ESHATUCH.
- Name given by many modern Protestant and rationalist critics (Ewald, Knobel, Kuenen, Wellhausen, Holzinger, Driver, Cornill, Gautier, etc.) to the complex of the first six books of the Bible, because they believe that Joshua (v.) forms with the Pentateuch
Joshua is considered to be composed of the same «documents» as the Pentateuch: in the historical part, the «documents» J (Yahwist) and E (Elohist) would be present; in the geographical part, P (Priestly Code); even the Deuteronomist (D) would have left his mark. However, the followers of the «critical» theory are far from agreeing on the identification of these «documents».
Setting aside the fundamental arguments against J. Wellhausen’s critical theory (v. PENTATEUCH), the theory of the Eshatuch must be rejected, because Joshua, the first of the «Former Prophets», was historically always distinguished from the Law (or Books of Moses); the Samaritans, who accept only the Mosaic Pentateuch, do not include II.
Wellhausen’s theory was extended by other critics also to Judges and Samuel («Octateuch»), and sometimes even to Kings («Enneateuch»).