Together they provide us with what is a dialectical/conflict approach to bib-
lical history. This essay will use the following methodology. First, it will exam-
ine class conflict within ancient Jewish society, which drove the dynamic of
that society forward. Second, its hypothesis is that the conflict was dialecti-
cal. There were conflicts between the elites, between classes, and with other
kingdoms which were a source of social change. Finally, it shall use a criti-
cal perspective; it shall not selectively embrace nor reject these religious tra-
ditions but rather use critique as a form of self correction – pointing out the
negative aspects while retaining the positive elements (Bloch 1995:1362).
Slave Revolt
The earliest history of the ancient Hebrews is shrouded in mystery and based
on speculation. The Jews fell into debt because of a famine; this led to their
slavery in Egypt (Antiq 2.7.7). What is likely is that at least some of the ancient
Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt (Friedman 1987:82).
Moses is the messianic model; he led a slave revolt against the Egyptians.
The royal family adopted Moses as an infant (Antiq 2.9.5–7). The leader of
the slave rebellion grew up among the elites (Michels 1962). Moses’ killing
and burying of the slave master marked the beginning of the revolt (Exod
2:11–12). This class-based conflict expressed itself ideologically through reli-
gion. The transition from polytheism to monotheism represents a rational-
ization of religion. “The slave revolt in morality” begins with the Jews
(Nietzsche 1967:34). Slave morality with the Jews took the form of the belief
in freedom. The belief in freedom emerged in response to the condition of
slavery.
Moses never made it to the Promised Land. The first prophet died in exile.
The transition from Moses to Aaron was from prophet to priest.
The Tribal Confederacy and the United Monarchy
When God promised the land of milk and honey to Moses, there was one
problem: it had to be occupied. The Hebrews went from being a class in slav-
ery to a people attempting to gain territorial sovereignty. The Israelites led a
series of battles against the Canaanite and the Philistines. The tactics used
against the Canaanites were equivalent to ethnic cleansing. When Joshua took
Makkedah and Libnah, “he left none remaining;” he smote “every person in
206 • Warren S. Goldstein