Lenny Goldberg's Tanach Classes

The tribe of Yosef conquers Bet El, but the rest of the tribes fail to dispossess the Canaanites from their portion

What was the big tragedy?

The Kenites join Yehuda, Yehuda conquers Tzfat and captures Gaza

We solve the mystery - what was the cause of the harsh punishment? Why did it all end up on the Temple Mount? What do we learn from the discrepancies in Chronicles on Shmuel in this episode?

A destructive angel kills 70,000 people, and then threatens Jerusalem. David buys the threshing floor on the Temple Mount to halt the plague.

Under King David's orders, Yoav makes the rounds to count the nation

Due to a sin not explained explicitly in the text, David orders Yoav to take a census of the Jewish people in his kingdom

We finish off the list of King David's 36 warriors

We continuing unveiling more of King David's warrirors

David's prophesy followed by a list of his top three warrirors - HaAdino HaEzni, Elazar ben Dodo, Shama....

We analyze the final section of David's song

We continue learning King David's song, which can be divided into sections.

David reflects on his life and writes this song of praise to Hashem. How is this song different than Psalms 18?

David and his men battle with Philistine giants, descendants of Orpah. 

After the Givonites force King David to hang 7 of Saul's descendants, Rizpa the daughter of Aya, Saul's concubine, stays with the hanged corpses for six months to shoo away the birds and beasts from devouring the bodies. 

After the Givonites force King David to hang 7 of Saul's descendants, Rizppa the daughter of Aya, Saul's concubine, stays with the hanged corpses for six months to shoo away the birds and beasts from devouring the bodies. 

After three years of famine, it is revealed to King David that the cause of the drought is Saul's wiping out of the Gibeonites. 

Yoav and a wise woman of the city have a conversation, and she uses her wisdom to convince the city to hand over Sheva ben Bichrti - his head is cut off and sent over the wall. 

With the chase on, Sheva ben Bichri fortifies himself in the walled city of Avel, and Yoav and his men lay a siege on the city 

Yoav murders Amasa ben Yeter on his way to chase down Shev ben Bichri 

Tension amongst the tribes culminates in the revolt of Sheva ben Bichri from the tribe of Benjamin 

The tribe of Yehuda and the rest of the tribes argue with each other concerning who will escort David back to Jerusalem. This plants the seeds for yet another civil war.

David wants to return kindness to Barzilai from Gilad, who took care of David when he fled Jerusalem to the east bank

After hearing Mifeboshet's side, David rules that he and Ziva divide the estate in half.

As David crosses the Jordan, Shimi greets him and begs for forgiveness. David has to calm down Avishai who wants to kill Shimi....

With the civil war over and Avshalom dead, David has to reinstate his kingdom. The tribes show their allegiance to him

Upon hearing about the death of his son, David cries uncontrollably, until he is harshly rebuked by Yoav.

Avshalom is buried in the forest of Effraim, and Yoav sends Achimaatz and the Kushite to bring the tidings of the war to King David 

The civil war is over quickly. Avshalom riding his mule, gets his hair stuck in a tree, and is hanging there... easy pickin's for Yoav to finish off... Like picking the fruit from the tree... 

David organizes his men for battle against Avshalom's army. 

Achitopel commits suicide, David is greeted by friends, Avshalom appoints Amasa ben Yeter over his army 

After Avshalom accepts Chushai's advice, he relays the message to the priests, who in turn deliver the message to their sons via a woman servant. 

Chushai the Arkite frustrates the advice of Achitopel with a brilliant speech 

Achitopel gives Avshalom the war strategy to defeat David, but Avhsalom wants another opinion

Hushai convinces Avshalom that he is allied to him. Achitopel gives Avshalom the advice to sleep with his father's concubines.

David has to convince Avishai ben Zruya not to kill Shimi ben Gera who is cursing David.

While fleeing Jerusalem, David is met by Ziva who is bearing food, drink and transportation. Afterwards, Shimi ben Gera curses David and his men.