Documentary Hypothesis

According to my research, the documentary hypothesis suggests that the five books of Moses (the Pentateuch or the Torah) originally existed as complete narratives that were independent of each other and which where combined into their current forms through the process of redaction criticism. Scholars of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries using the process of source criticism were able to piece together a theory that suggests that the combined records came together from four main sources – Jahwist (J); Elohist (E); Deuteronomist (D) and Priestly (P). The J source, considered to be the oldest narrative, is said to covers half of Genesis and Exodus and some portion of Numbers. Again, my research point to the J source as a description of the human side of God referred to in that time as Yahweh (YHWH) and was rooted in the kingdom of Judah. The E source is said to be more of a duplication of the narratives making up another third of Genesis, half of Exodus and still a small portion of Numbers. This source suggest also the human like God referred to as Yahweh that was subsequently called Elohim after the burning bush episode with Moses. The E source is concerned with the kingdom of Israel and the priesthood of Shiloh. The D source points specifically to the book of Deuteronomy with some run over into Joshua, Judges and Kings and uses the distinctive reference of YHWH Elohainu as its Hebrew name for God which translates into English as “The Lord our God”. The P source is more interested in the enumerating the dates, numbers, laws and genealogies of the story. In this context, God is suggested to be distant and merciless and is given the name Elohim. The P source suggests more of a concern with the priesthood and keeping the law than being interested in mercy and relationship that YHWH represents.