old testament literature - king's college london · framework to old testament history...
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Old Testament Literature
An Introduction
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t The Old Testament
39 books of different styles covering wide range of subjects
• Aetiology: Genesis 1-11 • Genealogy: Pentateuch and Chronicles • History: Joshua; 1 and 2 Samuel; 1 and 2 Kings; 1 and
2 Chronicles • Law codes: Leviticus, Deuteronomy • Prophecy: Amos; Hosea etc.. • Poetry: Psalms and elsewhere • Architectural plans: 1 Kings • Visions: Ezekiel, Daniel • etc...
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t The Tanak
• Torah
• Nebi’im
• Ketubim
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t LXX
• LXX = 70
• Refers to the tradition that 72 Greek scholars translated the Torah for Ptolemy I
• Probably translated between the 3rd and 1st century BCE
• Although there were many others this one was adopted by Christians
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t Torah
• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• Numbers
• Deuteronomy
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t Nevi’im
• Joshua
• Judges
• 1 and 2 Samuel
• 1 and 2 Kings
• Isaiah
• Ezekiel
• Jeremiah
• The twelve minor prophets
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t Ketuvim
• The Sifrei Emet (books of truth) – Psalms, Proverbs, Job
– (from their names in Hebew and also means truth)
• Hamesh Megillot (the five scrolls) – Ruth, Song of Songs, Book of Lamentations,
Ecclesiastes, Esther
• The Others – Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, 1 and 2 Chronicles
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t Torah
• The whole of the first five books are considered to be law
• In contrast to Christian tradition which calls them the Pentateuch (though some like M. Noth argue for a Hexateuch)
• Importance of the Documentary Hypothesis
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t Julius Wellhausen
• Prolegomenon to the History of Israel (1883)
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t Documentary Hypothesis
• J (Yahwist) – Use of Yahweh, early maybe 10th-9th cent BCE
• E (Elohist) – Use of Elohim, still quite early, northern, maybe
8th century BCE
• D (Deuteronomic writer) – Concern with prophecy and law, northern,
maybe come to Judah after 722BCE
• P (Priestly) – Concern with liturgy and temple worship,
maybe 6th century onwards
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t Some key dates to give a
framework to Old Testament history
• Reign of David - ? C. 1000 BCE (the note the problems)
• Split of the Kingdoms 922 BCE
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Old
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t Some key dates to give a
framework to Old Testament history
• Reign of David - ? C. 1000 BCE (the note the problems)
• Split of the Kingdoms 922 BCE
• Rise of the Assyrian Empire (in the 9th century and the subsequent fall of the northern kingdom 722 BCE)
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Old
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t Some key dates to give a
framework to Old Testament history
• Reign of David - ? C. 1000 BCE (the note the problems)
• Split of the Kingdoms 922 BCE • Rise of the Assyrian Empire (in the 9th
century and the subsequent fall of the northern kingdom 722 BCE)
• Rise of the Babylonian empire in the 7th century and subsequent exile of Judah c596 – c542
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t Wisdom Literature
• Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth), Some Psalms, Song of Songs (?), Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Ben Sirach)
• Originated, probably, as an educative tool; either at the King’s court or in a domestic setting
• Developed in post-exilic period as strong theological strand, though present pre-exile
• Focussed on practical wisdom for well-being in the world – less overt interest in temple worship
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t Jewish Apocalyptic Literature
• Daniel, and parts of Joel, Zechariah and maybe also Isaiah
• Debate about the roots of apocalyptic – some argue for prophecy others for wisdom
• Developed clearly in post-exilic period though pulling on a number of pre-existent strands (like visions of God)
• Focused ,as the name suggests, on revelation of divine secrets