Sources, formation and socio-historical context of the Joseph narrative: re-examined under the documentary hypothesis

The historical-critical method has given birth to many approaches to the study of the Bible. As a consequence, many scholars have come up with solutions to some of the exegetical problems in the Judeo-Christian scriptures. One of the most popular proposed solutions to the problems in the Pentateuch...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Old Testament essays
Main Author: Antwi, Emmanuel Kojo Ennin (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Dep. [2016]
In: Old Testament essays
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Old Testament / Literary criticism
RelBib Classification:HB Old Testament
TC Pre-Christian history ; Ancient Near East
Further subjects:B Genesis
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:The historical-critical method has given birth to many approaches to the study of the Bible. As a consequence, many scholars have come up with solutions to some of the exegetical problems in the Judeo-Christian scriptures. One of the most popular proposed solutions to the problems in the Pentateuch is the Documentary Hypothesis. With time, the findings of the hypothesis have been challenged in reference to some texts in the Pentateuch. This paper seeks to re-examine the sources, formation and the socio-historical context of the Joseph narrative under the Documentary Hypothesis. It evaluates the Joseph narrative under the hypothesis in the light of its critique by later scholars. The essay argues that the narrative is composed of already-existing materials from the Ancient Near East, Egypt and the traditions from Israel to reflect some aspects of the history of Israel in retrospect. Weighing the sources according to the hypothesis as against the views of its critics, who accept the narrative as a unity, one discovers that some traces of source criticism are apparent in the views of the critics of the Documentary Hypothesis. They were solving similar problems within the narrative but from different perspectives.
ISSN:1010-9919
Contains:Enthalten in: Old Testament essays
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.17159/2312-3621/2016/v29n2a3