Originally appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 21, 2000, p. A19.
Wow. I wasn't aware that Judaism had it's own flaky revisionist version of the Jesus Seminar folks.
Ze'ev Herzog invited such a comparison by concluding his Ha'aretz article with an explicit linkage to modern Israeli history: "It turns out that part of Israeli society is ready to recognize the injustice that was done to the Arab inhabitants of the country and is willing to accept the principle of equal rights for women -- but is not up to adopting the archaeological facts that shatter the biblical myth. The blow to the mythical foundations of the Israeli identity is apparently too threatening, and it is more convenient to turn a blind eye," he wrote.
To me, it sounds like he's the one with the agenda.
This tissue of incompetent blasphemy is right up your alley.
What a flaming idiot!
Interesting.
..."In our last newsletter, we examined the route taken by Moses and the great multitude as they fled Egypt. We will now examine the evidences which tell us exactly who were the Egyptian royalties involved and the approximate date the Exodus occurred. This is a subject that gets quite involved and we will only be able to present a bare frame of reference in this publication. Bear with us, as we will attempt to present a large amount of information in a short space.
From Ancient History and Archaeology: Insights into Biblical Understanding
In the last few centuries, scholars proclaimed there was no evidence for most events in the Biblical account, and it was nothing but a collection of Hebrew legends. Then, a massive amount of evidence emerged through the findings of archaeologists, such as the discovery of the Hittite civilization, which vindicated much in the Bible that had been touted as fictitious. But, then the cry went forth that the Hebrews "borrowed" or "copied" stories from the peoples around them.
So much has been shrouded in confusion brought about by "explaining away" evidences which absolutely vindicate the Biblical account in a manner which makes it appear that the original incident occurred at an earlier date, and therefore the Hebrews incorporated the tale into their "mythology".
A good example of this is the evidence found at Jericho. In the 1930s, Professor John Garstang excavated Jericho. In 1931, he found the cemetery that had been in use by the inhabitants of Jericho from the earliest times. Because it had been so well concealed by the sand of the plain, it had escaped the plundering that so often occurs. Carefully excavating through the various levels, in 1932 they made a discovery which absolutely confirmed the Biblical account.
They found a succession of eighty scarabs bearing the cartouches (royal name) of the eighteenth dynasty pharaohs. They end with Amenhotep III of the 18th dynasty. Other archaeological evidence showed that the city ceased to exist at that time, which perfectly fit the account of the entry into the "promised land". ("New Bible Evidence", Sir Charles Marston, pub. by Fleming H. Revell Co., 1934, pps. 134-137.)
This is the problem, "scientists" who let their political and ideological necessities drive their research. Everything they say is suspect. Just for the record, I will believe the Biblical record regardless of what they may "discover". It's 3000 years in the past, and they are politically motivated. I need something more than their "professional" opinions to discard the Word of God.
"Herzog said it,
I believe it,
That settles it for me."
No wonder they are coming to the wrong conclusions. What these types can't get through their heads is that the Bible IS history.
Wow, get two Jews in a room and you really will get three opinions.
There is a bit more dangerous delusion there near the end.
Apparently the writer doesn't know that the Jewish faith rests on the Torah, not the Bible.
If he doesn't know that, it ain't worth reading the rest.
A very big problem for Torah and Biblical literalists is the complete lack of physical evidence supporting the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt.
None exists. And the Egyptians were great record-keepers. Nor is there any evidence that Egypt was brought to its knees by the Ten Plagues and the Exodus. Indeed, the biblical timeline places it in the height of Egypt's Golden Age, hardly a time of devastation.
It really comes down to a question of whether you want to believe that every word of Genesis and Exodus is literally true, or whether you're open to the suggestion that these are writings passed down as oral history over the generations that might contain inaccuracies and even some legends or allegories.
One side has drawn its line in the sand. The other side is still trying to figure out what happened based on real evidence.
bump for future reading