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History of the Jews

History of the Jews

di Dovid Parnas

Ancient Israelite Kingdoms: The History (Part 1)

When and where were the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah? Why did they rise and why did they fall? This summary episode tells the story of the ancient Israelite kingdoms based on archeology in 30 minutes. We begin by meeting the earliest Israelites who lived kingless in small rural villages for nearly 200 years (1200-1000 BC). Then we follow them change as they create two kingdoms - the kingdom of Judah and Israel - and we ask why? Why did the Israelites of the 10th century (1000-900) urbanize and militarize? After creating their kingdoms, the Israelites enjoy a period of relative peace and success (900-732 BC). Finally, they leave us writings that give us insight into their lives and their religious practices. But the good times do not last. Israel and Judah rebel against the Assyrian empire and enter a period of submission (732-605 BC). When Assyria falls in the later half of the 7th century, Judah and Israel are caught between Egypt and Babylonia. Both contending over Assyria's former holdings. Judah rebels twice and pays the price. Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/ You can also reach me at: hotj.podcast@gmail.com *Unfortunately, my podcast editor made a version change and the audio quality is slightly worse than usual. My apologies.

E13 - Judah After the Fall: Survival and Exile

Babylonian reprisals against Judah's two failed rebellions depopulate the country, turning it into a ghost kingdom. An estimated 80% of the population, over 70,000 people, disappeared. But where did they go? What was the fate of Judeans post-destruction? As we answer these question, we must navigate the world faced by the Judean survivors. The difficult life in Judah. The destruction of the Judean-Israelite home and family. And the story of those who left or were exiled. This journey takes us from Judah to Babylonia where we find King Jehoiachin and other Judeans in one of the earliest Judean-Jewish diasporas. We build this episode on archeological findings in post-destruction Judah and ancient texts found in Babylonia from the 6th century BC. Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/ You can also reach me at: hotj.podcast@gmail.com

E12 - The Fall of Jerusalem

In 586 BC, Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah are destroyed by the Neo-Babylonian empire. It is estimated that Judah lost more than two-thirds of its population in what is one of the greatest tragedies of Jewish history. In this episode, we try to understand why this happened? How Babylonia came to power? And what did Judah do wrong to bring upon itself this calamity? Using the ancient records of imperial Assyria and Babylonia, we reconstruct the turbid history of the 7th century BC. We watch Assyria fall from its greatest heights to non-existence and geopolitical chaos that this causes. Judah is caught between Babylonia and Egypt with no good options. Lastly, we use archeology to get a snapshot of post-destruction Judah and to get a better understanding of the catastrophe that had befallen the Judeans. This episode was released on the eve of Tisha B'av, the date according to Jewish tradition when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple. I hope that it sheds light on this period of Jewish history from the perspective of archeology and modern scholarship. Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/ You can also reach me at: hotj.podcast@gmail.com

E11 - The Twilight of Judah: Life Under Assyria

The 7th century BC is the twilight of the kingdom of Judah. After Hezekiah's failed revolt in 701 BC, Judah has been reduced to an Assyrian vassal state. How much does that change Judean lives? In this episode, we explore how Judah adapted post-701 and how Assyria shaped the Judean relationship with their Philistine and Edomite neighbors. Meanwhile, Judean culture survives this new world and we find the first mention of Sabbath in recorded history. We build this history on Judean and Philistine archeological findings at Ekron, Yavne-Yam (Mesad Hashavyahu) and Jerusalem. This episode features the Ketef Hinnom scrolls recording the Priestly Blessing also found in Numbers, dating to around 600 BC. Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/ You can also reach me at: hotj.podcast@gmail.com

E10 - Hezekiah's Revolt

Judah navigates its destiny in the trying times of the late 8th century BC. The kingdom of Israel has been destroyed and divided. Tens of thousands of refugees flood into Judah. And Judeans ask themselves the hard question, what do they do about Assyria? Do they rebel and suffer the consequences? Or do they pay the price of quiet and submission? In this episode, we discuss Judah's choice, the fallout and why they made the choice that they did. We build this history on Assyrian writings and ancient Israelite and Philistine archeology found at Lachish, Jerusalem and Ekron. Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/ You can also reach me at: hotj.podcast@gmail.com

E9 - Israel Falls

In the late 8th century, a new king takes the throne in Assyria and tensions rise across the Near East. They must choose total submission and pay tribute to Assyria. Or, they can try their luck against the might of the Assyrian empire. Twice, the kingdom of Israel rebels and loses it all. The repercussions change life in Israel and Judah forever. This episode continues our narrative history, exploring Israel's rebellions and the aftermath. We discuss the legend of the Lost Ten Tribes and what changed in the lives of most Israelites living in the northern kingdom. Read the episode transcript and my thoughts about Jewish history at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/ You can also reach me at: hotj.podcast@gmail.com

E8 - Life in Ancient Israel

What was life like for an Israelite nearly three thousand years ago? Did it make a difference if they lived in the kingdom of Israel or Judah? And who did they worship? In this episode, we immerse ourselves in ancient Israelite culture and try to answer these questions. We follow the archeology as Israel and Judah develop their own unique cultural nuances. We visit Israelite capitals - Samaria and Jerusalem - and walk around the city of Megiddo looking for somewhere to get a drink. And, finally, we tour two Israelite temples - one in the northern city of Dan and one in the southern city of Arad - and meet the god(s) of Israel. Read the episode and bonus content at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/ You can also reach me at: hotj.podcast@gmail.com

E7 - Israel and Assyria

What do we know about the kingdom of Israel? When does it first appear in the historical record? And what is its place among the nations of the Eastern Mediterranean? In this episode, we explore the world of the Israelites in the 9th century and anxiously follow the resurgence of its greatest adversaries - Egypt and Assyria. The kingdom of Israel plays a leading part in the Anti-Assyrian coalition that struggles to hold Assyria's appetite for conquest at bay. But then something changes and internal politics tear apart this alliance, deciding the fate of Israel and her neighbors. Read the episode and bonus content at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/ You can also reach me at: hotj.podcast@gmail.com

E6 - From Villages to Kingdoms: the Rise of Ancient Israel

After the Bronze Age Collapse, Canaan lay in ruins. The invading Sea Peoples emerge as a dominant power, asserting control over the coast of Canaan. But tucked away in the highlands, the Israelites slowly recover and adapt to a dangerous new world. During the late 11th and 10th centuries, this new reality forces them out of their defenseless villages and back into fortified cities. They reinforce their frontiers and build forts to keep a watchful eye on the Philistines and their other neighbors. Out of this period of crisis and transformation emerged something new: perhaps a united Israelite kingdom, perhaps the early foundations of Israel and Judah. Whatever it was, it prepared them for the next great threat. Far in the distance, Assyria was shaking off the dust from the Bronze Age Collapse. And looking westward. Read the episode and bonus content at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/ You can also reach me at: hotj.podcast@gmail.com

The Israelite Origin Story: Memories (Part 2)

How did the Israelites remember their past? And how does that memory compare to the history uncovered by archaeology? The previous episode (The Israelite Origin Story: The History), told the Israelites origin story from the perspective of archeology. In this episode, we explore the Bible not as history, but as Israelite memory. From Abraham and the Patriarchs to Egypt, the Exodus and the conquest of Canaan, we ask: What the Israelites chose to remember, what they forgot, and what that reveals about who they were. Read the episode and bonus content at: https://historyofthejews.substack.com/ You can also reach me at: hotj.podcast@gmail.com

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