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Introduction to the Old Testament R. C. Flores, SVD June- October 2005 The Shema (opening prayer) Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest. Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates. Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy; God's law they study day and night. They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1 Three things that sustain the world: (according to Judaism) 1. Torah (The Law) 2. Temple (Service) 3. Deeds of Loving-kindness “The Old Testament is essential to know Jesus.” -John Paul II. Preliminary Remarks 1.The Hebrew Bible The Old Testament (Christian Term) The Bible of the Jews Called Torah (The Law) Tanak From: Torah-Nebiim-Ketubim Law-Prophets-Writings Three Divisions Torah (Pentateuch) Prophets Writings Torah Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Prophets Former Prophets Latter Prophets Joshua Isaiah Judges Jeremiah Samuel Ezekiel Kings The Twelve Hosea,Joel,Amos Obadiah,Jonah, Micah Nahum,Habbakuk,Zeph aniah Haggai,Zechariah, Malachi Writings Psalms Proverbs and Job Five Scrolls Song of Songs Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Esther Daniel Chronicles (Qoheleth) Hebrew Bible = 39 Books Protestants also. The Special Catholic Books: The Deuterocanonical Books Baruch Tobit Judith Maccabees Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) Wisdom of Solomon Catholic Old Testament = 46 2. Ancient Israel and Its Neighbors Map of the World Major Empires/Civilizations East of Israel = Egypt West: = Mesopotamia Assyria Babylonia Persia Dawn of Civilization (Ancient Near East) Literature (Writing) Enuma Elish Gilgamesh Epic Laws Hammurabi Code Political Organization: City Monarchy religions Marduk, Baal, Re Temples for gods Irrigation Commerce Weapons Pyramids at Giza in Egypt Egyptian Hieroglyphics Ziggurat (Tower) in Ancient Iraq (Babylon) Hammurabi Code 3. Map of Ancient Israel The map of Ancient Israel Israel Called “Canaan” Then “Israel” in honor of Jacob His children and their descendants would compose the future one nation. Palestine When it became a Roman colony State of Israel (Today) Four Principal Regions Galilee Samara Judah Negev 4. Major Events (Key Periods) Exodus - 1250 BC United Monarchy under David and Solomon – 1000BC Babylonian Exile – 586 BC Fall of Jerusalem 70 AD 5.The Empires who invaded Ancient Israel Assyrian Empire 8th century BC Babylonian Empire 6th century BC Persian Empire 5th century BC Greek Empire 4th century BC Roman Empire 3rd century – 2 century AD Seal of the Persian King Darius 6. Who wrote the OT? Many people in different places: in and outside Israel (like in Babylon) Over long period of time c. BC – 4th c. BC. Roughly over 1000 years!!! 13th A sample manuscript of Isaiah found in Qumran, near the Dead Sea in 1947: dated 1st c. BC- 1st c. A.D. 7. Necessary Books A Copy of New American Bible or New Revised Standard Version Lawrence Boadt, Reading the Old Testament, St. Pauls, 1984. Or Anthony Ceresko, Introduction to the Old Testament, Claretian, 1992. Chapter I: The Pentateuch Also called: The Torah “Five Books of Moses” “First Five Books” The heart of the Old Testament "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17 Studying Torah. An observant Jew at the Western Wall in Jerusalem intently studies a Torah Scroll. The Torah is the foundation document of Judaism and is the heart of the Old Testament. General Introduction 1. General Outline of the Pentateuch I. Genesis 1-11 - Story of Beginnings II. Genesis 12-50 – Story of the Ancestors III. Exodus 1-18 – Story of God’s Liberating Actions IV. Exodus 19-24; Leviticus; Numbers 1-10 – Story of the Covenant and Law For God’s People. V. Numbers 11-36 – Story of the Wilderness Journey VI. Deuteronomy 1-34 – Farewell Speeches of Moses Genesis – Story of Beginnings Ends with the death of the Ancestor, Joseph. Exodus – Deuteronomy – Story of Moses and Israelites Ends with the death of Moses. 2. Who wrote the Torah? Moses According to Jewish and Christian tradition. By Michelangelo but… Torah was composed from a variety of materials assembled over a long period of time. Modern scholarship “Documentary Hypothesis” or theory of sources Source Criticism Julius Wellhausen 1844-1918 The JEDP Yahwist Source (J) 10th -9th cent. BC Elohist Source (E) 9th cent. BC Deuteronomic Source (D) 7th cent. BC Priestly Source (P) 6th or 5th cent. BC Five Literary Identifiers to distinguish the sources 1) duplication and repetition of material. 2) variation in the ways of referring to God. Yahweh -- Elohim 3) contrasting author perspectives. Compare Genesis 1 and 2 Genesis 1 = Human beings created last Genesis 2 = Human beings created first. 4)variation in vocabulary and literary style. 5) Evidence of editorial activity. a. The Yahwist Source (J) The Yahwist narrative begins at Genesis 2:4 and continues through the book of Numbers. By itself, it can form one continuous story. Yahwist materials can be identified in the Pentateuch. The over-all plot of the Yahwist Stories of human origins The promise of the patriarchs Oppression in Egypt Exodus from Egypt Wandering in the Sinai wilderness A covenant made at Mount Sinai On the edge of the promised land. Themes of the Yahwist Story 1) Human beings’ sin, punishment, hope. Adam, Cain, People in Noah’s time, Tower of Babel 2) Foreshadowing (Gen 15:13-15) 3) God acting like human beings (anthropomorphism). such as when he walked with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. 4) Conflict between brothers Cain and Abel Jacob and Esau Joseph and his 11 Brothers 5) The triumph of the younger brother over the older brother. 6) The wife who cannot bear children Sarah (Abraham) ,Rebecca (Isaac) Rachel (Jacob) 7) The prophecy of Balaam (Numbers 24) “A star will come forth from Jacob A scepter from Israel will rise.” = God’s Promise will be fulfilled. Theology of the Yahwist Story Promise of Yahweh to Abraham (read: Gen 12:1-3). “I will make your name great.” This the basis for hope despite the growth of human disobedience (Adam, Cain, The Flood, Tower of Babel). Since J could have been written in the court of king David (1000BC), this promise echoes the promise of Yahweh to David (read: 2 Samuel 7:9-16). b. The Elohist Source Offers a counterview to the Yahwist optimistic story. Perhaps the Elohist writer was trying to make sense out of David’s failures. E.g. Bathsheba affair. The Elohist source must have come from the Northern Kingdom which was established after the death of David’s son Solomon. God, instead, is distant. Communicates through dreams (Gen 20:3) Warning to Moses not to start a dynasty (Exodus 18) Emphasis on the “Fear of God” “conscience”// natural sense to do what is morally right. See Genesis 20:11 Exod 1:15-17 Concerned about ethical and moral questions His version of sad story of Sarah as sister of Abraham – Abraham’s lying is highlighted in E; while in J, it was Pharaoh’s fault. Read Gen 12:10-20 (J) Read also Gen 20:10-17 (E) c. The Priestly Source Last of the narrative sources. It is intended to supplement J and E Written during the time of the Exile Israel’s faith is still valid even with no land, no temple, and no king. Themes Reasons for keeping the Sabbath (Gen 1) origins of circumcision (Gen 17) The divine command to obey all the worship and religious laws (Leviticus 1-27; Num 1-10; 25-36). Importance of high priest. Holiness The use of genealogies The importance of blessing (Gen1 and 9). d. Deuteronomic Source The whole book of Deuteronomy Joshua-Judges 1-2 Samuel 1-2 Kings A. Genesis 1-11 The Story of Beginnings 1. Literary style: Myth. Myth are stories about the beginning of the world and human beings. Myths in Mesopotamia: Enuma Elish (1000 BC) Babylonian Creation Myth Gilgamesh Epic Sumerian story of the Flood (2000 BC) Behind the myth: Truth about reality. Myth is true history because it is sacred history. Malakas at Maganda Filipino Myth of Creation Artist: Alfredo Roces 2. Our Beginning is good and holy. Genesis Chapter 1- 2:4a Priestly creation story “and God saw that it was good.” Paglilikha (creation) Day 1: Day and Night Day 2: sky Day 3: Earth, sea, and Plants Pagpupuno (filling-up) Day 4: Sun, Moon, Stars Day 5: Birds and Fishes Day 6: Animals, insects, and human beings. Day 7: God rested. He made “holy” all his creation God constructs a good, beautiful and a holy house, the earth. Day 7 Sabbath Day 4 Sun, Moon, Stars Day 5 Birds, Fish Day 6 Human Beings Animals Day 1 Day Night Day 3 Day 2 Sky Sea, Land Vegetation “Let there be light!” Meaning: 1) All creation is good, including: Darkness, waters, or wild animals, sea monsters. In Enuma Elish, these are forces to be conquered. Marduk slaying Tiamat (Sea god) 2. All creation is holy. On Day 7, God choose to dwell/rest— meaning “to build his house” in our created universe. In Enuma Elish: Creation is concluded through the construction of a house for the god. Sabbath: the temporal dwelling place for God. The One who made them is “Holy”. 3. Only the human beings are created in God’s image and likeness. Meaning: He/She imitates God to make creation good and holy. Imago Dei = Imitatio Dei 4. Only the human beings are created in God’s image and likeness. Meaning: He/She imitates God to make creation good and holy. 5. command to birds, fish and to human beings: “Be fertile and multiply” (Gen 1:22,28) Today, this commandment is applicable only to birds and fish, since they are getting extinct. 6. Only human beings are commanded: “fill the earth and subdue it.” Have dominion.. over all the living things” (Gen 1:28) NOT TO ABUSE the environment But: to act like God (image and likeness) To make the environment good and holy. To take care of creation To use his/her talents to make the earth fruitful! Only the human beings are given this task/vocation! By Marc Chagall Genesis chapters 2-3 Story of Human Beings’ Forgetfulness of their vocation. Chapter 2: Human Beings, called The Man and the Woman (ADAM and EVE) God forms the man out of the clay of the ground (Gen 2:7). He is one with the earth. He is to till/take care of the earth. (Gen 2:5). He is placed in a garden in EDEN, to cultivate and care for it (Gen 2:15). EDEN? - symbol of the goodness and holiness of the creation. By Michelangelo God formed out of the ground wild animals and birds to be his suitable partner. The man gave names to all the animals and the birds (Gen 1:20). Nature indeed becomes not only partners but the friend of the human being. BUT For the man, these were not fitting as his friends Human beings begin to separate themselves from nature, to see themselves as more important than nature. So Lord God formed the Woman (Isha) When man (ish) was asleep Man did not form the woman, it was God who formed her. He should not think he is more important than the woman. Woman from man’s rib. Man and woman are interrelated. They are not rivals They are equal partners. “bone of my bones”/ “flesh of my flesh” (Gen 2:23). Since they are of one flesh, the two can from a family. (Gen 1:24= marriage) “Man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife.” Animals, and the rest of creation are not of one flesh with the human beings. He/she can’t marry them. Man and man/ or woman and woman can’t form a family. Note that although they were naked, they were not ashamed. they continue to be interrelated with nature, to live in harmony with nature. Animals and the rest of creation don’t wear clothes.