The Origin of the History of Israel: Herodotus' Histories as Blueprint for the First Books of the BibleThis book demonstrates that Primary History, the historical work contained in the first nine books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis-2 Kings), was written as one unitary work, in deliberate emulation of the Greek-language Histories of Herodotus of Halicarnassus (completed c. 440 BCE); the diversity of its books and sections is largely a literary device. The work was most likely written in the period 440-420 BCE, in the period of reform usually associated with the name of Nehemiah. Though this thesis does not directly affect questions of historicity, understanding the literary nature of primary history promises to open new vistas for research into the history of Israel, the Hebrew Bible in general and the history of the Hebrew language. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Chapter 2 A REMARKABLE PROCEDURE | 48 |
Chapter 3 CONSEQUENCES FOR THE STUDY OF PRIMARY HISTORY | 69 |
Chapter 4 CONSEQUENCES FOR THE STUDY OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE | 104 |
THE AUTHORs ACHIEVEMENT | 161 |
Bibliography | 164 |
| 169 | |
| 174 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Abraham Absalom agreement Ahithophel Amalek Amalekite ancient appears army Astyages author of Primary Babylonian Bathsheba beginning biblical books of Samuel brothers campaign Canaan chapters connection conquest contradictions contrast course Croesus Cyaxares Cyrus Darius described discussed divine dossier dream Egypt Egyptians elements episode especially example Exod Exodus fact father finally genealogy Genesis Goliath Greece Greek Harpagus Hebrew Bible Hellespont Herodotus's Hezekiah History of Israel instances Isaac Israelites Jacob Jerusalem Jewish Joab Jochebed Joseph Judah key figure killed King David King Saul land of Canaan literary literature Lord Lydia mentioned Moses motives namely narrative narrator noted observations origin parallel passage patriarchs Persian person Pharaoh Philistines Primary History probably problem Pythios reader reason redactor Samuel 14 Saul's seems Septuagint Solomon sons structure Succession History Tamar Terah themes told versions Wesselius whereas woman words Xerxes YHWH Ziba