The First Historians: The Hebrew Bible and History

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Informative, But...
Review: "The First Historians" by Baruch Halpern, demands a great deal on the part of its readers, even more than Frank Moore Cross's books in some ways. Halpern's basic contention here is that the Former Prophets, the the historical part of the Bible running from Judges through Kings, is a work of historiography, composed by a historian weaving together older sources(annals, stories, chronicles, inscriptions, etc.) into a coherent historical work during the late 8th through 7th centuries, which was subsequently edited in the 6th century BCE. This basic contention, could be well-explained in one good chapter. However, that is not what happens in the book. This theory is alluded to throughout the text, while Halpern defends it against every doubter, past and present, by going into small sections of the Deuteronomistic history, in often excruciating detail. This approach can be alternately fascinating and exhausting, and almost demands that the reader already have pre-formed opinions as to what is going on in specific passages, who wrote them, and why the author may have done what he did. At the same time, Halpern neglects some very basic questions about the texts he analyzes, and fails to help modern readers realize what their fundamental job IS: "to get back into the mental state of the historian's ideal audience". Nowhere does he explain the society he says this history was written for! All that being said, though, if you DO have deep background, you may very well be able to get more out of this book than I did. The general reader may become more frustrated than enlightened by "The First Historians"

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, But Sporadically Interesting
Review: Coming upon a book entitled "The First Historians", recommended by various scholars, I was excited. The questions that came to mind: Who were these historians? When did they write? Why did they write, and for whom? Unfortunately, none of these questions is even addressed. There is considerable analysis of parts of Judges, Samuel and Kings, and a lot of scholarly wrangling. If you're in the field and have strong, already formed opinions about Noth, Van Seters and others, and are acquainted with the jargon, this book may be more useful to you than it was to me. Still, there is a certain amount of unusual information about the texts and iron age Israel.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable book presents recent ideas in Biblical criticism.
Review: Halpern is well known and is always enjoyable to read. This book is an excellent introduction to the ideas of this important Textural Critic. Halpern describes the “Deuteronomist,” a person (or group) that has collected together the material that forms the bulk of the Biblical histories of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. His thesis is plausible and consistent and has been supported by recent archeological work by Finkelstein and others. His writing is detailed and specific but his wit and humor always keep the reader interested.

Due to their subject matter, biblical archaeology and criticism have been alternately plagued and supported by religion and politics. Halpern, Finkelstein and their associates are often under attack, not always because of their arguments and research, but rather on the basis of religious beliefs and Middle Eastern politics. (...).

Time will tell if further developments will support or contradict Halpern’s position. Nevertheless, whether you agree with his position or not, Halpern’s book gives an exciting glimpse into one of the most important current trends in Biblical archeology and criticism.