Source Criticism of the Source Criticism of the Pentateuch Pentateuch

Mosaic compositionMosaic composition Pentateuch testimoniesPentateuch testimonies Tradition in biblical historyTradition in biblical history

ProblemsProblems Post-Mosaic activity in the Post-Mosaic activity in the

book book Geographical names or places Geographical names or places

not existed in Moses’ timenot existed in Moses’ time

Documentary Hypothesis Documentary Hypothesis

Jean Astruc (1684-1766) and the older Jean Astruc (1684-1766) and the older documentary hypothesisdocumentary hypothesis::

Moses was the author of the Pentateuch, Moses was the author of the Pentateuch, who compiled his book from earlier who compiled his book from earlier documents. documents.

Use God’s name as clue to rearrange the Use God’s name as clue to rearrange the materials in Genesis materials in Genesis

Fragmentary hypothesisFragmentary hypothesis

Alexander Geddes (1737-1802) and Alexander Geddes (1737-1802) and Johann Severin Vater (1771-1826)Johann Severin Vater (1771-1826) The sources too fragmentary The sources too fragmentary The fragments had originated in two The fragments had originated in two

separate circlesseparate circles Moses was not the author of PentateuchMoses was not the author of Pentateuch

Wilhelm Martin De Wette (1780-1849)Wilhelm Martin De Wette (1780-1849) Deuteronomy was the “Book of the Law” Deuteronomy was the “Book of the Law”

Supplementary hypothesisSupplementary hypothesis

Heinrich Georg August Ewald in 1823Heinrich Georg August Ewald in 1823 Elohistic work: basic documentElohistic work: basic document older sections Ex 21-23 and the Yahwistic older sections Ex 21-23 and the Yahwistic

source were incorporated source were incorporated

New documentary hypothesisNew documentary hypothesis First proposed by First proposed by Hermann Hupfeld in 1853Hermann Hupfeld in 1853

on Genesis on Genesis Later applied to the entire Pentateuch Later applied to the entire Pentateuch Accepted and refined by Accepted and refined by Karl Heinrich Karl Heinrich GrafGraf, ,

Abraham Abraham KuenenKuenen and Julius and Julius WellhausenWellhausen ““J” (Yahwistic), “E” (Elohistic), “D” J” (Yahwistic), “E” (Elohistic), “D”

(Deuteronomistic), and “P” (Priestly) (Deuteronomistic), and “P” (Priestly) documentsdocuments

GKW Documentary HypothesisGKW Documentary Hypothesis

J Source: J Source: Yahweh as God’s nameYahweh as God’s name Ca. 950-850 BCCa. 950-850 BC

E Source:E Source: Elohim Elohim Ca. 750-700 BCCa. 750-700 BC

Documentary Hypothesis Cont.Documentary Hypothesis Cont.

D Source:D Source: Core material in DeuteronomyCore material in Deuteronomy ““Pious fraud” in 621 BC (Josiah’s Pious fraud” in 621 BC (Josiah’s

Reform)Reform) P Source:P Source:

Written by priests during exileWritten by priests during exile Ca. 550 BC-end of 4Ca. 550 BC-end of 4thth century BC century BC

Other Critical Methods in Biblical Other Critical Methods in Biblical Study Study

Form Criticism Form Criticism Hermann Gunkel (1862-1932)Hermann Gunkel (1862-1932)

Redaction CriticismRedaction Criticism Gerhard von Rad (1901-1971) and Martin Noth Gerhard von Rad (1901-1971) and Martin Noth

(1902-1968)(1902-1968) ArchaeologyArchaeology

W.F. Albright (1891-1971)W.F. Albright (1891-1971) Literary CriticismLiterary Criticism Sociological approachesSociological approaches

Historicity of Exodus and Conquest Historicity of Exodus and Conquest

The Exodus is at the heart of Israel’s The Exodus is at the heart of Israel’s historically based faithhistorically based faith

Exodus-conquest theme is found in:Exodus-conquest theme is found in: Ps 74:12-15; 77:15-20; 78:12-53; 103:7; Ps 74:12-15; 77:15-20; 78:12-53; 103:7;

105:25-42 105:25-42 Hos 2:14-15; Jer 2:1-6; Eze 16:8-13 Hos 2:14-15; Jer 2:1-6; Eze 16:8-13 22ndnd exodus theme in Isa 43:1-7; Jer 23:7-8 exodus theme in Isa 43:1-7; Jer 23:7-8

Historicity of Exodus and ConquestHistoricity of Exodus and Conquest Date of Exodus Date of Exodus

Biblical account: 966 BCBiblical account: 966 BC

++ 480 yrs after Exodus 480 yrs after Exodus

= 1446 BC= 1446 BC ExodusExodus Merneptah Stele (ca. 1210 BC) mentioned IsraelMerneptah Stele (ca. 1210 BC) mentioned Israel Modern scholars favor last quarter of 13Modern scholars favor last quarter of 13thth century century But a 15But a 15thth century BC date is quite possible century BC date is quite possible

Merneptah’s SteleMerneptah’s Stele AA The princes are prostrate, saying “Peace!”The princes are prostrate, saying “Peace!” Not one raises his head among the Nine Bows.Not one raises his head among the Nine Bows. BB Lying broken is Tehenu; Lying broken is Tehenu; Hatti is pacified;Hatti is pacified; Plundered is Canaan with every evil.Plundered is Canaan with every evil. CC Carried off is Ashkelon; Carried off is Ashkelon; Seized upon is Gezer;Seized upon is Gezer; Yanoam is made as that which does not exist.Yanoam is made as that which does not exist. B’B’ Israel is laid waste, Israel is laid waste, His seed is not;His seed is not; Hurru is become a widow because of Egypt!Hurru is become a widow because of Egypt! A’A’ All lands together are pacifiedAll lands together are pacified Everyone who was restless has been boundEveryone who was restless has been bound by the King of the Upper and Lower Egypt,by the King of the Upper and Lower Egypt, Ba-en-Re-mery-Amun, son of Re,Ba-en-Re-mery-Amun, son of Re, Merneptah-hotep-hir-Maat, granted lifeMerneptah-hotep-hir-Maat, granted life like Re daily. like Re daily.

Scholarly Models for Israel’s Scholarly Models for Israel’s Emergence in CanaanEmergence in Canaan

Conquest Model: Albright, YadinConquest Model: Albright, Yadin Immigration Model: Alt, NothImmigration Model: Alt, Noth Revolt Model: Mendenhall, Revolt Model: Mendenhall,

GottwaldGottwald Gradual Emergence Model: Gradual Emergence Model:

Recent proposalRecent proposal

Hazor (Jabin’s Palace)Hazor (Jabin’s Palace)

Burnt layer in Jabin’s PalaceBurnt layer in Jabin’s Palace

HazorHazor

Jericho (Ancient City Wall)Jericho (Ancient City Wall)

Jericho (EB City Wall)Jericho (EB City Wall)

Jericho (EB City Wall)Jericho (EB City Wall)

Jericho (Siege Ramp)Jericho (Siege Ramp)

LachishLachish

LachishLachish

Chronology of Archaeological Chronology of Archaeological Periods in CanaanPeriods in Canaan

Middle Bronze Age (MB)Middle Bronze Age (MB) 2100-15002100-1500 MB IMB I 2100-1900 2100-1900 MBIIMBII 1900-1550 1900-1550 Late Bronze Age (LB)Late Bronze Age (LB) 1550-12001550-1200 LB ILB I 1550-1400 1550-1400 LB IILB II 1400-1200 1400-1200 Iron Age (Iron)Iron Age (Iron) 1200-3321200-332 Iron IIron I 1200-1000 1200-1000 Iron IIIron II 1000-586 1000-586 Iron IIIIron III 586-332 586-332

Structure of PentateuchStructure of Pentateuch IntroductionIntroduction

Genesis: 1-11; 12-50Genesis: 1-11; 12-50 Divine Law at SinaiDivine Law at Sinai

Exodus: 1-15:21; 15:22-18; 19-24; 25-40Exodus: 1-15:21; 15:22-18; 19-24; 25-40 LeviticusLeviticus Numbers: 1-25; 26-36Numbers: 1-25; 26-36

ConclusionConclusion Deuteronomy: 1:1-5; 1:6-34:12 Deuteronomy: 1:1-5; 1:6-34:12

Deut. Pattern after Hittite TreatyDeut. Pattern after Hittite TreatyPreamble: 1:1-5Preamble: 1:1-5

Historical Prologue: 1:6-4:49; recap 29:2-8Historical Prologue: 1:6-4:49; recap 29:2-8

Stipulations: Basic 5-11; Detailed 12-26; recap Stipulations: Basic 5-11; Detailed 12-26; recap 29:9-31:829:9-31:8

Deposition of Texts: 31:9, 24-26Deposition of Texts: 31:9, 24-26

Public Reading: 31:10-13Public Reading: 31:10-13

Witnesses: 30:19; 31:19, 26; 32:1-43Witnesses: 30:19; 31:19, 26; 32:1-43

Curses & Blessings: 28:1-14, 15-68Curses & Blessings: 28:1-14, 15-68

Formal Oath: 27:9-26 Formal Oath: 27:9-26

Ceremony: 27 Ceremony: 27

Covenant TheologyCovenant Theology Noahic CovenantNoahic Covenant Abrahamic CovenantAbrahamic Covenant Mosaic/Sinai CovenantMosaic/Sinai Covenant Davidic CovenantDavidic Covenant

What does the biblical text tell us What does the biblical text tell us about God, human, and the about God, human, and the

world?world? Nature of GodNature of God Nature of humanNature of human Nature of CreationNature of Creation