Bible and Archaeology

The golden calf is one of the most infamous images in the Hebrew Bible—but what was it really? An idol? A political symbol? Or something more complicated?This week, Dr. Elizabeth VanDyke joins the podcast to re-examine the golden calf traditions and ask where these stories actually begin. Together, we explore the biblical origins of the golden calves, questions of identity and power in ancient Israel, and what kind of “calf” we should really be imagining. We also look beyond the Bible, tracing possible connections to Assyrian imperial policy, the relationship between making kings and making calves, and the strange (yet meaningful) practice of kissing the calf.✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Elizabeth VanDykeHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesAdditional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

The late antique Mediterranean was an enchanted world where the dead were not silent or distant, but active participants in everyday life. This week, historian Michael L. Satlow joins the podcast to explain why cemeteries, saints’ bones, and the spirits of the dead were seen as powerful points of contact with the divine, and why early Christians were especially drawn to them. We'll explore how practices that feel strange or forbidden today were completely normal.👉Dr. Satlow helps us explore:– What it meant to live in an “enchanted world”– Where the dead fit within the supernatural hierarchy– Why Christians were drawn to the dead (and what Jesus has to do with it)– Why necromancy crossed a line when other contact with the dead did not📚 Reading Recommendations:📖 An Enchanted World: The Shared Religious Landscape of Late Antiquity✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Michael SatlowHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesAdditional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Why does sacrifice keep returning in Christian history, even when Christianity tried to reject it? This week, historian Jonathan Sheehan joins the podcast to trace how sacrifice was abolished, absorbed, and reshaped from antiquity to the modern secular world and why Christianity couldn't get rid of it.📚 Reading Recommendations:📖 On The Altar: A History of Sacrificehttps://amzn.to/49IRfDo✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📣 Affiliate Disclosure: Using the links above may generate a modest commission at no additional cost to you and helps support our educational work.🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Jonathan SheehanHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesAdditional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are among the most important archaeological discoveries ever made, but not every fragment has turned out to be real. This week, Dr. Kipp Davis joins the podcast to explore how scholars identify which Dead Sea Scrolls are fakes, why forgers have been so successful in creating fakes, and why we are so susceptible to forgeries. This is part two of our conversation about how Dead Sea Scroll forgeries began, how experts detect them, and what these mistakes teach us about archaeology, manuscripts, and the modern antiquities market.📺 Check out Kipp's ⁠YouTube Channel⁠👉 Dr. Davis helps us explore:– What traits help to identify fake scroll fragments– How forgers play on scholars expectations– Why radio-carbon dating isn't a magic solution📚 Reading Recommendations:⁠God's Propaganda: Pulling Back the Curtain on What the Bible Wants You to See ⁠⁠Gleanings from the Cave of Wonders? Fragments, Forgeries, and “Biblicism” in the Dead Sea Scrolls⁠⁠Dating ancient manuscripts using radiocarbon and AI-based writing style analysis⁠✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Kipp DavisHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesAdditional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are among the most important archaeological discoveries ever made, but not every fragment has turned out to be real. This week, Dr. Kipp Davis joins the Bible & Archaeology podcast to explore how early questions about authenticity emerged, why the circumstances of the Scrolls’ discovery created an environment ripe for forgery, and how the early antiquities trade laid the groundwork for future fake fragments. This is just part one of a deeper conversation about how Dead Sea Scroll forgeries began, how experts detect them, and what these mistakes teach us about archaeology, manuscripts, and the modern antiquities market, so stay tuned for more!📺 Check out Kipp's YouTube Channel👉 Dr. Davis helps us explore:– Did scholars always think the Dead Sea Scrolls were authentic?– Why did conspiracy theories about the Dead Sea Scrolls begin?– Did the early antiquities market setup later Dead Sea Scroll forgeries?📚 Reading Recommendations:God's Propaganda: Pulling Back the Curtain on What the Bible Wants You to See Gleanings from the Cave of Wonders? Fragments, Forgeries, and “Biblicism” in the Dead Sea ScrollsDating ancient manuscripts using radiocarbon and AI-based writing style analysis✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Kipp DavisHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesAdditional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

The Nativity stories are often told as peaceful and comforting, but the historical world Jesus was born into was anything but calm. This week, historian Dr. Joan Taylor, author of Boy Jesus, joins the Bible & Archaeology podcast to explore the political violence, fear, displacement, and social instability surrounding Jesus’ birth. Rather than dismantling the Nativity, Dr. Taylor seeks to expand it. Drawing on archaeology, Roman history, and close readings of the gospel narratives, she places Jesus’ birth within the turbulent historical world that the gospels quietly assume their readers already knew.👉 Dr. Taylor helps us explore:– Do the gospels preserve a more dangerous story than we imagine?– What were Bethlehem and Judea really like under Herod?– What did Jesus’ Davidic lineage claims are really mean?– Why understanding Jesus as a Judaean matters📚 Reading Recommendations:📖 Boy Jesus: Growing Up Judean in Turbulent Times by Joan Taylor📖 What Did Jesus Look Like? by Joan Taylor 📃 What world was Jesus born into? by Joan Taylor ✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Joan TaylorHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesAdditional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

The Star of Bethlehem is one of the most famous elements of Matthew’s Nativity story, but what could it actually have been? How could a star lead travelers, stop over a location, or identify a single house? This week, physicist Dr. Aaron Adair joins Bible & Archaeology to examine the most common scientific explanations for the Star of Bethlehem and why many of them fall apart. By looking at both the science and the ancient context, we ask what Matthew may have intended his readers to understand and why the Star functions the way it does in the Gospel narrative.👉 Dr. Adair helps us explore– Was Matthew using technical astronomical language?– How were astronomical phenomena understood in the ancient Mediterranean world?– Could Matthew’s star have been a comet, a supernova, or even a planet?📖 Reading Recommendations:The Star of Bethlehem: A Skeptical View by Aaron Adair"The Star of Christ in the Light of Astronomy" by Aaron Adair"A Critical Look at the History of Interpreting the Star of Bethlehem in Scientific Literature and Biblical Studies" by Aaron Adair in The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Aaron AdairHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesAdditional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

The Proto-Gospel of James is one of the most influential non-canonical texts in Christian history, especially when it comes to how Christians came to imagine Mary and the Nativity. This early Christian gospel focuses not on Jesus’ ministry, but on the miraculous birth and early life of Mary, her betrothal to Joseph, and the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth. In fact, many familiar Christmas traditions, like Mary’s perpetual virginity, Joseph’s age, and the detailed setting of the Nativity, trace back not to Matthew or Luke, but to this text. This week, Dr. Mark Goodacre joins us to explore what the Proto-Gospel of James aims to accomplish, why it became so influential, and how it addresses gaps and tensions in the canonical Nativity stories while creating new problems of its own.👉 Dr. Goodcare helps us explore:– Where did the Proto-Gospel of James come from?– What does it tell us about Mary?– What new problems does it create?– Why does the Proto-Gospel of James still matter?📖 Reading Recommendations:"The Protevangelium of James and the Creative Rewriting of Matthew and Luke" by Mark GoodacreThe Protevangelium of James in Papyrus Bodmer V: Titles, Genres, and Traditions in Transmission by Kimberley A. Fowler✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Mark GoodacreHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesAdditional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Many of the Christmas traditions we take for granted, like December 25th, the Nativity, Christmas trees, the Magi, the star of Bethlehem, and even Herod’s massacre, have complex histories that don’t always match the Bible or what we’ve been taught. This week, biblical scholar Dan McClellan joins us to explain the most common Christmas misconceptions and what the historical and textual evidence actually shows.👉 Dr. McClellan helps us explore:– When Christians started saying “put Christ back in Christmas”– Whether Christmas has pagan origins– The origins of the Nativity scene– How modern culture reshapes the Bible✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Dan McClellanHosted by Dr. Jordan JonesEdited by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Ancient Egypt is far harder to reconstruct than most people imagine. Egyptologist Dr. Campbell Price joins us to explore how archaeologists and the Egypt Exploration Society pieced together Egypt’s past through 50 key discoveries. We look at the history of archaeological exploration in Egypt, how early excavations were shaped by biblical expectations and colonial agendas, and how those discoveries continue to influence what we think we know about Ancient Egypt today.👉 Dr. Price helps us explore:– What is the Egypt Exploration Society– How religious and colonial concerns shaped early archaeology– How did they settle on 50 discoveries?– What is next for the Egypt Exploration Society?📖 Check out the book: Ancient Egypt in 50 Discoveries📺 Watch more from Dr. Price on "After Dark"– Why Pharaohs Were More Sickening Than You Think! With Dr. Campbell Price– Ancient Egypt's Pyramids, Black Magic, And Execution Rituals✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Campbell PriceHosted by Dr. Jordan JonesAdditional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

What Mesopotamian texts influenced the Hebrew Bible? Dr. Joshua Bowen from Digital Hammurabi joins us to compare ancient Near Eastern literature—including the Atrahasis, the Code of Hammurabi, and other Mesopotamian myths—with the biblical text. We explore textual dependence, shared motifs, internal tensions, and what these parallels reveal about the Bible’s development.📺 Check out Digital Hammurabi on YouTube👉 Dr. Bowen helps us explore:– How to think about textual dependence– What kinds of Mesopotamian texts influenced the Bible– What questions you should ask about the Bible's use of other texts🔗 Resources & Links – ETCSL (The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature) – ORACC (Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus)– Learn to Read Ancient Hebrew: An Introduction for Complete Beginners by Joshua Bowen– Before the Muses: An Anthology of Akkadian Literature by Benjamin Foster (for Akkadian literature)– The Harps that Once...: Sumerian Poetry in Translation Paperback by Thorkild Jacobsen– The Literature of Ancient Sumer– Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others by Stephanie Dalley✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Joshua BowenHosted by Dr. Jordan JonesEdited by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

What is the Book of Revelation actually about? Most modern readers treat Revelation as a prophecy about the end times, but ancient readers read it very differently. This week, we’re joined by Dr. Rebekah Haigh to explore how ancient apocalyptic literature works, why Revelation is full of symbols and violence, and how its first-century Roman context changes everything.👉 Dr. Haigh helps us explore:– How ancient audiences understood apocalypses– Why Revelation isn’t a roadmap to the end of the world– How violence, empire, and resistance shape the book– What readers get wrong about Revelation’s message🔗 Resources & Links – Check out Dr. Haigh's podcast: "The Women Who Went Before"✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Rebekah HaighHosted by Dr. Jordan JonesEdited by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Are the Amarna Letters diplomacy or manipulation?The Amarna Letters, ancient tablets from Pharaoh Akhenaten’s capital in Egypt, reveal a world of royal drama, political gaslighting, and fragile alliances between the superpowers of the Late Bronze Age. These 3,000-year-old messages between the kings of Egypt, Babylon, Canaan, and the Hittites expose the psychology of empire, but how much can we really trust what these ancient rulers wrote?This week, Dr. Eric Cline joins us to talk about his new book Love, War, and Diplomacy and to explore what the Amarna Letters reveal about ancient diplomacy, international politics, and the tensions that existed before the Late Bronze Age Collapse. Together, we ask: Who were these kings and envoys? How did early scholars shape our understanding of them? And did anyone see the coming disaster? 👉 Dr. Cline helps us explore: – What the Amarna Letters really say about ancient diplomacy– The political psychology of the Late Bronze Age– How early scholars framed the discovery– Did the letters foreshadow the collapse of civilization? 🔗 Resources & Links – Love, War, and Diplomacy– 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed– After 1177 B.C.: The Survival of Civilizations✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Eric ClineHosted, Produced, and Edited by Dr. Jordan JonesAdditional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

What can a lost Jewish temple in Egypt teach us about early Judaism? The Elephantine Papyri reveal how Jews lived, worshiped, and but why don’t they mention the Bible? This week, we’re joined by Dr. James D. Moore to explore the big questions about the Elephantine papyri and what they tell us about the Jewish community living at and around the border fortress at Elephantine. 👉 Dr. Moore helps us explore: – What do the Elephantine papyri tell us about ancient Judaism?– Why aren’t there any biblical texts in the Elephantine papyri? – What happened to the people who lived at Elephantine?🔗 Resources & Links – Want to explore some papyri? Check out: Digital Editions of Aramaic and Phoenician Sources– Read: New Aramaic Papyri from Elephantine in Berlin✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. James D. MooreHosted and Produced by Dr. Jordan JonesEdited by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Why are witches linked with black cats, and does the Bible have anything to do with it? This week, Dr. Peter Miller joins us to uncover how biblical ideas about magic shaped later Christian traditions about witches, black cats, and the devil.👉 We’ll discuss:– What “magic” means in the Bible– How witchcraft appears in the Bible– How biblical texts became witch-hunt propaganda🔗 Resources & Links – Watch "Blacklisted: The Sacred Magic of Black Cats"– Support the House of Black Cat Magic shelter✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Peter MillerHosted and Produced by Dr. Jordan JonesEdited by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Do demons have bodies? And if they do, what do they look like? This week, Dr. Travis Proctor joins us to explore how ancient Jews and Christians understood demons, possession, and the world of spiritual beings.From their origins as the spirits of the Nephilim, to possession and exorcism stories in the Bible, we’ll unpack how early writers imagined the complicated role of demons in the Bible and how this shaped their portrayals of demonic bodies, evil spirits, and human vulnerability to possession.👉 We’ll discuss:– Where people thought demons came from– How different biblical authors used demons as an explanation– Why the biblical authors believed humans could be possessed– How ideas about demon bodies shaped ideas of exorcism📖 Check out Demonic Bodies and the Dark Ecologies of Early Christian Culture 🔗 Resources & Links – You can join Dr. Proctor for a class on demons and ghosts in the Bible through the Biblical Studies Academy– You can join Dr. Proctor for a class on the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity through the Religion Department ✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Travis ProctorHosts: Dr. Jordan JonesProduced and Edited by Jordan Jones Additional Contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Why does Jesus appear to hold a magic wand in early Christian art? And what does that symbol really mean? This week, Dr. Robyn Walsh joins us to explore early Christian iconography, what the so-called “wand” represents, and how depictions of Jesus evolved from a youthful, beardless healer to the bearded teacher we recognize today.👉 We’ll discuss:– What early Christian art tells us about Jesus– Why Jesus holds a rod or wand in ancient images– How Jesus’ beard became part of his divine image📖 (I’ve Got the) Magic Stick: The Virgus and Vitis in Roman Imperial and Early Christian Art🔗 Resources & Links – Find more from Dr. Walsh HERE– See more videos from Dr. Walsh HERE✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Robyn WalshHosts: Dr. Jordan JonesProduced and Edited by Jordan Jones Additional Contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Was the Gospel of John really written independently, or did its author know and use Matthew, Mark, and Luke as sources? This week, Duke professor Dr. Mark Goodacre is back to explore John’s surprising connections to the Synoptic Gospels and how these links could completely change how we read the New Testament.Dr. Goodacre helps us explore:– Did John really know and use the other Gospels?– How “hidden details” connect John to Matthew, Mark, and Luke– What this means for the Synoptic Problem and New Testament studiesCheck out the book The Fourth Synoptic Gospel Mark's Podcast the NTPodFind Mark on YouTubeJoin Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest: Dr. Mark GoodacreHosted, Produced, and Edited by Jordan JonesAdditional Contributions by Mary Kathryn LichtyThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

She seduced her father-in-law, he sacrificed his daughter, and it’s all in the Bible! In this episode, we explore two of the most disturbing stories in the Hebrew Bible: the story of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38) and the tragic tale of Jephthah’s daughter (Judges 11). These are two of the most shocking stories in the Bible, so why did they make it in? Are these stories misunderstood?Join us as we unpack the historical, literary, and cultural background behind these two controversial texts, explore how ancient Israel understood them, and discover why they still matter today. 👉 We’ll explore: – Who were Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38 – What was Onan’s sin?– What is Levirate marriage?–  Why did Jephthah sacrifice his daughter in Judges 11?– What these disturbing Bible stories reveal about ancient Israel.📚Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Credits Hosts: Dr. Bob Cargill, Dr. Jordan JonesProduced and Edited by Jordan Jones Additional Contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the greatest archaeological discoveries ever made, but what do they actually tell us about ancient Judaism, the Bible, and the mysterious site of Qumran? Were they really part of a library, or something else entirely?This week, we’re joined by Dr. Sidnie White Crawford, author of Scribes and Scrolls at Qumran, to explore the big questions about the Scrolls.Dr. Crawford helps us explore:– Were the Scrolls connected to Qumran, or placed in caves by chance?– What do they reveal about ancient Jewish life and religion?– Can we ever know who wrote the Scrolls?Check out the book ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.eduWant to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show.Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest: Dr. Sidnie White CrawfordHosted, Produced, and Edited by Jordan JonesAdditional Contributions by Mary Kathryn LichtyThe Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda StoneBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.