Best Jonathan Finley Podcasts (2024)

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78. The Divine Council in the Book of Job 1:00:49

3d ago1:00:49

1:00:49

Job is one of the most profound and controversial books of the Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew language of its 39 chapters of poetry is the most difficult to understand of the whole corpus of the Hebrew Bible. Yet it is the 3 chapters of narrative that have garnered the most attention - and understandably so - because of a rare setting: the divine council…

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77. Hebrew Language Insights from Habakkuk 2: Vision, Covenant, and the Flood 48:47

18d ago48:47

48:47

What are some Hebrew language insights from Habakkuk 2? This chapter has famous verses and some hidden gems. Matthew Delaney (MA Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) shares some insights from this chapter that are rooted in the original language. All insights are shared in such a way that people of any (or no) level of Hebrew can engage with.…

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76. Making Sense of Ezekiel: Interview with Dr. Donna Petter (Gospel Coalition Commentary) 1:02:01

1M ago1:02:01

1:02:01

How do we make sense of Ezekiel? Our guest, Dr. Donna Petter, answers a number of questions about this important book. How do we make sense of graphic and violent sections in the book? What is the big picture structure of the book? Donna gives great insights into the intentionality of the design of the book between its two halves as well as a progr…

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75. Hebrew Language Insights from the Burden of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1) 47:17

2M ago47:17

47:17

What are some of the most interesting Hebrew language insights from Habakkuk 1? In this episode Matthew Delaney (MA Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) shares a variety of insights from this chapter of the Hebrew Bible. Everything is shared in such a way that people with no knowledge of Hebrew will be able to benefit from this. Those who wan…

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74. Jonathan Finley: Biblical Crossroads - Jacob in Hosea's Rhetoric 55:46

2M ago55:46

55:46

Why does Jacob the Patriarch show up in Hosea 12? Hosea makes a number of comparisons between Israel and Jacob the Patriarch in Genesis. On the surface, some of these moments in the rhetoric are confusing. Our podcast guest, Jonathan Finley, wrote his Masters Thesis on this topic. Jonathan shares a number of insightful thoughts on the flow of the r…

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73. Hebrew Language Insights from Isaiah 7-8 1:04:19

2M ago1:04:19

1:04:19

Isaiah 7-8 are chapters that contain some of the most enduring and influential words of prophecy of the Hebrew Bible. What insights can be gained by reading these chapters in Hebrew? In this episode, Matthew (M.A. Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) shares a variety of interesting and meaningful ideas from reading this section of Isaiah in H…

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72. "Write the vision and make it plain..." From Questioning to Awe through Faith 1:00:21

3M ago1:00:21

1:00:21

One of the most popular verses about "vision" that is used in teaching about personal and group vision statements is Habakkuk 2:2, but what is the original context of this verse? Understanding what is meant by "vision" both generally and specifically in the book of Habakkuk is essential to not taking this verse out of context. Unfortunately, Habakk…

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71. "Where there is no vision..." The Sage-Prophet in the Scripture and Vision Statements Out of Context 56:00

3M ago56:00

56:00

What is the context for the famous verse "Where there is no vision, the people perish"? Is this Biblical support for company and personal vision and mission statements? Or is something else going on here? We dive into the context of this verse within the book of Proverbs, analyze the Hebrew language of the text, and talk about the dynamic of the fu…

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70. The Seed of David and the Servant Leadership of God: a Surprising Christmas Bible Study 56:35

4M ago56:35

56:35

Samuel has a surprising connection to Christmas. Church lectionaries during Advent are filled with prophets like Isaiah, yet 2 Samuel 7 makes its way into the lineup. Why? Whether or not you are interested in this chapter’s connections to Christmas, 2 Samuel 7 is a pivotal passage for the plot of the Hebrew Bible. Themes of dynasty, presence, serva…

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69: The Context of the Emmanuel Prophecy in Isaiah 29:31

4M ago29:31

29:31

What is the actual context behind the famous verse about the virgin giving birth to a son named “Emanuel”? This line comes from Isaiah, and the context opens up deeper layers of meaning. In this episode Matthew (M.A. Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) shares the story of Isaiah 7-8 and teaches the difference between “prediction fulfillment”…

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68. Prophets, Power, & Paradoxes: Insights from Micah 29:44

5M ago29:44

29:44

Micah 3 contains a passage that challenges hypocritical prophets. The Hebrew language of this chapter is biting and intense. What follows this section of judgment is an unexpected message hope. Micah 3-4 is a great section of the prophets that illustrates two important themes of the prophets of the Hebrew Bible. Matthew (M.A. Biblical Literature an…

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67. Dr. Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer: Making Sense of the Hebrew Prophets 1:00:27

6M ago1:00:27

1:00:27

How do we make sense of the Hebrew Prophets? The Latter Prophets of Isaiah-Malachi are some of the most enduring books of the Hebrew Bible. While this literature is full of meaning, these books can be some of the most difficult to understand. We interviewed a scholar on the prophets to learn more about how to approach this part of Scripture. Lena-S…

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66. Dr. Matthieu Richelle - Interpreting Israel's Scriptures: A Practical Guide to the Exegesis of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament 1:06:24

6M ago1:06:24

1:06:24

How do we do responsible and holistic exegesis of the Hebrew Bible? What are principles and methods that we can apply reasonably and consistently? In this unique interview, Dr. Matthieu Richelle wrote responses to questions that we sent him about his book on the subject. In this episode we share our correspondence with him and also share our own th…

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65. Gary Schnittjer: "Old Testament Narrative Books: the Israel Story" 1:03:12

7M ago1:03:12

1:03:12

Making sense of narrative books of the Hebrew Bible. We interview Dr. Gary Schnittjer about his latest book and questions related to narrative books of the Hebrew Bible. See below for episode timestamps and information for the giveaway. Old Testament Narrative Books: the Israel Story: https://www.amazon.com/Old-Testament-Narrative-Books-Connections…

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64. Nephilim, Giants, and Divine Sonship 1:04:37

8M ago1:04:37

1:04:37

Who are the Nephilim in Genesis 6? The answer to this question plays a key role for the plot of the Hebrew Bible. This rabbit hole is deep and fascinating. Our journey takes us to comparing ancient manuscripts, analyzing Hebrew text, and exploring the Mesopotamian tradition of divine beings and a flood. The conversation finishes with how this topic…

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63. Dr. Iosif Zhakevich: Commentary on Zechariah 54:46

8M ago54:46

54:46

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Iosif Zhakevich about his new commentary on the book of Zechariah. See more about Iosif below. Link to Iosif’s book: https://www.gracebooks.com/zechariah-motc.html We talk about a number of topics Nathan and Iosif share memories studying at Hebrew University of Jerusalem together Iosif Zhakevich’s commentary on Zec…

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62. Dr. Hélène Dallaire: Women in the Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East 1:17:42

9M ago1:17:42

1:17:42

What did the life of women actually look like during the time of the Hebrew Bible both in Israel and in the surrounding ancient Near East? Dr. Hélène Dallaire gives us a taste of her newest course that she teaches at Denver Seminary. Dr. Dallaire brings the world of the Hebrew Bible to life by giving vivid pictures of both the general life of women…

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61. Deuteronomy isn't just a book...it's a treaty: a Bible study on the form and message of Deuteronomy 55:55

9M ago55:55

55:55

Deuteronomy has one of the most famous lines in all of Scripture that Jesus quotes as part of an answer to the question: "What is the greatest commandment?" The Shema is the core of a Jewish prayer that is one the of the oldest prayers in the world. Deuteronomy 6:4 and following are famous for good reason...but what is the entire book of Deuteronom…

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60. Psalm 1-2 Bible Study with JC from Bite Size Seminary: the Introduction to the Book of Psalms 49:42

10M ago49:42

49:42

Introductions matter. They give purpose for the book, orient readers to the trajectory of the work, and show important themes. Unfortunately, many do not realize that Psalm 1 AND 2 together form the introduction to Psalms. This has major implications for how we approach this book.JC from Bite Size Seminry joins Matthew in a Bible Study on Psalm 1-2…

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59. The Story of the Torah - Interview with Gary Schnittjer about his new book: “Torah story, Second Edition: An apprenticeship on the Pentateuch” 58:06

11M ago58:06

58:06

We interviewed Gary Schnittjer about his new book about the Torah “Torah story, Second Edition: An apprenticeship on the Pentateuch” We talk about a number of topics related to the Torah How the Torah is the foundation of the Bible and the foundation of the Gospel Misconceptions about the Torah Understanding the meaning of the Hebrew word for Torah…

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58. What did Adam, Eve, and Israel hear...the Sound, Thunder, or Voice of God? 1:00:41

11M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

What is the voice of God and how does this impact the revelation of God? The Hebrew word קול can mean sound, voice, and even thunder. We trace this word through important stories in the Hebrew Bible to see what we can learn about God from this. What does קול mean in Genesis? What sound of God did Adam and Eve hear in the Garden of Eden? What does i…

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57. JC Schroeder: God, the Divine Council, and the Storm - A Bible Study on Psalm 29 (PLUS How to navigate the tension between devotions and academic Bible study) 57:24

12M ago57:24

57:24

Our latest podcast guest is experienced in both academic teaching and practical ministry. JC Schroeder is a clear and peaceful communicator who has a gift for getting to the heart of the matter to touch the heart of people. He is an Instructor at The Ezekiel Project School of Evangelism, a discipleship and ministry training ministry in the metro De…

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56. Getting a PhD in Hebrew Bible Studies and the value of deep learning for understanding Scripture 55:28

1y ago55:28

55:28

Dr. Nathan French shares insights from his experience getting a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the ancient Near East back in 2018. Nathan talks about how he felt called by God to pursue deep academic study. This leads us into a discussion about valuing the callings of others even if they are different from ours. Have you ever wanted to know what this jour…

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55. The message of Joel, the context of God pouring out His spirit, and Hebrew language insights from the text 43:51

1y ago43:51

43:51

In this episode, Matthew Delaney shares insights about the book of Joel. One of the most famous passages of the entire Hebrew Bible about God pouring out His spirit on all flesh is found in this book...but what is the context of this famous line? Matthew gives a brief overview of the book and its message before sharing a number of Hebrew language i…

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54. Kevin Grasso (Biblingo): Interview with Hebrew Linguist the Deep Work of Biblical Linguists 58:39

1y ago58:39

58:39

We had a conversation with Hebrew Linguist Dr. Kevin Grasso. We discussed a variety of topics His choice to specialize in linguistics to be a better Bible scholar His favorite areas of linguistics The role of comparative semitics for linguistics The word order debate in Biblical Hebrew How we know what Biblical words mean Discourse analysis in Bibl…

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53. Lessons and Stories from a Masters Degree in Israel 44:06

1y ago44:06

44:06

Dr. Nathan French had the amazing opportunity to get a Masters degree at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel from 2009-2011. He shares a number of highlights from his experience. His unique degree program Stories of what it was like walking in the Holy Land while studying Scripture Some of his favorite classes that he took including everything…

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52. Edward Cook: A Forgotten Lingua Franca and Language of the Bible - Aramaic 52:14

1y ago52:14

52:14

Dr. Edward Cook is Ordinary Professor of Semitic Languages at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. His newest book is Biblical Aramaic and Related Dialects An Introduction (2022). (Link below)Aramaic was the lingua franca of the ancient Near East after Akkadian, and it is one of the original languages of Scripture. For biblical and historica…

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51. Jason Staples: the Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism - a New Theory of People, Exile, and Israelite Identity 59:44

1y ago59:44

59:44

After a decade of research, Jason Staples challenges the surface level assumptions of scholarship from decades ago that is pervasive to this day about Israelite identity in Second Temple Judaism. The implications of the results of his work are vast. Most notably this groundbreaking research adds great depth to the great commission of Jesus. Jason p…

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50. Making Sense of Genesis 19:23

1y ago19:23

19:23

In this episode, I give some big picture thoughts on what makes Genesis such a great book along with some tips for reading. Genesis is the ultimate origin story. Every major group of the Bible is mentioned in the book. How is Genesis 1-11 and 12-50 connected? These feel like two very different types of stories. How are stories of a cosmic scale con…

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49. Tips for getting the most out of reading the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in 2023 28:24

1+ y ago28:24

28:24

Do you have goals of getting more out of your Bible reading plan for 2023? Here are some tips for engaging with the Hebrew Bible this year. Best translations How much to read What order to read in What to do when it gets boring Tips for reading Law, Prophets, and Wisdom and more!WHERE TO FIND USPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsightsYo…

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48. The Context of Christmas Verses in Isaiah 55:12

1+ y ago55:12

55:12

The New Testament directly quotes Isaiah 7 as a powerful prophecy that is fulfilled in Jesus. Isaiah 9 also contains a beautiful passage about the Messiah. In this episode, we explore the context of these famous verses and 9 contain verses that are referenced. Do these Christmas verses mean anything to their original, immediate audience? Does this …

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47. Peter Beckman: How the wisdom of Ben Sira has impacted the church (Sirach, Ecclesiasticus) 1:09:56

1+ y ago1:09:56

1:09:56

Ben Sira (also known as Sirach or Ecclesiasticus) is one of our most important sources of ancient Hebrew literature. It is also one of 7 books that belong to the Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical books of the Bible. This great source from second temple Judaism has played an important role to the Christianity since the early church. Our guest, Peter Beckma…

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46. Genesis 1:1-2 Deep Dive: Is there "chaos" in Genesis 1? 57:14

1+ y ago57:14

57:14

Genesis 1 has inspired deep study of Scripture and sparked intense debates amongst people of faith. Here are some thoughts from the Hebrew language and the ancient Near East Context to contribute to this age long discussion. We address a number of topics Gap Theory How do we translate Genesis 1:1-2? What is the Hebrew behind “formless and void” (תה…

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45. One Hebrew Word that Means Work, Serve, AND Worship: Explanation and Implications 1:06:58

1+ y ago1:06:58

1:06:58

I share the first mind-blowing Hebrew language insight that I ever learned.This episode is about two big questions.What is worship?What is work?What if I told you that Hebrew has a word that means BOTH?This Hebrew word launches us into a foundational conversation about core components of life. Our journey takes us to Exodus where this word is the g…

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44. Halloween Special: Scary and Spooky Stories in the Hebrew Bible 1:02:30

1+ y ago1:02:30

1:02:30

We have some fun with a holiday themed episode! We look at some scary and spooky stories in the Hebrew Bible and have some surprisingly deep moments in our conversation. Also, don't worry. We bring it all back to the Fear of the LORD at the end. We discuss a number of topics Who are the Nephilim and the Sons of God in Genesis 6? A witch story in th…

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43. Dr. Michelle Knight: The Story and Song of Deborah in the Book of Judges 1:05:42

1+ y ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Dr. Michelle Knight is a professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She is passionate about reading the biblical text closely, understanding its world, and seeing what it is doing on a literary level. Her expertise and infectious energy inspire students to engage with the Biblical text.TEDS Mdiv: https:…

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42. Yitzhaq Feder: Purity and Pollution in the Hebrew Bible - the concrete experience that grounds the abstract concepts of Leviticus 1:05:24

1+ y ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Yitzhaq Feder is a Lecturer in Hebrew Bible at the University of Haifa. He received his PhD from the University of Bar-Ilan University and has been teaching and researching since 2008. He won the 2012 David Noel Freedman Award for Excellence and Creativity in Hebrew Bible Scholarship. Feder’s Book “Purity and Pollution in the Hebrew Bible: From Emb…

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41. Retribution: How did Israel view God's involvement in the world? 57:54

1+ y ago57:54

57:54

How do the Hebrew authors portray that way that God gets involved in the lives of individuals and communities? How does this look in the New Testament, and how can we grapple with this question today? The hermeneutical principle of retribution is one of the most important worldview concepts of Israel and its neighbors. Reward and punishment (blessi…

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40. The Attributes of God with Corina Cater 52:15

1+ y ago52:15

52:15

Corina Cater is the host of the God-besotted podcast, a devotional podcast that focuses on digging into God’s Word to delight in Him more. Holding a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Belhaven University and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary, Corina’s passion is expositing the Word of God for the peopl…

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39. Dr. Joanna Kline: Connections between the stories of David, Jacob, Judah, and Joseph 52:11

1+ y ago52:11

52:11

Dr. Joanna Kline is a professor at Gordon College where she teaches Old Testament. She specializes in literary approaches to the Bible and early interpretation of Scripture. If you enjoy seeing connections between different biblical stories, you will love today’s episode. Joanna talks about narrative analogy: when Biblical stories are written in su…

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38. Psalm 113 and 1 Samuel 2: Hebrew Connections, ANE Cosmology, and God's Care for the Poor 36:24

1+ y ago36:24

36:24

We start our Bible study in Psalm 113 and use it as a launching pad to other conversations! Ancient Near East Cosmology. What does the name of the LORD mean? How does modern science impact our interpretation of Scripture? The Hebrew of Psalm 113. The strong connection between Psalm 113 and the Song of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2 How caring for the poor is…

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37. Keith Pinckney: Passion for God and Scripture, teaching to reach your community, Black Hebrew Israelites, and how to create excellent content 1:00:57

1+ y ago1:00:57

1:00:57

Keith Pinckney is the podcast host of the Windows and Mirrors bible podcast and is a PhD student at the University of St. Andrews. Keith is an engaging communicator and a relentless researcher with a drive to reach others. He is passionate about biblical research and teaching that impacts real communities. Keith is particularly interested in inner-…

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36. Limping with God: Jacob and the Old Testament Guide to Messy Discipleship (Chad Bird) 59:04

2y ago59:04

59:04

Chad Bird shares devotional insights from deep research of the life of Jacob in his latest book “Limping with God: Jacob and the Old Testament Guide to Messy Discipleship.” Chad shows how Jacob and his family are highly relatable, and uses them as a launching pad into discussions about discipleship. Chad’s engagement with the text, his spiritual re…

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35. Year of Jubilee and Social Justice in the Ancient Near East with Noah Green 1:22:34

2y ago1:22:34

1:22:34

How significant is the Year of Jubilee within its ancient Near East Context? The ideas of justice and social justice are critical now and in the Hebrew Bible. What do these ideas look like for the authors of the HB and their neighbors? We discuss this topic with Noah Green, one of Nathan French's students, who wrote his senior paper on this topic. …

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34. How Israel Tells History, 1 Kings 12, Tension in the Kingdom 52:01

2y ago52:01

52:01

We discuss one of the monumental scenes in the story of 1 and 2 Kings. We talk about a number of topics such as the big picture story of Kings, politics in the ancient Near East, why Cain killed Abel, and the characters of Rehoboam and Jeroboam. WHERE TO FIND US Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c…

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33. Samson and the Era of the Judges 1:02:08

2y ago1:02:08

1:02:08

We answer a listener question who wanted to hear about Samson in a deeper than the typical retellings of Samson's life. We talk about the context of Samson within the book of Judges as a whole and then we discuss some of the fascinating parts of his life that we don't hear about as often such as his amazing birth narrative, the meaning of his name,…

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32. Jewish-Christian Relations with David Nekrutman 1:03:49

2y ago1:03:49

1:03:49

David shares his story about how he, an Orthodox Jew, got into Jewish Christian Relations. He has spent over two decades in this field doing everything from teaching to humanitarian work. We discuss why there has been a historical rift between Jews and Christians. David gives his take on how he views the Holy Spirit. Lastly, David shares his most r…

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31. Wisdom, Emotions, and Sound Play in the Psalms with Dr. Jonathan Kline 56:49

2y ago56:49

56:49

What does the Hebrew of the Psalms teach us about how to approach the Psalms? Dr. Jonathan Kline speaks with wisdom about not just the Psalms but also on learning, teaching, and life. Jonathan is not just a great scholar is but an excellent editor. Jonathan is a true professional in the field and handles conversations with wisdom and kindness that …

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30. Did Jacob Wrestle with God or Esau? Interview with Dr. Daniel Bunn 1:00:15

2y ago1:00:15

1:00:15

Jacob has a mysterious encounter with a figure in the middle of the night that is a key event in his life. The story is ambiguous about who he wrestles. Dr. Daniel Bunn did his PhD Dissertation on the topic and shared his research with us in this episode. Prefer YouTube? Check out the YouTube version here: https://youtu.be/mf9manVkMuY Daniel Bunn's…

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29. Reading the Psalms Closely from Ancient Codices with Dr. Pete Myers 1:11:37

2y ago1:11:37

1:11:37

Dr. Pete Myers talks about his most recent project: A Hebrew Reader for the Psalms: 40 Beloved Texts. Pete read 40 of the Psalms comparing every word between two manuscripts, analyzing every word down to not just to the vowels but also the diacritical marks. This kind of research leads to excellent insights that he shares with us in this episode. P…

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