Essay - Deutoronomistic History: Its Origins and Nature the Term Deutoronomistic History...

Deutoronomistic History: Its Origins and Nature

The term Deutoronomistic History (DH) is used by some scholars to refer to the Former Prophets. This collection of books was shaped by the *****ological perspective of Deutoronomy. The book Deutoronomy concludes the Torah and opens the way for the arrival of the prophets. There is a sense ***** expectation at the conclusion of Deutornomy, when Moses dies, and the people ***** Israel still await the fulfillment of the prom*****e. This is the narrative end to the Torah, and the beginning ***** the Prophets. The promises made in Deutoronomy then comes to partial fulfillment ***** the book of Joshua.

***** have been widespread controversies regarding the authorship of Deu*****ronomy. It is the belief of some that Deutoronomy was once part of ***** Former Prophets, comprising Joshua through Kings. According to these ***** Deuteronomy 1:1-4:40 and chapters 29-34 were added by the writer who compiled the history in the Former *****, and so ***** book is used as the preface to what became known as ***** Deuteronomistic *****.

Certain common themes tie these *****s *****gether. These themes are depicted first in the book of Deuteronomy. They include God's commitment to the house of David, ***** call to repentance and the judgment on apost*****y. The origin ***** development of the Deuteronomistic History is thus complex and varied. The *****s draw from many traditions and sources.

***** is evidence of style ***** tone ***** in ***** *****s of the DH, but *****y all have Deuteronomic characteristics. ***** and Judges are very different when compared, for example, ***** ***** both do have the common ***** *****itiated in Deuteronomy.

It has ***** mentioned above ***** scholars struggle to agree about the origins and development of the DH. Some believe that there were two editions of this ***** ***** the Hebrew Bible. The *****mes in ***** editions were also concurrent with the times in which the ***** editions came ********** being. Thus ***** first edition was shaped by what is referred to as a Deuteronom*****tic editor. This edition was ********** during the reign of Josiah in 640-609 B.C.E. Thus the predominant themes were the sin ***** Jeroboam, Baal worship in ***** Northern and the commitment of Yahwe to the house ***** David in the Sou*****rn Kingdom. The main purpose of the work was then to inspire Josiah's reform.

The second ***** was formed during the exile ***** the people of Israel, around the time of 550 B.C.E. It was no great rewrite of the text, but it does differ from ***** first version in that it is a more sober reflection upon the future. The earlier version was also supplemented w*****h the events after Josiah's reign. Thus it is ********** merely an enticement to *****, ***** also an enticement ***** live ********** rema***** faithful.

Deutornomy: Themes

Deutoronomy takes as its task to explain systematic*****y and thoughtfully ***** nature of God and faith. Thus ***** function is deliberately theological. The main ***** ***** depicted in Deu*****ronomy, and continued in the *****stic