Rephonic
Artwork for The Bible Bar
Abraham
Bar-Ilan University
Genesis
Genesis 1
Ancient Near Eastern Creation Myths
Isaac
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

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

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Artwork for The Bible Bar

Latest Episodes

Guest: Dr. Shira Weiss. In Genesis 27, Jacob deceives his blind father, Isaac, and receives the blessing intended for Esau. But was Jacob actually lying? And does the distinction between lying and deliberately misleading someone change how we evaluat... more

Guest: Dr. Don Seeman. Why does Genesis bother to tell us that Abimelech was looking through a window when he saw Isaac and Rebecca together?

It seems like an incidental detail. But biblical narrative is famously sparing when it comes to architectur... more

Guest: Prof. Raanan Eichler. Genesis 25 records Rebecca's oracle concerning Jacob and Esau, yet one crucial line has resisted a settled interpretation for centuries. In this episode, Prof. Eichler argues that the ambiguity is not a problem to be solv... more

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

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Recent Guests

Don Seeman
Professor of anthropology with a focus on biblical texts
Emory University
Episode: Gen 26: Biblical Scenes at the Window
Raanan Eichler
Bar-Ilan University scholar offering a fresh reading of Rebecca's oracle
Bar-Ilan University
Episode: Gen 25 - Rebecca's Oracle: The Isaac and Esau Seesaw
Elie Assis
Bar-Ilan colleague
Bar-Ilan University
Episode: Gen 24: Why Does Abraham's Servant Choose Isaac's Wife?
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

Host

Joshua Berman
Host of The Bible Bar

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 60 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 States5 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 States5 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.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Gen 26: Biblical Scenes at the Window
Q: Why focus on the window as a motif rather than only the people inside or outside?
Because the window functions as a focal point where kinship negotiations occur—between patrilineal houses, between husbands and wives, and within power structures—transforming a simple gaze into a commentary on lineage and social order.
Gen 26: Biblical Scenes at the Window
Q: What is the general approach you have as an anthropologist to small details in the biblical text, and why might they be harbingers of deeper meaning?
The approach is to follow details that deliberately point to structural and kinship concerns, showing that small moments like a window can illuminate patterns of loyalty, property, and divine blessing across generations. This yields a broader reading beyond the surface scene.
Gen 24: Why Does Abraham's Servant Choose Isaac's Wife?
Q: Why is the servant sent to find a wife for Isaac, and what does that say about divine guidance in the story?
Assis notes that the servant functions as the central agent through whom God guides the selection of Rebekah, with earlier prayer by Isaac and the servant leading to a confirmation by the family that the event originates from God.
Gen 24: Why Does Abraham's Servant Choose Isaac's Wife?
Q: What's the background for the lengthy real estate negotiation in Genesis 23, and how have commentators understood it?
Elie Assis explains that most scholars focus on textual background and Near Eastern practices, but the real question is the author's intent in lengthening the scene to show Abraham's determined effort to secure land and, ultimately, to fulfill divine promises.
Gen 25 - Rebecca's Oracle: The Isaac and Esau Seesaw
Q: Do the speakers think the characters consciously understood the oracle as it unfolds?
They argue the characters likely lacked full conscious awareness of the oracle's multi-layered meaning; instead, the narrative uses the drama to invite readers to interpret the text and see how the oracle plays out in history.

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. Truth Unites

How many episodes of The Bible Bar are there?

The Bible Bar launched 6 months ago and published 27 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. Don Seeman
2. Raanan Eichler
3. Elie Assis
4. Avraham Faust
5. Aaron Koller
6. Yael Landman
7. Shawn Zelig Aster
8. Kirsi Cobb

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