Writing the History of IsraelNo 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. |
Contents
1 | |
16 | |
Chapter 3 JULIUS WELLHAUSEN AND THE PROLEGOMENA TO THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL | 50 |
Chapter 4 HISTORIOGRAPHY IN GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES TO WORLD WAR II | 76 |
JOHN BRIGHT AND MARTIN NOTH | 118 |
Chapter 6 HISTORIOGRAPHY AND CONTROVERSY IN THE RECENT PAST | 158 |
Chapter 7 WRITING ISRAELS HISTORY TODAY | 184 |
Chapter 8 CONCLUSION | 225 |
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Common terms and phrases
academic ancient Israel approach archaeology argues argument assumptions audience biblical studies biblical text Bright claims criticism culture Davies debate Dever discipline documents Droysen economic established evidence facts German German Conception German historians groups Hayden White Hebrew Bible Herder Higham historical studies historicism historicist historiography history of Israel history writing human Humboldt Ibid ideology Iggers individual influence insists interests interpretation investigation Israel's history Israelite issues John Bright Julius Wellhausen laws Leopold von Ranke literary literature Martin Noth material meaning Meinecke method minimalist Mommsen natural sciences Noble Dream Noth's notion Novick objectivity Old Testament particular past patriarchal narratives Pentateuch period philosophy points political position practice of history present problems professional Prolegomena questions Ranke reconstruction regarding relativism religion says scholarship scientific Seters social science society sources Theodor Mommsen theological theory Thompson tion torical tradition trans tribes Troeltsch understanding unique University values Vico Wellhausen William Dever writing history