Faculty Books
Rethinking the Composition of the Pentateuch
- Faculty Editor(s): Rendsburg, Gary A.
- Publisher & Year: Hendrickson, 2026
- Genre(s): Religious Studies
- Book Link: https://www.hendricksonpublishers.com/p/rethinking-the-composition-of-the-pentateuch/9798400501586
The Pentateuch constitutes the foundational text for Judaism and by extension for Christianity, hence its Hebrew name, Torah, which means “teaching.” How, when, and why did this text come to be? How did the remarkable authors in ancient Israel compose, compile, and create such a singular achievement as the five books from Genesis through Deuteronomy, with its masterful stories, moral and ethical legal system, and detailed information about the sacrifices?
The present volume paves new ground, with over forty essays by leading scholars worldwide (Jewish and Christian; American, European, and Israeli), as it provides expert and yet accessible studies covering all aspects of Pentateuchal study. Through these studies, the authors argue collectively that the Torah is to be seen (contrary to the view of many scholars) as ancient Israel’s earliest literature, dating to the very emergence of Israel as a people.