Is The Bible Historical? The Challenge of ‘minimalism’ for Biblical Scholars and Historians

Abstract

This article examines the attempts to deflect attention away from issues that I first raised over thirty years ago, and which have not sufficiently been addressed since. It argues for the necessity of distinguishing between the interpretation of the Bible, which is the task of those engaged in Biblical Studies, and the attempts to write a history of the region in the pre-biblical period, which is the domain of historians and particularly archaeologists. ‘Minimalism’ in Biblical Studies refers to a trend that, in the estimation of its opponents, plays down the historical character of the biblical narratives. Having illustrated some of the hostility towards Minimalism exhibited by some biblical scholars, academic institutions and organisations, and propagandists, through personal attacks, ridicule, dismissiveness, etc. this essay argues the case for it. The underlying issue, of course, relates to the question of the writing of the history of Palestine today, and the implications of such an enterprise.

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