Old Testament: Key Concepts

• The Tower of Babel story is the direct opposite of Abrahamic beliefs.

Key Definitions

• Apocrypha: Hidden writings.
• Canon: Originally "reed," later signifying a ruler or measuring stick.
• Covenant: A treaty or testament; the relationship between God and His people.
• Torah: Means "instruction" and is translated as "law."
• Pentateuch: Means "Five Scrolls" of the torah.

Key Documents

• Leningrad Codex: The oldest complete manuscript of the Hebrew Bible.
• Samaritan Pentateuch: The Samaritans' version of the Torah.
• Septuagint: Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
• Targumim: Aramaic paraphrases of the Old Testament.
• Vulgate: Latin translation originally done by Jerome.
• Dead Sea Scrolls: Scrolls containing nearly all of the Old Testament, found in a cave near the Dead Sea in the late 1940s.

Key People

• Adam and Eve: The first man, made from dust, and woman, created from Adam's rib.
• Abraham: God willed him to "leave".
• Isaac: Son of Abraham.
• Jacob: Son of Isaac.
• Joseph: Jacob's favorite son.
• Moses: Led the Israelites from Egypt, received the Ten Commandments.
• Joshua: Moses' successor, led the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Key Places

• Fertile Crescent: Fertile land area in the Middle East from the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates.
• Mt. Sinai/Horeb: The location where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

Hebrew Bible Sections

• Torah: The law, received by Moses, considered authoritative.
• Nevi'im: The Prophets (former and latter).
• Kethuvim: The Writings.

Canonisation Timeline

• Torah fixed by: 400 BC
• Nevi'im fixed by: 200 BC
• Kethuvim fixed by: 100 AD

Bible Book Count

• Hebrew Bible in the Old Testament: 24 books.
• Protestant Bible in the Old Testament: 39 books.
• Roman Catholic Bible in the Old Testament: 39 books + Apocrypha.

Language

• The Old Testament was primarily written in Hebrew.

Genesis: Beginnings

• English and Jewish Title means: "Beginnings," originating from the Septuagint and the first words of Genesis, respectively.
• Genesis 1-11: Primeval History.
• Genesis 12-50: Patriarchal History.
• Purpose: Explains the beginning of the Covenant story.

The Fall

• Intensification of violence and rebellion against God.

Noachic Covenant

• Judgment: God undoing creation in reverse.
• Grace: God preserving His image through Noah, reestablishing the covenant.

Abrahamic Covenant

• Three-fold promise to Abraham: a great nation, a great name, and blessing.
• Royal Land Grant Treaty: King guarantees the land, offers tax relief for obedience and ensures the land stays in the family.
• Circumcision: Signified Abraham's covenant with God.
• The underlying theme to challenges to the covenant: God provides a way for it to continue.
• Climax to the challenges to the covenant: Sacrifice of Isaac

Jacob's Covenant

• Name Change: God's control of his promise.
• Wrestling with God demonstrates: God reassures Jacob of the covenant blessing.

Joseph's Covenant

• Proves that God finds a way for the covenant to continue.

Exodus

• Exodus: Means "the way out."
• Yahweh: "I am who I am."
• Purpose: To explain how the Israelites became slaves and how God delivered them from Egyptian oppression.
• Two Possible Dates: Early date - 1450 BC, Late date - 1250 BC.
• Three Major Events: Deliverance, Covenant, God's Presence.
• Traditional Route: Southern Route.

Exodus - Key Concepts

• "Ten Words": A summary of law based on covenant.
• Ten Words Synonyms: Ten Commandments, Decalogue
• Theological Significance of the "Ten Plagues": a battle between God and false gods.
• The concept of "First Born": Justice being reiterated from Pharaoh killing the firstborn males of Israel.
• Suzerain-Vassal Treaty: Vassal obeys stipulations for protection from Suzerain.
• Tabernacle: Build at Lord's instruction from a pattern shown to Moses

Sinai Covenant

• It means full communion with God where God will dwell among his people

Golden Calf

• Conveyed that the people had broken the covenant but then he restores order

Leviticus - Holiness Code

• The book pertains to the Levites.
• Spatial Gradation: Holiness of people and things dependent on relationship to Holiness of God
• Purpose: Instruct the sinful Hebrew community in holiness for living with and worshiping a holy God.
  • Goal: Holiness.
  • Need: Forgiveness.
• Impact of God's Holiness: Gradation (sacrifices) and Fellowship (communion with God).

Laws

• Apodictic Law: Direct command; unconditional; universal.
• Casuistic law: Example case; conditional; specific as guideline.
• Clean and Unclean law: prevent the unclean from coming in contact with, and contaminating, the clean and holy

Rituals

• Kippur: Removal of sin (expiation).
• Sabbath day: weekly ordinance that reminded Israel Yahweh was the Creator
• Sabbath year: every 7th year the land was to lie fallow
• Jubilee year: every 50th year property reverted back to the families of its original owners
• Overall goal of the sacrificial system: full communion and worship of God
• Priests: Were to present the people in the presence of God by offering sacrifices
• Yom Kippur: Day to commemorate the removal of sin and guilt as Go gives forgiveness

Numbers

• Two numberings appear in the book.
• Significant about the English and Hebrew title: English- From LXX, Hebrew- From first words
• Three Basic Divisions:
  • Ch 1-10 (Sinai- preparing army).
  • Ch 11-25 (wilderness- rebellion).
  • Ch 26-36 (Moab- preparing 2nd army).
• Purpose of census: Battle/conquest and division of land.

Key People in Numbers

• Joshua and Caleb: Spies that showed faith who said God help them re-conquer the promised land
• Balaam: Non-Israelite "seer"
• Balak: King of Moab

Nazarite Vows

• A vow consisting of three parts: No fruit of the vine, No razor on head, and Not touch dead body.

First Army Rebellion

• Entire generation suffered consequences of rebellion because lf their Lack of faith
• Moses' Own Disobedience: Leaders bear greater responsibility.

New Testament Analogy

• Fiery serpent episode provides an analogy for understanding context of John 3:16.

Balaam Covenant

• To make clear to the people that the Lord is committed to Israel and the Abrahamic covenant

Deuteronomy Meaning

• Means "second law"
• Significant about the English title: It's a better translation of the 2nd law and is a restatement of the law for the Israelites
• Structure/outline of the book based on: three speeches that Moses and similar to ANE Suzerain-Vassal Treaty
• Serves as a constitution for the 2nd generation Israelites

Key People in Deuteronomy

• Joshua: Moses' successor
• Significance about identifying with previous generations: People of God viewed as a continuum
• Significance about the Shema it confirms that the essence of the law is love for God and neighbor

The Ten Commandments in the Book of Deuteronomy

• They are given to the 2nd generation

Other Info About Deuteronomy

• Basis of Israel's election: Call of Abraham and stressed in call of Moses and Sinai covenant
• Deuteronomic formula: Obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings judgment

Explore core concepts of the Old Testament: contrasting beliefs, preservation by Masoretes, threefold division (Torah, Nevi'im, Kethuvim), additional books in the Catholic Old Testament, version characteristics, chronological order, covenant significance, and language.