1. Hebrew History and the Development of the Old Testament

2. Before ca. 2000 B. C. E. Beginnings. Prehistorical ca. 2000-1550 B. C
Before ca B.C.E. Beginnings Prehistorical ca B.C.E Patriarchs ca B.C.E Bondage in Egypt ca B.C.E Exodus and Covenant Making ca B.C.E Wanderings in the Wilderness ca B.C.E Conquest / Settlement of Canaan ca B.C.E Time of the Judges ca B.C.E United Monarchy J/E Source /586 B.C.E Divided Monarchy D, history
Israel fell in 722 B.C.E. Judah fell in 587/586 B.C.E Lamentations
B.C.E Exile in Babylon P Source B.C.E Persian Period Chronicler, Prophets, Wisdom, Psalms B.C.E Hellenistic Period Esther, Daniel B.C.E Maccabean (Hasmonean) Period B.C.E C.E Roman Period Canon established

3. The Composition of the Hebrew Bible: The Old Testament

4. TaNaKh
The TaNaKh is the Hebrew acronym which refers to the Jewish Bible.
The Jewish Bible consists of three parts:
Torah (sometimes called the Five Books of Moses)
Nevi’im (the books of the Prophets)
Ketuvim (or "Writings")

5. Evolution of the Torah 12th-5th c. bce
Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Lay Source
J Source (Jahwist)
E Source (Elohist)
JE Source
P Source (Priestly)

6. Lay Source ca.12th-10th C. bce
Earliest datable material: Song of Deborah (Judges 5), Blessing of Jacob (Genesis 49), Song of Miriam (Exodus 15), Prophecies of Balaam (Numbers 22-24)
Some Mosaic material: refers to Moses in 3rd person, the Book of the Covenant including the Ten Commandments
Oral traditions -- "Some of these Old Testament texts preserve living conditions that may be traced back to the historical situation of the tenth century bc.…” confrontation of the nomadic patriarchal society with the agricultural matriarchal society

7. J Source ca. 950 bce
Core of Genesis, Exodus and Numbers. God is called Jahweh -- "full of joy, confidence and faith”
First version of early Israelite history, probably written during the age of the United Monarchy
Reflects Jerusalem cult -- institutionalized priesthood

8. E Source: ca. 9th C. bce
Collected oral or written version circulated in Northern Israel.
God is called Elohim.
Rejects central monarchy in Jerusalem and its special priestly caste.

9. Collation of JE: oldest material in Genesis, Exodus and Numbers

10. The Prehistoric Myths of Genesis: Etiological Stories
stories of origins and causes
existence and knowledge and ethics

11. The Creation and Fall from Paradise
The Primacy of the Word:
Creation by Command
Michelangelo, The Sistine Chapel

12. Cain and Abel
Prohibition
against murder
Titian, Cain and Abel

13. The Flood: cleansing of evil
Edward Hicks, Noah’s Ark

14. Flood Myths Flood myths are present on every continent
Leeming: “The pattern behind the many forms that the flood myth takes is the archetype of the productive sacrifice…. The flood myth…reminds us that life depends on death, that without death there can be no cycle, no birth.
Floods connected with cleansing, washing away of blunders or evil
Spared survivors are heroes of a new life

15. Ante- Diluvian Post- Diluvian
Blundered creation
Error or evil by mankind
Period of degradation
Sacrifice and thanksgiving
Salvation of survivors
Retreat of gods from intimate relationship with mankind
But: new and renewed relationship between humanity and divine consecrated
Humans must work to live: learned arts and skills for survival

17. Mesopotamian and Hebrew Flood Myths
Gilgamesh text: ca bce
Utnapishtim or Ziusudra
Enlil annoyed by human noise
Ea/Enki warns Utnapishtim in dream of oncoming flood
Boat built in 7 days
Contents: family, kin, animals, craftsmen, gold
6 days and 6 nights of rain and rising water
Ishtar (Inanna) regrets divine council’s decision
Boat lands on Mt. Nisir
Dove, swallow and raven released
Sacrifice and libation
Ishtar’s necklace set in sky as token
Genesis text: ca bce
Noah
God dismayed by evil of mankind
Noah chosen as righteous man
Noah follows God’s directions to build ark
Contents: family, 7 of clean beasts, 2 of unclean
40 days and 40 nights of rain
All mankind perishes except Noah’s family
Ark lands on Mt. Ararat
Raven, dove, dove released
Burnt offerings
Rainbow sent in sky as token of new covenant between God and mankind.

18. The Rainbow: symbol of the covenant between God and mankind
Robert Delaunay, Rainbow

19. P Source 6th C. bce
Final fixed form of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers.
Probably written by group of priests during exile in Babylon, the P source adds:
detailed description of wilderness tabernacle in Exodus
all of Leviticus: worship and priesthood rules
fragments in Numbers.

20. Historical Legends: The Patriarchs and Matriarchs

21. Israelites Arabs Bedouins Edomites Terah of Ur Hagar Sarai/ Sarah
Abram/ Abraham
Keturah
Nahor
Milcah
Haran
Ishmael
Arabs
Bedouins
Isaac
Rebekah
Laban
Lot
Esau/ Edom
Jacob/ Israel
Leah
Rachel
Israelites
Edomites

22. Laurent de la Hyre, Abraham Sacrificing Isaac
Ishmael and Isaac
Covenant against
human sacrifice
Gustave Dore,
The Expulsion of Hagar
Laurent de la Hyre, Abraham Sacrificing Isaac

23. Raphael Sanzio Isaac and Esau
Esau and Jacob
Flinck,
Isaac Blessing Jacob
Bringing them to his father, Jacob said,"Father!" "Yes?" replied Isaac. "Which of my sons are you?" Jacob answered his father: "I am Esau, your first-born. I did as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your special blessing." (Gen 27:18-19)
So Jacob moved up closer to his father. When Isaac felt him, he said, "Although the voice is Jacob's, the hands are Esau's." (He failed to identify him because his hands were hairy, like those of his brother Esau; so in the end he gave him his blessing.) (Gen 27:22-23)
"May God give to you of the dew of the heavens, and of the fertility of the earth abundance of grain and wine. Let people serve you, and nations pay you homage. Be master of your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you." (Gen 27:28-29)
When Isaac explained, "Your brother came here by a ruse and carried off your blessing," Esau exclaimed, "He has been well named Jacob! He has now supplanted me twice! First he took away my birthright, and now he has taken away my blessing." Then he pleaded, "Haven't you saved a blessing for me?" Isaac replied," I have already appointed him your master, and I have assigned to him all his kinsmen as his slaves; besides, I have enriched him with grain and wine. What then can I do for you, son?" But Esau urged his father,"Have you only one blessing, father? Bless me too!" Isaac, however, made no reply; and Esau wept aloud. (Gen 27:35-38)
Raphael Sanzio Isaac and Esau

24. Jacob’s Ladder: Jacob becomes Israel
Wm Blake Jacob’s Ladder
Dore, Jacob Wrestlling with the Angel

25. The Twelve Tribes of Israel

26. Zilpah Leah Jacob/Israel Rachel Bilbah
1) Reuben 2) Simeon ) Levi 4) Judah
5) Dan ) Naphtali
7) Gad ) Asher
9) Issachar )Zebulon 11)Dinah
12) Joseph 13) Benjamin

27. Joseph and his Brothers
Raphael Sanzio The Dreams of Joseph
Von Cornelius
Joseph Recognized by His Brothers

28. Stories of Brothers in Genesis
Cain and Abel
Isaac and Ishmael
Jacob and Esau
Joseph and his Brothers

29. Canaan > Egypt > Canaan/Israel: The Israelites
Abraham: Ur of the Chaldeans > Egypt > Canaan
Canaan > Egypt > Canaan/Israel: The Israelites

30. Raphael Sanzio, Crossing the Red Sea
Exodus from Egypt
Raphael Sanzio, Crossing the Red Sea

31. Leviticus:THE LAW

33. The Pentateuch The Torah
Genesis Exodus Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy

34. D Source and Religious Revival 7th-6th c. bce
Deuteronomy: old book found in temple in 622 bce -- caused religious revival and inspired writing of the history of Israel in Palestine: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings. History finished c bce

35. Joshua
J. James Tissot The Seven Trumpets of Jericho

36. Judges
Andrea Mantegna Samson and Delilah

37. J. James Tissot, Ruth Gleaning

38. I and II Samuel
F. W. W. Tohpahm Hannah, Eli and the Infant Samuel

39. Raphael Sanzio,
Samuel Anoints David
KINGS I

40. Raphael Sanzio,
The Judgement of Solomon
Kings II

41. Teleological Orientation
Teleology: being directed toward a definite end or having an ultimate purpose
Importance of historical consciousness – especially the history of the chosen people of God: the Hebrews and their ongoing relationship with God
Israel evolved from nation ruled by Judges to one ruled by Kings: Saul, David, Solomon
Prophets proclaimed God’s word and operated as voices of conscience to the kings

42. Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem
Lamentations: poetic laments about the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 bce
Rembrandt
Jeremiah Lamenting the
Destruction of Jerusalem

43. Chronicler 4th c. bce
Worked from older sources about the history of Judah:
I & II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah
Completed for small Jewish community struggling to regroup after Babylonian exile

44. post-exilic collection of poems dating from the 9th c. bce and earlier
Song of Songs
post-exilic collection of poems dating from the 9th c. bce and earlier
Raphael Sanzio, Solomon and Sheba

45. Prophetic Books 4th C. bce
4 large scrolls Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 12 lesser Prophets
Collections of sermons gathered by the prophets' disciples

46. Michelangelo The Sistine Chapel: Jeremiah The Sistine Chapel: Isaiah

47. Psalms
devotional poetry and hymns composed 10th-5th c. bce, collated in 4th c. bce

48. Wisdom Literature 4th c. bce
Proverbs:
Collated 4th c. bce
Traditional wisdom sayings
Sharp, epigrammatic
Widespread throughout the region -- comparable to Egyptian "Wisdom of Amenemope"
Job:
4th C. bce text of older stories
Prose introduction and conclusion framing poetic dialogue
Prose and poetry by different authors
Ecclesiastes : c. 300 bce

49. Illustrations to the Book of Job
William Blake
Illustrations to the Book of Job

50. 3rd c. bce Legend set in Persian Empire
Esther
3rd c. bce Legend set in Persian Empire

51. Legend set during 6th C. bce Babylonian captivity
Daniel
164 bce
Legend set during 6th C. bce Babylonian captivity

52. THE CANON 1st c. ce
Many books written from the 4th-1st c. bce leading to much discussion about the "canon." Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs long debated.
Rabbinic Council of Jamnia 90 ce: Set the canonical text of the Hebrew Bible -- accepted as the Old Testament by Christian Churches.

53. Apocrypha
Disputed books that remain part of the traditional literature, but not the canonical sacred text.

54. Major Biblical Historical Periods

55. Before ca. 2000 B. C. E. Beginnings. Prehistorical ca. 2000-1550 B. C
Before ca B.C.E. Beginnings Prehistorical ca B.C.E Patriarchs ca B.C.E Bondage in Egypt ca B.C.E Exodus and Covenant Making ca B.C.E Wanderings in the Wilderness ca B.C.E Conquest / Settlement of Canaan ca B.C.E Time of the Judges ca B.C.E United Monarchy J/E Source /586 B.C.E Divided Monarchy D, history
Israel fell in 722 B.C.E. Judah fell in 587/586 B.C.E Lamentations
B.C.E Exile in Babylon P Source B.C.E Persian Period Chronicler, Prophets, Wisdom, Psalms B.C.E Hellenistic Period Esther, Daniel B.C.E Maccabean (Hasmonean) Period B.C.E C.E Roman Period Canon established

56. Sources:
Beltz, Walter. God and the Gods: Myths of the Bible Trans. Peter Heinegg. NY: Penguin, 1983.
Wright, G. Ernest and Reginald Fuller. The Book of the Acts of God: Contemporary Scholarship Interprets the Bible Rpt. NY: Doubleday/ Anchor, 1960.