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Sailhamer’s attempt is to find the internal evidence from the OT texts whether there is in them any literary and canonical shaping that might suggest a theological motive (p. 209). He believes that we must start to discover the meaning of the OT that lies behind the various shapes of the OT canon because the author’s compositional strategy has an intentional purpose that guides the readers to the specific message in the OT. His attempt is not to discover the existence of the earlier versions of the Pentateuch lying behind the present Pentateuch but to comprehend the message in the final form.
The key point to the compositional approach is to discern the relationship of the individual comments within the Pentateuch as a whole. The comments were accomplished by one who knows thoroughly the shape and strategy of the Mosaic Pentateuch as well as the theology that emerges from that strategy.
The canonical composition of the Pentateuch was particularly shaped by, and grounded in, a developed messianic hope already embodied in a Mosaic Pentateuch with the comments about a future prophet in Deuteronomy 34 (p. 208). Furthermore, Daniel played a significant role in discussions about the end of the OT, and in particular, the passage about the “Messiah” in Daniel 9:25-26. In addition, the book of Chronicles shows the different meaning according to the canonical location of the OT.
Is Sailhamer successful in the attempt to find the theological message in the final form? To be honest, it is difficult to discern how the Bible had been shaped in the current form. In addition, all books in the Bible were given by God. Therefore, it is important to understand not only each book’s message but also the message in the entire book’s relationship.
There are scholars making attempts to understand the Bible in the final form. However, the presupposition is totally different between the critical view and the conservative one. Sailhamer agrees that there had been processes until this current form was completed. There are layers in the Bible even though he said “he wants to focus on the final form.” Only difference is that one compiler or several one participated in the processes.
It is good to understand the entire Bible in a consistent theology, but it is hard to explain the process of how the Bible came to the current form. According to Sailhamer, redactional glues or commentaries that were added by a final author play a significant role in the understanding of the final form. Redactional glues or commentaries were caused by a single author who knows not only the Pentateuch but also the entire Bible. However, how can we be sure that this is the outcome by one person?
For Sailhamer, authorial comments are very crucial factors for readers to understand the compositional strategy and purpose from the biblical author. Two things are argued by Sailhamer. First, the Bible includes these interpretive comments or redational glues from a later biblical author. Second, this authorial composition or commentary offers clear understanding into the entire Bible, especially to the messianic hope.
Sailhamer even argues that commentary or relational glue is inserted into the location by the author in the final stage of composition (573-574). However, it is hard to figure out whether the text was really inserted into the original text as a secondary text. For example, Gen 49:18 is an example.
Sailhamer claims that the compositional approach differs from the classical Documentary hypothesis in two important respects: 1) the Bible is the result of the intentional design and purpose of its author 2)the compositional approach neither assumes the existence of, nor attempts to discover earlier versions (p. 275). However, it is only true to the classical Documentary hypothesis. The recent critical scholars also have viewed the Bible in the final form as Sailhamer’s approach. Both sides agree with the importance of the final form in the Bible.
However, the presupposition between two sides is totally different. The critical view contends that the Pentateuch was a product by several editors or composers but Sailhamer believes that it is a task by a single author.
The current form of the Bible has not been made randomly without any consideration. Therefore, it is significant to understand the Bible in the final form but it is necessary to be cautious to apply Sailhamer’s approach.
When Sailhamer’s argument such as the commentary or redactional glue is applied to the biblical interpretation, we need to be discreet that it is the forced opinion or logical interpretation.
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