The Torah’s 613 Mitzvot
Posted by Torah Focus on 04 Mar 2008 at 12:00 am
Tagged as: ARBA4, Midrashim
Midrashim – with Dr. Walter Oakley
New shows available every Tuesday.
Program #9 – The Torah’s 613 Mitzvot
In this program, I discuss the vitality of historical study as a means for understanding the Bible as a particular field of study. I present the works of Roland DeVaux as a source for understanding ancient Israel’s history.
Likewise, I recommend the Encyclopedia of Jewish History as a tool for understanding and gaining insight into Biblical history.
By understanding the history of the Bible, we are more readily able to understand the influence of Biblical characters on Biblical record.
I also discuss the importance of having a solid understanding of the entire Biblical text. This allows us to have a thorough understanding of events and the affect of events on subsequent Biblical history. The discussion of methods of scholarly research is also conferred in this program and the importance of doing solid research in term papers and dissertations.
I begin to move into the field of Mitzvot (commandments). We learn that there are actually 613 mitzvot. We discuss in brief the categories of these 613 mitzvot. Understanding the 613 will enable us to gain further insight into historical and character actions while studying and researching Biblical topics, subjects and the text itself.
I further discuss the truth that the 613 commandments are not applicable to everyone. Each of the Mitzvot is given for a specific reason to specifice people and therefore requires investigation. An example would be as follows. Men are given particular mitzvot and women are given others. We continue the discussion with Yeshua’s view of the 613 mitzvot.
