Who Wrote the Bible? The Documentary Hypothesis
The provided text discusses the Documentary Hypothesis, a theory suggesting that the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) was not written by Moses but is a compilation of four main sources: J (Yahwist), E (Elohist), P (Priestly), and D (Deuteronomist), along with the work of redactors (editors).
The speaker highlights several contradictions and doublets within the biblical text as evidence for multiple authors. Examples include:
- Noah's Ark: Contradictory accounts of how many animals (seven pairs of clean animals vs. two of each kind) Noah brought onto the ark.
- Creation Stories: Two distinct creation narratives in Genesis.
- Mount Sinai/Horeb: The mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments is referred to by two different names.
- Moses's Father-in-Law: Conflicting names for Moses's father-in-law (Jethro vs. Reuel).
- Ten Commandments: Three different versions of the Ten Commandments are listed in the Torah, with significant variations.
- Striking the Rock: The story of Moses striking a rock to get water appears twice.
- "She's My Sister" Story: Abraham (and later Isaac) presenting his wife as his sister to a foreign king appears three times.
The speaker then details the characteristics of each proposed source:
- J (Yahwist): Uses the name "Yahweh" (Jehovah) for God, features an anthropomorphic God, and shows interest in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. It includes fables and stories of courtly intrigue.
- E (Elohist): Uses "Elohim" for God until Yahweh's name is revealed to Moses, focuses on the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and is critical of the House of David.
- P (Priestly): Emphasizes priestly rituals, laws, and the Aaronite priesthood. God is more cosmic and less anthropomorphic. This source is often found in the more "boring" sections of the Torah.
- D (Deuteronomist): Primarily associated with the Book of Deuteronomy and shares a theological agenda with the Deuteronomic history (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings).
The speaker explains that literary criticism, including lower (textual) and higher (historical) criticism, is used to identify these sources. The concept of "redactors" or editors is introduced, who combined and sometimes altered these different source texts over centuries. The final redaction is thought to have occurred around the time of Ezra, after the Babylonian Exile, bringing together the J, E, P, and D texts into the Torah as it exists today.
The speaker also touches upon the historical context of the Bible's composition, dating it much later than traditional views suggest, and discusses the shift in the Hebrew language to Aramaic after the Exile. Finally, the speaker addresses how different Christian denominations reconcile the idea of multiple authors with the belief in the Bible as the Word of God, highlighting the contrast between literalist (fundamentalist) and non-literalist interpretations.