while the Bible is certainly an interesting work of literature I fail to see how it can be used as a historical reference with such confidence. Shall we also use other ancient holy books as historical and factual references. ?? I think not. Should we take the Epic of Gilgamesh seriously ??should we take the stories from the Rig Veda literally about the Ramayana and the flying machines and the atomic explosions?? I think this is fantastic fairytale stuff and I would warn you from an intellectual point of view to not take it factually or literally simply because it was handed to you down several generations and that you must swallow that as actual fact and reality and historicity.