1. Hebrew Scriptures

	A. General formation of TaNaK

		1. Torah codified probably by 400 B.C.E. (probably
		   in Babylon).

		2. Prophets seem to have taken shape by 200 B.C.E.


		3. Writings certainly had a final form by Council of
		   Jamnia in 90 C.E.

	B. Texts has changed in only limited ways since Qumran to 1000 C.E.

		1. Major streams of tradition are the Hebrew and 
		   Greek/Vulgate.

	C. Three forces have changed the view of the text.

		1. Modern historical criticism from Van Ranke.

		2. Emergences of the scientific view that appeared
		   to challenge basic assumptions about the cosmos 
		   and man.

		3. Discoveries in the Ancient Near East.


			a. A major difference in our understanding
			   of the bible and its contexts from the
			   times of Luther, for example, is the
			   discoveries of the last two centuries in
			   the Levant.

2. Literary Genre

	A. Bible composed of 

		1. songs - Ex 15, Judges 4, Psalms 45.

		2. Narratives -

			a. historical memoirs (2 Sam 9 - 20)
	
			b. short stories - Ruth and Jonah

			c. historical chronologies - Kings

			d. Folk tales - Samson

			e. Aetiological narratives - Gen 12 - 36?

		3. Laws - Deuteronomy and Leviticus.

		4. Wisdom Material - Proverbs and Job.


3. General Theory on the Structure of Torah/Pentateuch

	A. Jean Astruc (1753) noticed that the two creation
	   stories used two different names for deity.

		1. Astruc later noted that there may be
		   two sources A-source (Yahweh) and B-source
		   (Elohim).

	B. Wellhausen developed a hypothesis that explained
	   the discrepancies and duplications in Torah.

		1. Different names for deity.
	
		2. Duplicate sources - creation stories

		3. Discrepancies - number of animals in the
		   ark, how Joseph got out of the well, etc.

		4. Phrases suggesting later composition -
		   Gen. 12:6.

	Documentary Hypothesis (JDEP)

		1. J-source dates to 9th-8th c. and associated
		   with cultic centers in Judah.
			
			View of Man:  Free-will 
			Name for G-d: Yahweh
			Historical view: History of a people
			Writing Style: Incisive and bold
			Phrases:

		2. E-source dates to 8th-7th c. and associated
		   with cultic centers in the north.
                          
                        View of Man: Less man centered 
                        Name for G-d: Elohim
                        Historical view: History of events
                        Writing Style:
                        Phrases:


		3. Two sources merged by 650 B.C.E. into JE.

		4. D-source (621 B.C.E.) associated with the
		   reforms of Josiah.

		5. P-source composed 6th-5th c. and emphasizes
		   cultic matters and adds commentary.
                          
                        View of Man: G-d in history
                        Name for G-d: Elohim or El Shaddai
                        Historical view:
                        Writing Style: Interested in geneology &
				       G-d and society
                        Phrases:


		6. Sources fused into one text by 4th c. B.C.E.

Historicity of the Patriarchial Narrative

	A. Evidence for the Patriarchs in historical context of the 
	Middle Bronze Age


		1. Chronology

			a. 1 K 14:25-27 - King Shishak's invasion
			b. 1 K 6:1 - 480 yrs from the exodus
			c. Ex 12:40 - 430 yrs in Egypt

		2. Personal Names [Look at ANET., p.553, 328]

			a. Egyptian Servant List: Menahem, Issachar?, 
				Asher, Jacob.

			b. Abraham:
				Kassite Period (17th c.): Abi-ia, Abi-e-pir
			        Amarna Letters (14th c.) Abi-melki
				Ugarit (14th-13th c.) Abi-ra-mi
				Assyrian (1st m.) Abi-ra-me
				Phoenician (1st m.) Ahi-raam

			c. Jacob
				Nuzi (18th c.) Ia-ah-qu-ub-el
				Hyksos (17th c.) Ia-qob-el

			d. Benjamin
				Mari (15th c.) Ben-ia-mi-na

		3. Customs [Look at ANET., p. 219-220]
				
			a. Gift of maidservant to master: and ANET., p 169.

			b. Sale of birth right: Gen 25:31-34 and ANET., 219
	
		4. Mode of Life

			a. Abraham a merchant/nomad

			b. Time frame reflects period of less sedentary 
				occupation.

				1. Comparison to Tale of Sinuhe

				2. Execration Texts