Tanakh
The Written Torah is often called the Tanakh, an acronym of Torah (T) for the Five Books of Moses, Nevi'im (N) for the collection of history and oracles of the Prophets and Ketuvim (K), which is the book of Writings containing history, poetry and other writings. This is the Hebrew Bible, referred to popularly as the Old Testament.
The Bible is considered to have many layers of meanings, much like a person wearing clothes. There are the clothes, then there is the skin, then the skeleton etc. Because of the many layered nature of the Bible it is also referred to as the PARDES - an acronym for the words Peshat, Remez, Derash and Sod. These words refer to the literal meaning, the allegorical meaning, the moral or homiletic meaning and finally the mystical or anagogic meaning.
The Five Books of Moses is also referred to as the Chumash for the Hebrew word for five. As mentioned, the Books of Moses are believed to have been divinely transmitted by God to Moses at Mt. Sinai approximately 3500 years ago. Modern scholarship believes that the version we have today is a mixture of divine inspiration and the work of editors throughout the centuries. The books are individually known as Genesis (Beresheit), Exodus (Shemot), Vayikra (Leviticus), Numbers (Bamidbar), and Deuteronomy (Devarim).
The books of the Prophets (Nevi'im) contain the recording of direct prophecies given by God to His chosen prophets. Though there are recordings of prophecies throughout the Bible, these collections are more extant in that they include long prophetic utterances, larger collections and some biographical material. Because of the varying amounts of materials the books are further classified as the books of the Major Prophets and then the Minor Prophets.
The Bible is considered to have many layers of meanings, much like a person wearing clothes. There are the clothes, then there is the skin, then the skeleton etc. Because of the many layered nature of the Bible it is also referred to as the PARDES - an acronym for the words Peshat, Remez, Derash and Sod. These words refer to the literal meaning, the allegorical meaning, the moral or homiletic meaning and finally the mystical or anagogic meaning.
The Five Books of Moses is also referred to as the Chumash for the Hebrew word for five. As mentioned, the Books of Moses are believed to have been divinely transmitted by God to Moses at Mt. Sinai approximately 3500 years ago. Modern scholarship believes that the version we have today is a mixture of divine inspiration and the work of editors throughout the centuries. The books are individually known as Genesis (Beresheit), Exodus (Shemot), Vayikra (Leviticus), Numbers (Bamidbar), and Deuteronomy (Devarim).
The books of the Prophets (Nevi'im) contain the recording of direct prophecies given by God to His chosen prophets. Though there are recordings of prophecies throughout the Bible, these collections are more extant in that they include long prophetic utterances, larger collections and some biographical material. Because of the varying amounts of materials the books are further classified as the books of the Major Prophets and then the Minor Prophets.
Major Prophets
Joshua
Judges
Samuel
Kings - 1 and 2
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
Minor Prophets
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Jonah
Obadiah
Michah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
The Writings are divided into three parts: the Wisdom literature, the Megillot and the Histories. The Wisdom litersture consists of the Psalms, Proverbs, and the Book of Job.
The Megillot are usually read in the synagogue on special occassions. On Passover the Song of Songs is usually read,while on Shavuot the Scroll of Ruth is read. Lamentations is read on the Ninth of Av, Ecclesiastes on Succoth and Esther on Purim.
The Histories consist of the books of Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah and Chronicles One and Two.
The Megillot are usually read in the synagogue on special occassions. On Passover the Song of Songs is usually read,while on Shavuot the Scroll of Ruth is read. Lamentations is read on the Ninth of Av, Ecclesiastes on Succoth and Esther on Purim.
The Histories consist of the books of Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah and Chronicles One and Two.
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