06_Biblica_AN_Ska_Layout 1 01/04/14 12:04 Pagina 107 107 OLD AND NEW IN THE BOOK OF NUMBERS bers is part of a double process. First, Numbers functions as a linchpin be- tween a priestly composition present mainly in Genesis – Leviticus, on the one hand, and Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomistic work, on the other. Second, there are visible traces of two compositional projects in Numbers. In the first, called the Hexateuch, the possession of the land was still con- templated as a real possibility by the returnees from the exile. In the sec- ond, the Pentateuch, this was excluded and, therefore, the Book of Joshua remained outside the authoritative and normative writings of postexilic Israel, and the work ended with Moses’ death in Deuteronomy 34 22. To these redactional layers — Hexateuch and Pentateuch redactions — R. Achenbach adds three series of theocratic redactions stemming from the Second Temple community in Jerusalem, especially in Numbers 1–10 and 26–36 23. Obviously the compositional process integrates older traditions, especially in Numbers 13–14 and 21 24. This is not the place for a thorough evaluation of this complex and painstaking study that has the merit of enhancing the importance of post-exilic redactional work. Two are the objections raised in recent book reviews 25. In the first place, the work is sometimes too rigidly mechanical. In some occurrences, for instance, suffixes are added by one or the other redaction. In the second place, there is not enough room for exceptions to the rule, namely short redactional interventions at some points only. (2003) 56-123 and “Numeri und Deuteronomium”, Das Deuteronomium zwi- schen Pentateuch und Deuteronomistischem Geschichtswerk (Hrsg. E. OTTO – R. ACHENBACH) (FRLANT 206; Göttingen 2004) 123-134. For E. Otto, see especially Das Deuteronomium im Pentateuch und Hexateuch (FAT 30; Tübingen 2000). See now also R. ALBERTZ, “A Pentateuchal Redaction in the Book of Numbers? The Late Priestly Layers of Num 25–36”, ZAW 125 (2013) 220-233. 22 See, for instance, R. ACHENBACH, “Pentateuch, Hexateuch und Ennea- teuch. Eine Verhältnisbestimmung”, ZAR 11 (2005) 122-154; cf. also T. RÖMER – M. BRETTLER, “Deuteronomy 34 and the Case for a Persian Hexa- teuch”, JBL 119 (2000) 401-419; ID., “La mort de Moïse et la naissance de la première partie du canon biblique”, The Canon of Scripture in Jewish and Christian Tradition – Le canon des Écritures dans les traditions juive et chré- tienne (eds. P.S. ALEXANDER – J.-D. KÄSTLI) (Lausanne 2007) 27-39. 23 See, for more details, R. ACHENBACH, “Der Pentateuch, seine theokrati- ṡche Bearbeitungen und Josua – 2 Könige”, Les dernières rédactions du Pen- tateuque, de l’Hexateuque et de l’Ennéateuque (eds. T. RÖMER – K. SCHMID) (BETL 203; Leuven 2007) 225-254. 24 For Numbers 13–14, see ACHENBACH, “Die Erzählung von der geschei- terten Landnahme von Kadesch Barnea (Numeri 13–14)”. 25 See the review by C. NIHAN in RBL (http://www.bookreviews.org).