Found primarily in the Book of Deuteronomy . Friedman uniquely identifies the author of D as the prophet Jeremiah or his scribe Baruch, linked to King Josiah’s religious reforms in 621 BCE. Key Arguments & Evidence
The Bible often tells the same story twice with different details (e.g., two versions of the creation story or the flood). Friedman explains these as the result of a Redactor (R) —likely the priest Ezra —combining multiple sources into one cohesive but sometimes inconsistent narrative.
Analysis shows that the Hebrew used in different parts of the Torah reflects various historical periods, much like the difference between Shakespearean and modern English. Who Wrote the Bible? (2nd Edition)
Richard Elliott Friedman’s (initially published in 1987, with updated editions through 2019) is a landmark work of biblical scholarship that treats the authorship of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) like a historical detective case.
Named for using the divine name Yahweh . Written in the southern Kingdom of Judah around the 9th or 10th century BCE, it features a more anthropomorphic God. Found primarily in the Book of Deuteronomy
Named for using the name Elohim for God. Originating from the northern Kingdom of Israel around the 8th or 9th century BCE, it focuses more on northern locations and traditions.
A much larger document focused on laws, genealogies, and priestly duties, such as those found in Leviticus . Friedman argues P was written as a response to J and E. Friedman explains these as the result of a
Friedman identifies four main voices that were woven together by a later editor to form the final text: