Early Hebrew story; its historical background

Front matter

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE '

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THE GIFT OF

Part III. — Covering the greater portion of the New Testament. 12° $2.00

" I congratulate you on the issue of a work which I am sure will find a wide welcome, and the excellent features of which make it of permanent value."— Rt. Rev. Henrv C. Potter, Bishop of New York.

"A valuable adjunct of biblical instruction."— Rt. Rev. W. E. Stevens, Bishop of Pennsylvania.

New York— G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS— London

CROWN THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY

VOL. VII.

PETERS' EARLY HEBREW STORY

BY

JOHN P. PETERS, D.D.

RECTOR OF ST. MICHAEL's CHURCH, NEW YORK

AUTHOR OF '* NIPPUR, OR EXPLORATIONS AND ADVENTURES ON THE

EUPHRATES"

New York :

London : Williams and Norgate

Copyright^ 1904

BY

JOHN P. PETERS

Published, June, 1904

DEDICATED

TO MY MOTHER

At whose knee I first

learned to know and love

the Bible

MINUTE

Passed by the Faculty of the Bangor

Theological Seminary,

December, 1903,

The Faculty of Bangor Theological Seminary wish to express their pleasure in the course of lectures delivered in November , igoj, by the Rev. John P. Peters, D.D., of New York City, upon the theme, "Early Hebrew Story, Its Historical Background." The broad and ripe scholarship, the fresh knowledge of details, the constructive tetnper and the reverent Christian spirit which were always manifest gave these lectures exceptional worth not only for the student body, but for the large company of thoughtful people who heard them. We earnestly hope that these lectures will be published, for, while opinions may differ about some of the conclusions arrived at, we believe that the course is adapted to promote biblical scholarship, and that their expert knowledge and positive constructive tone give them, exceptional value at the present time. It will afford us especial satisfaction to have them associated in their publication with the Bond Foundation in this Seminary.

Preface

THE lectures in this volume were delivered before the Bangor Theological Seminary, Bangor, Maine, on the Bond Foundation, in November, 1903.

The study of beginnings has always been one of especial interest to me, and my studies and archaeological researches have been particularly devoted to the investigation of beginnings. It was, therefore, with peculiar pleasure that I received, some three years since, an invitation to treat the theme of Hebrew beginnings in a course of lectures. These lectures deal with matters which have been much under discussion of late, particularly through the publication of Delitzsch's " Babel and Bible," — the origin of the stories of Creation, Eden, the Flood, the Tower of Babel, and the literary and religious dependence of the Hebrew version of these stories on foreign heathen, especially Babylonian, sources. Devout Christian men and women no longer accept these stories as the historical record of events, and not a few are coming to doubt the historical character of the patriarchs, or even of Moses. This uncertainty with regard to the historical character

vii viii Preface

of the contents of the early books of the Old Testament extends also to their religious character. If not valuable for historical purposes, what religious value, if any, do they possess ?

These lectures deal, first, with the origin of the books in which these stories are contained. What is tjieir date in their present form, how and when wa/re they composed and from what source did the writers draw their material ? Secondly : What is the nature of that material ? How much of it is derived from foreign myths and legends, whether Babylonian or Canaanitic ? How did the Hebrews come into possession of this material ? Thirdly : What peculiarly Hebrew material, if any, exists in these stories ? How much of that material is historical and in what sense ? What evidence does it give, not only of the ancestry and political development, but still more of the religion and religious development of the Hebrews in the early period ? Fourthly : What is the religious value to us of the present day of these stories and the books in which they are contained ?

I have considered it preferable to publish these lectures substantially as they were delivered, retaining the lecture form and style. If this results in a certain discursive and repetitious quality, I nevertheless hope that the directness of address may

Preface ix

more than atone for those faults with the average reader. It is my hope in this volume to speak rather to the intelligent men and women who are interested in the Bible, in the early history of the world and the development of religion, than to scholars or theological students. At the same time I shall be disappointed if I do not bring to the latter also some things worthy of their careful consideration. The book is in a sense a study in the comparative history of religion.

Inasmuch as this volume is addressed primarily to the general public, I have thought it best to burden the pages as little as possible with notes or references.

John P. Peters.

St, Michael's Church, May 3, 1904.