The slides for this podcast are in pdf format here. The podcast outline with notes is here. To see a color-coded version of the two narratives of P and J that together compose the Flood narrative, go here. For a pdf copy of this color-coded text, go here.Continue Reading

The Kidron[1]Kidron, קִדְרוֹן (Hebrew) Κεδρών (Greek) means “dark,” or “turbid.” The Hebrew word is related to qāḏar קָדַר a word associated with mourning, to be ashy (by … Continue reading Valley in Jerusalem courses north to south dividing the eastern side of the Old City of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives eastContinue Reading

3 Nephi 20 These chapters (3 Nephi 20-26) is the story of the victory of Zion at the end of the world. This is one of the places where Jesus shares his favorite story. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland put it this way: In fact, I have a theory about thoseContinue Reading

Seeing another layer to these puns Marvin Sweeney shows readers in this post that the names of the individuals in Genesis 25-35 reflect both geographical and cultural realities that existed and were understood anciently by the hearers of these stories. Later when these stories were textualized, many of these namesContinue Reading

In 2 Nephi 4 Lehi gives a blessing to the sons of Laman and Lemuel, his grand children. He says: Wherefore, after my father had made an end of speaking concerning the prophecies of Joseph, he called the children of Laman, his sons, and his daughters, and said unto them:Continue Reading

I always like to go through the narrative of David’s call to kingship as found in 1 Samuel. Right off the bat, we see three different narratives: He is chosen and anointed king by Samuel (1 Samuel 16.1-13). David is chosen due to his musical skill in healing King Saul’sContinue Reading

Nephi quotes Isaiah for much of the text of Second Nephi. Over the years, I have met many folks who say that they “like to skip Isaiah” because they do not understand it. Many wonder why Nephi quotes so much from Isaiah. The purpose of this post is to showContinue Reading

The following message was given by Hugh Nibley on February 24, 1965. A discussion of the religious and cultural impact of Egypt, Babylon and other neighbors on events in Israel. — Midgley For an audio recording you can access part 1 here and part 2 here. I am grateful toContinue Reading

Discovered in western Thebes, Egypt, in 1896 by W.F. Petrie, the hieroglyphic inscription on this stele from 1208 B.C.E. contains the earliest surviving reference to “Israel” outside of the text of the Bible. The text on the stele commemorates a military campaign against Libya in the fifth regnal year ofContinue Reading