Journey Through the Old Testament

  Week 3  (October 2nd): “Joseph”  Read: Genesis 37; 39; 41-48; 50  View:  Semitic visitor to Egypt, described as "Abisha the  Hyksos " leading a group of  Aamu  ( Ancient Egyptian :  ꜥꜣmw  " West Asians "), in  the painting of a group of foreigners  in the Tomb of  Khnumhotep II , c. 1900 BC. Howard Vos has suggested that the "coat of many colours" said to have been worn by Joseph could be similar to the colorful foreign garments seen in the painting. [1 Listen:  Any Dream Will Do Additional Reading: St. Ephraim the Syrian, Excerpt from  “Sermon on Joseph the Most Virtuous” , translation by Fr. Ephraim Lash For just as the Lord was sent to us from the Father’s bosom [John 1:18] to save us all. So the youth Joseph from Jacob’s bosom [Gen 37:13-14] was sent to enquire about his own brothers. And just as Joseph’s harsh brothers, as soon as they saw him approaching, began to devise evil against him, thou...

Week 2  (September 25): “Abraham” Read: Genesis 12-13; 15-17; 21-22; 32-33; 35; Romans 4; Hebrews 11  View : " Abraham and the Three Visitors" by Marc Chagall Listen: Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan :  Additional reading:  The Parable of the Old Man and the Young, Wilfred Owen, 1917, So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went, And took the fire with him, and a knife. And as they sojourned both of them together, Isaac the first-born spake and said, My Father, Behold the preparations, fire and iron, But where the lamb for this burnt-offering? Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps, and builded parapets and trenches there, And stretchèd forth the knife to slay his son. When lo! an angel called him out of heaven, Saying, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, Neither do anything to him. Behold, A ram, caught in a thicket by its horns; Offer the Ram of Pride instead of him. But the old man would not so, but slew his son, And half the seed ...