Hebrew Literature

1. Hebrew Literature The Bible

2. The Jewish Bible/ Old Testament • The word Bible came from the Greek word biblia meaning books or a collection of writings. • The Hebrew Bible contains many books - The Torah – from the Hebrew word tora meaning “law” – consists of the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy).

3. The Old Testament • Often referred to by Jews as Miqra – meaning “that which is read.” • Another term Tanakh is also used for the Old Testament. • This term is an acronym that refers to the three basic divisions of the Hebrew text. • Ta refers to the Torah, the first five books or the Pentateuch, a term meaning “the five scroll jars.” • Na refers to the Neviium, the books of the Former and Latter Prophets. • Kh refers to the Ketuvim, literally the miscellaneous writings that comprise the Old Testament

4. Storytelling and Oral Tradition • Shared by all peoples of the ancient Near East • Tales traveled throughout cities, villages, and desert camps from the Euphrates to the Nile. • The key to preserving the tale was the storyteller.

5. Storyteller • For a while, parents shared events with children • Also gifted individuals – shepherds, celebrated artists, etc. • The storyteller’s job was more than simply entertaining; his stories preserved the identity and collective memory of his people.

6. Storytelling Skills • Until writing became common, memory was invaluable; without it, ideas were lost forever. • A great storyteller might memorize an epic of some 30,000 lines of poetry as part of his repertoire. • Learning by repetition was almost as important to the people who listened to the stories as it was to the performer.

7. Storytelling Skills • People expected stories to be told the same way each time they heard them. • The basic form and meaning of a tale could not be touched. • The fixed story line helped people maintain links with the past and keep history rooted in the things they knew to be true.

8. Forms of Tradition • The oral tradition lent itself to a great diversity of forms. • Genealogies served as historical records, • Proverbs provided memorable nuggets of instruction or codified acceptable behavior. • Prophecies forecast the possibilities and dangers of the future. • Poetry was common in all cultures with an oral tradition.

9. Stories of Faith • For the Hebrews, two powerful forces gave authority to the voice of the storyteller. -- He spoke for their history -- He told the story of God’s dealings with Israel. Present day Jews continue the tradition of storytelling at the Passover Seder.

10. Genesis Chapter I • Opens with the words “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” • It proceeds to describe the acts of creation, the culmination of which was the creation of man.

11. Genesis Chapter 2 • Verse 4 is the transition point from one version of the creation story to another, quite different one. • Unlike the first version, the second reveals an anthropomorphized God • A God who creates man out of dust the way a potter creates a pot out of clay. • A God who plants gardens the way a farmer would.

12. GenesisChapter 2 • Chapter 2 describes the acts of creation, but in an order opposite that in Chapter 1. • The culmination of Chapter 2 is the creation of woman.

13. GenesisChapter 3 • Chapter 3 recounts the fall of Adam and Eve. • After eating the forbidden fruit, the first man and woman are punished by God, who expels them from Eden.