Writing the History of Israel (The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies | LHBOTS)

by Diane Banks

Publisher:

T&T Clark

, 2006

Overview

No biblical historian is included in the standard dictionaries of historians. Banks’ study examines the boundaries as well as the links that exists between history writing in biblical studies and the practice of history in university departments of history. She argues that while the influence of the profession of writing history is apparent, there are countervailing forces as well.

The presupposition that the Bible is a book of history conditions the outcome of historical research in biblical studies. Banks argues that Julius Wellhausen’s history of Israel set in motion the general tendency toward ever greater congruence between historiography in biblical studies and in academic departments of history; that the initial tension caused by Wellhausen’s work produced a reaction which effectively stalled the movement toward accommodation between secular, academic history and biblical studies; and that a new generation of scholars applying the methods used by secular historians has revived and continued the tendency to promote the practice of secular, academic historiography in biblical studies. Banks applies her method to Wellhausen, Martin Noth, John Bright, and Thomas Thompson.

Key Features

• Includes scholarly findings of Old Testament scholars, historians, archeologists, and sociologists
• All references to the Old Testament are linked to original language texts and English translations in your library

Praise for the Print Edition

As she traces the course of this field of study, Banks does not avoid the challenging questions that arrive from an investigation.

—The Bible in Review

Product Details

• Title: Writing the History of Israel
• Author: Diane Nunn Banks
• Publisher: T & T Clark
• Publication Date: 2006
• Pages: 304

About Diane Banks

Diane Banks is an independent scholar who lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sample Pages from Writing the History of Israel (The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies | LHBOTS)