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Abraham and his servants and not which includes Genesis - scholars
Isaac. Also, the early part of the greatly differ in their opinion. There
narrative (Genesis 22: 6, 8) used the are three widely accepted opinions
expression ‘the two of them together’ among Bible scholars.
(Abraham and his son), but in vol. 19 1. One group believes that all five
‘the two of them’ is missing. All that is books in their entirety or a large part
present is ‘they set out together’ (i.e., of it were authored by Moses
Abraham and his servants) (Ibid). (Waltke, 2016, p. 22).
Stephen J. Stern too, acknowledges 2. While the second group says that ‘a
that Isaac did not return with Abraham part’ of it was authored by Moses
after the intended sacrifice at Mount (Ibid).
Moriah (Stern, 2009). Why did Abraham 3. The third group says the author of
return alone after the intended sacrifice? the first five books of the Old
In Genesis 21: 14, we read that Testament including Genesis is
Hagar and Ishmael were sent away. unknown (Ibid, p.28).
Also, Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac lived The first view that the first five books
in Hebron, where Sarah passed away of the Bible -namely Genesis, Exodus,
and was buried (Genesis 23: 2). Thus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy-
if Isaac was the son who accompanied were completely written by Moses can be
Abraham, he would have naturally outrightly refuted by a verse in the book of
returned with Abraham, but he did not. Deuteronomy which says that Moses died
This proves that the son was none other and was buried (Deuteronomy, 34: 5).
than Ishmael, who was taken up to If Moses was the author of the first
Mount Moriah to be sacrificed and five books of the Old Testament, how can
after God accepts Abraham’s sacrifice he write his own obituary? Thus, it is
and spares Ishmael’s life, Abraham clear that Moses was not the author of
sends him back to his mother and Genesis or the first five books of the Old
returns to Hebron with his servants.
Testament. When it comes to the second
Origin and Authorship of the Book opinion that a part of the first five books
of Genesis of the Old Testament was authored by
An analysis of the origin and the Moses, then in that case, who is or who
authorship of the book of Genesis are the authors and collectors of the
endorses the possibility of remaining part of the first five books of
interpolation or redaction in the story the Old Testament? Finally, the last
of Abraham’s sacrifice. Regarding the opinion is that the author/ authors of the
Authorship of the Pentateuch - or the first five books are unknown, this too is
first five books of the Old Testament problematic because without knowing
