The identification of preexilic material in the pentateuch

It is the aim of this chapter to indicate the convergence of the linguistic data and the sociocultural background for many segments in the narratives of the patriarchs and the Exodus, noting the convergence of the cultural hybridity of these narratives that are sometimes close to the Ugaritic epic, and their predominant oral background, as revealed by language usage. Some of the allusions to sociopolitical and geopolitical context dovetail with different periods of the Israelite/Judahite monarchy. Against these features I pointed to the congruence of the language usage of the deuteronomic/ priestly strata and their place in the royal/temple administration. This dialectic interplay of cultural/linguistic contrasts and convergences indicates four main formative stages/strata for pentateuchal literature, to begin with the oral/written, epic stage (ninth/early eighth century).