Source Composition and Structure of the Torah

The main sources and traditions found in the Torah

• (J) - Yahwist - the Yahwist source or tradition was presumably
  written at about c. 950; it is a Judean source, written during
  the United Monarchy, which prefers to use the divine name
  Yahweh (sometimes called Jahweh)
• (E) - Elohist - the Elohist source or tradition was presumably
  written at about c. 850; it is an Ephramitic or North Israelite
  source which favors the use of the divine name Elohim ("God")
• (D) - Deuteronomist - the Deuteronomist source or tradition was
  presumably written at about c. 650 or later; a tradition, best
  represented in the book of Deuteronomy, which reflects the literary
  style and theology prevalent at the time of Josiah's reform (621 BCE)
• (P) - Priestly - the Priestly source or tradition was presumably
  written about c. 550 or later; a literary corpus, marked by the style
  and cultic interests of the priestly circle of Jerusalem, which
  became prominent in the period after the fall of Jerusalem in 587
  BCE

Basic divisions in the Torah and the sources
which compose them

• Genesis 1-11: Beginnings - composed of both Yahwist and Priestly
  traditions
• Genesis 12-50: Patriarchs - composed of three traditions combined,
  Yahwist, Elohist, and Priestly
• Exodus 1-15: Departure from Egypt - also composed of three
  traditions combined, Yahwist, Elohist, and Priestly
• Exodus 16-18: In the Wilderness - composed also of the three
  traditions of Yahwist, Elohist, and Priestly sources
• passage between Exodus 18 and 19: The Covenant at Mount Sinai -
  composed of the Yahwist tradition and source
• Exodus 19-24: Living the Covenant - composed of the Elohist
  tradition and source
• passage between Exodus 24 and 25 - Ratification of the Covenant -
  composed of the Yahwist source and tradition
• Exodus 25-31: Living the Covenant - composed of the Priestly
  source and tradition
• Exodus 32-34: Renewal of the Covenant - composed of the Yahwist
  and Elohist sources and traditions
• Exodus 35-40: Living the Covenant - composed of the Priestly
  source and tradition
• Leviticus: Law Codes - composed of the Priestly tradition and source
• Numbers 1-10: Law Codes - composed of the Priestly tradition and
  source
• Numbers 11-12: Wilderness Journey - composed of both the
  Yahwist and Elohist traditions
• Numbers 13-36: Journey to Canaan - composed of the combined
  three traditions of the Yahwist, Elohist and Priestly sources and
  traditions
• Deuteronomy: Canaan - composed solely of the Deuteronomist
  tradition and source



Dennis-Emmanuel Cabrera
March 10, 2005



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