diversity of book in different cannons of scripture
all have pentateuch
hebrew and protestant have same number in different order
catholic has 7 additional books and 2 additions and greek orthodox had 9 additional books and 3 additions
difference in order of books in christian OT and hebrew bible
christian: laws, writings, prophets
hebrew: laws, prophets, writing
larger story of old hebrew bible
returning to the homeland
torah
law of god as revealed to moses
first 5 books (pentateuch)
how was the bible inspired
writers inspired (moved by holy spirit) inspired by God (breathed or spoken by God)
former prophets
joshua, judges, 1 & 2 samuel, 1 & 2 kings
read more like historical text than other books of prophecy
role of story of abram and sarai
their descendants chosen to be God’s people to restore earth back to its intended purpose through covenant with God
God will bless them and their descendants if they follow and trust him
shows God’s covenant promise
pentateuch
first 5 books of bible
nomadic people
people who move from one place to another instead of living in one place
God called Abraham and Sarah to do this
abraham’s place in different world religions
islam: friend of God and father of all prophets
ancestor of muhammed
judaism: abraham is father of jewish people
christianity: it is through jesus that abraham is given prominence in christian tradition
long lives of early chapters of genesis
longevity of life decreased due to sin adam --> naoh: 777-969 years noah --> ab: 200-600 years israel: 100-200 years psalms: 70 years
supersessionism
belief that jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God doesn’t have specific future plans for the nation of israel
church is replacement for israel
role of editing in formation of scripture
when texts are translated into different languages translation is interpreted by translator and may contain mistakes or changes
nature of god of OT
forgiving sees, hears, knows and feels, and actos on israelites behalf sovereign powerful/in control grieving destruction of humankind
holiness code
holy: set apart for special use
word holy repeated many times in Leviticus 17-26
creation account of genesis 1
God 7 days used wind and water to create created 6 things humans created in image of God created to have dominion ruah as wind swept over during creation adam refers to humankind creates by command
creation account of genesis 2
Lord God 1 day made from dust of the ground made 4 things created man out of dust with his breath and women from his rib created to till and keep garden ruah as bread to create man adam as first man created out of already existing materials
bibles interaction with other ancient near eastern written material
near eastern treaties resembled the laws given to moses by God (do this because I have delivered you from slavery)
accounts of a flood matching that of flood story in bible
images of god in hebrew bible
KINGAFAP (king almighty god father and protector)
images of god as a mother
images of god as a father
miriam
moses’ sister
watched to make sure he was okay while floating in river and until he was old enough to be taken care of by pharaoh’s daughter
ziggurat
towering edifice with shrine to a divinity at summit
tanak
collection of jewish texts (hebrew bible)
same as christian OT
how often were ten commandments given to israel
given twice in bible
purpose of story of abraham and isaac
god asks abraham to sacrifice only son and abraham obeys but right before the sacrifice abraham is stopped and praised for fearing God and obeying
story shows if we obey God he will bless us
meaning of “myth”
sacred story
not something made up
make up of hebrew bible
law (pentateuch)
prophets
writing
pseudepigraphia
falsely attributed works
texts whose claimed author is not the true author or a work whose real author attributed it to a figure of the past
dead sea scrolls
manuscripts from Qumran community including some OT hebrew manuscripts from 200 CE
found by young shepard boy
includes fragments of every book of the OT except esther
masoretic texts
traditional hebrew text of OT
MT or Heb.
standardized around 100 CE
earliest manuscripts from 800-900 CE
septuagint
greek translation of OT made by greek speaking jews in 250-200 BCE
LXX or greek
role of atrahasis in gilgamesh epic
includes floor story similar to that in genesis
atrahasis like moses
canaanite god of baal
idol Israelites would pray to instead of god
polytheism
elohim
name for God used frequently in the hebrew bible
yahweh
form of the hebrew name for God
name came to be regarded by Jews as too sacred to be spoken and the vowels are left out
order of creation in genesis 1
day and night sky and sea land and plants stars and planets birds and sea creatures land animals
order of creation in genesis 2
man
trees
animals
women
outcome of sin in genesis 3
adam and eve banished from garden
sin and death entered world
reason for adam and eve expulsion from the garden
decieved by satan and ate fruit from tree of knowledge of good and evil
outcome of god’s promise to abraham in genesis 12
promised to give abraham multiple descendents, fame, divine protection and that abraham would be a blessing to all people
god led israelites to promised land but took much longer and second generation
outcome of exodus in taking israel into the wilderness
12 spies to promised land for 40 days ( 10 said no go back to egypt 2 said yes with god’s power)
40 years wandering in wilderness until first generation gone and new generation to go to promised land
culmination of the exodus plagues
pharaoh let israelites go but shortly after followed them to get them back
god parted red sea for israelites to cross
water closed on pharaoh allowing israelites to escape
purpose of first 4 of ten commandements
love the lord with all of you don't make any objects to worship don't take the name of the Lord in vain remember the sabbath first 4 define relationship with God
10 commandments
love the lord with all of you don't make any objects to worship don't take the name of the Lord in vain remember the sabbath honor your mother and father do not murder do not commit adultery do not steal do not bear false witness against your neighbor you shall not covet
function of joseph’s story
sold into slavery, lied about to pharoh and went to prison
brought to pharaoh to interpret his dream and rewarded with overseeing lands of egypt
stored up for predicted famine and when his family came to get food they didn’t recognize him until they were told but joseph forgave them
why did God give food laws in leviticus
not eating certain things set them apart from other people who were not holy, pure, etc
called to be holy people (set apart) so they needed to do things that would set them apart
keep away pagan practices
law code of hammurabi
largest collection of ancient mesopotamian law
resembles many laws given in exodus
oldest hebrew manuscripts of most biblical book are in what collection
dead sea scrolls
babylonian god marduk and watery chaos
created earth and sky by conquering watery chaos
babylonian myth/creation epic