Two hundred fifty years ago, American revolutionaries reached for the words of the Hebrew Bible to make their case for independence. The phrase engraved on the Liberty Bell itself, "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof," comes directly from the Book of Leviticus. In this course, we'll trace how biblical texts including Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy shaped the political imagination of the Revolutionary generation, from sermons and pamphlets to the imagery Franklin and Jefferson proposed for the Great Seal of the United States.

We’ll also go back roughly 2,500 years to ask what these passages meant when they were written: who wrote them, why, and what ideas of liberty, covenant, and peoplehood they carried for ancient Israel.

Who this is for:

• Anyone interested in the Hebrew Bible’s place in American history
• Readers curious how ancient texts get reinterpreted across centuries
• No prior Bible study needed

What you'll leave with:

• A close reading of key passages in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy in their ancient context
• An understanding of how Revolutionary-era sermons and pamphlets used those passages, down to the proposals for the Great Seal

Nine Sundays: October 11, 18, 25, November 1, 8, 15, 22, December 6 & 13, 5:15–6:45pm Pacific Time

Questions? Our FAQ covers registration, recordings of missed sessions, refunds, and financial assistance.