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Q&A: Da’at Mikra

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This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.

Da’at Mikra

Question

Hello,
Would you recommend studying the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) with the Da’at Mikra commentary? And if so, how can one technically do that, given that the commentary is very long? Just read the commentary, try to understand it, and review it?
Thank you,
Shmuel

Answer

I don’t have recommendations on Hebrew Bible study. I don’t deal with it and don’t see much value in it.

Discussion on Answer

Elia (2025-05-25)

First of all, it’s important to remember that Da’at Mikra was written by several different people. So, as is usually the case, there are good writers and very good writers (for example Amos Hakham), so it’s worth paying attention to that.

In my not-so-great experience, when you learn with the commentary for long enough, your head already starts to abbreviate some of the explanations and nuances going on there straight into a pretty quick “bottom line.” But that’s a personal experience, so take it for what it’s worth.

Elad Gantz (2025-05-27)

With respect, I’m not arguing with your personal feeling, but to say there is no value in studying the Hebrew Bible is a pretty strange statement.
From orderly and in-depth study of the Hebrew Bible, you gain so much; I’ll try to summarize.
1. First of all, there are several halakhic issues such as the borders of the Land, (those who came up from Babylon and from Egypt, the borders of the promise, Joshua, Ezekiel, etc.), the dimensions and form of the Temple, identification of sites, plants, conversion, and more, where one has to delve into the verses of the Hebrew Bible as part of studying the topic.
1. A correct perspective on the essence of the Torah, whose goal is not a ritual religion to appease God by means of sacrifices, but first to improve ourselves and society. “What need have I of all your sacrifices?” and so on. (And this has great significance nowadays.)
Or the reality that there is a prophet who performs a sign, and nevertheless one must not listen to him—how important that is nowadays, when people flock after all kinds of dubious figures.
2. Understanding the main things in the Torah about which the prophets cry out—improving society and caring for the weak, keeping the Sabbath, and idol worship.
3. You see that the condition of the Jewish people was not glorious morally in the time of the Judges and the prophets, and nevertheless the prophets did not detach from the people; they tried to correct them, and at the same time respected the monarchy.
4. The relationship between the power a king has and the prophet—Nathan rebukes David, Ahab has to stage a trial in order to take Naboth’s vineyard.
5. Understanding the nature of Judaism as a nation living in its land, the return to the Land of Israel, the desecration of God’s name involved when the Jewish people goes into exile, and God’s bond with His people despite all the sins.
6. You learn about a complex reality, how long it took until the Jewish people became established in its land.
7. You see that even righteous people can sin and then correct their path.
8. You learn faith and morality from the words of the prophets and the wisdom literature, and the meaning of prophecy that existed in those days.
9. A connection and bond to the land—when you study the descriptions of the places, the trees, and the stories that happened there, it gives a deep connection to the land.
10. Of course, a deep and proper understanding of the midrashim of the Sages when you understand the plain meaning of the verse and the context.
11. Especially through engaging with the verses of Scripture, there are many issues, both halakhic and matters of faith.

There is of course much more, and presumably you don’t always see the importance of the study immediately, but when you study over time in a thorough and systematic way, suddenly you notice what you gain from it (and of course the main thing is the Talmud and halakhic decisors).

Michi (2025-05-27)

I’m not going to get into these discussions here again. I’ve already explained and answered everything many times.

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