answersLogoWhite

0

The Old Testament contains many Hebrew traditions and legends that can not be regarded by modern historians as true.

Christian Churches recognise the dilemma in the story of creation, just 6000 years ago, which most religious leaders realise they can not directly refute. However, the major denominations are moving towards a position of "theistic evolution", which accepts that the world is extremely old that that life on earth evolved over an extremely long time. The story of Adam and Eve is not history.

The biblical story of Abraham can not be historically true because, for example, it mentions the land of the Philistines, who really only arrived in the Levant around 1250 BCE. The Book of Genesis was only written during the first millennium BCE, by which time the people thought that the Philistines had always been there. For similar reasons, the stories of the other patriarchs are not really true.

The Hebrews did not really spend 430 years in Egypt and there was no Exodus from Egypt, led by Moses. Egyptian records contain no reference either to a large community of slaves or to a sudden catastrophic loss of economic power. Egypt continued to be masters of Palestine throughout the period of the Exodus and the Amarna letters show that even in the middle of the thirteenth century BCE, Palestine consisted entirely of a number of petty Canaanite and Philistine states, with Egypt in absolute control as the colonial power.

Scholars are divided on whether Kings David and Solomon really existed, but say that if they did, they would have been more like tribal chieftains than kings. The respected Israeli archaeologist says that there never was a United Monarchy, and that the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were always separate, with different customs and even different dialects of the Hebrew language.

The biblical history of the divided kingdoms seems to be at least moderately reliable, as is the history of the Babylonian Exile and return. The Books of Daniel and Esther contain too many obvious historical errors to be considered historical.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Give 3 historical books in the Old Testament?

The three books in the old testament of historical value are the book of Esther, Ezra and Book of Songs.


What are the historical books on the Old Testament?

Um, the Old Testament itself is a historical book. It doesn't go much older than the very beginning. We call the scrolls that make up the Old Testament the Red Sea scrolls.


What is the thirtenth book of the English Old Testament?

The thirteenth book of the English Old Testament is 2 Chronicles. It is part of the historical books section and covers the reigns of various kings of Judah.


Is job in the Old Testament or new testament?

The book of Job can be found in the Old Testament.


Is the last book of old testament is Zechariah?

No, Malachi is the last book of the old testament


Quran book is called book of Old Testament?

No it is not called the book of the old testament. it is the book of the muslims.


Which is the tenth book in Old Testament?

The 10th book in the old testament is the second book of Samuel.


In the old testament what are the six historical book?

Joshua Judges Samuel Kings Daniel Ezra Nehemiah Chronicles


Is Adam in the new or Old Testament?

In the book of Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament.


Which book concludes the Christian Old Testament?

Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament.


Which book in the Old Testament is after Nehemiah?

The book of Esther follows Nehemiah in the old testament.


What book comes after Luke in the Old Testament?

The book of Luke is found in the New Testament (not Old Testament) and is immediately followed by the book of John.