How were the books of the Bible first recorded?

Answer 1

A:Some books such as Genesis and Exodus began as oral traditions that were passed down from generation to generation by storytellers, before being written down. Around 900 BCE, an anonymous source now known as the Yahwist recorded the traditions extant in Judah, the southern Hebrew territory. Around a hundred years later, another anonymous source now known as the Elohist recorded the traditions belonging to Israel, the northern Hebrew territory. Later, these were combined by editors into a common source now known as 'JE'. During the Babylonian Exile, a Priestly Source added to and refined this material, and somewhat later a Redactor edited the final document that has become known as Genesis. The Book of Deuteronomy had an interesting history, as it was supposedly found in the Jerusalem Temple during the reign of King Josiah in the seventh century BCE. It was not the only book brought to light in just these circumstances, as Jeremiah chapter 36 tells how just a few years later, the scribes hid another scroll in the Temple, to be found and read to the king. The Book of Jeremiah demonstrates that the religious authorities were well aware of the practice, which they used to create the appearance of antiquity.

Most of the first 39 chapters of the Book of Isaiah were written by Isaiah, son of Amoz, and this early book was no doubt copied and cherished among the Jews. Further chapters were added by an anonymous sources now known as Second Isaiah during the Babylonian Exile. A final source, writing in more or less the same style as Second Isaiah but known today as Third Isaiah added some material after the Return from Exile.

The period just before, during and after the Exile seems to have been a time of prolific writing by the Jewish prophets. Ronald E. Clements says the prophetic books were clearly not written by prophets, but represent distilled collections of prophetic material, often from diverse ages. He says history writing also shows every sign of having been a complex work of composition, addition and reinterpretation. In other words, what has come down to us in The Bible often represents the outcomes for which prophecies were created after the event.

By the second century BCE, the Jews had begun to enjoy novels and historical novels that demonstrated the courage, tenacity or high moral standing of the Jews. Thus we have the Books of Job, Daniel and Esther.