Did Helcias and Saphan Invent the Torah?

somewhere else: Did Helcias and Saphan Invent the Torah? · Great Bishop of Geneva!: What About the Scroll of the Law that was Mislaid?

They found it. If you are reading NIV instead of Douay Rheims, you are probably spelling it Hilkiah and Shaphan.

The text is II or IV Kings, chapter 22 (we who prefer saying IV Kings use II Kings for what some others call II Samuel).

DRBO : 4th Book of Kings (2 Kings) Chapter 22
https://drbo.org/chapter/12022.htm

2 Kings 22, New International Version (NIV)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2022&version=NIV

[8] And Helcias the high priest said to Saphan the scribe: I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord: and Helcias gave the book to Saphan, and he read it. [9] And Saphan the scribe came to the king, and brought him word again concerning that which he had commanded, and said: Thy servants have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and they have given it to be distributed to the workmen, by the overseers of the works of the temple of the Lord. [10] And Saphan the scribe told the king, saying: Helcias the priest hath delivered to me a book. And when Saphan had read it before the king, [11] And the king had heard the words of the law of the Lord, he rent his garments. [12] And he commanded Helcias the priest, and Ahicam the son of Saphan, and Achobor the son of Micha, and Saphan the scribe, and Asaia the king's servant, saying: [13] Go and consult the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Juda, concerning the words of this book which is found: for the great wrath of the Lord is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened to the words of this book, to do all that is written for us.

Challoner comments:

[8] "The book of the law": That is, Deuteronomy

And that is credible from context, as Deuteronomy 28 spells out misfortunes for disobeying the law.

Was this a coup de théatre with a newly produced book falsely given antiquity from Moses' time?

The holy faith says, this is not so. But supposing it were, it would arguably be to add the curses in Deuteronomy 28:[15] But if thou wilt not hear the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep and to do all his commandments and ceremonies, which I command thee this day, all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. - and following verses up to the end of the chapter.

And if so, the answer of the prophetess was also a coup de théatre ... meant to scare people into following the law, even if it was basically too late.

I find it even humanly speaking more credible, someone found a book, it involved a curse which recent events had triggered, and it was delayed ...

But the idea that all of the Torah was faked on this occasion, like they had never had any Torah before - it was referenced in Joshua's, probably Samuel's and Solomon's times.

[25] And Samuel told the people the law of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord: and Samuel sent away all the people, every one to his own house.
[1 Kings (1 Samuel) 10:25]

Haydock comment:

Ver. 25. Before the Lord. It seems that the ark was therefore present. This record of Samuel is lost, so that we cannot determine what laws he prescribed on this occasion. C. --- Josephus (vi. 5.) says that he wrote and read in the hearing of all, and in the presence of the king, what evils would ensue under the regal government; and deposited the writing in the tabernacle, that the truth of the prediction might be ascertained. He probably alludes to the denunciation of tyranny, which had been made C. viii. and which he says Samuel repeated on this occasion. But the prophet would also take a copy of the law of the kingdom, prescribed by Moses, (Deut. xvii.) and deliver it to Saul, that he might make it the rule of his conduct, and not imitate the wicked customs of tyrants. H. --- The whole process of this memorable event he would also write down, (M.) as we read it at present in this chapter, placing it in the proper order, as a continuation of the sacred history which Moses and Josue had commenced; and like them, depositing the sacred volume beside the ark, or in the tabernacle. See Jos. xxiv. 26. H.

So, for Samuel's time, we only have probable. But we have clear references to the law from other times, as said.

Stating that the Torah was invented by Helcias and Saphan would imply they started a steamrolling cascade of forgeries on forgeries. It would be technically easier to achieve a faked moonlanding (pictures and all) for Apollo 11 than for this to be true, there are so many more who would have needed to be in on it.

So, no, it was inherited. Those hiding it away - probably from Athalia, though I have that from Bible Pix and not from the Bible text - or dropping it had people know of it already in Joas' time, when he succeeded Athalia's usurpation.

[12] And he brought forth the king's son, and put the diadem upon him, and the testimony: and they made him king, and anointed him: and clapping their hands. they said, God save the king.
[4 Kings (2 Kings) 11:12]

Challoner comments:

[12] "The testimony": The book of the law.

Hans Georg Lundahl
Paris
St. Stephen of Hungary
2.IX.2022