Tell Me the Story

This paper was originally presented on August 25, 2023 at the 2023 OCABS symposium held at St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

The 12 Tribes of Israel: The sons of Reuben Hanoch dedicatedPallu wonder/marvelousHezron settlement/ villageCarmi my vineyard The sons of Simeon Jemuel Day of ElJamin Right HandOhad Joined TogetherJachin He will establish Zohar Whiteness Shaul Asked for The sons of Levi Gershon Outcast/ sojourner Kohath Assembly? Merari My bitter one The sons of JudahEr Awake Onan Vigorous Shelah ProsperPerez Break throughHezron Settlement/ villageHamul SparedZerach Rise/ come forth The sons of IssacharTola Worm/ Scarlet Puah Here/ hitherJob Cry in a shrill voiceShimron Something preserved The sons of Zebulun Sered FearElon Oak Jahleel Whom God has made sick The sons of GadZephon ExpectationHaggi My festival/ my pilgrimage Shuni My quiet oneArodi Wild donkeyAreli Lion of El The sons of Asher Jimnah FortunateIshuah Be levelIshvi My level one Beriah In evil? Heber United/ be joinedMalchiel My King is God The sons of Joseph Manesseh ForgetEphraim Ashes The sons of Benjamin Bela Devour Becher Young Camel Ashbol SproutGera GrainNaaman Favor Ehi My brotherRosh Head Muppim WavingsHuppim CoverArd Fugitive The son of DanHushim Those who make hasteThe sons of Naphtali Jahzeel Alotted by GodGuni Painted Jezer Image/ formShillem Retrubution/ AvengerIntro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

This week, we continue our recitation and discussion of the book of Genesis with an emphasis on the Semitic understanding of "peace" as it relates to Joseph's reunion with his brothers. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

This week, Rowdy and I continue our read through of Genesis with chapter 44. Let us be attentive!Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the process of reuniting with his brothers, Joseph celebrates the occasion by inviting them to a common meal. Not only does he order them according to the order of their birth, he also serves the youngest brother the biggest portion. In other words, the last shall be first. Join Rowdy and I as we continue our read through of the book of Genesis. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

Continuing our recitation and commentary on the book of Genesis, we point out interesting similarities between Joseph and Cyrus. When it comes to the messiah, everybody expects a homegrown King David, but such a king is never to be found because the iniquity comes from inside the group, not outside. The cancer began in Jacob when he followed the ways of the nachash, and it spread to his murderous children. For their salvation, it takes the humiliation of having their God save them via a foreign agent. Let us be attentive!Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

An in-depth look at the broad Biblical narrative ranging from the Old Testament (Torah, Prophets, and Writings) to the New Testament. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

Welcome to another episode of Tell Me the Story! Today, we will be looking at Paul’s letter to Philemon, which is the last of the so-called pastoral letters and the penultimate letter traditionally attributed to Paul. The next book in the canon of course is the monumental letter to the Hebrews, which bookends the Pauline corpus starting with Romans. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

This week we look at Joseph's interactions with Pharaoh and how they determine the coming narrative and development of Joseph's impact on the Biblical story. Let us hear the story! Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

A recitation and commentary of Genesis chapter 40 in comparison with the Lukan crucifixion account. Let us be attentive! Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the pericope of Joseph’s story, we have the seemingly odd narrative choice to insert a story about Judah before returning to Joseph. When taken as a totality however, it is clear that the Biblical authors are making a comparison between these two characters and their behavior. Joseph is forced out of his family tribe and thrust into the world of the Egyptians. Judah left the family tribe by choice, and the results were disastrous. Having heard this comparison, we are now back in Egypt where we will hear that it is the LORD, as in Yahweh the Great Functionator, who guides all of Joseph’s actions in this chapter. By contrast, Yahweh was hardly mentioned in Judah’s dealings because what he was doing was in direct disobedience to Yahweh. When Yahweh is mentioned, it is to enact divine punishment. From here on, Joseph will channel Isaiah’s model of the suffering servant who does nothing at all but the will of God. Let us hear the story! Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

After conspiring with his brothers to remove the suspected successor to Jacob's wealth, their brother Joseph, Judah leaves to go on his own and presumably start his own tribe. This is a cruel pursuit in scripture, and it goes as expected. Come and hear the story... Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

In today's episode, we begin the story of Joseph. This is the climactic and lengthy finale to the book of Genesis where all of the themes introduced thus far finally come at a head in Joseph's betrayal by his older brothers and his exile to Egypt. Let us be attentive! Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

Today’s episode is one of those where we cover a lengthy genealogy, but wait! Before we put up the walls of disinterest, let’s actually make an attempt to hear what the text is laying out. It is very likely that the clever use of words attributed as names for the various players in the stage of the genealogy paint a particular picture whether vague or distinct, and that picture is there for us to take in, so let us do so. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

Jacob's short-lived WrestleMania results in a shameful title, that of Israel. However, in his arrogance, he wears it like a championship belt all unaware of the reasoning behind his circumstances. Now, in this chapter, God himself calls Jacob Israel, but for what purpose? What is different about this renaming from the previous one? Come and see... Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

Back in chapter 17, the covenant of circumcision was imposed upon Abraham and everyone in his household. This was done in order to emasculate the males under the covenant in order to emphasize God’s authority and ownership over the progeny. So circumcision then is an invitation to God’s community, and a physical reminder of one’s obedience and submission to God’s providence. So the idea here is that God is completely in control of all reproduction, as he also opens and closes women’s wombs as well. God is the sole judge. But here in chapter 34, we have an abuse of this practice. Certain characters will impose circumcision upon their enemies, using that as a weapon to weaken them, and then slaughter them in that compromised state. And it just so happens these characters are the progenitors of Israel’s priestly class. In other words, the upper echelon of society. Yikes. Let’s hear the story. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

The man Jacob wrestled with was a foreshadowing of his expected battle with Esau, the brother who swore to kill Jacob 20 years prior. However, Jacob sees that he is outmatched this time, so instead of squaring up for a fight, he falls to the ground in humility, fully expecting his brother's wrath. To Jacob's surprise, the only thing he receives from his brother is mercy. How then does he remember that mercy? Come and see. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

Genesis is the key to understanding the entire scriptural story and the function of Israel is one of the most critical to understand. To be an Israelite is to be constantly reminded that your forefathers acted against the will of God and acted violently against men. That’s a tough pill to swallow, but that’s scripture. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

Today we look at Genesis 31, continuing the saga of the Old Testament patriarch Jacob. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

The namesake of all Israel is not a mighty king who was suddenly blessed by God in the land God directed him to, he is a con man who left that land promised to him to secure wealth for himself by his own craftiness in a foreign land. Jacob is a conman, and Laban is a theologian. Things are going downhill. Come and hear the story. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.