# When was the Old Testament written **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 12, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298 "2008-11-12T03:44:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/1 "2008-11-12T03:44:28Z")
No, this isn’t meant to be in GD. I’m looking for factual information here, only (even if factual information about disputed, unresolved, or faith-based theories). Basically, can anyone give me a good rundown of what current biblical scholarship says about the history of the Hebrew Bible as a text? Primarily, I’m interested in a secular perspective, but certainly factual information about religious beliefs on the matter is entirely relevant, though let’s all try not to actually debate the merits of these approaches. Basically, it seems to be something I’m woefully uninformed about, and my attempts to learn more have generally left my eyes glazing over, noticeably more so than even the similar subject of the authorship of the Gospels (although if anyone has links to an especially good synopsis, I’d probably find it enlightening). Hopefully, you guys can provide an easily approachable introduction to the subject. Mods: I’d really like to keep this devoted to factual information about what biblical scholars say, and humbly ask you to try to nudge the discussion into GQ territory in preference to moving the thread, should things start getting all debatey and stuff. But, of course, it ain’t my board… ---
**Author:** ![Jesus\_Harold\_Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f14d63/32.png) [@Jesus\_Harold\_Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesus_Harold_Christ)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/2 "2008-11-12T03:52:59Z")
Go to homepage for this site and search “who wrote the bible” or get “The Bible Unearthed” by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/3 "2008-11-12T04:27:29Z")
> [@Jesus\_Harold\_Christ](#): > > Go to homepage for this site and search “who wrote the bible” or get “The Bible Unearthed” by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman. :smack: I was pretty sure Cecil never covered it, but never thought about the Staff Reports. Looks like I’ll be reading through at least a huge five-parter (and keeping my fingers crossed). Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/4 "2008-11-12T04:31:10Z")
**Dex** and whatsisname that fell out the window did a terrific job on that. Bump the thread if you end up wanting data for specific books – several people have ready references for that sort of detail. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/5 "2008-11-12T04:59:35Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > **Dex** and whatsisname that fell out the window did a terrific job on that. Over there is Bob the Bridge Builder and next to him is Phil the Farmer, but fall out one window and… ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/6 "2008-11-12T12:30:34Z")
Just for ref, Old Testament is covered in Parts 1 - 3: Part 1: Pentateuch or Five Books of Moses: [Who wrote the Bible? (Part 1) - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1985/who-wrote-the-bible-part-1) Part 2: Histories – Judges, Kings, etc: [Who wrote the Bible? (Part 2) - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1986/who-wrote-the-bible-part-2) Part 3: Prophetic and Wisdom books: [Who wrote the Bible? (Part 3) - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1987/who-wrote-the-bible-part-3) New Testament in Part 4: [Who wrote the Bible? (Part 4) - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1988/who-wrote-the-bible-part-4) And the final compilation (decisions on which books to include): [Who wrote the Bible? (Part 5) - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1989/who-wrote-the-bible-part-5) Meanwhile, Moderator Hat on: **Polycarp** , a comment like “whatsisname that fell out the window” is pretty much a personal insult that doesn’t belong here. **Eutychus** did a great job on those reports with me (I basically handled Old Testament and he handled New) and snide little asides are not called for. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/7 "2008-11-12T12:35:20Z")
FWIW, I assumed \*\*Polycarp \*\*was teasing gently, not insulting. Further FWIW, I don’t have a clue to what window or what person he was referring to. Maybe if I did, I’d see the gross insult. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/8 "2008-11-12T12:36:56Z")
Email me if you feel the desparate, overwhelming need to know. It doesn’t need to be discussed here. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/9 "2008-11-12T16:10:46Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Email me if you feel the desparate, overwhelming need to know. It doesn’t need to be discussed here. Perhaps it could be discussed [in the BBQ Pit](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10437352). ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/10 "2008-11-12T19:24:26Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Meanwhile, Moderator Hat on: **Polycarp** , a comment like “whatsisname that fell out the window” is pretty much a personal insult that doesn’t belong here. **Eutychus** did a great job on those reports with me (I basically handled Old Testament and he handled New) and snide little asides are not called for. Just to set matters straight, **Eutychus** who is a member and former staff here, and whose username I couldn’t remember at the time, adopted it after the story of the guy in Acts of that name who fell asleep during one of Paul’s sermons and fell out the window. It was a (misguided) pun on that – I couldn’t remember the name Eutychus but did remember where he’d gotten the name from. I had forgotten all about the incident you apparently think I was referencing (and which I agree ought to be left to e-mail if touched on at all). Personal apologies to **Eutychus** for the unintended insult. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/11 "2008-11-12T19:30:13Z")
OMG. Did a _mod_ just get whooshed? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/12 "2008-11-12T22:26:48Z")
Yes, a mod got whooshed. My apologies, to **Polycarp** and everyone. I didn’t recall that the historical/mythic Eutychus fell out a window, so I took it as a somewhat snide comment about our Member **Eutychus** who has been a signifcant contributor to SDSAB and to the Message Boards, etc. My apologies all round. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/13 "2008-11-13T11:46:53Z")
And, FWIW, I neither read into nor felt that there was ever any ill-will in Polycarp’s mention of my recent accident. 😃 JOKE! IT’S A JOKE!!! ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-old-testament-written/472298/14 "2008-11-13T14:04:02Z")
> [@Eutychus](#): > > And, FWIW, I neither read into nor felt that there was ever any ill-will in Polycarp’s mention of my recent accident. 😃 “Recent accident”? It was nearly 2,000 years ago!