What are the sources of information about the ancient Hebrews?

Answer 1

There are three possible sources of information about the ancient Hebrews:

1. The Old Testament. This was written by Jewish authors from the seventh century BCE onwards. It suffers from potential nationalistic bias and its reliance on what were already ancient traditions that had evolved over time. It is likely to omit anything unflattering or contrary to the political and religious realities of the time in which it was written.

   The biblical texts can even be analysed, to establish when certain passages were written and by whom. This can provide information about how the Hebrew self-identity evolved.

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2. Archaeological finds in Palestine for the Israelite era. These can at times either agree with the biblical sources, or disagree. Even when they agree, they shed new light on just who the Hebrews, or Israelites, were and what they believed. Archaeological finds have established the beginning of the Hebrew language as around the end of the tenth century BCE, and shown it to be based on the Canaanite language.

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3. Historical records from Egypt and other parts of the ancient Near East. These are typically found in the archaeological record and can either confirm or disprove The Bible. By providing information about what other peoples of the time believed, they can also shed light on on what the Hebrews believed and how their religion evolved.

Answer 2

The Hebrew Bible is the only written source of information about the Ancient Hebrews, and it is used by Jews, Christians and other scholars worldwide. Artifacts dating back to biblical times also exist in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Answer 3

Sources of information about the ancient Hebrews include the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud and midrashim, ancient works such as Josephus, and numerous mentions in archaeological sources such as the Tel Dan stele, the Moabite stone, the Assyrian cuneiform records, the writings at Mari, the Lakhish ostraca, the obelisk of Shalmaneser, the tablets of Tiglath-Pileser, the cylinder of Nabonidus, the inscription of Sennacherib, the writings of Esarhaddon, the Elephantine papyri, and many others.

Answer 4

Sources of information about the ancient Hebrews include the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud and midrashim, ancient works such as Josephus, and numerous mentions in archaeological sources such as the Tel Dan stele, the Moabite stone, the Assyrian cuneiform records, the writings at Mari, the Lakhish ostraca, the obelisk of Shalmaneser, the tablets of Tiglath-Pileser, the cylinder of Nabonidus, the inscription of Sennacherib, the writings of Esarhaddon, the Elephantine papyri, and many others. See also:

http://judaism.answers.com/hebrew/does-archaeology-support-the-hebrew-bible

http://www.pearlmancta.com/BiblicalcriticswrongRShlomoCohen.htm

Answer 5

The only source of information on the Ancient Hebrews is the Bible, and it is used today by Jews and Christians.