Serves as a valuable introduction to Cassuto's illuminating commentaries on the Pentateuch, in which he emerges as one of the most original modern biblical exegetes.
The Documentary Hypothesis
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75 of 92 people found the following review helpful
By TiZ
Format:Paperback
This review is based on the Magnes Press edition of this book which is difficult to find; I hope there is little change in this new edition. In any case, it's wonderful that this treasure is now easily available.
In a series of eight lectures Cassuto destroys the Documentary Hypothesis, the theory that the text of the Pentateuch was edited from four independent source-documents.
Cassuto describes the development of the theory, and the evidence on which it is based: the use of different names for God in the Pentateuch, variations of its language and style, apparent contradictions and divergences, duplications and repetitions and signs of composite structure in the text.
Cassuto argues that these pieces of evidence, individually and cumulatively, do not render the Documentary Hypothesis probable. Cassuto provides simpler explanations of the evidence. These explanations also fit in better with our background knowledge, including knowledge of the style of ancient near eastern texts.
For example, Cassuto points out that the different divine names are used consistently in different contexts. This is best explained by the divine names having different meanings (but the same reference). Further literature of the ancient near east evinces similar context-sensitive usage of different divine names. If the Documentary Hypothesis is not true, we would find precisely the usage of divine names that we do find.
Cassuto defends his claims with numerous sources, his extensive knowledge of ancient literature and Biblical Hebrew. In contrast, the proponents of the Documentary Hypothesis resort to circular reasoning and outlandish explanations of the text, as Cassuto shows.... Read more ›
In a series of eight lectures Cassuto destroys the Documentary Hypothesis, the theory that the text of the Pentateuch was edited from four independent source-documents.
Cassuto describes the development of the theory, and the evidence on which it is based: the use of different names for God in the Pentateuch, variations of its language and style, apparent contradictions and divergences, duplications and repetitions and signs of composite structure in the text.
Cassuto argues that these pieces of evidence, individually and cumulatively, do not render the Documentary Hypothesis probable. Cassuto provides simpler explanations of the evidence. These explanations also fit in better with our background knowledge, including knowledge of the style of ancient near eastern texts.
For example, Cassuto points out that the different divine names are used consistently in different contexts. This is best explained by the divine names having different meanings (but the same reference). Further literature of the ancient near east evinces similar context-sensitive usage of different divine names. If the Documentary Hypothesis is not true, we would find precisely the usage of divine names that we do find.
Cassuto defends his claims with numerous sources, his extensive knowledge of ancient literature and Biblical Hebrew. In contrast, the proponents of the Documentary Hypothesis resort to circular reasoning and outlandish explanations of the text, as Cassuto shows.... Read more ›
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Unquestionably, a great scholar, R. Prof. Casuto's "The Documentary Hypothesis" is quite simply one of those rare "must read" volumes.
However, R. Prof. Casuto does not "destroy the documentary hypothesis." The form of the hypothesis that he takes on is an early and, in my opinion, naive form of the hypothesis. One must remember that the foundation work for these lectures is from the early part of the twentieth century; as more and more has been learned from archaeology and as the literature has evolve, so too has the hypothesis (and its competitors).
To read his lectures, therefore, you must be familiar with the hypothesis as it stood in the first half (or third) of the twentieth century. Viewed from today, many of the later arguments set up straw men. And, important elements of the early Documentary Hypothesis are not addressed.
Nevertheless, just his discussion of the role of the Divine names, arguments that still seem especially relevant, by themselves make this volume entirely worth studying. Lectures in the middle of the series, while not as conclusive today as they might have been vs. the early hypothesis, remain thought provoking; seriously so.
Stunningly, Casuto ends by appearing to endorse something like the supplementary model of Torah's creation. Would that the lectures had continued!
However, R. Prof. Casuto does not "destroy the documentary hypothesis." The form of the hypothesis that he takes on is an early and, in my opinion, naive form of the hypothesis. One must remember that the foundation work for these lectures is from the early part of the twentieth century; as more and more has been learned from archaeology and as the literature has evolve, so too has the hypothesis (and its competitors).
To read his lectures, therefore, you must be familiar with the hypothesis as it stood in the first half (or third) of the twentieth century. Viewed from today, many of the later arguments set up straw men. And, important elements of the early Documentary Hypothesis are not addressed.
Nevertheless, just his discussion of the role of the Divine names, arguments that still seem especially relevant, by themselves make this volume entirely worth studying. Lectures in the middle of the series, while not as conclusive today as they might have been vs. the early hypothesis, remain thought provoking; seriously so.
Stunningly, Casuto ends by appearing to endorse something like the supplementary model of Torah's creation. Would that the lectures had continued!
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By M. Caba
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Occam's razor is one of the foundational principles of clear thinking, and Cassuto utilizes this principle with such deftness that no one can read this small book and not come away with serious doubts about the convoluted and tangled mess known as the Documentary Hypothesis. The simplest and most straightforward explanation is likely the best, and Cassuto offers a very straightforward and utterly convincing explanation for the use of the different names for God in the OT that cuts away the bramble bush DH. Whether you agree with the DH or not (or just plain don't know), you should wrestle with this classic.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By E. P. Allie
Format:Paperback
Reading Cassuto while researching Wellhausen for undergrad ANE Lit class at Ohio State in 95 proved to be a foundational experience for me. Too often, the evangelical church creates a ghetto mentality with its scholarship and apologists. Here, however, I found a respected scholar taking up the breadth of a subject (formation of the Torah) and systematically engaging with academic precision against the conventional wisdom of his day (and still quite pervasive!). What's more? This scholar brought together the academy and the synagogue in his work, which was a breath of fresh air for me and proved a path for enjoyment of faith and reason held not in diametric opposition but in vibrant refining tension.
25 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By Midasin
Format:Paperback
This series of lectures was originally published as "Torath HaTeudoth" by Magnes Press (The Hebrew University, Jerusalem) in 1941. The first English edition, a translation by Israel Abraham, was published in 1961. This edition, published 2006, is a reissue of the first English translation by Israel Abraham (1961), together with a new introduction by Joshua Berman.
These lectures, delivered by Rabbi Umberto Cassuto (1883-1951), summarize his indepth research, spanning no less than 25 years, into the Graf-Wellhausen "documentary hypothesis". Unfortunately, Cassuto died before he could see all his major commentaries through to completion and publication. The unfinished nature of Cassuto's work makes this makes the present series of lectures all the more crucial in understanding his thinking.
According to the "documentary hypothesis", the 5 Books of Moses were compiled from 5 independent source documents, each independently presenting its own version of the entire history of Israel from the Creation to Moses. This hypothesis suggests that each document was characterized by its own theology, politics, language, and style.
The "documentary hypothesis" rests on 5 pillars:
1. the use of different names for the Deity;
2. variations of language and style;
3. contradictions and divergences of view;
4. duplications and repetitions;
5. signs of composite structure in the sections. (p.17)
In these lectures, Cassuto systematically and with precision demolished these five pillars.... Read more ›
These lectures, delivered by Rabbi Umberto Cassuto (1883-1951), summarize his indepth research, spanning no less than 25 years, into the Graf-Wellhausen "documentary hypothesis". Unfortunately, Cassuto died before he could see all his major commentaries through to completion and publication. The unfinished nature of Cassuto's work makes this makes the present series of lectures all the more crucial in understanding his thinking.
According to the "documentary hypothesis", the 5 Books of Moses were compiled from 5 independent source documents, each independently presenting its own version of the entire history of Israel from the Creation to Moses. This hypothesis suggests that each document was characterized by its own theology, politics, language, and style.
The "documentary hypothesis" rests on 5 pillars:
1. the use of different names for the Deity;
2. variations of language and style;
3. contradictions and divergences of view;
4. duplications and repetitions;
5. signs of composite structure in the sections. (p.17)
In these lectures, Cassuto systematically and with precision demolished these five pillars.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not What I Expected
I bought this book because I had heard that the Documentary Hypothesis, particularly as it has been explained by Richard Elliott Friedman in his popular book "Who Wrote the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Phil W
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Tremendously Crucial Work
Cassuto eloquently puts to rest the Wellhausen theory of the composition of the Pentateuch that has haunted the halls of academia. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Brian Donnelly-Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars
I loved this little book
I loved this little book. Not because it debunks the supposed debunkers of the Bible, beginning with the 19th century German Protestant academicians who first gave rise to the... Read more
Published on March 1, 2009 by Michael Dallen
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gentle but potent act of demolition
A short series of lectures to teachers, given over 50 years ago, the book crystallises Cassuto's scholarly work on Genesis. Read more
Published on August 4, 2007 by Charles Soper
5.0 out of 5 stars
You cannot do without this book
I used this work in a paper a couple of years ago but I had to borrow it from a university library. I got my copy of the new reprint last week and read it in one sitting... Read more
Published on February 26, 2006 by Patricia Heil
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best in this field and a modern-day miracle!
This book is the best in this field for both serious scholar and/or anyone who wonders about the reliability and credibility of the first five books in Bible, especially Genesis. Read more
Published on February 14, 2006 by Richard K. Min
