Some literary analysts claim that the Pentateuch, or Torah, was not written by one person; traditionally the five books of the Law are believed to have been written solely by Moses, with the exception of the account of his death. The scholars believe that multiple strands of tradition were woven together to produce the Torah. The view that is persuasive to most of the critical scholars of the Pentateuch is called the Documentary Hypothesis. Briefly stated, the Documentary Hypothesis sees the Torah as having been composed by a series of editors out of four major strands of literary traditions. These traditions are known as J, E, D, and P.
J stands for "Jehovah" because of the use of the word "YHWH" in these places. The source's interests indicate he was active in the southern Kingdom of Judah in the time of the divided Kingdom. J is responsible for most of Genesis. Emphasis is placed on Judah and leaders, and involves an anthropomorphic speech about God (suggesting human characteristics for animals or inanimate things). The J source describes how God walks and talks with us, and uses the name "Sinai" for the mountain where the law was received.
E uses Elohim ("God") for the divine name until Exodus 3-6, where God's name is revealed to Moses and to Israel. This source seems to have lived in the northern Kingdom of Israel during the divided Kingdom. E wrote the story of the binding of Isaac and some other parts of Genesis, and much of Exodus and Numbers. There is a stress on northern Israel and prophetic things. God speaks in dreams, and Sinai is referred to as "Horeb.".
J and E were joined fairly early, apparently after the fall of the Northern Kingdom. It is often difficult to separate J and E stories that have merged.
D wrote almost all of Deuteronomy (and probably also Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings). There is importance placed upon a central shrine and fidelity is stressed to Jerusalem.