Exploring the Composition of the Pentateuch

For many years, the historical-critical quest for a reconstruction of the origin(s) and development of the Pentateuch or Hexateuch has been dominated by the documentary hypothesis, the heuristic power of which has produced a consensus so strong that an interpreter who did not operate within its framework was hardly regarded as a scholar. However, the relentless march of research on this topic has continued to yield new and refined analyses, data, methodological tools, and criticism. In this spirit, the contributions to this volume investigate new ideas about the composition of the Pentateuch arising from careful analysis of the biblical text against its ancient Near Eastern background.

Covering a wide spectrum of topics and diverging perspectives, the chapters in this book are grouped into two parts. The first is primarily concerned with the history of scholarship and alternative approaches to the development of the Pentateuch. The second focuses on the exegesis of particular texts relevant to the composition of the Torah. The aim of the project is to foster investigation and collegial dialogue in a spirit of humility and frankness, without imposing uniformity.

In addition to the editors, the contributors include Tiago Arrais, Richard E. Averbeck, John S. Bergsma, Joshua A. Berman, Daniel I. Block, Richard Davidson, Roy E. Gane, Duane A. Garrett, Richard S. Hess, Benjamin Kilchör, Michael LeFebvre, Jiří Moskala, and Christian Vogel.

“This volume challenges readers to think outside the box.”—T. Desmond Alexander, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

“A very useful volume. The chapters are well written, well researched, and well documented. They also cohere fairly well, especially for a volume of collected essays. The bibliography is broad and deep, with scholars from a wide variety of perspectives included.”—Christopher A. Rollston, Review of Biblical Literature

“Exploring the Composition of the Pentateuch aims to recast the discussion of pentateuchal sources in light of the Bible’s own claims regarding its origins and authorship. Although the individual authors do not arrive at a consensus position regarding the best solution, they all agree that the current state of pentateuchal source criticism is in need of a fresh critique.”—Kyle Greenwood, author of Scripture and Cosmology: Reading the Bible Between the Ancient World and Modern Science

L. S. Baker Jr. is a Ph.D. candidate in ancient Near Eastern archaeology at Andrews University.

Kenneth Bergland is an independent scholar and pastor residing in Norway.

Felipe A. Masotti is a Ph.D. candidate in Old Testament studies at Andrews University.

A. Rahel Wells is Associate Professor of biblical studies at Andrews University.

Preface

Jiøí Moskala

Abbreviations

Introduction

Roy E. Gane

Part One: History of Scholarship and Alternative Approaches

1 A Critical Intellectual History of the Historical-Critical Paradigm in Biblical Studies

Joshua Berman

2 The Exodus, Debt Slavery, and the Composition of the Pentateuch

Richard E. Averbeck

3 Egyptian Language Practice—a Model for Hebrew Poetic Use?

L. S. Baker, Jr. and A. Rahel Wells

4 Second Millennium BC Cuneiform from the Southern Levant and the Literature of the Pentateuch

Richard S. Hess

5 The Hittite Treaty Prologue Tradition and the Literary Structure of the Book of Deuteronomy

Jiøí Moskala and Felipe A. Masotti

6 Embodied Covenantal Instruction and Legal Reuse in Torah

Kenneth Bergland

7 The Liturgical Function of Dates in the Pentateuch

Michael LeFebvre

Part Two: Exegetical Studies

8. In the Tradition of Moses: The Conceptual and Stylistic Imprint of Deuteronomy on the Patriarchal Narratives

Daniel I. Block

9 Was Moses the Last Prophet? An Analysis of a Neo-Documentarian Interpretation of Document E

Duane A. Garrett

10 Revisiting the Literary Structure(s) of Exodus

Richard Davidson, Tiago Arrais, and Christian Vogel

11 Was Leviticus Composed by Aaronide Priests to Justify Their Cultic Monopoly?

Roy E. Gane

12 The Reception of Priestly Laws in Deuteronomy and Deuteronomy's Target Audience

Benjamin Kilchör

13 The Implications of Some Current Ezekiel Research for Theories of the Composition of the Pentateuch

John S. Bergsma

Bibliography

Download a PDF sample chapter here: Introduction