Alleged Anachronisms in the Pentateuch

The history of Pentateuchal criticism shows that the importance of the postmosaica has long been widely recognized. On these alone Rabbi Aben Ezra based his doubts of the integrity of the Pentateuch. In the seventeenth century Peyrerius, Spinoza, and Hobbes again advanced only the postmosnica in their attacks on the Pentateuch, although we suspect that they were motivated ultimately by more sinister motives than a desire to find out the truth in these passages of Moses. Clericus goes a step farther and acknowledges the validity of two arguments against the Pentateuch, that of style, as well as the anachronisms. But even he is ready to concede: “Non ita solutu facilia sunt omnia arguments, quae ex variis locis· Pentateuchi ducuntur.” Carpzov likewise deals almost exclusively with the alleged anachronisms

Preaching via the public media

Annual Wenchel lecture recorded at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis on April 9, 1975