Description: This book demonstrates that Primary History, the historical work contained in the first nine books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis-2 Kings), was written as one unitary work, in deliberate emulation of the Greek-language Histories of Herodotus of Halicarnassus (completed c. 440 BCE); the diversity of its books and sections is largely a literary device. The work was most likely written in the period 440-420 BCE, in the period of reform usually associated with the name of Nehemiah. Though this thesis does not directly affect questions of historicity, understanding the literary nature of primary history promises to open new vistas for research into the history of Israel, the Hebrew Bible in general and the history of the Hebrew language.
Brief description: Andrew Mein is Director of Research at the Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, UK
Review Quotes: " provocative and daring I applaud the care and honesty with which W. [Wesselius] confronts intellectual and cultural problems and the simplicity and elegance of his writing "" -Theological Studies"