Connecting the Dots brings the world of the Bible back into view – its geography, archaeology, ancient documents, political tensions, and cultural realities – so Scripture can be understood the way its first hearers would have experienced it.Hosted by Dr. Tom Zelt with colleagues Phil and Cara, this podcast explores how biblical events, places, and themes intersect across centuries. Rather than treating stories as isolated episodes, we trace the connections: how the Bronze Age collapse informs Judges, how the Assyrian battle imagery shapes Isaiah, how Temple geography intensifies Holy Week, how Jewish legal traditions illuminate John’s Gospel, and how archaeology and ancient sources speak into questions surrounding Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.Each episode engages Scripture seriously while interacting with historical sources such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Talmud, inscriptions, and material remains from the land of Israel. We also explore overlooked biblical locations, practical insights for Israel study tours, and how understanding the setting transforms familiar passages into vivid, coherent narratives.If you want to see how the Bible’s history, land, language, and literature connect, this podcast is for you. Because when you understand the setting, you see the story more clearly. When you see the story clearly, you see God’s work more fully.

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Dr. Tom Zelt and guests Phil and Cara introduce a series on Joshua’s early battles (Jericho, Ai, and Gibeon), arguing the conquest was not instantaneous but followed God’s “little by little” plan from Deuteronomy to prevent ecological and social consequences and to spread fear among city-states. They outline key context: Canaan consisted of multiple ethnic groups ruled by city-state kings; the land’s five geographic zones in the southern region, from the Rift Valley to the coastal plain; the wider Bronze Age collapse and resulting migrations; and the importance of God’s name, Yahweh, amid competing named deities. Focusing on Jericho, they note it was named for the moon god (Yerach) and frame the conflict as Yahweh versus Yerach, highlighting God’s patience and offer of peace, Rahab’s confession of Yahweh’s power, and updated archaeology explaining Jericho’s “walls” collapse consistent with Joshua 6.00:00 Podcast Introduction00:31 Beyond Sunday School Joshua03:21 Little by Little Conquest06:10 Joshua Battles Overview07:31 Four Key Context Points09:07 Geography of the Land13:39 Bronze Age Collapse16:52 Yahweh Name and Rival Gods21:53 Cultural Worship and Assimilation23:39 Crossing Jordan to Jericho24:57 Jericho Moon God Showdown26:36 Marching and Rahab Mercy30:20 Archaeology of Jericho Walls34:17 Lessons and Next Episode

E11: Joshua and the Conquest (Part 1)

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Dr. Tom Zelt, with Phil and Kara, continue a list of must-add Israel itinerary sites (6–10) to maximize biblical connections. They recommend Nabi Samwel/Mitzpah near Jerusalem, a mosque/synagogue commemorating Samuel, whose rooftop views enable map-based study of Saul’s selection as king and many Old and New Testament routes. Next is Gan HaShlosha (Sakneh) in the Harod/Beit Shean Valley, a major spring-fed park illustrating Deuteronomy’s description of Israel’s spring-watered land and near the Spring of Gideon. The Nazareth Lookout is endorsed not for “throwing Jesus off a cliff,” but for panoramic Bible study over Jezreel Valley sites (Tabor, Gilboa, Jezreel, Megiddo) and Jesus’ ministry fulfillment. They also highlight Avdat Canyon and the Wilderness of Zin near Ben-Gurion’s tomb for understanding Numbers’ wilderness decisions, plus nearby Nabataean/Byzantine Avdat. Finally, Be’er Sheva is presented as key for Abraham’s covenant well, patriarchal narratives, Samuel’s sons at the gates, Jesus’ flight route to Egypt, and a “third-day resurrection” motif tied to Abraham and Isaac. SHOW NOTESIn this episode of Connecting the Dots, Dr. Tom Zelt, Phil, and Kara continue their itinerary recommendations (sites 6–10) for maximizing biblical connections in Israel. They highlight Nabi Samuel/Mitzpah near Jerusalem as a rarely visited overlook where many events can be mapped, including Saul’s selection as king and later routes tied to Jesus (Emmaus and John 4). They recommend Gan HaShlosha (Sakneh) in the Harod/Beit Shean Valley for experiencing Israel’s spring-fed watering system noted in Deuteronomy and for proximity to the Spring of Gideon. The Nazareth Lookout is praised for panoramic study of Jezreel Valley stories (Deborah, Gideon, Saul, Ahab, Megiddo) and prophetic fulfillment themes. Avdat Canyon and the Wilderness of Zin connect to Numbers and wilderness decision-making, with nearby Nabataean Avdat. Be’er Sheva in the biblical Negev anchors Abraham narratives, including the introduction of the “third-day” resurrection motif throughout the Scripture, Samuel’s sons corruptly judging at the gates, and links to Jesus’ flight to Egypt and a “third day” motif from Abraham’s journey to Moriah.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:46 Site Six Mitzpah Views05:03 Maps And Tribal Borders06:14 Site Seven Spring Swim in Gan Hasheloshah09:28 Springs and Deuteronomy10:52 Gideon Spring Nearby11:54 Site Eight Lookout from Nazareth13:03 Jezreel Valley Panorama15:16 The view that leads to Jesus as the Prince Peace16:40 Tour Friendly Study Spot18:50 Site Nine Tzin Wilderness22:48 Canyon Hike Logistics25:17 Avdat Spice Route26:12 Site Ten Beersheba30:02 Abraham to Jesus Links32:58 Third Day Resurrection Motif34:19 Wrap Up Itinerary Tips35:28 Final Thanks And Outro

E10: Places to Go in Israel (Part 2)

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Dr. Tom Zelt hosts Phil and Cara on Impact Biblical Resources’ “Connecting the Dots” to highlight five Israel locations often skipped on tours but valuable for understanding biblical context. They emphasize the Shephelah as a full-day, church-free region of valleys and tells that illuminate stories from Joshua, Samson, David and Goliath, and Hezekiah, with stops including the Aijalon Valley overlook, Tel Gezer and Solomon’s gates, Beth Shemesh in the Sorek Valley, Azekah over the Elah Valley, and Lachish’s Assyrian-era tensions. They then recommend Mount Arbel for views over the “Evangelical Triangle” of Jesus’ Galilee ministry and its zealot caves; Jerusalem’s Wohl Museum for visualizing Peter’s denial in a first-century mansion; Qatzrin in the Golan for reconstructed village life that clarifies Jesus’ teachings; and the first-century Sanhedria Park tombs to understand burial practices and connect to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. They point listeners to impactbiblicalresources.org for guides and itineraries and preview the next five sites. 00:00 Podcast Intro01:18 Why The Shephelah03:54 Aijalon Valley Overlook05:18 Tel Gezer And Solomon08:43 Sorek Valley And Samson10:49 Elah Valley David And Goliath16:05 Lachish And Hezekiah18:15 Shephelah Tour Tips20:10 Mount Arbel Views22:52 Arbel Caves And Zealots25:34 Wohl Museum Jerusalem29:30 Qatzrin Village Life34:53 Sanhedria Tombs Park40:56 Wrap Up And Next Five

E09: Places to Go in Israel, Part 1

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Dr. Tom Zelt hosts Phil and Cara on Impact Biblical Resources’ “Connecting the Dots” to discuss “places not to go” on an Israel study tour, emphasizing that limited time should be used for accurate, biblically meaningful locations rather than emotionally driven or myth-based stops that can undermine Christian witness. Phil and Kara describe how study tours make biblical settings concrete, shaping how they read Scripture. Zelt notes that inaccurate sites imply truth is unimportant and reinforce perceptions that the Christian faith is a matter of feeling than fact. He lists 10 places to avoid: Jerusalem’s Garden Tomb; the Via Dolorosa sites; most Nazareth stops (including Nazareth Village, recommending Katzrin’s Talmudic Village and the Nazareth Overlook instead); Mount Tabor; Shepherd’s Field in Bethlehem; the Cenacle “Upper Room” in Jerusalem; Ein Karem; Dormition Abbey; Yad Vashem (for time stewardship); and tourist Cana near Nazareth. He points listeners to impactbiblicalresources.org itineraries and a future episode on better alternatives.00:00 Welcome and Purpose00:47 Why Study Tours Matter02:33 Tour Stories and Impact04:47 Truth Over Myth06:38 Avoid the Garden Tomb13:14 Via Dolorosa Problems19:45 Skip Most of Nazareth21:39 Better Alternative to Nazareth Village is Qatzrin25:41 the value of the Nazareth Overlook27:21 Mount Tabor is not the Transfiguration31:45 Shepherds Field32:56 Upper Room Not Original35:49 Ein Karem Legends37:59 Dormition Abbey Myths38:52 Yad Vashem Time Tradeoff40:28 Cana Near Nazareth41:43 Wrap Up and Next Episode

E08: Places Not to Go on an Israel Study Tour

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Dr. Tom Zelt and friends Phil and Cara discuss why God chose to reveal himself through historical events and human agency, making the Bible both awe-inspiring and difficult due to its long time span, many authors, languages, and foreign cultures. They link this approach to Genesis 3, where God promises to defeat the “serpent” through the offspring of a woman, which then requires the events God would do to human activity. That also means that God’s revelation will take place through events in real places, eras, and people across various culture and empires. They argue Christianity is distinct in God reaching down, revealing his love through serving and risking human rejection. To interpret Scripture faithfully, they emphasize three levels: understanding events in original context (using archaeology, documents, geography), grasping the concepts God reveals, and then applying them personally, illustrated with examples like Abraham and Isaac, Sabbath, David and Goliath, and diverse Jewish groups in Jesus’ day. 00:00 Why So Many Stories00:52 Bible Is Hard02:49 Genesis 3 Promise04:46 Why God Chose History06:32 Distance Creates Problems10:27 Three Levels Reading17:28 Psalms And Application19:21 Digging Into Context25:23 Jesus Day Diversity31:10 Certainty And Challenge32:08 Closing And Resources

E07: The Challenge of God's Method of Revelation

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Dr. Tom Zelt, Phil and Cara, discusses how archaeological discoveries can deepen teaching and understanding of Scripture by reconnecting readers to the biblical world. They outline archaeology as a cross-disciplinary field and trace shifts from Bible-driven exploration to critical approaches and a recent swing back toward valuing the Bible’s historical information, cautioning against overinterpreting single finds. Zelt explains four contexts for biblical interpretation, emphasizing archaeology’s role in illuminating the original events, and offers three key uses: site/event-specific insights (e.g., Beersheba, Dan, Magdala, Jerusalem, Masada, Gath and the Elah Valley), conceptual understanding (e.g., idols, gate practices, mikva’ot, child sacrifice and Topheth jars), and broader contextual reconstruction (illustrated through discoveries of Hezekiah’s seal and Isaiah’s warning, Philistine culture via archaeobotany, Dead Sea Scrolls, exorcism bowls, and Megiddo/Armageddon imagery and pig-related Roman funerary rites linked to Mark 5).00:00 Podcast kickoff00:56 Why archaeology matters02:38 How archaeology evolved04:14 Critics and misreads05:58 Using finds wisely07:13 Four biblical contexts08:43 Discovery and faith09:46 Three archaeology uses10:56 Sites bring stories alive17:55 Masada and David20:46 Concepts across cultures23:30 Purity and sacrifice context24:37 Human Sacrifice Context25:48 Worldwide Child Sacrifice26:58 Archaeology Meets Scripture27:36 Hezekiah and Egypt29:20 Philistine Culture Clues31:52 David and Philistines36:16 Dead Sea Scrolls Insights38:42 Mikvah and Purification43:41 Armageddon and Megiddo46:35 Pigs Rituals and Mark 549:52 Archaeology Deepens Faith50:41 Final Wrap and Resources

E06: The Role of Archeology

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Dr. Tom Zelt with colleagues Phil and Cara on the Impact Biblical Resources podcast “Connecting the Dots” to continue a two-part discussion on why it is rational to believe in the resurrection of Jesus, focusing on reasons four through seven. Reason four examines the Church of the Holy Sepulcher as a historically credible resurrection site, explaining its complex structure and layered history: an 8th-century BC quarry later used for first-century tombs, inclusion inside Jerusalem’s walls under Agrippa I, Hadrian’s temple platform built to suppress Christian gathering, Helena’s excavation and Constantine-era church dedication in 335 AD, and later damage and rebuilding through conquests, earthquakes, and fires. They cite archaeological indicators such as visible quarry lines, first-century tomb features (bench and ossuary niche) seen in the Syrian Chapel, early Latin graffiti (“Domine, ivimus”) on Hadrian’s wall in the Chapel of Saint Vartan, the 2016 National Geographic documentation revealing a crude limestone burial bench beneath later marble slabs in the Edicule, and a 2022 excavation beneath the floor reporting ~2000-year-old organic evidence of olive trees and grapevines consistent with a garden setting. Reason five is the early shift of worship from Jewish Shabbat (Sabbath) to Sunday, including the widespread naming of Sunday as “the Day of the Lord” in many languages, presented as requiring a major early event such as the resurrection. Reason six highlights the earliest Christian creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3–5, emphasizing that Paul “received” and “delivered” a fixed tradition that likely formed within a few years of the crucifixion, challenging claims that resurrection belief evolved over decades or centuries; they note wording that is atypical for Paul (e.g., “died for our sins,” “in accordance with the Scriptures,” “on the third day,” calling Peter “Cephas,” and referring to “the twelve”). Reason seven argues that the New Testament resurrection narratives convey historical accuracy through consistent details of people, geography, institutions, and practices, referencing items such as the known locations of Bethany and the Mount of Olives, first-century elite homes in Jerusalem excavated after 1967, extra-biblical corroboration of figures like Pontius Pilate and high priestly arrangements from Josephus, evidence for crucifixion with nails, the Caiaphas ossuary, and burial customs including rolling-stone tombs and textile/aromatic burial details consistent with John. The episode concludes that the cumulative evidence makes belief in the resurrection reasonable, and uses a domino analogy: if the resurrection is true, it leads to implications about why Jesus died, who he is, and the reliability of his promises. The hosts close by inviting listeners to explore additional resources at ImpactBiblicalResources.org. 00:00 Welcome + Why the Resurrection Matters (Recap &amp; Setup)01:03 Reason #4: Church of the Holy Sepulcher—Why This Site Matters02:29 What It’s Like Inside: Opulence, Crowds, and Mixed Emotions04:53 Archaeology 101: Quarry Turned Tombs (Why the Location Fits)08:27 Hadrian’s Pagan Temple &amp; Helena’s Excavation: How the Site Was Marked11:39 Hidden Evidence Inside the Complex: Syrian Chapel, St. Vartan &amp; Early Pilgrims15:22 Modern Confirmations: National Geographic, Floor Excavations &amp; “Garden” Findings19:54 Reason #5: The Shocking Shift from Sabbath to Sunday Worship24:11 Reason #6 Begins: The Earliest Christian Creed (1 Corinthians 15)25:14 Did the Jesus Story Evolve? Why the Timeline Doesn’t Work26:59 1 Corinthians 15: The Earliest Christian Creed (Read &amp; Explained)27:32 “Received and Delivered”: Why Creeds Stay in Fixed Form30:25 How Early Was the Creed? Paul’s Conversion and the 5–8 Year Window31:39 Clues It’s Pre-Pauline: Unusual Vocabulary, “Cephas,” and “the Twelve”34:19 Reason #7: The Details Ring True—Geography, Names, and Cultural Fit38:53 Archaeology &amp; History Checks Out: Pilate, High Priests, Nails, and Ossuaries42:32 Burial Details &amp; the Rolling Stone: Why the Story Reads Like History45:33 Wrapping Up the Seven Reasons + The Domino Effect of the R

E05: The Linchpin (Part 2)

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Dr. Tom Zelt hosts colleagues Phil and Cara on the Connecting the Dots podcast from Impact Biblical Resources to discuss the resurrection of Jesus as the linchpin of the Christian faith, citing 1 Corinthians 15 and introducing Zelt’s book, The Linchpin: Seven Reasons It’s Logical To Believe in the Resurrection. He explains the book’s purpose is to argue for the resurrection’s rationality from a secular perspective for those who do not assume the Bible’s authority, noting early Christians believed through eyewitness testimony before the New Testament existed and that the resurrection created the New Testament. The episode covers the first three of seven reasons. (1) Movements have causes: Christianity began in first-century Judea/Jerusalem and spread rapidly across the Roman Empire; Zelt cites non-Christian sources including Tacitus (Nero’s persecution, Christus executed under Tiberius by Pontius Pilate) and Suetonius (disturbances in Rome at the instigation of “Chrestus,” leading to Claudius expelling Jews), plus archaeological mention of a Pilate inscription, to show an early, significant movement tied to Jesus’ execution and claims of resurrection. (2) Liars who know they’re lying don’t become martyrs: Zelt argues the disciples and other early believers (including Stephen and James, Jesus’ half-brother) suffered and died rather than deny eyewitness claims, with John exiled to Patmos; he distinguishes martyrdom for ideology from martyrdom based on claimed eyewitness experience, and notes James’ shift from disbelief (John 7) to leadership (Acts), with Josephus reporting James’ death by stoning. (3) Jewish writings support key elements: Zelt describes first-century Jewish diversity and later rabbinic writings (Mishnah/Talmud), quoting a Talmud passage about “Yeshu” being executed around Passover for sorcery and leading Israel astray, interpreting it as hostile acknowledgment of Jesus’ miraculous works and execution. He then discusses the Jewish explanation for the empty tomb—disciples stealing the body—referenced in Matthew 28, Justin Martyr’s claim that Jewish leaders spread this account, and a later fourth-century text, Toledot Yeshu, which includes a story involving Queen Helena and a gardener; Zelt notes historical issues with Helena’s timeline but argues the narrative still concedes the tomb was empty and shows efforts to counter resurrection belief. 00:00 Welcome + Why the Resurrection Is the ‘Linchpin’ of Christian Faith02:01 A Case Beyond the Bible: Making the Resurrection Rational for Skeptics04:25 Reason #1 — Every Movement Has a Catalyst (Why Christianity Started)06:48 Roman Historians Weigh In: Tacitus, Pilate, and the Spread to Rome12:37 Reason #2 — Liars Don’t Become Martyrs: Eyewitnesses Who Wouldn’t Recant16:23 James’ Dramatic Turnaround: From Skeptic Brother to Martyred Leader22:53 Reason #3 — Jewish Writings &amp; the Talmud: Hostile Sources Admit Key Facts31:19 The “Stolen Body” Counter-Story: Empty Tomb Explanations in Jewish Tradition36:51 Wrap-Up: The First Three Reasons + What’s Coming Next

E04: The Linchpin (Part 1)

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Dr. Tom Zelt, Cara, and Phil continue their discussion of rising tension in the Gospel of John by examining the “arrest warrant” implied in John 11:57 and a related passage in the Babylonian Talmud (Tractate Sanhedrin within the Nezikin division). They explain what the Talmud is—oral law and later discussion (Mishnah and Gemara), compiled after the Babylonian captivity and especially after Jerusalem’s destruction in AD 70—and how Jewish courts were to handle capital cases, including the role of a herald and the four types of capital punishment (stoning, burning, hanging as postmortem display, and slaying by the sword). They quote and analyze a Talmudic comment stating that “on Sabbath Eve, the eve of Passover, Jesus the Nazarene was hanged,” and that for 40 days a herald announced he would be stoned for “sorcery” and for “instigating and seducing Israel to idolatry,” inviting defense testimony. They discuss rabbinic commentary (including Abaye and Rabbi Ula) on why Jesus’ case differed from expected legal procedure, including the claim that as a “mesit” (one who leads others to idolatry) he deserved no compassion, and a note that he was “close to the government,” connected to Pilate’s behavior in the gospel accounts. The hosts connect these accusations to New Testament statements that opponents attributed Jesus’ works to demonic power while the populace acknowledged his miracles, and they argue the Talmud passage functions as a “positive witness from a hostile source” confirming Jesus’ miraculous activity and historicity. They also explore why a Jewish stoning did not occur—Roman control of executions and concern over Jesus’ popularity—leading to Roman crucifixion and “hanging” language linked to Deuteronomy. They address dating language (“Sabbath Eve, eve of Passover”) with Jewish sundown-to-sundown reckoning and Passover-week context, and suggest the warrant would have circulated at least 40 days before Passover, aligning with John’s narrative arc from attempted arrest (John 7), attempted stoning (John 8), escape (John 10), Lazarus (John 11), and the leaders’ decision to arrest and kill Jesus (including Caiaphas’ statement in John 11:49–53). The episode concludes that the Talmudic material corroborates key New Testament themes: escalating conflict, Jewish leadership in initiating Jesus’ death, irregular and rushed proceedings, the shift from Jewish to Roman execution methods, and the Passover timing. 00:00 Welcome + Why the Arrest Warrant Matters (John’s Rising Tension)01:51 What Is the Talmud? Oral Law, Mishnah &amp; Gemara Explained03:34 Inside the Sanhedrin Tractate: How Capital Cases Were Supposed to Work04:50 The Herald Rule &amp; Four Execution Methods (Stoning, Burning, Hanging, Sword)08:50 When the Talmud Names Jesus: The 40-Day Heralding &amp; Charges10:34 Rabbi Ula’s Defense: ‘No Compassion’ + ‘Close to the Government’12:57 Are These Rules Ancient? Dead Sea Scrolls, Inspiration, and Oral Tradition15:15 Breaking Down the Charges: Sorcery, Idolatry, and a ‘Negative Source’ Witness19:53 Why ‘Stoning’ Didn’t Happen: Roman Authority Over Executions21:23 Why the Jewish leaders needed Rome: legality, popularity, and avoiding a riot23:09 From stoning to “hanging”: Deuteronomy 21 and the cross as public curse-display24:10 “Hanged on Sabbath eve, the eve of Passover”: reconciling the dating with John24:48 Ula the calendar expert: lunar timing, Jerusalem signals, and when festivals begin26:52 Two ways to read the date: sundown-to-sundown days and the solar-calendar Essenes29:47 Back to the warrant: why Jesus was treated as an exception + Pilate and blame31:40 Caiaphas’ prophecy (John 11): ‘better one man die’ and truth from a hostile source34:46 When the warrant went out: 40 days before, Lazarus, and Jesus’ ‘here I am’ entry36:02 How close is Ula to the events? Rabbinic transmission and the Lincoln analogy38:51 What we learn: miracles affirmed, rushed trial admitted, and NT story corroborated41:01 Wrap-up and where to find more resources

Dr. Tom Zelt, with colleagues Cara and Phil continues a discussion of rising tension in John’s Gospel by examining the “arrest warrant” implied in John 11:57 and a related passage in the Babylonian Talmud that cites he arrest warrant in a discussion about implementing capital punishment.

E03: The Jewish Arrest Warrant

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Dr. Tom Zelt hosts the first full “Connecting the Dots” podcast episode with colleagues Phil and Kara introducing “In Your Face Holy Week,” focused on how Jesus intentionally intensifies conflict with Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem. Using the Gospel of John (which provides extensive Jerusalem context compared to the Synoptics), they discuss John’s familiarity with the city’s topography and leadership. The episode explains first-century Jerusalem’s small size, festival crowds, water scarcity, purification needs, extensive cisterns, and aqueducts, then describes the Temple Mount’s massive Herodian expansion, key structures (Royal Colonnade, the Temple, and Fortress Antonia), the marketplace-like atmosphere, and the “barricade of hostility” separating Gentiles from holy areas. They trace escalating confrontations in John: Jesus cleansing the temple, healing on the Sabbath near Bethesda, provoking authorities during the Feast of Tabernacles with the “living water” proclamation, near-stoning in John 8, healing the man born blind in John 9, and attempted arrest at Hanukkah. Jesus withdraws across the Jordan to Perea/Betabara, then returns to Bethany to raise Lazarus, prompting an official order to report Jesus’ whereabouts so he can be arrested. Despite the danger, Jesus returns for Passover, stays in Bethany, orchestrates the triumphal entry, and repeatedly teaches and confronts leaders in the temple, including strong denunciations and parables. They note leaders avoided arresting him during the feast due to his popularity until Judas enables a secret arrest, and they conclude Jesus’ actions force a decision about his messianic identity and present a personal, non-ritual-based relationship with God, connecting his rejection and crucifixion to bearing humanity’s rejection. 00:00 Welcome to Connecting the Dots + What “In Your Face Holy Week” Means01:42 Why John? The Gospel That Maps Jerusalem’s Conflict03:24 Jerusalem 101: A Tiny Walled City Flooded by Festival Crowds05:04 Water, Cisterns, and Aqueducts: How the City Survived08:53 Temple Mount Topography + Herod’s Massive Expansion12:04 Marketplace vs Holy Space: The “Barricade of Hostility”13:10 First Shots Fired: Jesus Cleanses the Temple (John 2)15:48 Sabbath Showdown: Healing at Bethesda (John 5)18:16 Tabernacles Tension: Arrest Attempts + “Living Water” Claim (John 7)21:48 Escalation in John 8: “Not Children of Abraham”22:02 Healing on the Sabbath &amp; the Bold Testimony of the Man Born Blind23:26 Hanukkah Showdown: “I Told You” and Another Arrest Attempt24:08 Jesus Escapes to Perea: Crossing the Jordan &amp; Why They Don’t Chase Him28:19 Bethany on the Edge: Lazarus Dies, Jesus Returns, and the Arrest Warrant31:27 “Game On”: Triumphal Entry, Passover Crowds, and Scouting the Temple

E02: In Your Face Holy Week

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Dr. Tom Zelt, along with Phil and Cara, introduces “Connecting the Dots,” a new podcast from Impact Biblical Resources aimed at connecting the biblical world’s setting—geography, archaeology, history, and ancient documents—with what God has done so Scripture comes to life. They explain that Impact’s free website resources (videos, pictures, Bible studies, and more) are complemented by the podcast’s longer conversations and presentations. The episode discusses why the show is called “Connecting the Dots,” emphasizing how biblical events interact across books and centuries and how context clarifies familiar stories. Tom gives examples including Samson in Judges within Bronze Age collapse and Philistine settlement, linked with archaeology, Egyptian sources, geography, and the Ark narrative in Samuel. Other examples are Deuteronomy’s peace framework and the battle over Jericho; the reforming kings (including Josiah) and how Josiah’s death relates to Daniel and the Babylonian captivity; Jewish writings in the Talmud referencing an arrest warrant for Jesus mentioned in John; the use of land imagery in Scripture (Hosea and the Valley of Jezreel, Isaiah 9’s battle imagery tied to Jesus’ ministry area); and an upcoming discussion on the Dead Sea Scrolls. They also describe planned content about Israel study tours, including “top 10 places not to go” and “top 10 places to go” that are overlooked. The first podcast release is announced as “In Your Face Holy Week,” focusing on the growing tension in Jerusalem in the Gospel of John with insights from archaeology, geography, and Jewish writings, followed by episodes on the arrest warrant tradition and two episodes on evidence supporting the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. 00:00 Welcome to ‘Connecting the Dots’ (Meet the Hosts)00:32 What Impact Biblical Resources Does + Why This Podcast Exists01:16 Why It’s Called ‘Connecting the Dots’ (Bible, Land, and Insight)03:19 Example Deep Dive: Samson, Philistines, and the Bronze Age Collapse05:25 Seeing the Bible as One Interconnected Story (More Dot-Connecting Examples)07:54 What Future Episodes Will Cover: Imagery, Dead Sea Scrolls, Special Guests09:34 Israel Study Tours: Top 10 Places NOT to Go (and Hidden Gems to Visit)11:10 What’s Up First: Holy Week Tension, Arrest Warrant, and the Resurrection

E01: Introducing Connecting the Dots Podcast

A podcast from Impact Biblical Resources

*Connecting the Dots* brings the world of the Bible back into view – its geography, archaeology, ancient documents, political tensions, and cultural realities – so Scripture can be understood the way its first hearers would have experienced it.

Hosted by Dr. Tom Zelt with colleagues Phil and Cara, this podcast explores how biblical events, places, and themes intersect across centuries. Rather than treating stories as isolated episodes, we trace the connections: how the Bronze Age collapse informs Judges, how the Assyrian battle imagery shapes Isaiah, how Temple geography intensifies Holy Week, how Jewish legal traditions illuminate John’s Gospel, and how archaeology and ancient sources speak into questions surrounding Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Each episode engages Scripture seriously while interacting with historical sources such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Talmud, inscriptions, and material remains from the land of Israel. We also explore overlooked biblical locations, practical insights for Israel study tours, and how understanding the setting transforms familiar passages into vivid, coherent narratives.

If you want to see how the Bible’s history, land, language, and literature connect, this podcast is for you. Because when you understand the setting, you see the story more clearly. When you see the story clearly, you see God’s work more fully.