History in the Bible
Garry Stevens
A guide to the history presented in the Bible, for people of all faiths and backgrounds, presented by an independent podcaster, and biblical studies buff. I explore the religion of ancient Israel, the beginnings of Christianity, then finally the evolution of the heirs of Abraham to the year 200. I discuss every single book in every Bible (there are more than you think!). Lightly garnished with a dash of drollery, a soupçon of scrutiny, and not one ounce of objectivity. Not one ounce! The main narrative concluded in January 2024. But I continue to publish Afterlife shows.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 17, 2016 • 29min
1.22 Deuteronomy II: The Death of Moses
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.
Jan 3, 2016 • 30min
1.21 Deuteronomy I: Moses Farewells His people
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.
Dec 20, 2015 • 27min
1.20 Numbers II: Out of the Wilderness
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
Dec 6, 2015 • 28min
1.19 Numbers I: Into the Wilderness
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.
Nov 22, 2015 • 28min
1.18 Leviticus II: The Holiness Code
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.
Nov 16, 2015 • 1h 9min
Bonus 4: James the Just in the Late Second Temple Period (Part 2)
Steve Guerra, the insightful host of the History of the Papacy podcast, teams up with Gary Stevens to delve into the life of James the Just. They tackle the intricate power dynamics and cultural tensions between early Jewish and Christian communities. The conversation highlights James's role as a leader in Jerusalem, his ascetic lifestyle, and the debates around Gentile inclusion at the Jerusalem Council. Their exploration of theological transformations and the relevance of the Noahide laws offers a captivating look into the Late Second Temple period.
Nov 8, 2015 • 28min
1.17 Leviticus I: God's Barbecue
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.
Oct 18, 2015 • 56min
Bonus 3: James the Just in the Late Second Temple period (Part 1)
Steve Guerra and I discuss James the Just, how he got to be called James rather than Jacob in English, why he was James the Awesome, his relationship to Jesus, how the Catholics and Orthodox think about him, and Jesus' family life and economic situation. You can visit Steve at the History of the Papacy podcast
Oct 11, 2015 • 30min
1.16 Exodus IV: Origins of the Old Israelite Religion
The major festivals of Judaism are created, the Tent of Meeting is designed, and the priesthood under Aaron established. God is outraged when the feckless Aaron makes two idols, but in an astonishing display of nepotism, Moses lets Aaron off the hook and instead consigns 3,000 Israelites to death. We also find the real Ten Commandments: they are not what you think.
Sep 27, 2015 • 31min
1.15 Exodus III: The Contract with God at Sinai
This is the defining moment in the history of the Israelites, where they swear allegiance to God in return for a special relationship with the divinity. I discuss how this contract follows the suzerainity treaties of the Hittites and Assyrians. I also throw in a discussion on the Ten Commandments, and how the Jews and various Christian denominations slice and dice them.
