Bible and Archaeology
Bible and Archaeology
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Bible and Archaeology is a podcast that explores the lands, civilizations, and archaeology of the Bible. Hosted by Biblical scholar Dr. Jordan Jones, the show features discussions with guests about the stories, people, and objects associated with biblical history. Listeners can submit questions to the podcast via email. The podcast is available on various platforms.
Epizode
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How Assyria Changed God 16.09.2026 1h 6minThe Assyrians built one of the ancient world’s most powerfulempires, but what drove the Assyrian Empire's dramatic rise? And why did it fall so quickly? This week, Eckart Frahm joins Bible & Archaeology to trace Assyria's history, from its emergence as a major power to its eventual collapse. Along the way, we explore the reigns of famous Assyrian kings likeTiglath-Pileser III and Ashurbanipal, the Assyrians’ impact on the ancient Near East, what the Bible gets right (and wrong) about the Assyrian Empire, and how encounters with Assyria may have shaped the biblical idea of God.✨ Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch📚 Reading Recommendations Assyria: The Rise and Fall of the World's First Empire by Eckart Frahm Three New Kings of Assyria by Alexander Johannes Edmonds and Eckart Frahm✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Eckart FrahmEdited and Produced by Dr. Jordan Jones Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa. -
Samson's Story Isn't About His Hair. Judges 13–16 Explained 09.09.2026 47minWhat is the story of Samson really about? Samson is often remembered as the strong man whose power was tied to his hair, but the story in Judges 13–16 is far more complicated. This week, Bob Cargill joins the podcast to explore Samson’s story, from his unusual birth and Nazirite status to his conflicts with the Philistines and his eventual downfall. We look at Samson’s violence and his role as a judge of Israel to find out what this strange and often troubling story is actually trying to say.✨ Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Robert CargillEdited and Produced by Dr. Jordan Jones Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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How the Israelite Priesthood Really Developed 02.09.2026 46minWho controlled religion in ancient Israel? The Israelite priesthood may look like a straightforward institution, but its history is anything but simple. This week, Nathan MacDonald joins the podcast to to trace the development of the ancient Israelite priesthood and present his reconstruction of how the Israelite priesthood developed, drawing on the Hebrew Bible and the broader history of ancient Israel. We explore competing priestly traditions, the role of the temple, and the struggle for religious authority to find how Israel’s priests became such an important part of its religious and political life.✨ Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch📚 Reading Recommendations The Making of the Tabernacle and the Construction of Priestly Hegemony by Nathan MacDonald✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Nathan MacDonaldEdited and Produced by Dr. Jordan Jones Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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Why Biblical Books Didn't Have Titles 26.08.2026 46minWhy is Genesis called Genesis when ancient Israelites didn’t call it that? And why didn't books in the Hebrew Bible have titles? This week, Seth Sanders joins the podcast to discuss how writers organized, referenced, and transmitted these titleless biblical texts, and what the absence of titles reveals about the Bible's origins and implications.✨ Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch🔗 Read "Why Didn’t Biblical Books Have Titles?" by Seth Sanders📚 Reading Recommendations From Adapa to Enoch: Scribal Culture and Religious Vision in Judea and Babylon by Seth L. SandersThe Invention of Hebrew by Seth L. Sanders📺 More podcasts with Seth:The Invention of the Alphabet with Prof. Seth Sanders✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Seth SandersEdited and Produced by Dr. Jordan Jones Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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How Satan Became God’s Greatest Enemy 19.08.2026 1h 7minSatan wasn't always God's greatest enemy. In the Hebrew Bible, “the satan” appears as an agent in God's heavenly court. But by the New Testament, Satan has become the Devil, God's cosmic opponent, and in Revelation, he is a terrifying dragon. This week, Peter Miller returns to Bible & Archaeology to trace the surprising development of Satan across the New Testament. How did this figure evolve from Matthew and Paul to Revelation? Why does Satan become associated with evil, temptation, demons, and cosmic rebellion? And where did the image of the dragon come from?✨ Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch👉 Podcasts Referenced:Did Christians Get Satan Wrong? Why The Hebrew Bible Says Something DifferentThe Origins of DemonsThe Origins of LilithWitch Hunts, Black Cats, and the Bible: The Surprising Connection✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Peter MillerEdited and Produced by Dr. Jordan Jones Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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The Philistines Stole the Ark of the Covenant. Then People Started Dying. 12.08.2026 45minWhat happened when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant? In 1 Samuel, the Ark brings plague, mice, death, and toppled idols to the Philistines, forcing them to return it to Israel. But the strange events don’t end there because more Israelites die on its return. But why? This week, Bob Cargill is back to explore one of the Bible’s strangest stories. Join us as we examine what this story of the Ark’s capture and return reveals about the Ark of the Covenant, the Philistines, ancient Israel, and the Hebrew Bible’s formation.✨ Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Bob CargillEdited and Produced by Dr. Jordan Jones Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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Why Did Hezekiah and Josiah Really Change Israel’s Religion? 05.08.2026 41minWhat happens when kings try to control how an entire kingdom worships? This week, Shane Thompson joins us to explore cult centralization in the ancient world through three famous rulers: Hezekiah, Josiah, and Akhenaten. What can archaeology, the Hebrew Bible, and ancient Near Eastern history tell us about these dramatic reforms? From religious reforms in Judah to Aten worship in ancient Egypt, we examine how monotheism, temple worship, political power, and royal authority intersected.✨ Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch📚 Reading Recommendations "The Varied Forms of Cult Centralization in the Ancient Near East" by Shane M. Thompson✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Shane M. ThompsonHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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What the Bible Really Says About Sex Work 29.07.2026 37minThis week, Leslie Virnelson joins us to explore how the Hebrew Bible's view of sex work differs dramatically from modern assumptions. From big-name characters like Ruth and Tamar to the concepts of prostitution and adultery, we'll challenge some of the most common misconceptions about sexuality, sex work, and law in the biblical world.✨ Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch📚 Reading Recommendations Fruit of Her Hands: Women, Work, and Society in the Hebrew Bible by Leslie G. Virnelson✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Leslie VirnelsonHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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Why The Odyssey Was Never Historically Accurate 22.07.2026 33minIs The Odyssey historically accurate? This week, classicist Celsiana Warwick joins the podcast to explore some of the enduring questions behind Homer's Odyssey, from Odysseus' "heroism" and the real role of Penelope, to questions of historical accuracy in translation and adaptation.📚 Reading Recommendations Wilson (accessible/contemporary)Fitzgerald (poetic)Lattimore (line by line)✨ Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Celsiana WarwickHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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Did Archaeologists Find The Tabernacle? 15.07.2026 35minDid archaeologists really find the biblical Tabernacle at Shiloh? Every year, headlines claim a new "discovery" has uncovered the Ark of the Covenant or the Tabernacle, but what does the archaeology actually show? This week, Jordan and Mary Kate examine the latest excavations at Shiloh, the history of research at the site, the claims made by the Associates for Biblical Research, and what earlier excavations by Israel Finkelstein revealed.📚 Reading RecommendationsThe Highlands of El, Shiloh and Merneptah’s Israel by Israel FinkelsteinExcavations at Shiloh 1981–1984: Preliminary Report by Israel FinkelsteinHoly Grail find? Archaeologists claim they may have uncovered ruins linked to Ark of the Covenant by NY PostSeilunShilohAbout Associates for Biblical Research✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Featuring: Dr. Jordan Jones and Mary Kate LichtyEdited by Mary Kate LichtyProduced by Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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Is John's Gospel More Historical Than We Thought? 08.07.2026 39minWhy do historical Jesus scholars skip the Gospel of John? This week, Dr. Paul Anderson joins the podcast to explore why John has often been dismissed as "too theological," what archaeology and topographical details reveal about the Gospel, and whether John preserves independent historical traditions alongside its theology. Can historians afford to ignore John, or is it time to rethink our approach to this text?📚 Reading RecommendationsArchaeology, Jesus, and the Gospel of John: What Recent Discoveries Show Us Edited by Paul N. Anderson✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Paul AndersonHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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Why Does Jesus Keep His Identity Secret? 01.07.2026 39minWhy does Jesus repeatedly tell people not to reveal who he is in Mark? For over a century scholars have explained this through the “Messianic Secret.” But what if we’re missing a key piece?This week Robyn Walsh joins the podcast to place Mark in the context of Greco-Roman literature. Comparing Mark to Homer’s Odyssey and other ancient texts, she argues Jesus’ hidden identity may reflect familiar literary conventions rather than something unique to Mark.👉 We discuss:–What the Messianic Secret is–Why it shaped New Testament scholarship–How Homer and Greco-Roman authors help us understand Mark📚 Reading Recommendations“The Miracle-Mongers: The Gospels at the Edges of Empire,” Judaica: Neue digitale Folge, special issue Nature Miracles and Paradoxography in Biblical Reception of the First Centuries CE, ed. Monika Amsler, Bd. 7 (2026): 1–20. “City and Country,” The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus, eds. James G. Crossley and Chris Keith (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2024), 324–342.“IVDAEA DEVICTA: The Gospels as Imperial ‘Captive Literature,’” Class Struggle in the New Testament, ed. Robert Myles (London: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, January 2019), 89–114. William Wrede, The Messianic Secret, trans. J. C. G. GreigWilliam Wrede, Das Messiasgeheimnis in den Evangelien: zugleich ein Beitrag zum Verständnis des MarkusevangeliumsTeresa Morgan, Literate Education in the Hellenistic and Roman WorldsDennis R. MacDonald, The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of MarkMarianne Palmer Bonz, The Past as Legacy✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Robyn WalshHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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Nicaea Didn't Decide the New Testament (So Who Did?) 17.06.2026 49minHow did the New Testament become the New Testament? This week, we are exploring the long process of canon formation with Ian Mills. From the myth of a single moment at Nicaea, the impact of authority, popularity, councils, and empire, to the role of figures like Marcion and Jerome, we'll unpack the gradual standardization that shaped the New Testament canon (or as much as we can). 📚 Reading RecommendationsThe Hypothesis of the Gospels: Narrative Traditions in Hellenistic Reading Culture by Ian N. Mills✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Ian MillsHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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The Empire That Invented Its Own History, and Made It Stick 10.06.2026 43minAfter the death of Alexander the Great, a new imperial power emerged across Western and Central Asia: the Seleucid Empire. But how did it actually hold such a vast territory together, and how much of its “history” was carefully constructed after the fact? This week, we explore how Seleucid rulers shaped memory, built cities, minted propaganda on coins, and even influenced dating systems to legitimize their rule with Ben Abbott. Were they inheriting empire, or inventing it as they went?📚 Reading RecommendationsForging the Anchor: Antiochus I and the Creation of the Seleucid Empire by Benjamin Abbott✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Benjamin AbbottHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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The Moabite Stone Changes How We Read the Bible 03.06.2026 40minIn 2 Kings 3, Israel appears to lose a battle after the king of Moab performs a child sacrifice on the city wall. Why would the Hebrew Bible preserve a story where a foreign god seems to defeat Israel’s armies? This week, Jordan and Mary Kate break down the Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone), ancient warfare, divine conflict, prophecy, propaganda, and the strange ending of one of the Bible’s most debated battle stories.📚 Reading RecommendationsKing Manasseh and Child Sacrifice: Biblical Distortions of Historical Realities by Francesca Stavrakopoulou"Theories of the Composition of the Books of Kings" by Thomas RömerNorth Israelite Memories of the Transjordan and the Mesha Inscription by Prof.Israel Finkelstein and Prof.Thomas Römer✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Ft. Mary Kate Lichty and Dr. Jordan JonesEdited by Mary Kate LichtyBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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The Ancient Israelite Fear Worse Than Death 27.05.2026 58minWhat happened when you died in ancient Israel? The Hebrew Bible offers no clear picture of heaven or hell, but it does preserve a fascinating world of ancestors, burial rituals, Sheol, and the ongoing process of dying. This week, Dr. Matthew Suriano joins the podcast to talk about death and the afterlife in the Hebrew Bible, including the meaning of nefesh, the importance of burial, and why a “bad death” was one of the greatest fears in the ancient world. Drawing on archaeology, biblical texts, and ancient Near Eastern history, this conversation explores what it meant to become one of the dead in ancient Israel.📚 Reading RecommendationsA History of Death in the Hebrew Bible by Matthew Suriano✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Matthew SurianoHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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How Young Did Girls Marry in the Bible? 20.05.2026 1h 5minIn this episode, Susan Ackerman joins us to explore the life cycle of women in ancient Israel, from puberty and marriage to motherhood, ritual impurity, and death. We discuss why childbirth made women “unclean,” why women occupied a liminal role in ancient Israel, the story of Jephthah’s daughter, the concept of social menopause, and more. Along the way, we unpack what archaeology and biblical texts can, and can’t, tell us about the realities of womanhood in the ancient Near East.📚 Reading RecommendationsMaturity, Marriage, Motherhood, Mortality: Women's Life-Cycle Rituals in Ancient Israel by Susan Ackerman✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Susan AckermanHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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What “Passing Through the Fire” Really Meant 13.05.2026 50minDid ancient Israelites really sacrifice children? Dr. Kristine Garroway joins us to separate myth from archaeology. We dig into child burial practices, infant mortality, and what the archaeological record actually tells us. Spoiler: there are no mass burial pits of sacrificed children in ancient Israel, but what's really behind those "passed through fire" passages may surprise you.📚 Reading RecommendationsThe Dying Child: The Death and Personhood of Children in Ancient Israel by Kristine Henriksen Garroway✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Kristine Henriksen GarrowayHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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How Ancient Mesopotamia Invented School (And Why We've Misread the Evidence) 06.05.2026 1h 18minWhat did it take to become a scribe in ancient Mesopotamia, and how do we actually know? This week, Dr. Joshua Bowen reveals how the physical shape of clay tablets unlocked the secrets of ancient education, and why the literary texts describing school life can't always be taken at face value. From vocabulary lists and memorization to indoctrination and local variation, the archaeology tells a very different story than the texts alone.🔗 Resources & LinksCheck out Digital Hammurabi's website for more Learning to Pray in a Dead Language: Education and Invocation in Ancient Sumerian by Joshua BowenJoin Kipp Davis for Hebrew this summer📺 Check out Digital Hammurabi on YouTube✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Joshua BowenHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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Acts Is Shockingly Accurate, And That's The Problem 29.04.2026 41minWas the author of Acts trying to preserve history, or persuade you of something deeper?For years, readers have pointed to Acts’ historical accuracy as proof of its reliability. But what if that accuracy is actually part of the literary strategy? In this conversation with CJ Cornthwaite, we explore why Acts may be more historically precise than expected, and why that actually raises bigger questions about how it shaped the past.📺 Check out CJ on YouTubeThe Jerusalem Council is probably fabricatedActs Is surprisingly accurate. That's the problem✨ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on Patreon.✉️ Send us your questions: [email protected]🔗 Want to watch the show? Find us on YouTube to see a video recording of this show.🌐 Everywhere you can find us: Linktree🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. C. J. CornthwaiteHosted and edited by Dr. Jordan JonesBible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.
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