--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In The Bible Unearthed, archaeologist…" description: "\"“In The Bible Unearthed, archaeologist Israel Finkelstein demonstrates that much biblical composition was done from the 8th century BCE onward. Even in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/d-m-murdock-20125_quote_in-the-bible-unearthed-archaeologist-isr_1554511.jpg" --- # In The Bible Unearthed, archaeologist Israel Finkelstein… ![“In The Bible Unearthed, archaeologist Israel Finkelstein demonstrates that much biblical composition was done from the 8th century BCE onward. Even in ancient times it was recognized that Moses did not compose the Pentateuch, which was probably partly attributable to Ezra, among others. As early…” quote by D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/d-m-murdock-20125_quote_in-the-bible-unearthed-archaeologist-isr_1554511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/d-m-murdock-20125_quote_in-the-bible-unearthed-archaeologist-isr_1554511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/d-m-murdock-20125_quote_in-the-bible-unearthed-archaeologist-isr_1554511.jpg) > ““In The Bible Unearthed, archaeologist Israel Finkelstein demonstrates that much biblical composition was done from the 8th century BCE onward. Even in ancient times it was recognized that Moses did not compose the Pentateuch, which was probably partly attributable to Ezra, among others. As early as the third century, Porphyry wrote that "nothing of what \[Moses\] wrote has been preserved; his writings are reported to have been destroyed along with the Temple. All the things attributed to Moses were really written eleven hundred years later by Ezra and his contemporaries."69”” [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scholars argue that much of the Pentateuch was written centuries after Moses, likely by Ezra and later authors, challenging traditional authorship. **In simple terms:** The Pentateuch was probably written long after Moses, not by him. Key Takeaway Consider historical context when evaluating ancient texts. Themes history authorship religion Mood thoughtful analytical Type academic critical When to use this quote - theological study - academic research - faith discussions - educational curricula Key Concepts textual criticism historical analysis Questions to Reflect On - How does this perspective affect your view of scripture? - What evidence supports or contradicts these claims? A Different Perspective Ancient traditions still influence belief despite scholarly findings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biblical Composition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biblical-composition-5817627/) [Moses Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moses-wrote-1757859/) [Pentateuch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pentateuch/) [Pentateuch Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pentateuch-probably-5817626/) [Wrote Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-moses-4624204/) ## Related quotes > [No one needs a first edition. Whoever wrote it; even if it was Moses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-joyce/no-one-needs-a-first-edition-whoever-wrote-it-even-if-it-was-moses/) [Graham Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-joyce/) > [“Neither did the Pharisees in truth believe what Moses wrote, because they opposed Christ, who did but verify what Moses before from God’s mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/neither-did-the-pharisees-in-truth-believe-what-moses-wrote-because/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“wherever God says, God went up from Abraham,’ or, The Lord spake to Moses,’ and The Lord came down to behold the tower which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/wherever-god-says-god-went-up-from-abraham-or-the-lord-spake-to-moses/) [The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-fathers/) > [“If you had really believed Moses, you would believe Me; because he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe what Moses wrote,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/if-you-had-really-believed-moses-you-would-believe-me-because-he/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/) > [That is, the only reason salvation is necessary is to get us back to the garden. The Pentateuch not only presents where we began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baker/that-is-the-only-reason-salvation-is-necessary-is-to-get-us-back-to/) [David Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baker/) > [A false friend, an unjust judge, a braggart, hypocrite, and tyrant, sincere in hatred, jealous, vain and revengeful, false in promise, honest in curse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/a-false-friend-an-unjust-judge-a-braggart-hypocrite-and-tyrant/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“As shown in chapter 2, the Pentateuch largely rejects the monarchic principle as it was construed elsewhere, often with a religiously sanctioned central government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-a-berman/as-shown-in-chapter-2-the-pentateuch-largely-rejects-the-monarchic/) [Joshua A. Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-a-berman/) > [ I want to go back to the child I used to be, and to read with the same naiveté \[the Pentateuch\]. I want to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-want-to-go-back-to-the-child-i-used-to-be-and-to-read-with-the-same/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [We found nothing grand in the history of the Jews nor in the morals inculcated in the Pentateuch. I know of no other books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/we-found-nothing-grand-in-the-history-of-the-jews-nor-in-the-morals/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [“The bottom line is that for Wellhausen and many other biblical scholars before and since, the Pentateuch as we know it (an important qualification)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-enns/the-bottom-line-is-that-for-wellhausen-and-many-other-biblical/) [Peter Enns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-enns/) > [“The author(s) of the Pentateuch believed that God actually created the universe in the past, Abraham migrated from Mesopotamia to Palestine, Moses parted the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tremper-longman-iii/the-author-s-of-the-pentateuch-believed-that-god-actually-created-the/) [Tremper Longman III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tremper-longman-iii/) > [“Yet all agree that the Pentateuch is not a single, seamless composition but a patchwork of different sources, each written under different historical circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-finkelstein/yet-all-agree-that-the-pentateuch-is-not-a-single-seamless/) [Israel Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-finkelstein/) > [“If the Pentateuch be true, religious persecution is a duty. The dungeons of the Inquisition were temples, and the clank of every chain upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-be-true-religious-persecution-is-a-duty-the/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“If the Pentateuch is inspired, the civilization of of our day is a mistake and crime. There should be no political liberty. Heresy should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-is-inspired-the-civilization-of-of-our-day-is-a/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [ \[Sacrifice of Isaac\] is a major theme of the so-called Elohist \[one authorial strand in the Pentateuch\]. It is marked by all of his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/sacrifice-of-isaac-is-a-major-theme-of-the-so-called-elohist-one/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) ## More by D.M. Murdock > [“Even if it could be proved that the Bhagavad Gita was not in existence before the Christian era, these various divine concepts themselves nevertheless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/even-if-it-could-be-proved-that-the-bhagavad-gita-was-not-in/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“As has also been demonstrated thoroughly, one of the principal objects of worship over the millennia has been the sun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/as-has-also-been-demonstrated-thoroughly-one-of-the-principal-objects/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“lamblichus's statements could not be clearer: The ancient religion constitutes nature worship and astrotheology, and the sun was considered the "Creator of the Universe"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/lamblichus-s-statements-could-not-be-clearer-the-ancient-religion/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“In reality, a number of the world's leading Christian Indianists, including Sir William Jones and Reverend Cox, as well as numerous Indian scholars, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/in-reality-a-number-of-the-world-s-leading-christian-indianists/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“The Passion and Resurrection of Osiris have been major mythical motifs that made their way into Christianity: "That the Passion -,as it was distinctly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/the-passion-and-resurrection-of-osiris-have-been-major-mythical/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“baptism with water, whether by immersion or sprinkling, is found in numerous pre-Christian religions/cults, dating back to ancient times. Baptism or lustration for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/baptism-with-water-whether-by-immersion-or-sprinkling-is-found-in/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“Muslims have regularly martyred themselves-would a Christian then agree that Islam is the "truth faith?" Since millions of so-called Pagans have been willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/muslims-have-regularly-martyred-themselves-would-a-christian-then/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“There are no known non-biblical references to a historical Jesus by any historian or other writer of the time during and shortly after Jesus's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/there-are-no-known-non-biblical-references-to-a-historical-jesus-by/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“If the several important, uncontested correspondences did not exist, the numerous Christian authorities would not have gone to such lengths to establish that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/if-the-several-important-uncontested-correspondences-did-not-exist/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“In addition, according to Dupuis's original multi-volume work in French (not included in the English translation), Mithra was "put to death by crucifixion, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/in-addition-according-to-dupuis-s-original-multi-volume-work-in/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“In the entire works of the Jewish historian Josephus (37-c. 100 CE), which constitute hundreds of pages, there are only two paragraphs that purport…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/in-the-entire-works-of-the-jewish-historian-josephus-37-c-100-ce/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“For centuries after obtaining power during the reign of Constantine, Christians went on a censorship rampage that led to the virtual illiteracy of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/for-centuries-after-obtaining-power-during-the-reign-of-constantine/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“Thus, Cox, a Christian minister, maintained that, despite Krishna not being explicitly developed in the Vedas, elements of his story are present in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/thus-cox-a-christian-minister-maintained-that-despite-krishna-not/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“In his mockery of Pagans, Christian writer Minucius Felix (3rd cent.) revealed that the Egyptians, and afterwards the Romans, beheld an empty tomb of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/in-his-mockery-of-pagans-christian-writer-minucius-felix-3rd-cent/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [“Osiris. . .was successively god of the Nile, a life-giver, a sun-god, god of justice and love, and finally a resurrected god who ruled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/osiris-was-successively-god-of-the-nile-a-life-giver-a-sun-god-god-of/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) [Explore all 31 D.M. Murdock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) ## More Pentateuch quotes > [ \[Sacrifice of Isaac\] is a major theme of the so-called Elohist \[one authorial strand in the Pentateuch\]. It is marked by all of his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/sacrifice-of-isaac-is-a-major-theme-of-the-so-called-elohist-one/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [“If the Pentateuch is inspired, the civilization of of our day is a mistake and crime. There should be no political liberty. Heresy should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-is-inspired-the-civilization-of-of-our-day-is-a/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“If the Pentateuch be true, religious persecution is a duty. The dungeons of the Inquisition were temples, and the clank of every chain upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-be-true-religious-persecution-is-a-duty-the/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“Yet all agree that the Pentateuch is not a single, seamless composition but a patchwork of different sources, each written under different historical circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-finkelstein/yet-all-agree-that-the-pentateuch-is-not-a-single-seamless/) [Israel Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-finkelstein/) > [“The author(s) of the Pentateuch believed that God actually created the universe in the past, Abraham migrated from Mesopotamia to Palestine, Moses parted the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tremper-longman-iii/the-author-s-of-the-pentateuch-believed-that-god-actually-created-the/) [Tremper Longman III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tremper-longman-iii/) > [“The bottom line is that for Wellhausen and many other biblical scholars before and since, the Pentateuch as we know it (an important qualification)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-enns/the-bottom-line-is-that-for-wellhausen-and-many-other-biblical/) [Peter Enns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-enns/) > [We found nothing grand in the history of the Jews nor in the morals inculcated in the Pentateuch. I know of no other books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/we-found-nothing-grand-in-the-history-of-the-jews-nor-in-the-morals/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [ I want to go back to the child I used to be, and to read with the same naiveté \[the Pentateuch\]. I want to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-want-to-go-back-to-the-child-i-used-to-be-and-to-read-with-the-same/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“As shown in chapter 2, the Pentateuch largely rejects the monarchic principle as it was construed elsewhere, often with a religiously sanctioned central government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-a-berman/as-shown-in-chapter-2-the-pentateuch-largely-rejects-the-monarchic/) [Joshua A. Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-a-berman/) > [A false friend, an unjust judge, a braggart, hypocrite, and tyrant, sincere in hatred, jealous, vain and revengeful, false in promise, honest in curse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/a-false-friend-an-unjust-judge-a-braggart-hypocrite-and-tyrant/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [That is, the only reason salvation is necessary is to get us back to the garden. The Pentateuch not only presents where we began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baker/that-is-the-only-reason-salvation-is-necessary-is-to-get-us-back-to/) [David Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baker/) > [“If the Pentateuch is not inspired in its astronomy, geology, geography, history or philosophy, if it is not inspired concerning slavery, polygamy, war, law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-is-not-inspired-in-its-astronomy-geology-geography/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“The Pentateuch was not authored out of whole cloth by a second-millennium Moses but is the end product of a complex literary process—written, oral,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-enns/the-pentateuch-was-not-authored-out-of-whole-cloth-by-a-second/) [Peter Enns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-enns/) > [“It is only to admit that what we have cannot be explained as an early (second-millennium-BC) document written essentially by one person (Moses). Rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-enns/it-is-only-to-admit-that-what-we-have-cannot-be-explained-as-an-early/) [Peter Enns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-enns/) > [“When the Greek translation of the Pentateuch was made, /Ģ/ was still a distinct phoneme, but when the remaining books were translated, it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-s-enz-badillos/when-the-greek-translation-of-the-pentateuch-was-made-was-still-a/) [Angel Sáenz-Badillos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-s-enz-badillos/) [Browse all 26 Pentateuch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pentateuch/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In The Bible Unearthed, archaeologist Israel Finkelstein demonstrates that much biblical composition was done from the 8th century BCE onward. Even in ancient times it was recognized that Moses did not compose the Pentateuch, which was probably partly attributable to Ezra, among others. 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