The Poetic Priestly Source

Much of scholarly research on the Pentateuch has revolved around the question of sources and how they might be identified by differences in vocabulary theme and characterization. Jason M. H. Gaines brings a different perspective to the delineation of the Priestly source (P) by applying specific criteria for the identification of biblical Hebrew poetry.These criteria allow him to distinguish a nearly complete poetic P stratum (Poetic-P) coherent in literary narrative and ideological terms from a later prose redaction (Prosaic-P) which is fragmentary supplemental (filling out mundane details including names dates ages places numbers and so on) and distinct in thematic presentation and apparent theological concern.Gaines describes the whole of the Poetic-P source and offers a Hebrew reconstruction of the document. He also outlines the different emphases of the two strata including differences in the characterization of patriarchs and of Gods treatment of a disobedient Israel. The result is a coherent and dramatically innovative understanding of the history of the Priestly composition that is sure to draw keen interest and to open up new vistas in the study of the Pentateuch.