Dec 16, 2023
In today's Episode:
You are Chosen
In 1st century Israel there was a lengthy and very specific process kids would go through to determine their eligibility to study Scripture and be a disciple. It started with Torah school, known as Bet Sefer where boys between 6 and 10 years old started their education. On the first day of class, a rabbi would take honey and put it on the student's fingers where they were encouraged to lick it off as their teacher reminded them to 'taste and see that the Lord is good' and that the words of God are sweet like honey and the most pleasurable thing they could comprehend (Psalm 119:103).
Then, for the next few years, the students, under the guidance of a Rabbi, learned to read, write, and memorize the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Remarkably, by age 10, they would have memorized 187 chapters and over 5800 scripture verses. At the end of Bet Shefer, if the kids weren't among the "best of the best” students, they would be sent home to learn the family trade.
However, the most promising students, usually ages 10 to 14, had an opportunity to advance to Bet Midrash, where they would memorize the rest of the Old Testament. Now, the Rabbis in Bet Midrash used a unique teaching method where they helped students learn to think well by asking them questions and having them students respond with questions, similar to the Socratic method.
This is why we see Jesus at age 12 in the Temple in Mark 2:46,
Read the full blog at: www.mandyarioto.co
Song: Would You Forgive, by Jorm @iamjorm
Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs