Who Wrote the Pentateuch?

The Pentateuch, comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy), has long been attributed to Moses as its primary author. This belief, known as the Mosaic authorship tradition, has been prevalent in Jewish and Christian thought for centuries.

Internal Evidence Supporting Mosaic Authorship

Within the Pentateuch itself, there are several passages that suggest Moses played a central role in its composition:

• Direct Speech: Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy explicitly state that God spoke directly to Moses and relayed his words to the Israelites.
• Moses as a Key Figure: Moses is depicted as a pivotal character throughout the Pentateuch, particularly from the book of Exodus onward.
• Narrative Continuity: The connection between Genesis and Exodus, with Genesis ending in oppression and Exodus beginning with Moses's rise, implies a continuous narrative penned by Moses.

External Evidence Supporting Mosaic Authorship

Beyond the Pentateuch, other biblical texts support the theory of Mosaic authorship:

• Joshua's Reference: The book of Joshua refers to the "Law of Moses," indicating that the Pentateuch was attributed to him during Joshua's time.
• New Testament Citations: The New Testament also mentions the Pentateuch as "Moses" or the "Law of Moses," further bolstering its Mosaic origins.

Essential Mosaic Authorship

While scholars generally accept the Mosaic authorship tradition, they recognize that certain portions of the Pentateuch may have been written by others. For instance, Deuteronomy 34, which describes Moses's death, is believed to have been completed by an assistant at Moses's request.

Thus, the theory of essential Mosaic authorship suggests that Moses was the primary author of the Pentateuch, with minor exceptions where he delegated the task of completing or updating certain sections.

Mosaic Authorship in Judeo-Christianity

Origins and Development

The tradition of Mosaic authorship originated with the legal code in Deuteronomy, which was later extended to include the entire Torah, with Moses as the central character and author. After Jewish contact with Hellenistic culture, the need for authors arose, and by the 1st century CE, the Torah was commonly known as the "Law of Moses."

Rabbinic Tradition

The Babylonian Talmud established Mosaic authorship as an article of Jewish faith, stating that Moses wrote his own book and the section on Balaam. Rabbinic tradition explains that God dictated the Torah to Moses in heaven, and Moses received it word for word.

Modern Period

Until the European Enlightenment, Mosaic authorship was unquestioned in both Jewish and Christian traditions. However, biblical scholarship in the 18th and 19th centuries led to the conclusion that the Torah was composed by multiple authors over centuries.

Christian Tradition

Christian tradition initially followed the rabbis in accepting Mosaic authorship. However, in the 17th century, scholars began to doubt its origins, and by the 19th century, it was widely accepted that the Pentateuch was compiled from source documents after Moses' time. Today, Christian support for Mosaic authorship is primarily limited to conservative Evangelical circles.

Who wrote the Pentateuch?

The Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), is traditionally attributed to Moses as its primary author. This tradition is based on internal and external evidence, as well as religious beliefs and traditions.

Is there any evidence to support the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch?

Yes, there is some evidence to support the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch. Internal evidence includes the explicit statements in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy that God spoke directly to Moses and relayed his words to the Israelites. Moses is also depicted as a key figure throughout the Pentateuch, especially from Exodus onward. Additionally, the connection between Genesis and Exodus, with Genesis ending in oppression and Exodus beginning with Moses's rise, implies a continuous narrative authored by Moses.

Are there any external sources that support the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch?

Yes, there are some external sources that support the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch. Other biblical texts, such as the book of Joshua, refer to the "Law of Moses," implying that the Pentateuch was attributed to him. The New Testament also mentions the Pentateuch as "Moses" or the "Law of Moses," further supporting its Mosaic authorship.

Do all scholars agree that Moses wrote the Pentateuch?

No, not all scholars agree that Moses wrote the Pentateuch. While the traditional view attributes the majority of the Pentateuch to Moses, some scholars argue that certain portions may have been written by others. For example, Deuteronomy 34, which describes Moses's death, is believed to have been completed by an assistant at Moses's request. The theory of essential Mosaic authorship suggests that Moses was the primary author of the Pentateuch, with minor exceptions where he delegated the task of completing or updating certain sections.