Guiding Questions: I Samuel 31

This is part of the Tanakh Yomi Project.

  1. The rabbis, in explaining some of the activities in this chapter, have to engage in some apologetics. “How could Saul have committed suicide, for is it not against Jewish law!?” Additionally, what does it mean when the text says that they “burned them there” (referring to Saul’s and his sons’ bodies)? Jewish dead must be buried! How might the rabbis have interpreted these problematic verses?

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    Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

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Perek Yomi materials originally produced by the USCJ and Dr. Morton K. Siegel.
We are grateful to be able to share this material.

Author

  • favicon of exploring judaism logo

    Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

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