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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. To what do the books of the Early Prophets bear a remarkable similarity?

2. What does the Author J's story of Noah do that the Author E's story does not?

3. Who was the fifth person involved in the four author idea?

4. What happened to the snake sculpture that Moses had built in the wilderness?

5. What did Solomon build that was larger than the Temple?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is compelling evidence from modern scholarship that there were multiple writers of the Bible?

2. After placing the date of the writing of Deuteronomy as around 622 B.C., what becomes Friedman's next task?

3. What does the phrase "to this day" suggest in the book of Deuteronomy?

4. How does the story of Moses smashing the tablets of stone tend to discredit the southern kingdom of Judah?

5. Describe the locations where the Bible was produced, the lifestyle of the people, and the methods used for writing.

6. What do scholars use to determine the different writers?

7. Discuss the pendulum swing of Jewish religion after King Josiah, Hezekiah's great grandson, came to power.

8. When was it discovered that at least two people authored parts of the Bible?

9. Discuss the period of time when the written compilation of the Bible as we have it today began.

10. How does Author J justify the southern calf images while casting aspersion on the norther versions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay of at least two typewritten pages on the topic, How Friedman's Book Changed My Ideas About the Bible. First, (1) explain your mind set about the Bible before reading Friedman's book, then (2) discuss the great lengths scholars such as Friedman have gone to in discovering the existence of various writers, and finally, (3) discuss whether the evidence presented seems plausible to you and whether it altered your interpretation of the Bible in any way.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay of at least two typewritten pages on the topic, The Responsibility, Checks and Balances of Biblical Research. Detail the responsibility of a biblical scholar to be as objective as possible also using the criteria Friedman insists on before recognizing the validity of such work. Discuss the checks and balances that come from comparison with other biblical scholars.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay of at least two typewritten pages on the topic, Why People Disagree in Certain Areas of Religion. Begin by discussing (1) the differences of opinion about centralized religion in biblical times. (2) Note examples of disagreement in modern day religion. (3) Evaluate in your opinion the importance of those differences.

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