Conference Presentation
Deuteronomy in the Pentateuch and Enneateuch. New Horizons for Deuteronomy and Pentateuch Research after the Completion of My Herder Commentary in 2017.
Prof. em. Dr. Dr. h.c. Eckart Otto
Professor Emeritus of Old Testament / Hebrew Bible
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Hochschule für Philosophie München
Germany
Presentation Date & Time
8 November 2026
19:00 CET (Serbia time)
Conference
New Discoveries and New Directions in Biblical, Hebrew, and Theological Studies
European Hebrew Journal International Online Conference
Format
Live online via Zoom
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Abstract
Now that my 2300 pages Herder commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy was published in its final form nearly 10 years ago, and many of the commentary's perspectives have gained acceptance in scholarship, the question arises as to what direction future research on Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch should take beyond the findings of the commentary, and what research projects might follow from it in the years to come.
Keywords
What Is the Enneateuch?
In biblical scholarship, the term "Enneateuch" refers to the large narrative sequence extending from Genesis through Kings. The term derives from the Greek word for "nine" and treats this sequence as nine major literary units, beginning with the ancestral narratives of Genesis and continuing through Israel's origins, law, settlement in the land, monarchy, and the history narrated through the Books of Kings.
The Pentateuch (Five Books):
- 1. Genesis
- 2. Exodus
- 3. Leviticus
- 4. Numbers
- 5. Deuteronomy
The Enneateuch (Nine Books):
- 1. Genesis
- 2. Exodus
- 3. Leviticus
- 4. Numbers
- 5. Deuteronomy
- 6. Joshua
- 7. Judges
- 8. Samuel
- 9. Kings
In the traditional Hebrew Bible, Samuel is treated as a single book and Kings as a single book. This produces the nine-book sequence from Genesis through Kings referred to as the Enneateuch.
Prof. Eckart Otto's presentation considers Deuteronomy not only within the Pentateuch—the five books from Genesis through Deuteronomy—but also within the broader literary and historical framework extending through Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. This wider Enneateuchal perspective provides an important context for discussing future directions in Deuteronomy and Pentateuch research. For an in-depth exploration of his scholarly work, see the scholarly interview with Prof. Eckart Otto on Deuteronomy and biblical law.
Academic Profile
Prof. em. Dr. Dr. h.c. Eckart Otto is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament and Hebrew Bible and formerly held the Chair of Old Testament II at the Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. His scholarship focuses on the Hebrew Bible, the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy, biblical and Ancient Near Eastern law, the religion and theology of ancient Israel, historical-critical exegesis, biblical archaeology, and hermeneutics.
He studied Protestant Theology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies from 1965 to 1971. He received his doctorate in Theology from the University of Hamburg in 1973 and completed his Habilitation and venia legendi in Old Testament in 1975.
During his academic career, he held research and teaching positions at the University of Hamburg, the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, the University of Osnabrück, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. From 1996 to 2009, he held the Chair of Old Testament II at the Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
He was appointed Honorary Professor at the University of Pretoria and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pretoria in 2007. His international academic activities have included lectures, visiting appointments, research collaboration, and conference participation in Jerusalem, Papua New Guinea, Paris, Baltimore, Bloomington, Helsinki, Leiden, Leuven, Stellenbosch, Innsbruck, Pretoria, and other academic centres.
Education and Academic Qualifications
1965–1971
Studies in Protestant Theology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies.
1973
Doctorate in Theology, University of Hamburg.
1975
Habilitation and venia legendi in Old Testament.
Academic Positions
1971–1973
Research Assistant, Old Testament Seminar, University of Hamburg.
1973–1978
Research Assistant, Old Testament Seminar, University of Hamburg.
1978–1979
Deputy Director, German Protestant Institute of Archaeology of the Holy Land, Jerusalem.
1979–1996
Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Archaeology, University of Hamburg.
1986–1991
Professor of Protestant Theology, Old Testament and Palestinian Archaeology, University of Osnabrück; Director of the Research Centre for Historical Palestine Studies.
1991–1996
Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Archaeology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
1996–2009
Professor and Chair of Old Testament II, Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
2001
Appointed Honorary Professor, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
2007
Awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Pretoria.
Selected International Academic Activities
1979–1985
Regular lectures and seminars in the academic study programme of Dormitio Abbey, Jerusalem.
1984
Visiting Lecturer at Martin-Luther-Seminary, Lae, Papua New Guinea.
1992
Invited lecture at the XVI Congress of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament in Paris.
Since 1992
Chair of the specialist subgroup "Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Legal History" of the Scientific Society for Theology.
1993
Guest lectures and seminars at Johns Hopkins University and Indiana University on Ancient Near Eastern legal history and Deuteronomy research.
Since 1993
Member of the Biblical Law Group of the Society of Biblical Literature.
1994–1995
Invited guest lectures in Helsinki, Leiden, and Leuven.
Since 1995
Founding member of the Society for the Study of Ancient Near Eastern Law.
1997
Visiting Professor at the University of Stellenbosch, with additional lectures at South African universities.
2000
Visiting Professor at the University of Innsbruck.
2000
Visiting Professor at the University of Pretoria.
2001
Co-director of the Pentateuch Project with Prof. J. Le Roux at the University of Pretoria.
2002
Awarded Honorary Membership of the Old Testament Society of Southern Africa.
2004
Invited participant and speaker at congresses of the Society of Biblical Literature and the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament.
2006
Lectures at the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa.
2006
Co-chair of the ProPent conference on Pentateuch research.
2007
Co-organiser of the international congress "Prophets and Tora" at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Research Expertise
- • Old Testament
- • Hebrew Bible
- • Pentateuch Studies
- • Deuteronomy
- • Old Testament Theology
- • Biblical Law
- • Ancient Near Eastern Law
- • Ancient Israelite Religion
- • Historical-Critical Exegesis
- • Biblical Archaeology
- • Theology of Ancient Israel
- • Hermeneutics
- • Ancient Near Eastern Studies
- • History of Biblical Law
- • History and Religion of Ancient Israel
- • Pentateuchal Composition and Redaction
Selected Books and Commentaries
Otto, Eckart.
Deuteronomium 1–11. Erster Teilband: 1,1–4,43.
Herders Theologischer Kommentar zum Alten Testament. Freiburg, Basel, and Vienna, 2012.
Otto, Eckart.
Deuteronomium 1–11. Zweiter Teilband: 4,44–11,32.
Herders Theologischer Kommentar zum Alten Testament. Freiburg, Basel, and Vienna, 2012.
Otto, Eckart.
Deuteronomium 12–34. Erster Teilband: 12,1–23,15.
Herders Theologischer Kommentar zum Alten Testament. Freiburg, Basel, and Vienna, 2016.
Otto, Eckart.
Deuteronomium 12–34. Zweiter Teilband: 23,16–34,12.
Herders Theologischer Kommentar zum Alten Testament. Freiburg, Basel, and Vienna, 2017.
Complete Official Bibliography
View Complete Official Publication ListThe complete official bibliography is hosted by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Academic Profiles and Verified Sources
Official LMU Profile
Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät, LMU MünchenInstitute for Hebrew Language and Literature
EHJ Editorial Board ProfileComplete Official Publication List
Official Bibliography (PDF)Conference Participation
Prof. Eckart Otto presents at the European Hebrew Journal International Online Conference 2026 on 8 November 2026 at 19:00 CET, Serbia time, with the presentation titled "Deuteronomy in the Pentateuch and Enneateuch. New Horizons for Deuteronomy and Pentateuch Research after the Completion of My Herder Commentary in 2017."
Suggested Citation
Otto, Eckart. "Deuteronomy in the Pentateuch and Enneateuch. New Horizons for Deuteronomy and Pentateuch Research after the Completion of My Herder Commentary in 2017." Presentation at New Discoveries and New Directions in Biblical, Hebrew, and Theological Studies, European Hebrew Journal International Scholarly Online Zoom Conference, 8 November 2026.
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