First Kings concludes with the death of a wicked king and the scattering of a nation that’s beginning to look a lot like . . . Egypt. Listen in as Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss 1 Kings 21–22.
In 1 Kings 20, we get the story of Ahab vs. Ben-hadad, of a battle between Israel vs. Syria. But is that it? Does this chapter give us anything more than military history? Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
At this point in 1 Kings, we’re faced with a question: how will the Lord work through a beaten-down prophet in a disobedient nation? Through his Word. Listen to this episode of Bible Talk as Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss 1 Kings 19.
It doesn’t take long for Elijah to be hurried into a battle with the prophets of Baal. But it’s not Elijah who is fighting — it’s Yahweh. Listen as Alex Duke, Sam Emadi, and Jim Hamilton discuss 1 Kings 18.
In 1 Kings 17, a new main character comes onto the scene. And he reminds us of someone we’ve seen before. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
At first, 1 Kings 15 looks like a mostly chronologically organized list of mostly bad kings. But there’s more going on. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
As the prophet looks at the future of Jeroboam's dynasty, he doesn't see excitement; he sees excrement. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 14.
In 1 Kings 12, King Jeroboam sets up his bootleg religion at his satellite campus. It's blasphemous. And then, in 1 Kings 13, a liar gets a prophet mauled by a lion. It's bloody. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
In 1 Kings 12, the new King of Israel sure looks a lot like the old Pharaoh of Egypt. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
Bible Talk is back! Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss 1 Kings 11 and the downfall of King Solomon.
When the Queen of Sheba shows up, Solomon’s reign takes her breath away. His people are blessed, his coffers are full, and she seems to trust the Lord. But is this the beginning of the end? Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 10.
When we read the Old Testament, we’re tempted to see characters as either all good or all bad. But when we get to 1 Kings 9 and see Solomon’s interactions with Hiram the King of Tyre, well, it’s more complicated than that. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
The glory of the LORD has filled the Temple. So . . . now what? How do God's people actually use it? In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton about 1 Kings 8:31–66, which doubles as a kind of user's manual for the temple.
The biblical storyline takes a leap forward when the LORD’s glory fills the Temple. While this moment is significant, it also becomes clear that the Temple isn’t the end goal. Listen to Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss 1 Kings 8:1–30.
The Lord's presence has more or less been a nomad since Genesis 3. But with the temple, he's about to have a permanent address (kind of). In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 6–7.
So . . . Jim Hamilton had a wild idea: let's do a whole episode on 1 Kings 6:1. Alex Duke was dubious, even aghast. But he and Sam Emadi obliged. This conversation is the result. In this episode of Bible Talk, they talk about burn layers and interpretive priority and Indiana Jones.
The story of the Old Testament is the story of God's people returning to God's presence. The building of the temple significantly advances that story. In 1 Kings 5, we get Phase 1 of Solomon's construction project. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
Solomon is wise. Solomon is wealthy. Solomon is worth listening to. This is his Platinum Age, better than anything that came with his father David. Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 3:16–4:34.
We all know the story about Solomon pleading with the Lord for wisdom. But do you remember how it begins? It’s surprising. Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 2:12–3:15, which highlights Solomon’s shrewdness and his sinfulness.
King David is on his deathbed. What does he say to his son? “Be strong. Follow the Lord and all his ways. If you don’t . . .” Jim Hamilton, Alex Duke, and Sam Emadi chat about 1 Kings 2:1–12.
Bible Talk begins a new book! In this episode, Alex chats with Jim and Sam about 1 Kings 1.
The end of 2 Samuel is odd: it portrays the king at cruising altitude and then describes his bumpy descent. What's going on here? Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about the messianic finale of 2 Samuel 23–24.
We've entered 1–2 Samuel's epilogue, which rewinds the clock to mighty deeds of mighty men and gives us a chiastic cheat code that reveals some fascinating connections between King David and all that's gone before.
By now, David’s reign is beginning to unravel. In fact, these chapters are beginning to remind us not of 1–2 Samuel, but of the book of Judges. Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 2 Samuel 19–20.
A father should never have to mourn the death of his son. But that's precisely what happens here. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 2 Samuel 17–18.
A messenger comes to David and gives him bad news: "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom." Then David flees—and in doing so he fails as both father and king.
Absalom is a smarmy guy who makes himself seem powerful and compassionate. King David, meanwhile, stays quiet while his kingdom nears collapse.
The story of Amnon, Tamar, and the subsequent terrible fallout is ultimately a story about two fake loves. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi talk through 2 Samuel 13.
At the beginning of 2 Samuel 12, King David is in a dark place. Even worse, he doesn't seem to know it. By the end of 2 Samuel 12, he's back where he belongs and he's writing Psalm 51. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
For a while now, we've been tracking the avalanche in the distance. Now, with the story of David and Bathsheba, it's finally here. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi chat about 2 Samuel 11.
