How did Moses know what to write? (Read II Peter 1:21) What part might oral tradition have played?
According to II Peter 1:21, Moses and the other writers of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit. This means that God guided them and gave them the words to write.
Oral tradition may have played a role in shaping the stories and teachings that were eventually written down. In ancient times, many cultures relied on the spoken word to pass down important history, traditions, and beliefs from one generation to the next. It is possible that the stories and teachings of the Bible were passed down orally before they were eventually written down. However, ultimately it was the Divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit that ensured the accuracy and truthfulness of the Biblical writings.
In II Peter 1:21, it is mentioned that "prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." This verse suggests that Moses and other prophets did not write based on their own will or understanding, but rather they were inspired by God through the Holy Spirit.
Regarding the role of oral tradition in the writing of the Old Testament, it is believed that oral tradition played a significant part. Before the texts were written down, religious stories, laws, and teachings were passed down orally from one generation to another. Many scholars suggest that Moses and other ancient authors drew on these oral traditions when writing down the books of the Bible.
Oral tradition allowed for the preservation and transmission of important cultural and religious information before the development of writing systems. The accuracy of oral transmission relies on the faithfulness of the community in remembering and passing on the stories. It is likely that elements of oral tradition influenced the content and style of the texts written by Moses and other prophets.