Question:
What are the classic proofs that human does not write the Torah and does any scholars write about Documentary theory? Thank you
Answer:
Hello,
There are numerous ones, but here is one of them. When the Torah writes which animal are kosher and which aren’t the torah says that an animal needs 1. split hooves, and 2. to chew its cud. If it has only one of these characteristics, it is non-kosher. The Torah says that there are only two animal that chew its cud but don’t have split hooves, a camel, and an “arneves” (rabbit). Additionally, there is only one animal that has split hooves but doesn’t chew its cud, a pig. Meaning that Moshe is making a statement, that in the whole entire world, there will never be a person who will find a different type of animal, other than these three that have one but not the other type of characteristic! The Midrash (Yalkut Shemoni Devorim 14 and brought in Chullin 59a) comments, how can Moses make such a statement. Was he a hunter, that explored all of the continents, and checked all the various animals to know this? Did Moshe explore America to know that there isn’t such an animal on that whole continent? NO, he wasn’t but the one who created the world, does know!
Sources:
ילקוט שמעוני תורה פרשת ראה רמז תתצא “אך את זה לא תאכלו ממעלי הגרה וממפריסי הפרסה השסועה, אמר רבי עקיבא וכי משה רבינו קניגי היה או בליסטרי היה, אלא מכאן תשובה לאומרים אין תורה מן השמים”.
