Naomi Sherer reviews...

Who Wrote the Bible?
by
Richard Elliott Friedman
   

 

Who Wrote The Bible is a book that describes the land in which the Bible was born as being about the size of a large North American county, which makes it possible for me to imagine walking from place to place. It also illustrates the proximity of the tribal armies as well as the over-population that could occur without constant wars among them. Good geography lesson.

Author Richard Elliott Friedman explains the rise and sequence of the biblical monarchy which is helpful as he goes on in later chapters to shed light on authorship of those times. The land became two nations, Israel and Judah. Friedman writes: During the two hundred years that those two kingdoms existed side by side, there lived two of the writers we are seeking. Each composed a version of the people's story. Both versions became part of the Bible.

Although two writers have been identified, in the span of two hundred years could one individual have lived and personally documented the kings stories as written? Each composed their version of the people's story. What a wealth of fiction could be introduced into the composition of each writer to fill in events that he (or maybe she) did not witness.

Friedman goes on to identify those two of the writers showing how they were identified by centuries of patient research. Investigators, whom Friedman documents, saw that the confusion was not simple contradiction but two separate works that someone had cut up and combined into one. The book is well-written as far as it goes. There is no evidence brought to light, or even mentioned, as to whether or not subsequent copiers rewrote passages according to their own consciences. Remember that every reproduction was made in long hand (think of all those words) until the invention of the printing press.

For those seeking answers to the contradictions in the Bible because they want to keep their faith this book puts doubts to rest. A great deal of history from two writers perspective is revealed. However the validity of that history is still based on the revelations of a supernatural being. To think that meticulous research makes Judaism or Christianity any more acceptable as human law is ignorance or denial.

If you are curious and have the time, read it. Your will see how ancient historians differed in their environmental and political views and how the faithful always came back to the conclusion stated by Andreas Von Maes in 1574:

But in truth there is no great need for contending concerning the writer, as long as we believe that God is the author, both of the events themselves and of the words wherewith they have been communicated to us...

You be the judge.
Buy Richard Friedman's book from Amazon Who Wrote the Bible?
by
Richard Elliott Friedman

Consider novels by Naomi Sherer available on Amazon

Sagesong cover Rise to the Occasion cover
Coming Soon: Beyond Namche, The Open Door, Wildly in the Rockies

   
 

 

Copyright © 1998 Naomi Sherer - All Rights Reserved

 


[Home] [What's New] [Products & Services] [Feedback]

Send mail to Webmaster regarding any questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1998 Salmon River Gazette - All Rights Reserved

Last Modified: Sunday, 28-Jun-2009 17:34:50 EDT