In his old age, his wives turned away Solomon’s heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to God." How did the wisest of men make such a blunder? Did Solomon actually worship idolatry?---To support us, please donate at:https://buymeacoffee.com/alexisraelhttps://patreon.com/u51407457Special parsha Friday video at alexisrael.org/whatsapp
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  #299 | Melakhim Aleph ch.10 - Power and Wealth 18.10.2026 11m

  Our chapter describes Shlomo as a powerbroker in the region, controlling trade and accruing great wealth. But are these the correct priorities?
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  #298 | Melakhim Aleph ch.9 - A Story of Twenty Cities 17.10.2026 9m

  Our chapter speaks of twenty cities that Shlomo transfers to Hiram king of Tyre.Why is Solomon giving away land in the Land of Israel?Why was Hiram unsatisfied with the cities?What might we learn about the state of the economy during the latter Solomonic years?
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  #297 | Melakhim Aleph ch.8 - The Temple Dedication 14.10.2026 10m

  Chapter 8 describes the festive dedication of the Temple. Our podcast discusses aspects of Solomon's magnificent prayer:1. Does God reside in the Temple? 2. Is the Temple a Jewish institution or a universal house of prayer?
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  #296 | Melakhim Aleph ch.7 - Royal Buildings. Who is the King? 13.10.2026 8m

  Why are Solomon's royal buildings subsumed in the account of the Temple? Is this good news or bad news?Music: Zusha - Festival
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  #295 | Melakhim Aleph ch.6 - The Temple. A New Era 13.10.2026 9m

  Why does our chapter note that we are 480 years (12x40) since the Exodus?Why is Solomon using a new system of months, never used previously (or subsequently!)?Why does Solomon create huge cherubs and attach them to the floor of the Temple?We will try to answer all these questions in our podcast today.
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  #294 | Melakhim Aleph ch.5 - An Imperial Capital 11.10.2026 9m

  Our chapter describes the way that Solomon develops the Kingdom of Israel to an imperial capital. Solomon controls the region, has the most powerful army, and warm relations with neighboring leaders like Hiram of Lebanon. He also begins the construction of the temple. But above all, Solomon turns Jerusalem to a center of world wisdom and technology. What is the purpose of all these achievements? Why is this critical to Solomon's game plan?
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  #293 | Melakhim Aleph ch.4 - Government and Taxation 10.10.2026 10m

  On the face of it, this is a chapter about government and taxation, the organization and administration of the kingdom and its financial bouyancy.But a deeper read identifies some riveting social history behind the bare statistics, which will have ominous effect a generation on.