The “discovery” of DTR1, the ‘kernel’ of the Pentateuch, in the Temple
In 622 BCE, during renovations to the Jerusalem Temple, the high priest Hilkiah discovered a scroll or “law book”, which he showed to the king’s scribe, Shaphan who in turn took it to the king, Josiah<span “font-size:12.0pt;font-family:=”” “times=”” roman”,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:”times=”” roman”;mso-ansi-language:=”” en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa”=””>[1]. The scroll had no author, but it was certainly very old and by the standards of the time this factor was sufficient to endow it with both authority and authenticity<span “mso-special-character:=”” footnote”=””><span “font-size:12.0pt;font-family:”times=”” roman”,serif;=”” mso-fareast-font-family:”times=”” roman”;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:=”” en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa”=””>[2]. The “salaried prophet”<a “mso-footnote-id:=”” ftn3″=”” href=”https://elwynshebrewbiblepage.weebly.com/the-discovery-of-the-law-book-in-the-temple.html#_ftn3″ title=””><span “font-size:12.0pt;font-family:=”” “times=”” roman”,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:”times=”” roman”;mso-ansi-language:=”” en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa”=””>[3] Huldah pronounced it to be genuine.
What was found in the Temple was Deuteronomy, or at least what is now known as its Covenant Edition DTR1 (basically Chapters 12-26 with a few refinements). (This is, incidentally, not a modern suggestion. Early Church fathers, including Jerome, identified the Book as Deuteronomy, and in the seventeenth century Thomas Hobbes said the same thing). After having the contents read to him, which included details of Moses’ Covenant with the Lord on behalf of his people, Josiah now understood the reasons for his people’s misfortunes: they had failed to abide by the Lord’s Covenant! He descended into a traditional mode of grief by tearing his clothes and thereupon declared that henceforth he would abide by the Covenant.
The Law Book had been found by a Priest of the Jerusalem Temple, and with the connivance of the priests or at their behest, Josiah proceeded to implement sweeping religious, political, and economic reforms throughout the kingdom. All the high places were closed down and all altars destroyed except that in the Temple, all sacrifice was forbidden except at Jerusalem, and the worship of Yahweh was the only religion allowed. The origins of the scroll probably lay in the north – Israel – but the fact that it was found in the Temple at Jerusalem in Judah by a Jerusalem Temple priest was cause enough to influence the priests to strive to make Jerusalem the centre of religion.
<span “font-size:10.0pt;font-family:=”” “times=”” roman”,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:”times=”” roman”;mso-ansi-language:=”” en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa”=””>[1] 2 Kings 23:10-11.
<span “font-size:10.0pt;font-family:=”” “times=”” roman”,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:”times=”” roman”;mso-ansi-language:=”” en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa”=””>[2] Dr Susanne Glover, WEA Hebrew Bible in Crisis course, Lecture 3, “The importance of cultural differences – seeing the past as the future”.
<span “font-size:10.0pt;font-family:=”” “times=”” roman”,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:”times=”” roman”;mso-ansi-language:=”” en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa”=””>[3] Freeman, op cit.