Prof. Steven Weitzman
The Torah.com, Oct. 1, 2017
“More recent research has shown that the ancestry of the kohanim themselves is more complex than the earliest studies suggested, reflecting many different lineages that emerged at different points in history—and there is still debate about how to interpret the genetic evidence.”
In premodern times, the question of where Jews come from had an obvious answer: The Bible tells the story of Israel’s origins beginning with the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, moving on to Moses and the exodus from Egypt, and continuing on the conquest of Canaan, the judges, the monarchy, the exile, and so on. Modern scholars have come to challenge that narrative, however, just as scientists began to challenge the creation story in Genesis, looking beyond the biblical account for an explanation for how the Jews came to be.
Whereas the earlier parts of the biblical origins narrative, such as the Patriarchs or the conquest, have been increasingly understood as mythic among contemporary Bible scholars, the latter parts of the biblical account, namely the existence of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the exile to Babylon and the reestablishment of Judea in what is known as the Second Temple Period are generally accepted in broad outline as historical facts. And yet, even the connection between Jews and Judea has been challenged over the past few decade.
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