Weird Stuff in the Bible

We’ve heard a million sermons, bible studies, Sunday school lessons, and more on Genesis 3. And for good reason. This is the chapter that depicts the first sin, the fall of man, the reason we needed Jesus to come and die for our sins. 

Genesis 3 is where Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit, bring sin into the world, and get kicked out of the paradise of Eden.

So for good reason, there are countless books and teachings and even podcasts that dive into this chapter. And yet, I find that the more you dig, the more you keep finding. There’s more going on in this story than you probably ever realized. For a chapter that seems to explain so much about reality, it also raises a lot of questions.

For example, let’s just talk about the opening line: 

Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

Well we all know who the serpent is. That’s the devil, or Satan. We’ve got that down. We know that a serpent refers to a physical creature like a snake, but we also understand that this is no mere snake, but also referring to the devil himself. So we know the Bible here is using a physical creature to depict a spiritual being.

But what about the beasts of the field also mentioned there? We usually assume that that’s just talking about the other animals that filled the earth in those early days.

But if the serpent at the beginning of the verse is referring to a spiritual being, why would we not also assume that the beasts of the field that the verse mentions later are not also spiritual beings?

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 

Let’s dig into this idea today, and as we do, it’s going to show us how sometimes the Bible sounds like it’s speaking in physical terms but is actually just using those words to communicate about what’s going on behind the spiritual veil. So today will expand your vocabulary of spiritual terminology and bring some clarity to your Bible reading.

Let’s start by turning to Genesis 3, and let’s get weird.

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0:00 - Introduction

3:30 - The Craftiest Creature God Ever Made

7:20 - Beasts of the Field

15:30 - Birds of the Air

18:35 - Snakes and Scorpions

25:40 - Closing Thought: Why I Talked About Nephilim

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Let’s begin with where we left off last week. We started with Goliath and traced his origins and ancestral line backwards, all the way back to Genesis 6. In those verses in Genesis 6, we read about how spiritual beings called the Sons of God came down to earth and mated with human women.

As I said last time, this is probably the weirdest thing I believe. And if you like hearing about Weird Stuff in the Bible, you’re in the right place. 

Genesis 6:1-4 say

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.

So last week, we talked about how the giants- or Nephilim- were created. And how this eventually led to a most famous giant: Goliath, who fought David in I Samuel 17.

But wait, you might say: wait a minute Luke. Genesis 6:1-4 happened BEFORE the flood of Noah. So how did the Nephilim continue to populate the world in Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua and I and II Samuel, which all take place after the flood.

That’s what I will talk about today, and along the way, we’ll also meet all the other giants of the Old Testament. It wasn’t just Goliath. He wasn’t just a one-and-done. There are multiple others; in fact, entire tribes of giants.

I find that to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 

Turn to Numbers 13, and let’s get weird.

(NOTE: where I said “Genesis 6” at 18:35, I meant Ephesians 6)

Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

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You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - How Did the Nephilim Return After the Flood?

7:30 - Anak

12:00 - Og

19:00 - Mailbag

23:00 - Goliath’s Brothers (or Cousins)

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

I am on a bit of a David-and-Goliath kick right now, for three reasons. 

• One, because I just got back from vacation where I saw an incredible production of David’s life at Sight and Sound theater. 
• Two, there’s an amazing new show on Amazon called House of David that I just finished watching. 
• And three, because the story of David and Goliath is a picture of the spiritual battle we all find ourselves in every day.

Now, even if you aren’t a Christian, you know the story of David and Goliath. The small Israelite boy who used a sling to destroy the giant champion of the Philistines. 

But when we say Goliath was a giant, what do we mean? Well, I Samuel 17 says he was six cubits and a span. I have enough trouble converting English to Metric, and my yardsticks growing up did NOT have an edge that measured cubits and spans.

Scholars will tell us that six cubits and a span amounts to anywhere from 9-foot-9 to 10-foot-6.

And yet those same scholars will tell us in the next breath that this must be some kind of mistake, because obviously, nobody can be 10 feet tall. Even Christian scholars will teach that this must be some kind of typo in the Bible.

Well, call me old-fashioned, or call me a fundamentalist, but I believe that the whole Bible is God’s Word, and that God doesn’t make mistakes.

So I take this to be literal truth. But I also take it to be weird. 

And I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 

Turn to I Samuel 17, and let’s get weird.

Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - The Origin of Goliath

8:10 - The Origin of the Anakim

11:40 - The Origin of the Nephilim

14:25 - Life Update & Mailbag

22:20 - Closing Thoughts

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

We often talk about HOW to do spiritual warfare. 

But we don’t often talk about WHY we do it. WHY do we have to have these struggles with spiritual beings?

WHY does God have us fighting on this spiritual battlefield against enemies we can’t even see?

WHY does God allow us to be afflicted and tormented by demons or unclean spirits that we are so defenseless against in the physical?

Well this week, I’m on vacation with my family, but I wanted to share this message I recently preached at the church where I’ve been serving as Interim Pastor the past few months. 

The message was called Binding, Loosing and Why We Fight. I’ve spoken about prayers of binding and loosing on this podcast before so I didn’t bother including that portion of the message, I’m just sharing today that last section of it: Why We Fight.

And in true preacher fashion, I said it would take 5 or 10 minutes, it took more like 15 or 20.

But I do believe it will be helpful and instructive to all of you listening as well. Thanks for tuning in today. If you need to get in touch with me, I’ll check my email when I get back from vacation: WeirdStuffInTheBible.com. 

We’ll be back with another traditional episode next week. But for today, here’s some thoughts on WHY we engage in spiritual warfare.

Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Ephesians is famous for a line in chapter 6 about who we wrestle with in spiritual warfare. We’ve even quoted it several times on this podcast.

Verse 12 says

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

And man, there’s a lot to unpack in that single verse alone. It talks about the various hierarchies of fallen angels and demons and all those spiritual entities who fight against us for dominion of planet earth.

But wait- this kinda just comes out of nowhere. I mean, Ephesians starts by talking about the purpose of the church. Then it gives some good moral guidelines and application. Then it starts talking about wives submitting to their husbands and husbands submitting to Christ and children obeying their parents and employees obeying their bosses- and then out of the blue, it starts talking about spiritual beings and the armor of God-

And where did that come from? What ties all this together?

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 

Turn to the book of Ephesians, and let’s get weird.

Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - Ephesians Explained

4:00 - Chapter 1

6:10 - Chapter 2

8:10 - Chapter 3

10:40 - Chapter 4

16:00 - Chapters 5-6

22:15 - Chapter 6 & the Armor of God

24:25 - Next Time & Mailbag

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Does God ever overreact?

I think a lot of us would say no, that God always responds to each action in an appropriate and measured way.

But what about poor Uzzah here? Uzzah is a guy who is transporting the Ark of the Covenant, it’s being carried by an ox on a cart, and the Ark almost slides off the trailer. Uzzah puts out a hand to stop it from falling, and he gets fried for touching the Ark.

II Samuel 6 even calls it an “irreverent” act in the NIV translation. 

It says in verses 6-7 (NIV)

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

As we’ll read in a moment, David considers this a major overreaction on God’s part.

I know the Ark is important, but why did Uzzah have to die just for trying to stop the Ark from sliding off into the dirt? Did God overreact here?

As we dive into this today, we’ll discover the answer to another question: is it possible to try to honor God but actually insult Him?

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 

Turn to I Chronicles 13, and let’s get weird.

Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - But it’s a NEW cart

6:30 - An Overreaction?

8:50 - The Weight of Glory

12:00 - Next Time & Mailbag

13:40 - Closing Thought

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Topics discussed in this episode include: Uzzah, Ark of the Covenant, 1 Chronicles 13, Why did God kill Uzzah, God's holiness, Bible judgment stories, touching the ark, fear of the Lord, David and the Ark, Old Testament justice, Weird Bible stories, Weird Stuff in the Bible, Luke Taylor podcast, strange Bible events, sacred things in Scripture

One of our listeners, Alana, always sends in fantastic questions. Recently she sent an email with this, and I can’t believe I haven’t already covered this on the podcast before.

She asked about the passage in Judges where Jephthah vowed to sacrifice the first thing that came through his door to meet him after victory in battle. And if you know the story, you know that it actually ends up being his daughter. Alana said, “Clearly that was a sacrifice to God. Why would God allow him to sacrifice his daughter?”

This is a passage that incites a lot of debate, discussion and even depression among many bible readers. Jephthah is a believer. He’s even listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. 

And yet he also commits this abominable act- something God has often stated is unacceptably wicked- of committing a human sacrifice with his own child.

Yes, he made a vow in Judges 11 to sacrifice the first thing that came through his door.

Yes, it was a foolish vow since he didn’t realize his own daughter might be the thing.

But was it right for him to keep this vow?

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 

Turn to Judges 11, and let’s get weird.

Check out the new website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

0:00 - Who is Jephthah?

4:30 - Jephthah’s Vow of Human Sacrifice

9:00 - Was Jephthah right?

12:05 - The Importance of Our Vows

16:15 - A Sacrifice for Breaking Vows in Leviticus 5

19:40 - The Importance of Knowing God

23:40 - Did She Actually Die?

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

We have a website, guys! We have a website.

Now I won’t say that I’ve really “made it” in this world until I have a whole subreddit dedicated to my destruction. But in the meantime, we can at least say: we have a website.

www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Now maybe you say: why does the podcast need a website? How does a website help a podcast?

And that’s what I want to tell you all about today. Because I believe this website has potential to reach a lot more people than even the podcast does. 

So I want to tell you all about it. What the website’s function is, how I will use it to make this podcast even more informative and let you dive deeper into the Bible’s weirdities than we do for 20 minutes each week in audio form.

Don’t worry, the podcast is not going anywhere. I’m not really doing a typical episode this week, just letting you all know about the website this time because I spent the weekend launching the site, I didn’t really have time to get a whole new study done. But we’ll be back next week with more than ever, I’m just gonna tell you all about the website today.

So let’s get weirdstuffinthebible.com 

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - Tour the Site

9:50 - Why I Made the Website

14:30 - Where We’re Going Next

16:00 - How You Can Help the Site

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

I was challenged about a past episode over whether I’d properly done my homework in my research of binding and loosing.

This was in regard to episode 52, simply called Prayers of Binding and Loosing.

In that episode from last fall, my conclusion was that Matthew 16:19 was about spiritual warfare, and I covered this in the midst of a series of episodes on spiritual warfare. I spoke about binding demons, loosing people and setting them free, things like that. 

Someone listened to that episode and challenged me on my interpretation, saying I hadn’t given a fair hearing to another way that those verses are often taken, which is about church discipline.

In fact, Jesus speaks of prayers of binding and loosing in only two places: there in Matthew 16, and Matthew 18, where it says: 

In verse 18

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

And undoubtedly, that verse is in a church discipline context. 

I did not cover that in last fall’s episode, and I have to admit, it was a pretty big oversight. Maybe not as big as saying that Jesus wasn’t really crucified with literal nails, so at least I didn’t have the biggest blunder of this week, but if I’m perfectly honest, Matthew 18 deserves to be covered in the binding and loosing conversation. 

So did I get it wrong? Is binding and loosing actually about church discipline? And if it’s not, why is it talked about right here in a church discipline passage?

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 

And if you listen all the way to the end today, I have a huge announcement about something I’ve been working on behind the scenes for the past few months.

Turn to Matthew 18, and let’s get weird.

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - My View in Review

4:30 - The Church Discipline View

10:20 - A Case Study in Corinth

15:00 - Holy Ground in the Church

21:00 - A Major Announcement of What’s Coming

23:45 - Repentance is the Goal

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Night of the Living Dead. World War Z. Resident Evil. The Walking Dead. And… Matthew chapter 27. 

What do all of these have in common? They all contain zombies. 

Now, if you don’t believe me that the Bible has some zombies in it, then explain this verse to me. Matthew 27 is about the crucifixion. Now, don’t worry, I’m not about to claim that Jesus was a zombie when He rose from the dead. 

Jesus had a resurrection body. He was a special situation. 

But something else happened when Jesus died on the cross; something you’ve probably read several times before but just never looked at too deeply:

Matthew 27:52-53

52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 

What was that again? When Jesus died on the cross, several other random people walked out of their graves and…and then they’re never heard from again?

We’ll read this in-context in just a moment, but the context doesn’t help a whole lot. This is very random, raises some big questions, and is interested in answering none of them. It just moves right along in the passage and never mentions these zombies again.

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 

Turn to Matthew 27, and let’s get weird.

0:00 - Introduction

1:40 - Setting the Scene

5:00 - The Details

10:15 - Asking the Experts

21:45 - The Gospel through Zombies

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor