Martin Noth and Frank Moore Cross on the composition of the Deuteronomistic History

Martin Noth believed that the individual designated “Dtr” was responsible for the work of Joshua through Kings. Dtr was both editor and author of the composition, and worked with the available sources to form the Deuteronomistic History as it appears today. He edited available material and served as a creative author at times. Dtr composed his work around and near the date 562 B.C. Noth believed Joshua through Kings represented a unified work. Evidence for this is seen in the special role of Deuteronomy in the text. He believed that Dtr composed Deuteronomy 1:1-4:43. The purpose of the work was to explain the reason of the destruction of Israel by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. The leaders and the people of the composition are evaluated on the basis of the Law Code found in Deuteronomy 12-26. Noth sees a unity in the work in Deuteronomistic language and style, in the strategic speeches (Josh. 1; 23; 1 Sam. 13; 1 Kgs. 8:14), and in the summarizing reflections (Josh. 12; Judg. 2:11; 2 Kgs. 17:7). He sees this in the chronology laid out (1 Kgs. 6:1) of the 480 years. Noth believed Dtr was associated with Josiah’s reign. Joshua and Josiah are compared to each other in a positive light. Dtr also makes Judah look good and shows that the Laws of Deuteronomy should be followed.

Frank Moore Cross believed there were two additions to the Deuteronomistic History which are called “Dtr1” and “Dtr2.” Dtr1 was pre-exilic and Dtr2 was exilic. Starting with Dtr1, there are two themes present in the text: The sin of Jeroboam, and God’s faithfulness towards David. The fall of the Northern Kingdom is blamed on Jeroboam’s sin (2 Kgs. 17:20-*3). In Dtr1, a prophet is seen denouncing the altar placed at Bethel (1 Kgs. 13:2-5). Dtr1 seems to anticipate the reform of Josiah. In the work, Davidic kings are portrayed as mostly good, especially Josiah. The work of Dtr1 is then seen as a message to the North to return to the worship of Yahweh at the Jerusalem sanctuary during the time of Josiah’s reign. It speaks also to Judah, saying the Kingdom’s restoration depends on the nation’s return to the Covenant with Yahweh as well as the whole-hearted return of the king to the ways of David.

Dtr2 is then seen as the exilic addition to the text, according to Cross. He believed that the redactor brought the work up to date during the Exile, and recorded the Fall of Jerusalem. Dtr2 reshapes history, blaming the Fall of Jerusalem on the wickedness of Manasseh (2 Kgs. 21:7-14). He shows that Josiah is repentant after the discovery of the Law (2 Kgs. 23:25b-27). Passages of the text are addressed to captives, emphasizing the fact that Yahweh will not forget the Covenant of their Fathers and promising return from their captivity and their restoration if they would repent, etc. (Deut. 4:27-31; 30:1-10; 1 Kgs. 8:25b, 46-53). Cross believed Dtr2 was completed around 500 B.C. and that it attempted to transform the history into a sermon to Judean exiles.