Thoughts on the New Testament . . . and Other Stuff by David B Capes
In this edition of “Exegetically Speaking” . . .
Dr. Adam Miglio, Associate Professor of Archaeology at Wheaton College, draws upon how an “open sword” was understood in the ancient Near East to inform a reading of Ezekiel 21:28. A fascinating reflection on Babylon as God’s sword in that chapter.
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The podcast is approximately 7 minutes in length
In this edition of “Exegetically Speaking” . . .
Dr. Michael Graves, Armerding Professor of Biblical Studies, considers some of the challenging passages in Ruth and looks at how reading the text in Hebrew can illumine these verses.
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https://exegeticallyspeaking.libsyn.com/-cover-me-with-your-wings
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The podcast is approximately seven minutes in length
A new article by Paul van Pelt and Nico Staring takes a creative look at graffiti left in Saqqara. Saqqara was the necropolis of one of the most significant cities in Egypt, Memphis. Most studies of ancient graffiti have focused upon “textual graffiti,” but as we know graffiti itself is a visual phenomenon, and pictures and images make up much of “graffiti.” But interpreting non-textual materials can prove difficult from the vantage of a culture far removed.
Few people were literate but that did not stop them from drawing pictures or copying images they found meaningful. The authors propose that some types of “figural graffiti” were in fact prayers meant to secure the place of the deceased in the afterlife or to, in some way, keep the graffiti artist in connection with the tomb and the departed.
In addition the authors take a stab at the social location of those who composed “figural graffiti” compare to those who composed “textual graffiti.”
In this edition of Exegetically Speaking
. . . Dr. Todd Still, Dean of the George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University, joins us in the studio to reflect upon how learning the biblical languages helps to enrich our reading of the Bible.
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https://exegeticallyspeaking.libsyn.com/the-bible-for-all-its-worth
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The podcast lasts approximately 7 minutes.
As reformation is fomenting in Europe, there is a Jewish fellow who proclaimed himself Messiah and developed a huge following in the Ottoman Empire and parts of Europe. According to him, the redemption of the world was at hand. His name was Sabbetai Zevi. The year is 1665. 
His followers set aside their traditional Jewish beliefs and practices for new standards set by Zevi. But there was a naysayer in the bunch, a dissident rabbi who warned his countrymen that Zevi was not the Messiah after all. So they should abandon their enthusiasm for this man and return to their traditional practices. His name was Jacob Sasportas. A new book, written by Yaacob Dweck, provides a biography of this Separdic rabbi who stood up to Zevi. It is published by Princeton University Press.
As it turned out, this “messiah” converted to Islam at the behest of the Ottoman sultan. It’s was a wild and crazy century for Europe and the Ottoman Empire. This book tells a fascinating story. For more click here.
A Word in Edgewise 
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