Prolegomena to the History of Israel

"Prolegomena to the History of Israel" by Julius Wellhausen is a detailed study of ancient Israel's history, penned in the 1800s. Contrary to common belief, this writing challenges the idea of Mosaic Law as the basis for Israel's past, claiming instead that legal frameworks evolved after the decline of olden Israel. The book starts by using modern historical analysis for interpreting Old Testament texts. Wellhausen questions whether Mosaic Law began ancient Israel's history or rather the religion of Judaism. He talks about what it means if the Law came before the history, and also points out errors in the writings suggesting they were written later in time. This new look at history aims to give readers a better grasp of how Israel's religion and culture grew, which is key to knowing what the Old Testament means, both in story and in faith.