Professor Jacob Wright’s book “Why The Bible Began” tackles a question as mysterious as to “Who wrote the Bible?” As most of the Hebrew Bible’s authors are unknown, the likelihood of finding extrabiblical evidence of their intent is even more challenging.
Professor Wright, while taking time to explore some of the non-biblical resources, relies heavily upon the bible to extract the question “why?” The result is that the reader is taken on a survey of the scripture. The selections are one’s which support the author’s theories.
“Why?” cannot have not a simple answer. Each and every author may have had their own reasons for producing portions of their particular texts. Additionally, those re-working and re-editing texts had their own reasons. Finally, those finalizing the canon had their own agenda as well.
The Bible is very Human-like. The writings address certain life cycles of individuals, families, and nations. Additionally, the writings take individuals through varying aspects of faith. The library of the texts grow in maturity and concern.
Professor Wright’s focus is upon the bible being a text for those coping with defeat. It is a people whose golden age- the days of David and Solomon- has passed and enduring the realities of living in a world controlled by superpowers. He posits that the past was re-imagined to cope with the loss nations. Likewise, it dealt with the crafting of a text that would unite both the northern and southern Israelite Kingdoms post their demise.
Professor Wright’s conclusions are based upon the multitude of contributors. There were the palaces that generated portions of the bible. Likewise, there were the people that contributed.
Professor Wright takes the reader on a journey through scripture. Likewise, he hits on many of the extrabiblical documentation. Thus, his text makes an excellent diving board into contemporary academic bible study.
A criticism of Professor Wright is that the main characters of his premise, the scribes, are not to be seen. Likewise, those who formulated the canon are absent. Thus, how much was the bible well intentioned brilliance versus circumstance?
While Professor Wright views matters in terms of peoplehood, the Torah, itself, arguably carries a similar but different theme. Perhaps, the Torah’s original sin was fratricide. Cain killing his brother Abel arguably set in motion the major narrative within the Torah. Throughout the Pentateuch, the Israelite Deity goes to great lengths to prevent siblings from murdering their brothers and sisters. While Joseph’s reconciling with his brothers in Eqypt is a major step in the process, it is Moses, Aaron and Miriam who bring the readers to the ultimate vision: with a family working together, anything is possible.
Another criticism is that Professor Wright’s theory must confront the past. To paraphrase the artist Nina Payley, everything is derivative. Assuming this is the case, and per the viewpoint of many scholars that the Song of the Sea and the Song of Deborah (Exodus 15 and Judges 5, respectively), there is something deep into the recesses of the scripture addressing the centrality of an event at Mt. Sinai. Likewise, there is also the fact that the earliest existing writing, the Ketef Hinnon scrolls, contains a passage from the Book of Numbers. This piece of writing references the Israelite Deity. Thus, one must ask “what were the building blocks upon which the narratives, edits, and re-writes were based upon?”
Overall, Professor Wright’s book is comprehensive and an eye-opening read.
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