Biblical Hebrew Forum

[peter_kirk AT sil.org]

I understand that even very ancient Jewish tradition does not claim 
that Moses himself wrote the last chapter of Deuteronomy. I think my 
suggestion attributes to Moses about 37 mostly short verses less than 
that ancient tradition (1:1-5, 27:1a,9a,11, 29:1,2a, 
31:1,7a,9,10a,14-25,30, 32:44-46a,48-53, 
33:1,2a,7a,8a,12a,13a,18a,20a,22a,23a,24a - from a brief look at an 
English version). On the other hand, I do accept in part the methods 
of literary critical scholarship, and would accept a lesser degree of 
Mosaic authorship if given good evidence for it, which I have not yet 
seen.

I regret that I have not read all of these scholars, nor your own 
work. If indeed I am of like mind with them, then I am in 
distinguished company.

Peter Kirk


______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Methods in biblical scholarship
Author:  <yonsaf AT beitberl.beitberl.ac.il> at Internet
Date:    27/12/1999 15:23


Peter,
I take it that, though you do not accept the Documentary Hypothesis, you 
do not claim that all the Torah was written by Moses, and that you admit 
that it was composed by multiple authors (you say Deut, is not of Mosaic 
authorship), and dates from different periods (since at least Deut. 
dates from after Moses' death)?
Do I then understand you correctly, that you are merely proposing 
another method of literary-critical scholarship?
If so, then you are of like mind with Cassuto, Loewenstamm, Redford (at 
least in the Joseph Narrative), Rofe, Sturdy and myself (regarding the 
Balaam Narrative).
Yours,

--
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College
Beit Berl Post Office 44905
Israel