• The Babylonian Exile and the Formation of the Pentateuch: The 6th-4th centuries BCE were a crucial period for the development of the Hebrew Bible. The Babylonian Exile (starting in 586 BCE) is considered by many scholars to be a key time when oral traditions and early written sources were compiled and edited to form the Pentateuch (including Genesis) as we know it. It's possible the article you read discussed a prophetic figure active during or after the exile who played a significant role in this process.
  • Ezra the Scribe: The figure of Ezra, who lived in the 5th century BCE, is particularly important in Jewish tradition. He is credited with bringing the Law (Torah) back to Jerusalem and reading it to the people. Some interpretations might suggest he played a role in codifying or even (in a less literal sense of "from memory") reconstructing the foundational texts after the disruption of the exile. However, even these views typically acknowledge the use of existing traditions.
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  • Ah, that detail about Ezra working with five students to write the five books of the Torah is a specific tradition found in some Jewish sources, particularly within the Talmud (specifically the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin 21b and Sukkah 20a) and related Midrashic literature.

  • This tradition doesn't necessarily mean they were writing the entire Torah from scratch or from memory alone, but rather that they were involved in a significant process of redaction, editing, and potentially even the final composition of the Torah as we know it.

  • Here's what this tradition generally suggests:

  • Collaborative Effort: It highlights that the final form of the Torah was not solely the work of one individual but involved a group effort, with Ezra as the leading figure.
  • Post-Exilic Context: This tradition aligns with the scholarly understanding that the Torah reached its final form in the post-exilic period, the time of Ezra.
  • Reconstruction and Standardization: Given the upheaval of the Babylonian Exile and the potential loss or corruption of texts, this collaborative effort could have involved gathering existing traditions (both written and oral), standardizing the text, and ensuring its accuracy and authority for the returning community.
  • Not Necessarily Original Writing: It's important to note that this tradition doesn't necessarily imply they were writing entirely new narratives. They were likely working with and weaving together older sources and traditions.

  • To find articles discussing this specific tradition, you could search for:

  • "Ezra five scribes Torah"
  • "Talmud Ezra writing Torah"
  • "Sanhedrin 21b Ezra"
  • "Sukkah 20a Ezra"
  • "Ezra and the redaction of the Pentateuch"
  • "Rabbinic tradition Ezra Torah"

  • By using these search terms, you should be able to find articles that discuss this particular rabbinic tradition regarding Ezra and his team of scribes in the formation of the Torah. This might be the specific article you were trying to recall.