How artifacts like broken pottery, ancient bread ovens, and fingerprints in clay awaken us to the real lives and faith of biblical peoples—and what that means for us today. Tim and Bonnie welcome Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott, professor of Hebrew Bible and archaeology at William Jessup University, to talk all things context—biblical genre, ancient family structures, and why daily life matters just as much as kings and temples when reading scripture.

Dr. Cynthia brings fresh perspective through her academic work and archeological field experience in Israel, digging into Iron Age homes from the time of Hezekiah and Isaiah. You’ll hear what she's learned from excavating ancient kitchens, how she distinguishes mythic genres from historic timelines, and why focusing on the “mundane” aspects of life radically reframes our understanding of God’s people in the Old Testament.

Key Takeaways: • Valuing the Mundane – Why archeology focuses less on big discoveries and more on everyday items that reveal how people lived, worked, and worshiped. • Genre Shapes Meaning – How understanding biblical genres—like mythical history or household narratives—can transform how we interpret Old Testament passages. • Rethinking "Biblical Households" – Exploring how ancient Israelite households functioned under survival conditions with shared authority between matriarchs and patriarchs. • Women’s Roles in Ancient Culture – How archaeology challenges assumptions about patriarchy by revealing the essential role of women in food preparation, trading, and household leadership. • Living Faith in Dirt and Clay – What ancient fingerprints on pottery can teach us about God’s ongoing work through real human lives.

Guest Highlight: Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott – Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible and Archaeology at William Jessup University. With excavation experience at multiple sites in Israel and a specialization in daily life in ancient Judah, Cynthia brings both scholarly depth and tangible insight to the biblical text.

Resources Mentioned: • NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible – [Link] • New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV) – [Link] • William Jessup University – jessup.edu • Bible for Normal People Podcast (Pete Enns, Jared Byas) – biblefornormalpeople.com • BibleProject – bibleproject.com

Want to keep digging into scripture with a richer lens? Subscribe to Voxology, leave a review, and follow us on IG @voxologypodcast for updates and bonus content.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon Listen to the Voxology Spotify channel: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy



As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy