Can astrology help us understand Matthew 2 & the star of Bethlehem?

Dr. Mark Chavalas continues our Christmas series on the Star of Bethlehem, diving into a topic that might ruffle some feathers: ancient Near Eastern astrology. Far from modern horoscopes and pop mysticism, this episode explores astrology as it existed in the Mesopotamian, Jewish, and Greco-Roman worlds, and why it may be essential for understanding Matthew 2 and the Magi.

➡️ What ancient astrology actually was—and why it’s nothing like modern horoscopes

➡️ How Mesopotamian astrology shaped Greek and Roman thought

➡️ Why astrology and astronomy were inseparable in the ancient world

➡️ Evidence for Jewish astrology during the Second Temple period

➡️ Zodiac imagery in the Dead Sea Scrolls and ancient synagogues

➡️ How ancient scholars interpreted signs in the heavens as divine communication

➡️ Why the Magi were likely astrologer-priests, not kings

➡️ How early Christians (including Origen) understood Balaam’s star prophecy

➡️ Why the Star of Bethlehem may have been calculated, not merely observed

Many Christians instinctively reject astrology—and for good reason. But what if biblical authors were engaging ancient cosmic language, not endorsing pagan belief systems?

💬 Let’s Talk in the CommentsDoes the idea of Jewish astrology surprise you? Should Christians be uncomfortable—or curious—about ancient cosmic imagery in Scripture? What questions do you want answered in our final Star of Bethlehem episode?

🎥 Like, Subscribe & ShareIf you’re enjoying this deep dive into the Bible’s ancient world:

#BuriedBiblePodcast #StarOfBethlehem #Magi #WiseMen #Matthew2 #AncientNearEast #BiblicalContext #BibleHistory #BiblicalArchaeology #DeadSeaScrolls #SecondTempleJudaism #Mesopotamia #BiblicalStudies #ChristmasSeries #BiblePodcast

What if the “Star of Bethlehem” wasn’t what you think it was?

In this Christmas-themed episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, Dr. Mark Chavalas dives into Matthew 2 and the famous story of the Magi and the Star—but through the lens of the ancient world. Who were the Magi really? Why does Matthew use language that sounds… astrological? And why would these men go to Jerusalem first instead of Bethlehem?

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ Why the term “Magi” changes meaning over time (priests, diviners, even “sorcerers”)

➡️ What Matthew’s phrase “in the East / in the rising” could imply

➡️ The historical anchor: Herod’s reign and why Jesus’ birth is often placed before 4 BC

➡️ How Roman and Jewish sources show horoscopes and portents were taken seriously in the ancient world

➡️ Why the Magi may have “seen” the star on paper, not in the sky (and what that means)

Mentioned / Referenced in the Conversation:

Matthew 2

Micah 5:2 (and Matthew’s use of it)

Acts 8 (Simon “Magi”)

Josephus (Herod dates; references to “magi/magician”)

Suetonius (Augustus, Nero, Titus)

Dead Sea Scrolls references to horoscopes/divination textsEd Yamauchi, Persia and the Bible

Francesca Rochberg, The Heavenly Writing (and related scholarship)

Michael Molnar, The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi

#BuriedBiblePodcast #Magi #StarOfBethlehem #Matthew2 #BibleHistory #AncientNearEast #BiblicalStudies #ChristmasEpisode #jesusbirth

Did Joshua 10 really say the sun and moon literally stopped — or have we missed what an ancient reader would’ve heard immediately?

We conclude our deep dive into Joshua 10:12–15, one of the most debated miracle passages in the Old Testament. The conversation centers on whether the famous line about the sun standing still over Gibeon and the moon over the Valley of Aijalon should be read as a miraculous astronomical event — or as poetic language rooted in ancient Near Eastern celestial omen traditions.

Dr. Chavalas examines the sudden shift from military narrative to poetry in Joshua 10, the Hebrew verbs traditionally translated “stand still,” and how similar language appears in Mesopotamian celestial divination texts. The episode also explores why the geographical details in the passage suggest morning, not evening, and how ancient armies interpreted the positioning of heavenly bodies as divine signals for battle.Rather than reducing the miracle, this discussion asks whether Joshua 10 may actually portray a different kind of cosmic event — one centered on divine providence, participation in God’s will, and the theological claim that “the LORD listened to the voice of a man.”

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ Why Joshua 10 contains a poetic section embedded in military narrative

➡️ What the Hebrew verbs dāmam and ʿāmad can mean beyond “stop”

➡️ How Mesopotamian omen texts used sun and moon positioning for warfare

➡️ Why the phrase “a day like no other” may focus on divine response, not astronomy

➡️ How ancient readers may have understood this event very differently than modern audiences

💬 Let’s Talk in the CommentsDo you think Joshua 10 is describing a literal astronomical event — or ancient omen-style language used to describe divine providence? Drop your questions below.

Primary Biblical Texts:

Joshua 10:12–15 - Joshua 5:13–15

Ancient Near Eastern Sources:

Enuma Anu Enlil (Mesopotamian celestial omen series)

Campbell Thompson, Reports of the Magicians and Astrologers of Nineveh and Babylon, Vols. 1–2 (London: Luzac, 1900–1902)

Key Scholarly Articles:

Walton, John H.“Joshua 10:12–15 and Mesopotamian Celestial Omen Texts.”

In Faith, Tradition, and History: Old Testament Historiography in Its Near Eastern Context, edited by Alan Millard, James Hoffmeier, and David Baker, 181–190. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1994.Wilson, Robert Dick.

Ancient History & Comparative Sources:

Plutarch, Life of NiciasLivy, History of Rome.

#BuriedBiblePodcast #Joshua10 #BibleContext #AncientNearEast #OldTestament #BiblicalStudies #Mesopotamia #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #sunstoodstill

What did the “sun standing still” mean to an ancient audience?

In Joshua 10, the Bible describes one of its most debated moments—a battle where the sun and moon appear to stop in the sky. But before asking how this happened, this episode asks a more foundational question: how would an ancient reader have understood this text?

In this episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, Dr. Mark Chavalas explores Joshua 10:1–15 by first rebuilding the ancient historical, literary, and cultural world behind the passage. Rather than jumping straight to modern scientific questions, Mark situates the story within ancient warfare, political alliances, royal annals, poetry, and omen language common across the ancient Near East.This episode focuses on background and setup, laying the groundwork for understanding why Joshua 10 was written the way it was—and how ancient readers would have heard it.

🔥 In This Episode

- Why the Book of Joshua reads like ancient military annals

- The political world of Canaanite city-states and alliances

- The role of Gibeon and the five Amorite kings- Why ancient battles often included poetic and cosmic language

- How hailstones, night marches, and victory reports fit ancient war literature- Why the Book of Jasher is mentioned—and why it matters

📚 Key References & Sources Mentioned

Biblical Texts:Joshua 9–10Judges (comparative narrative patterns)

Jeremiah 34 (treaty and oath parallels)

Ancient Near Eastern Sources:T

he Amarna Letters (14th century BC international correspondence)– William L. Moran, The Amarna Letters

Ancient Egyptian, Hittite, and Assyrian royal annals

Ancient Near Eastern omen and celestial literature

Archaeology & Background StudiesJames B. Pritchard, Gibeon: Where the Sun Stood Still

Archaeological data on Canaanite fortified cities (Jerusalem, Lachish, Hebron)

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:Do you read Joshua 10 as literal cosmic stoppage, poetic battle language, or something else? What’s your biggest question about the “sun stood still” passage?

🎥 Like, Subscribe & Share if you want more Bible passages explored through the lens of the ancient Near East.We’ll see you next time on the Buried Bible Podcast—because the real payoff of Joshua 10 is still

ahead.#BuriedBiblePodcast #Joshua10 #BibleStudy #AncientNearEast #OldTestament #BiblicalContext #SunStoodStill #DrMarkChavalas #SunStoodStill #BibleHistory #ChristianPodcast #Bible Study

There is so much more happening in the flood story than most readers ever realize — so what questions should we actually be asking about Noah’s flood?

In this wrap-up Q&A episode, Dr. Mark Chavalas wrestles with the difficult questions left in the flood narrative — the ones most people avoid. Was the flood global or local? Who were the Nephilim, and why are they before and after the flood? Did God really “start over” with the flood? And if so… why does evil show up again the moment Noah steps off the ark? Why is Noah called “righteous” if he fails immediately in Genesis 9? And what on earth is going on with Noah’s nakedness and the curse of Canaan?

Dr. Chavalas warns us:“Read your Bible and don’t be intimidated by it. There’s a lot that is poetic and not literal. Strap on your big-boy pants and learn to interpret faithfully without fear." This episode wrestles honestly with ambiguity, ancient Near Eastern context, and the theological beauty that emerges from both.

In This Episode:

➡️ Why the biblical flood story is nothing like Mesopotamian flood myths

➡️ The real meaning behind God's “repentance” and emotional grief

➡️ Noah’s righteousness: character or divine grace?

➡️ Why evil survives the flood — and what Genesis wants us to see

➡️ The Nephilim problem: before and after the flood

➡️ Was the flood global, local, or literary? Dr. Chavalas explains ancient language

➡️ The shocking honor-shame meaning of Noah’s nakedness

➡️ Why Canaan is cursed even though Ham sinned

➡️ The flood as a reset echoing Genesis 1

➡️ How reading like an ancient changes everything

The story of Noah isn’t a children’s tale — it’s a theological masterpiece. Understanding how ancient Israelites thought, wrote, and interpreted the world unlocks the depth of God’s character, His justice, His mercy, and His astonishing patience with humanity.

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:What question from the flood narrative has always bothered you?

Drop it below — your question might shape a future episode.📧 ([email protected])

🎥 Like, Subscribe & Share:If this conversation challenged you, stretched your thinking, or deepened your love for Scripture, make sure to like the video, subscribe, and share it with someone who loves the

Bible.#BuriedBiblePodcast #Noah #Flood #AncientNearEast #BibleStudy #BiblicalContext #Genesis6 #Nephilim #OldTestament #MarkChavalas #biblehistory

What does it mean when Genesis says God “repented” for making humanity? Did God change His mind? Is this an anthropomorphism? A metaphor? A translation issue? Or something far deeper — about divine emotion, justice, and mercy?

Today, Dr. Mark Chavalas takes a bunny trail in the Flood narrative by diving into one of the most difficult and most misunderstood verses in the entire Old Testament: God “repenting” in Genesis 6:6.From ancient Hebrew linguistics to emotional language for God, this episode explores the true meaning of the word nāḥam, how ancient translators struggled with it, and why this word gives us a fuller, richer picture of God’s character — not a contradiction.

This conversation goes deep into theology, the ancient Near East, how anthropomorphism works in Scripture, and how the Flood story reveals God’s justice and His mercy.

📖 In This Episode:

➡️ What the Hebrew word nāḥam really means — and why it doesn’t translate cleanly into English

➡️ Why Genesis 6:6 says God “repented” or “regretted” creating mankind

➡️ How ancient translators in the Septuagint struggled to capture this word

➡️ The difference between God “changing His mind” and God expressing divine compassion

➡️ How anthropomorphic language helps us understand God without limiting Him

➡️ What the Flood narrative teaches about divine justice, mercy, and emotional language

➡️ Why Noah’s name (“rest/comfort”) ties directly into the theological meaning of the Flood

➡️ Why this matters for prayer, judgment, blessing, and understanding God’s character

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:How have you understood the idea of God “repenting”? Does this change the way you read the Flood story?

🎥 Like, Subscribe & Share#BuriedBiblePodcast

#BibleHistory #Genesis6 #AncientNearEast #OldTestament #BibleStudy #BiblicalContext #HebrewBible #Theology #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalHebrew #FloodStory #GodsCharacter

Are the “contradictions” in the flood story proof that Genesis is sloppy—or are they actually clues to a hidden literary design?In today’s episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, Keagan Walz and Dr. Mark Chavalas explore one of the most controversial claims about the Bible: that the Genesis Flood narrative is inconsistent, repetitive, or stitched together from conflicting sources.But what if the Flood story is far more brilliant, intentional, and literary than modern readers imagine?Join us as Dr. Chavalas walks through the surprising chiastic structure woven through Genesis 6–9, showing how the numbers, repetitions, and narrative “tensions” actually form a carefully crafted design, not a broken account. We explore ancient Near Eastern writing, oral tradition, how ancient authors used pattern and symmetry, and why the Flood story functions as a theological masterpiece—not a scientific puzzle.🔥 In This Episode:➡️ Why Genesis 6–9 looks contradictory to modern readers➡️ The 31-part chiastic structure hidden inside the Flood narrative➡️ Why “God remembered Noah” is the center of the entire narrative➡️ How ancient literary design shapes the story’s numbers and repetitions➡️ Whether recognizing literary design weakens inerrancy—or actually deepens our trust in Scripture➡️ Parallels with Genesis 1’s structure and why both creation and flood are answering different questions than modern science asks➡️ Why the Flood story isn’t broken…but brilliantly crafted💬 Let’s Talk in the CommentsDo you think the Flood story is contradictory?Did the chiastic structure surprise you?Drop your questions, thoughts, and disagreements—we love hearing from you.📜 Email : [email protected]

Did the Bible describe a global flood—or was it a local event misunderstood by moderns?

In this episode of The Buried Bible Podcast, Dr. Mark Chavalas continues a deep dive into the Flood narrative of Genesis, exploring divine intent, God’s sorrow, and the striking differences between the biblical account and Mesopotamian flood stories.

This episode wrestles with questions about divine justice, mercy, and regret—what does it mean that God was “grieved in His heart”? And how should modern readers understand terms like “all the earth” and “all flesh” in light of the ancient world?

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ Why God’s “grief” over humanity is one of the Bible’s most profound moments

➡️ The meaning behind “all the earth” — global flood or local deluge?

➡️ How Mesopotamian flood myths help illuminate Genesis

➡️ What “repentance” means when it’s applied to God Himself

➡️ The role of the Nephilim before the Flood — and why they’re mentioned at all

➡️ How ancient readers would have understood the flood story differently than we do today

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:Do you believe the Flood was global or local? What does this story reveal to you about God’s nature?

OR EMAIL US: [email protected]

🎥 Like, Subscribe & Share to join us each week as we uncover the Bible through the lens of the ancient world.

Did the Bible Copy the Flood Story?

In this episode, we continue our deep-dive into the story of the Flood—this time examining the Mesopotamian flood traditions that existed long before the Bible’s account in Genesis 6–9. Dr. Chavalas unpacks the Atrahasis Epic and Gilgamesh Tablet XI, explaining how these ancient stories describe quarrelling gods, unjust creation, and a flood brought on by divine chaos—not justice.

He contrasts that with the biblical God, who acts from mercy and moral order rather than divine whim. Mark’s goal is to compare the flood stories to highlight their differences, not their similarities.This conversation reframes that question, “Did the Bible copy pagan myths?” showing that while the Israelites were part of the ancient Near Eastern world, their message was radically different—monotheistic, moral, and redemptive.

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ What the Atrahasis and Gilgamesh epics actually say about the Flood

➡️ How Mesopotamian gods are fickle, unjust, and at odds with each other

➡️ The major differences between Mesopotamian polytheism and biblical monotheism

➡️ Why the Bible’s version focuses on God’s struggle between justice and mercy

➡️ How these ancient parallels strengthen—not weaken—biblical faith

💬 Let’s Talk in the CommentsWhat stood out to you most about the ancient flood stories? Do their differences from Genesis strengthen your faith—or raise new questions?

👉 [email protected]

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If you love learning the historical context behind Scripture, subscribe and share this episode with a friend who loves digging deeper into the Bible.

Were there flood stories before the Bible?

Mesopotamian scholar, Dr. Mark Chavalas dives into one of the most famous stories in history — the Flood. But before Noah’s ark ever set sail, ancient Mesopotamian civilizations were already writing about deluges sent by the gods. How does that work?

Dr. Chavalas introduces the earliest flood traditions from Sumerian, Babylonian, and Akkadian sources — from Ziusudra and Atrahasis to Utnapishtim of the Epic of Gilgamesh — and explores how these stories compare to, and differ from, the biblical account in Genesis. Along the way, he recounts the remarkable 19th-century discovery of Babylonian flood tablets that shocked the Victorian world, sparked a clash between science and faith, and forever changed biblical studies.This episode lays the foundation for an in-depth exploration of how the Flood was understood in the ancient Near East — and how the biblical version redefined divine purpose, justice, and mercy.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE:

➡️ How the Mesopotamian flood myths predate the biblical narrative

➡️ The earliest Sumerian and Babylonian flood traditions

➡️ How George Smith’s 1872 discovery of the Babylonian flood tablet stunned the modern world

➡️ Comparing Ziusudra, Atrahasis, and the Gilgamesh flood hero

➡️ Why the Bible’s Flood story is more than just a theological response

📚 Understanding the ancient flood traditions helps us see Genesis 6–9 not as a stand-alone myth, but as a divinely inspired response to pagan worldviews. The biblical writers weren’t copying Babylonian ideas — they were correcting them, revealing a God who is moral, relational, and sovereign over creation, unlike the fickle gods of Mesopotamia.This episode sets the stage for the next few discussions on how ancient literature shaped — and was reshaped by — the biblical vision of the flood.

💬 LET’S TALK IN THE COMMENTSWhat do you think: why do nearly every ancient culture have a flood story? Were they remembering the same event — or expressing something deeper about human nature and the divine?

‼️‼️ EMAIL US YOUR QUESTIONS : [email protected] ‼️‼️

🎥 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

📚 Resources Mentioned:

➡️ Alexander Heidel, The Gilgamesh Epic and Old Testament Parallels (1946)

➡️ W. G. Lambert & A. R. Millard, Atrahasis: The Babylonian Story of the Flood

➡️ Irving Finkel, The Ark Before Noah

➡️ Nathan Wasserman, The Flood: The Akkadian Sources (2020)

➡️ Adam E. Miglio, The Gilgamesh Epic and Genesis 1–11: Peering into the Deep (2023)