A summary of recent findings in support of an early date for the so-called Priestly material of the Pentateuch

Abstract

"The classic exposition of this opinion was, of course, set forth by Julius Wellhausen.' He said that development in Israel's religion can be traced from simple and spontaneous to formal and ritualistic, and with it an increase in the influence of the priesthood. The culmination of this growth is to be seen in P and Chronicles. Such a development can be noticed concerning the place of worship. During Samuel's time one could sacrifice wherever he chose (e.g. 1 Sam 16:2). Josiah limited all sacrifice to the temple at Jerusalem (2 Kings 23; cf. Deuteronomy 13). Josiah's centralization seems to have received general acceptance, for Leviticus (e.g. 17:1-9) assumes that all sacrifices must be offered at the tabenacle. Wellhausen and others consider the Leviticus tabernacle to be a retrojection of the Jerusalem temple back into Mosaic times"