P is also characterized by an avoidance of an- thropomorphisms. There is no mention of angels or of visions in sleep. God is described as ' appear- ing' (Gn l-i-2-2.-s 359.13 483)^ and as 'speaking' (Gn 1-8 6'3 71 8'»-!li); but, as compared with the other writers whose materials are incorporated in the Pentateuch, P is conspicuously guarded and scrupulous in his references to the Deity against any approach to familiar or irreverent description.
The narrative of P is somewhat formal and pre- cise. It abounds in phrases and expressions which are not elsewhere found.
The followinjr are some of the interesting traits of the P narrative wliich may be noted here : —
(1) Divine Xante. — Except in 17^ 21*, Elohim, not Jahweh. is used as the name of God ; and these two exceptions are prob- ably due to the compiler or to later copyists. God is revealed to the patriarchs as El Shaddai (Gn IT* '2S3 3.>ii 48", cf. Ex G^).
<'2) Proper Xunieti. — In P * the sons of Heth ' (."^n ^}2) isalways used (Gn 2.3'. ». '. >»• »» ■>b"> 2T" 495=), never ' Hittites ' (2'nn), as in .T and E. P has ' Kiriath-arba ' for ' Hebron ' (Gn 2.S= .S.Vl, and I'addan-aram (Gn 2.V» 2S!. «. «• ' 31" 33i» 35"- '" 4ti'°) for tlie reirion called in J (Gn 241'*) Aram-naharaim. The mention of Machpelah occurs only in the P narrative (Gu 23^. *'. '" 2.')'^ 49>" 5il>=).
(3) Amonjr the words and phraften characteristic of P may be mentioned the following, which are found in Genesis ; —
■■'J^:'? ' possession,' Gn 1"» 28* 36" 47" 495».
'JN 30 times C?JN once, Gn 28«).
-\£'3 (li-J-'^r) ' Hesh ' (' all flesh '), Gn G". " 7"^- '« 8" 9". i"".
yij ' expire,' Gn 6" 7" 2.58 3,520.
yil ' seed,' Gn 9° 17' 8.'i« 466 4*4.
isb Isp 'very exceedingly,' Gn 7" 17=.
n^:i7D Gn 17". i3 03".
nnsc'o (e.g. on'.^ins'f;;';' 'according to their families'). Gn
gl9 IDS- JO- 31
nin a"n bsy. ' the self-same day,' Gn 7" 17». =«.
nb^l n^3 • be fruitful and multiply.' Gn 12S- » S>: 9'- '. <'-
"'131 ' possessions,' On 12» IS" 8I» 36'. Xy^ ' swarm,' Gn I*. «' "^ 8" 9'. m^^n * (fenerations.'
There is general agreement among critics as to the passages in Genesis that were taken by the compiler from the P document. These are —
V--2*' .->i-^- •■W-.12 6'-^'~ 7 (portions) gi. -'.. 31.-5. i,3a. 14-111
fll-i;. 2». 29 ]0'-"- 20- -' ■•"■ 31- 32 11 10-27. 31. :a ]2<'>. ■•• IIJO. III). 12» J(iU- 3. 15. 16 17_ IJV-'O OJllLib-.-. 23. 2 ')■-!'" '--'"■''•'• 2"- *Jb
2()-«- ■■« 27«-28" 20'-'*- -"•' :!l>sb :i:)isa'34 (portions) SS'*''"- '■■--•--"•' .".(i (verv lariielv) .•?7i -» 41<'' 40«--'^ 475- «•■ ■-"-
276. :8 483-(i. 7 4()la. ;iSI)-.tl |)0'-- '3.
(ft) When the P portions of the naiTative have been removed, there remains a large jiortion of Genesis which critics liave called 'prophetic,' as distinguished from ' priestly,' being clearly sepa- rable from P in language and in treatment of narrative.
liut this large portion of prophetic writing has also been conclusively shown to be. not homogene- 0U.S, but to consist of two main threads of narra- tive which to a great extent must have covered the same ground, and which a compiler combined in the form of a consecutive narrative. There were th-erefore two original documents (.T and IC) independent of one another, which, being welded together, formed a distinct work, .IK. which was afterwards combined with P by the tiiial redactor. As to the relative priority of these two documents, scholars are hardly yet in absolute agreement. But, at the present day, opinion inclines to the view that the document, which li.as as one of its char.acteristics the use of Jahweh (Jehovah) for the divine name, and has therefore been entitled the 'Jahwist' (=J, for short), is the earlier in date ; and tliat the other, wliich on acccmnt of its use of Elohim for the .sacred name (until Ex :>'*, when the name was revealed to Moses) is called the Elohist ( = E, for short), can be only very .sliglitly later. In determining what that date miust have been, we are enabled, by the evidence of the language, to discern that both J and E belong to the best period of Hebrew literature, free from the obscurity of the early and from tlie insipidity of tlie later age.
Tlie resemblance of these two documents to one another in tlieir contents, and their difference in style and language, may best be illustrated by a comparison of the parallel narratives in Gn 20 and 21), and in the accounts of the patriarchs Jacob and Joseph.
J contains some of the most striking descrip- tions in all Genesis ; and there is probably no Hebrew writing which in beauty of narrative, vigour, simplicity, and artistic skill can be con- sidered to surpass this document. To it we owe the preservation of the famous stories of the Garden of Eden ; of Cain and Abel ; of Abraham and ihe three angelic visitors ; of ■'^odom and Gomorrah ; of the mission of Eliezer, the servant of Abraham ; of Judah and Tamar-; of Judah's intercession witn Joseph.
Throughout his narrative, the writer of J keeps prominently in view the spiritual and moral pur- pose with which he indites his records of old time. It is in this respect that he occupies the position of a ' prophet ' ; he interprets the truths that underlay the history of the past, and explains God's dealings in the world and with His chosen people.