Is Moses the Author of the Pentateuch? Examining the Historical and Linguistic Perspectives

Jamal Dookhy 

July 2023 

Doha Qatar 

Introduction: 

The authorship of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament, has long been a subject of debate among biblical scholars. Traditional belief ascribes the authorship to Moses, the legendary  figure born in Egypt and raised in the court of Pharaoh. However, modern scholarship has cast doubts  on this claim, citing linguistic, historical, and textual evidence that challenges Moses' authorship. This article aims to present a comprehensive analysis of the authorship of the Pentateuch, exploring the evidence for and against Moses as its author, while incorporating insights from prominent scholars who have extensively studied this topic. 

Historical Background of Moses: 

To understand Moses' potential authorship, one must consider his historical background. According to the biblical narrative, Moses was born in Egypt during a time of Jewish enslavement under Pharaoh's rule. He was subsequently raised in the court of Pharaoh before fleeing to Midian, where he lived for several decades. Moses eventually led the Israelites out of Egypt through the wilderness, receiving divine revelations and the Ten Commandments along the way. 

Linguistic Considerations: 

A crucial aspect of the authorship debate involves the language in which the Pentateuch was written. Hebrew is traditionally assumed to be the language used by Moses, but some scholars argue that Moses would have more likely spoken Egyptian or Aramaic. They argue that given Moses' upbringing in Pharaoh's palace and his encounters in Midian, his linguistic background may have been better suited for a different language. as he did not reside in Palestine and may not have possessed a native command of Hebrew. The Prophet's biblical narrative suggests that he was raised as an Egyptian prince, highlighting his immersion in the Egyptian language, culture, and customs. Additionally, Moses spent 40 years in Midian, suggesting the possibility of his adoption of their language or a mixture of Egyptian and Midianite dialects. This factor raises doubts about Moses' knowledge and proficiency in Hebrew, the language in which the Pentateuch is predominantly written. Investigating the linguistic aspects, scholars have analyzed both the Hebrew lettering and its Phoenician origins. The Hebrew alphabet originated after Moses' alleged exile in Midian, further questioning the likelihood of him directly writing in Hebrew. Some scholars suggest that Moses may have employed the Egyptian demotic script, which was prevalent during his lifetime, as the medium for recording the events and laws detailed in the Pentateuch. John H. Hayes, a biblical scholar, suggests that Moses would have been familiar with Egyptian hieroglyphs, hieratic, and demotic scripts rather than Hebrew, which was primarily used by the Israelites. Additionally, Richard Elliott Friedman argues that even if Moses wrote the Pentateuch, he may have employed scribes or assistants to help him overcome language barriers and translate his experiences into Hebrew. One factor to consider in the authorship debate is the timeline of the Hebrew alphabet's development. Hebrew is a Northwest Semitic language that emerged around the late second millennium BCE. Scholars such as John H. Hayes and Richard Elliott Friedman argue that the Pentateuch was composed much later, during the 6th or 5th century BCE when the Hebrew alphabet was well-established. This raises doubts about Moses' ability to have written the text in Hebrew, suggesting that it was likely written and compiled by later authors. 

Exodus and Plausibility: 

One of the most challenging aspects of the biblical narrative is the account of a large Hebrew population growing within Egypt and the subsequent mass out-migration described in Exodus. The population estimates of Egypt during that era and the impracticality of such a large-scale exodus cast doubt on the historicity of the events. Scholars such as Richard Elliott Friedman highlight the demographic inconsistencies within the biblical account. According to Numbers1:45, the Israelite population numbered over two million. However, considering that Egypt's population during that period was estimated at only three million, it becomes implausible for such a vast number of Israelites to have migrated. Moreover, linguistic analysis reveals variations in style, vocabulary, and theological outlook throughout the Pentateuch, suggesting multiple authors or editorial redactions The process of catering to the basic needs, such as infrastructure, sustenance, and hygiene, becomes problematic considering the magnitude of the population outlined in the Bible. Along the way in 40 years, people would get ill, die, other children born, People marrying after all they were human.  

The Ezra Hypothesis: 

Another alternative theory posits that Ezra the Priest, living during the Persian era, wrote and redacted the Pentateuch. Despite speaking Aramaic, Ezra is believed to have had access to older Hebrew documents, which he then combined and edited into the current form of the Pentateuch. This hypothesis challenges the traditional view that Moses was the sole author of the Pentateuch. 

Doubts Regarding Moses' Authorship: 

Several factors cast doubt on Moses' authorship of the Pentateuch. These include the presence of duplications in narrative accounts, internal contradictions, anachronistic elements, diverse literary styles, and shifts in the narrative. These characteristics suggest that the Pentateuch is a compilation of different literary sources and traditions rather than the work of a single author. Scholars argue that some passages, such as the mention of Moses's death and burial, could not have been written by Moses. The inclusion of post-Mosaic material supports the idea that the Pentateuch underwent a gradual process of composition and was not solely written by Moses. 

Doubts Surrounding the Yahwist and Elohist: 

Scholars have also raised doubts regarding the identity and beliefs of the Yahwist and the Elohist, two major sources identified in the Pentateuch. Diverse perspectives and theological variations in their writings suggest that the works were compiled from multiple authors over an extended period, reducing the likelihood of Moses as the sole author. An essential aspect of understanding the authorship of the Pentateuch lies in examining the distinct Yahwist (J) and Elohist (E) sources that scholars have identified within the text. The Yahwist source is considered the oldest, dating back to the10th or 9th century BCE, which encompassed the narrative from Creation to the Israelite entrance into Canaan. The Elohist source, dating to the8th century BCE, focuses more on theological and legal aspects. These sources, combined with other fragments and later redactions, contribute to the complexity of authorship analysis 

Scholarly Doubts and Evolving Consensus: 

Over the last two centuries, scholars have raised significant doubts about the traditional attribution of authorship to Moses. These doubts stem from various factors, including the linguistic analysis, internal inconsistencies, and anachronisms found within the text. The scholarly consensus has shifted towards recognizing the Pentateuch as a composite work, brought together from different sources over an extended period. This theory explains the presence of multiple perspectives and literary styles in the text. 

Absence of Moses as a Historical Figure Outside the Bible: 

Despite his prominence in the biblical narrative, Moses is not attested as a historical figure through external evidence. No Egyptian records from the time of Moses mention his existence, nor do any contemporary Near Eastern sources. This absence of external corroboration raises questions about Moses' role as the sole author of the Pentateuch, as it suggests that the accounts could have been shaped by subsequent generations. 

Conclusion 

Examining the authorship of the Pentateuch requires us to critically evaluate the historical, linguistic, and textual evidence. While tradition attributes the authorship to Moses, scholars have raised legitimate doubts regarding this claim. The linguistic aspect challenges the idea that Moses wrote in Hebrew, and the Ezra hypothesis offers an alternative theory of authorship. The presence of duplications, contradictions, anachronisms, and shifts in narrative style indicate that the Pentateuch is a compilation of various sources and traditions. Furthermore, the absence of external evidence regarding Moses as a historical figure beyond biblical texts warrants careful consideration. 

Ultimately, this topic remains a subject of ongoing scholarly discussion, and the question of Moses' 

authorship of the Pentateuch can never be definitively answered. It is crucial to approach the subject 

with an open mind, considering multiple perspectives and sources to develop a nuanced 

understanding of this complex issue.