by Lois Rosenthal
The weekly Haftorah readings follow the story of the Israelites after they crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land. The writing styles vary greatly, from poetry to historical prose.
Of particular note are writings from the time of the divided kingdom. Conquests of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah were seen by the prophets as divine punishment for failure to follow the Torah. The writings from this time are full of harsh rebukes and biting metaphors. This is the type of reading found in the weeks ...
