Histories of the Holy Land Podcast

Send us Fan MailIn 604 BCE, a Philistine king wrote a desperate letter to the pharaoh of Egypt. It was written not in his ancestors' Aegean tongue, but in Aramaic. The letter made it to Egypt. The help never came. Within weeks, Nebuchadnezzar turned Ashkelon into a heap of ruins — a phrase we can verify because the Babylonian Chronicle and the destruction layer match down to the month. But the Philistines didn't really die that winter. They'd been disappearing for centuries, and the latest scholarship reveals a far stranger story than simple conquest. Why did the Philistines increase their ethnic markers for 200 years before suddenly abandoning them? Why did two neighboring cities have opposite relationships with pork? And why, when the Babylonians deported both Philistines and Judahites, did one people survive exile and the other vanish forever?NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Every kingdom in the ancient Near East had a king. The Philistines said no thanks. Instead, they brought something from the Aegean: five cities, five lords, collective rule. Their rulers weren't called kings. They were called seranim, a word linguists connect to the Greek tyrannos. They met in council, argued, voted, and overruled each other. When the people of Ekron disagreed with their king's pro-Assyrian policy, they put him in chains and mailed him to Jerusalem. When a commoner whose name literally meant "the Greek" seized the throne of Ashdod through popular uprising, the old Aegean identity was still alive after five centuries. But that happened even though their DNA had become completely local. We explore the paradox. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In 2013, archaeologists found an infant buried beneath a family's floor. When they extracted DNA from those tiny bones, they found a genetic signature that appeared out of nowhere, and then vanished within a few generations. An entire people's blood, dissolved. And yet the culture kept going for four hundred years. A painted swan. A goddess no scholar can identify. Seven hundred dogs buried with care, and no one can explain why. If the DNA were gone, what exactly would the Philistines be? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Ever heard of a graveyard where the coffins are shaped like humans—some lifelike, others downright bizarre? In this episode, we dig into the secrets of the Philistines at Beit Shean: a crossroads of kings, conquerors, and cultures. It’s biblical drama, ancient mysteries, and archaeological surprises—buried, literally, in the dirt of the Holy Land. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe first portrayal of the Philistines can be seen in the reliefs of the Medinet Habu monument. It shows their warriors, but also their women and children on ox-carts. They came to conquer, but also to live. They fought and contributed culturally, bringing their influences from the Aegean. But were they just a bunch of foreign invaders, or were they migrants integrating into the local culture? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we bring the Philistines into the story. Unfortunately, we do not have rich texts that they wrote about themselves. So we have to rely on the Bible for our understanding of the Philistines. But who were they, and how accurately are they portrayed in the biblical stories? We introduce these important players to our story. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailA lost scroll. A boy king. And a revolution that remade a nation. But was Deuteronomy really ancient law—or a bold new manifesto, crafted to legitimize power? In this episode, we look beyond the legend to ask: Was Josiah’s great reform inspired by divine revelation, or was it a brilliant act of political theater? Join us as we question the story behind Deuteronomy and explore how one mysterious book could upend everything a kingdom thought it knew.NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailHistory remembers King Manasseh as Judah's most wicked ruler, but archaeological evidence tells a different story. For 55 years, he kept his tiny kingdom alive through shrewd diplomacy and careful governance, transforming defeat into survival. While his father Hezekiah's rebellion against Assyria had devastated the kingdom, Manasseh took a pragmatic approach - restoring local shrines, rebuilding trade networks, and turning Judah into a valuable buffer state between Assyria and Egypt. Under his reign, settlements expanded south, new fortifications secured vital trade routes, and agricultural innovation helped feed a growing population. His story isn't one of wickedness, but of a masterful survivor who made difficult choices to keep his kingdom alive during one of the most dangerous periods in ancient history.NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In 701 BCE, a small kingdom faced the most powerful empire in the world. One king, against all odds, prepared Jerusalem for an impossible defense. Fortified walls, secret water tunnels, and an unexpected divine intervention—this is the gripping true story of how Hezekiah survived Sennacherib's brutal invasion.NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailAt just 25, Hezekiah inherited a kingdom under massive pressure from the mighty Assyrian Empire. But instead of cowering, he launched a bold religious and political revolution that would alter the course of Jewish history. How did he navigate treacherous geopolitical waters while transforming temple worship? What made him both a strategic political player and a deeply spiritual leader?NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe reforms of Hezekiah would revolutionize the Israelite religion and make it genuinely monotheistic for the first time. They also made the Temple in Jerusalem truly central for the first time. What led to that and what did the religion of Judah look like before those far reaching reforms started? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe kingdom of Israel was destroyed and its elites exiled throughout the Assyrian empire. The prophets Hosea and Amos had warned that the sins and inequality of Israel would lead to its downfall. But was that the real reason? We also look at what happened to the Israelites after they were expelled and what happened to those who were left behind. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailAssyria assembled the most fearsome military machine ever seen. And it now was ready to turn its might on Israel, after defeating Damascus. It appears that Judah asked it to set sights on the kingdom of Israel, which now faced a threat unlike any it had seen before. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWe look at the evidence outside the bible to see what life in the Kingdom of Israel was like at the peak of its power. Who were its enemies and allies? What kind of culture and religion did it have? How did the poor and regular people live? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe last ruler in the name of the house of the Omrides was Queen Athaliah. She was utterly demonized in the Book of Kings. But a lot of that appears to be an attempt to cover up for Jehu, a psychopath who killed all the heirs to Omri and King David as part of a military coup. We have the real story of an event that broke the alliance between Israel and Judah and spurred on the destruction of both Israelite kingdoms. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe House of Omri, especially Ahab, are among the most reviled characters in the book of Kings and the Tanach as a whole. The story of what he, and his horrific wife, did to Navot is legendary. But is it true? And does that scandal represent his entire legacy? We investigate. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Book of Kings tells us how Israel tragically split after Solomon's death. But what is the reason? The stories of Jeroboam the first king of a separate Israel, and Rehoboam, the first king of Judah are instructive and fascinating. We analyze the narrative in the book and find the motivation behind the scribes who wrote it. We also look at what we can learn about religious worship at this time from the text and archaeology. Was polytheism practiced widely, or was society largely monotheist? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe days of Solomon are described as a golden age for a powerful and united Israel. However, some archaeologists doubt that and believe the stories are completely made up. We look at the stories of the Queen of Sheba, the splendor of the temple, and Solomon's marriage to Pharaoh's daughter for clues. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe stories of decadence and intrigue in David's court are legendary: how he lusted and schemed to win Bathsheba, how his son Amnon raped his daughter Tamar. Not to mention the rebellion of the handsome Absalom against his father. But is there any truth to these stories? What were the interests of those who wrote them? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailSaul is a great her in the bible but is vastly eclipsed by David. However, we delve into the text and the historical evidence to find the real Saul. We find that he was a great hero, possibly betrayed by David. We also look into what we can learn about the relations between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin from this story, and what the motives of the scribes were in writing this narrative. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe books of Samuel and Kings tell us how a monarchy developed despite the fact that God had serious reservations about it. That led to the institution being ruled over by legendary figures like David and Solomon. But how did the monarchy actually develop? Are these stories historically based? The evidence shows a lot of historically valuable facts in Kings and Saul, particularly about how the authority of kings developed and the role of religion in public life. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThroughout the world, there are many groups claiming to be descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel.  They range from the Samaritans, the modern Jews, to the Mormons, Beta Israel, and others. How accurate are these claims? How have they changed over the years? And why do so many make this claim? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe twelve tribes did not have much in common at first. However, as the Philistines emerged as a common enemy, they learned to cooperate and developed common political and religious institutions. We examine how the god of Israel became more important, how the gods Israelites worshipped at home or in tribal altars became less central, and why. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe twelve tribes of Israel come from the 12 sons of Joseph, at least according to Genesis. But the number of tribes and their names change over time and in different parts of the bible. Were there really twelve tribes? When did they cooperated and when did they fight? What does archaeology tell us about their existence? And why did the authors of the Tanakh stress their importance so much? We have the full story. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe books of Judges and Samuel in the Tanakh present an anti-monarchical ideology. But the stories of early Israelite leaders like Gideon, Jepetah, and Abimelech have elements of kingship. How historically factual are these stories, and what can we learn about early Israelite society and politics from them? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailAn invasion of mysterious raiders changed the region forever. It destroyed the Hittite empire and nearly brought Egypt to its knees. When the dust settled, a new people, the Philistines, controlled the coast of Canaan.  Where did they come from? How did they change world history and how are they linked to the Trojan War?NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe final days of the Egyptian empire in Canaan saw an increase in inter-cultural influence. A lot of that involved exploitation and slavery. But what was slavery like in those days, and how did the races feel about each other? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Merneptah Stele has the first recorded mention of Israel, in 1207 BCE. But the God of the Israelites was already mentioned earlier. What does that mean? Who were the Israelites and where did they come from? We look at the biblical narrative, Egyptian texts, and archaeological evidence. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe highlands of the Judean hills were a lawless land, which even the Egyptians preferred to avoid. Instead, the kings of Shechem and Jerusalem battled for domination, using the local nomadic tribes as political tools. It was in this chaos that the Israelites first emerged. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Land of Israel had long been in contention between Egypt and its great power rivals. But now, a group of nomadic tribes outmaneuvered all the powers to create their own kingdom. How did that happen, and what does a nomadic kingdom look like?NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe saga of Thutmose III's endless quest to defeat Mitanni and its pesky allies ends in this episode. But who gets the upper hand? We also have a dramatic wedding and tragic death. And an impressive array of war crimes. So much drama! NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThutmose III had pacified the city-states of Lebanon and Canaan. But in the process, Egypt threatened the lands of Mitanni, the local power. To secure his power in Lebanon and Syria, Thutmose III would have to cross the Euphrates. The final frontier. Would he succeed? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThutmose III took his final steps to subdue and humiliate the kings of Canaan. But now, he was ready to move on to the next conquest. Lebanon. But with long supply lines, mountainous terrain, and treacherous enemies, it would prove a far harder nut to crack. In order to triumph there, Thutmose would have to reinvent warfare. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEgypt had no sooner established its dominance in Canaan than it faced its first challenge in the form of a new and threatening empire in the north. Who would end up as the dominant force? And what happened to Canaanite culture as it faced imperial subjugation? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEgypt had recovered from years of weakness and was poised to take revenge on Canaan for years of Hyksos conquest. But a plucky Canaanite king organized a spirited defense of the land. Who would triumph?NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWe are used to hearing the Jewish version of the Egyptian Exodus story. But there is also an ancient Egyptian one, where the Jews are the villains. That story played a significant role in the development of antisemitism. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailAccording to Jewish tradition, the Book of Exodus was written by Moses. But scholars believe it was put together by three different authors. Who is right? Why was the story written and how has its interpretation among Jews changed over the years?NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Exodus from Egypt is one of the most influential in human history. But many archaeologists doubt its veracity. Did it really happen and how did the story become so important? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIt looked like Egypt was on its last legs, occupied by Nubians in the south and Canaanites in the north. But they reunited the country and made Egypt great again. How did they do it, and what happened to the Hyksos after their kingdom fell?NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEgyptologists tend to look at the Canaanite rule of Egypt through the Hyksos as a chaotic interlude. But in reality, they had great kings and amazing accomplishments. We also look at Egyptian lore and examine how foreign rule scarred the Egyptian psyche. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIs there a historical basis for the story of the ten plagues recounted in the Book of Exodus? There are some scientific explanations for these events. And we also have some idea of who may have witnessed them and passed the stories on for posterity. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Tanakh, in several places, mentions a practice of running children through the fire for the god Molech. What does that mean? Did the Canaanites sacrifice their children to a bloodthirsty god? And if so, was that tradition ever practiced by the Israelites?NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailCanaanite mythology sheds light on the roots and motives behind much of Israelite theology and law.  In this episode we look at the story of the golden calf, as told in Exodus, and see how it relates to Canaanite culture as we continue to delve into the roots of Judaism. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Ugaritic Texts provide us with the internal world of the Canaanite worshippers of Baal and Asherah. The faith we are often warned against in the Tanakh. But their mythology contains the roots of the Israelite faith, which would eventually become Judaism. In this episode we look at the warrior/seductress Anat, who holds the key to the connection. Support the show

Send us Fan MailWe have all heard of Hammurabi's Code. But how important was it really? Was it just? Did anyone actually follow it? And most importantly, is it really the source of biblical law? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Mari Archives provide us with a glimpse of the Amorite culture. They reveal the close links between that culture and the Israelites. But more than anything else, they allow us into the emotional worlds of real people. Fathers, sons, wives, and daughters, as they navigate the cutthroat world of dynastic politics. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Amorites are remembered in Deuteronomy as a race of giants. The most notable Amorite there is Og of the Bashan. Og also appears in Phoenician and Islamic mythology. Who was he? Where did the Amorites come from and how did they become the most powerful people in the region? NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailByblos was the closest ally of Egypt in the land of Canaan. For generations, they traded and influenced each other. They even shared gods. But their alliance was tested when a group of bandits rebelled against the king. Would Egypt come to the aid of its ally, or would it stand alone?NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Egyptian Old Kingdom collapsed, leading to a period of turmoil and instability in the Nile Delta. But in Canaan, the good times rolled. The middle bronze age is known as the "Canaanite golden age," a time of unparalleled freedom and prosperity in the Land of Israel. We recount their incredible achievements. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailAfter the unexplained collapse at the end of the copper age, a new culture emerges from the ashes of the Chalcolithic. The Canaanites would dominate the land in the Bronze Age and bring give it a new name and identity. But almost immediately, they faced incursions from imperialist neighbors. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show