Opening the Books of Moses

Diana Edelman is Reader in the Department of Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the history and archaeology of the southern Levant, the development of early forms of Judaism and the creation of authoritative biblical books. Philip R. Davies is Research Professor of Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield. Christophe Nihan is Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at the University of Lausanne. Thomas Romer is Professor of Hebrew Bible at the Faculty of Theology and History of Religions of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. He is also Professor of Biblical Studies at the College de France, Paris. He is the author and editor of several books focusing on the Pentateuch and the Former Prophets.

'This Prolegomenon and the project it portends is 'just what the doctor ordered' to cure the current impasse in Pentateuchal studies. If the promised series of books on the biblical Torah to follow adhere to the high standard of scholarship, simplicity of language, ease of prose, and joy-in-reading of this volume they will be extremely useful.' --Jim West, Quartz Hill School of Theology'The work is scholarly but accessible...the introduction makes a valuable contribution. Essential.' --Choice

• CHAPTER 1: THE PRESENT STATE OF PENTATEUCHAL RESEARCH AND THE TASK OF THIS VOLUME CHAPTER 2: THE SHAPE, DATING AND AUDIENCE OF THE PENTATEUCH CHAPTER 3: YEHUD IN THE PERSIAN PERIOD CHAPTER 4: KEY THEMES IN THE PENTATEUCH