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Home THE BIBLE UNEARTHED: THE MAKING OF A RELIGION -- ILLUSTRATED SCREENPLAY & SCREENCAP GALLERY |
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[Narrator] Does this TESTIFY as to a diversity in the oral traditions, or in those of the texts? As of the 19th century, German Biblical exegesis revealed that Genesis contained a number of stories of various origins that were woven together. Some were linked to the kingdom in the North -- Israel -- and others to the kingdom in the South -- Judah.
[Israel Finkelstein, Tel Aviv University] So there are three different traditions set in the background of three different geographical zones.
And the question is, "Why Abraham at the center?" Why Abraham is put first? The answer is clear. We are in Jerusalem, and Judah in the 7th century, in the period of the Judaic kingdom.
So regardless of whether the Patriarchs are historical or mythical [?], the most important fact is the background of the STORY shows us that we are in the 7th century, in Judah, in Jerusalem. The people who wrote this decided to put Abraham first, as the founder of the family, as the center of the STORY, and by that also, Judah as the center of the universe.
[Narrator] The Bible contains many long geneologies,
lists of generations and family alliances that define territories and structure time.
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