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The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures). Why should we study it? -to understand it on its own merits -to understand it in relation to the New Testament -to recognize its profound impact on history. Texts and Versions Jewish: Torah(Pentateuch),Nevi'im (Prophets),
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The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) Why should we study it? -to understand it on its own merits -to understand it in relation to the New Testament -to recognize its profound impact on history
Texts and Versions Jewish: Torah(Pentateuch),Nevi'im (Prophets), Khetuvim(Writings) Christian: Law, History, Wisdom, Prophecy Catholic versions include 7 books not found in Protestant Bibles unless under the heading of 'Apocrypha' The 7 'deutero-canonical' books: Sirach, Wisdom of Solomon, Tobit, Judith, Baruch, 1 & 2 Maccabees
The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) The Formation of the Pentateuch c. 1800-1400 lived experiences, tribal period c. 1400 – 1200 lived experiences, Egyptian sojourn, early oral cycles c. 1200-1000 lived experiences, settlement period, continued oral traditions, earliest written texts c. 1000-600 continuing oral tradition, J & E textual traditions develop (scribes) c. 600 Deuteronomist , continuing textual development (scribes) c. 550-500 Priestly tradition weaves together extant textual traditions c. 500-300 final redaction of textual traditon
Names of God El – god, singular, family/tribal protector Elohim – god, plural (royal form) El Shaddai – god of the heights, God Most High YHWH – proper name of Israelite god, unpronounced Adonai – LORD, used to refer to YHWH At the time of the patriarchs/matriarchs the Israelites worshipped only YHWH but still accepted that there were other gods. The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures)
The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) The World of the Ancient Israelites Ancient Times Modern Borders
Central Dates to Remember c. 1800 BC Age of Patriarchs c. 1200 BC Exodus 1020 BC United Monarchy 721 BC Assyria conquers Israel 587 BC Babylon conquers Judah 538 BC the Return from Exile 515 BC 2nd Temple period begins The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)
The first Creation Narrative: Gen. 1.1-2.3 Text from the Priestly redactor The Hymn of Creation Separation Population light/dark sun/moon & stars Waters above/below birds/fish land/sea mammals, humanity 'and God saw that it was good', 'on the 7th day He rested' Made in the Divine Image Stewards of Creation Priestly connection to sanctity of Matrimony
The Second Creation Narrative: Gen. 2.4-3.24 Adam, Eve, and the Garden The importance of language ‘man’ (‘adam) and ‘soil’ (‘adamah) name of the garden is reminiscent of both the Akkadian word for ‘steppe’ and the Hebrew word for pleasure naked(‘erummim) and cunning (‘arum) man (ish) and woman (ishah) The words ish (man) and ishah (woman) share the letters alef shin, which spell out eish: fire. The man has a yod within the word ish, and woman has a hey in the word ishah. The yod and hey together spell out the name Yah, referring to the divine Presence.
Gen. 6.5-9.17 Noah and the Flood Gen. 11.1-9 the Tower of Babel
Patriarchs and Matriarchs The Family Tree (c. 2100-1700 BC) Hagar + Abram(Abraham) + Sarai (Sarah) Ishmael Isaac + Rebekah Esau Jacob(Israel) Leah (and Zilpah) + + (Bilhah and) Rachel Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dinah Dan, Napthali Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher Joseph, Benjamin