Biblical Source Criticism and Key Figures in the Pentateuch

Pentateuch

The first 5 books of the Bible (Genesis-Deuteronomy); central to the Torah and the Documentary Hypothesis.

Torah

Literally 'Law' or 'Instruction'; another name for the Pentateuch, revered as Mosaic law.

Richard Simon

17th c. scholar who suggested scribes edited Moses' writings, introducing the idea of multiple sources.

Doublet

A story told twice with variations (e.g., two Creation stories, two Flood accounts); key evidence of multiple sources.

W.M.L. de Wette

Scholar who identified Deuteronomy as a distinct source (D), linking it to Josiah's reforms (622 BCE).

J, E, P, and D

The four sources of the Pentateuch: Yahwist (J), Elohist (E), Priestly (P), and Deuteronomist (D).

Julius Wellhausen

19th c. scholar who synthesized J, E, D, P into the Documentary Hypothesis, tying them to Israel's history.

Divino Afflante Spiritu

1943 papal encyclical allowing Catholics to use historical-critical methods in biblical studies.

El

Chief god of Canaanite religion; patriarchal figure, contrasted with Yahweh.

Elohim

Hebrew word for God, used by the Elohist and Priestly sources.

Yahweh

The personal name of Israel's God, emphasized in J source; revealed to Moses in Exodus.

Samuel

Prophet, judge, and priest at Shiloh; anointed Saul and later David as kings.

Saul

First king of Israel, lost legitimacy after conflict with Samuel.

David

King after Saul, united Israel and Judah, established Jerusalem as capital.

Solomon

David's son; known for wisdom; built the First Temple; his death led to division of kingdoms (922 BCE).

Philistines

A Sea People and major rival of early Israel; fought Saul and David.

Jerusalem

Political and religious capital of Israel under David and Solomon.

Abiathar & Zadok

Rival chief priests under David; Abiathar (Shiloh, Northern), Zadok (Hebron, Southern).

Missim

Forced labor system established under Solomon; caused discontent.

Rehoboam & Jeroboam

First kings after the split (922 BCE): Rehoboam ruled Judah (South), Jeroboam ruled Israel (North).

Shechem

Jeroboam's northern capital, key site of early Israelite worship.

922 BCE

Division of Israel into two kingdoms: Israel (North) and Judah (South).

722 BCE

Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom (Israel).

Johann Gottfried Eichhorn

Scholar who furthered the source theory (J and E).

Judah & Israel

Judah (South, Davidic line, Jerusalem Temple) vs Israel (North, Shiloh, alternate sanctuaries).

Dan & Bethel

Jeroboam's sanctuaries in the North; rival centers of worship to Jerusalem.

Numbers 12

A story showing tension between Moses, Aaron, and Miriam; reflects priestly rivalries.

587 BCE

Babylon conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem & First Temple; exile began.

Hezekiah

King of Judah; instituted reforms, centralized worship, destroyed bronze serpent.

Sennacherib

Assyrian king who invaded Judah; failed to capture Jerusalem (701 BCE).

Josiah

King of Judah (640-609 BCE), called 'perfect king'; centralizer of worship, linked to Deuteronomy.

622 BCE

Josiah's discovery of the 'Book of the Law' (likely Deuteronomy); led to sweeping reforms.

Megiddo

Site where Josiah died in battle against Pharaoh Neco (609 BCE).

Assyria

Empire that destroyed the Northern Kingdom in 722 BCE.

Babylon

Empire that destroyed Judah in 587 BCE; led exile.

Nebuchadnezzar

Babylonian king who destroyed Jerusalem and deported Judeans.

Deuteronomistic History

Historical work from Deuteronomy → 2 Kings, interpreting Israel's history through covenantal faithfulness.

Martin Noth

Scholar (1943) who proposed a single exilic author of the Deuteronomistic History.

Frank Moore Cross

Scholar (1973) who proposed two editions of Deuteronomistic History (Dtr1 Josianic, Dtr2 Exilic).

Dtr1 and Dtr2

Dtr1: Josiah's reforms, optimistic; Dtr2: post-exile redaction, despairing.

The priests of Shiloh

Northern Levite priests; opposed to Aaronid priests; associated with E and D sources.

Manasseh

Judah's king before Josiah; condemned for idolatry and blamed for exile.

The Davidic covenant

God's promise that David's dynasty would endure forever; tested by exile.

Jeremiah

Prophet during exile; echoed Deuteronomistic themes; associated with Baruch.

Baruch

Jeremiah's scribe; possibly contributed to editing biblical texts.

The Levites

Tribe of priestly functionaries; conflict between Levites (Shiloh) and Aaronids (Jerusalem).

Covenant

Binding agreement between Yahweh and Israel; central to Deuteronomy and prophetic literature.

538 BCE

Cyrus of Persia allowed Jews to return from Babylonian exile.

516 BCE

Second Temple completed in Jerusalem.

458 BCE

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem with the Torah; began reforms.

Ezra

Priest and scribe; edited/combined J, E, P, and D into Torah.

Tabernacle

Portable sanctuary described in Exodus; in P, mirrors the Jerusalem Temple.

First and Second Temples

First: built by Solomon, destroyed 587 BCE. Second: built after exile, completed 516 BCE.

Numbers 16

Korah's rebellion; reflects conflict between Levites and Aaronids.

Numbers 25

Story of Phinehas; legitimizes Aaronid priesthood.

Water from the Rock doublet

Two versions of Moses striking the rock for water (Exodus vs Numbers); evidence of J vs P.

609 BCE

Josiah killed at Megiddo; Judah entered political decline.

Redactor (R)

Editor who combined sources; likely Ezra; preserved contradictions but framed them as one Torah.

RJE

Combination of J and E before being joined with P and D.

Leviticus 23

Priestly text listing festivals; reflects Aaronid concerns.

The Book of Generations

Priestly genealogical framework ('These are the generations of...'), structuring Genesis.