The Mythic Past by Thomas Thompson
Biblical Archaeology and the Myth of Israel
A critical reassessment of the Hebrew Bible’s origin stories that argues the archaeological record does not support the patriarchal narratives, the Exodus, or a single Conquest as historical events, and that these accounts are largely later theological and ideological constructions. The author examines archaeological data and comparative ancient Near Eastern evidence to suggest that Israel emerged gradually through social and cultural processes in the Iron Age, and that the biblical texts reflect mythmaking and national identity formation rather than straightforward historical reportage. The work advocates a minimalist approach, urging scholars to distinguish literary-theological layers from what can be reliably recovered by archaeology.
- Published
- 1999
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Unknown
- Pages
- Unknown
- Original Language
- English
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