Politics · 17 · Moses and Joshua

Both origin stories have no Israelite king

The family stories and the exodus-conquest story disagree on almost everything, except one thing: Israel's own monarchy plays no role in either.

Israel's formative past is kingless.

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Exodus imagines a people-in-arms led by Yhwh, crowned king after defeating Pharaoh. Historically, conquering the land was largely kings' work. Erasing them was a bold thought experiment by northern scribes after their kingdom fell.

Bible reference: Exodus 15:18; Deuteronomy 17:14

Source: Why the Bible Began, pp. 277–278

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