1. "Prolegomena to the History of Israel" (1878):
This book presented his "Documentary Hypothesis," a theory that the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) was not written by Moses but was compiled from four distinct sources:
* J: Yahwist (using the name "Yahweh" for God)
* E: Elohist (using the name "Elohim" for God)
* D: Deuteronomist (emphasizing the law)
* P: Priestly (focused on ritual and law)
This theory revolutionized biblical studies and is still widely debated today.
2. "The Text of the Books of Samuel" (1871):
Wellhausen meticulously analyzed the text of the books of Samuel, examining the language, style, and historical context to reconstruct the development of the text.
3. "Israelitische und Judaistische Geschichte" (1894):
In this work, Wellhausen offered a comprehensive history of ancient Israel and Judah, drawing upon his expertise in the Bible and other ancient sources.
4. "The History of Israel and Judah" (1897):
This book, a translation of "Israelitische und Judaistische Geschichte," became a standard text for biblical studies.
5. "Skizzen und Vorarbeiten" (1888-1899):
This collection of essays included Wellhausen's important studies on biblical history and literature.
In addition to these major works, Wellhausen published numerous articles and reviews throughout his career. He was a prolific scholar and his work profoundly influenced the study of the Hebrew Bible.