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Israeli

Phantom Warfare

In the aftermath of Shadows Protocol, the world remains a perilous landscape of covert missions, political intrigues, and underground conflicts. As tensions between nations escalate, Pakistan’s elite intelligence team, led by the seasoned agent Zayan Malik, faces their greatest challenge yet—a rescue mission fraught with deception, betrayal, and unexpected alliances. It all begins with the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Zayan during a crucial mission in Lebanon. Tasked with intercepting and dismantling joint Israeli and Indian covert operations, the mission ends in catastrophe. A massive explosion rocks the target area, and Zayan is presumed dead, caught in the blast. His team—comprising Ubaid, Irfan, Kashif, and Captain Rizwan—finds themselves reeling from the loss of their leader, grappling with grief, doubt, and a profound sense of betrayal. The mission, which had seemed straightforward, now hangs over them as an unsolved mystery. Ten days pass in an agonizing blur of mourning and frustration until Aaliya, the team’s brilliant intelligence specialist, intercepts a cryptic communication hinting that Zayan might still be alive, held captive in Israel. The faint hope reignites the team’s determination, and Major Hamza, their chief, authorizes a new mission. The stakes are higher than ever as they covertly enter Israel, operating under intense scrutiny and evading a network of traps. However, the trail leads them to nothing—a carefully orchestrated ruse to lure them into enemy territory. Humiliated and disheartened, the team returns home, their trust in the intelligence community shaken, but Aaliya remains unconvinced that this is the end of their search. Months pass with no solid leads until a fragment of intelligence surfaces, pointing towards an oil refinery in the depths of Iraq. The team, though battered by the earlier failure, seizes this opportunity. They gather their equipment, resolve bolstered by the possibility that Zayan might be closer than ever. Major Hamza authorizes the mission, knowing the risks but also understanding that this could be their last chance to save their comrade. The journey to Iraq is fraught with peril, the team navigating hostile terrain, avoiding enemy patrols, and using every trick in their book to remain undetected. Every step they take is a step closer to a potential ambush, but they move with purpose, each of them understanding that this is a mission they cannot afford to fail. The refinery stands in a barren desert, surrounded by armed guards, patrolled by drones, and fortified with defenses. The team moves under the cover of night, taking up positions around the target. Ubaid, Irfan, and Kashif, with the patience of seasoned operatives, wait for the perfect moment to strike. Aaliya monitors the situation from afar, guiding them through the labyrinthine pathways and providing vital surveillance. As dawn approaches, the atmosphere is electric with tension, every sound amplified in the quiet desert night. Suddenly, the operation erupts into a firefight, bullets ricocheting off metal structures and grenades detonating amidst the chaos. The refinery becomes a battlefield, the echoes of gunfire blending with the sounds of the desert. The team pushes forward, cutting through the defenses and leaving a trail of destruction behind them. They know the cost of hesitation—failure means losing Zayan forever, and they are prepared to make any sacrifice necessary. Deep within the refinery’s underground levels, they locate a fortified chamber. The sight inside shocks them—Zayan, their leader, chained and barely conscious, his body bruised and battered from days of captivity. Hope mingles with fury as they realize the true extent of his ordeal. Ubaid, his voice cracking, sends a desperate message back to Major Hamza: "الحمداللہ sir, Zayan is alive and he's with us, but he's badly injured. Mission accomplished."
Emad_Sadiq · 821 Views

CROSSROADS (BETRAYAL. LOVE. PASSION)

Mimi, a young woman, stood at the pinnacle of success as one of the youngest CEOs in the world. Her journey was anything but easy, marked by trials and tribulations that tested her resilience and determination. Despite the hurdles she faced, she persevered, climbing the corporate ladder with unwavering belief in herself. Now, basking in the glow of her accomplishments, Mimi found herself at a crossroads when a figure from her past resurfaced. It was her crush from a decade ago, Israel, reaching out and pleading for a second chance. Although Mimi was tempted to entertain his advances, her pragmatic nature urged her to focus on her present and future rather than dwell on the past. As she navigated the complexities of her personal life, Mimi encountered someone new – a man who seemed to embody all her desires and aspirations. He was like an angel sent to fulfill her every need and desire. Yet, amidst the allure of this new connection, the specter of her past loomed large. Despite the pain and heartache Israel had caused her in the past, a part of Mimi couldn't help but wonder what he had to say. She grappled with conflicting emotions, torn between the familiarity of the past and the promise of a brighter future. Caught in a web of indecision, Mimi struggled to reconcile her feelings. She feared betraying the trust of the new man in her life, yet she couldn't shake the curiosity and longing that lingered from her past. Each passing day brought new challenges and revelations, leaving her torn, confused, and lost. In the end, Mimi knew she had to confront her demons and make a choice. Would she cling to the familiarity of the devil she knew, or would she take a leap of faith and embrace the unknown angel before her? Only time would tell as Mimi embarked on a journey of self-discovery and introspection, determined to find clarity and closure amidst the chaos of her heart.
Rebekah_Adegoke · 0 Views

LAST escalation

Bizarre politicians are dragging the world into a hallucinatory war! two lunatic presidents. Inflated egos and madness of aggrandizement are dragging the world into a doomed war!!! Genre-fiction, Comedy, Political Satire, Bizarre leaders, Fake Media, Unscrupulous Politicians, and Hollywood Superstars. synopsis two lunatic presidents. two superpowers leaders with inflated egos and madness of aggrandizement, and the madness of controlling the world are dragging the world into a delusional, crazy, and uncontrollable surreal war. Two conflicted presidents, each driven by delusion and greed, dream of ruling the globe. To meet their goals, they resort to fraud, bribery, and corruption. Alexander Monroe - the president of the Democratic Organization, and Suleiman Assad - the president of the Free Islamic Forces, find themselves dragged into an inevitable war. Barney Chaplin the entertainer, the nerdy minister of education who opposes the idiotic war. He became Monroe's deputy and was sent to the front lines in the Fata Morgana desert to entertain his troops, while clearly risking his own life. The performance of President Monroe and the members of his government is examined by the government psychiatrist Professor Cheers, and everyone understands that it is better that someone supervises her as well... During the illusory war, well-known Hollywood actors who have passed their time are forced to function as deadly commandos and go beyond enemy lines. Meanwhile, Barney is captured and looks to be executed until Monroe produces a plan to save him. Other countries and international organizations are restricted from intervening in this dire situation. Both leaders were charged with war crimes. To escape the consequences of their actions, they wield the Doomsday Device to hold the world hostage with incredible results. https://youtu.be/SIZmx0t1JhQ story possibilities 92000 Words • A feature film (114 pages-ready and available) • T.V. series (first draft) • A film in three sequels in the style of The Lord of the Rings (first draft) • An animated film/series (first draft) • Graphic Novel/comics (first draft) • Movie/series for the internet • Movie/series for mobile • Computer/mobile game • All kinds of merchandise ATTACHING: SHORT ANIMATION/COMPCS SAMPLES/CHARACTERS SAMPLES/OUTLINE/CHARACTERS DESCRIPTIONS About me Itzhak Begerano - kim72816@gmail.com I am a disabled author and screenwriter from Israel with a penchant for writing psychological thrillers, Drama, Comedy, Fantasy, Science fiction, and Satire. I studied Directing and Screenwriting at the prestigious College of Film and Television. I'm now retired but still, write. ___________
itzhak_begerano · 10.7K Views

The Gospel of Luke

The Gospel according to Luke is the first part of a two-volume work that continues the biblical history of God’s dealings with humanity found in the Old Testament, showing how God’s promises to Israel have been fulfilled in Jesus and how the salvation promised to Israel and accomplished by Jesus has been extended to the Gentiles. The stated purpose of the two volumes is to provide Theophilus and others like him with certainty—assurance—about earlier instruction they have received. To accomplish his purpose, Luke shows that the preaching and teaching of the representatives of the early church are grounded in the preaching and teaching of Jesus, who during his historical ministry prepared his specially chosen followers and commissioned them to be witnesses to his resurrection and to all else that he did. This continuity between the historical ministry of Jesus and the ministry of the apostles is Luke’s way of guaranteeing the fidelity of the Church’s teaching to the teaching of Jesus. Luke’s story of Jesus and the church is dominated by a historical perspective. This history is first of all salvation history. God’s divine plan for human salvation was accomplished during the period of Jesus, who through the events of his life fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies, and this salvation is now extended to all humanity in the period of the church. This salvation history, moreover, is a part of human history. Luke relates the story of Jesus and the church to events in contemporary Palestinian history for, as Paul says, “this was not done in a corner.” Finally, Luke relates the story of Jesus and the church to contemporaneous church history. Luke is concerned with presenting Christianity as a legitimate form of worship in the Roman world, a religion that is capable of meeting the spiritual needs of a world empire like that of Rome. To this end, Luke depicts the Roman governor Pilate declaring Jesus innocent of any wrongdoing three times. At the same time Luke argues in Acts that Christianity is the logical development and proper fulfillment of Judaism and is therefore deserving of the same toleration and freedom traditionally accorded Judaism by Rome. The prominence given to the period of the church in the story has important consequences for Luke’s interpretation of the teachings of Jesus. By presenting the time of the church as a distinct phase of salvation history, Luke accordingly shifts the early Christian emphasis away from the expectation of an imminent parousia to the day-to-day concerns of the Christian community in the world. He does this in the gospel by regularly emphasizing the words “each day” in the sayings of Jesus. Although Luke still believes the parousia to be a reality that will come unexpectedly, he is more concerned with presenting the words and deeds of Jesus as guides for the conduct of Christian disciples in the interim period between the ascension and the parousia and with presenting Jesus himself as the model of Christian life and piety. Throughout the gospel, Luke calls upon the Christian disciple to identify with the master Jesus, who is caring and tender toward the poor and lowly, the outcast, the sinner, and the afflicted, toward all those who recognize their dependence on God, but who is severe toward the proud and self-righteous, and particularly toward those who place their material wealth before the service of God and his people. No gospel writer is more concerned than Luke with the mercy and compassion of Jesus. No gospel writer is more concerned with the role of the Spirit in the life of Jesus and the Christian disciple, with the importance of prayer, or with Jesus’ concern for women. While Jesus calls all humanity to repent, he is particularly demanding of those who would be his disciples. Of them he demands absolute and total detachment from family and material possessions. To all who respond in faith and repentance to the word Jesus preaches, he brings salvation and peace and life.
Dali098 · 112.6K Views

The Ultimate Perk in Ceding Deloria

                                                              The Plot (The Perks in Ceding                   Delorea)  Delorea Rafeal, a young woman freshly out of the Defense Academy; working for the Italian Secret Agent was betrothed to Alessandro Epifany DeAngelo, son of a wealthy Sicilian Drug lord also known as Don Rocco in an arranged marriage since their childhood. Unbeknownst to Alessandro, his fiancee has been on the payroll of his father as his hitwoman and was responsible for the death of his bosom friend on allegation of leading his son astray; a phenomenon that has left Alessandro devastated for too long. However, when it was ripe for Don Rocco to tie the knot between them, Alessandro ditch the whole idea and rather, enlisted himself in the seminary on grounds that his life was being lived for him by his father. Don Rocco was heartbroken on hearing the news; the empire of fortune close to his heart he has sunk so much effort in weaving for close to a century is about to cave in because the heir to take over control of it is about to embark on a journey to the Seminary. If he succeeds, he will become a priest at the end of it and never will he return. This has ignited a plethora of fear in Don Rocco's mind that his son may confess to the church the family's dirty secrets of illicit drug dealings, financial racketeering and gun-running that led to unending war, starvation and the subsequent downfall of a middle eastern country, a treasonable act in the laws of Italia, of which the abators in the crime are still being trailed up to this day. Don Rocco is agitated that the government may find out what they were looking for from Alessandro because some of those Priests pose as Secret Agents working for the government to extract information from unsuspecting felons during confessions. With this and many more in mind, Don Rocco wanted Alessandro slaughtered by Delorea, his betrothed to stop him from baring the family's shady deals to the eye of the public. Delorea reluctantly accepted the offer. Now that she has lost her man temporarily to the divination school, she wouldn’t want to miss him to eternal death, so she faked his demise. To make it looks real, she devised a means by hiring a highly skilled serial assassin of Israeli descent to kill another Seminarian in place of Alessandro as a decoy and pave the way to send her true love away on exile to her private estate in a hidden resort city of Siberia in the Russian Federation where she will hopefully reunite with him and steady their flickering relationship. Luckily for her, the conspiracy turned out to be a thumping success but somehow leaked along the line. However, Delorea managed to evade the long hands of the law just by its whiskers with the help of a die-hard crush of hers but Don Rocco and his wife did not, as they were tried and indicted by the law and were sentenced to life imprisonment. While in exile, Alessandro Epifany encountered a Russian sweetie named Lucifer Olek, an exceptionally beautiful but lonely girl; an ex-miss universe who was forced into marriage with an aged Russian top general whose name is Anatoli Nikolai by her prosperous parents in appreciation for a favour done to them. When Alessandro and Lucifer Olek made eye contact, the rest of the world seized to exist. The aftermath of this changed the course of everything.
Andy_Dukun_6750 · 28.3K Views

The Gospel of Matthew

The position of the Gospel according to Matthew as the first of the four gospels in the New Testament reflects both the view that it was the first to be written, a view that goes back to the late second century A.D., and the esteem in which it was held by the church; no other was so frequently quoted in the noncanonical literature of earliest Christianity. Although the majority of scholars now reject the opinion about the time of its composition, the high estimation of this work remains. The reason for that becomes clear upon study of the way in which Matthew presents his story of Jesus, the demands of Christian discipleship, and the breaking-in of the new and final age through the ministry but particularly through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The gospel begins with a narrative prologue, the first part of which is a genealogy of Jesus starting with Abraham, the father of Israel. Yet at the beginning of that genealogy Jesus is designated as “the son of David, the son of Abraham”. The kingly ancestor who lived about a thousand years after Abraham is named first, for this is the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the royal anointed one. In the first of the episodes of the infancy narrative that follow the genealogy, the mystery of Jesus’ person is declared. He is conceived of a virgin by the power of the Spirit of God. The first of the gospel’s fulfillment citations, whose purpose it is to show that he was the one to whom the prophecies of Israel were pointing, occurs here: he shall be named Emmanuel, for in him God is with us. The announcement of the birth of this newborn king of the Jews greatly troubles not only King Herod but all Jerusalem, yet the Gentile magi are overjoyed to find him and offer him their homage and their gifts. Thus his ultimate rejection by the mass of his own people and his acceptance by the Gentile nations is foreshadowed. He must be taken to Egypt to escape the murderous plan of Herod. By his sojourn there and his subsequent return after the king’s death he relives the Exodus experience of Israel. The words of the Lord spoken through the prophet Hosea, “Out of Egypt I called my son,” are fulfilled in him; if Israel was God’s son, Jesus is so in a way far surpassing the dignity of that nation, as his marvelous birth and the unfolding of his story show. Back in the land of Israel, he must be taken to Nazareth in Galilee because of the danger to his life in Judea, where Herod’s son Archelaus is now ruling. The sufferings of Jesus in the infancy narrative anticipate those of his passion, and if his life is spared in spite of the dangers, it is because his destiny is finally to give it on the cross as “a ransom for many”. Thus the word of the angel will be fulfilled, “…he will save his people from their sins”. In Matthew begins his account of the ministry of Jesus, introducing it by the preparatory preaching of John the Baptist, the baptism of Jesus that culminates in God’s proclaiming him his “beloved Son”, and the temptation in which he proves his true sonship by his victory over the devil’s attempt to deflect him from the way of obedience to the Father. The central message of Jesus’ preaching is the coming of the kingdom of heaven and the need for repentance, a complete change of heart and conduct, on the part of those who are to receive this great gift of God Galilee is the setting for most of his ministry; he leaves there for Judea only and his ministry in Jerusalem, the goal of his journey, is limited to a few days. In this extensive material there are five great discourses of Jesus, each concluding with the formula “When Jesus finished these words” or one closely similar. These are an important structure of the gospel. In every case the discourse is preceded by a narrative section, each narrative and discourse together constituting a “book” of the gospel. The discourses are, respectively, the “Sermon on the Mount”, the missionary discourse, the parable discourse, the “church
Dali098 · 155.8K Views

The Book of Chronicles

The Greek title, paraleipomena, means “things omitted,” or “passed over” (i.e., in the accounts found in Samuel and Kings). The Books of Chronicles, however, are much more than a supplement to Samuel and Kings; a comparison of the two histories discloses striking differences of scope and purpose. The Books of Chronicles record in some detail the lengthy span (some five hundred fifty years) from the death of King Saul to the return from the exile. Unlike today’s history writing, wherein factual accuracy and impartiality of judgment are the norm, biblical history, with rare exceptions, was less concerned with reporting in precise detail all the facts of a situation than with drawing out the meaning of those facts. Biblical history was thus primarily interpretative, and its purpose was to disclose the action of the living God in human affairs. For this reason we speak of it as “sacred history.” These characteristics are apparent when we examine the primary objective of the Chronicler (the conventional designation for the anonymous author) in compiling his work. Given the situation which confronted the Jewish people at this time (the end of the fifth century B.C.), the Chronicler realized that Israel’s political greatness was a thing of the past. Yet, for the Chronicler, Israel’s past held the key to the people’s future. In particular, the Chronicler aimed to establish and defend the legitimate claims of the Davidic monarchy in Israel’s history, and to underscore the status of Jerusalem and its divinely established Temple worship as the center of religious life for the Jewish people. If Judaism was to survive and prosper, it would have to heed the lessons of the past and devoutly serve its God in the place where he had chosen to dwell, the Temple in Jerusalem. From the Chronicler’s point of view, the reigns of David and Solomon were the ideal to which all subsequent rule in Judah must aspire. The Chronicler was much more interested in David’s religious and cultic influence than in his political power, however. He saw David’s (and Solomon’s) primary importance as deriving rather from their roles in the establishment of Jerusalem and its Temple as the center of the true worship of the Lord. Furthermore, he presents David as the one who prescribed the Temple’s elaborate ritual (which, in point of fact, only gradually evolved in the Second Temple period) and who appointed the Levites to supervise the liturgical services there. The Chronicler used a variety of sources in writing his history. Besides the canonical Books of Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, and Ruth, and especially the Books of Samuel and Kings, he cites the titles of many other works which have not come down to us, “The Books of the Kings of Israel,” or “The Books of the Kings of Israel and Judah,” and “The History of Gad the Seer.” In addition, the Chronicler’s work contains early preexilic material not found in the Books of Kings. The principal divisions of 1 Chronicles are as follows: Genealogical Tables The History of David
Dali098 · 120.1K Views

The Creation of the World

Genesis is the first book of the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), the first section of the Jewish and the Christian Scriptures. Its title in English, “Genesis,” comes from the Greek of literally, “the book of the generation (genesis) of the heavens and earth.” Its title in the Jewish Scriptures is the opening Hebrew word, Bereshit, “in the beginning.” The book has two major sections—the creation and expansion of the human race, and the story of Abraham and his descendants. The first section deals with God and the nations, and the second deals with God and a particular nation, Israel. The opening creation account lifts up two themes that play major roles in each section—the divine command to the first couple (standing for the whole race) to produce offspring and to possess land In the first section, progeny and land appear in the form of births and genealogies and allotment of land, and in the second, progeny and land appear in the form of promises of descendants and land to the ancestors. Another indication of editing is the formulaic introduction, “this is the story; these are the descendants” (Hebrew tōledôt), which occurs five times in Section I and five times in Section II. For the literary sources of Genesis, see Introduction to the Pentateuch. As far as the sources of Genesis are concerned, contemporary readers can reasonably assume that ancient traditions were edited in the sixth or fifth century B.C. for a Jewish audience that had suffered the effects of the exile and was now largely living outside of Palestine. The editor highlighted themes of vital concern to this audience: God intends that every nation have posterity and land; the ancestors of Israel are models for their descendants who also live in hope rather than in full possession of what has been promised; the ancient covenant with God is eternal, remaining valid even when the human party has been unfaithful. By highlighting such concerns, the editor addressed the worries of exiled Israel and indeed of contemporary Jews and Christians. How should modern readers interpret the creation-flood story in Genesis. The stories are neither history nor myth. “Myth” is an unsuitable term, for it has several different meanings and connotes untruth in popular English. “History” is equally misleading, for it suggests that the events actually took place. The best term is creation-flood story. Ancient Near Eastern thinkers did not have our methods of exploring serious questions. Instead, they used narratives for issues that we would call philosophical and theological. They added and subtracted narrative details and varied the plot as they sought meaning in the ancient stories. Their stories reveal a privileged time, when divine decisions were made that determined the future of the human race. The origin of something was thought to explain its present meaning, e.g., how God acts with justice and generosity, why human beings are rebellious, the nature of sexual attraction and marriage, why there are many peoples and languages. Though the stories may initially strike us as primitive and naive, they are in fact told with skill, compression, and subtlety. They provide profound answers to perennial questions about God and human beings. The stories about Jacob and his twelve sons are united by a geographical frame: Jacob lives in Canaan until his theft of the right of the firstborn from his brother Esau forces him to flee to Paddan-Aram (alternately Aram-Naharaim). There his uncle Laban tricks him as he earlier tricked his brother. But Jacob is blessed with wealth and sons. He returns to Canaan to receive the final blessing, land, and on the way is reconciled with his brother Esau. As the sons have reached the number of twelve, the patriarch can be given the name Israel. The blessings given to Abraham are reaffirmed to Isaac and to Jacob. I hope that you all like this book!
Dali098 · 104.2K Views

The Book of Samuel

These books describe the rise and development of kingship in Israel. Samuel is a pivotal figure. He bridges the gap between the period of the Judges and the monarchy, and guides Israel’s transition to kingship. A Deuteronomistic editor presents both positive and negative traditions about the monarchy, portraying it both as evidence of Israel’s rejection of the Lord as their sovereign and as part of God’s plan to deliver the people. Samuel’s misgivings about abuse of royal power foreshadow the failures and misdeeds of Saul and David and the failures of subsequent Israelite kings. Although the events described in 1 and 2 Samuel move from the last of the judges to the decline of David’s reign and the beginning of a legendary “Golden Age” under Solomon’s rule, this material does not present either a continuous history or a systematic account of this period. The author/editor developed a narrative timeline around freely composed speeches, delivered by prophets like Samuel and Nathan who endorse Deuteronomistic perspectives regarding the establishment of the monarchy, the relationship between worship and obedience, and the divine covenant established with the house of David. These books include independent blocks. Saul’s rise to power, David’s ascendancy over Saul, the Succession Narrative, which the editor shaped into three narrative cycles, the last two marked by transitional passages and Each section focuses on a major figure in the development of the monarchy: Samuel, the reluctant king maker; Saul, the king whom the Lord rejects; David, the king after the Lord’s own heart. A common theme unites these narratives: Israel’s God acts justly, prospering those who remain faithful and destroying those who reject his ways. Along with the rest of the Deuteronomistic History, the Books of Samuel become an object lesson for biblical Israel as it tries to re-establish its religious identity after the destruction of Jerusalem and the loss of its homeland (587/586 B.C.).
Dali098 · 92.1K Views

The Book Of Kings I and II

The two Books of Kings are regarded by many as the last part of a work commonly known as the Deuteronomistic History. The latter tells the story of Israel from its settlement in the land (Joshua and Judges) through the transition from judgeship to monarchy under Samuel, Saul, and David (1 and 2 Samuel) to the reign of Solomon, the disintegration of the united kingdom into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and the eventual downfall of both kingdoms (1 and 2 Kings). The Deuteronomistic History along with the Pentateuch forms a single historical narrative stretching from creation to exile. The Books of Kings can be approached in several ways. They contain history and are an important source of information about the Israelite kingdoms. They are also narrative that calls for careful reading; historical accuracy is sometimes sacrificed to the demands of compelling characterization and dramatic tension. Most importantly, both historical presentation and narrative creativity are shaped by a particular religious worldview. The multifaceted character of the work means that it has a variety of focal points. The historical events themselves, of course, are important, but the patterns according to which the author organizes those events give a unity to the author’s historical reconstruction. The northern kings are condemned without exception, and the royal line degenerates from the divine election of Jeroboam I through a succession of short-lived dynasties to the bloodbath of Jehu’s coup d’état, and finally dies out in a series of assassinations. (It must be admitted that the author at times skews the story to preserve the pattern: the relatively prosperous forty-one-year reign of Jeroboam II is dismissed in seven verses!) Judah’s kings, on the other hand, follow a cyclic pattern of infidelity followed by reform, with each reformer king (Asa, Joash, Hezekiah, Josiah) greater than the last. Unfortunately the apostate kings also progress in wickedness, until the evil of Manasseh is so great that even Josiah’s fidelity cannot turn away the Lord’s wrath. As a literary work, the Books of Kings are admirable. Some of the brilliance is accessible only in Hebrew: wordplays, the sounds and rhythms of poetic passages, verbal allusions to other passages of the Hebrew Bible. Scenes are drawn with a vibrancy and immediacy that English cannot reproduce without sounding overdone. But other literary techniques survive translation: symmetrical structures for narrative units (and the disruptions of symmetry at significant points), rich ambiguities , foreshadowings (such as the way the prophet of Bethel and the man of God of Judah portend the destinies of their respective kingdoms). Characterization is rich and complex (Solomon, Jeroboam, Elijah, Ahab, Elisha, Jehu, etc.), revealing deep insight into human nature. Into the stories of the kings, almost as a counterpoint, are woven numerous stories of prophets, named and great (Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah), and less known or anonymous. Many of the stories are anecdotal, reflecting the everyday life of prophets and prophetic guilds. But the volatile dynamics of prophetic involvement in the political realm are prominent: prophets in opposition to kings, prophets in support of kings. This too is part of the theological worldview of the Deuteronomistic historian. The destiny of Israel is in God’s hand. Through prophets, the divine will is made known on earth to kings and people and the future consequences of their response to God’s will are spelled out. It is perhaps indicative of the importance prophets have in 1 and 2 Kings that the structural center of the two books is the story of Elisha’s succession to Elijah’s prophetic ministry, and that this is one of the few passages in Kings that occurs outside the account of any king’s reign. Behind the temporal realm of kings and reigns lies the continuing realm of the divine word and its servants, the prophets.
Dali098 · 111.5K Views

The Book Of Exodus

The second book of the Pentateuch is called Exodus, from the Greek word for “departure,” because its central event was understood by the Septuagint’s translators to be the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. Its Hebrew title, Shemoth (“Names”), is from the book’s opening phrase, “These are the names….” Continuing the history of Israel from the point where the Book of Genesis leaves off, Exodus recounts the Egyptian oppression of Jacob’s ever-increasing descendants and their miraculous deliverance by God through Moses, who led them across the Red Sea to Mount Sinai where they entered into a covenant with the Lord. Covenantal laws and detailed prescriptions for the tabernacle (a portable sanctuary foreshadowing the Jerusalem Temple) and its service are followed by a dramatic episode of rebellion, repentance, and divine mercy. After the broken covenant is renewed, the tabernacle is constructed, and the cloud signifying God’s glorious presence descends to cover it. These events made Israel a nation and confirmed their unique relationship with God. The “law” (Hebrew torah) given by God through Moses to the Israelites at Mount Sinai constitutes the moral, civil, and ritual legislation by which they were to become a holy people. Many elements of it were fundamental to the teaching of Jesus as well as to New Testament and Christian moral teaching. The principal divisions of Exodus are: Introduction: The Oppression of the Israelites in Egypt The Call and Commission of Moses The Contest with Pharaoh The Deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh and Victory at the Sea The Journey in the Wilderness to Sinai Covenant and Legislation at Mount Sinai Israel’s Apostasy and God’s Renewal of the Covenant The Building of the Tabernacle and the Descent of God’s Glory upon It
Dali098 · 116.1K Views
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