The Samaritans When Cyrus gave the exiles permission to return to their homeland in 537 BCE, many did not do so. They had adjusted to life in Babylon and there was very little infrastructure in their native land. Those who chose to stay were creative and wrote about it. So many did not want to return with the […]
Archives for March 2021
THIRTEEN: THE HEBREW BIBLE: The Exile was the catalyst for the Deuteronomists and their writing of the Hebrew Bible *
The Exile was the catalyst for the Deuteronomists and their writing of the Hebrew Bible * Different views prevailed as to the severity of the Babylonian Exile. For example, Esther, Mordecai and Daniel occupied high places in Babylon, but most were enslaved and struggled for existence. Daniel says that the exile lasted 70 years, but this is […]
TWELVE: THE HEBREW BIBLE: Post Deuteronomy
Post Deuteronomy The subsequent “Deuteronomic history” in Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings is manufactured history and never happened [1] These books also went through various editions, but the general consensus is that for the “final edition” the language and outlook seems to point to a post exilic period of composition, […]
ELEVEN: THE HEBREW BIBLE: Deuteronomy: the clue to dating the beginning of the Pentateuch
Deuteronomy: the clue to dating the beginning of the Pentateuch During the time of Hezekiah, King of the Southern Kingdom (715-687), the prophets were already losing their power and influence. The scribes and the priests of the tribe of Shiloh were in the […]
TEN: THE HEBREW BIBLE: The subsequent editions of Deuteronomy: Torah, History
Following on the first edition, Deuteronomy received three new editions, each separated from its predecessor by some forty years. The second edition is known as the Torah edition, Torah meaning teaching, rule, law. Here Moses, the legendary founder of the nation, is portrayed in a post-Exilic context. Moses is its reputed author, and the text, 4:44 […]