The Value of the Book of Esther

How should you read the Bible? Is the Bible just a collection of nice stories mixed in with a bunch of motivational poster one-liners? What’s the best way to plumb the artistic depths of this unparalleled literary and spiritual masterpiece?

On this episode, Ari unpacked all of this with renowned podcaster and Biblical scholar Alastair Roberts. Over the course of this exciting, frenetic conversation, they talked about the Bible in the history and culture of England; why Alastair, a Protestant scholar,

is a fan of Jewish Biblical commentator Rabbi David Fohrman; the connection between Noah’s Ark, the birth of Moses and the crossing of the Red Sea; the character of Miriam; the Creation narrative and the Tabernacle in Leviticus; why Martin Luther was wrong

about the Book of Esther; how the stories of Genesis illuminate the stories of Samuel and Kings; the role of the tribe of Benjamin; the Israelites in Exile; and much more!

Good Faith Effort is a production of Bnai Zion and SoulShop.