The Bible Project

Why did God say he was going to kill Moses? What exactly was God’s test for Abraham on Mount Moriah and Israel on Mount Sinai? What’s the connection between the ten plagues and the ten commandments? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions about the Exodus scroll. Thanks to our audience for your incredible questions!View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps What Was God’s Test for Abraham on Mount Moriah and Israel on Mount Sinai? (00:00-31:57)What Can We Learn From the Genesis and Exodus Pharaohs? (31:57)Did God Try To Kill Moses? (37:46)Are There Other “Floods” Prevented by Intercessors? (47:35)What’s the Connection Between the Ten Plagues and Ten Commandments? (52:24)How Important Is Ancient Culture To Understanding Biblical Law? (55:18)Will We All Have Equal Access to God in the New Creation? (1:01:46)​​Following Up on the Test Involving Manna (01:09:57)Referenced ResourcesTo Climb or Not To Climb? Israel's Ascent in Exodus 19:12–13 (SBL 2012), Michael KibbeAbraham's Silence: The Bi

In the second movement of Leviticus, Aaron and his sons agree to the terms of their covenant with Yahweh, signing up to be the gatekeepers of Heaven and Earth. But then Aaron’s sons offer unholy fire before Yahweh—and then they die. What’s going on here? A seven-day ceremony of consecration and celebration ends with everything going terribly wrong. Join Tim and Jon as they kick off the second movement of Leviticus, discussing the theme of holiness and a very difficult part of the story.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-15:55)Part two (15:55-23:52)Part three (23:52-50:02)Part four (50:02-01:03:48)Referenced ResourcesArt and Faith: A Theology of Making, Makoto FujimuraInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Adieu” by Evil Needle“Drowning In You” by L'Indécis "Covet" by Beautiful EulogyShow

What is the significance of the offerings described in Leviticus? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they walk through the five offerings ancient Israelites made to Yahweh and see how the purpose of these practices sound a lot like the teachings of Jesus. Even here in Leviticus, Yahweh’s hope for his people is the same: love God and love your neighbor.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-9:01)Part two (9:01-24:26)Part three (24:26-33:20)Part four (33:20-52:37)Referenced ResourcesWho Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus, L. Michael MoralesLeviticus: A Book of Ritual and Ethics, Jacob MilgromThe Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar WildeInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Educated Fool" by Jackie Hill Perry"Analogs" by GreyFloodSound design by Dan

A God who wants nothing more than to dwell with humanity, a way forward to a repaired relationship between Heaven and Earth, atoning sacrifices meant to communicate grace (not punishment)—you’ll find all of this in Leviticus. While the laws governing Israel’s sacrificial system can be some of the most challenging parts of the Bible to read, they’re an integral part of the unfolding story of the Bible. In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the surprising beauty of sacrifice and atonement in the opening movement of Leviticus.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-8:01)Part two (8:01-17:00)Part three (17:00-46:24)Part four (46:24-1:13:16)Referenced ResourcesThe Temple: Its Symbolism and Meaning Then and Now, Joshua BermanWho Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus, L. Michael MoralesAtonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews, David M. MoffittInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the lit

Holiness is a word we frequently associate with the Bible, but what does it mean? As we pick up the story from where we left off in Exodus, we find even Moses unable to enter God’s presence—and a whole bunch of laws about situations many of us have never considered. What is going on in the scroll of Leviticus? And why is it important? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they dive into the first movement of the Leviticus scroll, where we’ll trace the theme of sacrifice.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-5:30)Part two (05:30-14:45)Part three (14:45-55:30)Part four (55:30-1:04:33)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Synth Groove” by Chase Mackintosh“Two for Joy” by Foxwood“Chilldrone” (Artist Unknown)Show produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Tyler Bailey.

Did Israel pass or fail God’s test at Mount Sinai? And what did Yahweh mean when he made Israel a “nation of priests”? In this episode, Tim and Jon talk with long-time friend and Hebrew Bible scholar Dr. Carmen Imes. Tim and Carmen share differing interpretive perspectives of the Exodus story, reminding us that the Bible is meant to be meditated upon and studied within a community.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-18:45)Part two (18:45-30:30)Part three (30:30-40:45)Part four (40:45-1:01:20)Referenced ResourcesBearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Carmen Joy ImesBaker Commentary on the Old TestamentGodly Fear or Ungodly Failure?: Hebrews 12 and the Sinai Theophanies, Michael KibbeThe Pentateuch as Narrative: A Biblical-Theological Commentary, John H. SailhamerAbraham's Silence: The Binding of Isaac, the Suffering of Job, and How to Talk Back to God, J. Richard MiddletonCarmen Joy Imes, “The Lost World of the Exodus: Functional Ontology and the Creation of a Nation,” For

In the second movement of Exodus, Moses walks straight into God’s fiery presence on Mount Sinai without fear. But by the end of the scroll, he can’t enter God’s presence. What changed? Right after confirming their covenant with Yahweh, Israel turns around and commits idolatry by making and worshiping a golden calf. It’s a choice that ruptures their relationship with Yahweh and even their connection to Moses. In this episode, join Jon and Tim as they explore the final portion of the third movement of Exodus.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-12:00)Part two (12:00-28:45)Part three (28:45-51:42)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“An Open Letter to Whoever’s Listening” by Beautiful Eulogy“Hello From Portland” by Beautiful EulogyShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by D

Why does God seem to care so much about the furniture within the tabernacle? The instructions for the tabernacle furniture are about far more than aesthetics. They were means of dealing with Israel’s moral brokenness, they served as reminders of Eden, and they were designed to form Israel into a people of perpetual surrender. In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they continue to trace the theme of the temple in the third movement of Exodus.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-16:45)Part two (16:45-39:30)Part three (39:30-48:00)Part four (48:00-1:00:30)Referenced ResourcesThe Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis-Malachi, David A. DorseyJacob MilgromInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Midsummer” by Broke In Summer“Day and Night” by Aiguille“Movement” by FeltySho

You may have heard that God’s holiness keeps him from getting close to sinful humanity, but in the Bible we see God regularly doing the opposite, drawing near to dwell with human beings. We encounter this reality again and again, including in a surprising place—the tabernacle blueprints. In this episode, join Jon and Tim as they walk through the opening act of the third movement of Exodus and explore the relationship between the tabernacle, the garden of Eden, unconditional love, and eternal life.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-13:00)Part two (13:00-45:45)Part three (45:45-1:03:30)Part four (1:03:30-1:16:12)Referenced ResourcesPrayer of Saint IgnatiusInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Covet” by Beautiful Eulogy“Beautiful Eulogy” by Beautiful Eulogy“Come Alive” by Beautiful EulogySh

We often think of the ten commandments as a list of dos and don’ts—the things you need to know to make God happy. But is that what they’re really about? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they take a deep dive into the ten commandments, and find out why they’re far less about simulating moral perfection than they are about preserving proper worship of Yahweh and the shared dignity of humans as his image bearers.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-11:00)Part two (11:00-28:50)Part three (28:50-1:02:00)Part four (1:02:00-1:10:11)Referenced ResourcesBearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Carmen Joy ImesCowboy Ten CommandmentsInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Evening Flight” by Sam Stewart“Long Lost Friend” by Sam Stewart“Unidentified Lights” by Sam StewartShow produced by Cooper P

Mount Sinai is the famous spot where Yahweh gives Moses the ten commandments—and the location where most of Exodus, all of Leviticus, and the first ten chapters of Numbers take place. When Israel first arrives at Sinai, they fail yet another test and try to get Moses to pass it for them. In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they explore Yahweh’s fiery presence, the test at Sinai, and the question of Israel’s national identity: will they be the kingdom of priests Yahweh intends?View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-11:30)Part two (11:30-21:30)Part three (21:30-43:00)Part four (43:00-1:02:37)Referenced ResourcesThe Pentateuch as Narrative: A Biblical-Theological Commentary, John H. SailhamerInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Intermission” by Sam Stewart“That Happy Scene in Stranger Things”

The nation of Israel seems to go from one life-threatening situation to another in the Exodus scroll. From slavery in Egypt to being cornered between a hostile army and a vast body of water, Israel’s God has delivered them from everything so far. Now in the wilderness, they face a series of three tests. Will they trust Yahweh to deliver them again? In this episode, Tim and Jon explore Israel’s testing in the wilderness.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-9:05)Part two (9:05-25:45)Part three (25:45-44:10)Part four (44:10-55:30)Part five (55:30-1:11:21)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTSBeneath Your Waves by Sleepy FishShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Nobody likes tests. But the test is a recurring pattern in the biblical story for how God relates to his chosen ones. So are humans just lab rats in a divine experiment, or is there something else going on? Join Tim and Jon as they talk about the theme of the test and the famous account of Israel crossing the Sea of Reeds, as we dive into the second movement of the Exodus scroll.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-14:30)Part two (14:30-20:25)Part three (20:25-33:30)Part four (33:30-49:50)Part five (49:50-1:02:37)Referenced ResourcesDictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series), T. Desmond Alexander and David W. BakerBernard F. BattoInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTSReflection by SwørnShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel. Show notes by Lind

The ten plagues––they’re fascinating, they’re famous, and they sometimes seem overly harsh. Where do they fit in the story of the Bible and the process of God revealing his own name and character? In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about the ten plagues, or ten acts of de-creation, in which Yahweh uses his power over creation to undo his own creation in judgment. Listen in as we explore how God’s response to evil reveals another layer of his character.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-11:15)Part two (11:15-24:15)Part three (24:15-44:45)Part four (44:45-01:00:03)Referenced ResourcesHebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, Ludwig Koehler, Walter Baumgartner, M. E. J. Richardson, J. J. StammExodus: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 2) (The New American Commentary), Douglas K. StewartInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, avai

The story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt is famous for good reason—a burning bush, a transforming staff, 10 plagues, and the Passover. The exodus is also the story that defines God’s personal name, Yahweh. What does this narrative show us about Yahweh? And why does God care so much that people know his name? In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about God’s character revealed through his acts of deliverance and judgment.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-12:15)Part two (12:15-39:45)Part three (39:45-50:30)Part four (50:30-1:05:45)Referenced ResourcesThe Violence of the Biblical God, L. Daniel HawkThe Sentence in Biblical Hebrew, Francis I. AndersenInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Parkbench Epiphany” by AntimidasShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley.

God is not a name—it’s a title. In fact, the God of the Bible introduces himself by a specific name in one of the most famous stories in the Bible, the exodus event, when he works through Moses and Aaron to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt. In this episode, Tim and Jon dive into the first movement of the Exodus scroll and explore the theme of God’s name.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-12:15)Part two (12:15-23:45)Part three (23:45-46:30)Part four (46:30-1:05:28)Referenced ResourcesThe Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, Ludwig Koehler, Walter Baumgartner, and Johann Jakob StammInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Field Studies, Vol. 1” by Chillhop MusicShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and dist

How is Jesus the first-born of creation and the “second Adam”? Why are the biblical authors so obsessed with the east? And why can’t Jacob and Esau both be blessed? In this episode, Tim and Jon tackle your questions about the Genesis scroll.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Is Jesus Both the First-born and Chosen Second-Born? (1:27)Why Are the Biblical Authors Obsessed with the East? (7:00)Where Did Cain Find a Wife? (15:55)Who Are the Nephilim? (21:14)Does God Test Abraham Because He Banished Ishmael? (33:05)Why Can’t Jacob and Esau Both Be Blessed? (42:30)Referenced ResourcesGenesis: History, Fiction, or Neither?: Three Views on the Bible’s Earliest Chapters (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology), James K. Hoffmeier, Gordon J. Wenham, Kenton L. Sparks"And You Shall Tell Your Son...": The Concept of the Exodus in the Bible, Yair ZakovitchThe Blessing and the Curse, Jeff S. AndersonInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing

He lays down his life to save a remnant of God’s people, he brings God’s blessing to all nations, he forgives those who tried to kill him, and his name is … Joseph? In this episode, Tim and Jon conclude our study of the Genesis scroll with a final look at the theme of exile. See how Joseph’s story becomes an important part of the Bible’s depiction of the ultimate suffering servant, Jesus the Messiah.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-6:30)Part two (6:30-17:00)Part three (17:00-33:20)Part four (33:20-44:49)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Cocktail Hour” by StrehlowShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Joseph is one of the Bible’s most famous characters, and in the Genesis scroll, his story is a climactic moment in the theme of exile that spans the whole book. In this episode, Tim and Jon dive into the fourth and final movement of Genesis, a narrative rich with patterns, repeated words, and the presence of God even in the pit.  View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-11:30)Part two (11:30-24:45)Part three (24:45-41:51)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“Directions” by Blue Wednesday X ShopanShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Throughout the story of the Bible, God singles out different people, like Jacob, to be the conduit of his blessing to all humanity. But from birth, Jacob consistently acts more like the snake from the garden of Eden than a righteous chosen one of God. He lies his way into blessings that God had intended for him all along. So what will God do? In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the theme of blessing and curse in the life of Jacob.View full show notes from this episode →Timestamps Part one (00:00-17:30)Part two (17:30-28:20)Part three (28:20-45:30)Part four (45:30-1:05:57)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS“The Great Escape” by Blue WednesdayShow produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Zach McKinley. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.