ISRAEL

Geography

• lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Egypt on the west, Syria and Jordan on the east, and Lebanon on the north

INFO

• Land area: 7,849 sq mi (20,329 sq km); total area: 8,019 sq mi (20,770 sq km)Population (2010 est.): 7,353,985 (growth rate: 1.6%); birth rate: 19.5/1000; infant mortality rate: 4.1/1000; life expectancy: 80.8; density per sq km: 319

CAPITAL

• JERUSALEM

The Hebrew Literature

Tanakh

• acronym of the first Hebrew letter• passed on by each generation.

Mishna

• compiled around 200 CE, is the primary rabbinic codification of laws as derived from the Torah.

Talmud

• Collection of treatises which are chiefly dedicated to the laws and legends of the JewsForm is precise terminology and strict logicRegarded as an extensive commentary on the BibleDiscussion is its hallmark.

Historical Development

• The Biblical Period

• Post Biblical Period

• Middle Ages

Biblical Period

• Ancient Hebrew historiographyGreater part of the Bible is history.Written in rhythmic proseProphecy is written on the parallelistic form of poetry.

Post-Biblical Period

• Extension of the Biblical PeriodMany apocryphal and apocalyptic books were patterned after the Biblical prototype.SEPTUAGINT, Greek translation of the Bible, is the cornerstone of the literature of the Jews.Most popular literature is the HALAKAH, from the Hebrew Halak, meaning to go or a rule to go by.Another is the HAGGADAH, from higgid, to tell, talks about folklore, ethics, poetry, and science.

Middle Ages

• Literal interpretation of the KoranAdapted from Western cultures

The Bible

• Most widely read book in the word• Translated into more languages and dialects

than any other.• Collection of sixty-six (seventy-two Catholics)

books.

• The Old Testament • The New Testament• The Apocrypha

The Old Testament

• 1st part of Christian Bible• Made up of thirty-nine books

• History• Prophetic books• Lyric poetry• Drama • Wisdom Literature• Tales

HISTORY

Books of Israel’s Beginnings

• These are the Books of the Law, also known as The Pentateuch. They are the first five books of the Bible and of the Old Testament popularly referred to as the Books of Moses. They are:Genesis

• Exodus• Leviticus• Numbers• Deuteronomy

Historical Books

• These are the books containing a detailed History of Israel and they are the next twelve Old Testament books, namely:Joshua

• Judges• Ruth• 1 Samuel• 2 Samuel• 1 Kings• 2 Kings• 1 Chronicles• 2 Chronicles• Ezra• Nehemiah• Esther

Poetry Books

• These are also known as the Books of Everyday Wisdom or The Writings. They are the next five books, namely:

• Job.• Psalms• Proverbs• Ecclesiastes• Songs of Solomon

Books of the Prophets

• hese are sub divided into two, five Major and 12 Minor Prophets, which end the Old Testament, namely:

Major Prophets• Isaiah• Jeremiah• Lamentations• Ezekiel• Daniel

Minor Prophets• Hosea• Joel• Amos• Obadiah• Jonah• Micah• Nahum• Habakkuk• Zephaniah• Haggai• Zechariah• Malachi

The New Testament

• second part of the Christian Bible• recording the life and teachings of Jesus and

his earliest followers

The Gospels

• Consisting of four books, named after the writers who had been with Jesus.

• Matthew• Mark• Luke• John

History of the Christian (New Testament) Church

• also known as the Acts of the Holy Spirit• Acts of the Apostles

The Epistles

• These are Letters which are divided into two

Pauline Epistles

• Letters written by Paul the Apostle to specified Churches.• Romans• 1 Corinthians• 2 Corinthians• Galatians• Ephesians• Philippians• Colossians• 1 Thessalonians• 2 Thessalonians

General Epistles

• One written to the Jewish Christians in general, believed to be written by the Apostle Paul, but not confirmed by contemporary Bible Scholars

• Hebrew• Seven Letters written to Christians generally, named

after the writers.• James• 1 Peter• 2 Peter• 1 John• 2 John• 3 John• Jude

• THE BOOK OF THE END: This is the last book of the Bible, and of the New Testament, known as The Revelations