Biblical Scholars speaking on the bible Historicity

1. Richard Elliott Friedman - American biblical scholar and author of "Who Wrote
the Bible?" He is known for his work on the documentary hypothesis and the
composition of the Pentateuch.

Quotation: "The Pentateuch contains numerous examples of later additions,

including historical details that were not part of the original texts." (Source: "Who
Wrote the Bible?" p. 23)

2. William F. Albright - American archaeologist and biblical scholar who was a

pioneer in the application of archaeology to biblical studies.

Quotation: "Many of the historical details in the Old Testament were added in later
editing, reflecting the concerns of the time in which they were written." (Source:
"From the Stone Age to Christianity," p. 12)

3. John Van Seters - Canadian biblical scholar known for his work on the
historicity of the Old Testament and the composition of the Pentateuch.

Quotation: "The Pentateuch contains a mix of original and later materials, including
historical details that were added to give the appearance of a continuous narrative."
(Source: "The Life of Moses in the Pentateuch," p. 19)

4. Thomas L. Thompson - Danish biblical scholar and author of "The Historicity

of the Old Testament." He has challenged the traditional historical
understanding of the Old Testament.

Quotation: "The Old Testament is not a reliable historical document; it contains a

mixture of original and later materials, including historical details that were added to
serve theological and political purposes." (Source: "The Historicity of the Old
Testament," p. 10)

5. John J. Collins - American biblical scholar and author of "The Scepter and the
Star: The Messiahs of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Ancient Israel." He is known
for his work on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha.
Quotation: "The Old Testament contains a variety of sources, some of which were
written long after the events they describe, leading to a complex interplay of
historical details and theological agendas." (Source: "The Scepter and the Star," p. 17)

6. James P. Allen - American Egyptologist and author of "Middle Egyptian: An

Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs."

Quotation: "The biblical accounts of events in Egypt, such as the Exodus, often
include historical details that were added long after the events they describe, making
it difficult to determine the original narrative." (Source: "Middle Egyptian," p. 25)

7. Ze'ev Herzog - Israeli archaeologist and author of "The Israelites in History and
Tradition." He has contributed to the study of the archaeology of Israel and the
history of the biblical period.

Quotation: "The biblical narratives often include historical details that were added to
create a national history for the Israelites, which may not reflect the actual historical
events." (Source: "The Israelites in History and Tradition," p. 14)

8. William Dever - American archaeologist and author of "Did God Have a Wife?
Archaeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel." He is known for his work on
the archaeology of Israel and the history of ancient Israelite religion.

Quotation: "The biblical texts were written and rewritten over time, with historical
details being added to reflect the changing political and religious landscape of the
Israelites." (Source: "Did God Have a Wife?" p. 20)

9. Thomas Römer - Swiss Old Testament scholar and author of "The So-Called
Deuteronomistic History." He is known for his work on the composition of the
Old Testament.

Quotation: "The Deuteronomistic History is a composite work, with historical details

that were added in later stages of composition to create a coherent narrative."
(Source: "The So-Called Deuteronomistic History," p. 12)

10. John Walton - American Old Testament scholar and author of "The Lost World
of Genesis One." He is known for his work on the ancient Near Eastern context
of the Old Testament.