The Biblical Identity Model: Israel’s Self-Understanding

The Biblical texts present Israel’s identity as constructed primarily through:

1. Covenant Relationship The core of Israelite identity centered on their covenant with God, not ethnic or racial characteristics. This covenantal foundation meant that identity was primarily about commitment and practice rather than inherent characteristics. The text repeatedly emphasizes “if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5), highlighting choice and commitment over descent.
2. Narrative and Memory Israel’s identity was shaped by shared historical experience and memory, particularly the Exodus and wilderness narratives. The command to remember and retell these stories (Deuteronomy 6:20-25) created identity through shared narrative rather than shared physical characteristics. Importantly, these memories included the experience of being strangers, fostering empathy for outsiders.
3. Practice and Law Biblical identity centered on distinctive practices like Sabbath observance, dietary laws, and ethical behavior. These practices could be adopted by anyone willing to commit to them, as evidenced by provisions for gerim (resident aliens) to fully join the community.
4. Mixed Origins The Biblical text explicitly acknowledges Israel’s mixed origins, from the “mixed multitude” of the Exodus to various individuals and groups who joined later. This reality contrasts sharply with ideas of racial or ethnic purity.

Contrasts with Modern Identity Politics

Modern identity politics differs from this Biblical model in several crucial ways:

1. Essentialist vs. Covenantal Modern identity politics often treats racial and ethnic categories as fixed, essential characteristics. The Biblical model, by contrast, presents identity as primarily covenantal – something entered through commitment and practice rather than inherited traits.
2. Boundaries and Permeability While modern racial categories often present rigid, impermeable boundaries, Biblical Israel maintained permeable boundaries that allowed for incorporation of outsiders through covenant commitment. The presence of figures like Ruth (a Moabite) in David’s lineage demonstrates this permeability.
3. Purpose of Distinctiveness Modern identity politics sometimes promotes distinctiveness for its own sake or as a means of securing group interests. The Biblical model presents Israel’s distinctiveness as serving a universal purpose – to be a “light to the nations” and bring blessing to all peoples.
4. Nature of Unity Modern identity politics often seeks unity through shared experiences of oppression or common physical characteristics. Biblical unity centered on shared covenant commitment and ethical practice, allowing for diversity within a framework of common purpose.
5. Relationship to Others While modern identity politics can sometimes promote separation or antagonism between groups, the Biblical model commanded care for the stranger while maintaining distinctive identity. This created a more complex model of difference without division.

Key Implications

This contrast suggests several important insights:

1. Identity Formation The Biblical text presents identity as formed through commitment, practice, and shared narrative rather than immutable characteristics. This suggests more dynamic possibilities for community formation than some modern approaches allow.
2. Boundary Maintenance Biblical boundaries functioned to preserve distinctive practice and commitment rather than ethnic or racial purity. This allowed for meaningful distinctiveness while avoiding rigid exclusion.
3. Universal Purpose The Biblical model suggests that particular identity can serve universal purposes, offering an alternative to both pure universalism and narrow particularism.
4. Ethical Obligations Biblical identity carried ethical obligations toward others, particularly the vulnerable and the stranger, suggesting that strong group identity need not conflict with universal ethical commitments.

Contemporary Relevance

This Biblical model offers several insights for modern discussions:

1. It suggests ways to maintain distinctive identity while avoiding rigid exclusion or antagonism toward others.
2. It demonstrates how particular identity can serve universal purposes rather than purely group interests.
3. It shows how shared commitment and practice, rather than shared physical characteristics, can form the basis for meaningful community.
4. It provides models for incorporating outsiders while maintaining community distinctiveness.

The Biblical model thus offers resources for moving beyond some of the limitations of contemporary identity politics while preserving legitimate concerns for community preservation and distinctive identity. It suggests ways to balance particularity and universality that might enrich current discussions of race, ethnicity, and identity.