Jacob, the patriarch who's name becomes Israel, has a history of not being fully obedient and running a very dysfunctional family. In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we see Jacob leave Laban, wrestle with God, reunite with Esau, not follow God's directions and then have his son's slaughter a Canaanite city. Jacob's story is one of constant failure, grace, and reconciliation. His story is both a warning and a beacon of hope for us. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5 star rating and review.

As we prepare for Easter, we often think about Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. But just how horrible was crucifixion? How did it affect the body of the person being crucified? What did Jesus go through before and during his time on the cross? In this Extra episode of Bible Backdrop, we look at some of the science and biology behind the crucifixion. When you read the Gospel stories, you will have a better understanding of what our Lord and Savior physically went through while on the cross to bear our sins.

The story of the birth of Israel continues with Isaac and his twin sons, Jacob and Esau. How did the older son come to serve the younger? How does Jacob live up to his name? Why was Esau rejected for the covenantal blessing? How was Jacob deceived into marrying the wrong sister? This episode of Bible Backdrop continues to cover the story of Israel's history by talking about the people that were instrumental in the founding of the nation.If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review. You can do so on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also contact the show at the e-mail address in the episode.

The Bible tells amazing personal stories, but what about the bigger picture? What was Israel's place in the world during Bible times? This episode is the first in the series looking at the history of Israel and it's place in the ancient world. This will give us context to when these events took place.The first episode is all about Abraham with a little about Isaac and Ishmael. There's also some discussion about the formation of kingdoms and how it differed in the land of Canaan. While these are personal stories, they set the stage for what is to come in later episodes.If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5 star rating and review. Bible Backdrop is also now available on YouTube! Search for Bible Backdrop, subscribe, and click the bell to be notified of a new episode.

The Feast of Weeks is designated as the third and final pilgrimage festival for Israelites and is described in Leviticus 23. Called Shavuot or Pentecost, it is known as a harvest festival, but becomes the day the church was founded in Acts 2. This episode of Bible Backdrop goes into some of the history and traditions surrounding this festival.

Merry Christmas everyone! December 8 marks the first day of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. Most know that this involves lighting a menorah, but what are the origins of this festival? The last episode of Bible Backdrop for 2023 goes into the story and other details about Hanukkah. Why is it celebrated? How do Jews today celebrate? Why is it important?If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5-star rating and review. You can also send a question to the e-mail address listed in the episode. Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Passover is one of the best known feasts in the Bible. Most people know the general story behind the Passover, but how was it celebrated in Bible times? This episode of Bible Backdrop looks at the history of Passover along with how the meal was eaten. We also discuss the Feast of Unleavened Bread that was a 7 day festival in honor of God's deliverance. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please tell a friend and have them subscribe. To get in touch with the show, you can e-mail me at the address given in the podcast episode.

We hear about the Feast of Booths, but what exactly was it? Why did God institute this festival in the Jewish religious calendar? On this episode of Bible Backdrop, we look into some of the details on the Feast of Booths including the time of year, the events that took place, and what the booths looked like. We also look into how Jesus used this to great effect during His ministry.If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please subscribe and leave a five star rating and review. To get in touch with the show, you can use the e-mail stated in the episode.

In the previous episode of Bible Backdrop, we talked about the details surrounding the Day of Atonement. After finishing the episode, there is so much symbolism surrounding this day that it really required an Extra episode. When you look closely at the events, you can easily see how it ties back to Jesus and his sacrifice for our atonement. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5 star rating and review. You can also contact the show by the e-mail announced in this episode.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Established by God with detailed instructions to Moses in Leviticus 16, this episode of Bible Backdrop looks at the particulars surrounding that day. What is the meaning of Yom Kippur? Where did it fall on the Jewish calendar? What did the high priest have to do on that day? What was so different about it?Thank you for downloading this episode of Bible Backdrop. If you are enjoying the show, please leave a 5 star rating and review. If you want to get in touch with me, you can send an e-mail to the address listed in the episode.

Wrapping up our series on the offerings in Leviticus, the latest episode of Bible Backdrop looks into the Trespass Offering and the Guilt Offering. Each of these had very specific requirements and we go into details on what was included, why it was included, and how they affect us today.If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please subscribe and leave a 5-star rating and review. You can also contact the show on the e-mail given in the episode.

Continuing our series on the sacrifices in the Old Testament, this episode of Bible Backdrop looks at the Sin Offering. In many ways, it was different from the other offerings and we look into those differences here. God held people to a high standard when it came to the Sin Offering and it shows in the sacrifices.If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5 star rating and review. Also, please tell a friend and have them subscribe. You can also get in touch with the show in the e-mail described in this episode.

Leviticus 3 and Leviticus 7 gives instructions to the children of Israel regarding the Peace Offering. What exactly was included in a peace offering? Why did someone bring this kind of offering to God? Who needed to make the offering? In the latest episode of Bible Backdrop, we take a look at these verses and go into some additional details.If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5 star rating and review. You can also get in touch with the show by the e-mail given in this episode.

The burnt offering and the grain offering are both described in Leviticus 1 and 2. Why were these sacrifices significant? What did they mean? In this episode of Bible Backdrop Extra, we go into the deeper meaning behind these sacrifices and their symbolism. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5-star rating and review. You can get in touch with the show via the e-mail I mention in the episode.

In Leviticus, God outlined 5 sacrifices: The burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering and the peace offering. Each one had a different function and method. In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we'll look at the first two sacrifices and go into a few details regarding each one. Thank you for listening to Bible Backdrop. If you are enjoying the show, please leave a 5 star rating and review. To get in touch with the show, an e-mail address is given in the episode.

Welcome to the first episode of Bible Backdrop Extra! This is a shorter episode where I go a little deeper into an earlier episode. This week, I talk about the symbolism of the Tabernacle and how it points to Jesus. All the implements of worship, their placement, even the courtyard points to Jesus' teaching. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5 star rating and review. You can get in touch with the show at the e-mail I give in the episode.

During their years of wandering in the desert, the Israelites worshiped and offered sacrifices to Yahweh at The Tabernacle. In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we look at how it was built along with the tools of worship that were used in the course of offering sacrifices. How big was the Tabernacle? What were the curtains made of? Could anyone go in? These are some of the questions answered in this latest episode.If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review. You can also get in touch with the show by using the e-mail I mention in the episode.

Most of us have seen the movie "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark." The Ark of the Covenant has intrigued people for years. What was so special about the Ark? How was it made? And what happened to it? In this episode of Bible Backdrop, we'll look at some of the details surrounding the Ark, when it was used, and how it was made. We'll also give a few theories as to what may have happened to it.If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please subscribe and leave a 5-star rating and review. To get in touch with the show, you can contact me at the e-mail I give in this episode. Thank you for listening!

Mary is one of the 3 central figures in the Christmas story. Like the episode on Joseph last year, this episode adds some context around Mary's role and the evidence of her strong faith. I also talk a little about the heavenly hosts and what that means to the story. Have a Merry Christmas!

In the Bible, the army of Israel is mentioned several times in the Old Testament. How did the army come to be and how was it formed? Was there always a standing army? How were wars fought during Bible times? In this latest episode of Bible Backdrop, I look at how the Israelite military was formed from the very first battle in Genesis to the formation of the professional army under Saul and David. If you are enjoying Bible Backdrop, please leave a 5-star rating and review. Bible Backdrop is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also get in touch with the show by the e-mail mentioned in this episode.