Unit 1: Genesis

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Unit 1 Genesis

• Chapter 1 Introduction to the Hebrew Bible

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Essential Question

• Why is the Hebrew Scripture important to not only
  the Jews but also to Christians as well?

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I CAN

1. Discover the organization of the Hebrew
   Scriptures
2. Explain important themes and literary devices in
   the Hebrew Scriptures
3. Evaluate the Jewish tradition of Biblical
   Interpretation
4. Analyze the role of the Tanakh in Jewish and in
   Christian Life

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Organization of the Jewish Bible

• Broken into three different sections
• Torah
• Neviim
• Ketuvim

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1) Torah

• First five books of the Hebrew Scripture
• From the Hebrew word teaching
• Greek word Pentateuch meaning five parts
• Central teachings and laws of Judaism
• In geologies has word begat which means was
  the ancestor of

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2) Neviim

• Second part of Hebrew Scriptures from the word
  Prophets
• Within Israel, prophets were the ones who spoke
  on behalf of God.

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3) Ketuvim

• Third and Final part of Hebrew Scripture means
  writings
• These books include many different writing themes
  and literary forms such as prayers, poetry, and
  wise sayings.

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Hebrew Scriptures

• The whole Hebrew Scriptures is known as the
  Tanakh (made up of initial sounds of the Hebrew
  words Torah, Neviim, and Ketuvim
• All share one consistent theme the relationship
  between God and humans, especially the people of
  biblical Israel

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How Jews Read the Hebrew Scriptures

1. Plain Sense- (peshat) looks to the surface and
   meaning of text or words
2. Inquiring- (derash) looks deeper into the
   meaning, such as rabbi or minister
3. Allegorical- (remez) looks for parallels between
   the scriptural text and more abstract concepts
4. Mystical- (sod) biblical text as symbolic code
   that can bring hidden wisdom and personal
   connections

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Christians and the Hebrew Scriptures

• Believe that the Hebrew Scriptures point to Jesus
  Christ and a new covenant established and
  recorded in the New Testament
• Some call it Old Testament, while others call it
  Hebrew Scriptures

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The Name of God

• Names carry enormous power within Hebrew
  tradition
• Exodus 315- personal name of God revealed and is
  the most powerful and sacred of all
• Christians translate it as Yahweh
• Tetragrammation- four letters (YHWH) that make up
  the personal name of God

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Name of God Cont.

• It was to only be spoken in the holy of holies,
  Hebrews substituted its name for Adonai (Lord)
• Jehovah- vowel sounds of Adonai and consonants of
  Yahweh
• Some religious people spell out G-d so as not to
  desecrate his name

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Other Hebrew Writings

• Talmud- comprises both the Mishnah and Gemara,
  both oral law and later elaborations and
  commentaries
• Midrash- A creative interpretation or exposition
  of the meaning of a biblical text

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Midrash
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Hebrew Scriptures in Jewish and Christian Life

• Deuteronomy 6 4-9- Mosess farewell address, sum
  up the centrality of Hebrew Scriptures in Jewish
  identity, faith and daily life.
• Jesus was a Jew
• Most Christian liturgies (structured public
  worship) read from Hebrew texts and sing portion
  of psalms
• Follow the Ten Commandments