Artzabox is a beautiful way to bring quality items from the Holy Land to you – wherever you are! Each box is filled with unique things that will allow you to have a multi-sensory experience of the Holy Land.
The contents of the boxes varies each quarter. My first box was from the Galilee. The next was from the Judaean Desert and the current box contains items from the Golan Heights.
The Golan Heights is a plateau on the East side of the Sea of Galilee with an area less than 700 miles. It’s just West of the Jordan River Valley and South of Mount Hermon. Although the area is called the Golan Heights now, it was called “Bashan” in the Bible, and the refuge city of Golan was inside Bashan (Deut. 4:43, Jos. 20:8, 21:27, 1 Cor. 6:71, and many others).
The word “Bashan” means “fruitful and this area is fruitful indeed! It’s known for its cattle, both today and in Bible times, as well as for the oak trees that grow there (Ps. 22:12, Is. 2:13, Amos 4:1, and Zech. 11:2).
It was in the Golan Heights that Og, King of Bashan resided. Og is mentioned many times in the Old Testament as he was an adversary of the Israelites. This was the part of the Promised Land that was given to the tribe of Manasseh.
With items from various artisans in the Golan Heights, this Artzabox just may be my favorite!
The Artzabox company says that each box is thoughtfully filled with:
Something for the soul
Something to inspire
Something to learn
Something to taste
Something to share
Something for the body
Something to cook
Something to cherish
You’ll find each of these in the Golan Heights Box. Here’s what’s inside:
Shalva Tea
The word “Shalva” means “peace, calm, and tranquility” in Hebrew and those are such accurate words to describe this tea. David Ross, the founder of Shalva Tea named the company with Psalm 122:7 in mind: “May shalom be within your walls and shalva in your palaces”.
The tea in this Artzabox is the Golan Heights Blend. It’s described as “breezy and uplifting”, which I think is a great description for this tea. It features lemongrass, rose, and lemon verbena and smells and tastes just heavenly.
Israeli-Grown Sumac Spice
This is one of my favorite items in this box. Sumac, with its light, citrusy flavor, is a great accompaniment to rice and meat dishes. Although I love Sumac and buy it when I can, I have never before experienced fresh Sumac. It’s amazing! I’m not sure how I’ll be able to go back to the dry, dull-flavored Sumac I get at my local grocery store after having tasted this!
It comes with a recipe for Sumac Roast Chicken which I haven’t made yet but will update when I have. I’m sure it’s delicious and I’m looking forward to it!
Meredith Rose Burak is the founder of the company that made this Sumac – Rose Burak. She has a passion for both plant medicine and women’s health and that’s revealed in her quality spices. She chose Sumac for this Artzabox because of its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory benefits and describes it as “exotic and magical”. As a Sumac-lover, I have to agree!
Hand-Painted Tree by Emanuel
If you’ve done any amount of online shopping for Judaica, you’ll recognize the design of this piece. His art is popular around the world. With his signature vivid colors and pomegranates, this beautiful piece combines traditional Jewish with oriental style. It’s this vibrant combination Yair Emanuel’s art is known for.
Each Artzabox comes a premium version and a regular version and you can choose which you get when you order. This item comes in the Golan Heights premium box.
Designed and created in his studio in Jerusalem, this piece will be an attractive addition to any room. It’s free-standing so it will sit well on any table, shelf, or wherever!
Scented Soy Wax Candle
Named “Golan Dew”, this candle smells just amazing! It’s handmade in a family factory from all vegan ingredients and is said to have the scent of the Golan Spring when it’s in bloom. Their company, Sheananda, also makes soaps and body creams, using high quality essential oils as well as ingredients like shea butter and Dead Sea salt.
DeKarina Golan Inspired Milk Chocolate
Want to know something strange about me? I hate chocolate.
I know – weird, right? When I tell people that, they always gasp and maybe even take a step back, possibly just in case my revealed dysfunction is somehow contagious.
However, I LOVE this chocolate! It’s creamy with a little bit of a crunch and is a perfect indulgent snack. Its square pieces are just the right size for a bite or two and there’s plenty in this package to share (But you may not want to!).
As if this delicious chocolate isn’t enough of a blessing, the story behind it is incredible too. The company’s owner, Karina Chepelinski, learned to make fine chocolate from her grandfather. He fled Europe before WWI, and left his chocolate factory behind. He opened a new one in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and shared his passion for chocolate with his granddaughter, Karina.
When she moved to Israel, Karina opened her own chocolate factory and the rest is history! What a treat it is to have these chocolates in this Artzabox!
Clay Oil Lamp and Filler Set
This replica of an ancient oil lamp and jar is included in the Golan Heights box. Remember when Jesus told the parable of the 10 virgins (Matt. 25:1-13)? This is the type of lamp they would have had.
Made in Israel by Maranatha and sold by Zak’s Jerusalem gifts, this lamp and jar set is similar to those found in archaeological sites in the Golan Heights. It’s also fully functional! You can fill it with oil and light it just like they did in bible times. It even comes with an extra wick for more use.
My house full of Hebrew students loves this item. You can build each letter of the Hebrew alphabet with this wooden puzzle. The pieces are cut just right so you can make each letter. It’s a challenge because some are more difficult to figure out than others! It comes in a beautiful matching wooden box for storage.
This puzzle is handcrafted by Gaya, an Israeli company specializing in hand-made wooden games and puzzles. The owners, Eli and Galit, have the common goal of “creating quality downtime” through their creations. This puzzle is a great alternative to electronic entertainment and has brought hours of educational fun into my home.
Golan Heights Postcards
Postcards of the featured area are included in each Artzabox. Of course this box contains some from the beautiful Golan Heights. The Gamla Fortress and Mount Hermon are the two places highlighted on these postcards.
Interested in ordering an Artzabox for yourself or for a friend? Here’s a coupon code for 20% off of your first order: HEBREW20
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It’s in this episode of The Chosen that we see faith explained through the connection of two stories – one from the Old Testaments and one from the New. The Bible is one whole book, not two separate ones. The God of the Bible never changes and His story is found from cover to cover of the Scriptures.
In the opening scene, we go into the Old Testament to witness a conversation between Moses and Joshua. From just a few verses in Numbers 21:4-9, this scene references God’s response to the complaining Israelites. Having recently left Egypt, they realized that they had no water and food they didn’t like. While I’d like to condemn them for this, I’ve complained about much less! It’s clear that God gets just as sick of all of our complaints as He did of those of the Hebrew people. Who are we to complain in the midst of the lavish blessings He gives?
God told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it up on a pole where everyone could see it. When they were bitten by one of the venomous snakes God had sent to punish them, all they had to do was look at the bronze snake and they would be healed. Somewhere along the line, this became known by the Jewish people as the Nehushtan.
Joshua finds this a very odd practice and questions Moses (in the show, not the Bible). Since the snake on the pole was a commonly known as a pagan symbol, his questions are reasonable. This very pole made by Moses is the one King Hezekiah had destroyed in 2 Kings 18:1-6. So, why would God have Moses make it to look upon for healing?
The answer becomes more clear in the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verses 14 and 15.
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
John 3:14-15
The lesson for the Israelites (and for us!) was one of faith. They were to trust God at His word and it would lead to their bodily healing in the same way our trust in Jesus’s death on the cross heals our souls. The “pole” was also thought to resemble a cross, making the connection here even more apparent.
In this same conversation, Moses tells Joshua he’s learned to do what God says, then says “You remember what happened at Meribah”. Remember in Exodus 17 (verses 5-7), where the Israelites were quarreling about having no water? God instructed Moses to use his staff to strike the rock of Horeb to bring forth water for all the people. Like Moses, we know we have a God of miracles. We can trust Him at His word, even if we don’t fully understand!
Nicodemus’s Grandson
Zohara is excited to tell Nicodemus about the birth of his grandson and to get back to Jerusalem. She explains that they have rush to get back so Nicodemus can perform the Bris on the 8th day. This is the practice of both circumcising and naming a Jewish baby boy. It was done on the 8th day, as commanded in Leviticus 12:1-3. Circumcision itself, as a sign of the covenant between God and His people, started way back in Genesis (17:10-14), when Abraham was told to circumcise himself and his offspring.
Also called the Brit Milah, which can be translated as “covenant of circumcision”, a Bris is often performed by a rabbi, which is why Zohara asks what people will think if “the great Nicodemus” were to miss it.
John Worries
When Jesus and his disciples are setting up camp, John voices his concerns to Jesus. He says, “They’ll be looking for us because of what you said about forgiving sins”.
Verses like Isaiah 43:35, Daniel 9:9 and others suggest that only God has the authority to forgive sins. This isn’t to mean people can’t forgive one another when a wrong has been done to them. It means God is the only one with the authority to absolve the consequences of sin. This is what upset the rabbis when Jesus told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven (in episode 6). John’s concern is valid but Jesus says they still have some time before that will happen.
Elisheva
Matthew addresses his mother as “Eema” (which means “mom”), then corrects himself to call her “Elisheva”. His status as a tax collector and a traitor had caused him to be expelled from the family which prevented him from calling her “mom”. Elisheva is Hebrew for Elizabeth. It means “my God is an oath” or “pledged to God”.
When she says that she couldn’t have let him in if his father was home, Matthew asks where Alpheus is. Alpheus would have been the name of his father, according to Mark 2:14. Jesus will also call him “Matthew, son of Alpheus” near the end of this episode. Alpheus is also the name of the disciple James’s father so that may have been a common name at the time. You’ll notice in the verse from Mark above that it says Alpheus is the father of Levi, not Matthew though.
Matthew, the name used in the books of Matthew and John, is thought to be the same person as Levi, used in the books of Mark and Luke. This is similar to Peter also being called Simon or to Saul’s name changing to Paul. This was not uncommon as there were a few different cultures and languages converged in this area at this time.
Why Does Jesus Touch the Doorpost?
When leaving Simon’s home to meet with Nicodemus, you’ll see Jesus briefly touch the doorpost and put his fingers to his lips.
Many people (mostly Jewish people, but some Christians as well) have a little box attached to the doorpost in their home called a mezuzah. It contains a parchment with a verse on it, usually the Shema (Deut. 6:4-9). They touch it, and may even kiss the hand that touched it, as a reminder of just what the verses say in the Shema:
Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Touching the mezuzah reminds us of our purpose in this world as we leave our homes and live our lives. We’re first to love our God. We’re to teach His words to our children and to make them our very identity. It reminds us that God is everywhere we go and that we belong to Him.
Conversation Between Jesus and Nicodemus
My favorite thing about the conversation between these two is that both John 3:16 and 17 are included. While I love John 3:16 like most Believers, I hate that it’s so often quoted without including verse 17.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
John 3:16-17
Especially to those new to our faith or outside of it, verse 17 is necessary as a further explanation of verse 16. I love that the writers of The Chosen saw that and presented them together, as they were written.
When Nicodemus kisses Jesus’s hand, he recites Psalm 2:12 – “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way”. And Jesus responds with the last part of the same verse: “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him”. Beautiful!
Love The Chosen? Stay tuned for the interesting things I found in episode 8: I Am He.
Do you love Israel? Need a gift for someone who does? Experience the Holy Land without leaving home with Artzabox. Click here to find yours!
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This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
Here’s another excellent episode of The Chosen, Angel Studios’s high quality and entertaining series covering the life of Jesus. In this episode, we see just how extraordinarily different Jesus interacted with people, compared to those around him. Read on for the details I found the most interesting from a Hebraic standpoint.
When the leper trying to sell his expensive tools to the pawn broker in the opening scene reveals his “mark”, as the pawn broker comments, it’s a sure sign that he has leprosy. This is not a mark that has been put on him by himself or someone else, but the sore itself. The Hebrew word (ne-gah – נֶגַע), commonly translated as “mark” (Lev. 13:3) can also be translated “sore” or “wound”.
Later, when Jesus heals this leper, Jesus instructs him to go and show himself to the priests and bring the offering as instructed by Moses. Why? If Jesus healed him, he’s good, right? Doesn’t Jesus have the authority to declare this man clean?
Jesus was instructing the man to keep the Law as given in Leviticus 13 and 14, where the instructions were given on how to handle contagious skin diseases. When it’s apparent that a person with leprosy is recovering, they’re to show the recovering area to the priests and bring with them certain offerings. In this part of the story (Mark 1:40-45, Matt. 8:1-4), Jesus not only heals a man, he upholds the Law. In Matthew 5:17-19, he states that he didn’t come to abolish the Law and we see here just one way he lives that out in his time here on earth.
For some background here, let’s look at the Hebrew. Av (אָב) means “father”, beit (בַּיִת) means “house”, and din (דִּין) means “judgement”. The Beit Din was the “house of the court” and the “Av Bet Din” was the chief rabbi that presided over that Jewish rabbinical court. The Av Bet Din presided over the Bet Din in Jesus’s time and, believe it or not, still does today!
The Bet Din makes decisions based on Jewish law – from both the written (the Torah, the first 5 books of the Bible) and oral laws. In this scene, they’re trying to deduce whether John the Baptist is in violation of any of these laws. We find out that Shmuel is the one that improperly gave the order for John to be detained and Nicodemus is unsure whether this was the correct decision, based on his previous conversation with John himself.
Life on the Road
When making camp, Simon and James (the lesser – remember there are 2 Jameses) joke about not being prepared for “life on the road”. Simon says, “The Torah doesn’t mention the blisters”. He’s referring to the Exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt and their time of wandering in the wilderness.
Simon asks James what he did before he was called to follow Jesus. James says he had been on the way to join the 288 when he met Jesus. The 288 is the Temple Choir referred to in chapter 25 of 1st Chronicles. Although it doesn’t say in the Bible that James had this history, it’s suggested in this episode that he would have been on his way to becoming one of these musical performers in the Temple services.
Tzomo Lecho Nafshi
The song James sings just after the conversation between he and Simon is a traditional Jewish song called Tzomo Lecho Nafshi. Usually sung in Hebrew, it’s from Psalm 63, verses 2 and 3. It was written by King David when he was in the wilderness so it’s appropriate that James would bring it up at a time when they’re traveling and the topic of the Israelites’ wandering was discussed.
Here’s a video of it in Hebrew:
Jesus Speaking Egyptian to Tamar
When Jesus encounters Tamar, the Egyptian woman, he inquires about her necklace, then speaks to her in her native language, Egyptian. She says she grew up there and that her father was from Ethiopia.
In The Antiquities of the Jews, the historian Josephus indicates that there are connections between Ethiopia (Cush) and the Hebrew people starting back in the time of Moses. Jesus speaks Egyptian to Tamar and comments on the familiarity of her jewelry, saying he had grown up in Egypt. He was referring to when he and his mother, Mary, and his step-father, Joseph, fled the wrath of Herod. Herod committed mass infanticide, having all boys under the age of 2 murdered (Matt. 2:16). It’s not clear how long they stayed in Egypt, just that they lived there until Herod died.
It’s assumed that Jesus spoke a variety of languages. Aramaic was probably his first language but he likely knew extensive Hebrew and Greek as well. He may have picked up some Egyptian when he lived there also. The areas of Jesus’s life and ministry were home to different people groups and many others passed through so they would’ve spoken many different languages.
Shmuel Reads from the Scroll
Nicodemus tells Shmuel to read from the scroll of Isaiah. Why didn’t Nicodemus tell him what verse to read? When he starts to read in the wrong place, Nicodemus tells him to read “further down – a few lines”. Again, why didn’t he just tell him to go to chapter 40, verse 3?
If you’ll look closely at the scroll he’s reading from, you’ll see that there are no numbers on it. It appears to be just columns of words with very few spaces! The verses are not numbered, the books aren’t labeled, and chapter breaks are non-existent. Those who study these scrolls in depth (such as Nicodemus) know how to find the verses they need. Studying Scripture in those days was quite a challenge compared to how we study today!
Here’s a picture of the scroll we read at our synagogue:
That’s What the Maccabees Said
When the Roman soldiers came to crash the party when Jesus drew a crowd while speaking at the house, Andrew tried to calm them. He said, “This is a peaceful gathering”. And Gaius replied, “That is what the Maccabees said”.
This is in reference to the story of the Maccabean revolt. You won’t find it in the Protestant Bible, but in the books of the Maccabees. Reference to this story can also be found in the writings of Josephus. This is the story behind the celebration of Hanukkah.
Here’s the story. In the time between the Old and New Testaments, around 165 BC, the Jewish people were under Syrian Hellenistic rule. Antiochus IV was the leader of the Seleucid Empire at the time. Under his control, Jewish traditions were outlawed, including Sabbath keeping, adherence to a Kosher diet, and circumcision. Idols were set up in the Temple. Pigs were rumored to have been sacrificed on the Temple altar. Among the punishment for observance of Jewish traditions were death and torture.
Rather than face brutal punishment, many Jews assimilated with Hellenistic culture. Some evaded their Syrian leaders by hiding in the hills and caves of Judea. A small number of Jews led by Judah Maccabee decided to revolt. Despite the overwhelming opposition, they courageously stood up for their God, His Word, and His Temple. They were miraculously victorious despite being greatly outnumbered!
I love when The Chosen’s writers add things like this to the dialogue in this series because it adds an authenticity to the characters and their conversations, even though these conversations aren’t in the Gospels.
I love the light this episode casts on our Messiah! I can’t wait to cover the next episode! Stay tuned for Episode 7: Invitations.
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The Chosen by Angel Studios was the number one crowdfunded project, only to be surpassed by another of their projects, The Wingfeather Saga. If you’ve seen The Chosen, you don’t have to guess the reason for their success. This series is entertaining, and the characters are so well-developed you feel like you get to know them!
In the opening scene of this episode, in 8 AD, Jesus gets lost in Jerusalem when his family left there after Passover. We find Jesus’s family in Jerusalem during Passover because it’s one of three “pilgrimage festivals”, where all men were to go to Jerusalem (to the Temple) for the feast. The two other pilgrimage festivals (Shalosh HaRegalim – שלוש רגלים – in Hebrew) are Shavuot and Sukkot.
Jesus was 12 when his family took this trip to Jerusalem and this leads some to believe he may have also been there for his Bar Mitzvah, which Jewish boys typically do at age 13. This isn’t likely, however, because the Bar Mitzvah tradition is more recent than that. It’s thought to have begun around the Middle Ages. If the Jewish people did have a Bar Mitzvah-type ceremony in Jesus’s time, it would have probably been different than it is today.
When they find him, Jesus asks Joseph, “May I read?”. Every Shabbat (Sabbath), a Torah scroll is read in synagogues around the world. These scrolls are in Hebrew and contain at least the first 5 books of the Bible and some contain other books as well.
When a Torah scroll reader comes up to read for the first time, it’s an event acknowledged by the whole congregation. It’s referred to as making Aliyah, which means “going up” or “ascent” in Hebrew. Many young men and women make Aliyah during their Bar or Bat Mitzvah and some people make Aliyah at other times as well.
Miracles
Similar to what he does in Episode 4, Nicodemus asks John if Jesus performed miracles. This is because he’s looking for signs of the Messiah. He knows that Isaiah 29:8 as well as 35:5-6 prophesy that the Messiah will perform miracles. And we know (and Nicodemus will soon find out) that it was Jesus that fulfilled these prophesies – and more!
The Chuppah
In preparation for the wedding feast in this episode, there’s a lot of attention paid to the Chuppah. It’s pronounced hoo-pah, with the “hoo” said deep in your throat, like the “ch” in “Bach”. You can hear it when Simon says it at the end of the scene where he and Eden are crushing grapes, as well as when Helah mentions to Dinah that it’s crooked. The chuppah is the canopy under which a Jewish couple gets married. Dinah and Mary set it up and decorate it and make a fuss over whether it’s done well enough for the bride and groom.
The Hebrew word “chuppah” means “covering” or “protection”. In the Bible, it’s commonly translated as “canopy” or even “chamber”. A chuppah at a wedding symbolizes just that – the wedding chamber. It also represents the marriage of God to His people and the covenant He made with us. It’s usually decorated with flowers or other items, as you see Dinah and Mary doing in this episode.
Asher and Sarah
The name Asher has grown in popularity recently. A name of Hebrew origin, you can find this one in your Bible many times. It means “straight” or “upright” and can also mean “happy”.
Asher’s bride, Sarah, is named after Sarah the matriarch, the wife of Abraham, as many Jewish girls are. The name Sarah means “princess”, as it’s the feminine form of the word for prince, “sar”.
When greeting one another, Dinah says “Shalom” to Helah. Similar to “Aloha”, Shalom is a greeting used as a “Hello” and a “Goodbye”. Often translated as “peace”, the word “shalom” in Hebrew actually has a much deeper meaning. It means “peace”, but also a full completeness or harmony. You can read more about the word “shalom” in 9 Hebrew Words to Bring You Closer to God.
Nazareth Joke
This is another thing I just love about this series. Every now and then, they throw out a joke only those familiar with the Bible will understand. A few of these can be found in Season 1, Episode 2.
When walking with Jesus, Simon runs ahead to find out if the reason they’re going to this wedding is that important Hebrew people will be there. Jesus surprises them with his response, “The most important and powerful person I know will be there – my mother!” Andrew responds with a somewhat inappropriate comment when he interjects, “Isn’t your mother from Nazareth?”
This is funny because of Nathaniel’s comment in John 1:46 – “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”. When he follows Phillip and meets Jesus, he finds out that something good can indeed come from Nazareth – our Messiah!
Later, at the wedding feast, Abner mentions that Dinah is from Nazareth, listing that as one reason he wasn’t initially happy about his son marrying their daughter. This again demonstrates that Nazareth was a humble place to be from.
Blessing Over the Wine
When the vinters, Ramah and Thomas, present the wine to Dinah, she says a blessing over the wine before tasting it. She says “Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the fruit of the vine.”
This is the same blessing from Episode 2, Shabbat and you’ll see it later in this episode again just after the dance. It’s called the Borei Pri HaGafen and you can find more on this blessing in my post on Episode 2.
Od Yishama – The Wedding Song
At the beginning of the wedding feast, the guests dance around the tables in circles, singing. Traditionally sung in Hebrew, the song they sing is called Od Yishama. It’s from Jeremiah 33 and this song, like the chuppah, is just another way the Jewish people connect a wedding – a covenant between two people – with the covenant between us and God. Beautiful!
Hear the modern traditional version here:
Students Choose the Rabbi
Simon says to Mary during the feast that it’s usually the students who choose the rabbi. It’s thought that, at that time, students chose which rabbi to follow, and the rabbis later either educated them further or sent them home to do their father’s trade.
When Mary, Simon, and James are talking at the wedding feast, Simon asks why Jesus didn’t heal people when he had the ability. James said that it was because Jesus was only doing private miracles right now. The time had not yet come for him to do public miracles. Many sources agree that Jesus was probably performing other private miracles as well but that they just weren’t recorded. We may never know but those we’ve heard about are such amazing incidents that it’s clear our Messiah has divine power.
Israeli Dance
At the end of the wedding feast, people dance in circles and individually to Hebraic music. This form of dance has changed throughout time but is all based on the joyful dance of Miriam the prophetess after the Hebrew people crossed the Red Sea and escaped the Egyptians (Ex. 15:20-21).
This is something done in many congregations as well as at celebrations such as weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Messianic congregations often have Hebraic dance as part of their worship. For more on that, see What to Expect When Visiting a Messianic Synagogue.
Samaria
After the wedding, Thomas and Ramah discuss the miracle they’ve seen. Thomas mentions that Jesus asked him to follow and that he said for them to meet him in Samaria in 12 days. Ramah appears surprised by this, probably because Jews and Samaritans didn’t usually interact. Samaritans were Jewish people that were taken as captives by the Assyrians and intermarried with the Assyrian people. They worshipped the God of Israel but also intermixed idol worship from Assyrian culture. Interestingly – they’re still there even today! You can find their story in 2 Kings 17.
If you’re familiar with your Bible, you know a couple stories featuring Samaritans. We’ll have to stay tuned to see who Jesus meets in Samaria!
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The Chosen, a series on the life of Jesus, is so well done! If you haven’t seen it yet, you can click on the link to the right to watch it. The stories about Jesus from the Bible are well-portrayed in this entertaining series. It’s a great show but looking a bit deeper at some concepts relevant to the Hebraic faith makes it even more rich and even educational!
This episode is entitled “The Rock On Which It Is Built”. This is because it features Simon, also called Peter. Jesus says to him after he agrees to follow Jesus, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”
Whether Jesus meant that he was “the rock” or that Simon Peter was the rock is debated among Christian denominations but what is clear is that Jesus’s church will not be overpowered by the “gates of Hades”! And we can see in Revelation that this is true and that our Messiah will be victorious in the end!
The Sea of Galilee
Most of this episode takes place at the Sea of Galilee. Although these scenes are filmed in Utah, the Gailiee is a beautiful area in Israel where Jesus spent much of his ministry. This region is mentioned many times in the Bible – 68 to 72 times, depending on translation.
Galilee was part of the Roman Empire in Jesus’s time. Nazareth, one o the main cities in Galilee, was where Jesus lived as he was growing up. Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding (see this in Episode 5), is in Galilee. Galilee was also where his disciples resided as well as where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
Zebedee appears a few times in this episode. He’s the father of James and John and is a fisherman by trade. His wife (James and John’s mother) was named Salome and details in the Bible point to their family being quite wealthy (Mark 1:20, Luke 5:4, John 18:15).
In the opening scene, where Simon is in the boat with the Roman soldiers, the fishing bobber they find bears the Hebrew letter zayin (ז). Simon looks knowingly at the bobber, suggesting to the audience that he knows who it belongs to. We can only conclude the zayin stands for Zebedee as we later see the same bobber put on the table by Simon in the pub while Simon and Zebedee are talking.
Gergesa Shore
In this same pub scene, right before Simon puts the telltale bobber on the table, Simon says to Zebedee “You fished the Gergesa Shore last night”.
Gergesa was an area on the Eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. This area wasn’t inhabited by Jews and Jewish people of this time didn’t spend much time there. It’s thought to be the place Jesus healed the demon-possesed men by sending the demons into a herd of pigs, as it’s probably the region called “the Gerasenes” in Mark 5:1.
I’m assuming this wasn’t Zebedee’s usual fishing place, since he appeared quite surprised when Simon mentioned it. The Eastern side of the Sea, where Gergesa was, has high cliffs and is more steep than on the Western side, near Capernaum. It would be easier to put a boat in on the Western side, making it a more likely spot for fishermen. Perhaps, as far as this story goes, Zebedee fished on the opposite side of the lake than he normally does to be undetected by Roman soldiers.
Matthew’s Dog
At the end of the conversation between Matthew and Dominus, Matthew says that his dog guards his tax collection booth while he’s gone. At this, Quintus laughs mockingly and says in a patronizing tone “Oh, Matthew, you are a priceless treasure. Of course you have a dog.”
Now this means nothing to us in the context of our culture. Of course we have dogs! While pets may be a normal thing in our culture, dogs were not kept the same way in Bible times. Dogs were used for hunting and herding (Isaiah 56:11, Job 30:1) and to compare someone to a dog was an insult (Deut. 23:18, Prov. 26:11, 2 Sam. 9:8, and others). It’s assumed that dogs were scavengers in those days and ran in packs that caused them to be dangerous.
The fact that Matthew had a dog as a pet was probably very peculiar, however, since Scripture doesn’t mention that Matthew had a dog, this is just a creative addition to Matthew’s character on the part of the creators of The Chosen. It does fit his character well since he would have been quite lonely as his family and his people would have considered him a trader.
When Nicodemus and Shimon are talking with the Sanhedrin about John the Baptist, they discuss how he called them snakes and how he doesn’t answer to the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus says he’d heard of a wild man in Jerusalem who went to the king’s court with a message of evils done by Herod Antipas and his family. Here, he’s referring to Matthew 14:1-12 and Mark 6:17-29, which says that John had confronted Herod (who claimed to be Jewish) about his marriage to his brother’s wife.
It’s against the command given in the Torah to marry your sister-in-law (Lev. 18:16), unless your brother has died without children. In that case, it would be under the Law of Levirate marriage (Deut. 25:5-6) to marry her to carry on your deceased brother’s line. But Herod had divorced his previous wife to marry his living brother’s wife, therefore disobeying the Law. When John called him out on it, Herod imprisoned and later had John beheaded.
Right before he adjourns the meeting, Nicodemus asks “Do they say he performs miracles?”. This is significant because Nicodemus (and those he’s talking to) knew the coming Messiah would fulfill the prophecy in Isaiah about him that said he would heal people and perform miracles.
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the Arabah.
Isaiah 35:5-6
Isaiah 29:8 has a similar prophecy as well. These men knew that if miracles were being performed, they were to pay attention, as this man could be the Messiah.
Of course, we see Jesus perform all of the miracles in this prophecy in the Bible. In the Book of Matthew, John later hears rumors of the miracles Jesus was doing and asks people to find Jesus and ask him if he’s the one they were waiting for. Jesus refers to Isaiah 35 in his response, confirming that he is the Messiah indeed (Matt. 11:2-5).
In the very last scene of this episode, Nicodemus visits John the Baptist in prison. He asks again about miracles – this time asking John about Jesus. Nicodemus knows what the Scriptures said about the Messiah and is looking for the signs that he has arrived. He’s doing just what we should be – watching and waiting for our Messiah and continually studying the Bible while we wait.
Simon’s Sick Mother-in-Law
Simon’s wife, Eden, tells Simon that Eema (her mother) is sick and has to stay with them. Those of you who are Bible savvy know what’s about to happen. You’ll find out in Episode 8 but you don’t have to wait until then. Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:30-31, and Luke 4:38-39 all contain this short but awesome story!
Breaking a Commandment to Save a Life
During their heated conversation, Simon excuses his fishing on Shabbat by saying “You can break a commandment to save a life”. Jesus also refers to this concept in the Bible, when, in Matthew 12:1-6, he and his disciples were picking grain on the Sabbath. The Pharisees confronted him, accusing them of breaking the Law.
Picking grain by hand on the Sabbath was not a law made by God but one made by man. This was one of the “fences” the rabbis made around the Law to make sure it wasn’t broken and to provide direction to their people on how to live out the Law in everyday life. But Jesus then gave two examples of broken laws that God had given.
Jesus brought up when King David and his men were hungry and ate the showbread in the Temple, which was supposed to be only for the priests to eat. He also brought up that the priests break the Sabbath by working in the Temple. And a few verses later, he asks who wouldn’t rescue a sheep that fell in a pit on the Sabbath.
So, was Jesus telling people it was okay to break the Law? No. He was, however, saying that there are occasionally times that the Law must be broken – to save a life or to serve God. This is the reasoning Simon was referring to.
The Lamb of God
Andrew frantically tells his brother Simon he saw John the Baptist point at Jesus and call him “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (from John 1:29,36). How did Simon know that meant they referred to the Messiah?
During Passover, as well as other situations and times of the year, unblemished lambs were sacrificed for sin and for other types of offerings as well. Simon, Andrew, and others in John’s audience would have been familiar with the comparison of Jesus to these lambs. Calling Jesus the “Lamb of God” indicated that he was the “lamb” or sacrifice provided by God to stand in our place. This is similar to the ram provided by God when Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. The ram was sent to be in Isaac’s place like Jesus, the “lamb” was sent take ours.
Parables
On the shore of the Galilee, Jesus is telling the people the Parable of the Sower. Jesus taught using parables so those with hearts open to what God had to say to them would understand and those without would not (Matt. 13:13). He also said he taught in this way in order to fulfill the prophecy in Psalms 78:2 – “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old…”.
Parables were typically a Hebraic way of teaching. Although there were many teachers at that time and in that area, only the Jewish teachers taught in parables and not the Greek.
The Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-9, 18-24) shows us that God’s message stays the same. What determines whether fruit is produced from our faith is the condition of our hearts, not God or His Word. And, like the seeds sown on the rocky soil or among the thorns, we must let God’s Word take root in our life. And from there, our faith must grow and mature. We must not just be placated that we’ve received salvation but work out that salvation (Phil. 2:12), growing from a newborn baby Christian into a mature adult Believer and even continuing to grow from there!
In the parable of the fisherman, Jesus said that the evil and the righteous would be separated. This reminds that, although our works are not what saves us, our actions do matter! If our hearts are in the relationship they should be with God, our actions will match our beliefs.
After Jesus asks Simon to follow him, he calls him Simon, Son of Jonah. In Hebrew (and Aramaic), it’s Shimon Bar Yonah (literally Simon son [of] Jonah) (Matt 16:17).
Why Jesus says this at this point is not clear. Maybe Jesus was just emphasizing his point, similar to when a mother calls her child by both his first and last name when she’s very serious. Maybe he’s distinguishing between Simons, since the other Simon (called Simon the Zealot) is possibly present. And maybe it’s because Simon had just declared who Jesus was – the Son of Man – and Jesus then declared who Simon was – the son of Jonah.
But maybe it’s more than that. Maybe Jesus is pointing out that Simon recognizing who Jesus was was a revelation from God – one that Simon couldn’t have achieved from his earthly father. The whole verse is “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Jesus could also be referring to a few chapters ago (12), when he was talking about the prophet Jonah and how Nineveh eventually repented at Jonah’s warning to them. I’m not sure which of these it is but I’m sure it’s significant in some way!
I love how we’re really getting to know each of the characters at this point in the series. Although it’s a work of fiction, it does put faces to those we read about in the Bible, even our Savior! Read about episode 5: The Wedding Gift here.
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Artzabox is the way to experience the Holy Land without leaving your home! My family loved the last Artzabox we got and were so excited to see what was in this one! The contents of Artxaboxes change quarterly so there are always new items from different areas of the Holy Land to discover. Each box contains an item for the soul, an item to inspire, one to learn, one to taste, one to share, one for the body, one to cook, and one to cherish.
The items in the boxes are made by local artisans and they include stories about the people that make many of the items. What a wonderful way to connect with the Holy Land and its people!
The name Artzabox is indicative of their mission. Artza is Hebrew for “towards the land”, inspired by this verse in Genesis.
“I will bless those who bless you… and all the families of the earth shall be blessed through you… and they went out towards the land“.
Genesis 12:3-5
The current box is from the Judaean Desert, an area where so many events in our Bible occurred. The Judaean Desert is Southeast of Jerusalem, between there and the Dead Sea. It includes areas discussed in the Bible such as Jerusalem, Ein Gedi, Jericho, and Hebron. It’s also home to the Qumran Valley, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered!
It was in the Judaean Desert that Jesus was tempted by Satan in Matthew 4 and where God spoke to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:9-21. It’s where Joshua led the Hebrew people in their conquer of Jericho (Josh. 10) and the location of the Cave of Machpelah, where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah are buried (Gen. 23, 25:7-11, 49:28-33).
Here are the unique items in this box from the Judaean Desert:
Coffee from Agrocafe
I was so excited to see this in the box when I opened it. Not only do I love coffee, I also love fresh coffee, especially from Israel! I found this coffee to have a smooth taste – not bitter or too strong, but quite flavorful!
Agrocafe roasts coffee in a non-traditional way, resulting in a rich and unique flavor. The story of Hanan, the artisan who created this delicious coffee, is included. Through making great coffee, his goal is ultimately to improve the lives of coffee growers around the world.
Dead Sea Scroll Ceramic Replica
If there’s one thing I love more than coffee, it’s Scripture. I’ve spent most of my free time in the last 8 years studying the Hebrew language and it’s a passion of mine. I had to visit when the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit came to a museum near me so I could see them in real life! Found in caves in the Qumran Valley in the Judaean Desert in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls were preserved in ancient jars so we could read these ancient scrolls and confirm the authenticity of our Bible today.
Zak, a student of Biblical history, is the artisan who made this beautiful Qumran jar replica. His family has lived in the Land of Israel for over 400 years.
This jar is made to have the look and feel of the jars found in the Qumran Caves. It even contains a picture of the scroll of Habakukk, rolled up inside the jar, just as the scrolls were when they were discovered! This is one item I will treasure forever!
Silan Date Honey
Most things don’t grow well in the desert but dates are an exception! Date Palms grow well in the Judaean Desert, making dates widely used in the area. With a syrup-like consistency, this date honey is ideal to drizzle on your morning oatmeal or into a cup of hot tea. Included is a recipe for Silan Date Cake with simple instructions, using this honey as an ingredient. I’ll update when we make it and let you know what we think.
Olive Oil Jug
Included in the Premium box is a handmade ceramic olive oil jug. This attractive jug is decorated with a small olive branch and is closed with the cutest little cork. Believe it or not, this beautiful handmade jug is dishwasher safe and non-toxic.
The artisan, Batya, who created this jug is a mother of 6 and lives in the hill country above Itamar in the West Bank. She and her family spend time gardening and planting trees in addition to creating beautiful ceramics.
“Shalom” Wall Tile
Framed in olive wood grown in Israel, this beautiful handmade decoration will put your love for Israel on display! It’s small enough to put in just about any spot and will go with many different types of decor.
This tile is made by the same ceramicist that made the bowl that came in last quarter’s Artzabox from Galilee. He’s obviously quite talented!
Rosemary Gold-leaf Cooking Salt
This luxurious salt blend is made by 424 Salt, using pure, high-quality salt from the Dead Sea. Their name, 424, comes from the depth of the Dead Sea, 424 meters. Their inspiration for their seasonings came to these three friends while they traveled and camped in the Judeaean Desert and cooked on the coastline of the Dead Sea.
Their business has a social mission too, as they employ special-needs adults and support them in their independence and skill development.
This salt is delicious as well as beautiful. We just happened to be having steak the night I opened it and it was a wonderful complement! The gold leaf ads a sparkle to this salt, making it an attractive addition to any dish.
Lavender Patchouli-infused Dead Sea Bath Salts
Also from the Dead Sea come these Bath Salts from Yonat Midbar. Yonat is the creator of this product and the name of her company means “Yonat of the desert” or “desert dove”. Yonat has a passion for the desert land and studied traditional Bedouin medicine there.
I wish I could share the scent of this bath salt with you over the internet. It smells wonderful – almost intoxicating! It’s a perfect blend of relaxing lavender and earthy patchouli. The salt contains 15 minerals to rejuvenate your skin for a serene soak in the tub.
Judaean Desert Postcards
These postcards show beautiful pictures of the Judaean Desert area. One shows the Mount of Temptation, where Jesus was tempted by Satan. The other is of Masada, an ancient castle that became a refuge for the Jewish community in 70 CE.
Do you love Israel? Need a gift for someone who does? Experience the Holy Land without leaving home with Artzabox. Click here to find yours!
Use coupon code Hebrew20 for a 20% discount on your order!
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There are many things I’ve found in The Chosen series that can be explained from a Hebrew Roots viewpoint. If you missed my other posts explaining The Chosen, you can read them here:
And if you haven’t seen The Chosen, watch it here! You won’t regret it!
In this fun episode, called Jesus Loves the Little Children, we see Jesus hanging out with the children of Capernaum at his camp outside the town.
Aside from being light and amusing, this episode contains a few prayers I will explain here, as well as some new Hebrew names.
Capernaum
A city under Roman rule in Jesus’s time, Capernaum was also the place Jesus spent much of his ministry. The word Capernaum is made up of two Hebrew words: Capar, meaning village and Nahum meaning “to be sorry”. The word Nahum can also be to have compassion or to comfort. So Capernaum can also be called the “village of comfort”.
Abigail
It’s a beautiful name but do you know the story behind it? You can read it in 1 Samuel 25. Basically, her husband, Nabal was not a good man but her intelligence and quick thinking saved them when her husband was rude to King David’s servants. After Nabal died, David took Abigail as one of his wives.
The meaning of the word Abigail is “my father is joy”. It’s made up of “Avi” (אֲבִי), meaning “my father” and “geel” (גִּיל), meaning “joy”.
Joshua
It’s so cute that Jesus calls the little boy “Joshua the brave”. It makes sense that Jesus shows special attention to the little boy’s name because it’s the same as Jesus’s!
The name Joshua comes from the Hebrew verb yasha (יָשַׁע), which means “he saved”, combined with God’s name, יהוה (sometimes pronounced Yahweh). So, put together, it means “God saves”. This name in Hebrew is Yehoshua, which is Yeosus in Greek, which is where we get the name Jesus.
Jesus’s Prayer When Going to Bed
Twice in this episode, Jesus is shown going to bed and reciting the same prayer both times. The prayer he says is one of the bedtime prayers Jewish people pray each night. It’s part of the Bedtime Shema.
It goes like this:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings sleep to my eyes, slumber to my eyelids.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my ancestors, that I lie down in peace and that I arise in peace.
Let my sleep be undisturbed by troubling thoughts, bad dreams, and wicked schemes.
May I have a night of tranquil slumber.
May I awaken to the light of a new day, that my eyes may behold the splendor of Your light.
Praised are You, Lord whose glory gives light to the entire world.
This blessing is then followed by the Shema in response to the command to “talk of these words when you lie down…” (Deut. 6:6-7).
The HaMotzi
Before eating, we see Jesus recite this prayer:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
I covered this prayer in detail in my post about The Chosen: Season 1, Episode 2 when I explained the aspects of the traditional Shabbat being observed in that episode. But the Hamotzi isn’t only said before a Shabbat meal, it’s said before all meals to thank God for his provisions.
The Shema
Jesus asked the kids if they know how to pray the Shema and they all responded by reciting it. The Shema is one of the most important prayers in Judaism but has such deep significance for us as Christians too! From Deuteronomy 6:4-9, this is the answer Jesus gave when he was asked what the greatest commandment is!
Orthodox Jewish people typically recite the Shema at least twice daily to stay focused on God and on what they should be doing with their lives. In addition to Deuteronomy 6:4-9, they also say Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41. In this episode, the children said the following:
“Hear, Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. “And it shall come to pass, if you surely listen to the commandments I command you today that you may gather in your grain, your wine and your oil. And you will eat and you will be satisfied. I am the LORD your God who led you from the land of Egypt to be a God to you; I am the LORD your God.” Amen
Deut. 6:4-5, 11:13-15. and Num. 15:41
Behold How Good and How Pleasing Song
The song Jesus sang with the kids near the end of the episode is from verse 1 of Psalm 133. Here’s what they sing on the show:
Behold, how good and how pleasing (kids echo). If brothers could sit together in unity (kids echo). Behold, how good and how pleasing (kids echo)…
This is a Jewish song, commonly sung on Shabbat. In Hebrew, it’s called Hinei Ma Tov (Behold How Good). Here it is in Hebrew:
When Jesus is asking questions of the children and Abigail answers, he jokes with the boys, “Boys, pay attention. She doesn’t even go to Torah classes”.
Somewhere between the ages of 6 and 9 years old, boys began their spiritual education at Torah school. It used to only be for boys but now girls attend as well. They attend until the age of 12 (girls) or 13 (boys), then have their Bar (boys) or Bat (girls) Mitzvah and then they’re considered similar to adults as far as their faith goes.
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As I explained in my first post on The Chosen, I find this series unique to most Christian movies in that it’s interesting, with excellent acting and character development. Instead of being boring and forced, The Chosen is fun to watch and quickly engages the audience.
Being on a Hebraic Roots path as far as my faith goes, I notice things in The Chosen that I would have otherwise missed. These cultural nuances can help us understand not only the series but also our Christian faith and the lives of those in our Bible.
Here are some questions you may have about this episode and the answers. Caution! There may be spoilers ahead!
What is Shabbat?
The title of Episode 2 is Shabbat because that’s what we’ll witness in the lives of the characters. Shabbat is the Hebrew word for “Sabbath”. A Jewish Shabbat is from Friday evening to Saturday evening and there are many traditions that accompany this day.
In the first scene, the grandmother is talking to the grandson and says they’ve been observing Shabbat since the time of the Covenant. She’s referring to when the Hebrew people were given God’s commands at Mount Sinai. The command to observe the Sabbath originates even before Mount Sinai though. It’s one of the first given in the Bible. It’s in Genesis 2:3, where God blesses and sanctifies the Sabbath.
What you see the people doing while observing Shabbat is the traditional way Shabbat has been celebrated for centuries. Candles are lit, challah bread is served, and blessings are said over the family and the food. Shabbat starts in the evening, just after sundown, or when the first star is visible in the sky. The boy in the first scene points out the first star and Mary, toward the end of the episode, asks “Is the first star out?” so they know whether to begin their celebration.
A side note here: If you’ve never observed a traditional Shabbat, I encourage you to do so! These traditions are rich and Biblical and can bring your family together in ways you may have never experienced! When my family started observing the Sabbath weekly, it was a huge blessing in all of our lives!
The tradition of candle-lighting on Shabbat serves to set the Sabbath apart from every other day. Two candles are lit to symbolize the two commands given as far as the Sabbath goes. The first is to remember the Sabbath and the second is to observe it. When the candles are lit, the woman of the house says a blessing.
It’s said by the woman of the house because she’s the one who has typically done the most to prepare for the Sabbath. She’s baked the bread, cleaned the house, and set the table for Shabbat and now she stops, lights the candles and says the blessing to usher in a time of rest for her family.
This is the traditional blessing said over the candles.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.
Our family says the following Messianic version of this blessing.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to be a light to the nations and Who gave to us Jesus our Messiah, the light of the world.
Ba-rook ah-tah a-do-nai eh-lo-hay-noo meh-lekh ha-o-lam ah-sher ki-deh-sha-noo be-mitz-vo-tav veh-tzee-va-noo le-hee-oat or le-go-yeem ve-na-tan-la-noo et Ye-shoo-a Me-shee-che-noo or ha-o-lam.
What is the Kiddush?
The Sabbath was set aside by God just after He completed the six days of creation. There are 3 components to the Kiddush: verses from Genesis that discuss the Sabbath, a blessing over the wine, and giving thanks to God for choosing and sanctifying the Nation of Israel.
In this episode, the Kiddush is said at the beginning by the man talking to a crowd of people and at the end by Mary in her home. Read it below.
And it was evening and it was morning, the sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all their hosts were completed. And God finished by the Seventh Day His work which He had done, and He rested on the Seventh Day from all His work which He had done. And God blessed the Seventh Day and made it holy, for on it He rested from all His work which God created to function.
By your leave, Distinguished Ones, Masters, and Teachers! Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Response: Amen)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has hallowed us with His commandments, has desired us, and has given us, in love and goodwill, His holy Shabbat as a heritage, in remembrance of the work of Creation; the first of the holy festivals, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and with love and goodwill given us Your holy Shabbat as a heritage. Blessed are You Lord, who hallows the Shabbat. (Response: Amen)
This is the blessing said over the wife of the family by the husband. Taken from Proverbs 31, starting at verse 10, this is one blessing you’re probably already familiar with. In this episode, it’s said right at the beginning.
An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.
She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying
“Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
The father traditionally says blessings over the children as well. There are different blessings for girls and boys and the Aaronic Blessing follows each.
If you look closely, you’ll see loaves of challah bread on the Shabbat tables of both Nicodemus and Mary. Challah is typically served on Shabbat and often 2 loaves are served in remembrance of the double portion of manna given to the Hebrew people by God in the wildness as provision for the Sabbath.
The blessing said over the bread on Shabbat is called the Hamotzi and is to recognize that God is the giver of our food. In the scene of Shabbat at Mary’s, you’ll hear the Hamotzi being said by Mary.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
There’s also a blessing said over the wine on Shabbat. It was included in the Kiddush above but is also sung by itself by the participants. It’s commonly called the Borei Pri Hagafen.
If you listen carefully (it’s overshadowed by the music) you can hear this blessing being said by the man to the crowd of people at the very beginning of this episode.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Ba-rook ah-tah a-do-nai eh-lo-hay-noo meh-lekh ha-o-lam bo-rei pri ha-ga-fen.
What is the meaning of the names?
Here are some of the Hebrew names used in this episode, along with their meanings.
Savta
The little boy in the very beginning is talking to a woman he calls “Savta”. We know this woman is his grandmother because “Savta” is “grandma” in Hebrew.
Saba
The boy then mentions “Saba”, which means “grandpa” in Hebrew.
Eema & Abba
His “Savta” then mentions “Eema”, which means “mom” and “Abba”, which means “Dad”.
Baruch
One of the men in the pub, Baruch is a common Jewish name with both meaning and history. The word “Baruch” means blessed and it was also the name of the secretary of the prophet Jeremiah. He’s mentioned in the books of Nehemiah and Jeremiah and was a man of good character.
When people enter the house where Nicodemus is celebrating Shabbat, one couple greets him as “Rabboni”. This is a term of honor for a rabbi. Jesus was addressed at Rabboni in Mark 10:51 as well as John 20:16.
Why Did Jewish People Collect Taxes for Rome?
When Capernaum was under Roman rule, the Jewish people were required to pay taxes to the Romans, which were often exorbitant. They hired from within the Jewish people to collect these taxes, even though this caused the collectors to be hated by their fellow Jews.
Because of this hatred, Matthew says that his father says he has no son. We don’t know this from the Bible, but I’m sure you can imagine, as the makers of The Chosen did, how one would be disowned by his family for being a traitor to their people for doing this.
What’s the meaning of the joke about Absalom?
The men in the pub are joking with a man who has long hair and they compare him to Absalom. You may remember Absalom, the wayward son of David. You can read his story in 2 Samuel 13-19. He was killed while riding on his mule when he is caught by his head on a branch and left hanging mid-air. Yikes! What a way to go! It’s kind of a dark joke when Simon warns the long-haired man to “stay away from low hanging branches”.
Who are the Judges of the Sanhedrin?
The Sanhedrin was an assembly of Judges, made up of Jewish elders and rabbis. The Av Beit Din (who sent for Nicodemus in this episode) was the second in charge in this assembly. Believe it or not, there’s a Sanhedrin even today, although its existence and authority are controversial and under much debate among different Jewish groups.
What is Preparation Day?
If you’ve observed the Sabbath, you know just how much preparation needs to be done ahead of time in order to take a day off! For those that regularly celebrate Shabbat, Preparation Day is a must. On Friday, especially in the afternoon, people begin to look forward to the coming celebration and do what needs to be done to cook, clean, and organize to ensure everything is in place by the time Shabbat starts so everyone can rest.
Many and the other women are discussing preparations that need to be made: the house cleaned, candles purchased, and Challah bread made. They advise her to start in the afternoon to have time to get it all done before sundown.
What does Shabbat Shalom mean?
Shabbat is a celebration and is often a time for people to gather. In this episode, we see people greeting each other with a “Shabbat Shalom” on Shabbat or even just before. Shabbat Shalom very basically means “peaceful Shabbat”. What a wonderful way to greet each other!
Why does Mary cover her head?
Shmuel saw Mary (formerly known as Lilith) walking sanely around Capernaum after recognizing her as the demon possessed one Nicodemus had tried to exorcise. Nicodemus seeked her out and questioned what had happened to her, thinking it may have been related to the exorcism he performed.
When she found out he was a Pharisee, she looked nervous and covered her head right away. He then said he wasn’t there to enforce Jewish Law. While not commanded in the Torah (first 5 books of the Old Testament), covering one’s head was rabbinical law. Many Jewish men and women keep their heads covered today also. Some Hebrew Roots Christians do as well, out of piety and respect, especially in synagogues.
When under possession of demons, Mary’s name was Lilith even though Mary was the name she was given at birth. The name Lilith is in the Bible very infrequently but it describes a creature that’s either a nocturnal animal (a screech owl, perhaps?) or maybe even a female night demon who haunts the land of Edom (Is. 34:14). Either way, it was not a term of endearment and she tells Nicodemus that she doesn’t answer to that name anymore.
What did Nicodemus mean when talking about the Hasmonean tapestry?
When Nicodemus and his wife, Zohara, admire the beautiful Hasmonean tapestry on the wall at the home where they’re celebrating Shabbat, Nicodemus refers in part to the story of Hanukkah. He talks about the oppression of the Jews by Antiochus IV. The tapestry was made during the Hasmonean period – a time when the Jewish people were so oppressed that few were left alive that didn’t assimilate into Greek culture. This story’s not in most Protestant Bibles but can be read in the Books of the Maccabees.
Why did Mary save a seat for Elijah at the Shabbat table?
This is another funny thing the brilliant writers of the Chosen included is Mary leaving a seat at the Shabbat table for Elijah. Having not celebrated Shabbat in a long time and this being the first she’s hosted, she has some of the traditions confused. A seat is often saved for Elijah at the table at Passover, not Shabbat!
The reason a seat is saved for Elijah at Passover is because of the promise in Malachi 4:5-6, which says that Elijah will return before the Messiah comes. There are other Passover traditions surrounding Elijah’s return, such as opening the door for him and pouring a glass of wine for him.
Why does Barnaby make a joke about Nazareth?
In John 1:46, Nathanael questions Phillip when Phillip says they have found Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael asks “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” and Phillip invites him to come and see and the rest is history. Nazareth wasn’t a place people respected, let alone somewhere they expected good things to come from.
When he learns that Jesus comes from Nazareth, Barnaby makes a slightly inappropriate joke at the table: “Apparently something good can come from Nazareth!” and everyone laughs after a moment of awkward silence.
I hope you found this episode as meaningful as I did and that I answered some of the questions you may have had while watching. Stay tuned for more posts explaining The Chosen. Here’s Episode 3: Jesus Loves The Little Children.
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Do you love the Land of Israel? Know someone else who does? Artzabox brings the Holy Land to you through its unique and authentic items shipped to your door.
Although the contents of the boxes change quarterly, they each include an item for the soul, an item to inspire, one to learn, one to taste, one to share, one for the body, one to cook, and one to cherish.
Artza is Hebrew for “towards the land”. Their name is inspired by Genesis 12:3-5:
“I will bless those who bless you… and all the families of the earth shall be blessed through you… and they went out towards the land“.
A different location in the Holy Land is featured each quarter. The current box is filled with items from Galilee, the region where Jesus started and spent much of his ministry. Next quarter will bring items from the Judean Desert. I can’t wait to see what interesting items will be in that one!
Galilee is a place rich with Biblical history. Mentioned 68-72 times in the Bible (depending on translation), Galilee was part of the Roman Empire in Jesus’s time. Nazareth, one of the main cities in Galilee, was the place of Jesus’s birth, as prophesied by Isaiah. Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding, is in Galilee. Galilee was also where his disciples resided as well as where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount!
Ordering Your Artzabox
There are two options when ordering from Artzabox. All boxes include food crafts, and other unique Holy Land items. Premium boxes include the same unique items and extra hand-crafted gift items as well. In the Galilee box, this was the Natural Galilean Mosaic Stones described below.
Both annual and per-quarter subscriptions are available. Right now, the annual subscription comes with the added benefit of a free Jerusalem box!
Shipped in a compact and attractive box perfect for gifting, Artzabox artfully displays the name of the area the items came from on the outside – Galilee in this case. It also says in Hebrew “משלוח מארץ הקודש”, which means “Delivery from the Holy Land”.
All items are well packaged for safe arrival to their destination. You won’t have to worry about sending damaged or unattractive gifts.
Jigsaw Puzzle with Natural Galilean Stones *Included for premium subscribers*
From Holy Land Mosaics, this collection of cubes is made from 7 types of natural and native stone – the same as those used in the mosaics found in churches of Jesus’s time! These beautiful stones can be used to create mosaics pictured on the included puzzle cards or for your own creative designs.
My family enjoyed creating different creations with these stones and I’m sure yours will too. With over 50 stones, the possibilities are endless!
Extra Hopeful Olive Oil
Produced in the city of Cana, this smooth and flavorful oil goes well with your favorite crusty bread, on salads, or in any recipe that calls for olive oil. It was perfect to use with the hummus recipe and seasoning that came in this box (see below)! This oil is the winner of numerous awards and is quite versatile for use in the kitchen. It pours slowly and has an earthy flavor and aroma.
But what makes it “extra hopeful”, you ask? That brings us to the most exciting thing about this olive oil. It’s produced in Israel by both Arab and Jewish women. In a culture where Arabs and Jews are often at odds, this company – Sindyanna of Galilee – peacefully brings the two together to create something wonderful.
Although a lot of olive oil is produced in Israel, Sindyanna of Galilee is the only certified Fair-Trade producer there. This ensures those involved in the oil production receive a fair price and that the employees are treated fairly as well.
Tzuf Chocolate Spread
This delectable sesame and hazelnut spread is a sweet and creamy addition to breads, crackers, matzah, etc. Use your imagination! It does taste sweet but doesn’t contain sugar. It’s sweetened with nectar from the coconut flower which adds a wonderfully complex flavor.
It’s also natural, with no artificial colors or preservatives and is vegan and kosher. It is gluten-free and made in a gluten-free environment as well.
Hand-made Ceramic Bowl
This bowl makes a unique gift! The design inside is a basket with two fish, inspired by the story of the loaves and fishes in each of the four Gospels. The colors are reminiscent of the Sea of Galilee and the style similar to that of ancient mosaics in the area.
Measuring just under 4 inches in diameter and stands 1.5 inches high, it’s ideal for serving dips or to store trinkets or jewelry.
The artist, Itamar Even, is the son of one of a famous ceramicist in Israel and hand-crafted this custom design just for Artzabox!
Hand-dipped Safed Candles
These beautiful candles are made in the ancient and mountainous city of Safed (Tzfat in Hebrew). Safed is one of the most well-known candlemakers in Israel.
Perfect for festive occasions, these will make a wonderful addition to any table. The colors fade into one another – purple to blue to light green to turquoise. They burn for around five hours with a clear, bright flame. Measurements: 7.5″ x 7/8″.
Jesus’s Footsteps Card Game
My children really enjoy this simple game with an educational twist. This card game is made by Grandpa’s Footsteps and Family Nature Games in Galilee.
With gameplay similar to that of “Go Fish”, both kids and adults alike can participate. But unlike a regular deck of cards, these depict stories from the Bible as well as significant places in the Holy Land. The card “families” include Miracles, Nativity of Jesus’s Birth, Symbolic Flowers of the Holy Land, and more! Each card is different and features a picture an a description, including a Biblical reference.
Lemon-lime Body Scrub
This luxurious scrub comes in a convenient bar form and you’ll notice right away that it smells SO good! It’s a low-sudsing scrub with a gentle oat exfoliant. Honey and olea europa (olive) fruit oil give it emollient properties to make your skin noticeably soft.
Michal Soaps is a popular company in Galilee, making cosmetics by hand using all-natural ingredients.
Hummus Seasoning
My family loves hummus but I find it to be bland. I like more flavor in it. This seasoning brings just that! I followed the recipe that came in the box (using the Extra Hopeful Olive Oil) and it was delicious! This seasoning was the perfect addition.
This seasoning blend is another custom-made product unique to Artzabox. Made by The Spice Road Farm in Bethlehem of Galilee, where kosher spices and blends of many kinds are expertly prepared.
Postcards
Two postcards from the region fo Galilee are also included. The pictures on them are gorgeous and the back contains information about the place in the picture, as well as a relevant verse. The Mount of Beatitudes and the Ancient Galilee Boat are featured in this box.
Do you love Israel? Need a gift for someone who does? Experience the Holy Land without leaving home with Artzabox. Click here to find yours!
Use coupon code Hebrew20 for a 20% discount on your order!
