The controversy between Wellhausen and Kaufmann concerning the history of ancient Israel and the question of historical reconstruction has prompted this study. While Wellhausen s hypothesis introduces a synthesis of the religious development of ancient Israel, Kaufmann s work emphasizes the singularity of the Israelite religion. Their respective works, which represent the methodologies, presuppositions and the ideologies of their times, remain an impetus to further inquiry into the history of ancient Israel and its religion.
Both Wellhausen and Kaufmann applied the...