According to tradition and/or history, what is the origin of the Pentateuch?

Question

I read about it being discovered in a wall of the temple. Does anyone have more info., or a better source?

utuk seems to be the only one who's really understood my question so far.

Answer 1

Scholars maintain the Penteteuch, as a whole, is a compilation of texts. Genesis was originally two separate books (E and J). J was written in Israel (northern kingdom) during the reign of Roboam, c. 8th century BC. E was written about 100 years later in Judea. Deuteronomy was written by scribes during the reign of Josiah, c. 7th century BC. Leviticus and Numbers were written by a single author during the Babylonian Captivity. E and J were compiled and edited into a single document around the same time. Following the Babylonian Captivity, all five books were combined into a single anthology.

Your story about the wall of temple refers to the discovery of Deuteronomy. According to legend, Josiah sent his scribes to clean out the library in Jerusalem, and they found Deuteronomy stashed away down in the basement. Scholars generally agree that the text was actually written by a scribe in the basement of the library at Josiah's request.

Answer 2

The Pentateuch is the name given to the first five books of the Bible. They were written by Moses according to the influence of God, then passed on by scribes throughout the history of the Israelites.

Answer 3

If I got it right. Moses was responsible for the writing of it. But that's tradition. It's just that if you study it, even in English, so many bloomin' things get all lined up to it, even to this day. If I knew what I knew about it now and wasn't a Christian, I would be spooked out.

Answer 4

read the old testament, KJV, it tells all about how the laws came to be...the pentateuch is the first 5 books of moses.

Answer 5

Pentateuch (WebBible Encyclopedia) - ChristianAnswers.Net
try that web site

Answer 6

Moses or JEDP theory

Answer 7

Moses wrote it.