The Bible as The Bible as Literature: Literature:

The Hebrew The Hebrew BibleBible

BEN52901BEN52901

Class Time: Class Time: Tuesdays 78 Tuesdays 78 (3:30-5:20)(3:30-5:20)

RoomRoom R1006 R1006

The Bible as literatureThe Bible as literatureLiteratureLiterature inin thethe BibleBible: This approach looks for the : This approach looks for the

most beautiful writing. (This is not our approach)most beautiful writing. (This is not our approach)Bible Bible asas literature: literature: the Bible considered in terms of the Bible considered in terms of

its human authors, contemporary subjects and its human authors, contemporary subjects and literary forms, original languages and literary forms, original languages and translations, and development through time as translations, and development through time as an anthology of documents. an anthology of documents.

When we study the Bible When we study the Bible as literatureas literature, it is not , it is not important to think about whether the events important to think about whether the events actually happened or not. What is most actually happened or not. What is most important to think about is important to think about is what did the authors what did the authors think about the events they wrote about and think about the events they wrote about and what did they want their readers to think?what did they want their readers to think?

A Literature ClassA Literature Class

The most important thing for you to The most important thing for you to do in this class is to read the do in this class is to read the assigned reading each week. You can assigned reading each week. You can use Chinese to help you understand, use Chinese to help you understand, but but Read in EnglishRead in English..

Know the Bible language and stories Know the Bible language and stories in English.in English.

The TaNaK The TaNaK (the 3-part (the 3-part Hebrew BibleHebrew Bible))

TTorahorah ( (The LawThe Law, Books of Moses, Pentateuch), Books of Moses, Pentateuch) Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, DeuteronomyGenesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

NNevi’imevi’im ( (The prophetsThe prophets) ) The former prophets: Joshua, Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 KingsThe former prophets: Joshua, Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings The latter prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The scroll of the The latter prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The scroll of the

twelve (Amos, Hosea, Micah, Joel, Otwelve (Amos, Hosea, Micah, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, badiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)

KKethuvimethuvim ( (The WritingsThe Writings) ) (written after exile)(written after exile) Psalms, Job, Proverbs Psalms, Job, Proverbs Ruth, Song of Songs (Song of Solomon), Ecclesiastes, Ruth, Song of Songs (Song of Solomon), Ecclesiastes,

Lamentations, EstherLamentations, Esther Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, 1-2 ChroniclesDaniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, 1-2 Chronicles

Christian Old TestamentChristian Old TestamentPentateuchPentateuch Historical Historical

BooksBooks PoetryPoetry andand WisdomWisdom

PropheticProphetic

BooksBooks GenesisGenesisExodusExodusLeviticusLeviticusNumbersNumbersDeuteronomyDeuteronomy

*Yellow text *Yellow text designates books in designates books in the Roman Catholic the Roman Catholic and Greek and Greek Orthodox Old Orthodox Old TestamentTestament

JoshuaJoshuaJudgesJudgesRuthRuth1 Samuel1 Samuel2 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings1 Kings2 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles1 Chronicles2 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraEzraNehemiahNehemiahTobiasTobiasJudithJudithEstherEsther11 MacabeesMacabees22 MacabeesMacabees

JobJobPsalmsPsalmsProverbsProverbsEcclesiastesEcclesiastesSong of Song of SolomonSolomonWisdomWisdom ofofSolomonSolomonSirachSirach

IsaiahIsaiahJeremiahJeremiahLamentationsLamentationsBaruchBaruchEzekielEzekielDaniel Daniel (additions)(additions)HoseaHoseaJoelJoelAmosAmosObadiahObadiahJonahJonahMicahMicahNahumNahumHabakkukHabakkukZephaniahZephaniahHaggaiHaggaiZechariahZechariahMalachi Malachi

Documentary hypothesisDocumentary hypothesis The view that the Pentateuch and books The view that the Pentateuch and books

immediately following were artfully created immediately following were artfully created by combining a number of older documents by combining a number of older documents into a single, sustained account. into a single, sustained account.

Scholars have come up with 4 discernable Scholars have come up with 4 discernable sources they have named: sources they have named: PP, , JJ, , DD, and , and EE..

The ancient editors who created finished The ancient editors who created finished versions of texts out of earlier materials are versions of texts out of earlier materials are called called redactorsredactors..

P “Priestly” SourceP “Priestly” Source

Scholars think this source was the Scholars think this source was the latest written. latest written.

Concerned particularly with religious Concerned particularly with religious ritual and the regulation of behavior. ritual and the regulation of behavior.

Emphasizes genealogies, formal Emphasizes genealogies, formal language, legal codes, ritual.language, legal codes, ritual.

Opens and closes the Pentateuch.Opens and closes the Pentateuch.

J “Yahwist” sourceJ “Yahwist” source

Scholars think this is the earliest Scholars think this is the earliest sourcesource

characterized by an anthropomorphic characterized by an anthropomorphic view of the deity, whom it designates view of the deity, whom it designates as "Yahweh," (also “Jehovah”) and by as "Yahweh," (also “Jehovah”) and by its fine storytelling and its earthiness.its fine storytelling and its earthiness.

Emphasizes important role of Emphasizes important role of women. women.

D “Deuteronomic” sourceD “Deuteronomic” source

Scholars think this was the third Scholars think this was the third source written.source written.

notable for its declamatory style and notable for its declamatory style and its insistence upon the view that its insistence upon the view that faithfulness brings rewards, faithfulness brings rewards, unfaithfulness brings punishment unfaithfulness brings punishment

Some think this source is almost Some think this source is almost exclusively found in Deuteronomy. exclusively found in Deuteronomy.

E “Elohist” sourceE “Elohist” source

Scholars think this is the second oldest Scholars think this is the second oldest narrative strand.narrative strand.

characterized by its representing the deity, characterized by its representing the deity, whom it designates as "Elohim," as whom it designates as "Elohim," as appearing to humans in dreams and appearing to humans in dreams and through angels through angels

““Elohim,” rather than “Yahweh” is the Elohim,” rather than “Yahweh” is the preferred name of God.preferred name of God.

Often exists as small fragments combined Often exists as small fragments combined closely with J’s narrative.closely with J’s narrative.

Read Genesis 1 and 2Read Genesis 1 and 2

Note the different Note the different versions of the creation versions of the creation story. story.

Name as many Name as many differences as you can.differences as you can.

Especially, note how Especially, note how God is characterized God is characterized differently.differently.

What are his qualities What are his qualities in each account?in each account?

The first chapter of B'reshit, or Genesis, written on an egg in the Israel Museum.

Who wrote the first creation account?Who wrote the first creation account?

Who wrote the second creation Who wrote the second creation account?account?

Reading for next weekReading for next week

What happens repeatedly in almost each What happens repeatedly in almost each of the 4 primeval narratives?of the 4 primeval narratives?

What does the writer want readers to think What does the writer want readers to think about God?about God?

Adam & Eve in the Garden (sin enters world)Adam & Eve in the Garden (sin enters world) Cain & Abel (first murder)Cain & Abel (first murder) Noah (second chance)Noah (second chance) Babel (challenging God)Babel (challenging God)

Also look for two distinct narrative strands in Also look for two distinct narrative strands in the flood story. Who do you think wrote which?the flood story. Who do you think wrote which?

Creation of Adam (1510) Creation of Adam (1510) MICHELANGELO Buonarroti MICHELANGELO Buonarroti Ceiling of the Sistene ChapelCeiling of the Sistene Chapel

paintingpainting