However this may be, unique elements in the Mosaic code may rightly be regarded as a distinctive Hebrew contribution. But this was not true of Yahweh in his relation to the Hebrew people. Along with the New Testament, it is included in the Bible of Christianity, and it holds a similar place in the religion of Islam, for the followers of Mohammed accept its teachings along with those of the Koran. Written by an ardent admirer of King David, it presents the story of David's kingship in a most favorable light. But as source materials, they must be evaluated in the same way as any other source material. Both books were produced during the eighth century B.C., and both concern conditions that existed in Israel prior to that nation's collapse. Politically, the affairs of the restored state grew steadily worse. It was this body of people that came to be known as the twelve tribes of Israel. Title page of Martin Luther's translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into German, 1534. biblical literature: Old Testament canon, texts, and versions. A complete analysis of the contents of the Old Testament books is a very complex and difficult task, one in which there is no universal agreement among competent scholars. How many of the laws contained in the five books known as the Pentateuch were actually given by Moses is not known. These individual books were not written for the same purpose, nor were they considered to be of equal importance at the times when they were written. In this respect, the real significance of their writings is to be understood, and to judge the value of the Old Testament account of events on the sole basis of either scientific or historical accuracy is a mistake. This new way of life called for a different type of organization among the various tribes, which is why a great assembly was called at Shechem. During the decline of the southern kingdom, many of the great prophets delivered their messages, including Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk. Ezekiel and Deutero-Isaiah (Chapters 40–55 in the Book of Isaiah) are especially significant. The similarity of this law code to the older Babylonian code of Hammurabi has led many scholars to believe that the Mosaic code was modeled after the Babylonian one. After leaving Egypt, the Hebrews are said to have spent forty years wandering in the wilderness prior to their entrance into the land of Canaan. Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible as interpreted among the various branches of Christianity. While it is true that the books of the Old Testament begin with an account of the creation of the world, we must bear in mind that the narratives dealing with such topics as the Creation, the Garden of Eden, the Fall, the Great Flood, and other events related in the Book of Genesis were never intended to be regarded as an accurate historical account of the entire world process. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The basis of the covenant was the body of laws that Yahweh had given and that the people had agreed to obey. Stories concerning the work of the prophet Elijah and his successor, Elisha, are also part of the early narratives produced in the northern kingdom. Many were in existence in some form long before they were assembled into a single collection and given the status of Scripture, or sacred writing. An Egyptian pharaoh, in order to protect his people against any further advances on the part of the Hebrews, inaugurated a program of harsh measures toward the newcomers, forcing them into a condition of servitude and slavery. Later, the tribes' fortunes changed as they were able to regain most of what they had previously lost. Amos and Hosea are the only prophetic books that belong to the literature of the northern kingdom. Although the Old Testament is often referred to as a book, it is really a collection of many books, or separate manuscripts, produced by different individuals over a long period of time. With the death of this king, a period of decline set in, and conditions went from bad to worse. The Old Testament is the Torah, the books of the Prophets and the books of the Writings. Some of the more important events and accomplishments in these successive periods of Hebrew history may be summarized briefly as follows. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Likewise, after the fall of the Assyrian empire, they were subservient first to the Egyptians and later to the Babylonians. In some respects, Saul was an able ruler and a competent warrior who spent much of his time battling the Philistines. Three of these books — Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job — are known as wisdom literature. To understand the Old Testament, it is necessary to have some familiarity with the history of the people who wrote it. In Judaism the Hebrew Bible is not only the primary text of instruction for a moral life but also the historical record of God’s promise, first articulated in his covenant with Abraham, to consider the Jews his chosen people. As such, Daniel stands in sharp contrast with the prophetic writings. The writer believed in the monarchy and describes in considerable detail the events that led to its establishment. Black Friday Sale! The biblical authors believed that the divine presence is encountered primarily within history. The first books of the Old Testament to appear in the approximate form in which we have them today are the ones attributed to the prophets. The stories themselves are often derived from…, Thus, the Bible reports contemporary events and activities for essentially religious reasons. Hebrew Bible, also called Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, or Tanakh, collection of writings that was first compiled and preserved as the sacred books of the Jewish people. Among the early narratives that were used as source materials for later histories are such documents as "The Story of the Founding of the Kingdom." Important to remember in this connection is that revelation is always and necessarily a two-way process that involves both a giving and a receiving. After Solomon's death, the kingdom was divided. An exhaustive account of these early writings cannot be attempted here, but their general character is indicated by the following examples. His military successes won for him the praises and admiration of the people. Generally, these other gods were believed to be related to their peoples by the natural ties of physical descent. The account is especially important because it helps to correct some of the unfavorable impressions of King Ahab conveyed by other narratives. Thus we find the laws of Deuteronomy, as well as those that belong to the so-called Holiness Code and the relatively late ones known as the Priests Code, included in historical narratives that attribute all of the laws to Moses. Its religious significance is indicated primarily by the fact that it is recognized as a part of the inspired sacred literature of three of the major religions of the world. The captivity lasted for a long time. Solomon, too, was idealized by later generations but not in the same way as his father, David. The Babylonian exile lasted for more than a century but finally came to an end when permission was given to the Hebrews to return to their own land. Characterized by features that sharply distinguish them from the writings of the prophets, they address problems of a universal nature rather than problems peculiar to the Hebrew people. The northern kingdom, known as Israel, had a very difficult time during the first century of its existence. Although many corrections and modifications have been made since this hypothesis was first proposed, its main thesis is still relevant. With this assumption, they write for the specific purpose of pointing out the divine element as they see it illustrated in the historical process. The Exodus from the land of Egypt, usually dated as 1250 B.C., marked the turning point in the history of the Hebrew people and enabled them to become a separate nation. On the other hand, our conclusions should be reached with considerable caution, and we must always be ready to revise them in consideration of new evidence. When the term Old Testament is used, it is often in order to distinguish it from the New Testament, a collection of Christian books and letters that are not part of the Jewish faith.