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"The inhabitance that Bnei Yisrael lived in Egypt lasted 430 years." (Shemot 12: 40). Every educated day school student knows (based on Chazal’s calculations) that Bnei Yisrael spent only a little more than two centuries in Egypt. One also has to contrast this pasuk with the prophecy that Avraham received that his offspring would be in a foreign land for 400 years (Bereishit 15:13).
Let us take a look at a few more cases of problematic chronology in Tanach. The Torah says that Avraham was 75 years old when he left Charan to go to Eretz Yisrael. Yet, the calculations of Chazal are that Avraham was only 70 during the Brit Bein Habetarim, which took place when Avraham was already in the Land. A more obvious age problem is the pasuk in Shmuel (I, 13:1): "Shaul was a year old when he became king, and he ruled over Israel for two years." That certainly seems difficult to accept at face value.
In Melachim (II:15:1) it says: "In the 27th year of the reign of Yeravam, King of Israel, Azarya ben Amatzya ruled in Yehuda." The author of Seder Olam asks: "Is it possible to say that? Didn’t they rule at the same time?" (This question is based on the determination of this Talmudic-time work that Azarya is the same person as Uziyah and that Uziyah and Yeravam (the Second) started their reigns at the same time.) A final problem we will share is from Divrei Hayamim. "Achazyahu was 42 when he assumed the crown, and he was king in Yerushalayim for one year" (II:22:2). Yet his father Yehoram was 32 years old when he ascended to the throne and reigned for 8 years, meaning that Yehoram was 40 when he died. How, then, could Yehoram’s son have been 42 at the time that the father was 40?
There are a few explanations for the phenomenon of problematic dating. One is that the issue is Tanach’s way to proclaim that it is not written to serve as a historical work in the classic sense. Tanach is Hashem’s tool of revelation, and since Hashem is beyond time, time as we relate to it is not of relevance. That is why one of the strongest rules in Rabbinic interpretation of Tanach is, "There is no early or late in the Torah" (Pesachim 8b). There is an important corollary to this thesis. The Torah uses these p’sukim as a tool to teach us deep spiritual ideas that hide behind the obvious questions they raise: "Can this be?" The answer is: "Yes, it can be" – if you understand the picture in sufficiently broad terms. In this context we do not have enough space to bring all the details of how it can be and what is learned from this form of reality. We hope to soon share many of these ideas in our upcoming sefer "Tzofnat Eliyahu."
May we always have the ability to understand Tanach deeply and always be able to answer "Yes."
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
