Genesis 34 has one of the most interesting narratives in the book of Genesis. This chapter acts an as etiology for Israel's relationship to the people of Shechem (which becomes a really important area in the 2nd Temple Period) and the personali

Genesis 33 - The Noble Esau & the Sketchy Jacob

May 25th, 2022 36m 4s

Jacob has had his name changed to Israel and we see, for the first time, a different kind of Jacob...but he's still Jacob.The two brothers meet for the first time since Jacob deceived Isaac and Esau does the opposite of getting revenge. He rest

Genesis 32 - Jacob's Doesn't Wrestle. He Transforms.

May 2nd, 2022 1h 2m

Who does Jacob wrestle with? Was it like a WWE match? Why does Jacob get touched on the hip and why does he walk with a limp? And what does this all mean for the people of Israel whose name starts as a result of this event?This episode covers f

Genesis 31 - Household Gods, Family Conflict, and Jacob's Homecoming

Mar 21st, 2022 32m 31s

Jacob returns from Laban's household in Genesis 31. Rachel and Leah are left without inheritance and some household gods are stolen in the process. Genesis 31 wraps up the deception of Jacob and Laban and acts as an etiology for some pieces of

Genesis 30 - Mandrakes, Sheep Breeding, and Tricking Your Way Home

Feb 1st, 2022 44m 1s

Genesis chapter 30 sounds like a classic folk story. Two sisters are competing for the most kids, mandrake superstitions are used, and Jacob uses tree branches to breed Laban's flock. Really, it is a messy story about the origins of the tribe o

Genesis 30v1-2 - Theodicy, Suffering, and God in the Midst of Barrenness

Jan 12th, 2022 36m 8s

The beginning of Genesis chapter 30 reveals a complicated theological picture that has come up several times in the book of Genesis and occurs frequently in the literature of the Bible: Does God cause bad things to happen?This is a conversation

The Night Before Christmas - [Christmas Eve According to Isaiah]

Dec 24th, 2021 40m 59s

The Christmas Story According to IsaiahA meditation on Christmas Eve with narratives inspired by the prophet Isaiah to experience the transition from Advent to Christmas. For a video version of this content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNVu

Genesis 29 - Jacob, the Deceiver, Gets Deceived

Nov 4th, 2021 47m 11s

Jacob finally gets to his ancestral heritage and experiences a similar scene to his forefathers. Then chaos breaks loose and Jacob's past catches up with him in the form of Laban, the father of Leah and Rachel; both of whom will become Jacob's

Genesis 28 - Jacob's Story, Esau's Wives, and Dreaming of Stairways

Sep 30th, 2021 47m 11s

Here's why climbing Jacob's ladder is actually about a staircase, thoughts on omnipotence, Jacob's penchant for self-preservation, and why Jacob might be an archetype for the entire identity of Israel.

Genesis 27 - Hairy Arms, Stealing Blessings, & the Deception of Israel

Sep 2nd, 2021 52m 50s

Jacob and his mother, Rebekah, team up to intervene in the future of Israel. Esau has made decisions that can't allow the covenant to continue so, with some deceptive tactics, Jacob finds a way to get the blessing. Is Isaac in on the deception?

Genesis 26 - The Dysfunctional Family of Isaac and Rebekah

Jul 28th, 2021 51m 24s

The Birth of Esau and Jacob & Isaac's "Sister" RebekahAs the Genesis narrative transitions to Isaac (and quickly moves straight to Jacob), his genealogy includes the story of the birth of his twins; which sets up how the covenant continues thro

Genesis 24-25 - Isaac Marries Rebekah and the Covenant Moves Past Abraham

Jul 28th, 2021 1h 11m

Abraham's Family is a Changin'Abraham, after much suspense to have an heir, is now forced to envision the how this tribe will continue after he is gone.Another woman is added to the family in chapter 24 when Isaac gets married through a very de

Genesis 22 & 23 - Sacrificing Children & Finding Covenantal Land

Jul 13th, 2021 46m 10s

That time Abraham almost sacrificed his anticipated heir, Isaac and then got some of the promised land. These two chapters both deal with the manifestation of the two main promises of the covenant: Multiplied ancestors and land. So, why does Ab

Genesis 20 & 21 - Abraham Incites a War & Ishmael Gets a Future

Jun 2nd, 2021 1h 10m

Genesis chapter 20 offers a complicated look at the character of Abraham and the nature of God; especially when the covenant still unfolds despite some questionable narratives. Genesis chapter 21 portrays division amongst Abraham's children and

Genesis 18 & 19 - Sodom, Gomorrah, & Hospitality

Apr 29th, 2021 58m 2s

Genesis 18 must be read before understanding Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham, as the first act of the covenant, practices extravagant generosity to three strange travelers. Abraham and God argue out what should be done if there are 10 righteous men

Genesis 16 & 17 - Abram, Sarai, Hagar, Ishmael, & Circumcision

Apr 29th, 2021 40m 4s

The covenant of Genesis continues and the question of the heir remains. Sarai concludes that the slave from Egypt, Hagar, is going to have to pass on the ancestry of Abram. Ishmael is born, conflict ensues, and Hagar is heard and seen by El-Roi

Genesis 14-15 - Tribal Wars and Blood-Path Covenants

Mar 17th, 2021 1h 14m

Genesis 14 takes us into the ancient near east and the tribal world while also offering a strange picture of a character who seems to transcend the tribes. Chapter 14 also sets up the context of who the God of the covenant is and who Abram of t

Genesis 12-13 - The First Patriarch, His Failures, and Divine Will

Mar 5th, 2021 1h 1m

We meet Abram and follow the progression of the covenant; which doesn’t always include very good things from Abram and other finite mortals. This episode covers the nature of the Patriarchal history in Genesis and the specific stories of Genesi

Genesis 10-11 - The Tower of Babel and Its Founder

Mar 4th, 2021 45m 46s

The mythic history section of Genesis comes to an end in the culminating depiction of the world’s ills. This also seems to be the final setup for the covenant. We look at the Tower of Babel and what it means for how the ancient Jewish people be

Genesis 9 - Noah Gets Drunk & Someone Gets Naked

Feb 13th, 2021 21m 54s

The covenant takes shape after "The Flood" (aka, the second creation). How will humanity continue? What will be different from the first creation? And what is that weird story about Canaan and Ham and the nakedness of the father?

Genesis 6-8 - The Flood or a Restarted Creation?

Jan 30th, 2021 1h 10m

Popularly called “The Flood,” we look at the part of Genesis where a restart of creation happens. Details on the Nephilim, Noah, and the specific components we ought to pay attention to if we see how and why this part of the story was composed.

Genesis 4-5 - Fratricide and the Most Skipped Chapter in the Bible

Jan 12th, 2021 1h 14m

The first etiological story post-Eden. Cain and Abel, the first cultures, and the genealogy that might be the most skipped chapter in the Bible. There's plenty of gems to be discovered in these two chapters.

Genesis 2-3 - Creation #2, Trees, and the Chapter That Doesn't Talk About Sin

Jan 12th, 2021 1h 1m

The second rendition of creation according to the Jewish tradition which also brings up the tenuous chapter of the whole thing with the tree. We break down the details of the second creation narrative and cover some of the issues with the notor

Genesis 1 - Creation #1 and Why the World Was Made

Jan 12th, 2021 1h 3m

The first rendition of creation according to the Jewish tradition.

Genesis - Overview [The Book About Origins]

Dec 31st, 2020 56m 6s

An overview of the book of Genesis. What is the book? How was it composed? Why is it important? Here's everything we need to explore before diving into the narrative of beginnings.