Data Over Dogma Podcast

Currently Playing: The Bible Law Nobody Obeys (Data Over Dogma Classic)

This episode we wade into one of the ugliest lines in the Covenant Code: Exodus 22:29, which tells the Israelites to hand over their firstborn sons the same way they hand over their oxen and sheep. Dan M walks through why "give" here really does mean sacrifice, how Ezekiel tried to explain it away, and what the burned infant remains at Carthage reveal about Moloch — who may never have been a god at all. It's a grim topic handled carefully, and a useful reminder that everyone, always, has negotiated with the text. (This is a portion of an episode that originally aired on August 28, 2023) _______________________________________________ Get your "Tribe of Dan" merch at our new online store: ⁠https://data-over-dogma-shop.fourthwall.com/ Shop from our classic collection before the old store closes: ⁠https://datadoverdogma.printful.me _______________________________________________ Support Data Over Dogma and get every episode early and ad-free, plus exclusive bonus content — become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma _______________________________________________ Listen to the podcast on every app: https://pod.link/1681418502 _______________________________________________ Follow us: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/dataoverdogmapod TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@data.over.dogma.pod Threads — https://www.threads.com/@dataoverdogmapod X — https://x.com/data_over_dogma Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod _______________________________________________ Get Dan McClellan's New York Times bestselling book, The Bible Says So: https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/bible-says-so-9781250347466/ _______________________________________________ Chapters: 0:00 — Welcome and the Covenant Code 0:33 — How many commandments? 2:27 — Exodus 22:29 4:23 — "Give" or sacrifice? 6:00 — Ezekiel explains it 9:30 — Redeeming the firstborn 11:05 — Baked into the tradition 13:00 — A blanket commandment 14:30 — Evidence from Carthage 17:20 — Moloch: god or offering? 20:14 — Infant mortality and grief 21:36 — When does life begin? 26:37 — Ritual and causal opacity 28:15 — The law nobody keeps _______________________________________________ #DataOverDogma #BibleScholarship #Moloch #Exodus #HebrewBible