Exploring Wilderness Narratives

Wilderness narratives in the Hebrew Bible play an essential role in understanding the historical experiences of Israel and Judah. These stories, particularly those from the books of Exodus and Numbers, are examined through the lens of literary and historical criticism, providing insights into Israel's cultural and literary history. The narratives, including episodes of Moses receiving water from a rock and the provision of manna, are analyzed for their plot structures and genre combinations, revealing deeper meanings behind these biblical events. By moving away from traditional documentary hypotheses, the analysis highlights how these narratives make sense of Israel's past and reflect various cultural influences at the time of their writing.