The Hebrew BibleThe Hebrew Bible

Ca. 1000-300 BCECa. 1000-300 BCE

The world’s most influential textThe world’s most influential text

The sacred text of JudaismThe sacred text of Judaism

Have inspired two other major world Have inspired two other major world religions: Christianity & Islamreligions: Christianity & Islam

Supremely important cultural and historical Supremely important cultural and historical documents documents

Studying it as literatureStudying it as literature

Narrative techniquesNarrative techniques

ImageryImagery

CharacterizationCharacterization

Point of viewPoint of view

Encompassing rich variety of textsEncompassing rich variety of texts

composed in poetry & prose & mixedcomposed in poetry & prose & mixed

composed not by a single human handcomposed not by a single human hand

Woven together from different periodsWoven together from different periods

types: historical narrative; short storytypes: historical narrative; short story

genealogy; proverbs; lawsgenealogy; proverbs; laws

visionary narrative visionary narrative

lyric poetry lyric poetry

A collage redacted into a single A collage redacted into a single master storymaster story

Often odd contradictions and repetitions in Often odd contradictions and repetitions in the narrative (ex. Noah and the flood)the narrative (ex. Noah and the flood)

Different original strands, each of which haDifferent original strands, each of which has its distinct stylistic features and perspectis its distinct stylistic features and perspectivesves

Ex. The name for God: Ex. The name for God:

---YHWH; Jehovah; Elohim (/e-lō-hēm/)---YHWH; Jehovah; Elohim (/e-lō-hēm/)

Our selections: Genesis and JobOur selections: Genesis and Job

The most important element:The most important element:

---A complex ethical concern with how ---A complex ethical concern with how human human suffering and prosperitysuffering and prosperity come come about and what role God plays in shaping about and what role God plays in shaping human liveshuman lives

A master storyA master story

Sources put together with great skillSources put together with great skill

Result: a text of extraordinary literary, Result: a text of extraordinary literary, philosophical, and theological richnessphilosophical, and theological richness

No easy answers No easy answers

God’s ways are mysteriousGod’s ways are mysterious

Supplementary NotesSupplementary Notes

Torah: (Torah: ( 律法五書律法五書 // 摩西五書摩西五書 ))

Meaning: “instruction; guidance” & “law”Meaning: “instruction; guidance” & “law”Another name: “Pentateuch”—”five scroll”Another name: “Pentateuch”—”five scroll”Artificial divisionArtificial divisionA continuous story: the world A continuous story: the world Jews as focus Jews as focus

--creation of the world--creation of the world--sojourn in Egypt and the exodus--sojourn in Egypt and the exodus--subsequent wandering led by Moses--subsequent wandering led by Moses--Moses’ death before entering the promised--Moses’ death before entering the promised

landland

The Key Concept in Torah--LawsThe Key Concept in Torah--Laws

Given by God to MosesGiven by God to Moses

Passed on by Moses to his peoplePassed on by Moses to his people

Mount SinaiMount Sinai: location of God’s revelation: location of God’s revelation

Contents: Contents:

----Ten CommandmentsTen Commandments: to guide individual: to guide individual

lifelife

--cult & ritual--cult & ritual

The Concept of CovenantThe Concept of Covenant

““Testament”: covenant; contractTestament”: covenant; contractGod’s covenant with: God’s covenant with: --Adam (ancestor of human beings)--Adam (ancestor of human beings)--Abraham & Sarah (the forefathers of--Abraham & Sarah (the forefathers of

Hebrews)Hebrews)--Isaac & Rebekah--Isaac & Rebekah--Jacob & Leah + Rachel--Jacob & Leah + Rachel--Joseph & brothers--Joseph & brothers

After Reading After Reading

God’s mysterious waysGod’s mysterious ways

The relation between human behavior and The relation between human behavior and divine favor is shown to deeply mysteriousdivine favor is shown to deeply mysterious

---Abel over Cain---Abel over Cain---Noah & Abraham over all other humans---Noah & Abraham over all other humans---Isaac over Ishmael---Isaac over Ishmael---Jacob over Esau---Jacob over Esau---Joseph over his brothers---Joseph over his brothers---the Hebrews over other ethnic groups---the Hebrews over other ethnic groups

God’s mysterious waysGod’s mysterious ways

In none of these cases are we given an exIn none of these cases are we given an explanation, let alone a moral justification.planation, let alone a moral justification.

(Why God chose Abram in the first place?)(Why God chose Abram in the first place?)God even allows his favorites, such as JacGod even allows his favorites, such as Jacob, Joseph, and Job, to suffer terrible hardob, Joseph, and Job, to suffer terrible hardship before restoring them to prosperity.ship before restoring them to prosperity.God’s power is the major force in all of huGod’s power is the major force in all of human history.man history.

The Overall Meaning of the Hebrew The Overall Meaning of the Hebrew BibleBible

To show human inadequacy and God’s To show human inadequacy and God’s omnipotence omnipotence