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Ancient Hebrew Literature

Background

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So…just who are

The Hebrews?

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“any of the Jewish nation”according to Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary

a nation of a religious people originating in Israel

They were established byAbraham,

a descendant of Adam…

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Ok…so now

what then is

Hebrew Literature?

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The Bible

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Christians call itThe Old Testament

(Ms. Axford calls it The First Testament)7

Why do we studyAncient Hebrew Literature

- or The Bible –in World Literature?

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It is the single most influential piece of literature in the history of the

world.

The most distributed and read literature in the history of the world.

For many people over history, it was the only literature ever read.

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What is the Bible?

bible – from the Greek word:

biblia = a collection of

writings

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3 main sections of The Bible:

1. - The Torah (or Tora) Torah = law

The Torah consists of the first five books of The Bible:

• Genesis• Exodus • Leviticus• Numbers• Deuteronomy

The Torah includes:*The LAW for the

Hebrews*The Story of

Creation*Narratives 11

Genesis

• Comes from the Greek word

•gignesthai• Meaning to be born

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Literary Types in The Bible

• Origin myths – found in Genesis• Short Stories – found in Ruth• Historical accounts – found in Exodus

and Samuel• Poetry – found in the Psalms

Dialogue is found in most of the books.

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2 – Historical AccountsIncluding The Book of Samuel

Includes:•Writings of the prophets•The path of justice & faith

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3 – a variety of works:

Poetry – Psalms

Short Story – The Book of Ruth

Religious Dialogues – The Book of Job

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Who wrote the Bible?

There are

several beliefs

and

theories…

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Moses

some believed

Moses wrote the first five

books of The Bible

The Ten Commandments from Exodus

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King David

some believed

David wrote the Psalms

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Divine Inspiration

the belief that man heard the word of God and wrote it down per God’s

instruction

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during the 1800s…

different writing styles and

content suggest many “authors” wrote The Bible

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main themes through The Bible

•The power of God

•The goodness of God

•The mercy of God

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another theme…

The covenant between God and Man

A covenant which guarantees that God will do His part when the human requirements

stipulated in that covenant are met. 22

another theme…

*the sinfulness of man

and

*the forgiveness of God

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The Bible’s influence…

Judaism Islam Christian

foundation

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When was The Bible written?

*some believe The Torah dates back

to the 10th Century BCE

up to the 5th Century BCE

*written over a period of 500 years

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We are studying the

Jewish Publication Society

and the

King James

versions of The Bible26

Biblical Archetypes• Apple = temptation and

seduction• Serpent = evil• Rainbow = hope• Ark = survival• Trees = knowledge and life• Staff & Rod=comfort&protection

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Where is Noah’s ark today?

Archeologists believe

that it is located

on

Mt. Ararat,

in modern-day

Turkey28

Biblical Allusion

The liteary term used

when a part of

The Bible

is referred to is called

a biblical allusion

“Let there be light”

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a new belief system…

monotheism

the belief and worship of one God

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The Bible = A Written Temple

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a “written temple”…

The Bible “housed”(kept safe) Jewish culture and beliefs

through all of the attacks on Jews32

Versions and Translations• Translated into Greek, Latin, and every

important Western language• Christians believe it is the “pre-qual” to

the New Testament• Martin Luther translated it into German

and began the Protestant sect of Christianity

• King James Version – translated in 1611 – during the time of Shakespeare

• King James Version has influenced prose and poetry for over 400 years. 33

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One Verse – Many TranslationsPsalms 23

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•Main Characters•Plot sequence

•Theme(s)•Significance of the Story

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Patriarch

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A male leader/father-figure in• family

• country

• community

• world-wide

Patriarch Examples

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Who is the male leader/father-figure in

• family

• School

• Chris

• Mr. Kelly, Shack

• Church • Fr. Pat

• Country • President Obama

Biblical Patriarch

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Male Leaders in The Bible:

• Abraham

• Moses

• David