This Verein series is on Biblical Criticism. Criticism is defined as analysis expressing opinion based on proven data. We will define Bible as The Five Books of Moses, Prophets, and Writings, a book containing these documents in chronological order, the TANACH. As we read documents we must distinguish between History, factual past events, Myths, stories made up to justify beliefs, and all literature between. Our religious literature is composed of these “hybrids”.

 

These "historical" books are not frequently studied or mentioned in the liturgy. But they raise interesting questions about why they were included in Tanach. We will review some of these issues and discuss what they tell us (and do not tell us) about Jewish history in the First Temple period.