Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Noel O'Riordan" <nor AT iol.ie>]

In relation to the Evolution of texts and the theory of a Mosaic, or
contemporary, authorship, what are the opinions about the existence or
non-existence of a scribal school that had to have existed in order to pass
on the words of Moses, and to continue the history as the events happened.
in other words who wrote these texts?  For example 'during David's reign we
have no sure evidence of either the Egyptian system or of alphabetic
writing' (ABD vi 1005)  Surely in order to promulgate the texts then a
literary tradition of schools etc had to have existed and this would imply
organized state structures.  There appears to be some evidence of schooling
in 8th-7th century B.C. but this would have been when a semblance of a state
existed.  What about the proceeding 700 years.  Who wrote recorded and added
to these stories?

It seems logical to think that literacy is tied to state which sees a
terminus a quo of at least the 8th century for the texts.

Best regards
Noel O Riordan