From Gods to God: How the Bible Debunked, Suppressed, or Changed Ancient Myths and Legends
The Hebrew Bible—what Christianity calls the Old Testament—is a collection of texts containing stories that “aimed to persuade readers of the existence of one god and of their relationship with that god.” In compiling, editing, and shaping these texts into the books we know today, the biblical authors had to contend with other vibrant, prebiblical traditions, aspects of which were oftentimes inconvenient. Shinan and Zakovitch approach 30 specific Bible stories (e.g., Was Goliath really slain by a young boy named David?) as literary archaeologists, sifting through varying accounts in the biblical texts themselves and examining extrabiblical sources for evidence of alternate versions. Their thoughtful and sympathetic exegesis uncovers possible explanations why the biblical authors saw their interpretations of these stories as best suited to instruct a nation. Most important, they introduce the oral and literary traditions of ancient Israel with breathtaking clarity and ease. --Christopher McConnell