OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

The Formation of the

Old Testament
You have 3 minutes – get in groups
of 3 and come up with a single,
unified answer to this question:

How did we get the Old

Testament that we
have today?
1. Text of the Old Testament
The Old Testament was written in two
different languages.

1st language – Hebrew (primary)

2nd language – Aramaic (secondary)

2. History of the Old Testament
How did we get the Old Testament?

a.) Pre 400 BC

> There are no manuscripts prior to this.
> Writing was practiced then.
> Deut. 31:9 – God tells Moses to write.
> Joshua 24:25-26 – God tells Joshua to write.
> Jeremiah 36 – Jeremiah was told to write.
> Other sources tell us writing happened – the
Code of Hamarabi in 1700 BC.
2. History of the Old Testament
How did we get the Old Testament?

b.) 400 BC – 100 AD

i. The text was clarified.

ii. The text was standardized.
-By 100 AD, there was 1 text used by
all traditions.
2. History of the Old Testament
How did we get the Old Testament?

c.) 600 AD – 1000 AD

The Masoretes formed.
i. They preserved the text.
iI. They added vowels to the Hebrew
consanants.
2. History of the Old Testament
How did we get the Old Testament?

c.) 1000 AD – Present day

There are 2 major texts today.
i. Aleppo (1000 AD)
iI. Leningrad Text (1008 AD)
If you buy a Hebrew Bible in stores
today, this is what you’re getting.
2. History of the Old Testament
Why don’t we have older texts?
After the Masoretes copied, they would delete
the old copy. Stats they collected help them to
know it was accurate so this way okay.
2. History of the Old Testament
The Dead Sea Scrolls
-Founded in 1947
-Around 900 documents included.
-About 300 of them were from the Hebrew Bible.
-Every book of Bible included but Esther.
-The whole book of Isaiah is included.
-Dates back to second century BC.
3. Structure of the Old Testament
Hebrew Bible has 3 main sections.
1.) Torah
2.) Nebiim (Prophets)
3.) Kethibim (Writings)

-TaNaK – Hebrews refer to OT this way.

3. Structure of the Old Testament
The Torah
-First 5 books of the Old Testament.
-Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
-Also called Books of the Law & the Pentateuch.
3. Structure of the Old Testament
Nebiim (Prophets)
-There are 8 prophets in Hebrew Bible.
-4 former prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel,
and Kings.
-4 latter prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and
the Book of the Twelve (minor prophets).
3. Structure of the Old Testament
Kethibim (Writings)
-There are 5 books known as Megiloth (scrolls).
-It’s Ruth, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes,
Lamentations, and Esther.
-They are grouped like this for Jewish festivals.
-Ruth (Pentecost) -Lamen. (Night of Ab)
-Song of Sol. (Passover) -Esther (Pure)
-Ecclesiastes (Festival of Tabernacles)
3. Structure of the Old Testament
Kethibim (Writings)
-Also included in this section:
-Psalms
-Job
-Proverbs
-Ezra
-Nehemiah
-Chronicles
-Daniel
4. Canon of the Old Testament
We have 39 books in our English Old
Testament, but in the Hebrew Bible, we
see that there are only 24.
How did we identify that these books are
what make up the one, unified Hebrew
Bible?
4. Canon of the Old Testament
The word “canon” means “measuring
stick.” When did the Old Testament
become true, God-inspired Scripture?

It became sure through 3 stages.

4. Canon of the Old Testament
1.) The Torah
-1st section to be seen as true Scripture.
-Happened around 400 BC.
-Ezra played a big part in this.
4. Canon of the Old Testament
2.) Prophets
-2nd section to be seen as true Scripture.
-Happened around 200 BC.
4. Canon of the Old Testament
3.) Writings
-3rd section to be seen as true Scripture.
-Happened around 100 AD altogether.
-Esther, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes
took the longest to affirm as true Scripture.
4. Canon of the Old Testament
3 criteria for determining true Scripture
1.) General Usage/Agreement
2.) Authorship
3.) Content
4. Canon of the Old Testament
A big issue is the Apocrypha.
-It means “hidden.”
-15 books between Old and New
Testament.
-Included in most Catholic Bibles today.
5. Translations of the Old Testament
There are two that are significant.
1.) Septuagint // 250-150 BC
-This is a Greek translation from Hebrew.

2.) Aramaic Translation - Targums

QUESTIONS?