Discovering the Old Testament, Part 25 The son of King David and Bathsheba, Solomon was renowned for this wisdom, his wealth, and his women. Under his reign as described in the Bible, the Israelite kingdom arguably reached its zenith. But … Continue reading
Category Archives: Religion and Spirituality
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 24 A look at the ways of kings in the lands of Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and Syro-Palestine and how their colors and flavors of kingship reflected on Israel’s new monarchy. We examine the influence of … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 23 As one of the most famous characters in the Old Testament, King David continues to inspire and challenge readers to this day, raising the question: just how much mayhem can one commit and still … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 22 The Bible presents a consistently negative picture of Canaanite religion as a miasma of excess and debauchery masquerading as religion. But the discovery in 1929 of Canaanite texts written in Ugaritic have added some … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 21 Israel’s transition from a loose confederation led by charismatic leaders and judges was not easy, but seemed necessary. Samuel, the prophet who helped guide the Israel through this difficult adjustment, expressed no illusions about … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 20 Judges records the transition of Israel from a scattered collection of tribes caught in a cycle of sin and redemption, but where each iteration of that cycle brings them closer to social and institutional … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 19 The Book of Joshua introduces us to the end of the Exodus and the entry into the Promised land of Canaan. As the Bible tells the story, it’s an unsettling read for readers with … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 18 The system of sacrifices among the ancient Hebrews is one of the more perplexing aspects of the Old Testament and Jewish Law. As with the purity regulations, the ancient Hebrew legalists took religious metaphors … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 17 How did the people who first assembled and wrestled with the text of the Old Testament interpret their scripture? In this session, we will introduce the Jewish interpretive methods of Pesher and Midrash, along … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 16 More than almost anything else, the Sabbath is the defining institution of ancient and modern-day Judaism. We look at this unique holiday, and its place in Judaism. This episode also examines the various law … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 15 What are the purity regulations all about? Why did they matter so much? What were the ethical foundations of the Jewish dietary laws? In this installment, we address these questions and, along the way, … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 14 The Exodus from Egypt and the theophany at Sinai are the defining moments in Israel’s history—literally. This is when Israel is “created” as a nation. It is not just a geographical exodus from Egypt … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 13 The story of Joseph and his rise from slavery to near-ultimate power, and his role in saving his family from famine not only sets the stage for the Israelite Exodus out of Egyptian slavery, … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 12 What does the science of archaeology tell us about the past, especially the world of the Bible? In this episode we will learn about the basic problems facing the archaeologist, its essential assumptions, and … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 11 How Jacob outwitted his father-in-law to secure his future, and deflected the wrath of his brother Esau upon his return to his family homeland. Some thoughts on animal husbandry, tactical gift-giving, and how the … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 10 In which we meet Jacob the deceiver who, with some help from his mother Rebecca, does what he must to secure the blessing meant for his brother, and gets cheated in his turn. Here … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 9 Two episodes from Abraham’s life are difficult for many readers: Abraham’s attempted deception of King Abimelech, and the Sacrifice of Isaac. Apart from the questions they raise, they give the character of Abraham the … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 8 The stories of the Patriarchs, beginning with Abraham, are stories of survival. How did these progenitors survive, and why were they favored to receive God’s covenant? This was a major question that Genesis seeks … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 7 Abraham’s world: living the life of the desert pastoral nomad where reputation is wealth, generosity a necessity, gift-giving a political tool, and hospitality as one of the most sacred of obligations. … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 6 The story of the Flood is one of the most well-known and controversial in the Old Testament. Other flood stories have been found in Babylonian and Sumerian sources; what do they tell us about … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 5. An interlude; how to get more out of your Old Testament reading by selecting a good translation, using reference tools, concordances, commentaries, and more. Plus a special study technique that will richly reward the … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 4 The creation of humanity, a quick look at the Documentary Hypothesis, and humans as participants in the creative process. Life in the Garden, temptation, consequences and how they were understood. Runtime: 22:23. … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 3 Creations stories and their role in the ancient Near East. Genesis as a polemic against Babylonian ideas, and the unique role of humans in the created order according to Genesis. Runtime: 19:46. … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 2 How the Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures are organized, the sections and the books. Sources of the text: the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, Targums, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Finally a first look at covenants: what … Continue reading
Discovering the Old Testament, Part 1 Entering a strange and exotic world; geography, an introduction to the ancient mindset. What the Old Testament is and is not, and some hints for readers who are just getting started. Runtime: 20:44. … Continue reading