The Bible is the most published book in the world and billions of people have one in easy reach of them. Millions of people attend church or a religious institution to hear the word of God. It is an important book and the book Who Wrote the Bible? by Richard Elliott Friedman, Summit Books, NY, 1987 offers an opinion about who wrote the old testament of the bible. For hundreds of years, the  bible was considered written by Mosses. In turns out while Mosses is the most important person in the old testament, the words were likely not written down by him. The actual writing was likely scribes and priests, but someone had to edit the books or put them into a fashion for the world to read. It appears at least 4 primary authors were involved. When Mosses lead the tribes out of Egypt to Israel, they were each allocated a piece of the land. For a while all was good, but similar to most countries over the years there was addition and subtraction to the lands both internally and from outside forces. Eventually there was two countries Israel and Judah. One scribe was likely from Israel who was an advocate of the priestly family or ways of Israel (Shiloh) and possibly a descendant of Mosses. The other from Judah likely for the Davidic royal house. Then an editor skillfully put the two books together as the kingdom was reunited.

Next there is a book written from the perspective of Aaronid priesthood of Jerusalem which many chapters are written about the duties of the priests, in similar fashion many professional organizations have their rules within the government. This perspective tries to enhance the role of Aaron and has a different view of history that those connected to Mosses.

The priests not connected to Aaron wrote their version and the two competing versions were intertwined in the books of the bible.

The final piece was to edit all the above books into what is known as the bible and Mr. Friedman believes the terrific editor was Ezra.

From a layman’s perspective, the bible can be whatever view of the world you have, because the bible has elements of victory and defeat, love of God and destruction, it is a story of life and compromise to live. What is meant by a passage can be seen in a variety of perspectives – one method is to figure out who wrote it? why they wrote it? and what does it mean? or you can just read it for what it is.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, the book reads like a detective story pointing to clues if you understand what the clues mean. As a layman, the narrative behind the clues help support the argument one way or another. Similar when you are investing you are looking for clues. One easy way to look for clues looking at the past history or does a company pay dividends? if yes, the stock can be on your radar; if not, move on to the next company. There will always be opportunities, but losing less money and having the possibility of making more has always been a good strategy with dividend paying stocks.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.