Editing Priestly source (section)

===Scope===
While most scholars agree on the identification of Priestly texts in Genesis through Exodus, opinions are divided concerning the original ending of the separate P document. Suggested endings have been located in the [[Book of Joshua]], in [[Deuteronomy 34]], [[Leviticus]] 16 or 9:24, in [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] 40, or in Exodus 29:46.{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=282-283}}

P is responsible for the first of the two [[Genesis creation narrative|creation stories in Genesis]] (Genesis 1), for Adam's genealogy, part of the [[Genesis flood narrative|Flood story]], the [[Table of Nations]], and the genealogy of Shem (i.e., Abraham's ancestry).{{sfn|Kugler|Hartin|2009|p=55}} Most of the remainder of Genesis is from the Yahwist, but P provides the covenant with Abraham (chapter 17) and a few other stories concerning Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.{{sfn|Kugler|Hartin|2009|p=65}}

The [[book of Exodus]] is also divided between the Yahwist and P, and the usual understanding is that the Priestly writer(s) were adding to an already-existing Yahwist narrative.{{sfn|Kugler|Hartin|2009|p=75}} Chapters 1–24 (from bondage in Egypt to God's appearances at Sinai) and chapters 32–34 (the [[golden calf]] incident) are from the Yahwist and P's additions are relatively minor, noting Israel's obedience to the command to be fruitful and the orderly nature of Israel even in Egypt.{{sfn|Kugler|Hartin|2009|p=78}} P was responsible for chapters 25–31 and 35–40, the instructions for making the Tabernacle and the story of its fabrication.{{sfn|Kugler|Hartin|2009|pp=75-76}}

Leviticus 1–16 sees the world as divided between the profane (i.e., not holy) masses and the holy priests. Anyone who incurs impurity must be separated from the priests and the Temple until purity is restored through washing, sacrifice, and the passage of time.{{sfn|Kugler|Hartin|2009|p=83}} According to Nihan, the purification ritual of Leviticus 16 formed the conclusion of the original Priestly document; in this and similar views, all P-like texts after this point are post-Priestly additions.{{sfn|Nihan|2007}}

Leviticus 17–26 is called the [[Holiness code]], from its repeated insistence that Israel should be a holy people; scholars accept it as a discrete collection within the larger Priestly source, and have traced similar holiness writings elsewhere in the Pentateuch.{{sfn|Knohl|1995}}{{sfn|Nihan|2007}}{{sfn|Stackert|2009|pp=12–16}}

In Numbers the Priestly source or a Priestly-like supplementer contributes chapters 1–10:28, 15–20, 25–31, and 33–36, including, among other things, two censuses, rulings on the position of Levites and priests (including the provision of special cities for the Levites), and the scope and protection of the [[Promised Land]].{{sfn|Kugler|Hartin|2009|p=97}} The Priestly themes in Numbers include the significance of the priesthood for the well-being of Israel (the ritual of the priests is needed to take away impurity), and God's provision of the priesthood as the means by which he expresses his faithfulness to the covenant with Israel.{{sfn|Kugler|Hartin|2009|p=98}}

The Priestly source in Numbers originally ended with an account of the death of Moses and succession of Joshua ("Then Moses went up from the [[plains of Moab]] to Mount Nebo..."), but when Deuteronomy was added to the Pentateuch this was transferred to the end of Deuteronomy.{{sfn|Campbell|O'Brien|1993|p=90}}