The Origin of the Pentateuch. Part 2. Jerusalem

 

Hypotheses and the Silence about Jerusalem

The hypotheses I mentioned in Part One regarding the origin of the first five books of the Bible all share one common feature: they assume that the main parts of the Pentateuch were written in Jerusalem. Scholars differ only in the period and circumstances of composition. However, within the Pentateuch itself there is not a single (!) mention of Jerusalem. And this is quite strange.

The narratives unfold in other cities and regions of Palestine. The authors tell of the origins of various cultic sites, the histories of certain towns, and the etymology of some geographical names. Yet they never once mention Jerusalem. If the stories of the Pentateuch had been written in Jerusalem, one would expect their authors to show interest in Jerusalem’s history—perhaps in the stories of the patriarchs or in the conquest of Canaan. But nothing of the kind is observed. The authors stubbornly ignore Jerusalem.

This fact troubled many biblical commentators, who have offered various explanations. I will highlight a few of them.

Textual Criticism of Ancient Texts: The Origin of the Pentateuch. Part 1. Hypotheses

 

Canonical Version

For many centuries it has been believed that the first five books of the Old Testament were written by the prophet Moses. However, only one of them (the fifth book, Deuteronomy) is written in the first person. Most likely, the canonical claim of Mosaic authorship of all five books developed gradually. Initially, it referred only to Deuteronomy, and then it was extended to all five books, despite the fact that the first four are written in the third person and contain no direct claim that they were written by Moses.

Today, the hypothesis of Mosaic authorship of the entire Pentateuch is supported by believers, theologians, and those for whom the Bible is not merely a book but the direct word of God.

Scholarly Hypotheses

Since the Middle Ages, biblical commentators have criticized the idea of Mosaic authorship. They noticed numerous problematic passages in the books, which indicated that:

• The Pentateuch could not have been written by one person, because it contains too many contradictions, duplicate stories, and variations in phraseology.

• It could not have been written in the desert, but rather in Palestine, where the Israelites had already lived for some time.

• It could not have been written during the time of Moses, since it contains hints that a long period had passed between Moses’ era and the time of writing.