Hebrew Literature Survey PDF

Name: Sheyn Marie C. Lumpay Program/Yr/Section: BSED-English 3A Course: EM 13 - Survey of Afro Asian Literature Topics: 8.1 Introduction to Israel & Hebrew Literature 8.2 Literary Works Bible Genesis Country: Israel Regional location: Middle Eas...

Name: Sheyn Marie C. Lumpay Program/Yr/Section: BSED-English 3A Course: EM 13 - Survey of Afro Asian Literature Topics: 8.1 Introduction to Israel & Hebrew Literature 8.2 Literary Works Bible Genesis Country: Israel Regional location: Middle East, Southwest Asia Bordering countries: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt Water access: Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Jordan River, Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) Geographic size: approximately 290 miles (470 km) from north to south & about 85 miles (135 km) at its widest point Large cities: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Haifa, Jerusalem (capital) Major religions: Judaism, 74.8%, Islam 17.6%, Christianity 2%, Other religions 5.6% Language: Hebrew (official), Arabic (used officially for Arab minority, English (most commonly used foreign language). Political Legal Environment Israel has parliamentary democracy. Benjamin Netanyahu is a prime minister and chairman of ruling party of Likud (the Consolidation) center-right to right-wing political party. The largest opposition party in Israel is Labor Party (Mifleget Ha'Avoda in Hebrew), was established in 1968. Current leader is Yair Golan. Defined as social democratic, Labor has long been the dominant center-left party in Israel. On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency as well as the first prime minister of the country, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel Hebrew is the country's official language The Bible: The Pinnacle of Hebrew Literature Hebrew Literature is one of the oldest and most profound literary traditions in the world, deeply intertwined with the religious, cultural, and historical development of the Jewish people. Hebrew literature refers to the body of written works produced in the Hebrew language, which includes a variety of genres or centuries, Hebrew literature was shaped by the social, spiritual, and political experiences of the Jewish people, with an unparalleled contribution to world literature and human thought.  The Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh, is the most significant work of Hebrew literature. It is considered a sacred text not only in Judaism but also in Christianity and Islam. The Bible is divided into three main sections the Torah (Law), the Nevi'im (Prophets), and the Ketuvim (Writings) Together, these texts offer a comprehensive understanding of the Jewish people's history, religion, and ethical teachings 1. The Torah The Torah is the most revered portion of the Hebrew Bible, often referred to as the first Five Books of Moses. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch, which is Greek for "five books". It is considered to contain the law of God as received by Moses, as well as the creation narrative, the story of the patriarchs, and the legal and moral foundations of Judaism. The Torah covers foundational stories such as the creation of the world, the flood, the Exodus from Egypt, and the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. 2. The Nevi'im The Nevi'im consists of the books of the prophets, which recount the history of Israel from the settlement in the Promised Land to the Babylonian exile. These writings reflect on the moral failures of Israel, the role of prophecy, and the relationship between God and His people. Key figures include Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, whose messages of warning, hope, and repentance still resonate today. 3. The Ketuvim The Ketuvim or "Writings" include diverse works such as the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, and historical books like Ezra and Nehemiah. This section is more eclectic in style and content. ranging from poetry and wisdom literature to apocalyptic visions and stories of individual heroes and struggles. The Psalms, in particular, are known for their lyrical and emotional expressions of faith. Biblical Literary Genres History - history books are meant to describe historical events as they happened in the past they can also instruct and warn examples include genesis, Ruth, and Acts Law - law books tell how God intends the ancient nation of Israel to function religiously, politically, and socially examples include Leviticus and Deuteronomy Wisdom - wisdom books are collections of aphorisms and wise sayings meant to guide the relationship to God and to one another examples include Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes Poetry - poetry books are poetic forms of praise to God or gratitude for his gifts to humanity. examples include Psalms, Song Of Solomon, and Lamentations Prophecy - prophetic books contain predictions of future events. Warnings, and preaching that calls people to repentance and obedience they are at times both hopeful and dreadful predicting God's blessing and woe. Examples include Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi Gospels - gospels are short biographies of Jesus. There are four of them, each written by a different author and for a different purpose: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Epistles - epistles are letters that usually have a section dedicated to teaching truth about God and a section dedicated to telling people how to live in light of that truth Examples include Romans. Titus. Ephesians, Galatians 1 Thessalonians, and 1 Peter Apocalypse - apocalyptic writings are a specific form of prophecy predicting disaster and destruction imagery and symbolism are the primary devices used to communicate their truth examples include Daniel and Revelation. Romance - The Song of Solomon is a vivid example, offering poetic expressions of romantic and passionate love. The story of Ruth and Boaz illustrates loyalty and providence leading to a redemptive union, while Jacob and Rachel's tale in Genesis highlights love’s perseverance. These narratives, along with others like Isaac and Rebekah or Hosea and Gomer, showcase love’s beauty, complexity, and its deeper spiritual significance. The Bible is composed of two major sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is made up of 39 individual books, the New Testament is made up of 27 books. Old Testament 1. Genesis 14. 2 Chronicles 27. Daniel 2. Exodus 15. Ezra 28. Hosea 3. Leviticus 16. Nehemiah 29. Joel 4. Numbers 17. Esther 30. Amos 5. Deuteronomy 18. Job 31. Obadiah 6. Joshua 19. Psalms 32. Jonah 7. Judges 20. Proverbs 33. Micah 8. Ruth 21. Ecclesiastes 34. Nahum 9. 1 Samuel 22. Song of Solomon 35. Habakkuk 10. 2 Samuel 23. Isaiah 36. Zephaniah 11. 1 Kings 24. Jeremiah 37. Haggai 12. 2 Kings 25. Lamentations 38. Zechariah 13. 1 Chronicles 26. Ezekiel 39. Malachi New Testament 1. Matthew 10. Ephesians 19. Hebrews 2. Mark 11. Philippians 20. James 3. Luke 12. Colossians 21. 1 Peter 4. John 13. 1 Thessalonians 22. 2 Peter 5. Acts 14. 2 Thessalonians 23. 1 John 6. Romans 15. 1 Timothy 24. 2 John 7. 1 Corinthians 16. 2 Timothy 25. 3 John 8. 2 Corinthians 17. Titus 26. Jude 9. Galatians 18. Philemon 27. Revelation The Book of Genesis One of the most famous and essential parts of the Hebrew Bible is the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Torah, Genesis, serves as the foundational text for understanding the origins of the world, humanity, and the Jewish people. It opens with the creation of the universe and continues to narrate key events, such as: The Creation Story Genesis begins with God creating the heavens and the earth in six days, followed by the creation of Adam and Eve, the first humans. This narrative sets the stage for many theological discussions about the nature of God, humanity, and the world. 7 Days of Creation Day 1: God created light and separated it from darkness, calling the light day and the darkness night (Gen 1:3–5) Day 2: God created the sky and atmosphere, also known as the firmament (Gen 1:6–8) Day 3: God created the land, seas, plants, and trees (Gen 1:9–13) Day 4: God created the sun, moon, and stars (Gen 1:14–19) Day 5: God created birds and sea creatures (Gen 1:20–23) Day 6: God created land animals and humans, made in the image of God (Gen 1:24–31) Day 7: God rested from his work and made the seventh day holy, known as the Sabbath (Gen 2:1–3) The Fall of Man The story of Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden, which leads to their expulsion, is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. This event introduces the theme of human sin and the need for redemption. The Flood The story of Noah and the Ark depicts God's judgment on a corrupt world and His covenant with humanity to never destroy the earth again by flood. The Patriarchs Genesis also chronicles the lives of the patriarchs-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-who are considered the forefathers of the Israelite nation. Their stories emphasize themes of faith, promise, and the establishment of a covenantal relationship between God and His chosen people. References: (Israel - The World Fact Book, 2017), (Social Etiquette - Denmark in Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, n.d.). (The Israeli Style of Communication-Anglo-List.com, 2016) Central Intelligence Agency. (2017). The world factbook: Israel, Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/is.html