history of old testament

1. BIB 123
History of the Old Testament

2. What is the Old Testament?
• The OT is the primary collection of
religious writings of the Jewish people.
• It is the only group of writings that the
Jewish people accept as scripture.
• Importance for Christianity
– Christianity grew out of the Jewish religion
and also recognizes the OT as scripture.

3. Some overriding themes of the
collection of writings (OT)
• God is the source of the world and
mankind.
• God makes himself known to mankind.
• God seeks the kind of relationship with
mankind that will enable mankind to reach
the potential for which God created him.

4. The OT may be studied in at least 3
different ways.
• As great literature many beautiful stories‑‑
and poems, etc.
• As historical work one of the major‑‑
sources for the ancient history of mankind
(esp. the Jews).
• A book of religious faith written by people‑‑
of faith who proclaimed God as the one
and only true God.

5. Types of Material in OT
• Historical narratives
• Law codes
• Wisdom literature – reflections on life
• Moral instruction - prophets

6. Divisions of the OT
• Torah (Law) 1st 5 books‑‑
– Pentateuch
• Prophets
– Former: Joshua, Judges, 1 2 Samuel, 1 2 Kings‑ ‑
– Later: rest of prophetic books, Amos, Hosea, etc.
• Writings
– Poetry Psalms, Proverbs, Job, etc.‑‑
– Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles

7. Languages of OT
• Hebrew – most of OT
• Aramaic - Parts of Daniel and Ezra
• Translation of OT into other languages began
early after exile‑
– parts trans. into Aramaic‑‑Targums because many did
not know Heb.
– Many Jews moved to Greek speaking Countries and
trans. into Greek - in Egypt ca. 250 B. C. – Septuagint
– Septuagint LXX‑‑ Bible of the early Christians‑‑

8. Most important thing to remember
• The Bible is an ancient book.
• Written long ago
– not written from the viewpoint of modern
scientific knowledge but from the‑‑
understanding of the world in ancient times
– from the religious understanding of ancient
man and his understanding of God and the
world which God had made.

9. • Useful for modern times as well
– Teachings about God
• Concepts of God
• Character
• Identity
• holiness
– Teachings about relationship between deity
and humanity
– Wisdom from God about life and its struggles

10. Overview of OT History
• Beginnings
– Struggles of life
• Abraham
– A people for God
• Moses
– Egypt - Canaan

11. Geography - Topography

12. • Joshua
– Land of Canaan
– Struggles with Canaanites, Philistines
• Judges
– Following other gods
• Kings
– Development of monarchy
– Following other gods
• Prophets
– Moral reforms

13. http://studylight.org/se/maps/view.cgi?js=yes&number=038&size=60

14. http://studylight.org/se/maps/view.cgi?js=yes

15. • Two Kingdoms
– Northern – Israel
– Southern – Judea
– More gods
• Exile
– Northern – Assyria
– Southern – Babylon (135 yrs later)
• Return from exile – Southern
– Rebuild Jerusalem, Temple
– Emphasis on purity – looking for new prophet

16. Geography - Topography