Archaeologists: There are too many camels in the Bible, out of time and out of place

[nadinbrzezinski]

45. That single document is the whole bible

we know it was commissioned by King Josiah and written by four groups of scribes. We know this. It is not a mystery. So the document mentioned camels that were domestic and going back and forth in caravans, because they were. By the seventh century they were pretty much every day technology of trade.

We also know that likely the first actual person mentioned in the whole old testament was King David, more like Chieftain David, who did live in the 10th century and did drive the original inhabitants from Jerusalem. Yes, archeology supports this. Now David kill the giant. maybe, maybe not. I personally think some scribes had one too many that day when they wrote that.

We even know the motive for the king, and why the story of Exodus was important. He was having some issues with his neighbor Egypt, who for some strange reason coveted the holy land, it's that land bridge, it's made that piece of territory strategic since armies started to march back and forth. So the whole exodus was state designed propaganda (and a pretty cool story that has survived the ages, I admit, my favorite part of the Pentateuch). It was also about nation building, since the tribes were still pretty much scattered and not really a nation.

So he had four groups of scribes write the document, drawing from here and there and everywhere (The song of songs is a love song from Egypt from a thousand years before).

The scribes wrote and picked and chose what was to put it in. The first time that books were thrown out from that original was during the Babylonian period. It was when the first Jewish canon came to be, and damn they missed one. Either Genesis one or Genesis two, those two stories of creation oppose each other at fundamental levels. And damn it, were we created in the image of god, or the gods? I actually asked that as an 11 year old, lord did I get in trouble.

And yes, this is is a hot issue with those who believe and in Orthodox Judaism what I wrote is heresy. At least to me the whole real story that is emerging is far more fascinating. But then again I love archeology and history. What man can do is far more impressive to me as well.

Here is one book on this

http://thebibleisnotholy.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/scribal-culture-and-the-making-of-the-hebrew-bible-2007.pdf

And here is another

http://www.amazon.com/101-Myths-Bible-Invented-Biblical/dp/1570718423/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Recent biblical scholarship is becoming really fascinating in this respect. And there is a fascinating vid of this floating around as well.

Here is the vid by the way