Is the Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament Historically Reliable?

Links Mentioned in this Episode: https://www.bartehrman.com/hbdeal - To celebrate the launch of Misquoting Moses, all through August Joel's course The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel is on sale at 50% off via this link. Episode Outline: 0:00 Did the Flood, Exodus, Jericho, and other famous Hebrew Bible stories actually happen? 3:07 Why the Bible is not a modern history book or an eyewitness account of the past 5:21 How historians compare biblical stories with competing ancient accounts 7:16 The tools scholars use: language, literary analysis, archaeology, and outside sources 10:48 Where does real history begin to emerge in the Hebrew Bible? 12:27 The Exodus: tiny historical clues behind a story that probably did not happen as written 18:03 How archaeology and discoveries from Egypt and Mesopotamia changed biblical scholarship 22:56 What scholars actually mean when they call biblical stories “myths” 28:58 Why ancient Israelites may have told violent conquest stories like the Book of Joshua 33:00 If the conquest never happened, where did the Israelites actually come from? 34:34 Were the Israelites really Canaanites? Archaeology and the origins of ancient Israel 38:56 That’s Not in the Bible: Was Ramses II really the Pharaoh of the Exodus? Episode Description* The Hebrew Bible contains some of the most iconic stories in Western civilization: the parting of the Red Sea, the plagues of Egypt, David and Goliath, and the conquest of the Promised Land. For centuries, these accounts were often accepted as straightforward history. But how do they hold up under modern historical and archaeological research? In this episode of *Misquoting Moses*, host Megan Kraege joins Dr. Joel Baden to explore the complicated relationship between the biblical text and the historical past. Dr. Baden explains that the Bible is not a modern history book written for objective reporting. Its authors created literature with theological and ideological purposes, shaping identity and exploring Israel’s relationship with God. So how do historians evaluate it? Scholars compare the Bible with archaeology, external ancient records, and literary evidence, weighing multiple sources rather than treating any one of them as infallible. Joel and Megan apply these methods to some of the Bible’s biggest stories. They examine a spectrum of historicity, from events that almost certainly did not happen, such as a global flood, to stories that may preserve a small historical memory. The Exodus, for example, has no archaeological support in the sweeping form described in the Bible, but details such as Moses’ Egyptian name and the presence of Semitic slaves in Egypt may preserve traces of a smaller historical reality later transformed into an epic founding story. The episode also explores the origins of ancient Israel. If archaeology does not support Joshua’s military conquest of Canaan, where did the Israelites come from? Dr. Baden explains the prevailing scholarly view that the earliest Israelites were indigenous Canaanites. Around the Late Bronze Age collapse, groups moved into the central highlands and gradually developed a distinct culture, identity, and religious tradition. The conversation also addresses the troubling violence of Joshua. Rather than treating its conquest and genocide as straightforward history, Dr. Baden suggests understanding it as a “fantasy of power” created by a small, often oppressed people to reinforce their identity and sense of divine favor. Finally, in “That’s Not in the Bible,” Dr. Baden tackles the identity of the Exodus Pharaoh. Popular culture often names Ramses the Great, but the biblical text never identifies the Pharaoh at all, showing how later traditions can become more familiar than what the Bible actually says. Three Key Takeaways from This Episode: 1. The Hebrew Bible Is Not a Modern History Book: It is a collection of ancient literature shaped by theological and ideological goals, not an objective record of the past. Recognizing its purpose is essential for evaluating its historical claims. 2. History Is a Process of Triangulation: Historians compare the Bible with other ancient texts, archaeology, and literary evidence. No single source is treated as infallible; the goal is the most plausible reconstruction of the past. 3. The Origins of Israel Lie Within Canaan: Archaeology suggests the earliest Israelites were indigenous Canaanites who developed a distinct identity over time. This challenges the biblical account of an outside conquest.