Adult Forum Fall SeriesBible Boot Camp

October 6 to December 22Sundays at 9:00 AM

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

Plan for today– What is “the Bible”?– History– Central themes and issues– Your questions– Next week

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

What is “the Bible”?• Old Testament or Hebrew Bible? Whose Bible?– Jewish – the Tanakh (aka, the Bible)– Christian – the Old Testament– Scholarly – the Hebrew Bible, the Massoretic Text

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

What is “the Bible”?• Old Testament or Hebrew Bible? Whose Bible?– Jewish – the Tanakh (aka, the Bible)

• Tanakh: Torah, Nebi’im, Kethuvim– Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)– Nebi’im/Prophets: Former and Latter

» Former: Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings» Latter: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the Twelve

– Kethubim/Writings: everything else (Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Megillot [Ruth, Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther], Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1-2 Chronicles

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

What is “the Bible”?• Old Testament or Hebrew Bible? Whose Bible?– Christian – the Old Testament (paired with New

Testament)• Pentateuch (Gen, Exod, Lev, Num, Deut)• Historical books (Josh, Judg, Ruth, 1-2 Sam, 1-2 Kgs, 1-2

Chr, Ezra, Neh, Est)• Wisdom (Job, Ps, Prov, Eccl, Songs)• Prophets (Isa, Jer, Lam, Ezek, Dan, the Twelve)

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

Old Testament or Hebrew Bible?• Whose Bible? Jewish, Christian,

and Scholarly– Scholarly – the Hebrew Bible, the

Massoretic Text• Organization follows that of Tanakh• “Ecclectic” text=combination of

manuscript evidence• Massoretes – 9th c. CE scribal

school• Codex Leningradensis

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

History and the OT/HB• Traditional dates of canonization– Pentateuch – 4th c BCE– Prophets – 2nd c BCE– Writings – 90 CE– Dead Sea Scrolls challenge this schema

• Traditional understanding of historical periods– 2000 BCE–400 BCE– More likely 950 BCE–160 BCE

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

Central themes and issues• Promise to Abram and Sarai (Gen 12:1-3)– Land– Progeny– Blessing to the Nations– The chosen people

• Sinaitic Covenant (Mosaic Covenant)• Davidic Covenant

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

Central themes and issues• Who is God, how to relate to God, how will

God relate to Israel• Explanation of life and the world; a way to

make sense of life• Community and the individual

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

Your Questions?• From Dennis:– Why should Christians read the OT?– Why is God always so angry at the Jews?– What did it mean to be the chosen people?– How much did the life, culture, and religious

practices of Canaan influence Israel?– Others?

Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George

13 October 2013

Next Week: An Assignment!– Please read the following:– 1 Kings 22 – Micaiah ben Imlah• Some questions

– What happens?– Why does it happen?– What questions does this raise for you?

Bible Boot CampNow Go and Enjoy!