Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it!  Preliminaries 1.1. The Meaning of History To have a sense of history is a light that illuminates the present and at the same time directs attention towards the possibility of the future. Therefore, without an adequate knowledge of the history; which is both the written record and oral tradition, events of our contemporary history can be disconnected or distorted. The word ‘history’, comes from the Greek word ‘historia’, which means ‘inquiry’, knowledge acquired by investigation. History therefore is a record or account of the past events or development. History is facilitated by the formation of a true discourse of the past through the production of narrative and analysis of the past events relating to the human race. Many historians recognize that there is an uninterrupted history. An event is a meaningful happening in the life of people. The author selects, he/she only recounts the events which are meaningful for him/her and the community which he/she represents. 1.2. The Israelites and their sense of history Israel in the ancient world was a nation with a sense of history. It was a history rooted in a single and unforgettable event which was the Exodus or departure from Egypt and a dynamic leader who is Moses. Behind Moses stood other notable/important people dating backwards of years to Abraham and his descendant. Yet they too, were somehow preserved permanently in the memory of their people. Thus over a period of centuries, Israel complied what is the first true national history. The documents were preserved in the Hebrew Bible also called the Old Testament. The remarkable feature of this history is its inclusion of all the fault and failures but also the successes. There was no attempt to colour the records to make Israel look good to its people or to anyone else. Even the heroes of the narratives are depicted with all of their weaknesses and strength. The Bible in which the Old Testament is contained is adventure. It is the story of people who are passionate for God who believes in him and knows that they can be happy if and only if they follow him. The Bible is composed of so many parts which in themselves have no meaning but are necessary to understand the whole history. Each event in the Bible has been presented in different style. But it shows a particular experience the people of Israel had/lived. The Bible gives an account of faith. It is not concerned with systematic historical and scientific events as such. But it transmits the experience of faith. It shows how God worked in their history. So it is very much connected with faith. Israel was conditioned by its history; it is placed in that part of the world where it exists. Its religious evolution often corresponds with that of those around them. However, in many cases the history of Israel shows original evolution – why? Because I am different since God talks to me and calls me – Psalm 105: 12. So the most distinctive feature of the Jewish people is their sense of history. Judaism is the religion of the people who have a unique memory that reaches back through the centuries. The Bible concerns the revelation of God. It is sacred history which expresses the relationship between God and his people. The Bible gathers over two thousand years of history. It is important to resituate each element in its own context to see how it was influenced by the culture and surroundings. 1