The Third Hour Podcast

In stark contrast to the first half of the Book of Jeremiah, the second half shifts tone, genre, and even theology. Join us for a discussion of Jeremiah's politicking, prophecy, and his unique approach to Babylon.

The Book of Jeremiah is famous for its lamentations. What might surprise some listeners, however, is the ways that Jeremiah inverts expectations. In this episode, we discuss the prophet's laments, sarcasm, and perhaps most importantly, his invective for the priests, temple, prophets, and even God.

As the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel progressed, the prophets of the Kingdom of Judah reacted in a variety of ways. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we're looking at four such prophets, each with their own perspective on the invasion of Assyria: Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, and Habakkuk.

You've heard it before: the Book of Isaiah is notoriously difficult, nigh impossible to decipher without a deep understanding of symbolism. Nothing could be further from the truth! Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss the particulars of First Isaiah — the original author whose works fill the first 39 chapters of the final book — including some essential historical context that makes Isaiah a cinch to understand.

The Book of Hosea is a challenging text for a number of reasons: translation, transmission, and complex political dynamics, not to mention the distastefulness of its central metaphor. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we examine what we can learn from engaging with a difficult text.

With the Book of Amos, we witness the birth of a new literary tradition, one that will continue throughout the remainder of the Hebrew Bible. Utilizing song, poetry, persuasive essays, oracles, and other forms, the author expresses a new ethical model, complete with a novel understanding of covenant, causality, and justice.

The Books of Chronicles have always presented unique problems to Biblical scholars and religious authorities. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we discuss not only what makes Chronicles difficult, but also why it can prove instructive to our understanding of the history and theology of its time.

The final chapters of Kings cover two collapses as Assyria defeats Israel and Babylon defeats Judah. Interspersed with these disasters are accounts of kings both righteous and wicked — according to the Deuteronomist, that is. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we dig into the authorship and history of these twin collapses.

As successor to Elijah, Elisha immediately sets about either replicating or one-upping his predecessor's miracles — by having two bears chow down on some churlish adolescents. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss Elisha and some bonus royal squabbles.

Elijah looms large in the imagination of multiple religions. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we examine the passages behind that reputation and ask whether it comports to our understanding of this enigmatic figure.

The division of King David's United Monarchy marks a watershed moment in the Hebrew Bible, not to mention the Deuteronomistic History. Blending history, folktale, and propaganda, the feud between Rehoboam's Judah and Jeroboam's Israel soon becomes a tale of multiple succession crises, conflicts, and dynasties — and the Third Hour Podcast is working to clarify these interconnected strands.

The tale of King Solomon has inspired countless interpretations, filled with wisdom narratives about divided babies and flattering visits from the Queen of Sheba. But the story that comes to us is filled with editorializing from our good friend the Deuteronomist. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we dig into the realities of Solomon's court.

As we reach the conclusion of King David's life, readers of the Hebrew Bible are confronted with a troubling image: a feeble old man who in his last words requests vengeance against those who slighted him. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss the appendix to the Books of Samuel, the succession of Solomon, and why we should be cautious whenever we hear somebody make big claims about chiasm.

The tale of Absalom — son of David, avenger of Tamar, murderer of Amnon, rebel king of Israel — is an enigmatic chapter in the long tale of King David. It's a story full of cowardly justice and bold injustice, one that touches upon courtly intrigues and distasteful sexual ethics. What can we learn from this Biblical story? Read along as the Third Hour Podcast tries to find out!

Something is wrong in King David's court, but it's even worse than you've been told. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss the curdling of David's tale, including the fate of Jonathan's son, David's rape of Bathsheba and murder of Uriah, and Nathan's rebuke of the king's behavior.

Through sheer serendipity, the path has been paved for David's ascent to the kingship, and his good favor continues when his rivals stumble over themselves time and time again. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss holy dice, cheapened revelation, and why David is perhaps not the paragon of virtue you've been led to believe.

With his options quickly running out, David decides that it isn't enough to be a criminal — he must also join the Philistines. Meanwhile, King Saul is so uncertain about his future that he resorts to necromancy, raising Samuel's spirit to ask for advice. In the end, Saul is killed in battle entirely without David's involvement, a suspicious turn of events to say the least. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss the etymology of "spirit," the welcome circumstances of David's enemies being swept from the field, and what the author of the Book of Samuel might be trying to say about these complicated characters.

We all know the story. On the run from King Saul, David assembles a band of outlaws to survive both the rugged landscape and the pursuits of the King. Except the text doesn't quite line up with the plucky image. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss David's time as a ruffian, from his two run-ins with Saul to some light racketeering on the frontier.

Continuing into 1 Samuel, we reach one of the most famous stories in all of human literature: David and Goliath. Or rather, two intertwined stories about David and Goliath, plus a third later in 2 Samuel. Today on the Third Hour Podcast, we not only peel apart those tales, but also dig into David's marriage to Michal, his love for Jonathan, and the presence of household gods in the royal court.

The people want a king to rule over them. Sound familiar? Samuel balks at the idea, but he soon finds a suitable candidate in the person of Saul. Join the Third Hour Podcast as we discuss Samuel's scheming, Saul's bumbling, and why we really ought to read the text of the Bible before coming up with scriptural takeaways.