The Bible You Thought You Knew

The story is found in the Book of Numbers, chapters 22 through 24. In this story the King of Moab tries to hire someone to curse Israel, which is on the way to the Promised Land. Balaam is the man for the job; at least, that is what the King of Moab thinks. Balaam ends up going with the delegation the king sent, but with strict orders to follow God’s lead. Inexplicably, God gets angry with Balaam...

The parable is found in Luke 15. Often treated as a stand alone story, in fact it is in a sequence of three parables Jesus told in response to people grumbling that he received and ate with tax collectors and sinners. The first parable is about a man who lost one of a hundred sheep, went to find it and carried it home rejoicing. The second parable was about a woman who lost one of ten coins, but u...

The second part features God fostering discord between the people of Shechem and King Abimelech, even though they first supported his rise to power. Though he wins in an initial skirmish, even burning down the city and the tower in which the remaining citizens were hiding, in the end King Abimelech was killed when he attacked another city, Thebez. This time his fate when an unnamed woman threw a m...

This episode features one of the strongest statements anywhere in the Bible about the power that undergirds politics. No wonder! Abimelech’s elevation to the throne was based on his ability to murder 70 siblings. Only one survived this massacre, Jotham, who is responsible for the anti-politics diatribe when he tells the Parable of the Trees.

The story appears in Genesis 11. At first, it seems misplaced because many languages are spread throughout the world in Genesis 10, whereas in 11 there is only one language, few words, and everyone occupies the same space. Context suggests a different reading of chapters 10 and 11; they are to be read simultaneously, not sequentially. As well, the Babel story is the gateway to the rest of the Bibl...

It is a quote of Hosea 11:1 in Matthew 2:15. Many commentators think that the writer of the Gospel misread this text. Instead, I argue that the prophecy contrasts two Sons of God, a disobedient Israel and an obedient Jesus.

It is a story about Jesus and the blind beggar from John 9. It focuses on a story in which a physically blind man has more spiritual insight than a number of sighted people who demonstrate how little insight they in fact have. The blind sometimes see better than those who think they have no vision impairment at all.

King Ahaziah’s death. It comes from 2 Kings 1. It “stars” a famous prophet, Elijah, and an obscure Israelite king: Ahaziah. It is a confrontation of two forms of power—the power the king has as his disposal and the power that is a manifestation of divine power.

In this famous parable that Jesus told, we mostly ignore the details or interpret it individualistically. The judgment is on nations, not individuals. There is some ambiguity about the identity of “the least of these,” though the phrase might refer to anyone needing the items mentioned. Perhaps most startling is the fact that both sheep and goats are completely surprised about the verdict. Equally...

his is a Q & A Podcast. The question is: Does Archeology prove the Bible? This question involves what we mean by “history,” what sort of documentation is required for historical argument etc. As well, it has to do with archaeology itself, which is the study of material remains. Of course, without documentation archaeology itself requires interpretation. It turns out that the question is not a simp...

This is a Q & A Podcast. The question is: Does Archeology prove the Bible? This question involves what we mean by “history,” what sort of documentation is required for historical argument etc. As well, it has to do with archaeology itself, which is the study of material remains. Of course, without documentation archaeology itself requires interpretation. It turns out that the question is not a sim...

Once the woman has headed back to town, Jesus engages the disciples. He gives them a little lesson about farming! To get to the harvest, many tasks are involved. Obviously, Jesus is not talking about agriculture, but about people. At the end of the story, the townsmen to whom the woman had spoken went to see Jesus for themselves. They noted that their belief now relied not only on what the woman h...

Jesus is on the way to Galilee and stops at lunchtime in Samaritan territory where he meets a woman. What happens after? Tune in now to find out!

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler in Israel, goes to Jesus at night; he has questions for him. What happens after? Find out now!

Was Israel monotheistic? And is the God of the Old Testament the same as the God of the New Testament? Find out the answers today!

King Ahab wants Naboth's vineyard. When he tries to purchase it from him, Naboth refuses. However, that doesn't stop Ahab or his wife, Queen Jezebel, from plotting to steal the vineyard. What happens after? Listen to find out!

Today, we continue our story from last week's episode. Want to know how the tale of Moses and the burning bush ends? Tune in now!

In today's episode, we learn about the story of Moses and the burning bush. What happens? And why is it one of the most important Bible tales? Find out now!

In this week's episode, I discuss the story of Moses, Israel, and the golden calf. How does it go? Find out now!

In the final chapter of the Samson saga, Samson ends it all in a comic tragedy. Tune in to learn about the Monty Python-esque set of circumstances that led to the end of this biblical anti-hero!

Still curious about Samson? I continue his story in today's episode, so make sure to tune in!

In this week's episode, we learn about one of the most famous characters in the Bible. Who am I talking about? Find out now!

Two prophets, a king, and a lion. This is one of the strangest stories in the Bible, and today, we're learning all about it.

In today's episode, I'll be treating King Solomon's story. He was famed for his wisdom, but is that all there is to him? Find out now!

We start 2022 with a new questions and answer session, so tune in now to learn more about the Old and New Testaments!