CHAPTER 3: SURVEYING THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

Formation of the Old Testament• Inspired record of Salvation History prior to the coming of

Jesus Christ• Made up of the Pentateuch, or Torah, and the

Historical, Wisdom, and Prophetic Books• Jewish Bible (Hebrew Scriptures): Torah (“Law”) – the

first 5 books (Pentateuch); Nebiim (Prophets); Ketubim (Writings)

Hebrew Scriptures: TaNaK

• Period of oral traditions: stories, songs, experiences, celebrations of sacred events

• Written stories (950 BC): scribes during Solomon’s reign last of the OT books (around 100 BC)

• Compilations: work of several writers and editors• OT formed over the course of about 900 years

The Old Testament Canon• From the Hebrew word “kaneh” which means standard• The list of books recognized as the genuine and

inspired Holy Scripture• Protestants: accept 39 books as inspired• Catholics: accept 46 books as inspired

• Discrepancy results from which ancient versions of the Hebrew Scriptures are used to form the canons

Babylonian Invasion and deportation to Babylon Dispersed Jews settled in Rome, Athens, Corinth (spoke

Greek) Septuagint: Greek translation of the OT in Egypt (3rd

century BC) Jamnia, Northern Palestine: Jewish scholars met to

consolidate their sacred books (90 AD): dropped 7 books (1 and 2 Maccabees, Judith, Tobit, Baruch, Sirach, and Wisdom)

Deuterocanonical: “second canon” – books in the OT not found in the Hebrew Scriptures; also called apocryphal books (“hidden”)

SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS

• Pentateuch • (Genesis, Exodus,

Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) Moses NOT the author Four different oral traditions (Yahwist, Elohist, Priestly,

Deuteronomic)Genesis: “beginning”; Chapters 1-11 (creation,

sin of Adam and Eve, Flood); last chapters (story of Patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, Esau, Jacob)

Exodus: Central book of the Old Testament; story of the how the Israelites were enslaves by the Egyptian Pharaoh and freed by God

Moses: Name means “to draw”; Theophany of God in the burning bush; Ten Plagues

Passover Event: What did the Israelites have to do to escape the tenth plague?

Kill un unblemished lamb; smear its blood on their doorposts; eat the lamb quickly with bitter herbs and unleavened bread

Wandering in the desert for forty years; manna The Sinai Covenant (Ten Commandments) Instructions for the building of the Arc of the Covenant

and the tabernacle

Leviticus: gets its name from the priests of the tribe of Levi

Laws (247) deal with public worship, animal sacrifices, ritual offerings

Theme: God’s holiness and our need to worship Him with respect and love

Respect for the sacredness of life and God’s presence in ordinary life

Numbers: records the constant “murmurings” of the Israelites in the desert

Theme: God’s faithfulness

Deuteronomy: “Second Law”; sermons by Moses

Theme: obedience and loyalty to God; warns of dire consequences; choose between life and death (sin)

Joshua (“savior”) as successor to Moses; Moses dies

• Historical Books: covers 900 years of history

(1020 BC to 142 BC)• Joshua: led the Israelites

into the Promised Land Theme: God fought for Israel,

and without His help, the

Israelites would never have

settled in Canaan (12 Tribes)

• Judges: local tribal leaders Period of Judges: Apostasy (denial of God); God

disciplining Israelites by allowing them to fall to their enemies; YHWH takes pity and saves the Israelite

Deborah: prophetess who instructed the general Barak in a successful holy war

Gideon: God gave him a woolen fleece to show that He would lead Israel to victory

Samson: fought the Philistines;

strength in his hair

• Book of Ruth: Elimelech and Naomi move from Bethlehem to Moab during

a famine; Sons marry Moabite women; Daughter-in law

Ruth returns to Bethlehem with Naomi Ruth gleaned in the field of Boaz; married Boaz Son named Obed (David’s grandfather) Theme: steadfast love (hesed), loyalty, kindness, the value

of persons

• First and Second Books of Samuel:• Samuel: priest and prophet, last and most

significant judge Samuel’s mother (Hannah – barren) Theme: fidelity to God leads to success; disobedience

leads to disaster Saul chosen as king by lot; disobeyed and lost kingship David: second and greatest of all Israel’s kings Skilled harpist; defeated Goliath (Philistine giant) United the tribes into a single nation Established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital Affair with a married woman (Bethsheba) Annointed Solomon to be his successor

• First and Second Books of Kings:• Death of David and reign of Solomon (wisdom)Construction of the Temple in JerusalemSolomon’s death: kingdom split into two

(North – Israel: South – Judah)

• First and Second Books of Chronicles:• First and Second Books of Samuel and Kings

retold from a priestly perspective

• Ezra and Nehemiah:• Probably the same authors as the First and

Second Books of Chronicles Story after the Babylonian Exile Rebuilding of the Temple Only the tribe of Judah survived (known as Jews)

• Tobit, Judith, and Esther:• Three short novelsTheme: God works in peoples’ lives; God

rewards people who remain faithful

• First and Second Maccabees:• Greek rulers tried to destroy Jewish identity and

impose Greek culture Antiochus (cruelest Greek ruler): desecrated the Jewish

Temple Judas Maccabee (“hammer”); led a rebellion for

religious and political freedom Hanukkah (Festival of Light): celebrates the

rededication of the Temple Roman general Pompey

conquered Palestine in 67BC

The Wisdom Books

• How God works in our daily lives• Instruction on the right way to live

• Book of Job:• Why do bad things happen to good people?• Story of an innocent man (Job); pious, well-off;

non-Jewish God on trial Driving need for answers to human suffering Book of deep consolation for those in grief

Story of God’s mercy Characteristics of Job: patient, honest, devout Selflessness for the love of God Theodicy: an attempt to justify the ways of God to

humans

• Psalms:• “songs sung to a harp” (span 500 years)• Collection of 5 books of poetry (150 songs and

prayers) Thanks, praise, lamentations, royal poetry, lessons Authorship? David (73 psalms) Parallelism: second line restates, contrasts, or

advances the thought of he first line Psalm 117 (shortest) Psalm 119 (longest)

• Proverbs:• Wisdom versus foolishness• A book of short sayings Setting: family, court, school Attributed to Solomon Educating the reader on how to live a moral life Mother to son Father to son Teacher to student Person does the right thing – blessed Person does the wrong thing – punished Theism: an individual stands before God

• Ecclesiastes:• Qoheleth (“preacher”)• Personal, autobiographical in tone• Theme: Enjoy the simple pleasures of life which

are gifts from God 3rd Century BC (Solomon and his successors) Inevitability of death: nothing is permanent “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” All human’s efforts to find happiness apart from God are

without result

• Song of Songs: (Canticle)• Allegorical: God and Israel; God and the

Church• Author: Solomon or dedicated to Solomon Female and male courtship consummated Feminine perspective Language seductive 117 verses

• 1st Century Palestine: sung in taverns• Middle Ages: most copied book by the monks• Alluded to in Revelations 3: 20• Pope John Pope II: Theology of the Body• Messianic Interpretations

• Wisdom:• Deuterocanonical• Author: Jew from Alexandria, Egypt (Greek) Personification Splendor of Divine Wisdom God’s mercy Folly of idolatry Glorious event of Exodus God’s justice is vindicated Chapter 2: Prophecy of Jesus’

Passion Gospel of Matthew: testing,

Suffering Servant

• Sirach (Ecclesiasticus):• Ethical teachings• Single author (Ben Sira – Jewish scribe from

Alexandria) unlike Proverbs• Theme: Wisdom is fear of God (respect) Knowledge of the human heart Distrust of women Disillusionment of experience Fraternal sympathy with the poor and oppressed Connection to the New Testament: Magnificat, description of the seed in

Mark, Messianic interpretations

Timeline of Jewish History

Northern Kingdom (Israel – 10 Tribes)

Year/Event Prophet

860 BC Elijah

Elisha

790 BC Jonah

Hosea

Amos

Conquered by Assyria 722 BC

Southern Kingdom (Judah, Benjamin 2 Tribes)

Year/Event Prophet

750 BC Isaiah

Micah

625 BC Jeremiah

Zephaniah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Obadiah

Conquered by Babylon 586 BC

Ezekiel

Daniel

Persia Conquers Babylon (Exiles Return Home) 520 BC

Haggai

Zechariah

Ezra

Nehemiah

Malachi

334 BC – Greek Conquest

167 BC – Judas Maccabee Revolt

63 BC – Roman Conquest

Prophets

• Nabi (one who speaks for another)• Mouthpiece for God (Speak God’s message to

God’s people) Irresistible call from God Often unpopular Functioned as preachers (Interpreted Mosaic Law to the

nation) Functioned as predictors (Announced coming judgment,

deliverance and events relating to the Messiah) Functioned as watchmen over he people of Israel

Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obediah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habukkak, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, **Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel

Elijah: Northern Kingdom (860 BC)• Next to Moses, greatest of Old Testament

prophets Called down a famine to shock Israel back to fidelity Challenged King Ahab’s pagan prophets to ask their

gods to send a fire to consume a sacrifice Taken to heaven in a whirlwind Viewed as a precursor and partner of the Messiah

• New Testament: Jesus believed to be Elijah Transfiguration (Jesus appears with Moses and Elijah) Jesus Fulfills the Law (represented by Moses) and the

promises of the prophets (represented by Elijah)

• Elisha: succeeded Elijah Performed many miracles Sides with the poor

Jonah: Northern Kingdom (793-750 BC)

• Name means “dove”• Sent to Ninevah (capital of Assyria)• Theme: God of Hebrews has concern for the whole

world; God is sovereign over nature• Key Word: prepared• Only minor prophet ever mentioned by Jesus Allegory Parable Myth

History

Hosea: Northern Kingdom (755-715 BC)• Among the first writing prophets• Influenced Jeremiah• First prophet to use marriage as a metaphor of

the covenant between God and Israel• Cultured upperclass priest; married the prostitute

Gomer Gomer represents the Northern Kingdom; Hosea’s

marital problems represent the adultrous relationship of Israel with polytheistic gods

3 Children: “God Sows”, “Not Pitied”, “Not Mine”

• Theme: steadfast or unfailing love of God for Israel in spite of her unfaithfulness (corruption in moral life both privately and publicly – rebellion against authority, dependence upon human defenses and foreign alliances, corruption of priests, corruption of worship)

• Key Words: harlot, harlotry

Amos: Northern Kingdom (750 BC)• A native of Judah; a herdsman and tender of

sycamore trees• Knowledge of out-of-doors way of life• Name means “to lift a burden”• Theme: worship of God must show itself in

deeds of mercy and justice to the weak and poor

God would come as a warrior to judge the nations that had rebelled against his authority

God would preserve a repentant remnant Had 5 visions

Northern Kingdom • 730 BC: Conquered by Assyria• Lost tribes of Israel (10): intermarried with

peoples of new lands after being exiled by the Assyrians

Isaiah: Southern Kingdom (740-680 BC)• Son of Amoz (influential and distinguished

Jewish family) Well-educated student of international affairs

• Name means “Yahweh is salvation” Evangelical Prophet

Theme: Salvation only by grace,

by the power of God; repentance Chapters 1-39: Called First Isaiah Isaiah as author Compared nation to a vineyard that

God cultivated (needs pruning to keep

it growing)

Chapters 40-55: Second Isaiah or Deutero-Isaiah (555-539 BC)

Author lived in Babylon; compassionate, anonymous Different in language and style from First Isaiah Chapter 53: “Suffering Servant” (Messiah who must

suffer and die for our sins) God chose servant before his birth Chosen One will bring justice Parallels Jesus’ suffering, death, resurrection Chapters 56-66: Third Isaiah (539-500 BC) Written after the Babylonian Exile

Micah: Southern Kingdom (750 BC)• Name means “Who is like God?”• From the country; prophet of the poor and

downtrodden

• Theme: Judgment and restoration• Key Word: hear• Closing Scene: Courtroom God has a controversy with His people, calls the

mountains and hills together to form the jury as He presents His case; Only one verdict – guilty; Scene closes with hope

• First prophet to threaten Judah with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple

Jeremiah: Southern Kingdom (626-586 BC)• Name means “God establishes”• “Weeping Prophet”; “Prophet of Loneliness” Reluctant prophet Commanded not to marry

• Theme: Warning of God’s judgment against sin Story of a Potter: God reshaping

the nation

Chapters 26-45: written by Baruch (friend) after Jeremiah’s death in Egypt

Chapters 46-51: unknown author

Lamentations: Jeremiah as author (586 BC) Mourning over the woes of Judah and the destruction of

Jerusalem People of Judah experiencing starvation and cannibalism Cause: sinful behavior of the people

Zephaniah: Southern Kingdom (630-625 BC)• Name means “Hidden of God”• Noble birth: 4 generations of ancestry mentioned• Theme: Judgment- Coming of the “Day of the

Lord” (nearness)• Key Word: “Day of the Lord” Fire, smoke, darkness, ruin everywhere

Nahum: Southern Kingdom (663 BC)• Name means “comforter”• Theme: God’s judgment on Assyria (written to

comfort Judah) Ninevah will be destroyed

Habakkuk: Southern Kingdom (606 BC)• Name means “One who is embraced”• Priestly background; Member of the Temple

choir• Key Word: faith• Theme: Allow God to be God;

Growth of faith from perplexity and

doubt to absolute trust• Why did God permit increasing evil to

Judah to go unpunished?• How could a Holy God use sinful nations

like Babylon as His source of judgment? Theodicy: a defense of God’s goodness vs. evil

Obadiah: Southern Kingdom (845-400 BC ?)• Name means “servant” or “worshipper of

Yahweh”• Not Jewish but an Edomite (Descendent of

Esau)• Theme: Pride goes before a fall; Being

invulnerable is an illusion Prophecy against Edom

• Shortest Book (21 verses)• Jeremiah familiar with this book

Ezekiel: Southern Kingdom (570 BC)• Name means “God strengthens”• Priest; married• Prophesied to Jews in Babylonian captivity• Influenced by Jeremiah• Visions: God with chariot and 4 winged

creatures (4 faces: lion, ox, eagle, man)

Standing in a field of dry bones Prophesied the building of a new

Temple, a new Jerusalem, the nation’s return

• “Father of Judaism”

Daniel: Southern Kingdom (530 BC)• Name means “God is my judge”• Jewish upper class; taken as a teen to Babylon• Position in King Nebuchadnezzar's court Interpreted dreams of the king• Apocalyptic (predicts the end of the world)• Theme: God as the one true God who judges

and destroys rebellious powers Humility before God

• Respected by King Cyrus (Persia) Envy by companions landed Daniel in the lion’s den

(King Darius)

Haggai: Southern Kingdom (520 BC)• Name means “festival”• Post exilic prophet: encourage the spiritual and

moral life of he remnant Rebuild the Temple and nation

• Theme: God blesses His people when they put Him first

We should not grow weary

in the service of the Lord

• Key Word: house• Second shortest book; simple and direct

Zechariah: Southern Kingdom (520 BC)• Name means “Yahweh remembers” (common

name)• Theme: Encourage remnant from Babylon to

complete their work in rebuilding the Temple• Key Word: Word of the Lord, Lord of Hosts• Messianic figure• Most difficult to interpret• Mention of angels, visions

Malachi: Southern Kingdom (450-400 BC)• Authorship?• Name means “my messenger”• Theme: Sincerity toward God and a holy

manner of life essential in God’s eyes Initial enthusiasm had worn off Worship mechanical,

ritualistic, unspiritual Restore Jews to a

fresh relationship with God Financial abuses,

intermarriage, divorce, corruption of priests

• Key Words: You say• Didactic Method: a running debate

Southern Kingdom• 586 BC: Babylonian Invasion• 538 BC: Persians conquer the Babylonians Remnant returns to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple Refuse the help of Samaritans (Mixed population of

Israelites and Assyrians) Exiles in Egypt, Babylon form synagogues/rabbis

(teachers)

• 334 BC: Greeks conquer the Persians• 167 BC: Judas Maccabee leads rebellion• 63 BC: Romans (General Pompey) conquer

Jews