The first 4 books are written by Moses, give the indication of what was happening in that part of the
near east thousands of years ago when the ancestors of Israel were moving about with their flocks and herds between northern Mesopotamia and Syria.
The general attitude of the Biblical authors was such that every event is controlled and directed by God. All history is the arena of the action of God. When disaster fell upon Israel the bringer of it is God And the reason for it is interpreted as the infidelity of the selected people. Things like miscalculation and bad generalship are not ruling causes. In other words, the anger of God brings defeat and favor of God brings ensues victory. And the anger and favor of God are direct consequences of the fidelity and infidelity of Israel.
This becomes even more vivid and concrete as the Hebrew knew nothing of the real causes. The modern man knows how thundering and lightening take place, but the Hebrew, as any primitive, would simply say: God thundered or God
sent the lightening. If crops failed too their conclusion is not different. The Hebrew prophet hears God say; “I smote you with blight “
The Assyrian King, Sennacherib invades Palestine and besieged Jerusalem and the end seemed certain. But Sennacherib withdrew and a Bible story is created to explain the withdrawal. The Gods foretold that He will defend Jerusalem. And God sent forth angels to their
camp who slew one hundred and eighty thousand in he Assyrian camp. When they arose they saw what had been wrought and they decided to withdraw.
Such a story is also found in the Egyptian records. The people being terrified go to the priest, Sotho and describes the situation. The god promises the priests to send a champion. That night a multitude of field mice go into the camps and they devour their bows and handles of the swords. Being unarmed the enemy fled in the morning.