Let the Stones Speak

The book of Esther contains one of the most riveting and dramatic stories in the Bible. But is it true? There are those who have tried to discredit the book of Esther, relegating it to myth and fables. However, what does the evidence say? On today’s program, host Nicholas Irwin interviews staff writer Christopher Eames about his article “The Book of Esther: Fact or Fiction?”

On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal speaks to Hebrew University Archaeologist Prof. Yosef Garfinkel about a recently discovered city wall at Lachish during his excavations in collaboration with Prof. Hoo-Goo Kang of Seoul Jangsin University, Korea. The interview occurred on the sidelines of the American Schools for Oversees Research annual meeting held in Boston in late November.

The Tel Dan Stele is arguably the most important artifact ever discovered in the world of biblical archaeology, containing the earliest confirmed mention of King David. In light of the opening celebration, Let the Stones Speak host Brent Nagtegaal interviewed epigrapher and historian Prof. Michael Langlois, who is currently researching the Stele.

The team from Hebrew University and the Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology is about to start excavations again in the royal quarter of ancient Jerusalem—the Ophel. On today’s program, host Christopher Eames talks with excavation directors Prof. Uzi Leibner and Dr. Orit Peleg-Barkat about the upcoming Ophel dig.

The Givati Parking Lot excavations at the northwestern edge of the City of David have upended our ideas about what ancient Jerusalem looked like. A sensational new discovery has revealed the city had a moat. Not one that contained water but rather a monumental artificial valley that separated the northern part of the city (the Ophel and Temple Mount) from the southern region (the City of David), serving as a distinguishing feature of the city during the days of the biblical kings. On today’s program, host Christopher Eames interviews Givati Parking Lot excavations co-director Dr. Yiftah Shalev to find out the latest about this astonishing topographical feature being uncovered at the site.

Shiloh is famous as the location of the biblical tabernacle. Archaeological excavations have been taking place annually on the north side of the ancient tel. Excavation director Dr. Scott Stripling believes his team may have found remains from the tabernacle itself, as well as the city gate and sacrificial deposits. In this end-of-season interview, Let the Stones Speak host Christopher Eames interviews Dr. Stripling about finds from the 2024 season, including some intriguing gold items—offerings for the tabernacle?

Over the past decade, archaeologists and scientists have collected and analyzed carbon samples from archaeological strata dating from 3,000 years ago—the time of the biblical kings of King David’s dynasty. Now, the results are finally in. What it revealed is a stunning overlap between biblical history and who built what in Jerusalem during the time of the biblical kings.

Can you confirm the identity of Moses in Egyptian history?

On today’s program, Prof Michael Langlois joins host Brent Nagtegaal to discuss the Mesha Stele along with current scholarship’s unscientific reluctance to accept the historicity of King David.

The Bible describes several peculiar architectural features of Solomon’s temple and palace complex. Remarkable parallels to these features were discovered on a 3,000-year-old strange stone model at Khirbet Qeiyafa. On today’s program, Let the Stones Speak host Christopher Eames interviews Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, a lead researcher of the shrine model. They also discuss her discovery of the earliest alphabetical sentence ever found in Israel—the Lachish Comb Inscription.