The Hebrew Bible

Flashcards about the Hebrew Bible, its composition, versions, and major themes.

What is the Hebrew Bible?

A collection of twenty-four books written over a period of one thousand years, believed to be established around 450 BCE by the Men of the Great Assembly, although scholars believe canonization occurred between 250-200 BCE.

What are the names for the Hebrew Bible and what does Tanakh stand for?

Tanakh, an acronym based on the content groups of the text: Torah (instructions), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). Christians call it the Old Testament.

What books are included in the Torah?

Genesis through Deuteronomy.

How does the Jewish arrangement of the Hebrew Bible compare to the Christian Bible?

The Jewish arrangement of the Hebrew Bible differs from that of Christians and includes different texts than some Christian denominations.

What are the two versions of the Hebrew Bible discussed?

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint.

What is the Septuagint?

Compiled around 200 BCE for Greek-speaking Jews, differs from the Masoretic Text, accepted by Catholic and Orthodox churches, with extra books often printed as an appendix called the Apocrypha in Protestant churches.

What are some books not included in the Masoretic Text but found in the Septuagint?

Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, 1-4 Maccabees, Prayer of Manasseh.

What is the Masoretic Text?

Compiled in the 2nd century CE, it is regarded in Jewish tradition as the definitive recreation of the lost version put together by the Men of the Great Council.

What is the theme of the Hebrew Bible text?

The special covenant that God bestows upon the Hebrew people, guiding them to the Promised Land, demanding a high degree of ethical behavior in return.

What texts were the first composed in the Hebrew Bible?

The first five books of the Torah, appearing around 950 BCE or later.

What is the Documentary Hypothesis?

The texts are a result of the intertwining of works from writers J, E, D, P, and possibly R.

Who is the Yahwist (J) writer?

Writer who refers to God as YHWH, or Yahweh, presumed to have written most of Genesis. God often intervenes directly.

Who is the Elohist (E) writer?

Writer who uses the word Elohim for God, credited with the final part of Genesis (Joseph), represents the oral tradition of the early Hebrew kingdom.

Who is the Deuteronomist (D) writer?

The most controversial author, some believe wrote only Deuteronomy, while others argue influenced the entire Tanakh; demands allegiance to the Torah and worship in the Jerusalem Temple.

Who is the Priestly Author (P) writer?

Most likely many authors, working after Jerusalem fell, inserting priestly ordinances from the First Temple into the Torah, supporting the temple priesthood's centrality.

What processes have the texts of the Hebrew Bible undergone?

Revision, expansion, editing, and rearrangement.