The Torah Network

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Question 72: Why do Jews face the east when praying?

Answer:

In Jerusalem, the Jews always turned their faces toward the "holy hill" of the temple while praying (see Daniel 6:10; 2 Chronicles 6:34). The Samaritans, on the contrary, faced Mount Gerizim. In the court of the temple, the Jews in prayer faced the temple itself (see 1 Kings 8:38) to the Holy of Holies (see Psalm 5:8). Daniel while praying in exile, opened his window toward Jerusalem (see Daniel 6:10). Modern Jews in Europe and America customarily face the East in prayer. It was a custom among the early believers to face the East but that has long been discontinued by the Catholics. Mohammedans face in the direction of Mecca.

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Frequently asked questions and answers:

Question 71: Did Jephthah really offer up his daughter as a sacrifice?

Answer:

Both the Authorized and Revised Versions leave the question in doubt and commentators have been divided in opinion as to whether she was sacrificed or doomed to live the life of a recluse. Human sacrifices are an abomination unto Elohiym. A new reading or translation which several notable scholars have urged as the correct one is: "It shall surely be Elohiym's or I will offer up to him a burnt offering." Hebrew scholars declare this to be the more accurate rendering. (See Judges 11:30, 31 and 39.) It changes the aspect of the case and makes Jephthah to say practically that if the first living thing that came forth from his house to meet him was one that would be unacceptable, then a burnt offering of an acceptable character would be substituted. This would lead to the conclusion that the daughter was not sacrificed, but condemned to a life of perpetual virginity and a burnt offering offered up in her stead. Several eminent writers, including Joseph Kinchi, Ben Gerson and Bechai (Jewish authorities) and a number of believing authors, held that instead of being sacrificed she was shut up in a house specially prepared by her father and visited there by the daughters of Israel four days in a year as long as she lived. In support of this theory, it is pointed out that the Hebrew term employed to express Jephthah's vow is the word neder, which means a "consecration" and not cherem, which means "destruction."

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https://open.substack.com/pub/....silvertrumpetradio/p

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We will not be posting a podcast this morning because it is not ready. What I thought should be a very basic topic became much more complicated than anticipated. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

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"I have hated the keepers of vanities of falsehood: and I to Yahweh have trusted."

שָׂנֵאתִי הַשֹּׁמְרִים הַבְלֵי־שָׁוְא וַאֲנִי אֶל־יְהוָה בָּטָחְתִּי

Ps 31

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Thought for Today: Monday January 13

Fortunate are those who know that discipleship is simply a life that flows from grace… And this grace simply means discipleship! Remember, we are the conductors; YHVH is the electrical current. Our only existence is by letting the current flow through us.