Rephonic
Artwork for The Bible Bar
Abraham
Bar-Ilan University
Genesis
Genesis 1
Ancient Near Eastern Creation Myths
Table Of the Nations
Genesis 4
Covenant
Genesis 3:16
Genesis 5
Genesis Flood Narrative
Fugitive Hero Pattern
Genesis 18
Sabbath
Cosmogonies
Theogonies
Mesopotamia
Egypt
Gilgamesh Epic
Covenant Of Circumcision

The Bible Bar – The Podcast of the Bible Department of Bar-Ilan University. Hosted by Dr. Joshua Berman, The Bible Bar offers a guided journey through the Bible, one chapter at a time, in conversation with leading scholars from Bar-Ilan University and across the globe. Drawing on the full spectrum of biblical studies, the podcast translates cutting-edge research into thoughtful, engaging discussio... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes24Founded6 months ago
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Artwork for The Bible Bar

Latest Episodes

Guest: Prof. Elie Assis. Genesis 24 is the longest chapter in Genesis, yet it is often reduced to a simple love story. In this episode, we discover that Isaac's marriage is the culmination of Abraham's life's work. Following Genesis 23, where Abraham... more

Guest: Prof. Avraham Faust. What did family burial sites mean in the world of ancient Israel? And how can

the archaeology of ancient Israelite burial practices shed light on Genesis 23, the story of Abraham's purchase of the Cave of the Patriarchs? ... more

Guest: Dr. Aaron Koller. For generations, the Binding of Isaac has been read through the lens of Søren Kierkegaard: the supreme test of Abraham's willingness to obey God, even when commanded to suspend ethics itself.

But what if that reading misses ... more

Guest: Dr. Yael Landman. In Genesis 21, Hagar and Ishmael are sent away from Abraham's household—a story often remembered simply as an expulsion. But what if the text is telling a very different story?

In this episode, we explore the legal and cultu... more

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Recent Guests

Avraham Faust
Archaeologist
Bar-Ilan University
Episode: Gen 23: Why the Bible Cares So Much About a Burial Cave
Aaron Koller
Professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Episode: Gen 22 - The Unbinding of Isaac: Beyond Kierkegaard
Yael Landman
Assistant Professor of Bible at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Episode: Gen 21 : Hagar's Legal Victory
Shawn Zelig Aster
Bar-Ilan colleague, scholar
Bar-Ilan University
Episode: Gen 20: Who's the Righteous One Here—Abraham or Abimelech?
Kirsi Cobb
Senior Lecturer in Hebrew Bible and Gender
Cliff College ( Derbyshire, England )
Episode: Gen 19: Lot’s Daughters: Trauma, Revenge, and an Inverted World
Steven Mann
Professor of Old Testament Theology and Biblical Narrative, Chair of the Seminary at Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University
Episode: Gen 18 : Praying Through Questions
Jonathan Inman
Scholar discussing circumcision in biblical literature
Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
Episode: Gen 17: Why Circumcision? From Laughter to Faith
Edward Greenstein
Professor Emeritus of Hebrew Bible at Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University
Episode: Genesis 16: Hagar and the Pattern Behind Biblical Heroes
Aubrey McClain
Shapiro Chair for Jewish Christian Studies and Associate Professor in the Department of Theology at Greenville University
Greenville University
Episode: Gen 15: Why the Borders of the Land Keep Changing

Host

Joshua Berman
Host of The Bible Bar

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 42 ratings
  • Unique topics!

    Great conversations and unique topics. Keep it up. Loved your guest Michael LeFebvre - bought his book and enjoying that too. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oxaro Sharp
    Australia4 months ago
  • Interview technique could be improved

    This is a good show with good guests. Rabbi Berman is one of my favorite writers and thinkers. As some constructive criticism let me say that I think this show would improve a lot if Rabbi Berman would allow his guests to fully answer questions before he interrupts them and would improve as an interviewer if he made fewer sounds of affirmation while they were speaking. It can be very distracting. Ask your question and let the guest cook!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Benny B Boy 4 EVAH!
    United States4 months ago
  • Great content, need fewer interruptions

    The rich content is marred by Dr Berman’s frequent interjections while the guest speaker is trying to talk. Please wait for your guest to finish before interrupting or adding your “uh huh” and “wow”. So distracting!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    pearlgirl55
    United States4 months ago
  • Bisher sehr interessante Gespräche. Hoffentlich gibt es noch VIEL mehr davon. Schön wären Literaturhinweise in den Shownotes.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Sibillea
    5 months ago
  • Fun

    I love this new podcast. The host is inquisitive and open to ideas and seems like a person you’d love to have a conversation with at a bar! I learn new things from every episode and if anything, I with the episodes were a bit longer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Valchemist
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows strong scholarly rigor and depth across episodes
Listener feedback highlights wish for smoother pacing and fewer interruptions by host
Guests are regularly high-caliber researchers from diverse biblical studies subfields

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#85
United States/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#113
Canada/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#136
Australia/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#27
Sweden/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#35
Israel/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#62
Norway/Education/Courses

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Gen 23: Why the Bible Cares So Much About a Burial Cave
Q: What do you make of the idea that scripture mirrors burial practices across periods—do you think the text reflects earlier memory or influences it?
Faust argues that while textual narrations may be composed in different times than the events they describe, there is a meaningful alignment between the biblical portrayal of burial and the archaeological record, with the text preserving older memory even as later editors shape it.
Gen 23: Why the Bible Cares So Much About a Burial Cave
Q: What is the ideological difference between burying people as individuals vs. as families?
The discussion highlights that family burials reflect a social structure that values lineage and continuity, while individual burials in some periods suggest a different social emphasis; later shifts to family tombs under pressure from upheavals show how burial practices encode the stability or fragility of the family unit.
Gen 23: Why the Bible Cares So Much About a Burial Cave
Q: All right. You've written a number of studies about burial in the land of Israel. What is exciting about burial?
Faust explains that burial practices illuminate not just death rituals but the living social order: how families, lineages, and ethnic groups organized themselves, and how these practices reveal values about land, memory, and authority across periods.
Gen 21 : Hagar's Legal Victory
Q: What is the significance of Hagar arranging Ishmael's marriage?
The guest argues that Hagar's orchestration of Ishmael's marriage demonstrates a level of maternal authority and agency that is unusual in biblical narratives, underlining Hagar's enduring influence beyond the expulsion scene.
Gen 21 : Hagar's Legal Victory
Q: How does the adoption language in other biblical or Near Eastern texts illuminate this Genesis 21 episode?
Yael connects adoption terms in broader Mesopotamian legal documents to Genesis 21, suggesting that some biblical language for Hagar and Ishmael mirrors adoption and custody concepts, thereby reframing their status within Abraham's family.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bible Bar

What is The Bible Bar about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Scholarly conversations focused on biblical texts, with heavy emphasis on Genesis and related ancient Near Eastern contexts. Episodes feature leading Bar-Ilan University scholars and other academics discussing source criticism, narrative structure, literary patterns, geography, chronology, and interpretation across Jewish, Christian, and rabbinic traditions. Notable strengths include rigorous philology, cross-textual comparisons (e.g., Mesopotamian parallels, Genesis 12–17 debates), and an emphasis on how methodological approaches shape readings of familiar passages. A distinctive trait is the integration of philology with literary and historical analysis, offering listeners both precise technical insight and broader interpretive frameworks... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Bible Bar?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bible Bar:

1. The Biblical Mind
2. OnScript
3. The Tikvah Podcast
4. SAPIR Conversations
5. Slow Theology: Simple Faith for Chaotic Times

How many episodes of The Bible Bar are there?

The Bible Bar launched 6 months ago and published 24 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Bible Bar?

Recent guests on The Bible Bar include:

1. Avraham Faust
2. Aaron Koller
3. Yael Landman
4. Shawn Zelig Aster
5. Kirsi Cobb
6. Steven Mann
7. Jonathan Inman
8. Edward Greenstein

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