The Persian Period and the Origins of Israel: Beyond the "Myths"

The Bible and Interpretation: The Persian Period and the Origins of Israel: Beyond the "Myths". By Efraín Velázquez II Universidad Adventista de las Antillas, Puerto Rico, July 2009. Abstract: The issues of settlement and the origin of Israel are commonly associated with the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. These periods have been considered the loci of the early biblical materials. However, more recently, these assumptions about the origin of the biblical texts and even the factuality of the events presented in them have been questioned. The discussion of the origins of Israel is now focused on the Persian period. Whereas this newer emphasis is somewhat strained and tends to repeat some of the unfortunate mistakes made by earlier interpreters, the debate over Israel in the Persian period nevertheless illuminates the discussion of Israel’s origin in earlier periods.