Exploring the Composition of the Pentateuch, Volume 2
Published on 18. November 2025
Book
Hardback
298 pages
978-1-64602-320-2 (ISBN)
Description
While the critique of existing approaches to the composition of the Pentateuch has its place, the editors of this volume argue that there is a need to formulate positive proposals based on verifiable data and logical argumentation. Building on the foundation established in the preceding volume, Exploring the Composition of the Pentateuch, Volume 2 pursues this goal by addressing three essential questions: What are key strategic areas of research that need attention? In what areas can we draw conclusions? And what are the limits of available, relevant evidence?
Part 1 of this volume investigates the readability of the Pentateuch, exploring narrative techniques, inconsistencies, and coherence. Part 2 tackles issues relevant for the dating of Deuteronomy, like the narrative retelling in Deut 1-3, dating based on parallels to the Loyalty Oath of Esarhaddon, and deuteronomistic tribal language. And part 3 focuses on issues related to the overall dating of the Pentateuch, discussing empirical models, comparisons with the Hazor Legal Fragments, turning points in pentateuchal scholarship, the direction of dependence between the legal material of the Pentateuch, and the absence of Zion theology in the Pentateuch.
In addition to the editors, the contributors include Richard E. Averbeck, John S. Bergsma, Joshua Berman, Daniel I. Block, Mark Steven Francois, Roy E. Gane, Richard S. Hess, Benjamin Kilchoer, Noel K. Weeks.
Part 1 of this volume investigates the readability of the Pentateuch, exploring narrative techniques, inconsistencies, and coherence. Part 2 tackles issues relevant for the dating of Deuteronomy, like the narrative retelling in Deut 1-3, dating based on parallels to the Loyalty Oath of Esarhaddon, and deuteronomistic tribal language. And part 3 focuses on issues related to the overall dating of the Pentateuch, discussing empirical models, comparisons with the Hazor Legal Fragments, turning points in pentateuchal scholarship, the direction of dependence between the legal material of the Pentateuch, and the absence of Zion theology in the Pentateuch.
In addition to the editors, the contributors include Richard E. Averbeck, John S. Bergsma, Joshua Berman, Daniel I. Block, Mark Steven Francois, Roy E. Gane, Richard S. Hess, Benjamin Kilchoer, Noel K. Weeks.
Reviews / Votes
"This diverse collection of essays challenges both the status quo and cutting-edge theories in today's Pentateuchal historical critical research. Its essays challenge oft unchallenged presuppositions related to the dating and literary coherence of the Pentateuch, offering a wide assortment of effective arguments engaging its non-Western literary coherence, literary reuse and dependence, ancient scribal and editorial practices, dialectical variation in diachronic linguistics, among other important topics."-Neal A. Huddleston, Trinity International University
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pennsylvania State University Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Illustrations
1 Charts
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
596 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-64602-320-2 (9781646023202)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
L. S. Baker Jr. is Adjunct Professor of Old Testament in the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary at Andrews University.
Kenneth Bergland is Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies.
Felipe A. Masotti is Professor of Hebrew Bible at Parana Adventist College.
A. Rahel Wells is Professor of Old Testament at Andrews University.
Kenneth Bergland is Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies.
Felipe A. Masotti is Professor of Hebrew Bible at Parana Adventist College.
A. Rahel Wells is Professor of Old Testament at Andrews University.
Content
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
L. S. Baker Jr., Kenneth Bergland, Felipe A. Masotti, and A. Rahel Wells
Part 1: The Readability of the Pentateuch
Chapter 1. Case Studies of Some Apparent Inconsistencies in the Pentateuch
Roy E. Gane
Chapter 2. Contradiction, Coherence, and Composition
Kenneth Bergland
Chapter 3. Sophisticated Narrative Technique of the Pentateuch
Noel K. Weeks
Chapter 4. The Coherence and Internal Rationale
of the Priestly Legislation in the Pentateuch with Special Attention to the "Guild Offering"
Richard Averbeck
Part 2: The Dating of Deuteronomy
Chapter 5. Selective Literary Representation of Vassal Obsequiousness and Responsive Awareness in the Amarna Letters, the Hittite Treaty Prologues, and Deuteronomy 1-3
Felipe A. Masotti
Chapter 6. Borrowed Curses: The Loyalty Oath of Esarhaddon, Deuteronomy 28:20-44, and a Premonarchic Date for the Earliest Edition of Deuteronomy
Mark Steven Francois
Chapter 7. The Tribes of Israel (Part 1): Their Significance for Assessing the Provenance of the Book of Deuteronomy
Daniel I. Block
Chapter 8. The Tribes of Israel (Part 2): Their Significance for Assessing the Provenance of Deuteronomy 33
Daniel I. Block
Part 3: The Dating of the Pentateuch
Chapter 9. The Biblical Criticism of Ibn Hazm the Andalusian: A Medieval Control for Modern Diachronic Method
Joshua Berman
Chapter 10. Questions Concerning the Covenant Code in Light of the Hazor Legal Fragments
Richard S. Hess
Chapter 11. Three Turning Points in Research History Toward a Farewell to the Mosaic Origin of the Pentateuch: How Strong Are They?
Benjamin Kilch.r
Chapter 12. Direction of Dependence in the Animal-Related Sabbath Laws in the Pentateuch
A. Rahel Wells
Chapter 13. Did Postexilic Judaism Really Abandon Jerusalem and the Temple? A Discussion with Jean Louis Ska on the Absence of Zion Theology from the Pentateuch
John S. Bergsma
List of Contributors
Subject Index
Ancient Source Index
Introduction
L. S. Baker Jr., Kenneth Bergland, Felipe A. Masotti, and A. Rahel Wells
Part 1: The Readability of the Pentateuch
Chapter 1. Case Studies of Some Apparent Inconsistencies in the Pentateuch
Roy E. Gane
Chapter 2. Contradiction, Coherence, and Composition
Kenneth Bergland
Chapter 3. Sophisticated Narrative Technique of the Pentateuch
Noel K. Weeks
Chapter 4. The Coherence and Internal Rationale
of the Priestly Legislation in the Pentateuch with Special Attention to the "Guild Offering"
Richard Averbeck
Part 2: The Dating of Deuteronomy
Chapter 5. Selective Literary Representation of Vassal Obsequiousness and Responsive Awareness in the Amarna Letters, the Hittite Treaty Prologues, and Deuteronomy 1-3
Felipe A. Masotti
Chapter 6. Borrowed Curses: The Loyalty Oath of Esarhaddon, Deuteronomy 28:20-44, and a Premonarchic Date for the Earliest Edition of Deuteronomy
Mark Steven Francois
Chapter 7. The Tribes of Israel (Part 1): Their Significance for Assessing the Provenance of the Book of Deuteronomy
Daniel I. Block
Chapter 8. The Tribes of Israel (Part 2): Their Significance for Assessing the Provenance of Deuteronomy 33
Daniel I. Block
Part 3: The Dating of the Pentateuch
Chapter 9. The Biblical Criticism of Ibn Hazm the Andalusian: A Medieval Control for Modern Diachronic Method
Joshua Berman
Chapter 10. Questions Concerning the Covenant Code in Light of the Hazor Legal Fragments
Richard S. Hess
Chapter 11. Three Turning Points in Research History Toward a Farewell to the Mosaic Origin of the Pentateuch: How Strong Are They?
Benjamin Kilch.r
Chapter 12. Direction of Dependence in the Animal-Related Sabbath Laws in the Pentateuch
A. Rahel Wells
Chapter 13. Did Postexilic Judaism Really Abandon Jerusalem and the Temple? A Discussion with Jean Louis Ska on the Absence of Zion Theology from the Pentateuch
John S. Bergsma
List of Contributors
Subject Index
Ancient Source Index