Mythology among the Hebrews and Its Historical Development

Ignác Goldziher examines Hebrew legends through comparative mythology, psychology and the study of language. The English translation by Russell Martineau includes additions and corrections supplied by the author, alongside two essays by H. Steinthal on Prometheus and Samson. Its chapters consider the sources and interpretation of myths, the relation between nomadic and agricultural life, and the changing place of inherited stories in Hebrew religion.

A discussion of Joseph and his brothers shows how Goldziher connects legendary traditions with political divisions between the northern and southern kingdoms. He argues that later national rivalries reshaped older material, while disputing the idea that the patriarchal figures arose solely from political interests. Readers interested in the history of religious scholarship will find a detailed example of how nineteenth-century scholars used linguistic comparisons and theories of myth to interpret biblical narratives.