This episode we're covering the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra and Nehemiah campaign to make Jerusalem great again by deporting foreign wives and children, rebuilding the city walls, and cutting taxes. Support the show

In this episode, we cover 2 Chronicles. The chronicler continues recapping Kings. We'll point out some of the editorial choices made by the chronicler and major contradiction in this retelling. Support the show

We're back! This episode we're looking at 1 Chronicles. We meet the newest biblical author, The Chronicler, and discuss the historical context of their writing. In case you missed something, The Chronicler is gonna recap the major old testament events up until Solomon, applying their own style and spin on the events. Support the show

In this episode, we cover 2 Kings 13-25. Israel and Judah are stuck in a revolving door of bad kings, and we finally find out why. They misplaced the rule book! But I guess it didn't matter too much because after they find it, things are pretty much the same. Also, Israel and Judah fall to Assyria and Babylon and their people are exiled from the land. Support the show

We're back! This episode we cover 2 Kings, chapters 1-12. Elijah's time comes to an end, but his young apprentice Elisha is just beginning to make a name for himself (which would probably be easier with pretty much any other name). Soon, he's enthralling crowds with necromancy, floating axes, and tasty stew. Meanwhile, Israel and Judah go through about a million more kings and good luck keeping the names straight. And of course, it wouldn't be the bible without some massacre. Arameans, Baal w...

This episode we're covering 1 Kings chapters 12-22. We meet Jezebel, a no BS boss lady who takes what she wants and kills who she wants. Also this episode, we learn that listening to prophets is punishable by death, but ignoring prophets is also punishable by death. Support the show

What's the difference between a baby cut in a half and a Ferrari? Solomon didn't have any Ferrari's. This episode, we're covering 1 Kings Chapters 1-11. David's oldest son learned nothing from his dead older brothers and attempts his own coup. Solomon is ultimately crowned king and David gives him a bit of fatherly advice - mostly he just gives him a list of executions he'd like performed. We also hear the story of Solomon's sharp (and a bit sadistic) wisdom as well as his 1000 wives who wil...

This week, we're looking at 2 Samuel, chapters 13-24. David's daughter Tamar is assaulted by her own brother. David decides that punishment will not be necessary. David finds his kingdom usurped by his own son and is once again on the run. Finally, Yahweh commands another census and then rewards the kingdom with 3 days of pestilence for their obedience. Support the show

Welcome back to our Atheist Bible Study! This episode, we talk about the 1st 12 books of 2nd Samuel. This book is all about David. We'll learn how David's dedication to justice leads him to kill anyone who would harm his enemies (and also anyone whose wife David finds attractive). We also discuss David's hatred for disabled people and how his marriage is strained by his habit of promiscuous public dancing. Support the show

In this episode we cover 1 Samuel, chapters 21-31. David blackmails a local shepherd, murders families, and lies, but draws the line at cutting Saul's robe. Saul seeks guidance from Samuel beyond the grave, but finds the priest is in no mood for raising spirits. Support the show

In this episode, we cover 1 Samuel, chapters 11-20. Yahweh seeks a replacement for "soft on pagans" Saul, the archetypal underdog story turns out to be not such an underdog story after all, and we learn of a love story that churches seem to have left out. Support the show

This episode we cover 1 Samuel chapters 1-10. We meet Hannah, another favored, but barren wife, Eli, the priest who's sons will be the death of him, Samuel, who will find your donkeys for you, but not tell you where they are, and Saul who's really handsome and that's about it. Support the show

This episode we're talking about the book of Ruth. We'll take a bit of a hiatus from the Deuteronomic History for a Valentine's Day love story about Ruth and Naomi. Support the show

In this episode we cover the rest of Judges. We meet Gideon, who tests the living hell out of god and builds an idol, but somehow gets away with it. We also meet Samson, a brawny, long haired muscle bro who doesn't know how riddles work and murders entire cities when he loses. By the time your done with it all, you're gonna really like Delilah. Support the show

The rest of Joshua was so boring we moved on to Judges. In this episode we give a quick summary of the rest of Joshua, and we start on the Book of Judges. Joshua passes out deeds to land he doesn't own yet, Joshua dies, Judah does a bunch of the same things Joshua does, and Joshua dies again. Support the show

This episode we cover Joshua 1-12. With Moses dead, Joshua is out of his shadow and into the spotlight. Joshua performs some mini-miracles to show that he's just as special as Moses, and the Israelites get circumcised again; but mostly there's just a whole lot of destruction and killing. Support the show

In this episode we cover Deuteronomy 27-34. Moses takes a moment to remind the Israelites of the many blessings god will bestow on them for their faith; then he spends the next 5 hours describing in agonizing detail the ways in which god will murder, starve, and afflict them should they fail. Also this episode, Moses learns a song to remind the Israelites why god hates them, Moses gives Joshua the job that no one wants, and we look at a reference to Judaism's pagan roots. Support the show

In this episode, we cover Deuteronomy chapters 14-26. We'll dig into the Deuteronomic Law Code, including many repeated, but contradictory rules about tithes, passover, and unclean animals; a commandment to impregnate your widowed sister in-law; and a convoluted set of tag rules for a man-slaughterer to escape the wrath of a vengeance seeker. Support the show

This week we cover Deuteronomy chapters 1-12. Moses gets nostalgic and retells the same stories from Exodus and Numbers, Yahweh commands the Israelites to love him (pretty sure that's not how love works), and Ashton can't help but do some more math. Most importantly, we'll discuss the historical context of Deuteronomy and what motivates the Deuteronomist to rewrite old myths. Donate to https://www.rebuildingalliance.org. They advocate for and provide financial support to Palestinians in the G...

In this episode, we close out Numbers with chapters 36. We meet the promised talking donkey, Phinehas, who shows gods love by spearing pagans during intercourse, and Balaam, who seems like he just wants to be left alone. Also, if you were wondering if this theology gives autonomy and agency to women, the book of Numbers would like to remind you that it doesn't! Support the show