Buried Bible Podcast

What really happened at the Tower of Babel? Was it just about confusing languages—or something much deeper?

This episode of the Buried Bible Podcast wraps up the Tower of Babel series by exploring how Jewish and Christian traditions reinterpreted the story across centuries. Dr. Mark Chavalas discusses sources like Josephus, Jubilees, rabbinical commentary, and even connections to Acts 2, showing how Babel became a symbol of rebellion, pride, and divine judgment.

The conversation highlights how Babel contrasts with God’s call of Abraham—revealing that while humans sought to make their own name great, God’s plan was always to establish His name and bless the nations on His terms.

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ Ancient Jewish traditions on Babel: apocalypse texts, Jubilees, and midrash

➡️ How Josephus linked Nimrod to the tower

➡️ Why the rabbis viewed Babel as ultimate rebellion

➡️ The surprising connection between Babel and Acts 2 at Pentecost

➡️ God’s response at Babel vs. His call of Abraham in Genesis 12

➡️ What this story reveals about sacred space, divine council, and human pride

The Tower of Babel isn’t just an isolated story—it’s the backdrop for God’s plan to call Abraham, form Israel, and ultimately bless the nations. Understanding the traditions surrounding Babel reveals how Jewish and Christian thinkers made sense of rebellion, pride, and God’s redemptive plan.

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:Which tradition about Babel surprised you most—Josephus, Jubilees, or Acts 2?

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What does the Tower of Babel story in Genesis 11 really mean? Was it simply about scattered languages — or was the biblical writer actually responding to Babylonian myths?

In this episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, Dr. Mark Chavalas dives deep into the Babel story, examining it through the lens of the ancient Near East. He shows how the account in Genesis is not just a history of languages, but a theological message ridiculing Babylon and asserting Yahweh’s supremacy over Mesopotamian gods and kings.

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ Why Genesis 11 is not simply about language, but about God’s supremacy

➡️ How the Enuma Elish and Babylonian ziggurats shaped the context of Babel

➡️ What does the verse about bricks and mortar have to do with anything?

➡️ The meaning of “one lip” and its parallels in Mesopotamian texts

➡️ Why Israel’s writers mocked Babylon’s pride and “gate of the gods”

➡️ How theological messaging works as history interpreted through faith

The Tower of Babel isn’t just an ancient tale—it’s a theological confrontation with the world’s powers. Understanding the Babylonian background brings fresh insight into how Israel saw God’s sovereignty over nations, history, and human pride.

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:Do you think Genesis 11 is more about history—or theology? How does this change the way you read the Tower of Babel?

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Was the Tower of Babel really about different languages—or something much deeper?

Genesis 11 describes humanity as having “one language,” but the Hebrew actually says “one lip.” Could this phrase mean more than speech—perhaps unity, arrogance, and rebellion?

Dr. Mark Chavalas unpacks the ancient Mesopotamian context, showing how the biblical text may have been written as a theological response to Babylon’s arrogance and self-exaltation.

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ Why “one lip” in Hebrew may signal unity of purpose rather than just shared speech

➡️ How Assyrian kings used phrases like “one mouth” to enforce conformity across empires

➡️ Why Genesis 11 may be a deliberate mockery of Babylon’s arrogance and wisdom traditions

➡️ The role of Nimrod and why his name is missing in this account

➡️ How the Babel story sets the stage for the nations of Genesis 10 and the calling of Abraham

🔎 Samuel L. Boyd, “Sargon’s Dur-Šarruken Cylinder Inscription and Language Ideology: A Reconsideration and Its Implications for Genesis 11:1–9” (Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 78:1, 2019)

🔎 Casey Clary, “On the Meaning and Language of Genesis 11 and Its Babylonian Background” (Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 82:1, 2023)

Too often the Tower of Babel is reduced to a children’s tale about “why languages exist.” But when read against the backdrop of Mesopotamia, Babel becomes a profound critique of human rebellion, imperial pride, and false claims of wisdom—a theme that runs straight into the heart of the biblical story.

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:Do you think the Tower of Babel was mainly about language, or about rebellion and pride?

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Who exactly was Nimrod from the Bible?In this episode, Dr. Mark Chavalas kicks off our new Tower of Babel Series by uncovering the mysterious figure of Nimrod in Genesis 10–11. Was he just a legendary hunter? A Mesopotamian king like Sargon? Or a rebellious archetype against God?

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ Why Genesis 10 interrupts the genealogy to highlight Nimrod

➡️ What his name actually means (“Let us rebel”)

➡️ Whether Nimrod was connected to the Nephilim and giants of Genesis 6

➡️ Archaeological clues from Mesopotamian kings like Sargon and Naram-Sin

➡️ How Jewish and Rabbinic tradition tied Nimrod to Abraham

➡️ Why the Bible calls him a “mighty hunter before the Lord” — positive or negative?

➡️ How Nimrod sets the stage for the Tower of Babel

📚 Why This Episode Matters: Understanding Nimrod gives us a glimpse into the ancient Near Eastern world and the theological backdrop for the Tower of Babel. Far from a side note, his story raises questions about rebellion, empire, and humanity’s attempts to replace God with their own power.

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments: Do you think Nimrod was a real historical king like Sargon, or more of an archetype of rebellion?

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If tattoos in the ancient world were mostly marks of slavery, what does that mean for Christians today?

In this follow-up episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, Keagan Walz and Dr. Mark Chavalas tackle the big question: how do we apply Old Testament laws—like Leviticus 19:28—to our modern lives?

From ancient Near Eastern branding practices to the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, we explore how cultural context, biblical law, and the law of love intersect. Whether you believe tattoos are permissible or prohibited, this episode dives deep into scripture, history, and practical application—while encouraging respectful discussion among believers.

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ What tattoos meant in the ancient world (branding & slavery)

➡️ The connection between Leviticus 19 and Acts 15’s four stipulations

➡️ How the early church navigated Old Testament law for Gentiles

➡️ The “law of love” as the guiding principle for application today

➡️ Why conscience, wisdom, and unity matter more than winning debates

📚 RESOURCES:

- W. Edward Glenny – “The Septuagint and Apostolic Hermeneutics: Amos 9 in Acts 15”- Tremper Longman III

– Making Sense of the Old Testament: Three Crucial Questions

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:Where do you land on this? Are tattoos a matter of conscience, or should believers avoid them altogether?

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Are tattoos really forbidden in the Bible? Or have we misunderstood Leviticus 19:28 all along?

Tattoos have become a hot-button issue in modern Christian circles, often used as a litmus test for holiness. But does Leviticus 19:28 actually prohibit body art—or is it condemning something far different?

Dr. Mark Chavalas takes you on a scholarly journey into the ONE VERSE in the entire Bible that mentions tattoos. Through ancient Near Eastern history, ancient slave practices, biblical language, rabbinical interpretation, and literary context, we uncover what tattooing meant in the ancient world—and what it meant to be marked.

📖 In This Episode:

➡️ The real Hebrew word behind "tattoo" and why it's a one-time use mystery

➡️ Why cutting and marking the body were likely two separate prohibitions

➡️ How Mesopotamian slaves were branded—and why that matters

➡️ What ancient mourning rituals reveal (and what they don’t)

➡️ The poetic irony of God saying He tattoos our names on His hands (Isaiah 49)

➡️ What early rabbinical and modern scholars say—and where they get it wrong

➡️ Why your tattoo probably isn’t what Leviticus was warning about

➡️ A method to responsibly apply Old Testament laws today

📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

David Bernat, “Tattoos: What Exactly Is Prohibited?”

Mark Chavalas, Adventures in Leviticus, Biblical Archaeology Review, Vol. 42.6 — View Article (BAS Library)

Huehnergard & Liebowitz, The Biblical Prohibition Against Tattooing (Vetus Testamentum 63) —

JoAnn Scurlock, Magico-Medical Means of Dealing with Ghosts (Book excerpt)

Pritchard (Ed.), Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament —

Jacob Milgrom, Leviticus 17–22 (AYB) —

🔥 Let’s Talk in the Comments: Do you believe Christians should avoid tattoos? Why or why not?----------

MORE Questions 👉 [email protected]

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Abraham's covenant in Genesis 15, the smoking firepot, and the flaming torch—what do they really mean?

Who walked between the pieces? Was it God or is there something more going on...Dr. Mark Chavalas, breaks down the strange covenant ritual with Abraham — focusing on the smoking firepot and flaming torch — to uncover what ancient Mesopotamian texts reveal that most modern readers miss. The smoking firepot and flaming torch are often assumed to represent God, but ancient texts suggest: It very well may not be God at all....so what does it mean?

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ Why Genesis 15 isn’t about God “passing through”

➡️ What the firepot and torch actually represent

➡️ How Mesopotamian adoption rituals and treaties illuminate this scene

➡️ Why this covenant changes how we view the Abraham story — and the whole Bible

📚 Academic Books and Commentaries

▸ The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament— John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas

▸ Mesopotamia and the Bible: Comparative Explorations— Edited by Mark Chavalas & K. Lawson Younger

▸ Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament (ANET)— Edited by James B. Pritchard

▸ Treaty of the Great King: The Covenant Structure of Deuteronomy— Meredith G. Kline

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:Do you think this changes how we understand the Abrahamic covenant? What surprised you the most?

🎥 Like, Subscribe & Share if you want more Bible deep dives from the ancient world!

What kind of God makes a covenant like this? And why does Abraham cut animals in half and wait in the dark for a smoking firepot?

In this episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, Keagan Walz and Dr. Mark Chavalas explore one of the most mysterious and misunderstood scenes in Scripture: the animal-splitting covenant ritual of Genesis 15. Abraham is promised land and descendants, but then God asks him to cut animals in half—what does that mean?

Dr. Chavalas unpacks the ancient Near Eastern background of covenant rituals, adoption laws, and Mesopotamian treaties to reveal what’s really going on with the “smoking pot and flaming torch.” Was this a legal contract? A divine promise? Or something else entirely?

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ What Genesis 15 meant to its original audience

➡️ Why Abraham cuts animals in half — and what it symbolized

➡️ How this ritual compares to Mesopotamian treaties and oaths

➡️ The meaning of Abraham’s deep sleep and terrifying darkness

➡️ What inheritance laws at Nuzi and Mari tell us about Abraham’s world

➡️ Why understanding ancient treaties transforms your view of God’s promises

📚 Why This Episode Matters:

Genesis 15 is a foundational covenant moment — not just for Abraham, but for the entire biblical story. Understanding this strange ritual through ancient eyes deepens our grasp of God’s character and the radical nature of His promises.

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:What surprised you most about this ancient ritual? Have you ever heard Genesis 15 taught like this before?

🎥 Like, Subscribe & ShareIf you’re passionate about understanding the Bible in its original context, help others find this podcast by subscribing and sharing!

▶️ Watch now and uncover what’s buried beneath the surface.

Before Israel became a nation, before God made the covenant.....who was Abraham?

In this episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, we return to Genesis to set the stage for one of the strangest covenant rituals in the Bible — Genesis 15:17. But before we dive into the mystery of the smoking firepot and flaming torch, we take a step back to explore the backstory of Abraham himself & Abraham's calling in Genesis 12–15.

Dr. Mark Chavalas, ancient Near East scholar, reveals what the Bible doesn’t spell out plainly: Abraham likely wasn’t a monotheist when God called him. So why was he chosen? And what exactly did he understand about the God who made him a promise?

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ Was Abraham still a pagan when God called him?

➡️ What gods did Abraham’s Amorite ancestors worship?

➡️ The literary and historical backdrop to Genesis 15

➡️ Abraham's connection to the Amorites and the moon god

➡️ How Genesis 14 prepares us for the covenant in Genesis 15:17

➡️ What happened between Babel and the call of Abraham

➡️ Why Abraham’s faith is a model of slow, loyal obedience

This episode reframes the story of Abraham in its ancient Near Eastern context, revealing how God's covenant didn’t begin with perfect theology but with loyal relationship. It reminds us that faith often begins with a step—not certainty. Understanding Abraham’s background helps us better grasp the radical nature of God's promise and the mystery of divine election.

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:Do you think Abraham understood who God truly was when he was first called? How do you relate to his slow journey of trust and faith?

🎥 Like, Subscribe & ShareIf you’re enjoying these deep dives, hit the like button and share this episode. Subscribing helps spread biblical literacy rooted in historical context!Watch the full episode now — and don’t miss part two, where we uncover the shocking truth behind the smoking firepot and flaming torch!

📜Sources & Further Reading:

🔗 The World Around the Old Testament (ed. Bill Arnold & Brent Strawn) — featuring Dan Fleming’s authoritative chapter on the Amorites

🔗 Apocalypse of Abraham (Jewish pseudepigrapha) — a fictional yet insightful window into how early Jewish thinkers imagined Abraham’s pre-call life

🔗 Journal of Northwest Semitic Languages, Vol. 51 (2024) — featuring Hugo At-Ross’s article on Amorite grammar and verb structure

🔗 Andrew George & Manfred Krebernik’s article: “Two Remarkable Vocabularies: Amorite–Akkadian Bilinguals” Vol. 116 (2022)

🔗 Moshe Weinfeld, “The Covenant of Grant in the Old Testament and in the Ancient Near East” in Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 90, No. 2 (1970), pp. 184–203

Did the Anunnaki Come from Planet Nibiru? Or Is It All a Misreading of Ancient Texts?

Welcome to another episode of the Buried Bible Podcast! We’re diving deep into one of the most sensationalized ideas in ancient alien theory: the claim that the Anunnaki are alien beings from a mysterious Planet called Nibiru. But is there any actual evidence for this in the ancient texts—or have modern theorists simply connected dots that aren’t there?

Join your hosts Keagan Walz and Dr. Mark Chavalas—Mesopotamian scholar, archaeologist, and professor with decades of experience—as they explore the claims, the sources, and the misinterpretations surrounding Nibiru and the Anunnaki. With a pile of primary texts, ancient dictionaries, and peer-reviewed scholarship at hand, Dr. Chavalas cuts through the modern myths and conspiracy theories and offers insight into what ancient Mesopotamians really believed about the cosmos.

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ Is Nibiru a secret planet… or something far less mysterious?

➡️ Where the word “Nibiru” comes from and what it meant in Mesopotamian astronomy

➡️ The one—and only—fragmented line that refers to Gilgamesh as “judge of the Anunnaki”

➡️ The ancient Mesopotamian obsession with stars and omens

➡️ Cylinder seal VA 243: Debunking the “12th Planet” myth

➡️ Why there’s no known connection between the Anunnaki and Nibiru in any ancient text

➡️ How conspiracies stitch together fragments to build shaky theories

➡️ Biblical wisdom on why Christians should approach this soberly

The internet is flooded with sensational claims about ancient aliens, hidden planets, and lost knowledge. But when we go back to the original sources, the narrative changes dramatically. This episode empowers listeners to pursue truth, think critically, and avoid building theology or worldview on speculation.

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:What questions do you have about the Anunnaki or Nibiru? Have you heard other theories you'd like us to investigate? Drop them below or email us directly—we’d love to hear from you!

🎥 Like, Subscribe & Share:If you enjoyed this breakdown of ancient texts vs. modern myths, hit that like button, subscribe for more biblical history content, and share this episode with a friend who needs to hear the truth.

📜 Books & Sources Referenced in This Episode:

- The Epic of Gilgamesh, trans. Andrew George (Penguin Classics, 2003)

- Chicago Assyrian Dictionary, Vol. N, Part II (1980), page 145

- Michael S. Heiser, The Myth of the 12th Planet (free article)

- Ursula CalmeyerSeidl, Die babylonischen Kudurru-Reliefs: Symbole mesopotamischer Gottheiten

- Emanuel Freriedman, The Marduk Star Nibiru, Cuneiform Digital Library Bulletin, 2015- Stephen Langdon, The Babylonian Epic of Creation (1923)

- Wilfred G. Lambert, Babylonian Creation Myths (2013)

- Jeremy Black, Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia

- Francesca Rochberg, The Heavenly Writing: Divination, Horoscopy, and Astronomy in Mesopotamian Culture