Prolegomena to the History of Ancient Israel

Prolegomena to the History of Ancient Israel is a book by Julius Wellhausen, first published in 1883. This groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern biblical scholarship by challenging traditional assumptions about the origins and composition of the Hebrew Bible.

Wellhausen proposed that the Pentateuch was not the product of a single author, but rather a compilation of different sources written over time, each reflecting distinct historical and theological perspectives. His source-critical method, known as the Documentary Hypothesis, reshaped the academic understanding of ancient Israel’s history and the development of its religious texts. As both a theologian and orientalist, Wellhausen’s rigorous historical approach influenced generations of scholars in the fields of biblical studies, history, and theology, and his ideas continue to provoke discussion and debate today.