Letter to the Editor
A brief letter responding to the article 'Extra-Biblical Evidence of the Exodus,' arguing that the Bible intentionally portrays Israel as weak in order to magnify God's power in the Exodus narrative.
Sir,
This is in reference to Reeve Robert Brenner’s article “Extra-Biblical Evidence of the Exodus” (Issue XXXVI:3, July–September, 2008). In this article, in support of the historicity of the Exodus, the author states that “a people inventing a past claims descent from gods, nobles, and heroes, not from slaves.”
On the surface, this argument appears to be quite logical, but not if you consider the overall thrust of the biblical narrative. The main protagonist in the Bible is God, not the people of Israel.
It would be no big deal if Israel were a strong people and God helped them defeat another strong people. But if Israel is portrayed as being weak, then defeating the Egyptians, the most powerful force in the region, greatly enhances God’s stature.
Julius B. Moster Los Angeles
Cite this article
Julius B. Moster. "Letter to the Editor." Jewish Bible Quarterly 37, no. 2 (April – June 2009): 0.
Julius B. Moster. "Letter to the Editor." Jewish Bible Quarterly, vol. 37, no. 2, 2009, pp. 0.