OT1110 – Pentateuch Cameron Howard

(not cannon!)

from the Greek κανών, meaning “measuring rod”

Pentateuch Historical Books Poetry/Wisdom Prophets Apocrypha

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy

Joshua Judges Ruth 1 & 2 Samuel 1 & 2 Kings 1 & 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther

Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon

Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

1 Esdras 2 Esdras Tobit Judith Additions to Esther Wisdom of Solomon Ecclesiasticus (Wisdom of Sirach) Baruch Letter of Jeremiah Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Young Men Susanna Bel and the Dragon Prayer of Manasseh 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees

The name “Septuagint” originally referred to the Greek translation of the Torah in the 3 rd century B.C.E. “The Septuagint” is now the title for the Greek Scriptures first preserved in Alexandria, Egypt. There are many differences between the Greek textual tradition and the Hebrew one. Many are very minor, but others are very significant: For example, the book of Jeremiah is 1/8 shorter in the Greek, and the content is ordered differently.

Torah (Instruction) Nevi’im (Prophets) Ketubim (Writings)

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy

Former Prophets Joshua Judges Samuel Kings Latter Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Book of the Twelve = Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Psalms Proverbs Job Song of Songs Ruth Lamentations Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) Esther Daniel Ezra-Nehemiah Chronicles

Psalms Proverbs Job Song of Songs Ruth Lamentations Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) Esther Daniel Ezra-Nehemiah Chronicles

Psalms Proverbs Job Song of Songs Ruth Lamentations Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) Esther Daniel Ezra-Nehemiah Chronicles

Song of Songs (Passover) Ruth (Shavuot = Festival of Weeks) Lamentations (Ninth of Ab) Qohelet (Sukkot = Festival of Booths) Esther (Purim)

Ibn Ezra (medieval Jewish scholar): Gen 12:6, “the Canaanites were then in the land,” must have been written when the Canaanites weren’t in the land Gen 36:31, “the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites,” must have been written after a king began reigning over the Israelites

Other early observations: How could Moses write about his own death? (Deut 34) Moses seems to have a high opinion of himself! (Deut 34:10-12) In some chunks of text, God is called “Elohim,” in others “YHWH” How many animals went into the ark: two of every kind (Gen 6:19) or seven pairs of clean kinds and one pair of unclean kinds (Gen 7:3)?

Know the following dates! (all B.C.E. = Before the Common Era)

922

722

586

539

515

ca. 330