First published in 1862, The Pentateuch and Book of Joshua Critically Examined is a landmark work of biblical scholarship. Written by bishop John William Colenso, it challenges the traditional interpretation of the Pentateuch as the work of Moses. Colenso draws on archaeological and linguistic evidence to argue that the Pentateuch is a composite work written over centuries by multiple authors. The book caused a firestorm of controversy when it was first published and remains a seminal work of biblical criticism today.

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