I accidentally skipped ahead last week, so here's the portion I should have written about.
Pinchas stops a plague that strikes the Israelites in the desert, when he kills a prince who fornicated openly with a Midianite woman. As a personal reward, he and his descendants are allowed to join the priesthood.
The story is complicated, morally and otherwise. The Midianites are described as idol worshippers of a particularly gruesome sort: their method of worship was to defecate publicly in front of their idol.
According to Jewish tradition, when the evil prophet Balaam failed to curse the Israelites, he found another way to undermine them, which was through immoral relations. I don't like passing judgments on other people's personal or sexual behavior, but it suffices to observe that when people behaved badly in their personal conduct, there were profound consequences for public life.
Whatever we think of Pinchas's actions, it took extraordinary measures to reverse a decline that had become so personal, and so pervasive.
Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.
Please listen, and #bringthemhome.
SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET (4-7 PT)
This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.
One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.
"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."
So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the shutdown
- John Carney - Breitbart News financial editor, on the upcoming jobs report
- Jerome Hudson - Breitbart News entertainment editor, on the Kimmel fallout
- Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on the UN and Gaza talks
- Matisyahu - award-winning reggae artist, on his new album, "Ancient Child"
Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
