The Documentary Hypothesis
The Graf/Wellhausen Documentary Hypothesis was like Darwin's Theory
of Evolution of Biblical criticism. Its revolutionary claim profoundly
influenced scholarship, and was widely accepted. Today scholars
now feel that it leaves some questions unanswered, and now it
tends to be only accepted with some reservations. What was once
thought to be sloppy editing now is seen in a different light.
The accuracy of the text, the original sources and their transmission
has received more respect.
It identified four main sources in the Torah: J, E, P and D.
A very easy to read and intelligent summary of the history of
the detective work used to identify these authors can be found
in Richard Friedman's book: Who Wrote the Bible. If you want to
understand the events of the biblical period and how scholars
reconstruct who the author was from linguistic clues, I highly
recommend this book. You will find a summary of his findings below.
J is the Yahwist author, using the YHVH name (pronounced Adonai,
and translated as Lord) for God. J is a consumate story teller
(See the Book of J, a new translation of thoses stories identified
as being by J). God is described in human terms. Characters are
very real, described with emotions, strengths and weaknesses.
Stories are people/earth centered.
E is for Elohim (translated as God). E writes more like a historian;
God is omniscient and omnipotent and in control. People are not
flawed (as in J).
Both J and E lived before the Assyrian conquest. J was from Judah
(848-722 BCE). E composed in Israel (922-722 BCE). J & E were
later combined into one text.
P is for Priestly. P is concerned with the cult, the Tabernacle,
sacrifices and levitical duties. P is also the geneologist. P
was most probably a priest descended from Aaron, living sometime
between 722 and 609 BCE, probably during the reign of King Hezekiah.
D is for Deuteronomy. As we discuss in 'Canonization,' Deuteronomy
was authored in the time of King Josiah. The author believed that
if you follow God, good will happen, but if you disobey God's
rule, you will be punished. Deuteronomy (and the books of the
former prophets Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings) may have been
written by the prophet Jeremiah (or his scribe Baruch).
To pull it all together, they also refer to R, Redactor. The Redactor was the editor(s) who pieced together
these 4 traditions. Friedman along with others, argues that Ezra
was the final redactor who pieced together P, JE, and D.
If you want, you can believe that Moses, Ezra, or some anonymous
scribe was the Redactor. Whoever R was, the final result was one
Torah that became the authoritative text that was what Jews have
believed was a record of God's revelation to the Jewish people.
Classroom Forum
Documentary Hypothesis
