Berossus and Genesis, Manetho and Exodus proposes a provocative new theory regarding the date and circumstances of the composition of the Pentateuch. Gmirkin argues that the Hebrew Pentateuch was composed in its entirety about 273-272 B.C.E. by Jewish scholars at Alexandria that later traditions credited with the Septuagint translation of the Pentateuch into Greek. The primary evidence is literary dependence of Gen. 1-11 on Berossus' Babyloniaca (278 B.C.E.) and of the Exodus story on Manetho's Aegyptiaca (c. 285-280 B.C.E.), and the geo-political data contained in the Table of Nations. A number of indications point to a provenance of Alexandria, Egypt for at least some portions of the Pentateuch. That the Pentateuch, drawing on literary sources found at the Great Library of Alexandria, was composed at almost the same date as the Septuagint translation, provides compelling evidence for some level of communication and collaboration between the authors of the Pentateuch and the Septuagint scholars at Alexandria's Museum. The late date of the Pentateuch, as demonstrated by literary dependence on Berossus and Manetho, has two important consequences: the definitive overthrow of the chronological framework of the Documentary Hypothesis, and a late, 3rd century B.C.E. date for major portions of the Hebrew Bible which show literary dependence on the Pentateuch.

Contents

Ch. 1 Methodology and history of scholarship

Ch. 2 The documentary hypothesis

Ch. 3 Hecataeus of Abdera

Ch. 4 Aristobulus and the Septuagint

Ch. 5 Berossus and Genesis

Ch. 6 The Table of Nations

Ch. 7 Manetho and the Hyksos

Ch. 8 Manetho and the polluted Egyptians

Ch. 9 Nectanebos and Moses

Ch. 10 The route of the Exodus

Ch. 11 Date and authorship of the Pentateuch

App. A Berossus and Megasthenes

App. B Theophanes of Mytilene

App. C The Samaritan Pentateuch

App. D The rivers of Eden

App. E Tarsus and the Nora Inscription

App. F Seth-Typhon and the Jews