101 Myths of the Bible: How Ancient Scribes Invented Biblical History [NOOK Book]

Table of Contents

Preface Introduction Notes on Terminology Timetable of Biblical History

Part I - Myths of the Beginning Myths of the Beginning: An Overview
1. In the beginning everything was without form and void.
2. God initiated Creation with a spoken word.
3. Creation began with the appearance of light.
4. God separated light from darkness on the first day.
5. A firmament rose out of the primeval waters.
6. God called the firmament "heaven."
7. God gathered the waters in one place.
8. Vegetation appeared before the sun.
9. God created the heavenly bodies.
10. Birds emerged from primeval waters.
11. God created man and woman in his own image.
12. God created Adam and Eve on the sixth day.
13. God gave man dominion over the creatures.
14. God created earth on the third day.
15. God rested on the seventh day.
16. God rested after Creation.
17. The heavens and the earth had children.
18. Adam and Eve were the first humans.
19. God formed Adam from the dust of the earth.
20. God planted a Tree of Life and a Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
21. Adam would die if he ate from the Tree of Knowledge.
22. God forbid Adam to eat certain fruit.
23. Eve came from Adam's rib.
24. Adam gained wisdom without immortality.
25. There were other beings in the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve.
26. God planted a garden eastward in Eden.
27. Adam and Eve lived a simple primitive lifestyle while in the Garden of Eden.
28. The serpent was more subtle than any beast.
29. God punished Adam, Eve, and the serpent.
30. Cain killed Abel.
31. Cain built a city east of Eden.
32. God sent a flood to destroy mankind.
33. Ham was the father of Canaan.
34. Noah released birds to determine if the land had dried.
35. The flood occurred in the tenth generation of humanity.
36. All earthly life had become wicked and had to be destroyed.
37. The sons of God married the daughters of man.
38. Noah saved only two of each species.
39. The rain lasted forty days and forty nights.
40. The flood covered the entire earth and all the mountains.
41. After the flood, Noah sacrificed all clean animals.
42. All living creatures not on the ark perished.
43. God confused the common language of humanity and scattered the people about the world.
44. The Ark landed on the mountains of Ararat.
45. The sons of Noah formed the nations of the world.
46. Nimrod conquered Babylon.
47. The Sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan.

Part II - Myths of the Founders Myths of the Founders: An Overview
48. Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldees.
49. Abraham left Egypt to go to Canaan.
50. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
51. Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt.
52. Lot fathered Ammon and Moab.
53. Abraham pretended that Sarah was his sister.
54. Jacob and Esau fought in the womb.
55. Jacob cheated Esau out of his birthright.
56. Jacob dreamed about a ladder to heaven.
57. Jacob wrestled with a stranger.
58. God changed Jacob's name to Israel.
59. Esau is Edom.
60. Jacob buried Rachel in Bethelehem.
61. The prince of Shechem raped Dinah.
62. Abraham named his son "He Laughed."
63. Jacob's sons became the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
64. Reuben was Jacob's oldest son.
65. Jacob disqualified Simeon and Levi from leadership.
66. Jacob awarded the sceptre to Judah.
67. Benjamin was born in Canaan.
68. Dan was an Israelite tribe.
69. Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors.
70. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery.
71. Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph.

Part III - Myths of the Heroes Myths of the Heroes: An Overview
72. Egypt enslaved Israel for four hundred years.
73. Jochebed placed the infant Moses in an ark.
74. Pharaoh's daughter gave Moses a Hebrew name.
75. God sent ten plagues against Egypt.
76. Pharaoh's army drowned in the Red Sea.
77. Aaron fashioned a golden calf.
78. Moses gave Israel the Ten Commandments.
79. The Ark of the Covenant contained the Ten Commandments.
80. Moses defeated King Sihon at Heshbon.
81. God denied Moses entry into Canaan because he sinned against the Lord.
82. Joshua parted the Jordan.
83. Joshua tumbled the walls of Jericho.
84. Rahab aided the Israelite spies.
85. Joshua ruined Ai.
86. The sun stood still upon Gibeon.
87. Joshua captured Jerusalem.
88. Joshua fought King Jabin of Hazor.
89. Joshua conquered Canaan.
90. Joshua led Israel after the death of Moses.
91. Shamgar was teh son of Anath.
92. Deborah rallied against Israel after the death of Moses.
93. Samson judged Israel for twenty years.
94. Samson pulled down the Philistine temple.
95. Micah stole silver from his mother.
96. David killed Goliath.
97. King Saul committed suicide.
98. The House of Judah fought the House of Saul at Gibeon
99. Solomon did not impose forced labor on Israel.
100. Daniel predicted the future.
101. Queen Esther saved the Jews of Persia.

Conclusion Suggested Reading Table of Maps Index About the Author

Gary Greenberg is the author of The Moses Mystery: The African Origins of the Jewish People. He is a member Society of Biblical Literature, The Egypt Exploration Society, The American Research Center in Egypt and The Archaeological Institute of America. He has addressed The International Conference of Egyptologists, The Society of Biblical Literature and conferences held by the American Research Center in Egypt. He is a senior trial lawyer for the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society in New York City.