Q&A: The Biblical Period
The Biblical Period
Question
Hello Rabbi Michi!
When comparing early biblical texts like the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) to later texts from the period of the Mishnah and Talmud through modern times, one can see that the level of writing, intellectually and spiritually, is much higher.
On the other hand, we see that the moral level of society is lower.{ I have no doubt that the moral level today is higher than in the period of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh).}
How does the Rabbi explain such a high level of writing from about 3,000 years ago, when it seems that today no one can reach that level of writing? Were people in the past on a higher spiritual and intellectual level? Is this analysis correct?
Answer
I don’t see what basis you have for asserting that. Is the writing of Alterman or Rabbi Yehuda Halevi really inferior to that of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)? In my view, not at all—and maybe even superior. Are you comparing the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) to newspaper articles? To legal texts? That’s comparing apples and oranges. But as is well known, the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) doesn’t speak to me, and perhaps my position here is influenced by that.