The Third Hour Podcast

The Book of Nehemiah portrays yet another step in the reconstruction of post-Exile Jerusalem. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we discuss some of the ways Nehemiah's priorities differ from Ezra's, the composition of the religious classes, and the politics behind the rebuilding of the city walls.

At long last, the Babylonian Exile is over! Thanks to the edicts of Cyrus the Great, the Jewish people have been released, allowing the reconstruction of Jerusalem as a client state of Persia. However, the state of affairs is far from perfect, leaving the inhabitants of the Province-Across-the-River uncertain about their families' future.

The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs, doesn't have a good reputation in Mormonism. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we discuss the reasons behind the poem's ignominy, as well as the beauty of its prose and some of the ways it has been interpreted throughout history.

The Book of Job has been interpreted and reinterpreted countless times across the centuries. Today, we look at two modern retellings: Joel and Ethan Coen's A Serious Man and Edward Greenstein's Job: A New Translation. Along the way, we discuss the book's many meanings, its ancient context, and how this most unorthodox story may have entered the Biblical canon.

The Book of Job ranks among the Hebrew Bible's most poetic and enigmatic books, an examination of suffering and the answers we offer to that suffering. Today on a double-length episode of the Third Hour Podcast, we dig into the particulars of the story, our own reactions to it, and the ways it challenges our behaviors and even our broader religious traditions.

The Babylonian Captivity is the watershed event of the Hebrew Bible, a catastrophe that will preoccupy its latter books. Today we examine Lamentations and Ecclesiastes, which offer contrasting responses to the destruction of Jerusalem.

Whoa! Another Isaiah! This week on the Third Hour Podcast, we discuss Trito-Isaiah in some depth, including the textual clues that have led most scholars to conclude that it was written by a different author than those who wrote the first two Isaiahs, the way its author's understanding of the covenant differs from his predecessors, and the milieu that influenced his work.

Early Christians often identified the Book of Isaiah as "the fifth gospel." Yet its theology, rhetoric, and even authorship complicates such easy description. Today, the Third Hour Podcast talks about the book's second major section. Who was Deutero-Isaiah? What did they hope their audience would learn from their writing? Hopefully we can shed some light on those enduing questions.

In its second half, the Book of Ezekiel tones down the sexual imagery but becomes no less enigmatic. This week on the Third Hour Podcast, we investigate some of the book's most notable passages, including the valley of dry bones and the destruction of Gog and Magog, and discuss some complicating factors in the way these have been interpreted throughout history.

Age Warning! The Book of Ezekiel has traditionally been withheld from students until the age of thirty — the reasons for which we will investigate in this episode as we discuss the extreme visions, behaviors, and ethical code that are the hallmarks of this prophet.

In stark contrast to the first half of the Book of Jeremiah, the second half shifts tone, genre, and even theology. Join us for a discussion of Jeremiah's politicking, prophecy, and his unique approach to Babylon.

The Book of Jeremiah is famous for its lamentations. What might surprise some listeners, however, is the ways that Jeremiah inverts expectations. In this episode, we discuss the prophet's laments, sarcasm, and perhaps most importantly, his invective for the priests, temple, prophets, and even God.

As the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel progressed, the prophets of the Kingdom of Judah reacted in a variety of ways. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we're looking at four such prophets, each with their own perspective on the invasion of Assyria: Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, and Habakkuk.

You've heard it before: the Book of Isaiah is notoriously difficult, nigh impossible to decipher without a deep understanding of symbolism. Nothing could be further from the truth! Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss the particulars of First Isaiah — the original author whose works fill the first 39 chapters of the final book — including some essential historical context that makes Isaiah a cinch to understand.

The Book of Hosea is a challenging text for a number of reasons: translation, transmission, and complex political dynamics, not to mention the distastefulness of its central metaphor. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we examine what we can learn from engaging with a difficult text.

With the Book of Amos, we witness the birth of a new literary tradition, one that will continue throughout the remainder of the Hebrew Bible. Utilizing song, poetry, persuasive essays, oracles, and other forms, the author expresses a new ethical model, complete with a novel understanding of covenant, causality, and justice.

The Books of Chronicles have always presented unique problems to Biblical scholars and religious authorities. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we discuss not only what makes Chronicles difficult, but also why it can prove instructive to our understanding of the history and theology of its time.

The final chapters of Kings cover two collapses as Assyria defeats Israel and Babylon defeats Judah. Interspersed with these disasters are accounts of kings both righteous and wicked — according to the Deuteronomist, that is. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we dig into the authorship and history of these twin collapses.

As successor to Elijah, Elisha immediately sets about either replicating or one-upping his predecessor's miracles — by having two bears chow down on some churlish adolescents. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss Elisha and some bonus royal squabbles.

Elijah looms large in the imagination of multiple religions. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we examine the passages behind that reputation and ask whether it comports to our understanding of this enigmatic figure.

The division of King David's United Monarchy marks a watershed moment in the Hebrew Bible, not to mention the Deuteronomistic History. Blending history, folktale, and propaganda, the feud between Rehoboam's Judah and Jeroboam's Israel soon becomes a tale of multiple succession crises, conflicts, and dynasties — and the Third Hour Podcast is working to clarify these interconnected strands.

The tale of King Solomon has inspired countless interpretations, filled with wisdom narratives about divided babies and flattering visits from the Queen of Sheba. But the story that comes to us is filled with editorializing from our good friend the Deuteronomist. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we dig into the realities of Solomon's court.

As we reach the conclusion of King David's life, readers of the Hebrew Bible are confronted with a troubling image: a feeble old man who in his last words requests vengeance against those who slighted him. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss the appendix to the Books of Samuel, the succession of Solomon, and why we should be cautious whenever we hear somebody make big claims about chiasm.

The tale of Absalom — son of David, avenger of Tamar, murderer of Amnon, rebel king of Israel — is an enigmatic chapter in the long tale of King David. It's a story full of cowardly justice and bold injustice, one that touches upon courtly intrigues and distasteful sexual ethics. What can we learn from this Biblical story? Read along as the Third Hour Podcast tries to find out!

Something is wrong in King David's court, but it's even worse than you've been told. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss the curdling of David's tale, including the fate of Jonathan's son, David's rape of Bathsheba and murder of Uriah, and Nathan's rebuke of the king's behavior.

Through sheer serendipity, the path has been paved for David's ascent to the kingship, and his good favor continues when his rivals stumble over themselves time and time again. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss holy dice, cheapened revelation, and why David is perhaps not the paragon of virtue you've been led to believe.

With his options quickly running out, David decides that it isn't enough to be a criminal — he must also join the Philistines. Meanwhile, King Saul is so uncertain about his future that he resorts to necromancy, raising Samuel's spirit to ask for advice. In the end, Saul is killed in battle entirely without David's involvement, a suspicious turn of events to say the least. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss the etymology of "spirit," the welcome circumstances of David's enemies being swept from the field, and what the author of the Book of Samuel might be trying to say about these complicated characters.

We all know the story. On the run from King Saul, David assembles a band of outlaws to survive both the rugged landscape and the pursuits of the King. Except the text doesn't quite line up with the plucky image. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss David's time as a ruffian, from his two run-ins with Saul to some light racketeering on the frontier.

Continuing into 1 Samuel, we reach one of the most famous stories in all of human literature: David and Goliath. Or rather, two intertwined stories about David and Goliath, plus a third later in 2 Samuel. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we not only peel apart those tales, but also dig into David's marriage to Michal, his love for Jonathan, and the presence of household gods in the royal court.

The people want a king to rule over them. Sound familiar? Samuel balks at the idea, but he soon finds a suitable candidate in the person of Saul. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss Samuel's scheming, Saul's bumbling, and why we really ought to read the text of the Bible before coming up with scriptural takeaways.

The Book of Samuel offers an enigmatic and compelling portrait of multiple men of power. This week, we examine the passing of the mantle from the House of Eli to Samuel, including questions of authorship, the way we read the text versus what it actually argues, and the value of thinking outside the box. Meanwhile, the Ark of the Covenant goes on a solo adventure.

There's a good chance you know the story of Ruth. After the horror and bloodshed of Judges, this is the one where everybody's courteous and does the right thing. Right? Well, about that. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we're talking about who wrote Ruth, why they wrote it, and how that should inform what we draw out of it.

The last few episodes in the Book of Judges contain some of the most difficult material in the entire Hebrew Bible. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss Micah's idol, the Levite's concubine, and the Benjamite War — and why these episodes exhibit the Bible at its most morally coherent.

Abimelech! Jephthah! Samson! This week on the Third Hour Podcast, there isn't a single male role model to be found. Join us as we discuss the bloodsickness evident in Judges — and why, despite all that, it might be one of the most moral books we've read in the Hebrew Bible so far.

The Book of Judges throws the triumphal narrative of Joshua into disarray, introducing a chaotic landscape dominated by guerrilla warfare, extreme violence, and charismatic leaders. Today, the Third Hour Podcast discusses the Song of Deborah, the many identities of Gideon, and why Judges might have been considered humorous to its original recipients.

It's time for everybody's favorite scriptural topic — land allotments! The second half of the Book of Joshua is markedly less thrilling than the first, parceling out land to the various tribes of Israel. Fortunately, we're also taking the time to discuss the origins of the tribal system and how to cope with the Deuteronomist's peculiar approach to history-making.

As the Book of Joshua begins, the Camp of Israel crosses the Jordan and begins conquering the Promised Land. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss holy war, archaeological evidence (or lack thereof), and the long history of massaging these tales to make them more palatable.

With the blessing and death of Moses, the Torah is finished. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss the final chapters of Deuteronomy, the various covenants presented in the Torah, and what we can draw from altered scripture.

The middle portion of Deuteronomy is the torah itself, the scroll of law that forms the basis for King Josiah's reforms. Yet it's filled with difficult material: child sacrifice, human spoils, rape, temple prostitution. What can we learn from troublesome scripture? Moreover, where does this material come from, and how can it help us foster a relationship with the divine? Join the Third Hour Podcast as we ponder those very questions.

Meet the Deuteronomist! The final authorial school of the Torah brings an entirely new way of looking at scripture, and the Third Hour Podcast investigates how it modifies what's come before.

The final portion of the Book of Numbers makes for a rough journey. Balak, the King of Moab, asks Balaam to curse Israel, only for Balaam to have a peculiar interaction with a speaking donkey. The Israelites and Midianites spend some intimate time together, resulting in slaughter. The daughters of Zelophehad request a landholding from Moses and the assembly, granting property rights to women — but with hefty restrictions. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we wrestle in the wilderness.

The middle portion of Numbers contains a few familiar passages, most notably the Bronze Serpent and Moses's thoughts on the goodness of God. We tend to skip over the rest: divine anger and vanity, selective punishments, and a worldview very unlike our own. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss reading morality stories, corporate versus individual sin, and racial dynamics in the camp of Israel.

Numbers may be named after its two censuses, but it also begins with two major examples of oath-taking: the Nazirite vow and the test of bitter waters. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we delve into their possible meanings — and explore what it means to read scripture that's vague or horrifying.

Somewhere around the halfway mark of Leviticus, the tone changes to an entirely different legal and cosmological perspective. Meet the Holiness Code! Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss the identity and aims of the code's author, along with some bonus child sacrifice and jubilee years.

Leviticus isn't often considered very exciting. We're determined to fix that! Between the identity and mindset of the book's first author, the difference between cleanliness and sin, and whatever is going on with the scapegoat, there's plenty to learn on this week's episode of the Third Hour Podcast.

When Moses comes down the mountain, he's greeted by the graven image of a golden calf. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we examine Aaron's culpability in this idolatry, the ensuing discussion between God and Moses, what this story can teach us about its author's politics, and, in the end, how Exodus affects our approach to the divine.

This week, the Third Hour Podcast discusses the blueprints for the Tabernacle! No, really, that's what we're talking about. Bonus: a brief discussion about the meaning of "sin."

Now that the Children of Israel have escaped Egypt, their minds turn to the business of survival. Manna and quail, water from the ground, and battles with neighboring tribes all demand attention. For Moses, however, it's time to climb the mountain and receive instructions from God.

When Moses and the Children of Israel are finally permitted to leave Egypt, they strike out along an unusual route—after some plunder, of course. This week on the Third Hour Podcast, we discuss the history of the Passover, the parting of the Reed Sea, and, most importantly, how we react when we encounter a God we don't recognize in scripture.

Now when Israel was in Egypt land, oppressed so hard they could not stand, so the Lord said, "Go down, Moses, way down Egypt land, tell old Pharaoh to let my people go." You know the rest. But have you considered some of the story's peculiarities? Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss hardened hearts, poetic structure, whether God harms the innocent to prove something to the guilty, and the necessity of liberation.

As we enter the Book of Exodus, the state of affairs has changed in Egypt. As the Children of Israel suffer in captivity, a child is saved by water and grows into a man concerned with justice. When he encounters a burning bush in the wilderness, his life trajectory is altered to encompass the liberation of his people. Join the Third Hour Podcast to discuss Moses, dangerous encounters with divinity, and the archaeology of Exodus.