HISTORICITY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: A CHALLENGE FOR MODERN READING
Keywords:
Abstract
THE BIBLE HAS FOR MANY YEARS BEEN VIEWED WITH RESPECT AND CREDIBILITY, AND ITS HISTORY HAS BEEN WITHOUT QUESTION. HOWEVER, IN THE RECENT DECADES, THERE HAS BEEN AN UPSURGE OF PEOPLE WHO QUESTION THE CREDENCE OF SCRIPTURAL HISTORICITY. ACCORDING TO SOME OF THESE QUESTIONING VOICES ARE THOSE WHO ALLUDE THAT OLD TESTAMENT STORIES DO NOT HAVE EXTRA-BIBLICAL SUPPORT, AND THEREFORE ARE NOT HISTORICALLY AUTHENTIC. ACCORDING TO RON HENDEL,
ARCHAEOLOGY DID NOT ILLUMINE THE TIMES AND EVENTS OF ABRAHAM, MOSES AND JOSHUA. RATHER, IT HELPED TO SHOW THAT THESE TIMES AND EVENTS ARE LARGELY UNHISTORICAL. THE MORE WE KNOW ABOUT THE BRONZE AND EARLY IRON AGES, THE MORE THE BIBLICAL PORTRAYALS OF EVENTS IN THIS ERA APPEAR TO BE A BLEND OF FOLKLORE AND CULTURAL MEMORY, IN WHICH THE DETAILS OF HISTORICAL EVENTS HAVE EITHER DISAPPEARED OR BEEN RADICALLY RESHAPED. THE STORIES ARE DEEPLY MEANINGFUL, BUT ONLY OCCASIONALLY HISTORICAL. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH HAS—AGAINST THE INTENTIONS OF MOST OF ITS PRACTITIONERS—SECURED THE NON-HISTORICITY OF MUCH OF THE BIBLE BEFORE THE ERA OF THE KINGS.[1]
[1]Ronald S. Hendel, “Is There a Biblical Archaeology?,” BAR 32/4 (July/August 2006) 20.
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