Israelite Obesity in the Period of Solmon's Monarchy

ISRAELITE OBESITY IN THE PERIOD
OF SOLOMON'S MONARCHY
Original Manuscript

THE CONTROVERSY

This page serves as our response to the recent mass-media surge calling for the publication of the original manuscript of, "Israelite Obesity in the Period of Solomon's Monarchy". Critics have asked why the manuscript has been kept hidden (now over 15 years). A few unscrupulous reporters have even suggested that the original version might contain embarrassing information regarding Jesus, Bill Clinton or any number of tele-evangelists. Others have spread the unfounded rumors that we no longer have the original--that it has been hidden away in a secret vault in the Vatican, a heavily gaurded room in the Assemblies of God headquarters or possibly Bob Tilton's safe.

It goes without saying that all of these accusations are absurd! There are actually three reasons why we have not produced the photographs until now:

1) We have real lives.
2) We are concerned that "pseudo-scholars" who are not properly trained will misinterpret the content.
3) We're still doing excavations to recover the original manuscript believed to be somewhere near level 3 in Ken Banner's office.

Nevertheless, to end this controversy, The Benaiah Project, has decided to place photos of the document on this page (as soon as it is found).

THE REAL VALUE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

For those who are interested in serious IO Studies (IO is short for "Israelite Obesity in the Period of Solomon's Monarchy") the opportunity to view the original manuscript will be invaluable. Most scholars in the field have long recognized that IO is actually the work of five author and/or redactors (known as the JECB theory):

J-Jeffrey Henderson
E-Eric Helmer
C-Kenneth Campbell
B-Kenneth Banner
U-The "Unknown Redactor"

It is likely that the distinctions between J, E, and B are irretrievably lost. However the manuscript will, for the first time, provide the opportunity for scholars to see IO in its crude, primitive state BEFORE the Campbell and "Unknown" redactions! This will be especially important for those scholars who are attempting to recover a JEB theology as well as those who are reseaching the more refined contributions of B and U to the finished article.

To that end The Benaiah Project promises to produce the photographs of the original manuscript as soon as possible. In the words of the President of the United States, "Sooner rather than later! More rather than less!"

Return to the Benaiah Project

Last Modified:
Kenneth J. Banner (kbanner@ccat.sas.upenn.edu)