Are There Two J Authors In The Deuteronomist History?

If the first opinion is correct, and it seems to bethe throne of his kingdom God promises to
so because they are stylistically similar, then it isestablish forever. Abijah King of Judah and the
quite possible that all the other 6 books mightancestor of David committed all the sins his
have been a part of Deuteronomy.father had done before him; he was not as
One of the most prominent Kings in theconcerned about God as David had been. But
Deuteronomist History is Josiah. The son of greatDavid had done what was right in the eyes of the
king David, Josiah himself became a king when heLord, so God could not break the promise given
was only 8 years of age. He was very righteousto Abijah's forefather and still made Israel a
in the eyes of the Lord. After Hilkiah the highstrong kingdom.
priest discovers the Book of Covenant (2 KingsBut later despite of God's promise Judah gets
22:8), Josiah get rids of the household gods, thedestroyed by the king of Babylon (and the temple
idols, the mediums and spiritists, pagan priests andbuilt by Solomon as well). That happens because
temples. He listens to the words of the Book ofof Manasseh who sinned against God including
the Law and gets very upset: neither he nor hisshedding innocent blood. God simply could not
fathers have obeyed and acted in accordanceforgive him for filling Israel with the blood of
with what's written in that Book. Josiah tears hisinnocent (2 Kings 24:2-18, 25:1-26).
robe. God is pleased with that. Although He's stillAlmost forgot to mention Solomon's Covenant
angry, God forgives Josiah and promises that hiswith God. Solomon has been the king of Israel for
eyes won't see all the disaster that He-God willmore than forty years, and he built a temple
bring on the place.dedicated to God. God was very nice to inform
Now Josiah actually is one of the best Kings. HeSolomon though that in case he or his sons turn
can be compared to Moses only in his holiness.away from God and stop observing his
He's great in comparison to Solomon, whocommands and decrees, He shall then cut Israel
messed up his relationship with God by having toooff the land given by the Lord, reject the temple
many foreign wives. He's even greater thanthat has been consecrated in His name. Solomon
David, his father, who also had spoiled Lord'sturned out to be an OK king, not as great as
attitude towards him by messing with Uriah theDavid, but still fine, better than some of his
Levite's wife, and later sending the soldier todescendents.
death. Other kings were a complete mess.The author of the Deuteronomst History series
Josiah was the one to start a reform in thecould be Jeremiah. His father was a high priest
government - centralization of religion. He closed all(Hilkiah), one of the Moses' descendents (Anathoth
the religious centers around the country andpriests), and among his friends were: Ahikam the
made Jerusalem a Mecca for religious tourism.son of Josiah's secretary and Jeremiahs own
The Book of the Law thanks to him became asecretary Baruch, who served him as a
part of Old Testament and a part of the'typewriter'. So they were quite close to the king.
Deuteronomy Book. Josiah also changed theI could be the king himself, but that is the version
celebration of the Passover tradition. It wasthat is harder to prove. Another assumption may
celebrated by Samuel in a very important religiousbe, that it was Baruch himself, but it would be
center, Shiloh (priests of Moses - perhaps theyhard to imagine as Jeremiah only could be the
were the actual creators of the Code of Law, assource of information for him.
it cares about them more than of the kings; 1As the original law was destroyed in fire, Ezra had
Samuel 1:3-24); by David's family in Bethlehem.performed the duty of a final redactor. He copied
Deuteronomy says you have to celebratethe remaining stuff down and the rest he claims
Passover in some special, God chosen place. Ifto have been dictated to him by the voice from
God hesitates and doesn't choose one on time,the bush. He claims that God visited him and gave
then the holiday can be celebrated in varioushim inspiration to write it the way it always had
places. Josiah is also supposed to be the one whobeen. He rewrote the Jewish tradition two
fulfilled a three hundred year old prophecy, so he'scenturies after the birth of Christ. It's even hard
a really special one for the Jews.to believe it. He took all the different sources and
In 2 Samuel 7:1-17, through Nathan the prophet,compiled them together. He had no right to miss
God gives David His Promise. He promises to takea single source otherwise the book could be called
care of David's offspring, help him establish hisnot real.
kingdom, as David's kid is going to be the oneHe put all the stories together so that the
who shall build a temple in the Lord's name. Anddifference was not seen.