Essay - Book Report According to Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps...

Book Report

According to Nelson's Complete book of Bible Maps and Charts, the authorship ***** the first 5 books of ***** bible is attributed to Moses. This is a common view held by modern, conservative Jews and Chr*****tians alike, and is the view, according to Nelson's "There was general agreement regarding Moses' ***** until ***** 18th century. In the ***** period, however, it has often been asserted that behind the Pentateuch... are five separate documents, known as J, E, D, P, and R ***** each stem from a v*****riety of periods ***** Israel's history and which were pieced together late in the Old Testament era into what we know today as the Pentateuch. This *****ory is ***** as the Documentary Hypothesis" (p. 4)

While it may seem to be a sm*****ll doctrinal issue ***** instigate a deb*****te over the authorship ***** is widely recognized for its h*****torical value, and the establishment of the foundations for the *****ewish people's identity, this subject is more important than ***** c*****ual debate because of the implications which it holds. The biblical wr*****ings ***** considered to be inspired, and a revelation of God's personal dealings with h***** people. As suc***** the biblical writings hold a unique place in the religious traditions of the Jewish and Christian faiths. If ***** authorship of these ***** is in doubt, then the foundations ***** the Jewish traditions and the Christian roots which are based in Judaism are also similarly on the shift*****g sand of socio-political evolution. ***** perspective is unacceptable to conservative ***** and Chr*****tians, thus the authorship of these books is of tremendous scholarly and religious significance.

***** firm ********** in the ***** authorship being ***** to Moses arises chiefly from what ***** biblical text says about itself. Jewish practitioners and conservative Christians look first to the scriptures for ans*****rs to their questions, and rely primarily on ***** the scriptures say about themselves to answer such questions. Throughout the collection ***** ***** writings, the first 5 books of ***** bible ***** ascribed ***** Moses.

For example, in the Old *****, the writer Daniel says":

11Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even turning aside, that they should not obey ***** voice: therefore hath the curse ***** poured out upon us, ***** ***** oath that is written in the Law ***** Moses the servant of God; for we ***** sinned against him. 12And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake ***** us, and against our judges ***** judged us, by bringing upon us a gre*****t evil; for under ***** whole heaven ***** not been done as hath been done ***** Jerusalem. 13

***** it is ***** in the Law ***** Moses, ***** ***** evil is come upon us. (Daniel 9.11-13) In this p*****sage, as in Joshua 1.7, Gods' law, ***** is another descriptor of the first ***** books ***** the *****, is assigned to Moses authorship. Similarly, in the New Testament, both writers and recorded words of Jes***** po*****t ***** Moses as the author of the Pentateuch.

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