An international team, led by Shira Faigenbaum-Golovin from Duke University, is using artificial intelligence to investigate the authorship of the Hebrew Bible's earliest texts. Their novel AI-based approach analyzes language patterns, specifically word frequencies and sentence structures, to differentiate between scribal traditions within the Enneateuch, the first nine books.
The AI model identifies three primary writing styles, corresponding to the Deuteronomistic History, priestly writings, and the texts of Deuteronomy. The system highlights the specific linguistic features that informed each classification, bridging human interpretation and machine precision. The project builds on earlier work, dating back to 2010, which used mathematical techniques to analyze handwriting on ancient pottery.
The team's analysis reaffirms scholarly consensus on stylistic similarities between Deuteronomy and historical books compared to priestly writings. The model's sensitivity to subtle differences in common words reveals deep stylistic divides. The AI successfully categorized text segments into recognized writing styles, even in disputed passages.
The researchers developed customized tools to overcome the challenges of limited and modified biblical texts. The AI identifies consistent stylistic fingerprints by comparing word frequencies and sentence structures. The analysis of the Ark Narrative in Samuel revealed distinct writing styles, challenging previous assumptions.
Faigenbaum-Golovin envisions broader applications for this technique, including historical document validation. The collaborative project, involving statisticians, archaeologists, linguists, and computer scientists, represents a new paradigm in ancient text study. The team is currently extending their research to the Dead Sea Scrolls, applying their AI-driven methodology to uncover new layers of authorship.
This research demonstrates the transformative potential of AI in ancient textual analysis. The fusion of advanced mathematics, computer science, and humanities scholarship heralds a future where enigmatic scriptures may be more transparently understood than ever before.