Development of Pentatecuh

L6 - Oral traditions

·       Oral tradition: what it is and why it was important in early Israel

In early Israel, it was a primary method for preserving collective memory, foundational myths, and social identity.

• passing culutral history , law , and beleif to generstion

• This is only by speaking words , not writing

• JEPDwritten by moses

·       Evidence that the Pentateuch developed from oral tradition

ong tradition holds that the five books of the Pentateuch or Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) were written by Moses. The tradition honors Moses because of his esteemed position as lawgiver and friend of God. But it is highly unlikely that he wrote the version of the Pentateuch that we have today.

: o   J, E, P, D sources

• J (Yahwist): A source originating in the southern kingdom of Judah

• - refers to God as Yahweh (and portrays God with human-like, charcter

• E (Elohist): from the northern kingdom of Israel

• God as Elohim and features a transcendent God who communicates through dreams.

• D (Deuteronomist): The source responsible for most of the book of Deuteronomy, characterized by a distinct preaching style and an emphasis on religious reform.

• P (Priestly): A later, post-exilic(babylion exile time) source focused on

• genealogies,

• rituals,

• laws,

• the correct operation of the temple and priesthood.

why do scholars think mulitple sources were combined

The Pentateuch contained overlaped , and different version of stories . Editors merged several written tradtions to preserve instead of choose which was possibly accurate.

• Ancient editors kept multiple versions of the same stories because each version came from a different respected tradition, and deleting one would mean erasing part of Israel’s sacred heritage

How are the flood story in gensis and the epic of gilgamesh similar

• Both reasons are the same for the flood due to divine displeurse & human wickedness

• Both are tasked to build boats by the lord

How are the flood stories in egnesis and gligamensh different

• Both have diffeent gods Epic gilgamesh: Ea and Enlil

• NOah God

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• Noahs- 40 days of wait

• Gilgamesh - 6-7 fays

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Utnapishtem is rewarded a god

Noah is rewarded to have a covenant with god

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Epic gilgamesh - dove does not return

NOahs ark- dove return

Documentary hypothesis

The Documentary Hypothesis is the scholarly theory that the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch) were not written by a single author, but were formed by combining four earlier written sources