History of the Jews

A few updates for the podcast (as of September 2026):

1. Congratulations! We have finished Season 1: Israel's pre-history and the Iron Age kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
2. The next season will (hopefully) cover the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman periods. But it will take me a couple of months of preparation before I can release episodes from Season 2.
3. I may find time to do some bonus episodes before Season 2. If you have ideas or questions, reach out to me (see below).

Here are some ways not to miss the next season:

1. Click the notification button your podcast streaming platform
2. Subscribe to History of the Jews on Substack at https://historyofthejews.substack.com/
3. Send me an email at [email protected] and I will personally send you an email.

I hope to be back as soon as I can. Thanks for listening!

How does the Bible relate to archeology from the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah? How do the Israelites change over time? And how do they think of themselves?

Although we cannot fully answer these questions. In this reflection episode, we journey through 700 years of history and the books of Judges, Samuel, Kings, Jeremiah and Chronicles. Unlike the narrative and summary episodes of the podcast, this episode is more subjective and thought-provoking.

In particular, we consider the transition from political decentralization to building kingdoms, using the book of Judges and Samuel to voice one possible Israelite experience.

We talk about group identity and how two Israelite kingdoms came into being? Why did that happen and what did that mean for Israelites and Judeans?

Lastly, we watch the development of Israelite religion in the archeology and notice the ambiguity of Israelite practice across the Bible. What really was the ancient Israelite tradition?

Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/

You can also reach me at: [email protected]

When and where were the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah? Why did they rise and why did they fall?

This summary episode tells the story of the ancient Israelite kingdoms based on archeology in 30 minutes.

We begin by meeting the earliest Israelites who lived kingless in small rural villages for nearly 200 years (1200-1000 BC). Then we follow them change as they create two kingdoms - the kingdom of Judah and Israel - and we ask why? Why did the Israelites of the 10th century (1000-900) urbanize and militarize?

After creating their kingdoms, the Israelites enjoy a period of relative peace and success (900-732 BC). Finally, they leave us writings that give us insight into their lives and their religious practices. But the good times do not last. Israel and Judah rebel against the Assyrian empire and enter a period of submission (732-605 BC).

When Assyria falls in the later half of the 7th century, Judah and Israel are caught between Egypt and Babylonia. Both contending over Assyria's former holdings. Judah rebels twice and pays the price.

Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/

You can also reach me at: [email protected]

*Unfortunately, my podcast editor made a version change and the audio quality is slightly worse than usual. My apologies.

Babylonian reprisals against Judah's two failed rebellions depopulate the country, turning it into a ghost kingdom. An estimated 80% of the population, over 70,000 people, disappeared.

But where did they go? What was the fate of Judeans post-destruction?

As we answer these question, we must navigate the world faced by the Judean survivors. The difficult life in Judah. The destruction of the Judean-Israelite home and family. And the story of those who left or were exiled.

This journey takes us from Judah to Babylonia where we find King Jehoiachin and other Judeans in one of the earliest Judean-Jewish diasporas.

We build this episode on archeological findings in post-destruction Judah and ancient texts found in Babylonia from the 6th century BC.

Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/

You can also reach me at: [email protected]

In 586 BC, Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah are destroyed by the Neo-Babylonian empire. It is estimated that Judah lost more than two-thirds of its population in what is one of the greatest tragedies of Jewish history.

In this episode, we try to understand why this happened? How Babylonia came to power? And what did Judah do wrong to bring upon itself this calamity?

Using the ancient records of imperial Assyria and Babylonia, we reconstruct the turbid history of the 7th century BC. We watch Assyria fall from its greatest heights to non-existence and geopolitical chaos that this causes. Judah is caught between Babylonia and Egypt with no good options.

Lastly, we use archeology to get a snapshot of post-destruction Judah and to get a better understanding of the catastrophe that had befallen the Judeans.

This episode was released on the eve of Tisha B'av, the date according to Jewish tradition when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple. I hope that it sheds light on this period of Jewish history from the perspective of archeology and modern scholarship.

Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/

You can also reach me at: [email protected]

The 7th century BC is the twilight of the kingdom of Judah. After Hezekiah's failed revolt in 701 BC, Judah has been reduced to an Assyrian vassal state.

How much does that change Judean lives?

In this episode, we explore how Judah adapted post-701 and how Assyria shaped the Judean relationship with their Philistine and Edomite neighbors. Meanwhile, Judean culture survives this new world and we find the first mention of Sabbath in recorded history.

We build this history on Judean and Philistine archeological findings at Ekron, Yavne-Yam (Mesad Hashavyahu) and Jerusalem. This episode features the Ketef Hinnom scrolls recording the Priestly Blessing also found in Numbers, dating to around 600 BC.

Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/

You can also reach me at: [email protected]

Judah navigates its destiny in the trying times of the late 8th century BC.

The kingdom of Israel has been destroyed and divided. Tens of thousands of refugees flood into Judah. And Judeans ask themselves the hard question, what do they do about Assyria?

Do they rebel and suffer the consequences? Or do they pay the price of quiet and submission?

In this episode, we discuss Judah's choice, the fallout and why they made the choice that they did. We build this history on Assyrian writings and ancient Israelite and Philistine archeology found at Lachish, Jerusalem and Ekron.

Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/

You can also reach me at: [email protected]

In the late 8th century, a new king takes the throne in Assyria and tensions rise across the Near East. They must choose total submission and pay tribute to Assyria. Or, they can try their luck against the might of the Assyrian empire.

Twice, the kingdom of Israel rebels and loses it all. The repercussions change life in Israel and Judah forever.

This episode continues our narrative history, exploring Israel's rebellions and the aftermath. We discuss the legend of the Lost Ten Tribes and what changed in the lives of most Israelites living in the northern kingdom.

Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/

You can also reach me at: [email protected]

What was life like for an Israelite nearly three thousand years ago? Did it make a difference if they lived in the kingdom of Israel or Judah? And who did they worship?

In this episode, we immerse ourselves in ancient Israelite culture and try to answer these questions.

We follow the archeology as Israel and Judah develop their own unique cultural nuances. We visit Israelite capitals - Samaria and Jerusalem - and walk around the city of Megiddo looking for somewhere to get a drink. And, finally, we tour two Israelite temples - one in the northern city of Dan and one in the southern city of Arad - and meet the god(s) of Israel.

Read the episode and bonus content at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/

You can also reach me at: [email protected]

What do we know about the kingdom of Israel? When does it first appear in the historical record? And what is its place among the nations of the Eastern Mediterranean?

In this episode, we explore the world of the Israelites in the 9th century and anxiously follow the resurgence of its greatest adversaries - Egypt and Assyria.

The kingdom of Israel plays a leading part in the Anti-Assyrian coalition that struggles to hold Assyria's appetite for conquest at bay. But then something changes and internal politics tear apart this alliance, deciding the fate of Israel and her neighbors.

Read the episode and bonus content at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/

You can also reach me at: [email protected]