Bible Talk — A podcast by 9Marks

1 Kings 2:12–3:15: On Solomon’s Snake-Stomping Shrewdness and Snake-Handling Stupidity (Ep. 113)

We all know the story about Solomon pleading with the Lord for wisdom. But do you remember how it begins? It’s surprising.Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 2:12–3:15, which highlights Solomon’s shrewdness and his...

1 Kings 2:1–12: On David’s Deathbed Charge, Solomon’s Moses-Like Transition, and the Looming Threat of a Man-Less Throne (Ep. 112)

King David is on his deathbed. What does he say to his son? “Be strong. Follow the Lord and all his ways. If you don’t . . .”Jim Hamilton, Alex Duke, and Sam Emadi chat about 1 Kings 2:1–12.

1 Kings 1: On David's Decline, Adonijah's Absalomization, and Solomon's Donkey-Shaped Pattern (Ep. 111)

Bible Talk begins a new book! In this episode, Alex chats with Jim and Sam about 1 Kings 1.

2 Samuel 23–24: On David's Final Words, the Temple's Future Address, and 1–2 Samuel's Messianic Finale (Ep. 110)

The end of 2 Samuel is odd: it portrays the king at cruising altitude and then describes his bumpy descent. What's going on here? Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about the messianic finale of 2 Samuel...

2 Samuel 21–22: On a Reincarnated Goliath, a Chiastic Cheat Code, and David as the "New Israel" (Ep. 109)

We've entered 1–2 Samuel's epilogue, which rewinds the clock to mighty deeds of mighty men and gives us a chiastic cheat code that reveals some fascinating connections between King David and all that's gone before.

2 Samuel 19–20: On David’s Unraveling Reign, Joab’s Bloodthirsty Lawlessness, and Subtle Details from the Royal Court (Ep. 108)

By now, David’s reign is beginning to unravel. In fact, these chapters are beginning to remind us not of 1–2 Samuel, but of the book of Judges. Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 2 Samuel 19–20.

2 Samuel 17–18: On the Son's Demise, the Father's Despair, and the Hunt for Meaningful Connections (Ep. 107)

A father should never have to mourn the death of his son. But that's precisely what happens here. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 2 Samuel 17–18.

2 Samuel 15:13–16:23: On David's Exodus Reversal and Accidentally Stealing from C. S. Lewis (Ep. 106)

A messenger comes to David and gives him bad news: "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom." Then David flees—and in doing so he fails as both father and king.

2 Samuel 14:1–15:12: On a Convoluted Conversation and a Kiss that Ends in a Coup (Ep. 105)

Absalom is a smarmy guy who makes himself seem powerful and compassionate. King David, meanwhile, stays quiet while his kingdom nears collapse.

2 Samuel 13: On the Hateful Misanthrope and the Hateful Milquetoast (Ep. 104)

The story of Amnon, Tamar, and the subsequent terrible fallout is ultimately a story about two fake loves. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi talk through 2 Samuel 13.

2 Samuel 12: On Nathan's Brave Parable, David's Belated Repentance, and the LORD's Merciful Response (Ep. 103)

At the beginning of 2 Samuel 12, King David is in a dark place. Even worse, he doesn't seem to know it. By the end of 2 Samuel 12, he's back where he belongs and he's writing Psalm 51. Alex...

2 Samuel 11: On David, Bathsheba, and the Long-Awaited Avalanche (Ep. 102)

For a while now, we've been tracking the avalanche in the distance. Now, with the story of David and Bathsheba, it's finally here.In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi chat about 2 Samuel 11.

2 Samuel 8–10: On Horse Math and Mephibosheth’s Honor in David’s Golden Age (Ep. 101)

After the mountain top of 2 Samuel 7, we get David’s Golden Age. He’s successful, he’s subduing the LORD’s enemies, and he’s showing surprising mercy to helpless people like Mephibosheth. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton,...

2 Samuel 7: On the Mountain Top of the Old Testament Which Teaches Us, Yet Again, That the Bible Is Amazing (Ep. 100)

To celebrate our 100th episode, we did something a little different. But the conversation—on perhaps the mountain-peak of the whole OT—ended up at the same place: the Bible is amazing.Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi chat about 2 Samuel...

2 Samuel 4–6: On Being Blameless in the Battlefield . . . But Not in the Bedroom (Ep. 99)

After the squelching of Ish-bosheth's insurrection, David is anointed king over a united kingdom and the nations are streaming to the city of Zion. And yet . . . the author wants us to know that something's not quite right...

2 Samuel 1–3: On Bill Buckner's Obituary, Ish-Bosheth's Failed Coup Attempt, and a Parable of a Prodigal Soldier (Ep. 98)

In 2 Samuel 1–3, the inaugural moments of King David's reign are full of stomach-stabbings, failed coups, and heartfelt laments. And through it all, King David remains upright and unscathed. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.

1 Samuel 29–31: On the Rise of David and the Death of Saul, Which Is Also Anti-Evangelistic Beheading (Ep. 97)

When you get to the end of 1 Samuel, you realize how Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 2:1–10) really does frame everything that's to come.

1 Samuel 26–28: On the Witch of Endor's Surprising Success, the Ghost of Samuel's Final Sermon, and the King of Israel's Meal with the Devil

Alex chats with Jim and Sam about the witch of Endor and the rest of 1 Samuel 26-28.

1 Samuel 25: On a Fake King, a Sinful King, and the Biggest Argument in Bible Talk History (Ep. 95)

In 1 Samuel 25, David is face-to-face with a foolish man who thinks he’s a king. As readers, we’re face-to-face with a vital question: What kind of king will David be?Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss (and have their biggest argument...

1 Samuel 23–24: On that One Time King Saul Walked Down the Aisle and Prayed a Prayer (Ep. 94)

The cat-and-mouse game between David and Saul continues and, in the quiet darkness of a cave in the wilderness, it reaches a shocking climax. We don't get revenge. We get . . . a reunion? In this episode of Bible...

1 Samuel 20–22: On the Ethics of Lying While Dodging the King's Spears (Ep. 93)

David's now a fugitive on the run. But he's not alone. He's got the support of his best friend Jonathan. He's gathered to himself Israel's strugglers and stragglers. Oh, and he's also got Goliath's sword.Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam...

1 Samuel 18–19: On Affectionate Men, Attempted Murders, and Arranged Marriages (Ep. 92)

The second David kills Goliath, Saul wants to kill David. Why? Because he's a puny, self-righteous man. Thankfully, David has Jonathan on his side to slow down his father's murderous rampages.In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with...

1 Samuel 17: On Our Everyday Battles and David's Evangelistic Beheading (Ep. 91)

The story of David and Goliath is not giving us a strategy for how we can fight our everyday battles. It's giving us an evangelistic beheading.In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi...

1 Samuel 16: On the Ruddy Seed of Judah from the Little Town of Bethlehem (Ep. 90)

In 1 Samuel 16, we finally meet David. He's an afterthought to his father, a caretaker to his father's sheep, and a comforter to the demon-addled king Saul. But to the Lord? He's the King. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and...

1 Samuel 15: On Some Gilgal Gab about Saul's "Repentance" and the Lord's "Regret" (Ep. 89)

In Samuel 15, the Lord "regrets" and Saul "repents." Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.

1 Samuel 13–14: On Israel's Military-Industrial Complex, Saul's Hoarding of AK-47s, and Jonathan's Holy Heroics (Ep. 88)

In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex, Jim and Sam talk about 1 Samuel 13–14.

1 Samuel 11–12: On Snake-Man the Thug-Ruler, Samuel's Bummer Farewell Speech, and Learning to Read the Bible With Your Imagination (Ep. 87)

Some people would look at this passage as Saul's "Golden Age." But when you look closer, clearly something else is going on. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Samuel...

1 Samuel 8–10: On the Comedic Coronation of Israel’s Handsome, High-High “Hero” Who Can’t Even Find His Father’s Donkey (Bible Talk, Ep. 86)

In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi on 1 Samuel 8–10.

1 Samuel 4–7: On Eli’s Death, Dagon’s Destruction, and the Philistines Wondering about YHWH’s Return Policy (Bible Talk, Ep. 85)

From Dagon’s decapitation to Eli’s death, from Ichabod to Ebenezer, 2 Samuel 4–7 has a lot going on. What’s it all mean?

1 Samuel 2:12–3:21: On the Fat and Fatuous Priests and the Favored and Faithful Prophet (Bible Talk, Ep. 84)

This passage in 1 Samuel is a yo-yo—or, as Sam likes to call it, a chiasm. It bounces up and down between the unfaithful priests (Eli’s sons) and the faithful prophet Samuel. Listen to the latest episode of Bible Talk...

1 Samuel 1:1–2:11: On the Rosetta Stone, Flat-Earthers’ Prooftext, and a Repetitious Swirl of Genesis and Judges (Bible Talk, Ep. 83)

Bible Talk is back!In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim and Sam about the strange opening of 1 Samuel.

On Opening Up Your Mind to Something You’ve Never Considered—Or, the Weirdest Episode of Bible Talk Yet (Bible Talk, Ep. 82)

In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about canonical order.

Judges 19–21: On Saving the Worst for Last While There’s Still No King in the Land (Bible Talk, Ep. 81)

In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Judges 19–21.

Judges 17–18: On Religious Guns-for-Hire, Sellouts in Ministry, and Sins Coming Home to Roost (Bible Talk, Ep. 80)

In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Judges 17–18.

Judges 15–16: On the Bald, Eyeless Jester Who Is Used by God (Bible Talk, Ep. 79)

In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Judges 15–16.

Judges 13-14: On the Birth and Betrothal of Israel's Surprising, Set-Apart, and Sinful Savior (Bible Talk, Ep. 78)

In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Judges 13–14. They discuss Samson, Israel's surprising, set-apart, and sinful savior.

Judges 11-12: On the Tragic Tale of Jephthah and the Tragic Consequences of Not Knowing Your Bible (Bible Talk, Ep. 77)

In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Judges 11–12.

Judges 9-10: On Loose Lugnuts, Israel’s Anti-King, and the Utter Stupidity of Evil (Bible Talk, Ep. 76)

As we near the midpoint of Judges, the wheels are starting to fall off. Israel has long wanted a king. In Abimelech, they finally get what they want—and the results are disastrous.

Judges 7-8: On the Complicated Story of Israel’s Knock-Off Priest-King Getting Toppled by a Sneeze (Bible Talk, Ep. 75)

Judges 6: On the Rise of Scaredy-Cat Gideon, Prayer Fleeces, and North Face Fleeces, Too (Bible Talk, Ep. 74)

Judges 4-5: On Barak the Bashful, Deborah the Complementarian, and Jael the Serpent-Crusher (Bible Talk, Ep. 73)

Judges 3:7-31: On Othniel the Leader, Ehud the Left-Handed, and Clippy the Paper Clip (Bible Talk, Ep. 72)

Judges 1:1–3:6: On the Pattern Set Forth in the Two-Part Introduction of the Book of Judges (Bible Talk, Ep. 71)

On the Virgin Conception, the Sinlessness of Christ, and Hell Slinking Away, Defeated and Exhausted (Another Special Christmas Episode)

Joshua 22-24: On Joshua’s Postscript and Post-Postscript, Which Is a Lot Like a Marvel Movie’s (Bible Talk, Ep.70)

Joshua 11–21: On the Big, Boring List of Place Names that You Should Read with Tears in Your Eyes (Bible Talk, Ep. 69)

Joshua 9–10: On the Gibeonite Deception, Rash Vows, and Booing Woodrow Wilson (Bible Talk, Ep. 68)

Joshua 7–8: On Achan’s Sin, the Fall of Ai, and Steph Curry’s Ankle Injury (Bible Talk, Ep. 67)

Joshua 5–6: On the Walls of Jericho, the Fall of Jericho, and a Different Kind of “Circumcision Party” (Bible Talk, Ep. 66)

Joshua 3–4: On Israel’s “Monumental” Second Exodus into the Promised Land (Bible Talk, Ep. 65)