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A 5-Day Live Course<\/p>\n
An On-Demand Video Course<\/p>\n
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They’re the most famous laws in the Bible. They’re also not as old as we’ve assumed, don’t mean what we think they mean, and underwent a seismic transformation two millennia ago.<\/p>\n
April 19\u201323, 2026<\/span>Watch Anytime<\/span> <\/span> 4:00\u20136:00 PM ET Daily<\/span>Self-Paced Learning<\/span> <\/span> Live & Interactive<\/span>Lifetime Access<\/span> <\/span> <\/p>\n About the Course<\/p>\n For Christians, for nearly two thousand years, these have been the only Old Testament laws still considered binding.<\/p>\n They are the pinnacle of biblical law and divine revelation. And\u2026what if they weren’t?<\/p>\n This course will explore their history: where and when they came from, what they probably meant when first created (which is different from what most people think!), and how they became so central to our culture today. We’ll closely examine the text, explore the historical context, and trace how interpretation has changed over time. For anyone who takes this course, the Ten Commandments will never look the same.<\/p>\n Dead Sea Scrolls<\/p>\n Code of Hammurabi<\/p>\n Mount Sinai, Egypt<\/p>\n Rembrandt \u2014 Moses with the Ten Commandments<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your Instructor<\/p>\n Professor of Hebrew Bible, Yale Divinity School<\/p>\n Joel Baden is a leading scholar of the Hebrew Bible and the Pentateuch. His research focuses on the composition of the Torah, the history of biblical interpretation, and the intersection of the Bible and modern culture.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What You’ll Explore<\/p>\n From the original context of biblical law to the legacy that shaped Western civilization<\/p>\n Compare the two versions in Exodus and Deuteronomy, discover why they differ, and uncover the narrative role they play in the story of the golden calf.<\/p>\n Examine what each commandment originally meant \u2014 from “taking the Lord’s name in vain” to the surprising reality behind “thou shalt not kill” and “thou shalt not steal.”<\/p>\n Trace how an important early Jewish text became the cornerstone of Christian ethics \u2014 and how that transformation changed their meaning for two millennia.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prepare to Rethink<\/p>\n Common Assumption<\/p>\n The Ten Commandments aren’t as old as we’ve always assumed. Their origins and dating reveal a far more complex \u2014 and more interesting \u2014 story than most people realize.<\/p>\n Common Assumption<\/p>\n “Thou shalt not kill,” “taking God’s name in vain,” even “honor your father and mother” \u2014 none of these meant what we take them to mean today.<\/p>\n Common Assumption<\/p>\n The evidence suggests the Ten Commandments weren’t well known outside the stories in which they appear. Their elevation to supreme status happened much later than most people think.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What Students Say About Dr. Baden<\/p>\n Dr. Baden is an exceptional lecturer. The course provides an outstanding and readily understandable overview of ancient Israelite literature in its historical and cultural context. Dr. Baden is one of those rare scholars able to make difficult material accessible to non-scholars.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u2014 MJ Mills <\/p>\n Joel’s insight into the Hebrew text was mind-blowing \u2014 he approached it not as a rigid system of belief, but as stories told around a campfire. That perspective made the material come alive.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u2014 Alban Vesprey <\/p>\n I loved the course. Dr. Baden was both very informative and very entertaining. The man has a great sense of humor. He gave me insights into the Hebrew Bible that I had completely missed despite having read it numerous times.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u2014 Hebrew Bible student <\/p>\n Dr. Baden makes even the most banal books of the Bible come alive. Rather than a pedantic approach, he provides nuanced insights that make his lectures entertaining and informative.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u2014 Keith <\/p>\n I never thought Leviticus and Deuteronomy could really be that interesting. Dr. Baden is a very compelling presenter. My only disappointment is that this was only a semester course!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u2014 Tony <\/p>\n It is a real joy to listen to his easygoing but insightful lectures!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u2014 Anders Willart, Sweden <\/p>\n If you’ve never studied the Bible from outside a faith setting, you are in for a mind-opening experience. If you’ve already read books on the Hebrew Bible, this course is still fresh, vibrant, and fascinating. Superb!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u2014 Hebrew Bible student <\/p>\n Testimonials from Dr. Baden’s course on The Hebrew Bible, offered through the Paths in Biblical Studies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dates<\/p>\n April 19\u201323, 2026<\/p>\n Lifetime Access<\/p>\n Time<\/p>\n 4:00\u20136:00 PM ET<\/p>\n Watch on Your Schedule<\/p>\n Format<\/p>\n Live via Zoom<\/p>\n On-Demand Video<\/p>\n Sessions<\/p>\n 10 Lectures + Daily Q&A<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Full Schedule<\/p>\n Each day includes two 50-minute lectures, a short break, and a 15-minute Q&A<\/p>\n 1<\/span> Day<\/span> Apr 19<\/span> What Are the Ten Commandments & The Twenty Commandments<\/span> <\/p>\n 4:00 \u2013 4:50 PM<\/p>\n What Are the Ten Commandments<\/p>\n Setting the stage: the basic assumptions most people bring to the Ten Commandments, and the kinds of questions that lead to a radically different picture.<\/p>\n 5-minute break<\/p>\n 4:55 \u2013 5:45 PM<\/p>\n The Twenty Commandments<\/p>\n The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Pentateuch \u2014 once in Exodus, once in Deuteronomy \u2014 and they aren’t identical. Comparing the two versions is fundamental to understanding their origins.<\/p>\n Q&A \u00b7 5:45 \u2013 6:00 PM<\/p>\n Q&A Replay Included<\/p>\n 2<\/span> Day<\/span> Apr 20<\/span> The Story & Status of the Ten Commandments<\/span> <\/p>\n 4:00 \u2013 4:50 PM<\/p>\n What the Ten Commandments Do in the Story<\/p>\n Usually isolated from their narrative context, the commandments actually play a specific role in the story \u2014 including their surprising connection to the golden calf.<\/p>\n 5-minute break<\/p>\n 4:55 \u2013 5:45 PM<\/p>\n The Status of the Ten Commandments<\/p>\n Were they really the famous, central set of laws everyone assumes? We’ll examine the evidence \u2014 and discover they don’t seem to have been well known outside the stories in which they appear.<\/p>\n Q&A \u00b7 5:45 \u2013 6:00 PM<\/p>\n Q&A Replay Included<\/p>\n 3<\/span> Day<\/span> Apr 21<\/span> The First Commandment(s), the Divine Name & the Sabbath<\/span> <\/p>\n 4:00 \u2013 4:50 PM<\/p>\n The First Commandment(s)<\/p>\n Often read as a great monotheistic statement, the opening commandments are nothing of the sort. We’ll explore what these verses are really about and how they set the tone for everything that follows.<\/p>\n 5-minute break<\/p>\n 4:55 \u2013 5:45 PM<\/p>\n The Divine Name and the Sabbath<\/p>\n Two classics that didn’t mean back then what we think they mean now. What did it really mean to “take God’s name in vain”? And what was the Sabbath originally imagined to be?<\/p>\n Q&A \u00b7 5:45 \u2013 6:00 PM<\/p>\n Q&A Replay Included<\/p>\n 4<\/span> Day<\/span> Apr 22<\/span> Honoring Parents, Killing & the Rest of the Commandments<\/span> <\/p>\n 4:00 \u2013 4:50 PM<\/p>\n Honoring Parents and\u2026Killing<\/p>\n Two commandments that seem simple \u2014 but few things are as simple as they look. What did “honor your father and mother” mean in ancient Israel? Is the prohibition really on all killing?<\/p>\n 5-minute break<\/p>\n 4:55 \u2013 5:45 PM<\/p>\n The Rest of the Commandments<\/p>\n Adultery, theft, false witness, and coveting. Why did some interpreters insist “theft” meant “kidnapping”? And how can you make it a crime to covet something?<\/p>\n Q&A \u00b7 5:45 \u2013 6:00 PM<\/p>\n Q&A Replay Included<\/p>\n 5<\/span> Day<\/span> Apr 23<\/span> Early Judaism, Christianity & Conclusion<\/span> <\/p>\n 4:00 \u2013 4:50 PM<\/p>\n The Ten Commandments in Early Judaism and Christianity<\/p>\n How the commandments went from an important Jewish text to the cornerstone of Christian ethics \u2014 and how that two-thousand-year-old shift reshaped their meaning for everything that followed.<\/p>\n 5-minute break<\/p>\n 4:55 \u2013 5:45 PM<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/p>\n Stepping back to retell the story of the Ten Commandments with all the insights gained over the course \u2014 and thinking about how we might understand them differently now.<\/p>\n Q&A \u00b7 5:45 \u2013 6:00 PM<\/p>\n Q&A Replay Included<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Course Curriculum<\/p>\n Each module includes two 50-minute lectures and a recorded Q&A session.<\/p>\n 1<\/span> Part<\/span> What Are the Ten Commandments & The Twenty Commandments<\/span> <\/p>\n What Are the Ten Commandments<\/p>\n Setting the stage: the basic assumptions most people bring to the Ten Commandments, and the kinds of questions that lead to a radically different picture.<\/p>\n The Twenty Commandments<\/p>\n The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Pentateuch \u2014 once in Exodus, once in Deuteronomy \u2014 and they aren’t identical. Comparing the two versions is fundamental to understanding their origins.<\/p>\n Q&A Replay Included<\/p>\n 2<\/span> Part<\/span> The Story & Status of the Ten Commandments<\/span> <\/p>\n What the Ten Commandments Do in the Story<\/p>\n Usually isolated from their narrative context, the commandments actually play a specific role in the story \u2014 including their surprising connection to the golden calf.<\/p>\n The Status of the Ten Commandments<\/p>\n Were they really the famous, central set of laws everyone assumes? We’ll examine the evidence \u2014 and discover they don’t seem to have been well known outside the stories in which they appear.<\/p>\n Q&A Replay Included<\/p>\n 3<\/span> Part<\/span> The First Commandment(s), the Divine Name & the Sabbath<\/span> <\/p>\n The First Commandment(s)<\/p>\n Often read as a great monotheistic statement, the opening commandments are nothing of the sort. We’ll explore what these verses are really about and how they set the tone for everything that follows.<\/p>\n The Divine Name and the Sabbath<\/p>\n Two classics that didn’t mean back then what we think they mean now. What did it really mean to “take God’s name in vain”? And what was the Sabbath originally imagined to be?<\/p>\n Q&A Replay Included<\/p>\n 4<\/span> Part<\/span> Honoring Parents, Killing & the Rest of the Commandments<\/span> <\/p>\n Honoring Parents and\u2026Killing<\/p>\n Two commandments that seem simple \u2014 but few things are as simple as they look. What did “honor your father and mother” mean in ancient Israel? Is the prohibition really on all killing?<\/p>\n The Rest of the Commandments<\/p>\n Adultery, theft, false witness, and coveting. Why did some interpreters insist “theft” meant “kidnapping”? And how can you make it a crime to covet something?<\/p>\n Q&A Replay Included<\/p>\n 5<\/span> Part<\/span> Early Judaism, Christianity & Conclusion<\/span> <\/p>\n The Ten Commandments in Early Judaism and Christianity<\/p>\n How the commandments went from an important Jewish text to the cornerstone of Christian ethics \u2014 and how that two-thousand-year-old shift reshaped their meaning for everything that followed.<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/p>\n Stepping back to retell the story of the Ten Commandments with all the insights gained over the course \u2014 and thinking about how we might understand them differently now.<\/p>\n Q&A Replay Included<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Exclusive Bonuses<\/p>\n FREE As a special bonus, you’ll receive an exclusive 11×14 fine art print<\/strong> featuring Rembrandt’s Moses with the Ten Commandments<\/em>. Printed on gallery-grade, 220gsm matte paper<\/strong>, this piece is designed to look and feel like something you’d find in a museum shop.<\/p>\n Frame not included. Offer valid in U.S. only.* <\/p>\n Enjoy lively recorded sessions where audience questions spark rich discussion, history, and tradition.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Download professionally designed slides highlighting the main arguments for easy review.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Full searchable transcripts of all lectures and Q&A sessions, ideal for quoting, note-taking, or deeper study.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Listen on the go with downloadable MP3s of every lecture and Q&A, perfect for commutes or study breaks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Enjoy Lesson 1 of “Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel” by Dr. Joel Baden, expanding your understanding of the historical context.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *Purchasers outside the US will get to choose any course in our catalog valued at $24.95 or less in lieu of the print. <\/p>\nBeyond the Stone Tablets<\/h2>\n
Perhaps the Most Famous Verses in the Entire Bible<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nJoel Baden<\/h3>\n
Five Days of Discovery<\/h2>\n
Textual Exploration<\/h4>\n
Historical Context<\/h4>\n
History of Interpretation<\/h4>\n
Common Assumptions This Course Will Challenge<\/h2>\n
\u201cThey’re the oldest laws in the Bible\u201d<\/h4>\n
\u201cThey mean what we think they mean\u201d<\/h4>\n
\u201cThey were always central to the faith\u201d<\/h4>\n
What You’ll Walk Away With<\/h3>\n
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From His Course on the Hebrew Bible<\/h2>\n
Course Details<\/h2>\n
Five Days, Ten Lectures<\/h2>\n
Ten Comprehensive Lectures<\/h2>\n
Included with Your Course Purchase<\/h2>\n
WITH
PURCHASE ![\"Limited](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limited-Edition-10-Commandments-Print.png\")
Limited Edition<\/span> <\/p>\nTen Commandments Print<\/h3>\n
Valid through April 18th.<\/strong><\/p>\nFive 15-Min Q&A<\/h4>\n
Lecture Slides<\/h4>\n
Transcripts<\/h4>\n
Audio Downloads<\/h4>\n
Bonus Lesson<\/h4>\n
2 ways<\/span> to purchase this course<\/h2>\n
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