Near three thousand years passed away, from the Mosaic account of the creation, till the Jews under a national delusion requested a king. Till then their form of government (except in extraordinary cases where the Almighty interposed) was a kind of Republic, administered by a judge and the elders of the tribes. Kings they had none, and it was held sinful to acknowledge any being under that title but the Lord of Hosts.
Smart people don’t need the Bible to know that it is better to live free.
On the other hand, I can easily believe the Bible may have been a great tool for getting dumb people on board.
I tried once to read Common Sense and I couldn’t believe how boring it was. I had trouble imaging the Colonists staying awake, much less being energized enough to actully stage a revolt.