HISTORICAL WRITING IN THE BIBLE

The form of the books in general is in prose (not bound by the rules in poetry). The OT history books are for edification and teaching (2 Timothy 3:16-17). History is a record or report of a series of facts, but not everything that happened in history is recorded in the OT history books. The most important thing in understanding history is intent and purpose.

Modern Historical Study of History in the Bible

The history of Israel is the focus of study that is recognized as history, especially the history that brings people closer to God and to an understanding of the Bible itself. In discussions of biblical history, there are two German terms that often appear, namely "Historie" (a straightforward report of what actually happened or is a past fact about what is common and can be explained according to the canon of modern historical studies, and "Geschichte" (reports of past events in terms of their significance in the present.

Historical Writing Sources

Written sources: usually the most important source for Old Testament chroniclers to construct (construct) history.

Materials or relics.

Sources of tradition are those spoken by the community in the form of genealogies, rhymes/proverbs, advice, songs, prayer formulas, folk stories, ceremonies, etc.

Characteristics of Historical Writing

Historical: aims to tell the events of the past.

Artistic: is a work of art, including the books of Ruth, Esther.

Entertaining: really captivates the reader with stories of heroism, romance, divine intervention, etc.

It is an anthology: it is a collection of the works of many different authors.

Selective/chosen: not all events that occur are written down.

Realistic: the stories represent the realities of the world in appropriate ways.

Revealing: the Bible is God's Word to man.

Responsive

Theological: history books talk about God.

Elements in Historical Writing

Internal elements

a. Storyline

As a narrative, historical writing has a clear storyline. A story must be explained according to the plot by first understanding the outline (scene) of the writing. From this storyline, it can be found what the purpose of writing the story is.

b. Main character or actor

The reader must be able to distinguish between the main character and additional actors in narrative (historical) texts.

c. Background

Geographic, epoch, politics, culture, etc.

2. External elements

a. Writer/author/narrator

A narrator is a person who tells a story. The author is the one who has written what has been told / spoken by others.

b. First listener/reader

The first reader is the person (personal or group) to whom the author points/addresses his writing.

Style (Stylistics) From the Books of History

In narrative texts (story/history), the things that stand out are repetition (repetition), dialogue, syncpe (ignorance), irony, etc.