Observations on my journey reading the Bible cover to cover Part 1

Observations on my journey reading the Bible cover to cover (Full disclosure: I am listening to it on Audiobook format in a full dramatic cast recording called “The Bible Experience.” The translation the TNIV)

I have never read the Bible cover to cover and thought now was as good a time as ever.

2 books down.

Genesis: generally really enjoyed it. I have read that many of the early books of the Bible have clear evidence that different sections were taken from writings meant for different audiences (for example one section being for priests, another geared toward the people.) This was very clear in the fact that there are actually 2 creation stories. One a bit more cosmic (Let there be light!) The other much more personal- Adam and Eve.

I was also struck by a number of repeated phrases that show a connection to an oral tradition, which I had not seen before taking in a big chunk of the scripture at one time. (The Homeric epics are full of them.)
They are little phrases a speaker can throw in that helps the speaker have a bit more time to remember the next section.

It also struck me that before getting to Abraham, much of Genesis feels very mythical. Once Abraham is in the picture, and through the Joseph story, there just enough details to make me positive there is a historical truth that these particular grand stories grew from. (In the same way there, in my view, was a real Arthur who spawned the Arthurian mythos).

Exodus: the first half of Exodus is riveting. The Moses story is in incredibly compelling. The Pharaoh in the story is unfortunately never named, but it likely was Ramses II. When I was learning Egyptian history there is an interesting break in Ramses rein for the first half he is a fierce warrior, the second half he stops warring and become a great defender. Something happened to Ramses half way through his rein that changed him. The historical events that the Exodus story is inspired by would explain this break very nicely.

Now…the second half of Exodus.

God keeps repeating himself over and over again ad nauseum. It seems clear that the book was edited together from versions that focused on different parts of the story to make a whole, even if it is very repetitious. For example, God tells Moses in exact details how to build the Ark of the Covenant and how to house it in a very special tent. Later Moses tells the people to build it, and it then goes into the exact same detail about how the they built it, repeating all the specifications again.

Also…you see God inflict the plagues of Egypt, parting of the Red Sea, and lead the people out of Egypt with a cloud during the day and a plume of flame at night, and just because Moses is up on the mountain for 40 days…you disparage the power of God and build an idol…
WHAT! And that is not the only time they quickly forget how God’s will and wrath are manifested. The Israelites sure are (as the text I am using uses, as one of its aforementioned repeated phrases) a “stiff necked people.”