Documentary+Hypothesis

Documentary Hypothesis is a theory started in the late 1800’s (by Julius Wellhausen ) stating that the Pentateuch , instead of written all at once by a single author, was created by multiple sources throughout a span of nearly 500 years. Evidence supporting this theory is based upon the different names and identifications given to G-d in the Torah. There are generally four main sources cited in the Documentary Hypothesis. The Yawist source, usually symbolized by a single capital J is believed to be written c. 950 BCE in southern Judah. The Elohist (E) c. 850 CE in Israel. The Deuteronomist (D) c. 600 BCE in Jerusalem and the Priestly source (P) c. 500 BCE by the Kohanim during the Babylonian exile. There are other biblical inconsistencies that may have helped the Documentary Hypothesis to form as well. Such as the sensitivity towards women in only certain parts of biblical literature, the spiritual and moralistic concerns in particular biblical narratives, familiarities with later Israelite history and the priestly prerogative steeped in only certain text. MC