1. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible
Professor Ashley Tate
8/21/17

2. What should we call it?
Tanak
Torah
Old Testament
Hebrew Bible

3. Tanak
T (Torah; lit “teaching” or “instruction”; the first 5 books associated with Moses; the Pentateuch) a
N (Nevi’im; the books of the prophets)
K (Ketuvim; the writings)

4. ✘ B.C. (“Before Christ”) ✔ B.C.E. (“Before the Common Era”)

5. Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.

6. Ancient hebrew manuscript

7. Genesis 1:1-2 NRSV (New Revised Standard Version)
JPS (Jewish Publication Society)
KJV (King James Version)
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
When God began to create heaven and earth – the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water – God said …
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

8. Two views of creation Watery chaos existed before God began to create
Creation out of chaos
Creation out of nothing
Watery chaos existed before God began to create
No matter existed before God began to create
“When God began to create…” (JPS)
“In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth.”
Latin: creatio ex nihilo

9. Genesis 1:26-28
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over…every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’

10. Vocabulary B.C. vs. B.C.E. Tanak Torah Nevi’im Ketuvim Hebrew Bible
Pentateuch
Creatio ex nihilo