→ Watch on YouTube

→ Detailed Show Notes

(00:00) A brief overview of these chapters.
(05:08) Elijah calls down fire from heaven to consume King Ahaziah’s soldiers that were sent to apprehend him.
(12:02) Elisha is wrapped in the mantel of Elijah. Youth that mock Elisha are attacked by bears.
(25:30) Possible reasons for Elijah being taken to heaven and translated.
(26:29) Judah, Israel, and Edom join forces against Moab. They are in desperate need of water as they pass through the Negev desert. Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, directs his partners to the prophet Elisha who can provide the miracle they need.
(30:08) The king of Edom, desperate to escape Judah, Israel, and Edom, sacrifices his own son to his god Chemosh. He is able to escape. This story emphasizes that monolatry existed in the ancient Near East.
(33:27) Elisha multiplies the widow’s oil. If we are willing to give what we have to God, he will give us back so much more.
(38:07) Elisha raises the son of a widow woman from the dead. Prophets are types of Christ.
(40:38) Naaman comes to Elisha to be healed of leprosy, but then second-guesses Elisha’s instructions because they seemed too simple. One dip blessings compared to seven dip blessings. Faithfulness to God’s commandments brings miracles.
(48:12) Elisha refuses to accept a reward from Naaman for being healed. Gehazi secretly obtains the reward and is cursed with leprosy.
(50:33) Naaman desires to take home some dirt from the place of his miraculous healing. Cultural context helps us understand why he would want to do this.
(53:53) The sons of the prophets leave for more space. Elisha causes an ax to float.
(56:44) Syria wages war against Israel in an effort to capture Elisha, their secret weapon. The Syrians are smitten with blindness and are led away in peace.
(1:02:14) A seam in the text can be found in 2 Kings 6. Oral traditions that were written and later stitched together by editors leave evidence of their work. Israel, under siege by their enemy and experiencing a famine, is in need of a miracle. The Syrians leave their spoils behind and Elisha’s promise of plentiful food is fulfilled.
(1:08:40) Jezebel’s death fulfills the earlier prophecy of Elijah. Time vindicates the prophets.

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

→ Enroll in Institute

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

The post Ep 379 | 2 Kings 2-7, Come Follow Me 2026 (July 6-12) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

→ Watch on YouTube

→ Detailed Show Notes

(00:00) An overview of these chapters. The kingdom of Israel divides when Solomon’s son Rehoboam refuses to reduce the burden on the northern tribes.
(06:55) A brief history of the Lost Ten Tribes in the north and Judah in the south.
(10:48) Jeroboam, worried that his people will turn their hearts towards the leaders in the south when they go to the temple in Jerusalem, decides to build rival sanctuaries in Dan and Bethel.
(13:25) Do not take counsel from your fears or be fooled by an imitation.
(19:18) A man of God warns Jeroboam against false worship, prophesying of a future day when Josiah will destroy it.
(22:17) What happened to the Ark of the Covenant? Could Shishak of Egypt have taken this treasure from the Jerusalem temple?
(29:13) Elijah, an embodiment of great power, is a type of many prophets. All prophets are types of Christ.
(31:49) Elijah seals the heavens and is fed by a raven. He goes to Zarephath and asks a widow woman for her barrel flour and jar of oil, promising they will never become empty during the famine.
(40:30) Elijah raises the widow’s son from the dead. Jesus duplicates the miracles of Elijah.
(43:28) Obadiah, part of Ahab’s court, saves 100 prophets from Queen Jezebel and also helps Elijah.
(47:29) Obadiah and Elijah’s “50” can be seen as part of a bigger picture, as members of a choral arrangement that were connected to the temple and the sacred drama in many ancient cultures.
(52:37) Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to call down fire from heaven. They fail.
(57:14) At times the Lord will manifest miracles to show his might and prove that he is God. The Book of Mormon is that proof for us today.
(1:03:40) The famine ends and Queen Jezebel seeks the life of Elijah. In his loneliness, Elijah experiences deep sadness, believing that the prophets are dead. At times, we may feel as Elijah did. Being with the Saints and remembering the truth of the gospel message can bolster our resilience.
(1:11:44) Elijah’s experience with the still small voice of the Lord.
(1:18:17) Ahab, king of Israel, is attacked by the Syrian army. A prophet tells Ahab that Israel will win. Ahab later desires the vineyard of Naboth, who refuses to sell his land. Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, orchestrates a conspiracy to frame Naboth for blasphemy, and Ahab acquires the land through deceit. Elijah comes to inform Ahab that Ahab’s line will cease, that Jezebel will be eaten by dogs, and that Ahab’s blood will be licked up by dogs in the very spot where Naboth was killed. Time vindicates the prophets.

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

→ Enroll in Institute

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

The post Ep 378 | 1 Kings 12-22, Come Follow Me 2026 (June 29-July 5) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

→ Watch on YouTube

→ Detailed Show Notes

(00:00) An overview of these chapters.
(04:11) David stays in Jerusalem instead of going to war with his troops. He lies with Bathsheba and then tries to cover his sin by arranging for the death of her husband, Uriah. Reading this story through the lens of the honor culture in the ancient Near East.
(08:13) David’s fall helps us see the lines of defense we can put in place to prevent us from breaking the law of chastity.
(19:10) Chaos ensues in David’s family because of his example. Nathan pitches a legal case to David where a wealthy man steals a poor man’s little lamb. Nathan says, “Thou art the man!” He prophesies chaos in the House of David as a consequence of his choices.
(20:05) David’s son Amnon takes his sister Tamar by force. Tamar’s other brother Absalom kills Amnon in revenge. Absalom rebels against his father David and declares himself the king. David’s general Joab slays Absalom.
(28:24) In the Book of Mormon, Jacob rebukes those who excuse themselves in committing sins like David and Solomon. Their immoral transgressions broke the hearts of their wives. Their children lost confidence because of their bad examples.
(31:30) The last four chapters of 2 Samuel are an appendix containing diverse materials arranged in a chiastic order.
(35:47) Solomon becomes the king. He asks the Lord for a wise and understanding heart.
(38:42) Two mothers contend over a baby and Solomon determines who the true mother is. His wisdom and understanding exceed that of all men, but then Solomon begins to worships false gods. Our strengths can also be our downfall.
(44:24) The First Israelite Temple is built by Solomon. We can find increased divine assistance when we attend the temple and partner with the Lord.

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

→ Enroll in Institute

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

The post Ep 377 | 2 Samuel 8-24; 1 Kings 1-11, Come Follow Me 2026 (June 22-28) appeared first on Talking Scripture.