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@article{ART001352417},
author={Samuel Cheon},
title={A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham},
journal={Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies},
issn={1229-0521},
year={2009},
volume={15},
number={2},
pages={151-166},
doi={10.24333/jkots.2009.15.2.151}

TY - JOUR
AU - Samuel Cheon
TI - A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham
JO - Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies
PY - 2009
VL - 15
IS - 2
PB - Korean Society of Old Testament Studies
SP - 151
EP - 166
SN - 1229-0521
AB - The purpose of this article is to deal with Abraham's historical identity presented by recent scholars who have studied his story in the Book of Genesis through archaeology and historical criticism. To do so, it critically reviews their presentations which have been discussed for the last 60 years. First of all, in the perspective of Palestine archaeology, Abraham was placed in the early second millenium, B.C.E. by W. F. Albright and N. Glueck, in the 19th-16th century B.C.E. by R. de Vaux and J. Bright, in the period of Amarna (15th-14th century B.C.E.) by C. H. Gordon and O. Eissfeldt, or in the early Iron Age (1200-1000 B.C.E.) by B. Mazar and P. K. McCarter, Jr. However, their views were criticized by T. L. Thompson and J. Van Seters, who argued that Abraham's story in the Book of Genesis included anachronism such as Philistines and camels, and later traditions. It means that ‘historical Abraham’ cannot be reconstructed by archaeological data. In the perspective of historical criticism, Yahwist's Abraham was presented as the intermediator of promise, but it has been discussed whether J was in the 10th century B.C.E. or exilic period. Priestly writer's Abraham was also presented as a model of the faithful or righteous in the exilic or post-exilic Jewish community, but it has been discussed whether P was in the Babylonian Period or Persian. In spite of these previous studies, the historicity of Abraham still remains unsolved, because it is difficult to deny Abraham as a historical figure. Abraham presented by J or P should be also reconsidered with each writer's socio-historical situation, which needs a study of Abraham described in other Pentateuchal books and prophetic ones. It means that the study of Abraham is related with other texts in the Old Testament as well as the story of Abraham in the Book of Genesis.
KW - Abraham The Book of Genesis Yahwist Priestly writer Patriarchal period
DO - 10.24333/jkots.2009.15.2.151
ER -

Samuel Cheon. (2009). A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 15(2), 151-166.

Samuel Cheon. 2009, "A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham", Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, vol.15, no.2 pp.151-166. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2009.15.2.151

Samuel Cheon "A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 15.2 pp.151-166 (2009) : 151.

Samuel Cheon. A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham. 2009; 15(2), 151-166. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2009.15.2.151

Samuel Cheon. "A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 15, no.2 (2009) : 151-166.doi: 10.24333/jkots.2009.15.2.151

Samuel Cheon. A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 15(2), 151-166. doi: 10.24333/jkots.2009.15.2.151

Samuel Cheon. A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies. 2009; 15(2) 151-166. doi: 10.24333/jkots.2009.15.2.151

Samuel Cheon. A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham. 2009; 15(2), 151-166. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2009.15.2.151

Samuel Cheon. "A Study of Scholarly Views on the Historical Identity of Abraham" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 15, no.2 (2009) : 151-166.doi: 10.24333/jkots.2009.15.2.151