User talk:Kenneth W. Shafer

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Topic: Documentary Hypothesis.

I have conclusive evidence of the identity of J. I would be interested in discussion. kwshafer (talk) 16:39, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

Offer: For purposes of definition, categorize an       argument as Indicative, Persuasive, or        Conclusive. Buy my book on Amazon (Searching for J), and if you do not agree that the evidence for Michal as J is        Conclusive, I will return your money. kwshafer (talk) 02:49, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

Definition and Status of Documentary Hypothesis

DOCUMENTARY HYPOTHESIS (DH) DEFINITION

The DH consists of an initial hypothesis, and also a process for analysis and continuing refinement.

The first observation (circa 1850) was that there were a number of duplications and contradictions in Genesis that might be   resolved if there was more than one source involved in writing the book.

The initial hypothesis was that there were three primary sources (documents) for the book of Genesis, labeled J, E, and P.

The process for analysis and refinement was restricted to the field of “Higher Criticism”, which is analysis restricted to the text of the bible; that is, not dependent on external evidence.

The process is iterative -- that is, it can be re-applied whenever more discoveries are made. This successive refinement results in continuous improvement to the DH. An example of a  very early iteration is worthwhile here to illustrate the concept.

The first source identified was P (for Priestly), separated by a writing style that is identifiable even in English translation. The remaining two sources were separated by     the manner in which they referred to God. In narration, one source used Yahweh (in German this starts with a J,     much as our Jehovah), and is known as J.  The other source only used Elohim, and is known as E. This was the first iteration, and resolved the initial duplications and contradictions.

Several lines of investigation were possible from here: Are the same sources identifiable beyond Genesis? Are the writing styles of the three sources identifiable? Are there clues regarding the theology of the three sources? Are there clues regarding the dates of authorship? Can passages that were previously unassigned be attributed to the sources as we learn more about them? How did separate sources come to be combined?

Answers to most of these questions began to emerge, and the new findings were then put through another iteration. Each iteration generates new questions, prompting continued analysis.

This process of iteration continues until no new findings can be    developed. As of 2007, there are still new findings appearing, and the DH continues to improve. CURRENT STATUS OF THE DOCUMENTARY HYPOTHESIS

As the DH is continuously evolving, a complete description should include a snapshot of the state of the Documentary Hypothesis on    some specific date of interest.

This is a summary of where the DH stands today (2007). Asterisks show where references are available to identify and locate the underlying analysis.

J, E, and P continue through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. A fourth source is identified in Deuteronomy, known as D.        To account for the combining of various primary sources, some Redactors were identified. For notational purposes, Rd would be the D redactor. DH source analysis continues through the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and more.

Summary of major sources:

J    J is the great storyteller*. For purposes of this discussion, divide the J narrative into ancient history (Adam and Eve, Noah    and the flood, Abraham and the other patriarchs), recent history (the conquest of Canaan), and eyewitness accounts (events during    the early monarchy). The ancient history comes down to Israel through a long oral tradition*.

Presumably J did not invent the ancient stories, but J wrote them down, along with the recent history and eyewitness accounts. The recent history accounts are found in the battle of Jericho*, the book of Judges*, and the book of Ruth*.

In the 1980’s, Friedman* and then Bloom* proposed that J was a     woman. More recently, she has been identified as Michal* (first    wife of David).

P    As with the J documents, some of the P documents are very old. A case in point is the “Book of Generations”, beginning in    Genesis 5. According to Friedman*, this is at least a little older than the J document (more or less 1000 BC). Friedman* has recently placed the author of the P narrative during the reign of Hezekiah.

The P redactor (Rp) combined the P narrative with the combined JED document, along with other P documents to form something that looks very much like our Old Testament from Genesis through Lamentations, and perhaps farther. Friedman* has identified Rp as Ezra, who wrote I and II Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Ezra took the Book of Generations*, and spread it throughout the first five books, to serve as a benchmark of chronology.

E    The E material was never a complete narrative* (as opposed to      J and the P narrative). The usual assumption is that a redactor (Re) combined J and E into a single document*. It is also possible that E himself combined the E material with J, so that E acted as his own redactor*. More analysis would be useful here.

E was probably located in the north* (Israel) as opposed to J,     who was in the south* (later Judah). Stories in Joshua that emphasize the actions of Joshua himself undoubtedly show the hand of E*. Stories in I and II Samuel which show the monarchy in a negative light are probably E*. He wrote near the end of    Solomon’s reign, or later*. E has not yet been identified.

D    D wrote the core of the book of Deuteronomy (probably the laws) near the reign of Hezekiah. This book was likely the one discovered later, during the reign of Josiah*.

The D redactor (Rd) combined the D document with the JE document, and added linking material and an introduction tying together Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges. Friedman* identifies Rd as a     combination of Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch, who wrote Jeremiah and Lamentations. After the death of King Josiah, Rd     went back and adjusted the earlier descriptions to fit*.

D and Rd appear to be in the tradition of the Levitical priesthood, and were located in the north (Israel)*.

CONCLUSION

The DH continues to be a useful tool in biblical analysis. Over time, the DH continues to improve, and becomes more accurate.