Authorship/Deuteronomistic History

A. All of the historical books are anonymous. The titles indicate subject matter of a particular book, and usually have no connection to the authors.

1. Overemphasize the relationship between Deuteronomy and Joshua (Hexateuch, six books). a. Joshua is the fulfillment of the promises to the patriarchs. b. Much of what is assumed in the Pentateuch becomes reality in Joshua. c. The same literary sources are believed to be used to compile both.

2. Overemphasize the relationship between Deuteronomy and the four histories (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings). a. Assuming a late (7th century) date for Deut., this theory pictures a self- contained historical work edited during the exile. b. Deut. served as the introduction to this historical. c. Truncated Pentateuch, to four (Tetrateuch) and Deuteronomistic History comprised of Deut - 2 Kings (excluding Ruth).

A. Hypothesis (Martin Noth): an anonymous editor (called the "Deuteronomist," Dtr) combined several sources into a long document detailing Israel's history theologically. After Jerusalem's fall in 587/6 B.C., Dtr sought to interpret the tragedy as well as to explain the fall of northern Israel in 722 B.C. He traced the divine punishment of the Israelite kingdoms to their persistent sin and experiments with idolatry. His task was essentially a negative one. He attempted to answer the question, "What went wrong?"

B. Often two Dtrs are proposed (F. M. Cross). 1. First Dtr during time of Josiah. 2. Second Dtr finishes (revised and edits) during the exile.

Emphasis on the doctrine of retribution based on the blessings and curses of Deut. 28. Reward for obedience to the covenant and punishment for disobedience is foundational for the historical books.

1. No doubt these books share a theology of retribution which seems clearly to be based on the book of Deuteronomy. Examples: a. Achan in Joshua. b. Recurring cycle of sin and punishment in Judges. c. Blessing and cursing of Saul and David (Samuel). d. Fall of both kingdoms (Kings).

2. Accentuates the continuity between Deut. and the historical books. Influence of "law of the king" (Deut. 17:14-20) and "law of the prophet" (Deut. 18:9-22) on later historical books.

1. Most who hold this view assume a late date for the book of Deuteronomy. a. Began with portions of Dtr1 during 7th cent. B.C. b. Intro (1:1-4:3) and other materials added. c. Used sources of pre-monarchic and monarchic periods of Israel's history.

2. Dissects Deuteronomy from the Pentateuch, leaving Genesis-Numbers in awkward literary relationship, an artificial break between Tetrateuch and Joshua and denies the canonical function of Deuteronomy in its authoritative reinterpretation of the first four books.

3. Fails to account for the enormous amount of variety in the historical books. a. Exhibits less coherent overall structure. b. The four historical books are self-contained works. 1) They have different organization 2) They have different style and overall purposes.

4. The entire OT has "deuteronomistic" influences. Theology of retribution played a particularly dominant role in historical books. See, for instance, the patriarchs and the books of Chronicles. (Even Leviticus 26, not considered part of this Deuteronomistic collection, contains lists of blessings and curses.)

We may refer generally to a Deuteronomistic History to signify this unified account of the history of Israel without accepting every aspect of the Noth-Cross theory. The first four historical books are certainly related to the theology of retribution in Deuteronomy. The final edition of Kings was completed after 561 B.C., since this is the date of the last recorded event (2 Kings 25:27-30). There is no mention of the Persians and their liberation of the Jews in 539 B.C. Therefore, we may conclude Kings was completed during the final twenty-two years of the exile. To what extent the anonymous author of Kings had a hand in the compilation of Joshua, Judges, or Samuel is impossible to determine. But he conceived of his work as a continuation and culmination of the history. To that extent, we may refer to a Deuteronomistic Historian.