The Sources of Biblical Narrative

"One of the dominant ways of understanding how Biblical narrative emerged was and is the documentary hypothesis which posits four separate and independent story lines fused together by a series of editors who kept what fit their compositional agenda and discarded material which didn't. The aliennesss of this hypothesis which assumes an editorial process harsher and more invasive than any of the 20th century, to the textual traditions of the ancient near east and the respect they accorded the written word, led me to search for a theory of composition more organic to the time and place in which the Bible was written.The answer I found based on many predecessors was a version of the supplementary hypothesis. At its most basic level this theory suggests that the way in which Biblical narrative evolved was one of successive additions upon one original and complete text in order to make the text relevant to a new audience of readers - an organic procedure in a culture where the written word was respected, and revelation revered. Each stage of composition was a complete and cohesive work.E (The Elohistic Source) - The kernel of the Pentateuch's narrative, in five story cycles focusing on the early Israelite heroes Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Balaam. Uses the name Elohim exclusively for GodN (The Northern Book of Judges) - The kernel of the Book of Judges, focuses on seven heroes who save Israel from mauraders and culminates with Saul who is appointed King.J (The Yahwistic Source) - Adapts E, N, C for a Judean (southern Israel) audience and incorporates them into a historiographical account beginning with the creation and culminating with DavidC (The Book of the Covenant) - The legal code of Exodus 20-24.D1 (The First Deuteronomistic Redactor) - Primarily responsible for incorporating the law code of Deuteronomy into the Pentateuch and adding a layer of redaction concerned with theodicy in the books of Joshua-Kings .D2 (The Second Deuteronomistic Redactor) - Elaborates upon D1's redaction and themesP (The Priestly Source) - Primarily a priestly legal source. Responsible for supplementing the J narrative with dates, names, and numbers, thus "ordering" and authenticating J's accountThe Color Coded Sources in Chronological order H (The Holiness Code) - Popularizes the P laws for the masses, supplements the P lists.A (Anti Centralization Source) - Adds cultic narratives to the books of Joshua - Samuel emphasizing the diversity of religious centers as opposed to Deuteronomy's focus on JerrsalemB (the Bridging Source) - The final redactor of J's historiographical project, adds populat myths and narrative bridges connecting between different sectionsAr (Ark narratives) - The legends of the Ark of the covenant in 1 Samuel 4-6.Pr (Pro Kingship Source) - Adds a textual strata emphasizing the chosenness of the annointed monarchs.The author of the website was the youngest PhD in the history of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Faculty of Humanities and is currently a professor of Bible at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles.On this website you'll find a presentation of all the stages of the narrative composition of Genesis - II Samuel 5 from the kernel to the full fruit. "