This week we took an in-depth look at the Documentary Hypothesis’ Deuteronomic (D) and Priestly (P) authors. As with J and E, we best understand these authors by understanding the world in which they lived.
After the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell, Judah was overshadowed by the neighboring power of Assyria and, after some time, Babylonia. Tribal leadership gradually disappeared and the power of even the kings was undermined as Judah fell into near vassal state status to its neighbors. Twice during this period, kings moved to centralize religious authority in Jerusalem and to eradicate the worship of Baal and Asherah in favor of monolatry of Yahweh. The first king to do so was Hezekiah. After Hezekiah died, King Manasseh let the reforms lapse. Forty years later, King Josiah reinstituted the reforms.
Judah fell to the Babylonians in 587 BCE. The Temple was destroyed and the Jews were sent into exile. King Cyrus of Persia ultimately let the Jewish people return in 538 BCE and the second Temple was constructed in the years thereafter.
After the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell, Judah was overshadowed by the neighboring power of Assyria and, after some time, Babylonia. Tribal leadership gradually disappeared and the power of even the kings was undermined as Judah fell into near vassal state status to its neighbors. Twice during this period, kings moved to centralize religious authority in Jerusalem and to eradicate the worship of Baal and Asherah in favor of monolatry of Yahweh. The first king to do so was Hezekiah. After Hezekiah died, King Manasseh let the reforms lapse. Forty years later, King Josiah reinstituted the reforms.
Judah fell to the Babylonians in 587 BCE. The Temple was destroyed and the Jews were sent into exile. King Cyrus of Persia ultimately let the Jewish people return in 538 BCE and the second Temple was constructed in the years thereafter.
The books attributed to the Deuteronomist (Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings), speak extremely highly of King Josiah, elevating him to almost the same level as Moses. The Deuteronomist measured all the kings of Israel by their adherence to the centralization of religion in Jerusalem and their fidelity to Yahweh. In both of these measures, Josiah and Hezekiah perform best.
The Priestly author brought a new view of God to the Pentateuch. His God was much more cosmic rather than personal. The Priestly God was just but not merciful. Finally, the Priestly author held the Aaron and the Aaronid priests consistently in high esteem.By careful examination of many clues within the stories of D and P, scholars have developed profiles of both the Deuteronomist and Priestly authors:
The Priestly author brought a new view of God to the Pentateuch. His God was much more cosmic rather than personal. The Priestly God was just but not merciful. Finally, the Priestly author held the Aaron and the Aaronid priests consistently in high esteem.By careful examination of many clues within the stories of D and P, scholars have developed profiles of both the Deuteronomist and Priestly authors:
Deuteronomist: a male associated with court of King Josiah, writing primarily in the time of King Josiah, and intimately familiar with the prophet Jeremiah. Richard Friedman argues that the Deuteronomist may be Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch.
Priestly Author: an Aaronid priest or priests, who wrote after the exile. Friedman argues that the Priestly author should actually be placed much earlier pre-exile in the time of King Hezekiah.
Ultimately, the Pentateuch provides a rich tapestry of theology, history, and politics interwoven through the stories of the four authors and pulled together by several redactors. In the Pentateuch, God is cosmic and beautiful, personal and intimate, true and just, and merciful and full of grace.
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