Which of the following poses a problem for interpreting the history of the early Israelites from the Bible?
A)They were pastoralists who did not write down their history for nearly 1,000 years.
B)The Bible was written for religious, not historical, purposes.
C)The Hebrew Bible was written in several phases by different people.
D)Hebrew civilization was interrupted by conquest several times.
E)These are all problematic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Each of the options (A through D) presents a challenge for interpreting the early history of the Israelites from the Bible. The delay in writing down their history, the religious purpose of the Bible, the multiple authors and phases of writing, and the interruptions by conquests all contribute to complexities in historical interpretation.

Which of the Following Poses a Problem for Interpreting the History