Ancient Hebrew History and Scriptural Composition — Key Points

Composition and Redaction of Scriptures

• Bible treated as a library/anthology; Torah = first five books; existing version compiled circa $500\text{–}400\ \text{BCE}$

• Yahweh and a Covenant; priestly position around the $5\text{th}\ \text{century BCE}$

• Patriarchs: Abram/Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel)

• Moses and Exodus: History or Legend ($1200\text{ BCE}$)?; Moses receives the law in the wilderness

• Conquest of Canaan and Judges

Documentary Hypothesis

• J (YHWH/Jehovah) $c. 950\text{ BCE}$

• E (Elohim) $c. 750\text{ BCE}$

• D (Deuteronomy) $c. 650\text{ BCE}$

• P (Priest) $c. 550/450\text{ BCE}$

Reconstructing the History of the Hebrews

• 1. Hebrews conquer Canaanites or Hebrews=Canaanites?

• 2. Development of a Monarchy (Biblical Account)

  • United Israelite Kingdom $c. 1000\text{ BCE}$: Saul, David, Solomon

  • Division into Kingdoms of Israel and Judah $922\text{ BCE}$

• 3. Tributary States and Conquest by Foreign Empires

  • Assyrians conquer Kingdom of Israel $733\text{–}722\ \text{BCE}$

  • Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians) conquer Judah $586\text{ BCE}$

  • “Babylonian Captivity” $586\text{–}539\ \text{BCE}$; Persians allow exiles to return to homeland

  • “Men of the Great Assembly” redact the Torah $c. 450\text{ BCE}$ or $c. 250\text{ BCE}$

  • Documentary Hypothesis

    • J (YHWH/Jehovah) $c. 950\text{ BCE}$

    • E (Elohim) $c. 750\text{ BCE}$

    • D (Deuteronomy) $c. 650\text{ BCE}$

    • P (Priest) $c. 550/450\text{ BCE}$

    Reconstructing the History of the Hebrews

    • 1. Hebrews conquer Canaanites or Hebrews=Canaanites?

    • 2. Development of a Monarchy (Biblical Account)

      • United Israelite Kingdom $c. 1000\text{ BCE}$: Saul, David, Solomon

      • Division into Kingdoms of Israel and Judah $922\text{ BCE}$

    • 3. Tributary States and Conquest by Foreign Empires

      • Assyrians conquer Kingdom of Israel $733\text{–}722\ \text{BCE}$

      • Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians) conquer Judah $586\text{ BCE}$

      • “Babylonian Captivity” $586\text{–}539\ \text{BCE}$; Persians allow exiles to return to homeland

      • “Men of the Great Assembly” redact the Torah $c. 450\text{ BCE}$ or $c. 250\text{ BCE}$

      • Building of the Second Temple

Documentary Hypothesis

• J (YHWH/Jehovah) $c. 950\text{ BCE}$

• E (Elohim) $c. 750\text{ BCE}$

• D (Deuteronomy) $c. 650\text{ BCE}$

• P (Priest) $c. 550/450\text{ BCE}$

Reconstructing the History of the Hebrews

• 1. Hebrews conquer Canaanites or Hebrews=Canaanites?

• 2. Development of a Monarchy (Biblical Account)

  • United Israelite Kingdom $c. 1000\text{ BCE}$: Saul, David, Solomon

  • Assyrians conquer Kingdom of Israel $733\text{–}722\ \text{BCE}$

  • Division into Kingdoms of Israel and Judah $922\text{ BCE}$

• 3. Tributary States and Conquest by Foreign Empires

  • Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians) conquer Judah $586\text{ BCE}$

  • “Babylonian Captivity” $586\text{–}539\ \text{BCE}$; Persians allow exiles to return to homeland

  • “Men of the Great Assembly” redact the Torah $c. 450\text{ BCE}$ or $c. 250\text{ BCE}$

  • Building of the Second TempleJosiah Reforms

• In the $8^{\text{th}}$ year of his reign, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David

• In the $12^{\text{th}}$ year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places and carved images; dismantled Baals and incense altars

• Source reference: Chronicles 34:3-4