There was certainly an old law code which stands behind the earliest form of Deuteronomy. Presumably that is what was lost.
Frank Moore CrossMy father was a Social Gospel, far-left liberal, and to some degree a mystic. But we did not have Bible readings; we had prayers.
Frank Moore CrossMy own interest is far more in the Hebrew Bible. My religion is more personally related to the Hebrew Bible than it is to the New Testament.
Frank Moore CrossFrank [Moore Cross], publicly dissects the text but he has a private, passionate relationship to the text that he doesn't often speak of publicly.
Frank Moore CrossYou have miracles [in the Hebrew Bible], yes, but they're not the work, normally, of demons.
Frank Moore Cross[Sacrifice of Isaac] is a major theme of the so-called Elohist [one authorial strand in the Pentateuch]. It is marked by all of his linguistic characteristics, and so on. We cannot determine what is historical and what isn't. As literary critics, we would understand the importance of this for understanding life, destiny. But the historical question must be left with a question mark.
Frank Moore Cross