AUTHORSHIP OF THE PENTATEUCH
A Traditional view of the authorship of the Pentateuch supports the idea that Moses authored the first five books of the Bible. There is ample internal evidence that supports Mosaic authorship. In these instances it is recorded that Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord, or that the Lord commanded him to record all that is written (e.g., Ex 24:4; 34:27; Deut 31:9, 24). Furthermore, the New Testament writers seems to assumes Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, as seen in Luke 24:27, when Jesus explained to his disciples how all scriptures pointed to him, here, the evangelist, Luke records, “Then beginning with Moses and the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” …show more content…
The first one is known as the Elohist (E). E source has a tendency to use the divine name Elohim and has a focus on North, Israel. Some key aspects to this source are the appearing of God in dreams, and a concern for morality. The second source is commonly referred to as the Yahwist (J). Like E, in its use of Elohim, it is named for its proclivity to use the divine name Yahweh. It is thought to have been composed in the South. J is credited as the source that provides the outline and framework for the stories that follow. It’s key aspects are “the deep concern for sin and disobedience, and narratives in which God rarely appears.” The third source is the Deuteronomist (D). Most scholars agree that D was a source all by itself. It seems to parallel the time when the book of the law was found when the temple was being renovated (2 Kgs 22-23). The fourth and final source is referred to as the Priestly Source (P). Anderson notes that it uses formulaic language and “exhibits a keen interest in numbers, dates, and order,” Anderson als notes that currently it is being credited as the primary source, providing the Pentateuch its shape. These sources are the major ones that scholars see as being evident in the …show more content…
According to Wellhausen, the early religion of Israel was unregulated, “People offered sacrifice when they liked and where they liked, without any priestly interference.” Religion began to be relegated at the time of King Josiah which lead to two outcomes: (1) limiting worship to Jerusalem, (2) a consolation of power that was given to the priest, who in turn instituted laws and regulations detailing worship. To Whellhausen, the Pentateuch reflected the sources found within the Pentateuch. Wellhausen was the first to present the documentary hypothesis with its four sources, JEPD. Many have rejected his Documentary hypothesis recently.
Since Wellhausen and his successors, many have challenged their hypothesis. They see several inconsistencies, such as the historical narrative that Wellhausen compose. This could be seen as being very subjective. It seems to be possible to accept the authorship of Moses with later editing. In the end one should not be so concerned with the “complex literary structure,” for it is obvious that “it has structural
A Traditional view of the authorship of the Pentateuch supports the idea that Moses authored the first five books of the Bible. There is ample internal evidence that supports Mosaic authorship. In these instances it is recorded that Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord, or that the Lord commanded him to record all that is written (e.g., Ex 24:4; 34:27; Deut 31:9, 24). Furthermore, the New Testament writers seems to assumes Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, as seen in Luke 24:27, when Jesus explained to his disciples how all scriptures pointed to him, here, the evangelist, Luke records, “Then beginning with Moses and the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” …show more content…
The first one is known as the Elohist (E). E source has a tendency to use the divine name Elohim and has a focus on North, Israel. Some key aspects to this source are the appearing of God in dreams, and a concern for morality. The second source is commonly referred to as the Yahwist (J). Like E, in its use of Elohim, it is named for its proclivity to use the divine name Yahweh. It is thought to have been composed in the South. J is credited as the source that provides the outline and framework for the stories that follow. It’s key aspects are “the deep concern for sin and disobedience, and narratives in which God rarely appears.” The third source is the Deuteronomist (D). Most scholars agree that D was a source all by itself. It seems to parallel the time when the book of the law was found when the temple was being renovated (2 Kgs 22-23). The fourth and final source is referred to as the Priestly Source (P). Anderson notes that it uses formulaic language and “exhibits a keen interest in numbers, dates, and order,” Anderson als notes that currently it is being credited as the primary source, providing the Pentateuch its shape. These sources are the major ones that scholars see as being evident in the …show more content…
According to Wellhausen, the early religion of Israel was unregulated, “People offered sacrifice when they liked and where they liked, without any priestly interference.” Religion began to be relegated at the time of King Josiah which lead to two outcomes: (1) limiting worship to Jerusalem, (2) a consolation of power that was given to the priest, who in turn instituted laws and regulations detailing worship. To Whellhausen, the Pentateuch reflected the sources found within the Pentateuch. Wellhausen was the first to present the documentary hypothesis with its four sources, JEPD. Many have rejected his Documentary hypothesis recently.
Since Wellhausen and his successors, many have challenged their hypothesis. They see several inconsistencies, such as the historical narrative that Wellhausen compose. This could be seen as being very subjective. It seems to be possible to accept the authorship of Moses with later editing. In the end one should not be so concerned with the “complex literary structure,” for it is obvious that “it has structural