February 2004

Contents of this issue of the Joan K. Snipes e-newsletter:
- review of Richard Elliott Friedman's new book;
- how to learn more about the Documentary Theory at BibleWise.com;
- how to receive a free copy of "That Ye May Teach the Children;"
- upcoming Bible workshops in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and New Jersey;
- Bible Study Seminar at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California in June.

Dear Readers,

On a recent visit to the excellent Tenacre Foundation library in Princeton, New Jersey, I learned about a very helpful new book for students of the Bible. Written by Richard Elliott Friedman, this book is entitled, "The Bible with Sources Revealed: A New View into the Five Books of Moses." I am excited about this book for several reasons, and I commend it to you.

Those of you who have attended my workshop on Hezekiah may recall that this is not the first book by Professor Friedman that I have recommended. His 1987 book, "Who Wrote the Bible?," is a long-time favorite of mine. This 2003 volume, however, is even better. Why? Because Friedman's opening two chapters are amazingly succinct. In a very few pages, Friedman lays out an incredibly compelling case for what is known as the Documentary Hypothesis. This is the widely accepted theory that the first five books of the Bible are a compilation of four main documents, known by the letters J, E, P, and D, which were woven together by later editors known as Redactors.

Please note that Friedman discusses only the Old Testament writers in his books. Thus, if you are thinking of all 66 books of our English Bible, you'll soon realize that the titles of his two books are slight misnomers. The new one, especially, deals primarily with the first five books, known as the Books of Moses. After the introductory material, the book is a translation of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Friedman is professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California, San Diego.

In his chapter, "Collection of Evidence," Friedman catalogs the seven main arguments for accepting the Documentary Hypothesis. They fall into these categories: linguistic, terminology, consistent content, narrative flow, connections with other parts of the Old Testament, relationships among the sources, and convergence of the evidence. I find Friedman's explanation clear and convincing.

What does it matter whether you buy into the idea that sources by J, P, E and D form the Pentateuch? Because, if you are somewhat familiar with this concept, certain "problems" with the text suddenly become clear as you read the new English translation that follows Friedman's opening chapters. By using two different ink colors (blue and green) and a variety of fonts, average Bible readers like you and me can easily understand various contradictions and redundancies in the text. The four strands are clearly set off, thanks to the wonders of modern technology in printing.

Here's an example of how seeing the sources helps you understand what's going on in the Bible texts. The story of Noah's ark is told in Genesis, chapters 6 through 9. The story was originally told by both J and P. The Redactors blended these two accounts. With "The Bible with Sources Revealed," I learned that in the P version there is only one pair of each animal, whether pure or impure. See Genesis 6:19-20; 7:8, 9 15. In P, there are no sacrifices until the establishment of the Tabernacle in Exodus 40, so two of each animal are sufficient. However, J specifies seven pairs of pure and one pair of impure (see Genesis 7:2, 3.) This fits with the fact that in the J account, Noah will offer sacrifices at the end of the flood, so he needs more than two of each animal--or else his sacrifice would end a species. Friedman's footnotes clarify such differences throughout the Pentateuch.

Although I do most of my personal Bible study in the King James Version, it is sometimes very helpful to look at another translation. Friedman's is unique because the text is so clearly marked in terms of sources. I am finding it enlightening and would be interested in your impression of this new book. It is easily available at any bookstore or online.

If you would like to learn more about the four strands immediately, there is a terrific, short explanation by Bible scholar Mary Jane Chaignot at www.BibleWise.com. Go to "Bible Forum" and look in the archives for Bible Overview, Part 1. Or, just click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/2g3rs

Here's bibliographic information for Friedman's books:

Friedman, Richard Elliott. "The Bible with Sources Revealed: A New View into the Five Books of Moses." San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2003.

Friedman, Richard Elliott. "Who Wrote the Bible?" San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1987.

FREE COPIES OF MY BOOK
Earn a complimentary copy of "That Ye May Teach the Children" by posting a reader comment about it on amazon.com at http://tinyurl.com/26xy3 Getting the word out about my book is an on-going challenge for me. If you would be willing to take the time to submit a short review about it by March 15, I'd be most happy to send you a copy that you can share with a friend or fellow Sunday School teacher.

TO PURCHASE MY BOOK
To order "That Ye May Teach the Children" for $29.95 postpaid, please send me a reply email. For those who have already purchased a book, there is a discount for additional copies purchased directly from Bible Teaching Press -- only $19.95 each.

BIBLE WORKSHOPS
The Haddonfield, New Jersey workshop I mentioned in my December e-newsletter has been rescheduled for May 15. I'll be speaking in Berwyn, Pennsylvania on March 20. In April, I'm giving a workshop in State College, Pennsylvania on April 17. The following Saturday, I'll be in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania will be the location for a workshop on May 1. Most of the sponsoring churches for these spring dates have requested my newest workshop, Teaching the Bible to Children. If you'd like details, please send me an email.

CALIFORNIA GATHERING IN JUNE
People interested in learning more about the Bible have been attending annual conferences at the lovely Asilomar Conference Center on the Monterey peninsula for the past 26 years. This year's theme is "Behold: Seeing Through the Eyes of the Bible." This is a great opportunity to hear speakers who have devoted years of study to the Bible. I'm privileged to be among the presenters this year. The dates are June 20-24, 2004. To learn more, please see: www.biblestudyseminars.com.

BOOKLET AVAILABLE
"Exploring the Bible: Essays, Worksheets and Resources," a 45-page booklet by Joan K. Snipes, is available from Bible Teaching Press. This booklet is a compilation of material written in the first 17 issues of this e-newsletter. The information has been reorganized, slightly rewritten, and edited. A two-page table of contents makes finding specific information easy. The booklets are printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and bound in a simple folder. The cost is $5.00 per booklet plus $2.00 shipping via first class mail for the first copy and $1.00 for each additional copy. Thus the total price for one copy is $7; for two copies, $13. To order, send a check to Bible Teaching Press.

Yours truly,

Joan Koelle Snipes

Volume 4; No. 1
Published six times a year by:
Bible Teaching Press
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304-876-1332

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THAT YE MAY TEACH THE CHILDREN
To read the preface, introduction and bibliography of my book, "That Ye May Teach the Children," click http://tinyurl.com/2wsom To order the book for $29.95, please send me a reply email. For those who have already purchased a book, there is a discount for additional copies -- only $19.95 each.

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