The Documentary Theory Revisited

Abstract

According to the Documentary Theory, when the P material is excluded the Tetrateuch comprises mainly the work of the so-called ‘Jehovist’ but includes also a certain amount of additional material from subsequent redactors, including Deuteronomic editors. Among recent scholars, Whybray has raised again the question of the credibility of the Documentary Theory as an explanation of how such a corpus of literature as the Pentateuch was composed, claiming that it depends upon implausible notions of how authors and editors in the ancient world would have worked. This chapter focuses on Whybray's discussion, though the observations of others who share his conclusions are also noted and considered. It begins with Whybray's claims concerning the plausibility of the Documentary Theory in general before considering his arguments and those of others concerning the criteria upon which it is based.