Bloody, Brutal and Barbaric? Ep.7 1 Samuel 15 and Hyperbole
04/13/23 • 26 min
Summary
In a slightly short episode, we talk about 1 Samuel 15, and some of the ways in which it seems, at first glance, to be a challenge to Webb and Oeste’s suggestion that hyperbole is an extensive part of how war instructions are given and carried out in Israel. What becomes apparent is that hyperbole is most definitely in use in that text, also, and we consider what that means, and what the author of Samuel intends for the readers to hear.
And since the subject and tone of this episode was less intense, we left in a few of our funnier flubs. This might be an intense and weighty book, but we have a great time together.
Notes
1) We briefly mention the Battle of Qarqar in this episode, the largest battle to that point in the ancient world, which happened during the reign of (and was participated in by) the Israelite King Ahab. Interestingly, this massive battle is not mentioned in the Bible. Listeners who would like to go further down the rabbit hole on this battle’s conspicuous absence from scripture may be interested in this blogpost from the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence:
https://www.csbvbristol.org.uk/2020/11/23/what-the-biblical-authors-skipped/
2) Our thanks and appreciation to our partners:
A production of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence.
https://www.csbvbristol.org.uk/
Podcast cover art by Studio of Broken Things
https://www.facebook.com/ISA4048
Intro music "Br1ghter" by Tape Machines (feat. Le June & Nbhd Nick)
Summary
In a slightly short episode, we talk about 1 Samuel 15, and some of the ways in which it seems, at first glance, to be a challenge to Webb and Oeste’s suggestion that hyperbole is an extensive part of how war instructions are given and carried out in Israel. What becomes apparent is that hyperbole is most definitely in use in that text, also, and we consider what that means, and what the author of Samuel intends for the readers to hear.
And since the subject and tone of this episode was less intense, we left in a few of our funnier flubs. This might be an intense and weighty book, but we have a great time together.
Notes
1) We briefly mention the Battle of Qarqar in this episode, the largest battle to that point in the ancient world, which happened during the reign of (and was participated in by) the Israelite King Ahab. Interestingly, this massive battle is not mentioned in the Bible. Listeners who would like to go further down the rabbit hole on this battle’s conspicuous absence from scripture may be interested in this blogpost from the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence:
https://www.csbvbristol.org.uk/2020/11/23/what-the-biblical-authors-skipped/
2) Our thanks and appreciation to our partners:
A production of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence.
https://www.csbvbristol.org.uk/
Podcast cover art by Studio of Broken Things
https://www.facebook.com/ISA4048
Intro music "Br1ghter" by Tape Machines (feat. Le June & Nbhd Nick)
Previous Episode
Bloody, Brutal and Barbaric? Ep. 6 Hyperbole
Summary
In this episode, we talk through chapters 8-10 of Bloody, Brutal, and Barbaric?, which address the use of hyperbole in the conquest narratives, and addresses some of the arguments against hyperbole. We talk about reading the bible seriously, the appeal of “literal,” and how literalism creates more problems than it solves. We also discuss different sorts of hyperbole that were frequently employed in the Ancient Near East, most of which also occur in scripture, and where scripture is similar to and different from the accounts of the surrounding nations.
Notes
Our thanks and appreciation to our partners:
This podcast is a production of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence.
https://www.csbvbristol.org.uk/
Podcast cover art by Studio of Broken Things
https://www.facebook.com/ISA4048
Intro music "Br1ghter" by Tape Machines, Le June, Nbhd Nick
Next Episode
Bloody, Brutal and Barbaric? Ep. 8, 1 Samuel 15: Church Leadership, Repentance, and Hard Conversations
Summary
While Bloody, Brutal, and Barbaric? is about the Canaanite conquest, as we read the chapter on Saul and the Amalekites, we couldn’t help but notice how strongly it is highlighted that Saul is an unfit leader, who cares about his own glory and position, far more than he cares about obedience to God. Perhaps it is the current reckoning in which much of the evangelical church finds itself, but we felt we’d be remiss if we didn’t stop and consider how this Old Testament text so encourages us to think through this relevant issue.
Notes
1) Listeners who want to look further into issues of power abuse in the church may be interested in some of the following resources:
Glen Scrivener’s material on abuse in the church following the Ravi Zacharias scandal: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4zD5797LHdeSKbVtM7_AzOO-4miUyRQo
Roys Report https://julieroys.com/podcast/
CT on John MacArthur https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/february/grace-community-church-elder-biblical-counseling-abuse.html
Rise and Fall of Mars Hill https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/
Bodies Behind the Bus https://open.spotify.com/show/10b0rbS8MNB7UjNIlWUAmf
Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp https://www.amazon.ca/Dangerous-Calling-Confronting-Challenges-Pastoral/dp/1433541378/
2) We can be contacted on social media
Twitter: @wisirpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089794804928
Instagram: @was.it.something.i.read
3) Our thanks and appreciation to our partners:
A production of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence.
https://www.csbvbristol.org.uk/
Podcast cover art by Studio of Broken Things
https://www.facebook.com/ISA4048
Intro music "Br1ghter" by Tape Machines (feat. Le June & Nbhd Nick)
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