Episode Overview

Podcast: New Books Network
Episode: Joshua Berman, "Echoes of Egypt: A Haggada" (Koren, 2026)
Host: Michael Morales
Guest: Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman
Date: March 9, 2026

This episode features an interview with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman about his new book, Echoes of Egypt: A Haggada. The main focus is on how Berman’s Haggada weaves together the liturgical tradition of the Jewish Passover Seder with fresh insights from Egyptology, Near Eastern studies, archaeology, and biblical scholarship. The discussion explores how the Exodus story interacts with ancient Egyptian culture and symbolism, making the narrative come alive for contemporary readers and practitioners.

Main Topics & Key Discussion Points

Joshua Berman’s Journey to Egypt and the Genesis of the Book

[03:04 - 08:34]

• Berman discusses his long-standing fascination with Egypt, not just from cultural touchstones like Indiana Jones but also through his scholarly interests tied to the Hebrew Bible.
• He recounts a pivotal trip to Egypt in January 2021 with prominent Egyptologist James K. Hoffmeier (amidst COVID lockdowns), describing it as “my own personal splitting of the seas.”
  • “I got out, and then… the airport closed again. And so I took that as somewhat of a premonition.” – Joshua Berman [04:25]
• The trip profoundly impacted him: the vividness of Egyptian archaeology contrasted with Israel’s more interpretive sites; seeing Egyptian monuments gave him new insights into Scripture.
  • “When you get a pro who knows what’s going on, wow. Stuff just pops to life, one image after another. And in my case, that meant one passage in Scripture after another… I was just blown away.” [05:50]
• Berman later began leading scholarly tours for Jews to Egypt but, due to conflict and war, pivoted to “bring Egypt to the Jews” via this visual, scholarly Haggada.
  • “If we can't bring Jews to Egypt, then we have to bring Egypt to the Jews.” [07:25]
• The Haggada emphasizes authenticity and relevance: No gratuitous images (for example, no pyramids because the Israelites didn’t build them); every illustration is there to deepen understanding of the biblical story and its Egyptian interactions.
  • “There’s not a single picture of the pyramids in there, because… the Israelites didn’t build the pyramids.” [07:50]
• The broader aim: “The book has something to offer for a broader audience of people who are interested in the Old Testament and how it interacts with other cultures, specifically Egyptian culture.” [08:16]

The Haggada and Its Role in Jewish Tradition

[08:34 - 10:18]

• Berman explains the Passover Haggada’s function: the central liturgical text of the Seder, structuring readings, rituals, and the storytelling of the Exodus.
  • “At the Passover Seder, we have this kind of liturgical booklet that takes us through… readings from Scripture, readings from the rabbis about the experience in Egypt, readings about the 10 plagues…” – Joshua Berman [08:40]
• The Seder is a journey through fifteen ritual stages, often lasting until after midnight, emphasizing discussion and reinterpretation.
• There’s a “cottage industry” of themed Haggadot (ecological, feminist, etc.); Berman’s Egyptologically-themed Haggada is a novel contribution, highlighting the explosion of accessible scholarship and imagery in the digital age.

When Slaves Sang the Song of the Pharaoh: Appropriation and Polemic

[10:18 - 20:56]

• Berman introduces an “emotional highlight” from his research: the parallels between the throne tent of Ramses II at the Battle of Kadesh and the biblical Tabernacle.
  • “There is an uncanny resemblance between the throne tent of Ramses II at the Battle of Kadesh and the tabernacle.” [10:37]
• Historical context: Ramses II publicized his (possibly Pyrrhic) victory at Kadesh across Egypt in manuscripts and reliefs, making it perhaps “the most publicized event in ancient history.”
• Striking parallels between the sequence of events in Ramses’ inscriptions and Exodus 14–15:
  • Ramses is left alone, prays to his god Amun, is divinely encouraged, fights alone, enemies perish in water, and songs of praise follow.
  • “It’s one step after another, seemingly parallel to what I know from Exodus 14 and 15…” [13:40]
  • “Most of the Hittite warriors perish in water… there are even pictures of their corpses floating away, just like we have… the Egyptians died on the banks of the Red Sea.” [15:02]
• Berman’s interpretation: The Torah appropriates well-known Egyptian royal propaganda imagery to “unseat Pharaoh,” recasting the Exodus as Yahweh’s victory, thus emotionally and politically reorienting Israelite imagination.
  • “I think… the Torah has appropriated the iconography of the Egyptian pharaohs in order to describe how God has basically unseated Pharaoh…” [12:13]
  • The challenge for Israelite religion: without images for God, how to communicate divine power? The answer: by appropriating the Egyptian king’s imagery and narrative power but giving it a new theological message.

Signs and Wonders (The Structure and Symbolism of the Plagues)

[20:56 - 25:17]

• Berman unpacks the phrase “signs and wonders.”
  • “We often, in a kind of vernacular way, refer to the signs and wonders. That's the actual term that the Torah uses. It doesn't use the term plagues." [21:07]
• Literary Structure: The ten “plagues” divide into three sets of three, plus one (the final plague), as seen by consistent literary patterns.
• Egyptian Numerology: The number nine signifies “many” in Egyptian thought; nine (in three sets of three) is an intensifier.
  • “Nine is a big one… to say really, really many is three threes.” [23:24]
  • Pharaohs place “nine bows” under their statue's feet—symbolizing all their enemies.
• Berman suggests the Torah leverages this Egyptian symbolism—God’s nine “signs and wonders” shows He has his own Egyptian-style “propaganda” and surpasses Pharaoh.

Final Thoughts and Ongoing Work

[25:17 - 26:21]

• Berman announces the launch of his new podcast, The Bible Bar, where he interviews scholars chapter-by-chapter through the Hebrew Bible.
  • “Each week we’re moving through another chapter in scripture sequentially, and each week I’m having on another scholar to discuss something in that week’s chapter.” [25:35]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When you get a pro who knows what’s going on, wow. Stuff just pops to life, one image after another. And in my case, that meant one passage in Scripture after another… I was just blown away.” – Joshua Berman [05:50]
• “If we can't bring Jews to Egypt, then we have to bring Egypt to the Jews.” – Joshua Berman [07:25]
• “It’s one step after another, seemingly parallel to what I know from Exodus 14 and 15…” – Joshua Berman [13:40]
• “I think… the Torah has appropriated the iconography of the Egyptian pharaohs in order to describe how God has basically unseated Pharaoh…” – Joshua Berman [12:13]
• “We often, in a kind of vernacular way, refer to the signs and wonders. That's the actual term that the Torah uses. It doesn't use the term plagues.” – Joshua Berman [21:07]
• “Nine is a big one… to say really, really many is three threes.” – Joshua Berman [23:24]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Intro & Berman’s Egypt trip: [03:04 – 08:34]
• Role of the Haggada: [08:34 – 10:18]
• Parallels with Ramses II (When Slaves Sang the Song of the Pharaoh): [10:30 – 20:56]
• Signs and Wonders / Numerology: [21:07 – 25:17]
• Berman on his new podcast: [25:23 – 26:21]

Summary

Joshua Berman’s Echoes of Egypt: A Haggada brings together rigorous scholarship, visual splendor, and rich narrative to create a Passover Haggada deeply rooted in Egyptian context and meaning. Through riveting personal stories, scholarly discoveries, and accessible explanations, he and host Michael Morales reveal the intricate ways biblical texts polemicize and appropriate Egyptian symbolism, making the Exodus story deeply immediate for both Jews and anyone interested in the ancient Near East.

Berman’s approach—centering on illustrated material, structural analysis, and theological implications—offers a vibrant, multidimensional experience for Seder participants and students of the Bible alike.