The Complexity

of the
Pentateuch
points to
Composite
Nature
The Complexity of the Pentateuch,
pointing to Composite Nature

- variable use of divine names YHWH (“LORD”)

and Elohim (“God”)
E.g., Gen. 1-6; Flood Story
-significant differences in vocabulary, syntax
and style
E.g., the two creation stories
-Conflicting details
E.g., order of creation
Plants, animals, male and female humans
Male human, plants, animals, female human
- duplets
E.g., Dietary regulations
Lev. 11:1-47; Deut. 14:3-21
and triplets
E.g., Hebrew servants
Exod. 21:1-11; Lev. 25:39-55; Deut. 15:12-18
- chronological markers
Pre-occupation of Canaan
E.g., Gen. 12:6; 13:7
Explanation of something no longer in use
E.g., Exod. 16:36
Updating of place names
E.g., Gen 14
- anachronisms
Dan!
E.g., Gen. 14:14
- References to written sources

E.g., Moses as author

Exod 24:7; 34: 27;33:2;
Deut. 31:9-13, 22, 24-26.
E.g., Other works consulted
Gen. 5:1;
Num. 21:14-15
-Social customs and religious practices at odds
E.g.,
Central sanctuary or many?
Exod. 20:24-25 with Deut 12:5-27

Marriage to sister:
Gen. 20:12 with Lev. 18:9, 11; 20:17; Deut.
27:22

Marriage to two sisters:

Gen. 29:15-30 with Lev. 18:18
- Progression in understanding “book of the
law” and related nomenclature
A. Early Books
Deut. 31:9-13; Josh. 1:7-8
Exod. 20:25/ Deut. 27:5 cited in Josh.
8:31
Deut. 24:16 cited in 2 Kgs 14:6
Law = Deut
B. Later Books
Neh. 10:34-36 which conflates
Exod. 13;13 and 34:20 and Num. 18:15-18
and Deut. 15:19-23
sometimes, “law of the LORD” rather than
“law of Moses”
Law = Pentateuch
C.Talmud 3rd to 5th cent CE, but oral in BCE
“Who wrote the scriptures? Moses wrote his
own book and the portion of Balaam and Job.
Joshua wrote the book that nears his name
and [the last] eight verses of the Pentateuch.”
Law = Deut
D. 132 BCE
Sirach: “The Law and the Prophets and...”
Law = Pentateuch
E. 1 CE
Christ: Lk 24:27: “Moses and all the
Prophets...”
Moses = Pentateuch
-“Moses”—author or section of Tanak?

Prophets and Pss understood as sections

Jn 7:22-23:
“Yet, because Moses gave you the circumcision
(though actually it did not come from Moses,
but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy
on the Sabbath.
Now if a boy can be circumcised on the
Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be
broken, why are you angry with me for healing
a man’s whole body on the Sabbath?”
Moses = law of Moses + patriarchs
(+ compiler who used both oral and written
traditions)

The Complexity of the Pentateuch

points to its Composite Nature