Parashah

Weekly Reading Portion

We are borrowing the title of our weekly readings, "Parashah," from Jewish tradition. Parashah means portion and refers to the weekly Torah section read in synagogues, a tradition that continues from before Jesus' time into modern day. The entire Torah (first five books of the Hebrew Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) is divided into 54 "parashot" (plural), and one is read each week on Shabbat (Sabbath/Saturday). We'll study more about this on site!

For our purposes, our weekly reading "portion", or Parashah, are selected especially from Biblical texts that we will study as we travel through Jordan & Israel. The schedule of readings, to begin next week, is below:

Week 1: Genesis 12-17, 1 Kings 18-19, Psalm 107

Week 2: Leviticus 23, Deuteronomy 6-8, Psalm 1, Jeremiah 17

Week 3: John

Week 4: Matthew

Week 5: Mark

Week 6: Luke

Please strive to read each portion or book in its entirety each week; in one setting when possible. It is common for passages to be read in smaller sections at a time, and I want to focus especially on your opportunity to read them in their entirety as we prepare to study the text in its context. Recent reading and deeper familiarization of these texts, setting them on our hearts, will allow us to glean so much more for our journey through this course and through the land.

As you read, remember: most of the settings you encounter in your study occurred in the very places many of you will travel. We encourage you to approach each reading as if you were part of that original audience. Attempt to set aside modern interpretations and understandings as you prepare to encounter the Biblical Text in a new way, building foundations for later experiences as together we engage the Text in the context of its first-century world.