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Summary: Gulp...my paradigm of the Bible is disintigrating!
Review: Considering the academic nature of the topic, Mr. Friedman does an incredible job at keeping the topic matter approachable and engaging.
As a Christian raised with a conservative protestant background, I found the information Mr. Friedman presents to be both fascinating and very disturbing. Disturbing in the sense that he describes a `story' of the creation of the first 5 books of the old testament in a way that differs markedly from what I have been taught in church about the Bible.
And yet, I am finding that there is freedom in this new (at least for me) way of seeing the Bible because, frankly, I don't think it held together very well the way it had been presented to me at church. That being said, it also has caused me to really question and search out what the Bible really has to offer. That has led me to reading The Bible Unearthed by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman (Whoa! Not to be read by the faint of heart!) and An Introduction to the Old Testament by Walter Brueggmann (I hope he will help me figure out how to put the pieces of my disintegrated Bible paradigm back together in a new picture that still functions in some spiritual fashion).
A worthwhile read for those exploring the part of the Bible and its origins.
Rating: 
Summary: not bad reading, even if you don't like the bible
Review: Covers parts of the old testament. Mostly analysis of the writers of the bible based on the political climate and history of the time. I found myself agreeing with the author a lot of the time, his theories make sense, could be true and sound more likely than a lot of theories about the origin of the Bible. Very readable,and no religious nonsense, just some theories based on evidence.
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Summary: Compilation by committee
Review: Friedman keeps to a very narrow, but clearly defined, path in assessing biblical origins. He goes to some effort to restrict his thesis to identifying authors and their likely locations. The validity of events nor theology never enter the picture. Contention over inconsistencies in what has come down to us as "the" bible have raged for centuries. Scholars in the Middle Ages, he reminds us, readily noted how styles varied, accounts were duplicated and traditions conflicted. With a keen analytical eye enhanced by long experience and good scholarship, he teases a coherent picture from this confusing collection of tales. Although not all the material here is original - and how could it be? - Friedman's assemblage is soundly researched, very ably organised and presented.
The fundamental issue rests on the division of the Hebrew-speaking peoples into the "dual kingdoms" of Israel and Judah. The result was the compilation of two "histories" with different styles and priorities. Each had a different focus and approach to what was meaningful. The later confusion resulted when this pair of accounts was amalgamated into a single document and promulgated as "the" book. Friedman strongly points out that this didn't invalidate the histories, it simply meant readers of it need to understand they are reading a parallel set of accounts.
From the outset, Friedman dismisses the traditional view of Moses' authorship. There are too many implausibilities for that to have occurred - not the least of which is the description of Moses' death. Friedman contends the books are historical accounts recorded by scribes, probably court priests, of their respective kingdoms. Their style differences allow him to pin letter designations for identification - the now well-known E, J, D and P. The first two refer to how the deity was identified. The "D" is for "Deuteronomist", identified by stylistic traits, while the "P" relates to priestly genealogies. Friedman uses various highlighting techniques to demonstrate variances in the text style or content. This rather hotch-potch arrangement was later organised into the single volume by the "Redactor" [the "E" for "Editor" having already been assigned.
Setting his thesis within a well-defined chronology, Friedman shows how the various authors had previously material to draw on producing their own accounts. With no possibility of retrieving the sequence, we have only the results passed down to us. This situation explains many of the inconsistencies, since Judaic scribes had different sources than those in Israel. They also, apparently, had different agendas to follow. Almost from the beginning, for example, there are differences in the roles of Moses and Aaron. Friedman lists other variations with their probable origins.
Friedman's book is the best current example of what has become known as the "Documentary Hypothesis". This phrase stands in contrast with the idea of "divine origins" of the collection. As examples of historical literature, the books of the Hebrew Bible merit serious investigation and analysis. Friedman, picking up from French and German studies of the past two centuries, has performed a significant task. He writes well, doesn't engage in idle speculation, and, perhaps most important, condemns none. The authors he discusses were products of their time. He recognises that, keeping the authors clearly within their contemporary context. An excellent book, worthy of anybody's attention. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
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Summary: Outstanding Insights
Review: Have you ever noticed that the story of the Creation is told twice in Genesis, in different ways? Or that at one point in Genesis Noah releases a dove from the ark, but just a few verses away, it says he released a raven? Scholars have found dozens of such "doublets," bits of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) that cover the same ground, often differing in the details or the words used.Richard Friedman, in Who Wrote the Bible?, unravels the major literary strands in the Pentateuch. By sorting out verses according to word usage and other markers in the original Hebrew, Friedman comes to the conclusion that today's Pentateuch was originally four different works. (Not all of this is original with Friedman, but he sums up previous research and advances the theory significantly.) One book originated in Israel before the Babylonian invasion, the other in Judah, the southern and longer surviving part of the Hebrew kingdom. Among the differences between them, God is always called Yahweh (Jehovah) in the book from Israel, and Elohim in the book from Judah. A third major strand that Friedman unravels is associated with the priestly class. Not surprisingly, it dwells mostly on various ritual requirements. Almost the entire book of Leviticus is from this source. The fourth source is the writer of Deuteronomy. Have you ever noticed how Deuteronomy repeats so much of Genesis and Exodus? Perhaps the most important insight of the book is how the God of the books from Israel and Judah is essentially forgiving and maintains a personal relationship with the central figures of the narrative - Adam and Eve, Noah, Joseph, and Moses, for example. The God of the priestly source is characterized by high standards for human behavior and the imposition of consequences for going astray. Both of these aspects of God's nature are found in the New Testament as well. With ample documentation and convincing logic, Friedman develops the theory that a single editor wove these books together after the Babylonian exile, producing what we now know as the Pentateuch. This was a grand synthesis, in which no one original strand emerged dominant, and in which the several aspects of God are revealed. The result was a sum greater than the component parts (the kind of synergy one would expect from divine inspiration), and which ever since has been a central source for our understanding of God. Friedman does identify who he thinks wrote and edited most of the Pentateuch - names you will recognize. But I won't ruin the detective-like suspense of the book by telling you. If the book has a shortcoming, it's that it does not deal with the entire Old Testament. Beyond the Pentateuch, Friedman reaches forward briefly as far as Chronicles. I had hoped to read a treatment of Isaiah, with its prophecies of the Messiah, but it's not here. Altogether, an outstanding, insightful book. Highly recommended.
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Summary: An Important Book on An Important Topic
Review: I am surprised that there have not been more books written on Biblical authorship. However, the term Bible in this book is used loosely, because almost the entire book is about only the Torah portion of the Bible (aka the Pentatuech or the Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deutoronomy) In this book, the author plays the role of Bible detective and tries to piece together a theory on who wrote (or edited or compiled) the various parts of the Torah, when they wrote it, where they wrote it, and why they wrote what they wrote. He concludes that there are several distinct sources (from wither individuals or groups) that are pieced together to form the Torah. He identifies them and tries to desribe them. However, keep in mind that we are dealing with some very old texts here, and it is very difficult to determine anyhting about their authorship. Don't get me wrong, the author does a fine job in his investigation, but still, these are more like educated guesses than they are near conclusive conclusions. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who is interested in religion. The Torah directly or indirectly forms a major part of the foundation of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is definitely worth knowing where the Torah comes from, and this book is clearly one of the best on this subject.
Rating:
Summary: An Important Book on An Important Topic
Review: I am surprised that there have not been more books written on Biblical authorship. However, the term Bible in this book is used loosely, because almost the entire book is about only the Torah portion of the Bible (aka the Pentatuech or the Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deutoronomy) In this book, the author plays the role of Bible detective and tries to piece together a theory on who wrote (or edited or compiled) the various parts of the Torah, when they wrote it, where they wrote it, and why they wrote what they wrote. He concludes that there are several distinct sources (from wither individuals or groups) that are pieced together to form the Torah. He identifies them and tries to desribe them. However, keep in mind that we are dealing with some very old texts here, and it is very difficult to determine anyhting about their authorship. Don't get me wrong, the author does a fine job in his investigation, but still, these are more like educated guesses than they are near conclusive conclusions. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who is interested in religion. The Torah directly or indirectly forms a major part of the foundation of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is definitely worth knowing where the Torah comes from, and this book is clearly one of the best on this subject.
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Summary: The best book on the Hebrew Bible
Review: If you want to learn all about the fascinating Old Testament scholarship of the 20th century, you can either spend a few years in divinity school or read this book. Of course, reading the book is a whole lot cheaper. =) Actually, Friedman does not discuss the entire Old Testament, but only the first five books (the Torah, or Pentateuch), which are traditionally held to have been written by Moses. He outlines how modern scholarship has in fact identified several different authors, usually referred to as the Yahwist, Elohist, Priestly and Deuteronomist sources, as well as a final Redactor or editor. Brilliant stuff, and Friedman makes it read like the greatest bit of historical detective work ever.
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Summary: As Relates to the "Mormon" Perspective
Review: In "ditto"-ing all the wonderful reviews and remarks given this fascinating book, I particularly wish to point out an additional perspective that holds particular significance to those in the "Mormon" faith and that I hope will resonate well with others of my own religious upbringing.
In "Mormonism," the most fundamental belief in the Trinity is that God (the Father) was and is called "Elohim" and that His son, Jesus Christ, was known before His birth as "Jehovah." This we knew, supposedly, thanks to "modern-day revelation" direct from God through a "living prophet." And while several years of in-depth study and investigation has indisputably proved these claims untrue, yet this one book provides key proof that even in such fundamental doctrine as who and what God is, the Mormon view is as flawed as the rest of this religion's other unique doctrines, beliefs, and claims.
In addition to providing us with an astounding and insightful picture of the Bible and its history, this amazing book makes crystal clear that "Elohim" and "Jehovah" were never intended nor understood anciently to refer to two separate individuals, but instead... only one.
As this book exhaustively and entertainingly explains, as first discovered in the 18th Century and later confirmed in the 19th and 20th Centuries, following the death of King Solomon, Israel split into two separate kingdoms requiring their own unique and separate national and religious identities, including the creation of their own separate scriptures. The southern kingdom (Kingdom of Judah) chose to call their god "Jehovah." The northern Kingdom (Kingdom of Israel) chose instead the more ancient name of "El" or "Elohim." Thus two separate biblical accounts of the Flood, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Exodus, etc., were written, employing in each their own name for "God." Only much later were these two accounts combined and edited into the one account we currently call the Bible, today.
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Summary: Fascinating!
Review: Richard Elliot Friedman's "Who Wrote the Bible?" is a fascinating, page-turing account that offers a satisfying answer to the question of who wrote the The Five Books of Moses. For years, Friedman writes, it was believed that Moses had authored the first five books of the Bible. This theory had difficulty enduring due to several factors, including the fact that the books had many contradictions in language and story. Then there was the not insignificant fact that Moses had written of his own death (explained by theologians as a prophetic vision of the future). It is interesting to note that church leaders had no problem accepting that the Four Gospels had different authors, but yet were resistant to the alternative theory about the Pentatuch's authorship. Friedman answers this contradiction by the rather obvious explanation that the Church was reluctant to have any changes or alterations made to their existing theory. Since the Moses myth had endured for hundreds of years, they were reluctant to part with it. Friedman starts the book with a succinct, and fascinating, account of the history of Semitic people in the Middle East between the years 1200-722 BC. He then begins to offer proof about who actually wrote the Five Books of Moses. He takes the reader through a fascinating breakdown of the language contradictions in certain part of the Bible, and supplies support for these contradictions by pointing to four different source materials that were used to make up the OT. With this theory in place (helped by an excellent index identifier for which sources supplied which story, or part of a story) he ably makes the case for the Documentary Theory of authorship. The Five Books of Moses are made up of parts of four different manuscripts, written by different sources, and pieced together by a later editor. "Who Wrote the Bible?" is fasinating -- intelligent, well written, and, above all, well supported by logic and source materials.
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Summary: Well Written and Easily Explained
Review: The Christian Church originally believed the first five books of the Bible were written by Moses. Through the centuries, a few people were unconvinced that Moses wrote every single word (such as the account of his death). All were called heretics. Only in the past hundred years or so has the idea of multiple authors gained wide acceptance. That idea is called the Documentary Hypothesis, and in "Who Wrote the Bible", Richard Elliot Friedman turns it into one of the greatest historical mysteries of all time. Written as a whodunit with suspense on every page, Friedman paints a picture of an ancient civilation racked by inner turmoil and bitterness between rival factions. We see the anger and betrayal, and then the indescribable grief when the nation finally fell. And the one man who sought to heal these wounds creating the most influential book in history. Who was this man? I wouldn't dream of telling you because it would deprive you of the thrill of reading one of the most entertaining non-fiction books ever written. If you are at all curious about the history of the Old Testament, you will love this book.
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