Baruch Halpern is the Covenant Foundation Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Georgia. He was a leader of the archaeological digs at Tel Megiddo 1992–2007,[1] as well as of an archaeological survey in southeastern Cilicia (Turkey).[2] As an undergraduate at Harvard in 1972, he wrote a political analysis of the Bible, which subsequently influenced research into its authorship.[3]
He is noted for his use of archaeological information to interpret the meaning of Biblical texts (for example, the explanation of Ehud's murder of King Eglon and escape without detection from the "upper room," see Judges 3:12–30, in Halpern's book The First Historians: The Hebrew Bible and History, pp. 55–59). He has said:
You cannot know the culture without knowing the material culture, either. So we need to combine text with what's in the ground, and, when our evidence is a little dirigible, we also need ethnological help, preferably from our region. This is no different in terms of reconstructing thought than needing to know the central and related languages involved.[2]
Halpern's theory of the development of Israelite monotheism, first articulated in a 1986 publication, involves the differentiation of the state God, YHWH, from His former subordinates and colleagues, collectively "the baal" or "the baals". This grew into alienation especially around and after the fall of Israel ca. 720 and the Assyrian devastation of Judah in 701. Economically, specialization and the operation of comparative advantage spread partly as a result of competing operative trade networks; this led to partial industrialization and to relative urbanization. Intellectually, the trade-driven renaissance in intellectual exchange provoked a Reformation, of which the reforms of Hezekiah (ca. 701) and Josiah (ca. 622) were manifestations (all 2009).
Halpern has strongly criticized biblical minimalists, particularly Israel Finkelstein's "Low Chronology" theory: in his 1995 essay Erasing History: The Minimalist Assault on Ancient Israel he defends the historicity of the United Monarchy and of kings Saul, David and Solomon.[4] However, he is far from a literalist: in his book David's Secret Demons: Messiah, Murderer, Traitor, King, he describes David as a bloody tyrant, whose image was later whitewashed by the Books of Samuel.[5]
The First Historians: The Hebrew Bible and History (1980)
Articles and shorter piecesedit
"The Rise of Abimelek Ben-Jerubbaal," Hebrew Annual Review 2 (1978): 79–100.
"The Centralization Formula in Deuteronomy," Vetus Testamentum 31.1 (1981): 20–38.
"The Housebreaking Law of Exodus 21:37– 22:3: A Synchronic View," Maarav 20.2 (2013): 247–250.
Referencesedit
^Ussishkin, David. "Tel Megiddo Centennial – Year 2002 Season". Israel Antiquities Authority. from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
^ abUniv. of Ga. 2015-08-22 at the Wayback Machine, Dept. of Religion.
^pg. 43, Friedman, Richard Elliott. Who Wrote the Bible? (2nd edition, 1997) HarperSanFrancisco. ISBN0-06-063035-3
^Halpern, Baruch (1999). "Erasing History – The Minimalist Assault on Ancient Israel". Biblical Archaeology Review: 415.
A lecture by Halpern on the Exodus (May 31 – June 1, 2013) on YouTube
January 01, 1970
baruch, halpern, covenant, foundation, professor, jewish, studies, university, georgia, leader, archaeological, digs, megiddo, 1992, 2007, well, archaeological, survey, southeastern, cilicia, turkey, undergraduate, harvard, 1972, wrote, political, analysis, bi. Baruch Halpern is the Covenant Foundation Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Georgia He was a leader of the archaeological digs at Tel Megiddo 1992 2007 1 as well as of an archaeological survey in southeastern Cilicia Turkey 2 As an undergraduate at Harvard in 1972 he wrote a political analysis of the Bible which subsequently influenced research into its authorship 3 He is noted for his use of archaeological information to interpret the meaning of Biblical texts for example the explanation of Ehud s murder of King Eglon and escape without detection from the upper room see Judges 3 12 30 in Halpern s book The First Historians The Hebrew Bible and History pp 55 59 He has said You cannot know the culture without knowing the material culture either So we need to combine text with what s in the ground and when our evidence is a little dirigible we also need ethnological help preferably from our region This is no different in terms of reconstructing thought than needing to know the central and related languages involved 2 Halpern s theory of the development of Israelite monotheism first articulated in a 1986 publication involves the differentiation of the state God YHWH from His former subordinates and colleagues collectively the baal or the baals This grew into alienation especially around and after the fall of Israel ca 720 and the Assyrian devastation of Judah in 701 Economically specialization and the operation of comparative advantage spread partly as a result of competing operative trade networks this led to partial industrialization and to relative urbanization Intellectually the trade driven renaissance in intellectual exchange provoked a Reformation of which the reforms of Hezekiah ca 701 and Josiah ca 622 were manifestations all 2009 Halpern has strongly criticized biblical minimalists particularly Israel Finkelstein s Low Chronology theory in his 1995 essay Erasing History The Minimalist Assault on Ancient Israel he defends the historicity of the United Monarchy and of kings Saul David and Solomon 4 However he is far from a literalist in his book David s Secret Demons Messiah Murderer Traitor King he describes David as a bloody tyrant whose image was later whitewashed by the Books of Samuel 5 Contents 1 Books 2 Articles and shorter pieces 3 References 4 External linksBooks editCultural Contact and Appropriation in the Axial Age Mediterranean World edited with Kenneth Sacks and Tyler E Kelley Leiden Brill 2016 From Gods to God Leiden Brill 2009 David s Secret Demons Messiah Murderer Traitor King Wm B Eerdmans Publishing 2003 The Rise of Ancient Israel Symposium at the Smithsonian Institution 1991 with Hershel Shanks William Dever and P Kyle McCarter The Emergence of Israel in Canaan 1983 The Constitution of the Monarchy in Israel 1981 The First Historians The Hebrew Bible and History 1980 Articles and shorter pieces edit The Rise of Abimelek Ben Jerubbaal Hebrew Annual Review 2 1978 79 100 The Centralization Formula in Deuteronomy Vetus Testamentum 31 1 1981 20 38 The Housebreaking Law of Exodus 21 37 22 3 A Synchronic View Maarav 20 2 2013 247 250 References edit Ussishkin David Tel Megiddo Centennial Year 2002 Season Israel Antiquities Authority Archived from the original on 17 October 2007 Retrieved 2007 09 12 a b Univ of Ga Archived 2015 08 22 at the Wayback Machine Dept of Religion pg 43 Friedman Richard Elliott Who Wrote the Bible 2nd edition 1997 HarperSanFrancisco ISBN 0 06 063035 3 Halpern Baruch 1999 Erasing History The Minimalist Assault on Ancient Israel Biblical Archaeology Review 415 Halpern Baruch 2003 11 12 David s Secret Demons Messiah Murderer Traitor King Wm B Eerdmans Publishing ISBN 978 0 8028 2797 5 External links editBaruch Halpern Univ Ga Faculty Directory Profile A lecture by Halpern on the Exodus May 31 June 1 2013 on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baruch Halpern amp oldid 1220689962, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
