Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: (somewhat) A Redefinition of "Israel"

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Jonathan D. Safren" <yonsaf AT beitberl.beitberl.ac.il>
  • To: Andrew C Smith <a.c.smith AT juno.com>
  • Cc: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: (somewhat) A Redefinition of "Israel"
  • Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 08:56:59 +0200


Andrew C Smith wrote:
It is true that, as far back as the conquest under Joshua, the were nots
unified as
God had wanted them to be: the book of Judges recordsdisputes between tribes.
Later,
David would be acknowledged as kingtwice, once by the south, and once by the
north. So
it is clear that theultimate north-south split had very early roots. But I
cannot
agree withLloyd's general view of Israelite history.

The Bok of Joshua presents an idealized, theological view of a conquest which
never
happened. The main conquest narratives in Joshua have either been disproved,
or are
rewritings of stories from elsewhere. Examples: Ai, destroyed 1000 years
before Israel
ever got there. Jericho: no fortified city existed at the supposed time of
Joshua.
The war against the Hazor coalition: parallels Jud. 4. Even someone like me,
who tends
to see some historical kernel in First-Temple biblical historiographical
literature,
cannot ignore the evidence of archaeology and historical criticism.
Sincerely,
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College
Beit Berl Post Office 44905
Israel






Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page