Biblical World

Topics include a curse tablet with a Hebrew inscription, the importance of careful analysis in archaeology, ongoing excavations of the Pool of Salom in Jerusalem, DNA evidence on Canaanites and Judahites, and the use of archeopaleomagnetism in dating destruction events.

The hosts discuss the top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2023 related to the Bible, including the Hittites, the location of Sinai, and the preservation of the archaeological site of Hatushah. They also explore the misuse of archaeology in apologetics and the flood stories found in ancient civilizations. Lastly, they discuss the recent discovery of a well-preserved middle bronze building/fortress at Tel Shimeron in Israel.

Guest: Steve Ortiz, Director of the Lanier Center for Archaeology at Lipscomb University. They discuss the "Solomonic" gates, the historicity of David and Solomon, and the use and dating of archaeological materials.

Dr. Kristine Garroway discusses children in ancient Israel, exploring their health, religious roles, and societal value. She sheds light on burial practices, birthing practices, and the unique experiences of children during that time.

Exploring the connections between the Epic of Gilgamesh and biblical tales, the hosts dive into themes like guilt, grief, and humanity. They discuss the cultural influence and universal appeal of the epic, highlighting its impact on different cultures. Delving into the complex character of Gilgamesh, they unravel the contradictions within his persona and explore the parallels between ancient myths and biblical narratives.

Episode: Suzanna Millar and Sébastien Doane introduce us to a newer field in biblical studies that focuses on animals in the Bible and ancient Near East. Millar and Doane co-chair "The Bible and Animal Studies" program unit at the Society for Biblical Literature. Guests: Dr. Suzanna Millar is the Chancellor's Fellow in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament at the University of Edinburgh. She co-edited the Cambridge Companion to Biblical Wisdom literature, and is also interested in ecology and non-human animals. She's also editing the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of the Bible and Animals and is writing a book tentatively entitled Animals and Power in the Books of Samuel. Dr. Sébastien Doane is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at the Université Laval. He's the author of several books, including Questions controversées sur Jésus (Montréal, Novalis, 2023) and Analyse de la réponse du lecteur au récit des origines de Jésus en Mt 1-2 (Leuven, Peeters, 2019). He's currently writing Reading the Bible Amid the Environmental Crisis: Interdisciplinary Insights to Ecological Hermeneutics (Lexington). Image Attribution: By Syrischer Maler um 1335 - The Yorck Project (2002), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159265 Give: Visit our Donate Page if you want to help Biblical World continue by becoming a regular donor. Live Event! If you’d like to attend our live event in San Antonio on Nov 19, click HERE.

Azzan Yadin-Israel, Professor of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University, explores the fascinating journey of the forbidden fruit from biblical texts to its modern identity as an apple. He discusses the linguistic and cultural transformations that shaped this iconic symbolism. The conversation also touches on interdisciplinary connections, including insights from music, particularly Bruce Springsteen. Azzan emphasizes the need for collaboration in academia to deepen our understanding of biblical narratives and their ongoing relevance in popular culture.

Professor Erica Ferg discusses the impact of geography on religious history in the Eastern Mediterranean, exploring topics such as the Baal Cycle from Ugarit, biblical story of Elijah, and the interconnectedness of religious traditions in the region. The podcast highlights the agricultural focus in biblical research, geographical influence on religious stories, evolution of worship from Baal to Yahweh, and modern implications of religious history in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Episode: This episode covers new terrain for Biblical World. Amy speaks with Ron Simkins about the environmental crisis, ancient Israel, and an economy of enough. This is part 1 of our series on "The Bible and Nature".  Guest: (From the Creighton University website) Ronald Simkins is Professor of Theology and Classical & Near Eastern Studies at Creighton University. He also directs the Kripke Center for the Study of Religion and Society. He completed his graduate studies at Harvard University in Near Eastern Languages and Civilization, with specialties in the history, literature, and religion of ancient Israel, Hebrew, and epigraphy. He regularly teach courses on the Hebrew Bible, archaeology, and history. He's the founding and general editor of the Journal of Religion & Society. He has also produced the digital archaeology project, The Virtual World Project (http://www.virtualworldproject.org), which enables scholars and students to take virtual tours of archaeological sites in Israel and Jordan. He, along with other colleagues, continue to contribute to the project. Simkins is the author of Creator and Creation: Nature in the Worldview of Ancient Israel (Hendrickson, 1994), Yahweh’s Activity in History and Nature in the Book of Joel (The Edwin Mellen Press, 1991), and most recently, Creation and Ecology: The Political Economy of Ancient Israel and the Environmental Crisis (Cascade, 2020). Give: Help support OnScript’s Biblical World as we grow and develop. Click HERE.

Episode: Biblical World co-host Kyle Keimer discusses his research on King Hezekiah's preparations for the Assyrian attack in 701 BCE. How do archaeologists determine the nature and extent of Hezekiah's defensive network? Did the Judeans use fire signals? How did the king prepare for war (and pay for it)? Listen in for a fascinating discussion of Keimer's archaeological, biblical, and geographical thoughts on this crucial event in Judah's history.  Guest: Kyle Keimer is Senior Research Fellow in the Department of History and Archaeology at Macquarie University, where he was Senior Lecturer in Archaeology, History, and Language of Ancient Israel. He also lectures at Jerusalem University College. For over 20 years he has been excavating in Israel and Cyprus and was co-director of the Khirbet el-Rai excavations. He loves digging as much as he loves working with ancient texts, especially the books of 1-2 Samuel and Isaiah. His research currently focuses on the early Israelite monarchy in text and archaeology. He’s co-edited Registers and Modes of Communication in the Ancient Near East (Routledge) and The Ancient Israelite World (Routledge), and he's published articles in various journals. His UCLA Ph.D. dissertation was on "The Socioeconomic Impact of Hezekiah’s Preparations for Rebellion." Give: Help support OnScript’s Biblical World as we grow and develop. Click HERE.