R. Thal on Canonization of Hebrew Bible
R. Lenny Thal - 5/30 Torah Study – Beth Am
Canonization of the Hebrew Bible
Documentary hypothesis - the Bible was codified either in 450 or 444 BCE
Ezra and his disciples collated the narratives from approximately 4 to 500 years.
There were four major documents: JEP&D
web reference:
Canon – Why Canon? What does it mean? literal meaning – Measure Rod / Reed
Exodus 24:3-7: Follow Moses’ return from Mt Sinai – people hear and agree to the terms. Reflection on what Moses learned.
620 BCE. – Deuteronomy Dated
2nd Kings 23:1-3 ‘what needed to be accepted’ The scroll found by Jeremiah in the Temple and read at just the time when reform needed! Began a major period of reform. However it was just 30 years later that the Temple was destroyed.
Ezra decided that the people needed “a constitution” which was created at the Watergate ( this one created one the modern one destroyed one)
Nehemiah 8:1-8 – Another documentation of when the people gathered and heard Torah and accepted it. It was read and translated and explained (“by people with teeth breaking names!”) by Ezra and his scribes.
Apocrypha (difference between Hebrew Apocrypha and Catholics’ Apocrypha – Hebrew it is separate from Bible / Catholic is it part of the Bible)
It includes such books as Judith, Macabees, Susannah …
If it is ‘apocryphal’ then it may not have happened but it does tell a truth!
Pseudepigraphia – a collection of writings by unknowns – but had some influence.
Includes the Life of Adam & Eve, Apocalypse of Moses - other documents
Prophetic section: No real historical record of when it was canonized.
Clues: 300-275 BCE OR 175 BCE – based on the end of the ‘minor prophets’ (minor because short not unimportant) Known from Talmud reference that there are no more prophets after Zechariah.
Malachi reports that Elijah will come at end of days.
Ecclesiastes – documented by the grandson of Ben Sirach
The Writings section: Again not certain of timing when the writings were collected and codified.
Prologue – 125BCE – 1st century BCE Philo – study of laws and the psalms
Ref: “Knowledge and piety increased”
Other clues from the New Testament – Matthew and Luke reference to the psalms.
Josephus 90-95 BCE wrote 22 books in the Bible – now there are 24 (or 39 depending on how you count) a clue that this was canonized later.
Song of Songs was included after the destruction of the 2nd Temple.
Historically the end of the 1st century was not a good time for the Jews. Mishnah and Midrashim were being written. Time of the Macabee and Barkova revolts had a huge impact on the way Judaism would evolve. Pharacies – the antecedents of modern Judaism attempted to democratize Judaism.
Interpretations were documented and ‘legal fictions’ created to help with this interpretation.
Book of Susannah: story of 2 elders who are infatuated with Susannah and are voyeurs watching her bathe in the garden. They are caught and put on trial and the both tell different version. They are put to death for perjury as their stories didn’t match.
Book of Tobit: Story of a pious Jew and marriage (Shtar). The Saducies reject it and the Katubbah is created as a marriage contract.
Ecclesiastes: Greek in tone. Included by the Saducies as they highlight the last passage that emphasizes that ‘this is the whole matter’ and seize the importance of this verse and attribute it to Solomon.
Esther: Problematic – no mention of God, Esther does many things not in line with the law… but included based on public pressure – the feast already celebrated at that time.
Contrast book of Esther to book of Judith – Judith was the opposite of Esther – completely loyal and brave – Why Judith not included may be based on a small detail which was not in line with the Saducies doctrine!
Not sure when completed – probably after 200 CE and before 300 CE.
“Whenever you study Torah you have to have a good time!”
Canonization of the Hebrew Bible
Documentary hypothesis - the Bible was codified either in 450 or 444 BCE
Ezra and his disciples collated the narratives from approximately 4 to 500 years.
There were four major documents: JEP&D
web reference:
* J: a writer who used JHWH as the "unpronounceable name of God." It is often translated as Jehovah.
* E: a writer who used Elohim as the divine name
* D: the author of the book of Deuteronomy
* P: a writer who added material of major interest to the priesthood
* R: a redactor who shaped the contributions of J, E, P and D together in the present Torah.
Canon – Why Canon? What does it mean? literal meaning – Measure Rod / Reed
Exodus 24:3-7: Follow Moses’ return from Mt Sinai – people hear and agree to the terms. Reflection on what Moses learned.
620 BCE. – Deuteronomy Dated
2nd Kings 23:1-3 ‘what needed to be accepted’ The scroll found by Jeremiah in the Temple and read at just the time when reform needed! Began a major period of reform. However it was just 30 years later that the Temple was destroyed.
Ezra decided that the people needed “a constitution” which was created at the Watergate ( this one created one the modern one destroyed one)
Nehemiah 8:1-8 – Another documentation of when the people gathered and heard Torah and accepted it. It was read and translated and explained (“by people with teeth breaking names!”) by Ezra and his scribes.
Apocrypha (difference between Hebrew Apocrypha and Catholics’ Apocrypha – Hebrew it is separate from Bible / Catholic is it part of the Bible)
(word apocrypha means hidden or secret)
It includes such books as Judith, Macabees, Susannah …
If it is ‘apocryphal’ then it may not have happened but it does tell a truth!
Pseudepigraphia – a collection of writings by unknowns – but had some influence.
Includes the Life of Adam & Eve, Apocalypse of Moses - other documents
Prophetic section: No real historical record of when it was canonized.
Clues: 300-275 BCE OR 175 BCE – based on the end of the ‘minor prophets’ (minor because short not unimportant) Known from Talmud reference that there are no more prophets after Zechariah.
Malachi reports that Elijah will come at end of days.
Ecclesiastes – documented by the grandson of Ben Sirach
The Writings section: Again not certain of timing when the writings were collected and codified.
Prologue – 125BCE – 1st century BCE Philo – study of laws and the psalms
Ref: “Knowledge and piety increased”
Other clues from the New Testament – Matthew and Luke reference to the psalms.
Josephus 90-95 BCE wrote 22 books in the Bible – now there are 24 (or 39 depending on how you count) a clue that this was canonized later.
Song of Songs was included after the destruction of the 2nd Temple.
Historically the end of the 1st century was not a good time for the Jews. Mishnah and Midrashim were being written. Time of the Macabee and Barkova revolts had a huge impact on the way Judaism would evolve. Pharacies – the antecedents of modern Judaism attempted to democratize Judaism.
Interpretations were documented and ‘legal fictions’ created to help with this interpretation.
Book of Susannah: story of 2 elders who are infatuated with Susannah and are voyeurs watching her bathe in the garden. They are caught and put on trial and the both tell different version. They are put to death for perjury as their stories didn’t match.
Book of Tobit: Story of a pious Jew and marriage (Shtar). The Saducies reject it and the Katubbah is created as a marriage contract.
Ecclesiastes: Greek in tone. Included by the Saducies as they highlight the last passage that emphasizes that ‘this is the whole matter’ and seize the importance of this verse and attribute it to Solomon.
Esther: Problematic – no mention of God, Esther does many things not in line with the law… but included based on public pressure – the feast already celebrated at that time.
Contrast book of Esther to book of Judith – Judith was the opposite of Esther – completely loyal and brave – Why Judith not included may be based on a small detail which was not in line with the Saducies doctrine!
Not sure when completed – probably after 200 CE and before 300 CE.
posted by Chavarah @ 7:02 AM
1 Comments:
At 2:36 PM,
Anonymous said…
"J" may have been composed ca. 1,000 BCE as David's need for a "court history" and legitmacy for his kingship. "E" may have been written following the 922 BCE split upon Solomon's ascendency. Both "J" and "E" would have existed in a fluid form of oral tradition.
Harry F.
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