Histories of the Holy Land Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The books of Judges and Samuel in the Tanakh present an anti-monarchical ideology. But the stories of early Israelite leaders like Gideon, Jepetah, and Abimelech have elements of kingship. How historically factual are these stories, and what can we learn about early Israelite society and politics from them?  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail An invasion of mysterious raiders changed the region forever. It destroyed the Hittite empire and nearly brought Egypt to its knees. When the dust settled, a new people, the Philistines, controlled the coast of Canaan.  Where did they come from? How did they change world history and how are they linked to the Trojan War? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The final days of the Egyptian empire in Canaan saw an increase in inter-cultural influence. A lot of that involved exploitation and slavery. But what was slavery like in those days, and how did the races feel about each other?  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The Merneptah Stele has the first recorded mention of Israel, in 1207 BCE. But the God of the Israelites was already mentioned earlier. What does that mean? Who were the Israelites and where did they come from? We look at the biblical narrative, Egyptian texts, and archaeological evidence.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The highlands of the Judean hills were a lawless land, which even the Egyptians preferred to avoid. Instead, the kings of Shechem and Jerusalem battled for domination, using the local nomadic tribes as political tools. It was in this chaos that the Israelites first emerged.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The Land of Israel had long been in contention between Egypt and its great power rivals. But now, a group of nomadic tribes outmaneuvered all the powers to create their own kingdom. How did that happen, and what does a nomadic kingdom look like? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The saga of Thutmose III's endless quest to defeat Mitanni and its pesky allies ends in this episode. But who gets the upper hand? We also have a dramatic wedding and tragic death. And an impressive array of war crimes. So much drama!  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Thutmose III had pacified the city-states of Lebanon and Canaan. But in the process, Egypt threatened the lands of Mitanni, the local power. To secure his power in Lebanon and Syria, Thutmose III would have to cross the Euphrates. The final frontier. Would he succeed?  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Thutmose III took his final steps to subdue and humiliate the kings of Canaan. But now, he was ready to move on to the next conquest. Lebanon. But with long supply lines, mountainous terrain, and treacherous enemies, it would prove a far harder nut to crack. In order to triumph there, Thutmose would have to reinvent warfare.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Egypt had no sooner established its dominance in Canaan than it faced its first challenge in the form of a new and threatening empire in the north. Who would end up as the dominant force? And what happened to Canaanite culture as it faced imperial subjugation?  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Egypt had recovered from years of weakness and was poised to take revenge on Canaan for years of Hyksos conquest. But a plucky Canaanite king organized a spirited defense of the land. Who would triumph? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail We are used to hearing the Jewish version of the Egyptian Exodus story. But there is also an ancient Egyptian one, where the Jews are the villains. That story played a significant role in the development of antisemitism.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail According to Jewish tradition, the Book of Exodus was written by Moses. But scholars believe it was put together by three different authors. Who is right? Why was the story written and how has its interpretation among Jews changed over the years? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The Exodus from Egypt is one of the most influential in human history. But many archaeologists doubt its veracity. Did it really happen and how did the story become so important?  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail It looked like Egypt was on its last legs, occupied by Nubians in the south and Canaanites in the north. But they reunited the country and made Egypt great again. How did they do it, and what happened to the Hyksos after their kingdom fell? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Egyptologists tend to look at the Canaanite rule of Egypt through the Hyksos as a chaotic interlude. But in reality, they had great kings and amazing accomplishments. We also look at Egyptian lore and examine how foreign rule scarred the Egyptian psyche.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Is there a historical basis for the story of the ten plagues recounted in the Book of Exodus? There are some scientific explanations for these events. And we also have some idea of who may have witnessed them and passed the stories on for posterity.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The Tanakh, in several places, mentions a practice of running children through the fire for the god Molech. What does that mean? Did the Canaanites sacrifice their children to a bloodthirsty god? And if so, was that tradition ever practiced by the Israelites? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Canaanite mythology sheds light on the roots and motives behind much of Israelite theology and law.  In this episode we look at the story of the golden calf, as told in Exodus, and see how it relates to Canaanite culture as we continue to delve into the roots of Judaism.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The Ugaritic Texts provide us with the internal world of the Canaanite worshippers of Baal and Asherah. The faith we are often warned against in the Tanakh. But their mythology contains the roots of the Israelite faith, which would eventually become Judaism. In this episode we look at the warrior/seductress Anat, who holds the key to the connection.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail We have all heard of Hammurabi's Code. But how important was it really? Was it just? Did anyone actually follow it? And most importantly, is it really the source of biblical law?  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The Mari Archives provide us with a glimpse of the Amorite culture. They reveal the close links between that culture and the Israelites. But more than anything else, they allow us into the emotional worlds of real people. Fathers, sons, wives, and daughters, as they navigate the cutthroat world of dynastic politics.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The Amorites are remembered in Deuteronomy as a race of giants. The most notable Amorite there is Og of the Bashan. Og also appears in Phoenician and Islamic mythology. Who was he? Where did the Amorites come from and how did they become the most powerful people in the region?  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Byblos was the closest ally of Egypt in the land of Canaan. For generations, they traded and influenced each other. They even shared gods. But their alliance was tested when a group of bandits rebelled against the king. Would Egypt come to the aid of its ally, or would it stand alone? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The Egyptian Old Kingdom collapsed, leading to a period of turmoil and instability in the Nile Delta. But in Canaan, the good times rolled. The middle bronze age is known as the "Canaanite golden age," a time of unparalleled freedom and prosperity in the Land of Israel. We recount their incredible achievements.  Support the show