Hebrew Bible Insights

How do we make sense of Ezekiel? Our guest, Dr. Donna Petter, answers a number of questions about this important book. How do we make sense of graphic and violent sections in the book? What is the big picture structure of the book? Donna gives great insights into the intentionality of the design of the book between its two halves as well as a progression of restoration. You can find a link to her new commentary (which has been made completely free and online) below. 

Dr. Donna Petter is Associate Professor of Old Testament and Director of the Hebrew Language Program at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. She has a PhD from the University of Toronto in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations where she wrote her dissertation on the relationship between Sumerian City Laments and the Book of Ezekiel. She has written publications on Ezra-Nehemiah, Ezekiel, Ruth and more. To learn more about the range of her publications and research, check out the link in the description below. Today we are discussing the book of Ezekiel, a conversation that was spurred on by her commentary on the book of Ezekiel which is available online for free through the Gospel Coalition. 

Chapters
00:26-01:53 Intro
01:54-03:33 Donna’s Story with Ezekiel
03:34-05:35 Elevator Pitch for Ezekiel
05:36-10:53 Ezekiel Vision of God
10:54-16:19 Sin and Why is Ezekiel “R” Rated?
16:20-21:26 Levels and Progression of Restoration in Ezekiel
21:27-26:34 Restoration that isn’t from “Works”
26:35-33:19 Ezekiel 37 and the Valley of Dry Bones
33:20-43:32 The New Temple and Distribution of the Land
43:33-52:41 Sumerian City Laments and Ezekiel
52:42-57:10 Pitfalls When Interpreting Ezekiel
57:11-01:01:59 The Church Needs Ezekiel

Donna Petter’s Ezekiel Commentary (Free and available online): https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/ezekiel/

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What are some of the most interesting Hebrew language insights from Habakkuk 1? In this episode Matthew Delaney (MA Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) shares a variety of insights from this chapter of the Hebrew Bible. Everything is shared in such a way that people with no knowledge of Hebrew will be able to benefit from this. Those who want a visual of the Hebrew as it is being taught might enjoy the YouTube version of this episode. 

Chapters
0:26-2:04 Intro
 2:05-3:54 Unhelpful Chapter Division
 3:55-8:03 Reading Habakkuk 1:1-12 in Hebrew
 8:04-10:46 Brief Overview of Habakkuk
 10:47-19:37 “How Long” in the Hebrew Bible
 19:38-26:58 Oracle or Burden?
 26:59-31:43 Why God’s Response to Habakkuk is Plural
 31:44-32:04 Hebrew Bible Book Club
 32:05-35:53 Wordplay in Habakkuk 1
 35:54-41:03 Echoes of the Promised Land in Habakkuk
 41:04-43:31 How Hebrew Communicates the Speed of Horses
 43:32-46:47 Trusting in the Power of God - Connection to Psalm 2
 46:48-47:15 Outro ​​

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Why does Jacob the Patriarch show up in Hosea 12? Hosea makes a number of comparisons between Israel and Jacob the Patriarch in Genesis. On the surface, some of these moments in the rhetoric are confusing. Our podcast guest, Jonathan Finley, wrote his Masters Thesis on this topic. Jonathan shares a number of insightful thoughts on the flow of the rhetoric in Hosea while also pointing out fascinating details in the text. 

Jonathan has a M.Th. in Biblical Studies from the University of Edinburgh. 

0:27-4:02: Why Jonathan Enjoys Hosea
4:03-5:47: Elevator Pitch for Hosea
5:48-10:51: Big Picture Message and Structure of Hosea
10:52-19:00: Marriage in Hosea
19:01-20:21: Initial Problems in Hosea 12
20:22-22:54: Why Jacob in Hosea 12 Matters
22:55-40:21: Hosea 12 Line by Line Bible Study
40:22-44:33: Jacob the Prophet?
48:45-52:36: Concluding Thoughts
52:37-55:46: Words of Encouragement from Jonathan

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Isaiah 7-8 are chapters that contain some of the most enduring and influential words of prophecy of the Hebrew Bible. What insights can be gained by reading these chapters in Hebrew? In this episode, Matthew (M.A. Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) shares a variety of interesting and meaningful ideas from reading this section of Isaiah in Hebrew. All of the content is shared in such a way that people of all different levels of Hebrew (or no Hebrew at all!) can enjoy this episode.  

Chapters
0:27-2:44: Intro
2:45-4:32: Narrative Context 
4:33-9:17: Isaiah 7:1-17 in Hebrew
9:18-11:50: Isaiah 7:1-17 in English
11:51-13:15: Isaiah 8:1-3 in Hebrew and English
13:16-21:37: Hebrew “Sound-play” Fear, Assurance, and Conspiracy
21:38-27:18: Isaiah’s First Word to Ahaz and its Connection to Covenant
27:19-31:07: The Archaeology of Isaiah’s First Word to Ahaz
31:08-36:07: Stumps or Tails? Another Covenant Connection
36:08-38:40: Faith and the Most Popular Wordplay of the Hebrew Bible
38:41-41:05: Intertextuality and Possible Influence of Isaiah on Historians
41:06-42:53: Singular and Plural: Speaking to the People through the King
43:40-45:49: "Isaiah" in Hebrew
45:50-46:46: "Shear-Jashub" in Hebrew
46:47-47:40: "Emmanuel" in Hebrew
47:41-50:06: "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz" in Hebrew
50:07-57:01: "Tabeel" in Hebrew
57:02-1:02:17: "Ahaz" in Hebrew
1:02:18-1:04:18: Thoughts on the Message for Today

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One of the most popular verses about "vision" that is used in teaching about personal and group vision statements is Habakkuk 2:2, but what is the original context of this verse? Understanding what is meant by "vision" both generally and specifically in the book of Habakkuk is essential to not taking this verse out of context. Unfortunately, Habakkuk 2 also causes confusion due to an unhelpful chapter division. Once the flow of Habakkuk as a book is seen, the themes and message of the book come to the forefront. The ideas behind "vision" are different but more important than we might have ever thought. 

Chapters

0:26-2:44 Intro

2:45-5:18 Habakkuk Overview: Can we trust YHWH?

5:19-7:18 The unique opener of Habakkuk

7:19-11:22 the 6th Century BCE of the ancient Near East

11:23-20:26 An unhelpful chapter division: the context of the vision verse

20:27-22:59 What is “vision”?

23:00-24:01 Habakkuk’s Problem with God

24:02-30:05 Proverbs of Doubt

30:06-36:41 Equating God to idols

36:42-40:01 The Heart of Habakuk

40:02-43:16 Prophet Giving Complaint in Divine Council

43:17-51:33 Write the Vision and Live by Faith

51:34-54:16 Covenant in Habakkuk 2

54:17-60:20 From Questioning to Awe through Faith

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What is the context for the famous verse "Where there is no vision, the people perish"? Is this Biblical support for company and personal vision and mission statements? Or is something else going on here? We dive into the context of this verse within the book of Proverbs, analyze the Hebrew language of the text, and talk about the dynamic of the function of the surprising "Sage-Prophet" in the Hebrew Bible. 

0:27-3:53: New Year’s Resolutions and “Vision” in the Hebrew Bible

3:54-7:32: Differences in Translations

7:33-13:27: Structure of Proverbs

13:28-18:02: The Definition of Wisdom (According to Proverbs)

18:03-22:59: What is “Vision” in Hebrew?

22:60-26:50: The Deep Rooted Prophetic Tradition in the Hebrew Bible

26:51-32:36: Why would a Hebrew Sage Talk about Vision?

32:37-38:12: Proverb Crafting and The Nuanced Difference Between Sage and Prophet

38:13-41:56: The Point of Proverbs 29:18

41:57-43:21: Practical Meaning for Today

43:22-49:40: Torah and Prophetic Vision

49:41-56:00: Practical Concluding Thoughts

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Samuel has a surprising connection to Christmas. Church lectionaries during Advent are filled with prophets like Isaiah, yet 2 Samuel 7 makes its way into the lineup. Why? Whether or not you are interested in this chapter’s connections to Christmas, 2 Samuel 7 is a pivotal passage for the plot of the Hebrew Bible. Themes of dynasty, presence, servant leadership, and more are on full display in this major movement of the Hebrew Bible. 

0:27-2:34: A Surprising Christmas Chapter
2:35-4:36: Characters and Themes of Samuel
4:36-8:54: The Size and Sources of Samuel
8:55-10:11: Samuel as a TV Show
10:12-11:20: The Prayers of Hannah and Mary
11:21-19:48: The Many Sides of David
19:49-25:51: Houses, Temples, and Dynasties
25:52-28:24: Promise and Problems
28:25-32:11: Masoretic Markings and Emphasis on YHWH
32:12-34:26: The Servant Leadership of YHWH
34:27-42:16: The Dynasty of David’s Failure to Serve Like YHWH
42:17-45:07: Forgetting the Origin
45:08-56:36: God the Father of the Seed of David

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What is the actual context behind the famous verse about the virgin giving birth to a son named “Emanuel”? This line comes from Isaiah, and the context opens up deeper layers of meaning. In this episode Matthew (M.A. Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) shares the story of Isaiah 7-8 and teaches the difference between “prediction fulfillment” and “typological fulfillment.” This topic has wide ranging implications for reading the prophets in general.  

Chapters

0:27-1:44: Intro

1:45-4:29: Referencing Lines or Stories?

4:30-6:15: Isaiah Overview

6:16-10:23: The War

10:24-13:24: The Son

13:25-16:38: 8th Century BCE Emanuel

16:39-17:57: The Nation of Emanuel

17:58-20:09: Prediction vs Typological Fulfillment

20:10-26:48: 1st Century CE Emanuel

26:49-29:30: The Theme of Hope through Birth

Matthew referenced a video by @bitesizeseminary about the expensive cost of writing in the biblical world. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/BVCdpSuoBBQ?si=-UPNmrjoLvwam_Rp

Matthew also referenced a scholar from a podcast episode I listened to. His specific verbiage about “prediction fulfillment vs typological fulfillment” is helpful. Here is where you can hear more:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZpIJ9y5nYc

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-two-testaments/id1585711864?i=1000635221242

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1d8sdUGd9BMgS8RPh3SFIJ?si=Inb-NoxhQCeVE9aB6impsw

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Micah 3 contains a passage that challenges hypocritical prophets. The Hebrew language of this chapter is biting and intense. What follows this section of judgment is an unexpected message hope. Micah 3-4 is a great section of the prophets that illustrates two important themes of the prophets of the Hebrew Bible. Matthew (M.A. Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) breaks down these chapters and does an analysis of some of the interesting Hebrew insights in these chapters. 

0:27-1:19: Intro
1:20-2:54: Challenges with Prophets
2:55-6:40: Two Sides of the Coin: Judgment and Hope
6:41-9:46: Etched in Stone or Written in Pencil?
9:47-11:38: Micah 3 Intro
11:39-13:17: Prophets for Hire in HB and Mari
13:18-16:48: Serpent Seers: Hebrew Language Insight
16:49-20:47: Humiliation of the Hypocrites: Hebrew Language Insight
20:48-22:33: Remember who has the answer: Akkadian Language Insight
22:34-25:06: A Prophet filled with Power
25:07-28:25: Micah 4 and Hope
28:26-29:44: Conclusion

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How do we make sense of the Hebrew Prophets? The Latter Prophets of Isaiah-Malachi are some of the most enduring books of the Hebrew Bible. While this literature is full of meaning, these books can be some of the most difficult to understand. We interviewed a scholar on the prophets to learn more about how to approach this part of Scripture. 

Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer is Professor of Old Testament Exegesis at ALT School of Theology, Sweden. She holds a PhD in Divinity/Hebrew Bible from Oxford, and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Hebrew Bible and ancient Near Eastern studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Her specialty is the Prophetic Literature, though she is also working in the lament literature, the reception history of the Bible, Ezra-Nehemiah, and 1-2 Samuel. Professor Tiemeyer has authored six monographs and three textbooks. She has published numerous book chapters in edited volumes, as well as a plethora of journal articles across some of the most prestigious, peer-reviewed journals in Hebrew Bible studies, while also having presented countless times at some of the largest and most esteemed scholarly meetings around the world. She is currently Editor for the Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, and has been praised by her peers as “an accomplished scholar and editor with an international reputation for careful and nuanced scholarship.” She currently lives in Örebro, Sweden, with her husband and their two daughters.  

"Jonah Through the Centuries" https://www.amazon.com/Jonah-Through-Centuries-Blackwell-Commentaries-ebook/dp/B09DWJZP77/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29T5YBP0WC0FY&keywords=lena-sofia+tiemeyer&qid=1698090953&sprefix=lena+sofia%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1 

“In Search of Jonathan: Jonathan between the Bible and Modern Fiction” https://global.oup.com/academic/product/in-search-of-jonathan-9780197637777?cc=us&lang=en&

Full List of Publications: https://altutbildning.academia.edu/LenaSofiaTiemeyer “Jonah Through the Centuries”

Chapters

0:26-3:44 Introducing Lena
3:45-6:51 Jerusalem: Living and Learning in the Holy Land
6:52-10:02 Oxford: Critical vs Reader Approach
10:03-13:01 The Roundabout Path to Scholarship
13:02-17:22 Redaction Criticism
17:23-21:29 Prophecy as Intercession
21:30-26:29 The Language and Literature of the Prophets
26:30-29:36 If Lena could meet Zechariah
29:37-36:56 The Gender of the Fish in Jonah
36:57-41:19 Advice for Younger Self
41:20-43:48 Who is the Satan in Zechariah?
43:49-46:31 Joshua’s Unique Priestly Clothing
46:32-48:12 Divine Council in the Prophets
48:13-55:00 How to Write and Research Well
55:01-59:12 Nathan’s Learning from Lena
59:13-1:00:26 Publications by Lena

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