Overview
This session provides an overview of the structure and organization of the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, highlighting its three main sections and their significance for understanding scriptural references in the New Testament.
The Tanakh: Definition and Context
- The Tanakh is the Hebrew Bible, equivalent in content to the Christian Old Testament but with a distinct arrangement.
- References to "scriptures" in the New Testament pertain to the Tanakh, not the modern Christian Bible.
- The word "Tanakh" is an acrostic from Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).
Structure of the Tanakh
- The Tanakh consists of three main sections: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.
- The Torah includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, also known as the Pentateuch or the Law of Moses.
- The Nevi'im (Prophets) comprise Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve (minor prophets).
- The Ketuvim (Writings) contain Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles, Daniel, and Lamentations.
Highlights of Each Section
- The Torah outlines the relationship between God and Israel, presenting laws, expectations, blessings, and consequences.
- The Prophets are divided into former (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) and latter prophets, with former prophets viewed as prophetic history rather than just narrative.
- The Writings include poetry, wisdom literature, and some historical books, rearranged and grouped differently from the Christian canon.
Unique Organizational Features
- Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, and the Twelve Minor Prophets are treated as single works in the Tanakh.
- The order of books and thematic links (e.g., "books of truth" and five scrolls) highlight liturgical and theological connections.
- The five scrolls—Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther—are read during Jewish feasts.
Thematic Connections and Transitions
- The ending of the Torah naturally leads into the Prophets, highlighting the transition from Moses to subsequent prophetic history.
- The Prophets conclude by anticipating themes picked up in the Writings, especially Psalms (righteous vs. wicked, blessings for the righteous).
- The Tanakh ends with an unresolved decree inviting Israel’s return and rebuilding, leaving an open-ended anticipation of fulfillment.
Relevance for Christian Interpretation
- Jesus' references to the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms align with the Tanakh’s threefold structure.
- Recognizing the Tanakh’s arrangement provides context for scriptural fulfillment claims in the New Testament.
Summary
- The organization of the Tanakh shapes both Jewish and Christian understandings of scripture and expectation of fulfillment.