Biblical Times Podcast

This episode delves into the psychological dynamics of Samuel and Saul.

The turning point in Samuel's personality—previously depicted as gentle and reserved—occurs when the tribal elders visit his home to request the appointment of a warrior-king for Israel. They point out that his sons are corrupt and therefore unfit to inherit his position (Chapter 8).

While Samuel ignores the harsh criticism directed at his sons, from that momen...

This episode presents the first meeting between two contrasting figures, whose relationship will develop into a powerful historical and psychological drama.

Samuel, the experienced religious leader, reveals himself in his old age as a zealous, angry, and vengeful character - contrary to the expectation that he would become a measured and balanced leader. Despite his impressive appearance and tall stature, Saul turns out to have a f...

The episode deals with the transition period of Israelite society from a tribal structure to a monarchy, because of the Philistine threat to Israelite settlements.

The Philistines, who arrived in the land of Israel around 1200 BCE, initially settled in coastal cities and later penetrated inland, aiming to forcibly take over the houses and lands of the Israelites.

The Philistines excelled in military organization, advanced warfare m...

This episode focuses on Chapter 4 of the Book of Samuel, introducing the Philistines and their conflict with Israel.

The Philistines were ancient tribes who arrived on Israel's coast around the 12th century BCE.

 Initially, they settled in coastal cities of Israel, but gradually they moved inland. This shift led to wars with the Israelites over farmland and water sources.

Chapter 4 describes a severe battle where the Philistines de...

This episode focuses on Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Samuel, set around 1070 BCE in Shiloh, a small worship center near Jerusalem. The story details Samuel's early life under the guidance of Eli, the elderly priest.

Chapter 2 emphasizes the corrupt behavior of Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, described as "scoundrels." These brothers abuse their priestly positions by stealing meat from sacrifices and committing sexual crimes...

Our story takes place in Shiloh in the year preceding Samuel's birth.

Shiloh was a small settlement with a small worship center, to which Elkanah, Samuel's father, and his two wives, Peninnah and Hannah, used to come every year to perform some religious ceremony.

The Bible describes the hostile relationship that existed between Peninnah and Hannah. Yet, at the center of the story is the statement that God had closed Hannah's womb, ...

The Bible opens with two creation stories describing how God created the world, to which we dedicated the previous two episodes (16 and 17).

The first tells how God created the world over six days, and how He sanctified the seventh day as a day of rest. The second story focuses on the act that led to the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.

This episode is a bonus episode to the two creation stories in the Bible, with...

The Book of Genesis tells of two different creation stories. One focuses on the world's creation in six days and the sanctification of the seventh day, on which God rested from His work of creation.

In the previous episode, we discussed how this story forms the basis for many social laws, teaching that social order is an organic part of the order of the world's creation.

The second creation story focuses on violating God's prohibit...

The Book of Genesis opens with two stories that tell how God created the world.

The first recounts that God created the world in six days and sanctified the seventh day since He rested from the work of creation.

The second story focuses on the deed that led to the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, which we will discuss in the next episode.

The episode before us is dedicated to the first creation story, where the fa...

The Book of Ruth is considered the most beautiful story in the Bible and one of the most beautiful short stories ever written.

Ruth's story takes place around 1100 BCE when Israeli society was still tribal. A tribe was a cluster of extended families living in the tribe's territory, maintaining mutual responsibility and protecting their people.

During one of the drought years that afflicted Israel, Elimelech, Naomi's husband from th...

The Book of Ruth is considered the most beautiful story in the Bible and one of the most beautiful short stories ever written.

Ruth's story takes place around 1100 BCE when Israeli society was still tribal. A tribe was a cluster of extended families living in the tribe's territory, maintaining mutual responsibility and protecting their people.

During one of the drought years that afflicted Israel, Elimelech, Naomi's husband from th...

The Book of Ruth is considered the most beautiful story in the Bible and one of the most beautiful short stories ever written.

Ruth's story takes place around 1100 BCE when Israeli society was still tribal. A tribe was a cluster of extended families living in the tribe's territory, maintaining mutual responsibility and protecting their people.

During one of the drought years that afflicted Israel, Elimelech, Naomi's husband from th...

Part III

Tamar was about 11 years old when she married Er, Judah's firstborn son. Shortly after their marriage, God put Er to death. As required by the levirate marriage law, Judah married her to Onan, his second son, whom God also put to death. According to this law, Judah was supposed to marry her to Shelah, his third son, when he reached marriageable age.

During the years Tamar waited for Shelah, she was considered a married wom...

Part II

Tamar was about 11 years old when she married Er, Judah's firstborn son. Shortly after their marriage, God put Er to death. As required by the levirate marriage law, Judah married her to Onan, his second son, whom God also put to death. According to this law, Judah was supposed to marry her to Shelah, his third son, when he reached marriageable age.

During the years Tamar waited for Shelah, she was considered a married woma...

Genesis Chapter 38

Tamar was about 11 years old when she married Er, Judah's firstborn son. Shortly after their marriage, God put Er to death. As required by the levirate marriage law, Judah married her to Onan, his second son, whom God also put to death. According to this law, Judah was supposed to marry her to Shelah, his third son, when he reached marriageable age.

During the years Tamar waited for Shelah, she was considered a m...

The stories of the Bible, especially those in the Book of Genesis, are very concise, and we discussed the reason for this in episode 5. For the stories to convey more than the words written in them, the writers of the Bible used puns and words with multiple meanings numerous times (synergy). Each meaning plays a crucial role in the story.

However, wordplay cannot be translated from one language to another, and this limitation is es...

In this episode, we tell the story of Jacob and his two wives from two different perspectives: historical and theological. 

The historical part focuses on the marriage practices that were common in the ancient world and explains the reason why Jacob had to work for many years to pay the bride price for Rachel. It also explains why Rachel was considered a "senior wife," while her sister Leah had to get married with the inferior stat...

The story of Sarah belongs to her – yet, it also sheds light on the world of other women from four thousand years ago, who are mentioned in the Bible. The story of Sarah’s journey opens a door to the world of women in the Bible, why girls got married when they were eleven or twelve years old, why at the age when our daughters are still studying in elementary school, watching TV or playing on their tablets, the women of the ancient ...

One day, against all expectations Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac. As expected, she took back the special rights of the firstborn from Ishmael and transferred them to her own son. The Old Testament says that one day Sarah saw Ishmael “making merry.” The meaning of the word “making merry” has never been completely clarified. Still, something about Ishmael’s behavior incited Sarah’s anger, and she demanded that Abraham throw ...