Biblical Origins: The Political Intent of the Bible's Writers

"promises to be vital and illuminating for all" —Rabbi David Ellenson, Chancellor Emeritus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
"a work of remarkable historical investigation" —Dale Pauls, Minister Emeritus, Stamford Church of Christ

Just like us, the writers of the Bible tried to understand the world and their place in it. Using the literary device of allegory, the ancient Israelites created foundational stories for the people to coalesce around, giving them a sense of belonging and purpose. To illustrate, the tale of the Israelite Exodus from slavery in Egypt provided a sense of a communal struggle, but archaeological evidence shows that the Exodus did not in fact take place. As another example, subjects who questioned the actions of the early kings of Israel were placated by tales of ancient leaders-such as Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and Moses-who behaved in a like manner.

As their story unfolded, the ancient Israelites recorded and preserved texts which are central to Judaism and provide a foundation for the two largest religions in the world: Christianity and Islam. By merging the last fifty years of archaeological findings from the Ancient Near East with his expertise in Ancient Semitic languages and his vast knowledge of the ancient text, in Biblical Origins: The Political Intent of the Bible's Writers S. David Sperling takes readers on a compelling exploration of the political circumstances that led to the creation of these foundational stories-revealing that the Bible is a very human document that speaks with many voices.

WHAT READERS HAVE TO SAY:

[David Sperling] draws upon his decades of research and teaching on the Bible and the ancient near east to construct a thought provoking and compelling interpretation of how the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, came to be.—Marilyn Harran, Professor of Religious Studies & History at Chapman University

Biblical Origins is a fascinating intellectual journey . . . I also find in Dr. Sperling's unremitting pursuit of truth something sacred. In the end, this draws me even closer to the God who is truth and love.—Dale Pauls, Minister Emeritus, Stamford Church of Christ

[David Sperling presents the] humanity of the ancient Hebrews and allows readers to grasp their deepest spiritual concerns [highlighting] the human search for meaning that the Bible embodies.—David Ellenson, Chancellor Emeritus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion