Did Moses Write the Books of Genesis and Exodus?

In ancient times, various religious and historical narratives have been attributed to Moses, the famous prophet and lawgiver, who led the Israelites out of Egypt. Central to the Hebrew Bible are the books of Genesis and Exodus, which detail the origins of the Israelite people and their journey from slavery to freedom. Traditional Jewish and Christian belief holds that Moses authored these books, particularly the first five books of the Torah, collectively known as the Pentateuch. However, modern scholarship and linguistic analysis present a more nuanced picture. Let us explore the question of who wrote the books of Genesis and Exodus.

Traditional Attribution to Moses

According to traditional religious teachings, Moses wrote the Books of Levi, Numbers, Deuteronomy—collectively known as the Pentateuch, or the Five Books of Moses. These books are believed to be the direct divinely dictated words of God through Moses, the great scribe.

Moses began the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt when he was eighty years old. During his life, he wrote down the Torah, which includes the Pentateuch. Between the fiftieth and ninetieth day after the Exodus, he began writing the first portions of the Torah, believed to be Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

Modern Scholarship and the Compilation Theory

Modern scholars, however, suggest that Genesis and Exodus are not single-authored books, but rather compilations of earlier written records.

P.J. Wiseman's Analysis: P.J. Wiseman's book, Ancient Records and the Structure of Genesis: A Case for Literary Unity, published on Amazon and eBay, provides a compelling argument for the literary unity and structure of Genesis. According to Wiseman, the chapters leading up to the Joseph narrative were written on clay tablets, likely by the very people whose stories they tell. The latter part of the book, the Joseph story, was written on papyrus in Egypt, as was common practice.

Dating and Linguistic Analysis: Linguistic experts argue that the sections up to the Joseph story in Genesis are relatively pure Hebrew, whereas the Joseph narrative contains many Egyptian words and phrasings, typical for someone who lived in Egypt. It is proposed that Moses inherited and combined these earlier documents, writing the rest of the Pentateuch between the ages of eighty and one hundred and twenty.

Date of Composition: The majority of Genesis was likely written between the fourth to third millennium BC. The Joseph story, being more detailed and consistent with Egyptian practices, is said to date from the end of the third millennium BC or early second millennium BC.

Moshe and the Books: A Comprehensive Look

Genesis: While Moses could not have written the entire Book of Genesis himself, as he had no personal knowledge of the early cultural and historical events portrayed, it is possible that he edited and refined earlier compiled writings.

The book of Genesis records the events from the creation of the world to the death of Joseph. Given the limited historical context Moses had, these earlier records could have been gathered and structured by various scribes and compilers over a period of time.

Exodus: Similarly, the Book of Exodus describes the events leading up to the Exodus from Egypt, the construction of the Tabernacle, and the commandments given at Mount Sinai. Moses could have amalgamated and edited earlier documents, ensuring that the narrative was coherent and instructive for the Israelites.

Conclusion

While traditional religious texts attribute the Books of Genesis and Exodus to Moses, modern scholarship presents a more complex understanding of their origins. It appears that Moses may have combined and edited earlier written records, inherited from various scribes and compilers, to form the comprehensive texts we now know as the Pentateuch.

Moses could have added the theological and divine legitimacy to these earlier documents, ensuring that the message remained consistent and accurate.

God bless you.