Bible Myths and Their Parallels in Other Religions: Being a Comparison of the Old and New Testament Myths and Miracles With Those of Heathen Nations ... Their Origin and Meaning (Classic Reprint)

INTRODUCTION. THE idea of publishing the work here presented did not Bog· gcst itself nntil a large portion of the material it contains had been accumulated for the private use and personal gratification of the anthor. In pursuing the study of the Bible Myths, facts pertaining thereto, in a condensed form, seemed to be greatly needed, and nowhere to be found. Widely scattered through hundreds of ancient and modern volumes, most of the contents of this book may indeed be found; but any previous attempt to trace exclusively the myths anel legends of the Old and New Testament to their origin, published as a separate work, is not known to the writer of this. Many able wdters have shown our so·called Sacred Scriptures to be unhistorical, and have pronounced them largely legendary, but have there left the matter, evidently aware of the great extent of the subject lying beyond. As Thomas Scott remarks, in his .l!..ngli-sh Lif8 of Jesus: "flow these narratives (i. e., the New

Table of Contents

CONTENTS; PART I; ???;?; Iktrodcction ?; List op Authorities, and Books Quoted from; CHAPTER I; Tns Creation and Fall of Man 1; CHAPTER IL; The Deluge J'i; CHAPTER IIL; The Tower of Babel 88; CHAPTER IV; The Trial of Abraham's Faith 88; CHAPTER V; Jacob's Vision of the Ladder 48; CHAPTER VI; The Exodcs from Eotpt 48; CHAPTER VTI; Receiving the Ten Commandments 68; CHAPTER VIII; Samson and ms Exploits e^; viii CONTEXTS; paqb; CHAPTER IX; Jonah Swallowed dy a Bio Fish ^; CHAPTER X; ClRCUHCISION: ' '®; CHAPTER XI; Conclusion op Part First 88; PART II CHAPTER XII; The Miraculous Birth or Christ Jesus 1H; CHAPTER XIII; The Star of Bethlehem 140; CHAPTER XIV; Thb Sonq of the Heavenly Host 147; CHAPTER XV; Thb Divine Child Rbcogn[7jed, and Presented with Gifts 160; CHAPTER XVI; Thb Birth-place of Christ Je