Sacred Books of the World

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Sacred Books of the World

• Hebrew Bible
• An Introduction

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Terminology

• Bible
• Greek ta biblia the books
• Collection of 39 books
• Product of many authors, editors
• Via period of oral tradition
• Hebrew Bible (language Hebrew Aramaic)
• Acronym TaNaK(h)
• T Torah (Law, Teachings Pentateuch)
• N Neviim (Prophets)
• K Ketuvim (Writings Hagiographa)

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TaNaK

• Torah
• Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
• Prophets
• Former Joshua, Judges, (I-II) Samuel, (I-II)
  Kings
• Latter
• Major Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
• Minor The Twelve (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah,
  Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai,
  Zachariah, Malachi)
• Writings
• Psalms, Proverbs, Job
• The Five Megilloth (Scrolls) Song of Songs,
  Ruth, Lamentation, Ecclesiastes, Esther
• History(?) Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, (I-II)
  Chronicles
• Books in TaNaK in Hebrew

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TaNaK Old Testament

• TORAH (The Law)
• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• Numbers
• Deuteronomy
• NEVIIM (Prophets)
• (Former) Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings
• (Latter) Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel,
• The Twelve
• KETUVIM (The Writings)
• Psalms, Proverbs, Job
• Five Megilloth Song of Songs, Ruth,
  Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther
• Daniel
• Ezra-Nehemiah
• Chronicles

• PENTATEUCH
• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• Numbers
• Deuteronomy
• (HISTORY)
• Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I-II Samuel, I-II Kings
• I-II Chronicles. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
• (POETRY)
• Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes,
• Song of Songs
• (PROPHETS)
• Isaiah
• Jeremiah, Lamentations
• Ezekiel
• Daniel
• The Twelve

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Canon

• Canon
• Greek rod or Hebrew reed, measuring stick
• norm/standard by which faith is measured
• Precise term canon Christian usage only
  books deemed authoritative
• Expression to defile the hands Jewish usage
  those texts deemed authoritative
• Process of canonization
• Not due to single act or event, but by stages
• Often began in oral tradition
• in writing c. 1000BC, esp. 6th BC until 3rd AD!!!

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Authorship

• Traditional/Conservative a document from God
  without error (both in Judaism Christianity)
• Talmud Baba Bathra 14b
• Critical/Liberal Source Criticism
• Aka Documentary Hypothesis JEPD
• J source uses Jehovah for divine
• E source uses Elohim for divine
• P source priestly concerns
• D source deuteronomic author
• R(edactor)

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Overview of Contents

• Heilsgeschichte Sacred History
• The unfolding of a relationship
• Overview of Biblical History
• Primeval History Creation of world, humanity
  Flood Story
• Epic of the Patriarchs (2000-1500BC)
• Sojourn/Bondage in Egypt to Exodus Moses
  (1500-1290BC)
• Conquest and Settlement of the Promised Land
  (1290-1050BC)
• Prophetic movement
• United Kingdom of Israel Saul, David, Solomon
  (1050-922BC)
• Prophetic movement
• Temple built in Jerusalem
• Divided Kingdoms N. Israel, S. Judah (922-586BC)
• Prophetic movement
• Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem
• Exile in Babylon (593-538BC)
• Return to Jerusalem Temple rebuilt (538-516BC)
• Covenant renewed with Ezra (445BC)
• Hebrew Bible ends but Canon not yet complete

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Relationship of the Bible to the Ancient Near East
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Genesis

• Basic Structure
• Ch. 1-11 Primeval History (many parallels w/ ANE)
• Ch. 12-50 Epic of the Patriarchs ( Joseph
  novella)
• Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
• Themes
• Promise of Progeny Promise of Land
• Barren Matriarch (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel)
• Right of Primogeniture to Second Born (Cain
  Abel)
• Readings Gen. 1-3, 4, 12, 18, 22

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Rembrandt van Rijn Sacrifice of Abraham, 1634
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Rembrandt van RijnAbraham's Sacrifice, 1655
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Exodus

• Basic Structure
• Ch. 1- Ch. 1531 The Exodus
• Establishes major theme of deliverance
• Ch. 1522 Ch. 40 Covenant at Sinai
• Theme of relationship
• Readings Exodus 1-3, 20

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Deuteronomy

• Basic Structure
• Part One Ch. 16 440 Moses first address
• Part Two Ch. 52- 2868 Moses second address
• Part Three Ch. 292 316 Moses third address
• Part Four Ch. 317-34 Death of Moses
• Deuteronomic Theology
• 1. centralization of worship
• 2. written law is the basis of covenant
• 3. Obedience Reward Disobedience Punishment
• Readings Deuteronomy 61-9

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Prophets (Neviim)

• Former Joshua, Judges, (I-II) Samuel, (I-II)
  Kings
• Latter
• Major Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
• Minor The Twelve (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah,
  Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai,
  Zachariah, Malachi)
• Prophet Greek to speak on behalf of another
• In Hebrew (navi) to speak on behalf of
  another
• THUS prophets deliver words from God
• AND analyze Israels political, social, moral
  and religious principles

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Examples

• Prophetic Call
• Isaiah 61-8 Jeremiah 11-10 Ezekiel 21-33
• Teachings
• Isaiah 51-10 Song of the Vineyard
• Isaiah 5213-5312 Suffering Servant
• Jeremiah 113 21-3 brief vignettes
• Ezekiel 371-15 Valley of Dry Bones

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Writings (Ketuvim)

• Psalms, Proverbs, Job
• The Five Megilloth (Scrolls)
• Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentation, Ecclesiastes,
  Esther
• History(?)
• Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, (I-II) Chronicles

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Job

• Structure
• Ch. 1-2 Prologue Earthly to Heavenly scenes
• Ch. 3 Jobs Lament
• Ch. 4-31 Cycles of Dialogues
• First Cycle 4-14
• Second Cycle 15-21
• Third Cycle 22-31 (Wisdom Poem Ch. 28)
• Ch. 32-37 Speeches of Elihu
• Ch. 38-41 Speeches from the Whirlwind
• Ch. 42 Epilogue

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• Points to Consider
• Job of Prologue/Epilogue vs. Job of Dialogues
• Figure of ha-Satan in Judaic vs. Christian
  tradition
• Jobs friends
• Ending
• Meaning of book of Job Why is their innocent
  human suffering?
• OR Theodicy how do we vindicate Gods
  justice in the face of the existence of evil

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Psalms

• Psalm Greek poem accompanied by music
• Hebrew Tehillim praises
• 150 Psalms
• Content Lamentations, Praises, Wedding,
  Thanksgiving, Ritual, Historical
• Recited by Individuals and/or community
• Uniqueness From mans heart to Gods ears
• Examples Psalm 137 (Historical People in
  Exile)
• Psalm 23 Psalm of Comfort