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You are here: Home / 101Study Help / Introductions / Old Testament Introduction

Old Testament Introduction

July 27, 2020 by Krisan Marotta

Introduction to the Old Testament | WednesdayintheWord.com

Why study the Old Testament? It’s the Scriptures that Jesus used.

The New is concealed in the Old, the Old is revealed in the New” – St. Augustine

Language

  • The Old Testament is written in Hebrew.
  • Hebrew is written from right to left.
  • The earliest Hebrew did not use vowels. For example, Genesis 1:1 would be: N TH BGNNG GD CRTD
  • Jewish scholars in the 9-10th centuries AD added vowel “points” to the biblical text based on the traditional pronunciations. We call this the Masoretic Text.
  • The language is dominated by verbs, not nouns (especially by concrete images, not abstractions).
  • Some of the Old Testament is written in Aramaic (which was the lingua franca of the day when those books were written): Daniel 2:4-7:28; Ezra 4:8-6:18; Ezra 7:12-26; Jer 10:11
  • The Hebrew Alphabet & Transliteration

How the Hebrew Bible came to be

  • “First stage” (approximately 1200 BC-100 BC): The formation of separate literary units based on oral and written tradition. The writings had no vowels, no spaces, no chapter divisions and no verse divisions.
  • “Second Stage” (approximately 400-90 AD): The formal formation of the Hebrew Bible as an authoritative collection of writings in three parts (Law, Prophets and Writings). This was finished by 90 AD.
  • See How the Old Testament is organized
  • “Third stage”: Preservation and transmission of the text; Masoretic text created; chapters and verse numbers added.

Overview of Old Testament History

  • Chart: Bible History at a glance
  • Biblehub: Old Testament Timeline
  • Primeval History (creation; Genesis 1:1)
  • Patriarchael history (Abram called c. 2000-1900 BC)
  • Slavery in Egypt (c. 1720-1280 BC)
  • Exodus from Egypt (c 1280 BC)
  • Wilderness wanderings (c. 1280-1240 BC)
  • Conquest & settlement (Crossing the Jordan River c 1240)
  • Period of the Judges (c 1240-1050 BC)
  • Establishment of the united monarchy (Saul anointed c. 1050 BC)
  • Divided Monarchy – Northern Kingdom Israel (920-722 BC); Southern Kingdom Judah (930-586 BC)
  • Babylonian captivity (586-538 BC)
  • Return from exile (639 BC) & restoration (Temple restored c 515 BC)

Reading

  • Basics of Bible Interpretation by Bob Smith (Entire book): Page 104 – Helpful Hints on Hebrew; Page 106 – What Every Bible Student Needs to know about Hebrew.
  • Old Testament Exegesis: A Primer for Students and Pastors, Douglas Stuart (1984)

Learn the books of the Old Testament by singing.


Series: Bible Study 101

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What is…?

Who is…?

Introduction to…

Background & History

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

(This article has been read 336 times plus 1 today.)

Related posts:

  1. New Testament Introduction
  2. Who were the Pharisees?
  3. Old Testament books in Chronological order
  4. How is the Old Testament organized?
  5. Old Testament Canon: Why these books?

Filed Under: Introductions Tagged With: Old Testament

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