Question
As you read though Chapter 2 you will see the rejection of polytheism by several groups including by the Hebrews. This legacy of this is still with us today. It was the model on which other religions were built, including Christianity and Islam.
Watch the first 30-minutes of the Professor Christine Hayes’ lecture, including the “Introduction to theHebrewBible” and “Common Myths of theBible” (starts at 16:00 minutes).
“.yale.edu/religious-studies/rlst-145/lecture-1″>Introduction to theHebrewBible”
As you watch these excerpts from the lecture, take notes so you can answer the following questions:
What ensured the survival of the ancient Israelites when countless other tribes and peoples in the Near East (Sumerians, Phoenicians, Assyrians) assimilated or even disappeared?
What differentiated theHebrewconception of God from the views prevalent in the ancient world? (Use the example of the flood story).
Why, according to Professor Hayes, is theBible notsuitable for children?
When was theHebrewBiblewritten? Who wrote it?
