Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Jim West <jwest AT highland.net>]

Yitzhak Sapir wrote:

> I was wondering, could you name some specific ANE historical source that is
> not as complete or as honest as the Bible?  Also, if the Bible is so complete
> and so honest, why does it "forget" to mention Ahab's participation in the
> Battle of Qarqar, which is generally regarding as a successful attempt to 
> thwart Assyrian advances.  Does the Bible perhaps want us to think that
> Ahab was not an internationally recognized powerful king who made success-
> ful military campaigns, but rather that he only participated in border
> skirmishes?
> Or why does Mesha in the Mesha stele claim he revolted under Omri's son?
> Does he have some hidden agenda in claiming that?  Is it not possible that
> the Bible just "slightly corrected" the date of revolt of Mesha so as to 
> "fulfill" the prophecy in 1 Kings 21:28 - 29?
>
> Yitzhak Sapir

Y. has hit the nail on the head with this one.  I really cannot 
recommend highly enough (since bibliography seems needed at this 
juncture) Giovanni Garbini's "History and Ideology in Ancient Israel".  
He talks about how the Bible "adjusts" data.

Best,

Jim

--
D. Jim West

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