The Pentateuch

As hinted at in the introduction, the five 'books of Moses' have been repeatedly assailed by the 'higher critics' from the eighteenth century onwards.  Abandoning the centuries-old tradition of Mosaic authorship, the critics divide the text into a patchwork of passages alleged to emanate from various sources, i.e. from compilers who can be recognised because they use different titles of God.

Thus we have 'E', the Elohist writer (sometimes sub-divided into E_l and E₂!) and 'J' for the Jehovist; in addition there is supposed to be 'D' for Deuteronomist and 'P' for Priestly, who made their contributions from the eighth century BC onwards.  If that were not enough, these various strands suffered repeated editings in the days of Ezra and later.

Each critic has his own brand of theories and postulates (differing from those before him), but on one thing they all agree, viz. that most prophecies were written after the events, and similarly, most legislation and much 'history' was concocted by later writers and then attributed to earlier periods.  The biblical statements that Moses himself wrote down the events and legislation in diary form (Exodus 7.14; 24.4; 34.27, Numbers 33.2; Deuteronomy 3l.9) are summarily dismissed, as is the strong affirmation of Moses' authorship by the Lord Jesus.  Jesus on many occasions referred to various parts of the Pentateuch as the writings of Moses (John 5.46,47).

'For Moses said...' (Mark 7.10 )

'And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?' (Mark 10.3,4; see also Luke 16.31)

The inspired apostles also quoted the authority of Moses to support their teaching -

'For Moses describeth...' (Romans lO.5). (Paul)

'For Moses truly said unto the fathers...' ( Acts 3.22) (Peter)

There are many refutations of the 'documentary hypothesis', as it is called, by conservative scholars.  Here is just one conclusion, expressed by Professor R. K. Harrison after a long and careful examination of the history and (de-)merits of Pentateuchal criticism -

'The Pentateuch is a homogeneous composition in five volumes, and not an agglomeration of separate and perhaps only rather casually related works.  It describes, against an accredited historical background, the manner in which God revealed Himself to men and chose the Israelites for special service and witness in the world and in the course of human history.  The role of Moses in the formulation of this literary corpus appears pre-eminent, and it is not without good reason that he should be accorded a place of high honour in the growth of the epic of Israelite nationhood, and be venerated by Jews and Christians alike as the great mediator of the ancient Law.' (see note 7)

Notes:
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7: Introduction to the Old Testament' Chapter 8, Part 1; 'The Study of the Pentateuch' pp 495-541 (London, Tyndale Press 1970)