I Am the Very Model of a Biblical Philologist

A biblical- and ancient-Near-Eastern-studies–themed parody of "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General" from The Pirates of Penzance. Lyrics, musical arrangement, and vocals by Joshua Tyra, ⓒ 2011. Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, original lyrics by William S. Gilbert.

Orchestral and piano samples used in this recording are from Garritan Instruments for Finale 2009.

[mikepalmer]

I'm a Catholic priest, and I showed this to a rabbi friend of mine while we were waiting at a restaurant. We both roared with laughter until our sides hurt, which earned us a lot of confused looks. This is hilarious!!

[YoshiFawful]

I understand practically none of the lyrics or references, but I can still tell this a _fantastic_ parody.

[rosealt]

"And proved the Philistines were almost certainly Canadian" "How do you like THAT Finkelstein?!" This is really fantastic.

[danielmartin]

26 People couldn't reconstruct the library of ancient Assurbanipal.

[josepherhardt]

It is a serious sin that there is no Grammy for a masterpiece like this.

[dorianphilotheates]

As a Bronze Age Aegean archaeologist who has previously collaborated with Professor Finkelstein, I can verify that the Philistines were indeed almost certainly Canadian, eh? 🇨🇦 Brilliantly hilarious — ΕΥΓΕ!

[ak]

I can't decide whether to be happy that I understood so many of the references or depressed because it made me realize how little I actually do know abôt these subjects.

Excedingly impressive diction, btw.

[marianabeatriz]

First video ever in which I had a great time reading the comments. Oh, and now I want to write my shopping lists in classical Sumerian...

[ilprofessore]

FYI  These lyrics were written by a man who was once an adjunct professor of French, but gave it all up to do his PhD in Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern History, Archaeology, and Languages at the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
in Deerfield, IL. Let us hope he will not abandon Show Biz for Aca [demic] Biz.

[josepherhardt]

I never get tired of listening to this again and again.

[AS-plmn]

Israel Finkelstein viewed this video from 26 separate devices. Maybe he's into tetragrammaton numerology.

BTW this really shouldn't be on YouTube. I say that because the comments are either lucid, witty, intelligent or good natured. It's freaking me out. (and I agree השתחוה is just the standard sibilant metathesis of hithpa'el when pe hap-po'al is ש, ס, צ, ז, because there appear to be related roots with שח)

[johnbutler]

This has given me more nerd laughs than just about anything else on YouTube! The wit and genius of it!

[daveleau]

I'd love to hear the argument that the Philistines are Canadian. :) Hilarious video! Thanks!

[aliciadole]

Hi, Josh,
My father, who is a professor of Bible language and theology and whose dissertation on partnership loans in the Old Babylonian Period was accepted with distinction at Harvard, just loved this. Thanks for giving him so much enjoyment!

[francisgay]

I'm gob-smacked. This is quite possibly better than the major model melody that it spoofs. Μπράβο!

[jayroches]

2:22 "and tell you who in Second Kings was said to be a cannibal."

[charlotteyonge]

I can only add my awe. The first appearance of Finkelstein was a literal laugh out loud.

[Achill]

Thanks for the smiles, and @2:36 I had to laugh out loud when hearing: "proved the Philistines were almost certainly Canadian". I hadn't thought about THAT. Well done.

[pastormbowman]

Haven't seen this for years but I couldn't stop singing it this morning so had to look it up again. Well done.

[andrewharmon]

All that I can do, wiping tears from my cheeks and trying to catch my breath, is to say thank you, thank you, thank you!