The Torah, traditionally, is believed in Jewish and Christian traditions to have been written by Moses. According to rabbinic tradition, Moses wrote the Torah as dictated by God during the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert, with the exception of the last eight verses of Deuteronomy, which describe Moses' death and burial and are traditionally attributed to Joshua. Some views hold that Moses wrote the Torah either as scrolls revealed progressively or as a complete text by the end of the desert journey.
However, modern biblical scholarship generally rejects the idea that Moses was the sole author. Instead, scholars believe the Torah was composed by multiple authors over centuries. The dominant academic theory, known as the documentary hypothesis, suggests that the Torah is a compilation of four main sources written by different groups at different times (Jahwist, Elohist, Priestly, and Deuteronomist sources), probably finalized during the Persian period (around 450-350 BCE). Some scholars date its final form even later, into the Hellenistic or Hasmonean periods.
In summary:
- Traditional belief: Moses wrote the Torah, possibly receiving it directly from God.
- Scholarly view: Multiple authors over centuries, with the final form compiled in the Persian period.
This summary captures the essential perspectives on who wrote the Torah.
