Retelling the Bible

2.14 A Tale of Two Couches

This is a retelling of Jesus' famous parable of the rich man and Lazarus. It is told in such a way to help you appreciate some of the cultural assumptions and practices behind it. This episode is based on Luke 16:19-31. Show notes are posted at retellingthebible.wordpress.com.

2.13 The Endor Witch Project

A retelling of the Bible's only real ghost story. Saul, on the eve of a major battle, needs to talk to his old mentor. There's just one problem, Samuel is dead. Based on 1 Samuel 28:3-25.

2.12 The Seventy-Seven Times Avenger

Lamech, the fifth generation descendant of Cain, tells his children the story of the famous clash between Cain and Abel from his own perspective. (For him, Cain is the good guy.) Based on the fourth chapter of Genesis.

2.11 The women formerly known as Lot's daughters

According to Genesis 19, Lot had two daughters who are never named and who got up to some shenanigans after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is their story -- and the story of how they made names for themselves.

2.10 Gomer’s #MeToo Moment

The Bible tells the story of Gomer and Hosea's dysfunctional marriage from Hosea's point of view. (Hosea 1-3) This episode is an opportunity to consider Gomer's side of the story.

2.9 When the Donkey is the Smart One

This is the story about a man, Balaam, whose donkey was smarter than he was -- a soothsayer who thought he knew what made a god tick but who was about to learn something new.

2.8 100 Prophets, Two Caves

Based on an incident mentioned in 1 Kings 18, this episode tells the story of a principled but conflicted man named Obadiah and what he did in response to a changing religious landscape in ninth-century (BCE) Israel. #Jezahab!

2.7 Nice Flock of Sheep you got there.

Based on 1 Samuel 25, this is the story of a couple, Nabal and Abigail, who had an unfortunate run-in with a minor bandit running a protection racket -- a man who would eventually be known as the great King David!

2.6 Lookie what I found!

This episode is a remarkable story about how part of the Bible came to be written, hidden and then found at a most convenient moment. Is it inspiration or crass self-serving treason? Or both?? Based on the story told in 2 Kings 22:1-20.

2.5 When Saul became Paul

The Apostle Paul originally went by the name of Saul. This is the (somewhat speculative) story of how the name change happened. (It didn't happen when you probably thought that it did!)