Approaches to the Bible: The Old Testament

✍ Scribed by Reverend Also J. Tos

• Publisher: Prentice-Hall
• Year: 1963
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 311
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Table of Contents

CONTENTS
PREFACE vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xvii LIST OF TABLES xix THEBOOKSOFTHEBIBLEANDTHEIRABBREVIATIONS xxi
1. THE CHURCH, THE BIBLE, AND THE CHRISTIAN 1
Introduction 1 Bible and Tradition 2 Historical Survey 4 Revelation and Christian Faith 16
2. BIBLICAL THEOLOGY AND SALVATION—HISTORY . . . . 19
Introduction 19 Biblical Theology 19 Salvation—History: The Plan of God 20
Creation: Cosmic and Human 20 Preparation in the Old Testament 21 Fulfillment in Christ 22 Continuation in the Church 23 Achievement in Heaven 25
3. THE NATURE OF BIBLICAL INSPIRATION 27
Introduction 27 False Notions 28 Correct Notions 29 Nature of Instrumental Causality 30 Spoken Word to Written Word 32
4. BIBLICAL LITERARY FORMS 35
Introduction 35 Meaning of Literary Forms 36 Kinds of Literary Forms 37
Poetic 37 Apocalyptic 37 Historical 39
5. INTRODUCTION TO THE PENTATEUCH 42
Meaning of the Name 42 Purpose and Literary Category 43 The Traditions 44
Yahwist 44 Elohist 44 Deuteronomic 44 Priestly 45
Basic Unity of the Pentateuch 45 Thesis of the Pentateuch 46 Outline of the Books 47
6. THE BOOK OF GENESIS 49
The Purpose of Genesis 49 Genesis and Science 49 Anthropomorphism 50 Semitic Cosmogony 51 The Creation of the Universe 53
Monotheism versus Polytheism 53 The Two Accounts of Creation 54 The Days of Creation 55
The Origin of Mankind 55 Genesis and Evolution 58 The Fall: Original Sin 59 The Promise of Salvation 62 The Role of Cain and Abel 63 The Genealogies 64 The Flood and Noe 66 The Tower of Babel 67 The Patriarchal Period 68 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 69 Joseph the Magnanimous 74
7. THE BOOK OF EXODUS 77
77 Importance of the Exodus 77 Evidence for the Event 78 Literary Form of the Book 78 Bondage in Egypt 79 80 Meaning of "Yahweh" 80 The Plagues 81 Number Who Left Egypt 82 Date of the Exodus 83 The Crossing of the Sea 84 The Manna and the 'Duals 85 Mt. Sinai 86 The Covenant 87 The Ten Commandments 88 Prohibition of Images 90 The Golden Calf 90 The Character of Moses 90 The Exodus and the Christian 91 Typology 92 The Books of the New Testament 93 Christian Patrology 94 The Liturgy 96
8. THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS 101
The Name 101 Style 101 Historical Background 101 Sacrifices 103 Feasts in Israel 104 Day of Atonement 105 The "Lex Talionis" 106 Leviticus and Christians 106
9. THE BOOK OF NUMBERS 107
The Name 107 Origin and Purpose 107 The Shekinah 107 The Sin of Moses 108 The Talking Donkey 108
The Name
Moses
10. THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY 111
The Name 111 Origin and Spirit 111 The Choice of Israel 112 The Shema 113 The Hebrew Credo 113 Command Concerning Pagan Places of Worship 114 The Herem 115
11. FROM THE DESERT TO THE PROMISED LAND (1250-1030BC) 116
Introduction 116 The Book of Josue 117 The Crossing of the Jordan 118 The Battle of Jericho 118 The Battle of Hai 118 The Sun at Gabaon and Moon at Aialon 119 Conquest of Canaan 120 Aftermath 120 The Book of Judges 121
12. THE UNITED MONARCHY IN PALESTINE
(1030-931 B.0 ) 123
Introduction 123 The Sources 124 Books of Samuel 124 Books of Kings 125 Books of Chronicles 126 Saul: First King of Israel 126 David 128 Note on the Dynastic Oracle 130 Solomon 130
13. THE SCHISM: KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL AND JUDA
(931-587 B.0 ) 134
Introduction 134 Characteristics of the kingdoms 135 Brief History of the kingdoms 135
xiv

KingdomofIsrael(931-721DC) 135 PROPHETS IN ISRAEL: elia and eliseus 137 amos: prophet of the god of justice 142
osee: prophet of the god of love 143 Kingdom of ludo (931-587) 145 isaia: prophet of the holiness of god 151 jeremia: prophet of the new covenant 157
14. THE BABYLONIAN EXILE (587-538 B.C.) 161
161 Social Conditions 162
163 ezechiel: prophet of the exile 164
Introduction
Religious Revival
15. RETURN FROM EXILE AND PERSIAN PERIOD (538-333 B.C)
169
Introduction 169 Ezra and Nehemia 170 The Persian Period 171
Situation 171 The Language 172 The Bible 173
16. THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD AND MACCABEAN RULE
(333-63 B.C) 174
Introduction 174 Alexander the Great 174 The Ptolemaic and Seleucid Dynasties 175 The Process of Hellenization 176 The Book of Daniel 177 The Books of Maccabees 179 The Maccabean Revolt 180 Aftermath 181
17. THE ROMAN PERIOD (63 B.C.— ) 183
Introduction 183 Herod the Great: His Rule and Its Consequences 184
XV

1. PARTIES AND SECTS 187 Introduction 187
   The Scribes 187 The Sanhedrin 188 The Pharisees 189 The Sadducees 189 The Essenes 190
2. THE PROPHETS AND MESSIANISM 192
   Introduction 192 Meaning of "Prophet" 192 Kinds of Prophets 193 Requirements for a Prophet 194 The Work of the Prophets 196 The Teaching of the Prophets 196 Summary of Biblical Messianism 200 The Prophet and the Christian 202
3. MESSIANISM AND APOLOGETICS 205
   Introduction 205 Comments about Texts 208 Malachia 3, 1 208 Isaia 7, 14 208 Michea 5, 2 209 Isaia 35 5-6 209 Zacharia 9, 9 210 Isaia 53, 12 210 Psalm21,17-19;68,22 211 Genesis 3,15 212 Daniel 7, 13-14 212

4. INTRODUCTION TO THE WISDOM LITERATURE 214
   Introduction 214 Sages of Israel 215 The Wisdom Books 216 The Literary Form: Mashal 218 The Book of Job 219 Proverbs 221 Ecclesiastes 222 The Theme of Wisdom Personified 223
   xvi

5. INTRODUCTION TO THE PSALTER 227
   Name and Contents 227 Authorship and Dates of the Psalms 228 Literary Genres (Forms) 230
   232 PSALMS OF SION 232
   PSALMS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD 232 Supplications (Psalms of Lamentation) 233 INDIVIDUAL SUPPLICATIONS 233 COMMUNAL (COLLECTIVE) SUPPLICATIONS 234 Thanksgiving 234 Variant Genres and Combinations 234 Royal Psalms and Messianic Psalms 235 Psalms in the Worship of Israel 237 A Note Concerning the Hallel 238 Teachings in the Psalms 239 Religious Value of the Psalms 240

6. THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS 242
   Diary Related to the Findings 242 The Age of the Manuscripts 248 The Contents of the Scrolls 249 Some Conclusions 253
   APPENDICES
   I. MANUSCRIPTS AND VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE 256
   Introduction 256 Hebrew Manuscripts 257 The Septuagint Translation (LXX) 257 Other Translations 259 Latin Versions 259
   II. ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE 261
   III. READINGS IN THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT 263
   BIBLIOGRAPHY 266
   Editions of the Bible 266 Documents of the Magisterium 266
   Hymns
   xvii

Basic Reference Books 266 General Works 266 The Bible and Christians 268 Biblical Theology 268 Salvation—History 269 Biblical Inspiration and Literary Forms 270 Biblical History 270 Documents Related to the Old Testament 270 Biblical Archaeology 270 Biblical Geography 271 The Pentateuch 271 The Prophets and Messianism 272 The Wisdom Literature 272 The Psalms 273 The Dead Sea Scrolls 273 Periodicals 27