These days it seems that the entire’higher critical’ thing is being tossed and now most of the text is attributed to Clerks and Officers of Hezekiah (7th cent. B.C.) who lived centuries after the events of Exodus, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, and much more. (See ‘The Story of the Jews’ by Schama.)
Daniel has long been in the Critics Den as there is simply no possibility that his prophecies could be valid. The ‘experts’ have decreed that it is a product of the Maccabean Period.
It is simply impossible to engage reasonably with supporters of the Criticisms and scoffers of Eschatology.
Meanwhile, 2 millennia have passed and behold just what group sits at the crossroads of the ancient world.
Fascinating stuff.
This theory (the "Documentary Theory") is also part of the great 17th and 18th century German scholar revisionist movement. Along with Eichhorn was Julius Wellhausen; while the Documentary Theory existed in some form before him, he was the one who really put it all together in one big proposal. Wellhausen was also the one who came up with "four sources."
Author CJ Hall once tested the theory by reprinting the Bible divided into the four sources, each source color-coded. The results are incomprehensible.
The problem with the "Four Sources" hypothesis is that it criticizes the Torah for being written in different styles. But that doesn't account for the fact that one man can write in different styles. Or the fact that Moses could have had multiple secretaries dictating the work for him, each one putting their own unique spin on it. It really doesn't prove anything.
These days it seems that the entire’higher critical’ thing is being tossed and now most of the text is attributed to Clerks and Officers of Hezekiah (7th cent. B.C.)
I accept this to a certain extent, but not that Hezekiah's officers invented all the stories of the Old Testament. I do think that when they discovered old dusty copies of the Law and read them to the people, they updated them. This is likely when anachronisms entered the Torah: "Avaris" in Exodus 1:11 changed to "Pithom-Ramses" and "Eridu" in Genesis changed to "Babel" where the tower was built.
But the archaeological evidence for the Old TEstament stories is very strong, much moreso than people realize. Which is why I don't believe they were made up stories.