How the Bible Became Holy

Drawing on cutting-edge historical and archaeological research, author Michael Satlow provides a grand, sweeping exploration of the true origins of the Holy Bible. Originally cobbled together from a diverse assortment of ancient Middle Eastern texts – often repetitious, contradictory and illogical – the Bible, Satlow maintains, was not at first the authoritative religious tome it was much later considered to be. This fascinating and controversial volume describes how elite scribes in the eighth and seventh centuries BCE, allied with the political and priestly authorities, responded in writing to the challenges, influences and concerns of the ancient Israelites. It was not until centuries later that these texts, originating from different eras and written in several genres, were brought together and ultimately canonized, creating the most influential written document in human history. Synthesizing an enormous body of scholarly work, Professor Satlow's groundbreaking study offers provocative new assertions about the creation of the Old Testament and its path to sacredness, viewing the Bible in a bold new light and illuminating the unique history of this all-important religious text.