History in the Bible

Latest Episodes:

1.23 God's Historian: The Deuteronomist Jan 31, 2016

Show notes

Modern scholars have identified a single school behind all the books from Deuteronomy to Kings. This school wrote the histories of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, putting its own theological slant on that history.

Bonus 6: Priest-King Melchizedek, International Man of Mystery Jan 24, 2016

Show notes

In this co-released episode, Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I discuss the mysterious figure of Melchizedek, and try to work out how he figures in the Jewish and Christian priesthoods. Check out Steve at the Agora Podcast Network.

Bonus 5: James the Just in the Late Second Temple Period (Part 3) Jan 23, 2016

Show notes

In this co-released episode, Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I conclude our three-part discussion of James the Just. Steve is launching a bunch of new podcasts. Check him out at the Agora Podcast network.

1.22 Deuteronomy II: The Death of Moses Jan 17, 2016

Show notes

In the last half of Deuteronomy, Moses lays out laws on family matters. I compare these to the Mesopotamian law codes. He sets out a splendid set of curses on those would disobey, modeled on Assyrian curses. Polytheism sneaks through a few times.

1.21 Deuteronomy I: Moses Farewells His people Jan 03, 2016

Show notes

Deuteronomy is the last book of the Torah, the Pentateuch, the books holiest to Jews. To many Jewish scholars, the Torah is where study of the bible stops. I discuss how Deuteronomy was modeled on Assyrian vassal treaties.

1.20 Numbers II: Out of the Wilderness Dec 20, 2015

Show notes

While the Israelites are stuck in the wilderness they meet Balam and his talking donkey. They defeat King Og and the Midianites, and will never stop talking about it. Moses' siblings Aaron and Miriam die, and in a vicious plot-twist God tells Moses that he will never cross the Jordan

1.19 Numbers I: Into the Wilderness Dec 06, 2015

Show notes

It should have been but a few days march from Mt Sinai to the promised land. But the Israelite's kvetching annoys God so much he condemns them to spend 40 years in the wilderness.

1.18 Leviticus II: The Holiness Code Nov 22, 2015

Show notes

The first half of Leviticus is preoccupied with the priests and the Tabernacle. The second half of Leviticus radically extends the idea of holiness to the whole people of the Israelites. It lays down a mass of laws, from what an Israelite can eat, to laws on menstruation.

Bonus 4: James the Just in the Late Second Temple Period (Part 2) Nov 16, 2015

Show notes

In this co-released episode, Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I conclude our discussion of James the Just, and talk about blood pudding.

1.17 Leviticus I: God's Barbecue Nov 08, 2015

Show notes

The first part of Leviticus, which comes from the P source, sets out the complex system of sacrifices that God demands of the Israelites, and describes how the Israelites must maintain the sanctity of God's holy abode, the Tabernacle.

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