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→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Timestamps:
(00:00) A brief overview of these chapters.
(06:25) The pride cycle explained.
(11:29) The pride cycle illustrated in the Book of Judges.
(15:56) Successive generations of Israelites forget God and the things he has done for them.
(17:56) The theme of denigrating the northern tribes of Israel.
(21:33) Othniel is the first judge. Ehud, the second judge, brings a “gift” to Eglon, the fat king of Moab.
(27:24) Deborah is the third judge. How her story compares to the Ishtar myth.
(36:51) Gideon is the fourth judge and humbly trusts in God.
(47:43) Gideon refuses the invitation to be the king of Israel and teaches that Israel should make God their King.
(53:20) Samson is the 7th judge and is blessed with great strength. His ultimate destruction is symbolic of the descent of the House of Israel. Other myths of the ancient world, those of Nergal and Oedipus, may indicate that Samson’s story contains recontextualized tropes from older times.
(1:11:00) Abimelech is the 5th judge and slays his seventy brothers.
(1:14:15) Jephthah is the 6th judge and makes a rash vow and sacrifices his only daughter.
(1:17:47) In the first epilogue Micah sets up a false religion.
(1:19:59) In the second epilogue a Levite woman is horribly violated and killed. Civil war ensues among the Israelites. We see that if Christ isn’t our King, we will be without civilization.

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The post Ep 373 | Judges, Come Follow Me 2026 (May 25-31) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

→ Watch on YouTube

→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Timestamps:
(00:00) A brief overview of these chapters.
(02:47) Balancing the violence in Joshua with modern revelation and other ways of interpreting the text.
(12:49) If we want the Lord’s help in conflict, then we need to do things the Lord’s way. The three rules of conflict: have the right attitude, have the right motive, and do not be guilty of the first or second offense.
(21:46) Some archaeological evidence does not match the book of Joshua’s description of the conquest of the Land of Canaan.
(28:00) Models of how Israel came to exist in scholarship.
(32:28) Get off the beach. Joshua illustrates how the Lord guides us and how revelation works.
(41:43) What mean these stones? The God who did wonderful things in the past will do wonderful things in your life.
(46:03) The circular pattern of stones at Gilgal can invite readers to see Joshua as an ascension text.
(51:33) Joshua taking the land as a type of Jesus conquering sin and death. Rahab and the scarlet thread as symbols of sin and the atonement.
(1:06:14) Joshua’s final speech. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve: … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

→ For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here.

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The post Ep 372 | Joshua, Come Follow Me 2026 (May 18-24) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

→ Watch on YouTube

→ Detailed Show Notes

→ Timestamps:
(00:00) There is evidence that the Five Books of Moses and specifically the Book of Deuteronomy were edited both before and during the Babylonian captivity, around 600 B.C.
(03:14) Many scholars see Deuteronomy as the “Book of the Law” that was discovered during Josiah’s reign from 640-609 B.C.
(06:15) Examples of additions and redactions which demonstrate the history of the text.
(12:54) The Book of Mormon and the New Testament bring balance to the religious reforms during Josiah’s reign.
(15:35) The Deuteronomistic History is a term used in modern biblical studies to describe the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings. The Deuteronomistic History portrays a cohesive view of Israel.
(18:46) Lehi and Nephi were at odds with the Jews at the time they left Jerusalem in 600 B.C. Examples from the Book of Mormon show how prophets disagreed with some of Deuteronomy’s ideas.
(23:26) Deuteronomy centralizes worship and prohibits any altars outside of the temple. Visionaries were denigrated, yet Nephi knew the mysteries.
(25:42) Deuteronomy focuses on the Abrahamic Covenant and stresses that Israel is to remember the Lord.
(32:39) Deuteronomy has covenant renewal ceremonies and is constructed in the pattern of an ancient Near Eastern vassal treaty. This pattern is also used in King Benjamin’s speech in Mosiah 1-6.
(38:22) The scattering and gathering is prophesied in both Deuteronomy and the Book of Mormon. God wants to bring Israel back home.
(46:12) Deuteronomy 31.6 shows a direct connection to the Book of Joshua. Blessings for keeping the commandments can be seen as a generational promise, not necessarily a 1:1 relationship. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a “cosmic vending machine.”
(48:53) Both Deuteronomy and the Book of Mormon are writing with the future in mind, knowing that their discovery will bring religious reform.
(51:14) Both books warn of the pride and destruction that can come with prosperity.
(55:28) Moses “dies,” and the text of Deuteronomy says his sepulcher is not known. The Book of Mormon teaches that Moses was translated. Josephus’ history says he disappeared in a cloud. The New Testament shows Moses appears at the Mount of Transfiguration.
(1:02:01) As a resurrected being, in April 1836, Moses came to Joseph Smith to give him the keys of the gathering of Israel. In this way, we are all connected to Moses and his mission. As modern day Israel, we carry the torch of Gospel light and are commanded to spread the Gospel.

→ For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here.

→ Enroll in Institute

→ YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook

The post Ep 371 | Deuteronomy, Come Follow Me 2026 (May 11-17) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.