101 Myths of the Bible by Gary Greenberg
101 Myths of the Bible is a non-fiction book by Gary Greenberg, expert in Near-Eastern and Biblical literature, and is the third book in my personal Jewish Book Festival (link to my first book review in this festival). The author reviews biblical stories from the Jewish Torah or Five Books of Moses and explains the origins of 101 story elements in these in a fascinating and untraditional, yet highly accessible, manner. While the book is not in itself a Jewish book per se, it deals with the books of the Jewish Bible, as well as draws conclusions about the history of the Jewish people.
The stories chosen for Greenberg’s analysis are divided into three main sections-stories of the creation, stories of the patriarchs, and stories of the heroes. Each main section includes an introduction to the biblical stories it covers, and an overview of Greenberg’s analytical conclusions. Specific storyline elements are then further examined and critically examined in 101 chapters.
Contrary to first impression caused by the word “myth” Greenberg does not in any way belittle the bible when using that word “myth”. Dictionary.com lists a number of definitions for the word “myth”, and Greenberg’s intent is not the meaning-- “an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution”, in this case a religion.
Greenberg’s intent is to enrich the understanding of the Bible-- to uncover the ancient mythological bases behind some of the stories, to reveal the true histories only vaguely hinted at by those written (and re-written over the course of centuries), and to present a more consistent picture of near eastern history. Greenberg’s interpretation of the stories sets the ancient Hebrew culture in a closer relationship to the Egyptian than is traditionally done, giving an intriguing context to the story of the Hebrew people.
Greenberg bunks the traditional idea that the Hebrew culture and identity developed as the result of long nomadic wandering in the Middle East and a Mesopotamian origin, as is described in Genesis, the first book of the Torah. Rather he claims a quick Egyptian origin, that the people were a part of a monotheistic group of early Egyptian worshippers, and that the flight out of Egypt was as the result of a backswing counter-revolution between Egyptian monotheists and polytheists.
Greenberg’s explanations are well thought out, and his expertise in the area’s sacred writings is unimpeachable. Personally not being an expert on the subject matter I would be remiss to either support his conclusions or to argue against them. Sometimes his conclusions appear glibly given, or appear to lack support and substantiation. I am sure that this has most to do with the scope and purpose of this book as a popular introduction to the subject, and that his heavyweight argumentation lies in some of his other works.
With scientific historians punching large holes in the long-held “historical truths” depicted in the epic and legendary writings known as the Bible, it is refreshing to read such a new and interesting approach as Greenberg offers. Greenberg, who is a lawyer, enjoys presenting an understandable and consistent argument. I think he did an admirable job with a difficult subject matter.
The stories chosen for Greenberg’s analysis are divided into three main sections-stories of the creation, stories of the patriarchs, and stories of the heroes. Each main section includes an introduction to the biblical stories it covers, and an overview of Greenberg’s analytical conclusions. Specific storyline elements are then further examined and critically examined in 101 chapters.
Contrary to first impression caused by the word “myth” Greenberg does not in any way belittle the bible when using that word “myth”. Dictionary.com lists a number of definitions for the word “myth”, and Greenberg’s intent is not the meaning-- “an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution”, in this case a religion.
Greenberg’s intent is to enrich the understanding of the Bible-- to uncover the ancient mythological bases behind some of the stories, to reveal the true histories only vaguely hinted at by those written (and re-written over the course of centuries), and to present a more consistent picture of near eastern history. Greenberg’s interpretation of the stories sets the ancient Hebrew culture in a closer relationship to the Egyptian than is traditionally done, giving an intriguing context to the story of the Hebrew people.
Greenberg bunks the traditional idea that the Hebrew culture and identity developed as the result of long nomadic wandering in the Middle East and a Mesopotamian origin, as is described in Genesis, the first book of the Torah. Rather he claims a quick Egyptian origin, that the people were a part of a monotheistic group of early Egyptian worshippers, and that the flight out of Egypt was as the result of a backswing counter-revolution between Egyptian monotheists and polytheists.
Greenberg’s explanations are well thought out, and his expertise in the area’s sacred writings is unimpeachable. Personally not being an expert on the subject matter I would be remiss to either support his conclusions or to argue against them. Sometimes his conclusions appear glibly given, or appear to lack support and substantiation. I am sure that this has most to do with the scope and purpose of this book as a popular introduction to the subject, and that his heavyweight argumentation lies in some of his other works.
With scientific historians punching large holes in the long-held “historical truths” depicted in the epic and legendary writings known as the Bible, it is refreshing to read such a new and interesting approach as Greenberg offers. Greenberg, who is a lawyer, enjoys presenting an understandable and consistent argument. I think he did an admirable job with a difficult subject matter.