In what sense are these biblical books literal interpretations of what was happening, since history is always an interpretation?  History sometimes refers to a good story.  In fact, our concept of what is history is always changing.  History means something different to various diverse people.  The idea of footnoting has become a general practice that was not known over a thousand years ago.  Even in our own lifetime we can still argue about the events surrounding the deaths of President John Kennedy and the victims at the OJ Simpson house.  Thus, it does not seem out of place to question events that supposedly took place either pre-historically or thousands of years ago. They did not have to happen exactly as detailed by the people writing hundreds of years after the events.  There were no reporters with recording devices, I-phones, or even pencil and paper recording these events as they happened.  They were stories that were repeated by story tellers.  These mythical tales are not lies, but stories.  Story telling is an important human activity and essential to the life of any society.  Mythical stories awaken and maintain an experience of awe in the face of the ultimate religious mystery.  Myths explain where the world came from and where it is going.  Myth promotes virtues and a certain social ethical order.  Myth gives individuals a role and an identity much like our modern psychology.  Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) and Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) have shown that myths are not a negative but a positive part of life.  If we did not have religious myths, people would create their own secular mythical stories about sports like baseball, football, and basketball, as well as politics.  Thus, the question of historical reality and myth is a false problem.  There is some historical reality in most myths.  Most real historical things are perceived by people with assumptions or myths that already are part of their life.  We often say that someone is making history, when they are just living their lives.  The story is important, but it takes on more importance depending on the basic assumptions of the one who is telling or hearing the story.  Do you like a good story?