The Old Testament: Structure and Content (PDF)

The Structure and the Content of Hebrew Bible 1 Agenda • What is Hebrew Bible? • The structure of Hebrew Bible • The contents of Hebrew Bible 2 Agenda • What is Hebrew bible? • The structure of Hebrew Bible • The contents of Hebrew Bible 3 Hebrew Bible = The Old testament ? • Testament come...

The Structure and the Content of Hebrew Bible 1 Agenda • What is Hebrew Bible? • The structure of Hebrew Bible • The contents of Hebrew Bible 2 Agenda • What is Hebrew bible? • The structure of Hebrew Bible • The contents of Hebrew Bible 3 Hebrew Bible = The Old testament ? • Testament comes from Latin word ’testamentum’ . • The meanings are will, testimony and especially is used as ‘covenant’ when describe the name of the bible. • The name "Old Testament" reflects Christianity's understanding of New Covenant to replace the existing covenant between God and Israel. • The emphasis, however, has shifted from Judaism's understanding of the covenant as a racially or tribally based pledge between God and the Jewish people, to one between God and any person of faith who is "in Christ". 4 The Bible • The word of ‘Bible’ comes from Koine Greek τὰ βιβλία. ('the books’) • Christian bible is composed of Old Testament and New Testament. OT NT Language Hebrew, Aramic, Greek Koine Greek The number of books 39 or 51 or 54 27 The kinds of books* Pentateuch** Historical Books Prophets Wisdom Books Gospels Letters Others * In case of OT, Alexandrian Canon ** Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy 5 Old manuscripts of Hebrew Bible • The Old testament was passed down orally. • It also was written in consonants only, with no vowels. • Masoretic Text • Masoretes developed the vowel system at AD. 8 cent. 6 Dead sea(Qumran) Scrolls • The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered between 1946 and 1956, at the Qumran Caves on the northern shore of the Dead Sea. • Dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE. • It is the oldest manuscript of Old testament. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltnnvJEg2DA&t=12s 7 8 Agenda • What is Hebrew Bible? • The structure of Hebrew bible • The contents of Hebrew bible 9 The structure of Hebrew Bible according to the religious traditions Category Hebrew (24 books)* Roman Catholic (51 books) Eastern Orthodoxy (54 books) Protestant (39 books) Torah(Instruction) =Pentateuch Nebim(prophets) Ketubim(writings) Pentateuch Historical Books Prophetic Books Wisdom Books Same as Left Same as Left 12 books (Wisdom of Solomon, Maccabees. etc.,) 12 books + 3books (Esdras 1 & 3, Maccabees 4) None Apocrypha*** None * The 24 books of the Hebrew Bible are the same as the 39 books of the Protestant Old Testament, only divided and ordered differently. **Canon: a list of books that are considered to be part of a religion’s official text Apocrypha: biblical or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon of bible 10 Agenda • What is Hebrew bible? • The structure of Hebrew bible • The contents of Hebrew bible 11 Principal periods of the history of Israel Periods 1. Nomadic antiquity Dates 15th(?)- 13th cent. Events Promise to the patriarchs Liberation from Egypt Revelation at Sinai 12 Genesis(creation, origin) • Primeval history • Patriarchal history • God created the world not only human and but universe.(creator and creation) • Humans are inherently limited. • Covenant: God promised Israel the land of Canaan and the multiplication of their descendants. From Wikiart, Giulio Clovio 13 Exodus(escape from Egypt) • God’s salvation of Israel from slavery in Egypt • The Ten commandants • Monotheism • Covenant between God and Israel Nicolas Poussin Rembrandt 14 Principal periods of the history of Israel Periods Dates Events 2. Early period 12th -11th cent. Settlement before the state Development of the country Age of the Judges Tribal confederation 15 Judges • Judges serve as charismatic leaders of the tribes of Israel, both as judges and as military leaders in times of foreign invasion. • Idolatry of Israel → Punishment from God → repentance of Israel → God’s salvation of Israel through Judges • Deborah is the only female judge among 12 judges. Salomon de Bray 16 Principal periods of the history of Israel Periods Dates Events 3. Period of the monarchy Period of the united kingdoms ca. 1000 Saul David(capital at Jerusalem) Solomon(building of the temple) So-called dividing of the realm(first firm date in the history of Israel) Period of the divided kingdoms: 926 northern kingdom of Israel, southern kingdom of Judah Pressure from Arameans (esp. 850800) Assyrian domination(ca. 750-63) ca.733 732 Period of Judah Babylonian domination (from 605) 722 Syro-Ephraimite war against Judah Israel loses territory and conquest of Samaria by the Assyrians Assyrian siege of Samaria ca. 622 597 Josiah’s reform First destruction of Jerusalem 17 Samuel • The book of Samuel cover Samuel at first part and King David mainly. • The Prophet Nathan rebukes King David(2 Samuel 12). • Kingship of God • God’s providence The Prophet Nathan rebukes King David by Eugene Siberdt 18 Prophets_Amos • Historical background: • Though he came from the southern kingdom of Judah, Amos aimed his prophetic message at the northern kingdom of Israel. • Jeroboam II (c. 781–741 BC), ruler of the Northern kingdom, had rapidly conquered Syria, Moab, and Ammon, and thereby extended his dominions from the source of the Orontes on the north to the Dead Sea on the south. The whole northern empire had enjoyed a long period of peace and security marked by a revival of artistic and commercial development. • Amos denounced the exploitation of the poor and insincere worship.(rightness and justice) 19 Principal periods of the history of Israel Periods Dates Events 4. Exile 587 Final destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians 5. Postexilic period Persian domination(539333) Hellenistic age 539 520-515 333 Babylon falls to the Persians Rebuilding of the temple Alexander the Great(victor over the Persians at the battle of Issus) Rededication of the temple during the Maccabean revolt Conquest of Palestine by the Romans 164 64 20 Psalm(Songs) • Psalm is the collection of songs including Hymn, Lament, Thanksgiving, Royal and Wisdom. • Psalm 137 recalls the time of the captivity in Babylon By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3QxT-w3WMo 21 Take away • Hebrew bible has the different categories and the number of books according to the religious traditions. • Hebrew bible deals with the very wide spectrum of time and locations. • The themes are monotheism, the relation between creator and creature, the covenant between God and human, God’s punishment for human’s disobedience and God’s salvation, and rightness and justice for the poor and vulnerable people. 22