Difference between revisions of "Hebrew Bible" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Image:Targum.jpg|right|thumb|265px|11th century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible with [[Targum]]]]
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[[Image:Targum.jpg|right|thumb|265px|An eleventh-century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible.]]
{{dablink|This article is about the term "Hebrew Bible". See also [[Tanakh]] (Jewish term) or [[Old Testament]] (Christian term).}}
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{{dablink|This article is about the term "Hebrew Bible." See also [[Tanakh]] (Jewish term) or [[Old Testament]] (Christian term).}}
'''Hebrew Bible''' : ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: {{hebrew|תנ"ך}}) is a term describing the common portions of the [[Jew]]ish and [[Christian]] [[biblical canon]]s. The term is considered neutral and preferred is preferred academic writing and interfaith settings over "[[Old Testament]]," which hints at the Christian doctrine of [[supersessionism]], in which the "old" covenant of God with the Jews has been made obsolete by the "new" covenant with the Christians. The Jewish term for the Hebrew Bible is "[[Tanakh]]," a Hebrew acronym which is unfamiliar to English speakers and others.
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'''Hebrew Bible''' is a term describing the common portions of the [[Jew]]ish and [[Christian]] [[biblical canon]]s. The term is considered neutral and is preferred in academic writing and interfaith settings over "[[Old Testament]]," which hints at the Christian doctrine of [[supersessionism]], in which the "old" covenant of God with the Jews has been made obsolete by the "new" covenant with the Christians. The Jewish term for the Hebrew Bible is "[[Tanakh]]," a Hebrew [[acronym]] its component parts: the [[Torah]], Prophets, and Writings. Few practicing Jews refer to their scriptures as the "Hebrew Bible," except in academic of interfaith contexts.
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{{toc}}
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The word ''Hebrew'' in the name refers to either or both the [[Hebrew language]] or the [[Jewish]] people who have continuously used the Hebrew language in [[prayer]] and study. The Hebrew Bible" does not encompass the [[deuterocanonical books]], also known as the [[Apocrypha]], which are included in the canon of the [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox]] churches. Although the content of the Hebrew Bible corresponds to the versions of the Old Testament used by [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, it differs from Christian Bibles in terms of the organization and division of books included.
  
The word ''Hebrew'' in the name may refer to either the [[Hebrew language]] or to the [[Jewish]] people who historically used Hebrew as a spoken language, and have continuously used the language in prayer and study. Few practicing Jews, however, refer to the "Hebrew Bible," except in academic of interfaith contexts.
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==Hebrew and Christian bibles==
 +
[[Image:Bibel-1.jpg|thumb|Christian Bibles include the Jewish scriptures but designate them as the "Old" Testament.]]
 +
Objections by Jews and others to the term "Old Testament" is based on a long-standing [[Christianity|Christian]] tradition that the [[covenant]] between God and the Jews was fundamentally inadequate to deal with the problem of [[sin]]. Technically referred to as [[supersessionism]], this attitude dates back to the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]], whose author claimed that God had established His "new covenant" with mankind through Jesus: "By calling this covenant 'new,' He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear" (Hebrews 8:13).
 +
 
 +
The term "[[New Testament]]," was later adopted by the Christian church to refer to their own scriptures and distinguish them from the sacred texts of [[Judaism]], which the church also adopted as its own. Although most Christian denominations today formally reject the idea that God's covenant with the Jews was invalidated by Jesus' priestly ministry, most biblical scholars are sensitive to the historical implications of the term [[Old Testament]] and tend to avoid it in academic writing, as do those involved in interfaith dialog. The Hebrew term [[Tanakh]] is also sometimes used, but is less common than "Hebrew Bible" because of its unfamiliarity to non-experts.
 +
 
 +
The Jewish version of the Hebrew Bible differs from the Christian version in its original [[language]], organization, division, and numbering of its books.
  
Because "Hebrew Bible" refers to the common portions of the Jewish and Christian biblical canons, it does not encompass the [[deuterocanonical books]] which are included in the canon of the [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox]] churches). Thus the term "Hebrew Bible" corresponds most fully to the co-called Old Testament in use by [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations.  
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===Language===
 +
Although the content of Christian and Jewish versions of the Hebrew Bible is virtually the same, different translations are usually involved. Most [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] versions of the [[Tanakh]], as well as [[English language|English]] translations, are based on the Hebrew [[Masoretic text]], while Christian versions or more influenced by the Latin [[Vulgate]] Bible and the Greek [[Septuagint]] (LXX) version. The Septuagint was created by Greek-speaking Jews about the second century B.C.E. in [[Alexandria]], Egypt. It was widely used by [[diaspora]]n Jews in the Greek and Roman world, but is influenced by the Greek language and philosophical concepts and was thus not preferred by rabbinical tradition. The Vulgate was created mostly by [[St. Jerome]] in the fifth century C.E., based on both Hebrew and Greek texts. The Masoretic is a purely Hebrew text.
  
==Hebrew and Christian bibles==
+
Comparative study of the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew versions in recent centuries has produced useful insights, and the discovery of the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] in the twentieth century—including nearly the entire corpus of the [[Tanakh]]—have provided scholars with yet another ancient scriptural tradition. Comparisons of various texts and manuscripts are often included in footnotes in contemporary translations of the texts.
Objections by Jews and others to the term "Old Testament" is based on a long-standing Christian tradition that the covenant between God and the Jews was fundamentally flawed. Technically referred to as [[supersessionism]], this attitude dates back to the [[Epistle of the Hebrews]], whose author claimed that God had established His "new covenant" with mankind through Jesus, and that "By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear" (Hebrews 8:13). The term "[[New Testament]]," referring to this covenant, was later adopted by the Christian church to refer to their own scriptures and distinguish them from the sacred text of Judaism, which the church also adopted as their own. Although most Christian denominations toady formally reject the idea that God's covenant with the Jews is invalidated by Jesus, most biblical scholars are sensitive to the historical implications of the term [[Old Testament]] and tend to avoid it in academic writing, as to those involved in interfaith dialog. The Hebrew term [[Tanak]] is also sometimes used, but is less common that Hebrew Bible because of its unfamiliarity to non-experts.
+
 
 +
===Organization===
 +
In terms of organization, Christian versions of the Hebrew Bible use a different order and division of the books than the [[Tanakh]] does. The word ''TaNaKh'', in fact is an [[acronym]] based on the initial [[Hebrew alphabet|Hebrew]] letters of each of the text's three parts:
 +
 
 +
#[[Torah]], meaning "Instruction." Also called the "[[Pentateuch]]" and the "Books of Moses," this part of the Tanakh follows the same order and division of books adopted in the Christian version.
 +
#[[Nevi'im]], meaning "Prophets." The Jewish tradition includes the "historical" books of [[Book of Joshua|Joshua]], [[Books of Kings|Kings]] and [[Books of Samuel|Samuel]] in this category.
 +
#[[Ketuvim]], meaning "Writings." These include this historical writings ([[Ezra]]-[[Nehemiah]] and the [[Books of Chronicles|Book of Chronicles]]); wisdom books ([[Job]], [[Ecclesiastes]] and [[Proverbs]]); [[poetry]] (Psalms, Lamentations and the Song of Solomon); and biographies (Ruth, Esther and Daniel).
  
The Jewish versions of the [[Hebrew Bible]] differs from the Christian version somewhat in its organization. However, its content is virtually the same, except that different translations may be involved. Most Hebrew versions of the [[Tanakh]], as well as English translations, are based on the Hebrew Masoretic text, while Christian versions tend to be based on the [[Greek Septuagint]] (LXX) version. The Septuagint is actually the more ancient version, being created by Greek-speaking Jews in the late second century B.C.E. It was widely used by diasporan Jews in the Greek and Roman world, but is influenced by Greek language and philosophical concepts and was thus not preferred by rabbinical tradition.
+
The organization of this material in Christian Bibles places the ''Prophets'' after the writings and includes the [[Book of Daniel]] with the Prophets, placing it after [[Ezekiel]]. In addition, it groups ''Chronicles'' with ''Kings'' rather than considering it one of the Writings. The result is, among other things, that the last book of the Christian version is [[Malachi]], while the last book of the Jewish version is ''Chronicles''.
  
In terms of organization, Christian versions of the Hebrew Bible use a different order than the Tanakh does. ''Tanakh'', in fact is  an [[acronym]]  based on the initial [[Hebrew alphabet|Hebrew]] letters of each of the text's three parts:
+
===Numbering===
 +
[[Image:Crop Book of Isaiah 2006-06-06.jpg|thumb|200px|A Christian Bible, opened to the Book of Isaiah in the "Old Testament."]]
 +
The number of books also differs: 24 in the Jewish version and 39 in the Christian, due to the fact that some books which are united in Jewish tradition are divided in the Christian tradition.
  
#[[Torah], meaning "Instruction".  Also called the "[[Pentateuch]]" and the "Books of Moses," this part of the Tanakh follows the same order adopted in the Christian version.
+
Also, older Jewish versions of the Bible do not contain chapter and verse designations. Nevertheless, these are noted in modern editions so that verses may be easily located and cited. Although ''Samuel'', ''Kings'', and ''Chronicles'' remain as one book each, chapters of these books often stipulate "I or II" to prevent confusion, since the chapter numbering for these books follows their partition in the Christian textual tradition.  
#[[Nevi'im]], meaning "Prophets." The Jewish tradition includes the "historical" books of [[Books of Kings|Kings]] and [[Books of Samuel|Samuel]] in this category.
 
#[[Ketuvim]], meaning "Writings." These include this historical writings (Ezra, the [[Books of Chronicles]] and [[Nehemiah]]) in one section; wisdom books ([[Job]], [[Ecclesiastes]] and [[Proverbs]]) in another; poetry (Psalms, Lamentations and the Song of Solomon) in a third, and lastly biogrphies (Ruth, Esther and Daniel).
 
  
The organization of this material in Christian Bibles places the ''Prophets'' after the writings and includes Daniel as one of the prophets, placing it after Ezekiel. In addition, it separates ''Samuel'', ''Kings'', and ''Chronicles'' from the Prophets and places them after the Pentateuch. The result is that the last book of the Christian version is Malachi, while the last book of the Jewish version is
+
The adoption of the Christian chapter divisions by Jews began in the late middle ages in [[Spain]], partially in the context of forced debates with priests in [[Europe]]. Nevertheless, because it proved useful this convention continued to be included by Jews in most Hebrew editions of the biblical books.
  
 +
===Apocrypha===
 +
Finally, the [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] "Old Testament" contains six books not included in the Tanakh, as well as material included in the books of Daniel, Esther, and other books which does not appear in the Hebrew Bible. Known usually as the [[Apocrypha]], their technical term is the [[deuterocanonical books|deuterocanonical]] books (literally "canonized secondly" meaning canonized later).
  
 +
Early editions of the [[King James Version]] of the Bible in English also included them. These books as also known as "intratestimental literature," due to their being written after the time of the [[prophets]] but before the time of [[Jesus]].
  
The number of books also differs: 24 in the Jewish version and 39 in the Christian, due to the fact that some books which are united in Jewish tradition are divided divided in the Christian tradition.
+
[[Image:Aleppo Codex (Deut).jpg|thumb|200px|A page from the [[Aleppo Codex]] of the Masoretic text, tenth century C.E.]]
  
Finally, the [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] "Old Testament" contains six books not included in the Tanakh. Known usually as the [[Apocrypha]], their technical term is the [[deuterocanonical books|deuterocanonical]] books (literally "canonized secondly" meaning canonized later). These book as also known as "intratestimental literature," due to their being written after the time of the [[prophets]] but before the time of [[Jesus]]. In some Christian Bibles, ''Daniel'' and ''Esther'' sometimes include extra [[deuterocanonical books|deuterocanonical]] material that is not included in either the Jewish or most [[Protestant]] canons.
+
==Canonization==
 +
Although the [[Sadducees]] and [[Pharisees]] of the first century C.E. disagreed on much, they seem to have agreed that certain scriptures were to be considered sacred. Some Pharisees developed a tradition requiring that one's hands be washed after handling sacred scriptures. The introduction of this custom would naturally tend to fix the limits of the canon, for only contact with books that were actually used or regarded as fit for use in the [[synagogue]] would demand such a washing of the hands. What was read in public worship constituted the canon.
  
==Chapters and verses==
+
Among the works eliminated by this process were many of the writings that maintained their place in the Alexandrian Jewish tradition, having been brought to Egypt and translated from the original Hebrew or Aramaic, such as [[Baruch]], [[Sirach]], [[I Maccabees]], [[Tobit]] and [[Judith]]; as well works such as the [[Book of Jubilees]], [[Psalms of Solomon]], [[Assumption of Moses]], and the [[Apocalypse]]s of Enoch, Noah, Baruch, Ezra, and others. Some of these works, meanwhile had gained acceptance in Christian circles and were thus adopted as the [[Apocrypha]], while losing their place of spiritual significance among all but a few Jewish readers until recently.<ref>These canonical Christian Apocrypha of the Old Testament, however, should not be confused with the [[New Testament Apocrypha]]. The latter include works of both orthodox and heretical writers, while the former are all deemed worthy of Christian readers by Catholic and Orthodox tradition.</ref>
Older Jewish versions of the Bible do not contain chapter and verse designation. Nevertheless, they are noted in modern editions so that verses may be easily located and cited. Although Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles remain as one book each, chapters of these book often stipulate "I or II" to prevent confusion, since the chapter numbering for these books follows their partition in the Christian textual tradition.  
 
  
The adoption of the Christian chapter divisions by Jews began in the late middle ages in [[Spain]], partially in the context of forced debates with priests in Europe. Nevertheless, because it proved useful this convention continued to be included by Jews in most Hebrew editions of the biblical books.
 
 
==Order of the books of the Tanakh==
 
==Order of the books of the Tanakh==
 +
[[Image:Codex Vaticanus B, 2Thess. 3,11-18, Hebr. 1,1-2,2.jpg|thumb|250px|A page from the Codex Vaticanus, a near-complete version of the Septuagint version of the Hebrew Bible, fourth century C.E., including several of the Apocryha.]]
 
===Torah===
 
===Torah===
*[[Genesis (Old Testament)|Genesis]]
+
*[[Genesis]]  
 
*[[Exodus]]  
 
*[[Exodus]]  
 
*[[Leviticus]]
 
*[[Leviticus]]
 
*[[Book of Numbers|Numbers]]  
 
*[[Book of Numbers|Numbers]]  
 
*[[Deuteronomy]]
 
*[[Deuteronomy]]
===Propehts===
+
===Prophets===
 
*[[Book of Joshua|Joshua]]  
 
*[[Book of Joshua|Joshua]]  
 
*[[Book of Judges|Judges]]  
 
*[[Book of Judges|Judges]]  
*[Books of Samuel|Samuel]] (I & II)
+
*[[Books of Samuel]] (I & II)
 
*[[Books of Kings|Kings]] (I & II)  
 
*[[Books of Kings|Kings]] (I & II)  
 
*[[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]]  
 
*[[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]]  
Line 59: Line 77:
 
*[[Ezra]]-[[Nehemiah]]  
 
*[[Ezra]]-[[Nehemiah]]  
 
*[[Books of Chronicles|Chronicles]] (I & II)
 
*[[Books of Chronicles|Chronicles]] (I & II)
 +
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
* [[Books of the Bible]]
+
* [[Tanakh]]
 +
* [[Torah]]
 
* [[Masoretic Text]]
 
* [[Masoretic Text]]
* [[Torah]]
 
* [[Bible]]
 
 
* [[Biblical canon]]
 
* [[Biblical canon]]
 
* [[Rabbinic literature]]
 
* [[Rabbinic literature]]
 
* [[Septuagint]]
 
* [[Septuagint]]
* [[Table of books of Judeo-Christian Scripture]]
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* [[Non-canonical books referenced in the Bible]]
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==Notes==
=== Online texts ===
+
<references/>
* Download the complete Tanakh in Hebrew with translation and transliteration [http://www.levsoftware.com/bible.htm Lev Software]
+
 
* [[Mikraot Gedolot]] (Rabbinic Bible) at '''[[:s:|Wikisource]]''' in [[:s:Mikraot Gedolot|English]] [[:wikisource:MG Genesis 1:1|(sample)]] and [[:s:he:מקראות גדולות|Hebrew]] [[:s:he:מ"ג נחמיה ח ח|(sample)]]
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==References==
* [http://www.tanakhml.org TanakhML] ([[Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia]] and [[King James Version]])
+
*Boadt, Lawrence, Helga B. Croner, and Leon Klenicki. ''Biblical Studies, Meeting Ground of Jews and Christians''. Studies in Judaism and Christianity. New York: Paulist Press, 1980. ISBN 9780809123445
* [http://www.tanach.us/Tanach.xml Unicode/XML Westminster Leningrad Codex] - A transcription of the electronic source maintained by the Westminster Hebrew Institute. ([[Leningrad Codex]])
+
*Collins, John Joseph. ''Introduction to the Hebrew Bible''. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2004. ISBN 9780800629915
* [http://bible.palconit.com/holy_tanakh/index.htm Holy Tanakh] - English version of the Holy Tanakh
+
*Rabin, Elliott. ''Understanding the Hebrew Bible: A Reader's Guide''. Jersey City, N.J.: KTAV, 2006. ISBN 9780881258714
* [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/ Mechon Mamre] - The Hebrew text of the Tanakh based on the [[Aleppo codex]], edited according to the system of Rabbi [[Mordechai Breuer]].  Hebrew text comes in four convenient versions (including one with [[cantillation]] marks) and may be downloaded.  The [[JPS]] 1917 English translation is included as well (including a parallel translation).
+
*Toorn, K. van der. ''Scribal Culture and the Making of the Hebrew Bible''. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 2007.
* [http://liturgy.exc.com Tanach on Demand] - Custom [[PDF]] versions of any section of the Bible in Hebrew.
+
 
=== Reading guides ===
+
== External links ==
* [http://www.tora.us.fm/tnk1/klli/limud/skadish/tanakh-index.html A Guide to Reading Nevi'im and Ketuvim] - Detailed Hebrew outlines of the biblical books based on the natural flow of the text (rather than the [[Bible#Chapters and Verses|chapter divisions]]).  The outlines include a daily study-cycle, and the explanatory material is in English.
+
All links retrieved December 12, 2017.
* [http://www.threetwoone.org/diagrams/HebrewBibleOutlinePresentation.gif A detailed chart of the major figures and events in the Tanakh]
+
 
*[http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=63255 Judaica Press Translation] (online translation of Tanakh and [[Rashi]]'s entire commentary)
+
* [http://www.tanach.us/Tanach.xml Unicode/XML Westminster Leningrad Codex] ''www.tanach.us''
 +
* [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/ Aleppo Codex] ''www.mechon-mamre.org''
 +
*[http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=63255 Judaica Press Translation] (online translation of Tanakh and Rashi's entire commentary) ''www.chabad.org''
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[[Category:Religion]]
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[[Category:History]]
  
 
{{credit|98569221}}
 
{{credit|98569221}}

Latest revision as of 17:35, 12 December 2017

An eleventh-century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible.

Hebrew Bible is a term describing the common portions of the Jewish and Christian biblical canons. The term is considered neutral and is preferred in academic writing and interfaith settings over "Old Testament," which hints at the Christian doctrine of supersessionism, in which the "old" covenant of God with the Jews has been made obsolete by the "new" covenant with the Christians. The Jewish term for the Hebrew Bible is "Tanakh," a Hebrew acronym its component parts: the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. Few practicing Jews refer to their scriptures as the "Hebrew Bible," except in academic of interfaith contexts.

The word Hebrew in the name refers to either or both the Hebrew language or the Jewish people who have continuously used the Hebrew language in prayer and study. The Hebrew Bible" does not encompass the deuterocanonical books, also known as the Apocrypha, which are included in the canon of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. Although the content of the Hebrew Bible corresponds to the versions of the Old Testament used by Protestant denominations, it differs from Christian Bibles in terms of the organization and division of books included.

Hebrew and Christian bibles

Christian Bibles include the Jewish scriptures but designate them as the "Old" Testament.

Objections by Jews and others to the term "Old Testament" is based on a long-standing Christian tradition that the covenant between God and the Jews was fundamentally inadequate to deal with the problem of sin. Technically referred to as supersessionism, this attitude dates back to the Epistle to the Hebrews, whose author claimed that God had established His "new covenant" with mankind through Jesus: "By calling this covenant 'new,' He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear" (Hebrews 8:13).

The term "New Testament," was later adopted by the Christian church to refer to their own scriptures and distinguish them from the sacred texts of Judaism, which the church also adopted as its own. Although most Christian denominations today formally reject the idea that God's covenant with the Jews was invalidated by Jesus' priestly ministry, most biblical scholars are sensitive to the historical implications of the term Old Testament and tend to avoid it in academic writing, as do those involved in interfaith dialog. The Hebrew term Tanakh is also sometimes used, but is less common than "Hebrew Bible" because of its unfamiliarity to non-experts.

The Jewish version of the Hebrew Bible differs from the Christian version in its original language, organization, division, and numbering of its books.

Language

Although the content of Christian and Jewish versions of the Hebrew Bible is virtually the same, different translations are usually involved. Most Hebrew versions of the Tanakh, as well as English translations, are based on the Hebrew Masoretic text, while Christian versions or more influenced by the Latin Vulgate Bible and the Greek Septuagint (LXX) version. The Septuagint was created by Greek-speaking Jews about the second century B.C.E. in Alexandria, Egypt. It was widely used by diasporan Jews in the Greek and Roman world, but is influenced by the Greek language and philosophical concepts and was thus not preferred by rabbinical tradition. The Vulgate was created mostly by St. Jerome in the fifth century C.E., based on both Hebrew and Greek texts. The Masoretic is a purely Hebrew text.

Comparative study of the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew versions in recent centuries has produced useful insights, and the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the twentieth century—including nearly the entire corpus of the Tanakh—have provided scholars with yet another ancient scriptural tradition. Comparisons of various texts and manuscripts are often included in footnotes in contemporary translations of the texts.

Organization

In terms of organization, Christian versions of the Hebrew Bible use a different order and division of the books than the Tanakh does. The word TaNaKh, in fact is an acronym based on the initial Hebrew letters of each of the text's three parts:

  1. Torah, meaning "Instruction." Also called the "Pentateuch" and the "Books of Moses," this part of the Tanakh follows the same order and division of books adopted in the Christian version.
  2. Nevi'im, meaning "Prophets." The Jewish tradition includes the "historical" books of Joshua, Kings and Samuel in this category.
  3. Ketuvim, meaning "Writings." These include this historical writings (Ezra-Nehemiah and the Book of Chronicles); wisdom books (Job, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs); poetry (Psalms, Lamentations and the Song of Solomon); and biographies (Ruth, Esther and Daniel).

The organization of this material in Christian Bibles places the Prophets after the writings and includes the Book of Daniel with the Prophets, placing it after Ezekiel. In addition, it groups Chronicles with Kings rather than considering it one of the Writings. The result is, among other things, that the last book of the Christian version is Malachi, while the last book of the Jewish version is Chronicles.

Numbering

A Christian Bible, opened to the Book of Isaiah in the "Old Testament."

The number of books also differs: 24 in the Jewish version and 39 in the Christian, due to the fact that some books which are united in Jewish tradition are divided in the Christian tradition.

Also, older Jewish versions of the Bible do not contain chapter and verse designations. Nevertheless, these are noted in modern editions so that verses may be easily located and cited. Although Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles remain as one book each, chapters of these books often stipulate "I or II" to prevent confusion, since the chapter numbering for these books follows their partition in the Christian textual tradition.

The adoption of the Christian chapter divisions by Jews began in the late middle ages in Spain, partially in the context of forced debates with priests in Europe. Nevertheless, because it proved useful this convention continued to be included by Jews in most Hebrew editions of the biblical books.

Apocrypha

Finally, the Catholic and Orthodox "Old Testament" contains six books not included in the Tanakh, as well as material included in the books of Daniel, Esther, and other books which does not appear in the Hebrew Bible. Known usually as the Apocrypha, their technical term is the deuterocanonical books (literally "canonized secondly" meaning canonized later).

Early editions of the King James Version of the Bible in English also included them. These books as also known as "intratestimental literature," due to their being written after the time of the prophets but before the time of Jesus.

A page from the Aleppo Codex of the Masoretic text, tenth century C.E.

Canonization

Although the Sadducees and Pharisees of the first century C.E. disagreed on much, they seem to have agreed that certain scriptures were to be considered sacred. Some Pharisees developed a tradition requiring that one's hands be washed after handling sacred scriptures. The introduction of this custom would naturally tend to fix the limits of the canon, for only contact with books that were actually used or regarded as fit for use in the synagogue would demand such a washing of the hands. What was read in public worship constituted the canon.

Among the works eliminated by this process were many of the writings that maintained their place in the Alexandrian Jewish tradition, having been brought to Egypt and translated from the original Hebrew or Aramaic, such as Baruch, Sirach, I Maccabees, Tobit and Judith; as well works such as the Book of Jubilees, Psalms of Solomon, Assumption of Moses, and the Apocalypses of Enoch, Noah, Baruch, Ezra, and others. Some of these works, meanwhile had gained acceptance in Christian circles and were thus adopted as the Apocrypha, while losing their place of spiritual significance among all but a few Jewish readers until recently.[1]

Order of the books of the Tanakh

A page from the Codex Vaticanus, a near-complete version of the Septuagint version of the Hebrew Bible, fourth century C.E., including several of the Apocryha.

Torah

Prophets

Writings

See also

Notes

  1. These canonical Christian Apocrypha of the Old Testament, however, should not be confused with the New Testament Apocrypha. The latter include works of both orthodox and heretical writers, while the former are all deemed worthy of Christian readers by Catholic and Orthodox tradition.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Boadt, Lawrence, Helga B. Croner, and Leon Klenicki. Biblical Studies, Meeting Ground of Jews and Christians. Studies in Judaism and Christianity. New York: Paulist Press, 1980. ISBN 9780809123445
  • Collins, John Joseph. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2004. ISBN 9780800629915
  • Rabin, Elliott. Understanding the Hebrew Bible: A Reader's Guide. Jersey City, N.J.: KTAV, 2006. ISBN 9780881258714
  • Toorn, K. van der. Scribal Culture and the Making of the Hebrew Bible. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 2007.

External links

All links retrieved December 12, 2017.

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