Documentary Hypothesis

Also referred to as JEDP.

The belief that the Pentateuch (the first five books in the Bible) were not written by Moses, but by four anonymous authors; traditionally called J, E, P and D.

• J, or Jahwist, source; written c. 950 BC in the southern kingdom of Judah.
• E, or Elohist, source; written c. 850 BC in the northern kingdom of Israel.
• D, or Deuteronomist, source; written c. 621 BC in Jerusalem during a period of religious reform.
• P, or Priestly, source; written c. 450 BC by Aaronid priests.

Also involved were one or more redactors who edited the writings into their present form. Conservative Christians generally deny the hypothesis, and believe that Moses wrote all five books - except perhaps for the chapters that describe his death and burial.