We get right back into the 6th century as we explore the latter years of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign and the chaos of his three immediate predecessors. On the lore side, this episode features a lengthy discussion of the origins of the Sabbath, various Judahite festivals, seeing the face of Yahweh himself, and an ancient board game!

Try the Royal Game of Ur yourself: https://royalur.net/

Bibliography:

Radner, Moeller, Potts, et al, ‘The Oxford History of the Ancient Near East, Volume V’;

Christian Frevel, ‘History of Ancient Israel’;

Robert Alter, ‘The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary’;

Berlin, Brettler, et al, ‘The Jewish Study Bible, Second Edition’;

Irving Finkel, ‘The Ark Before Noah’;

Jon Levenson, ‘Israel’s Day of Light and Joy’;

Jacob Wright, ‘Why the Bible Began’;

Moudhi Al-Rashi, ‘Between Two Rivers’;

Hallo & Younger, ‘The Context of Scripture Vols. 1-3’;

Paul-Alain Beaulieu, ‘The Reign of Nabonidus, King of Babylon 556-539 B.C.’;

Glassner & Foster, ‘Mesopotamian Chronicles’;

Wolfram von Soden, ‘Der neubabylonische Funktionär simmagir und der Feuertod des Šamaš-šum-ukīn’;

Rainer Albertz, ‘A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament Period, Vol. II’;

https://www.thetorah.com/article/does-a-day-begin-in-the-evening

https://www.thetorah.com/article/shabbat-of-the-full-moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gF4YGKRXxc

https://www.thetorah.com/article/shabbat-mid-fifth-century-bce