101 Myths of the Bible: How Ancient Scribes Invented Biblical History (Paperback)

by Gary Greenberg (Author) "The first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, tell the history of the world from the time of..." (more)
Key Phrases: benben bird, biblical redactors, textual formula, The Reality, Song of Deborah, Sea Peoples (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In his startling book, Gary Greenberg exposes the reality behind the greatest story ever told. Learn about the Egyptian myths and ancient folklore that survive in one of history's most sacred texts, and discover how:

-King David's bodyguard, not David, killed Goliath
-Noah's Ark did not land on Mount Ararat
-Samson did not pull down a Philistine temple
-There are at least two versions of the Ten Commandments
-The walls of Jericho were destroyed 300 years before Joshua arrived there
-Sodom and Gomorrah were mythical cities that never existed
-The story of Esther had nothing to do with the Jews of Persia
-And much, much more

101 Myths of the Bible provides a new dimension of biblical studies for believers, historians and anyone who has ever wondered about the facts behind the legends. By looking deeper into history, Greenberg shows that the true story makes the Bible more interesting than ever imagined!

About the Author
Gary Greenberg is the author of The Moses Mystery: The African Origins of the Jewish People. He is a member Society of Biblical Literature, The Egypt Exploration Society, The American Research Center in Egypt and The Archaeological Institute of America. He has addressed The International Conference of Egyptologists, The Society of Biblical Literature and conferences held by the American Research Center in Egypt. He is a senior trial lawyer for the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc. (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570718423
• ISBN-13: 978-1570718427
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,604 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

130 of 141 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Insights into Bible Stories, May 6, 2001

By	Bradley P. Rich (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: 101 Myths of the Bible: How Ancient Scribes Invented Biblical History (Hardcover)

The use of the word "myth" in the title of this book is perhaps unfortunate. Readers who associate the word "myth" with falsehood may pass this interesting book by. The author has examined the biblical stories that we are all more or less familiar with and located earlier versions of those same stories in other cultures, particularly that of ancient Egypt. The evidence turns out to be surprisingly compelling.

This is not a book that attempts to debunk the Bible, but rather treats the stories sympathically. While this approach may offend the strict literalistic reader, other believers will be struck by the mythic power that these stories possess. It is also true that the open-minded reader will be impressed by the evidence that connects Bible stories to earlier accounts of the gods of the Egyptians and others. To me this was fascinating stuff!

One more point: The organization of this book makes it very easy to read. By having each chapter deal with a very specific story or "myth" and by presenting the antecedent myths and related evidence with the confines of the chapter, this book is very easy to read. One can turn to any chapter at random and read it with a complete understanding of the author's contention on that particular story. This makes the book an easy and informative read.

131 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Scholarly work (not a debunker), August 5, 2001

By	Peter G. Roode (Gainesville, Florida USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: 101 Myths of the Bible: How Ancient Scribes Invented Biblical History (Hardcover)

101 Bible Myths

The title is a wee bit misleading... if you think that the author is going to take 101 stories from the Bible and debunk them, you will be surprised. What he does is take 101 stories from the Bible and shows elements of their origin; from pre-existing mythologies of other ancient peoples, mostly Egyptian. There are too many similarities between various tales for one to believe that the Bible stories were original. He seeks to understand, not debunk. It is a trivial exercise to find contradictions in the Bible. But a scholar can illuminate them, showing how and why they arose. Understanding is then increased. This promotes, rather than denigrates, the Bible.

The author, Gary Greenburg carries impressive credentials; i.e. he is not just another writer pushing his own view. He is also a scholar, a member of SBL, AIM and Pres of New York BAS. And a trial lawyer. His major contention is that scholars have neglected Egyptian influence upon the early Hebrews.

Consider: Abraham lived in Egypt for awhile. Later the entire people (or at least some of 'em) lived there for a prolonged period. Joseph married an Egyptian. His half Egyptian sons, Ephriam and Manasseh, went on to inherit the divine promise, to found the kingdom of Israel in the north. Moses was raised and educated as an Egyptian. Solomon married an Egyptian, built Egyptian temples in Jerusalem. Jeroboam fled for protection to Egypt before founding the northern Kingdom. This can only mean that the Hebrews were exposed to Egyptian myths for prolonged periods of time.

In discussing the Egyptian (and Babylonian) origins of many Biblical tales, Greenberg has occasion to explain the Documentary Hypothesis. JEPD differ because they were written at different times by different people for different purposes. If you have not read "Who Wrote the Bible" by Richard Friedman, this will serve as an introduction to the concept. Peter G. Roode, M.D.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not comprehensive, November 19, 2002

By	M. Nichols (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Throughout the ancient world, pagan religions had mythologies about their origins and the gods that ruled them -- creation myths, flood myths, tales of the gods getting angry at the people, harming them, and then reconsidering their actions with regret.

Sound familiar? Gary Greenberg's "101 Myths of the Bible" is an interesting read, casting light on some compelling evidence that the writers of the Bible were highly influenced in their storytelling by existing pagan mythology, especially Egyptian mythology. Israelites, after all, spent years in captivity in Egypt, where they would have been familiar with its religion and myths.

In this book, Greenberg spells out 101 theories about certain Bible stories, and then shows what their Egyptian antecedents may have been. The evidence is compelling. The book is written in a simplistic format that brings to mind McDowell's "Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask" although Greenberg is far more intelligent and based in scholorship, of course. He seems to borrow a lot of his information from Friedman's "Who Wrote the Bible?" and gives credit to that book in his "Suggested Reading" section at the back. I would recommend reading the Friedman book first and then this -- Greenberg's take could almost be considered a spinoff focusing on Egyptian myths that mirror the Bible tales.

Greenberg isn't a particulary gifted writer, but he is lucid and compelling, spelling out his case in a step-by-step way that begins to convince you overwealmingly of its truth -- does it surprise you that he's a defense attorney?

Worth a look.