Nineteenth century Germany is the time and place in which modern biblical criticism arose. At some point in Israel's history, these four documents, which these scholars believed each belonged to distinct historical periods, were combined by redactors or editors into a single text. This theory of biblical origins became known as the documentary hypothesis. J and E sources reflect the way of life of the nature-fertility stage. D source reflects the life of the spiritual-ethical stage.
P source reflects the life of the priestly-legal stage.
At this point, the historical narrative of Israel in the land ends. Significantly, while in exile in Babylon, the Jews establish centers of study, what came to be rabbinic academies. When the Persians conquer the Babylonian empire, the Jews are allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. When Alexander the Great expanded his empire, the land came under Greek rule. But Israel's autonomy was short lived.