Documentary Hypothesis. Critical commentaries usually follow the Documentary Hypothesis of the Pentateuch, which posits that Numbers is comprised of three originally separate sources, differing in vocabulary, grammar, theology, and date of composition, and each compiled in various stages. These documents have been named the Yahwist (or Jahwist; J), Elohist (E), and Priestly (P) traditions; they generally are dated to the ninth, eighth, and fifth centuries bc, respectively. Most commentators hold to some version of the Documentary Hypothesis, although they propose many variations (e.g., Wenham, Numbers, 21–25; Budd, Numbers, xviii-xxv; Ashley, Book of Numbers, 3–7; Davies, Numbers; Sakenfeld, Journeying with God, 3–4; Levine, Numbers 1–20, 48–72; Numbers 21–36; Schmidt, Das vierte Buch Mose; Knierim and Coats, Numbers, 6–9; Seebass, Numeri 1,1–10,10, Numeri 10,11–22,1).