The bizarre and often grotesque imagery of the book of Revelation haunts like a specter over the past two thousand years of Christian history. To the average reader, some of its most memorable images are also its most mysterious. The number 666 and the phrase “mark of the beast” have embedded themselves in pop culture, […]
Ancient JudaismHigher CriticismHistoryVideoAntiochus IVApocalypseBabylonBelshazzarcaptivityDanielDariusGabrielMaccabeesMichaelNabonidusNebuchadnezzarOld TestamentPersiaprophecy
In this article, I explain some of the reasons why scholars date the book of Daniel to the second century BCE, and I show why the traditional sixth-century dating and authorship claims are implausible and incompatible with the text we actually have.
Note: This article is based on updated research and is intended to replace my old article on Melchizedek, written several years ago. It has also been produced as a documentary at the MythVision YouTube channel. Melchizedek. You’ve probably heard that name before, but many Christians would be hard-pressed to tell you who he was or […]
What has Balaam to do with Josiah? Ancient stories are not always what they seem, and different biblical passages often intersect with each other in unexpected ways. In this article, I examine a speculative theory about an unknown king of Judah by investigating some problematic passages in the Old Testament. Problem #1: A War That […]
Ancient JudaismArchaeologyHigher Criticism1 SamuelDaviddeath cultdivinationdreamsephodEzekielGenesisJudgesLabanlotsMicahMichalnecromancyOld TestamentRachelSaultempleteraphimZechariah
My latest video is on the story of King Saul and his visit to the so-called Witch of Endor to summon the spirit of dead Samuel. It’s based on an article I wrote several years ago, but as usual, I’ve added some new material. A biblical topic that intersects the practice of necromancy—though not specifically […]
In case you’ve never seen the Tablets and Temples channel on YouTube, it’s created by an up-and-coming Australian scholar named Lachlan who covers a variety of Bible-related topics much like I do. For his latest video, he graciously asked me to chat with him about David, Elhanan, Goliath and what it means when Bible stories […]
Early ChristianityHigher Criticism2 Esdras (4 Ezra)ApocalypticismDanielearly churchEzekielGospelsJesusMarkmustard seedNew TestamentParable of the Sowerparablesriddle
Words should be scattered like seed; no matter how small the seed may be, if it once has found favorable ground, it unfolds its strength and from an insignificant thing spreads to its greatest growth. (Seneca, Epistles 38:2) Most people are unable to follow any demonstrative argument consecutively; hence they need parables. (Galen, from an […]
Note: This article is also available as a YouTube video, which you can watch here. There is probably no woman in the Bible as hated as Jezebel. She was a Phoenician princess, given in marriage to king Ahab of Israel by her father king Ethbaal of Sidon—probably without any say in the matter—yet according to […]
ArchaeologyHigher CriticismHistoryVideo1 Kings1 Samuel2 SamuelBenjaminBook of JasherDavidGibeonHivitesJerusalem templeJoshuaJudahOld TestamentPhilistinesSaulSeptuagintShemeshSolomon
On my YouTube channel, I’ve posted a new video that takes a brief look at the three biblical quotations of a source that English translations usually call “the book of Jasher” (which means “the book of the upright”). The third one is interesting because its context appears to be the transfer of the Yahweh cult […]
ArchaeologyHigher CriticismHistoryVideoAmarna lettersBronze AgeCanaanEgyptGenesisHouse of JosephIsraelJeroboamJosephOld TestamentShishak
I’ve just published a new video on my YouTube channel — this time about the story of Joseph. It’s based on this article I wrote a while ago, but as usual, it has some new material and a new approach to some issues. Although a small minority of scholars still argue that the story of […]
