Customer Reviews

12 Tribes, 10 Plagues, and the 2 Men Who Were Moses: A Historical Journey into Biblical Times

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I find it very interesting that Graham Phillips has been unable to answer Steve Reina's challenge as to the Book of Jasher. According to his index Phillips uses Jasher ninteen times to support his thesis as to the historical connection between the Edomites and the original mountain of Yaweh worship.

To make this short, the book is a waste of time - considering that (as other reviewers have pointed out) one of the main sources is considered a hoax (the book of Jasher...at least the one traced to Alucin). The author loses any remaining credibility when he notes that a professor from Philadelphia University, Michael Martin, studied the book and "was convinced of its authenticity before publishing it in 1995." I verified the claim made by other reviewers...try as you may, you can not find any evidence of such a book being published, or such an individual existing (Michael Martin of Phil. Univ.).

I don't mind reading theories that make some leaps of faith or that go against conventional beliefs, but I do not appreciate authors conveniently making up sources to support their claims.

This is one of the best books I have read on the Bible mysteries for a long time. The author's identification of the historical Moses is fascinating, but what make this book exceptional is that it shows how the story of the Exodus and the foundation of Israel by King David were historical events. The book does not only rely upon the author's own interpretation of ancient texts; it also includes contributions from experts who reveal some fascinating archaeological discoveries that support the Old Testament accounts. A marvelous, enlightening and erudite work.

To the author Mr. Phillips:
In your book you cite an earlier reference entitled "The Book of Jasher" (the supposedly now missing 40th book of the Old Testament) repeatedly. An in the book search on this very cite reveals that you used this reference source eighteen times. A full reading of your book shows that the reference to Jasher is essential to the making of your points. However, although you concede - and rightly so - that the earlier proposed "Book(s) of Jasher" were not of reliable provenance (see e.g. Modern Apocrypha, Famous "Biblical" Hoaxes by Edgar Goodspeed) the "Book of Jasher" you cite by one "Michael Martin" does not exist either on this cite or the Library of Congress website.
My challenge is this: Point us in the reading public to a "Book of Jasher" vouched for by your "Michael Martin" or for that matter any properly credentialed biblical scholar so that we may review the source for ourselves and I will gladly edit this review so as to give you a more positive notice.
To the extent you fail to provide such evidence of provenance I would offer that readers of this review could take this as tacit admission on your part that none exists.

This is one of the best books I have read for a long time. The author not only reveals many exciting archaeological discoveries from the period of the Old Testament, he writes in an easy-going and assessable manner. I have been studying the history of the Bible lands for many years and have never before found a book that contains so many new revelations in one volume. Some of the sources Mr Phillips' employs may be somewhat doubtful, but the facts remains that he has done more to show that the Old Testament relates to recorded history than anyone for many years. I suggest that anyone who questions the authenticity of this book to compare the Bible verses concerning Mount Sinai with the topography of Jebel Madhbah (which Mr Phillips proposes as the true Mountain of God). There can be no doubt that they are one and the same.

John Wrekin

Aurora IL

This book is excellent! I have read it several times and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history and ideas surrounding the times of Moses and the 10 plagues of Egypt.

Graham Phillip's writing is flowing and captivating. Once I started reading the book I couldn't stop until I got to the end.

If you haven't yet purchased a copy I would urge you to do so. You will not be disappointed. A great book and a fanastic buy !

I note with interest that one reviewer questions the findings of this book because of the author's use of the Book of Jasher as a source. I agree that we cannot place too much credence in a source of which so many versions exist. (I believe the one Graham Phillips used is a nineteenth-century translation.) However, most of Mr. Phillips' book compares Bible verses - not the Book of Jasher - with archaeological discoveries to show that the plagues of Egypt really occurred, that Mount Sinai was a real mountain and that Moses was an historical figure. In this respect he has done an excellent job. I may not agree with all his conclusions, but I consider this book to be a milestone in biblical research.