Two Jewish scholars, Avigdor Shinan and Yair Zakovitch, have authored a book claiming much in the Hebrew Bible is recycled Babylonian and Canaanite myth, see: From Gods to God, How the Bible Debunked, Suppressed, or Changed Ancient Myths and Legends. 2012. The Jewish Publication Society. University of Nebraska Press. An English translation of a 2004 book originally published in Hebrew, in Israel, titled Gam Lo Kahkh Katuv ba-Tanakh.
“We had a single aim in writing this volume: to open a window through which readers might glimpse traditions that existed before the Bible came into being…These traditions needed to be adapted and refined in order to make them suit the lofty ideals of monotheism, to elevate them to the morals and value system that the Bible sought to instill in its readers…
When we took up the role of literary archaeologists and applied ourselves to reconstructing pre-biblical traditions, we suddenly found ourselves in the realm of extra-biblical writings- those that preceded the Bible (the literature of the ancient world, eg., Babylonia and Canaan…
We set out looking for signs of pre-biblical traditions, knowing that they could be hiding in a vast array of literary genres from different civilizations- from ancient Babylon…” (p. 267, 269)
This book is our attempt to recover the pre-biblical traditions…The Bible…did its best to resist these polytheistic traditions and to purify the religion of Israel and its scripture from any and all mythological-pagan elements.” (p. 5)
I found this book quite interesting as it reflects my own personal quest (1970-2021), to identify the pre-biblical origins of the Hebrew Bible in Babylonian and Canaanite Myths.
You are aware scholars have been doing this kind of thing since at least the 18th century, right?
But one thing needs to be clarified. It’s a mistake to portray the Hebrews as if they were distinct from these ancient cultures and that they somehow appropriated their cultural traditions. The Hebrews were Canaanites. All the cultures of the Ancient Near East (which included the Hebrews) shared a common pool of traditions.
Stephen said
You are aware scholars have been doing this kind of thing since at least the 18th century, right?But one thing needs to be clarified. It’s a mistake to portray the Hebrews as if they were distinct from these ancient cultures and that they somehow appropriated their cultural traditions. The Hebrews were Canaanites. All the cultures of the Ancient Near East (which included the Hebrews) shared a common pool of traditions.
Agreed as to it being “their” culture, not one borrowed. That’s why the summation of Genesis 1-11 as a response to Berrossus makes so much sense. Who better to write Chaldean history than Judean Chaldeans?
Stephen said
You are aware scholars have been doing this kind of thing since at least the 18th century, right?But one thing needs to be clarified. It’s a mistake to portray the Hebrews as if they were distinct from these ancient cultures and that they somehow appropriated their cultural traditions. The Hebrews were Canaanites. All the cultures of the Ancient Near East (which included the Hebrews) shared a common pool of traditions.
Can you provide me examples of some 18th century scholars who were into this kind of thing (investigating the pre-biblical origins of the Hebrew Bible)? I know only of 19th century scholars.
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