Bible 110 Old Testament
Canon and Text of Old Testament
A. Canon – refers to a measuring rod. It is the collection of criteria used to
measure whether or not a writing or collection of writings was worthy of being
included in the sacred collection of scripture.
B. Hebrew Old Testament has 24 books (English Old Testament lists 39). These
are the categories:
Pentateuch – (5)
Prophets – (8) Former (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) Latter (Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel, Book of the 12)
Writings – everything left over (11).
C. Most of the Pentateuch was handed down orally until time of David and the
monarch when written history became important practice. 622/21 BC was known
as the “Deuteronomic Reformation” and King Josiah (II Kings 23). There was a
book found in the Temple. Josiah instituted stringent religious reforms on the
basis of this book: 1.) Which was regarded as the word of God (authoritative); 2.)
The book was canonized as sacred scripture which became religious and
political norm by which Israel was instituted.
D. 586 BCE destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar
Jews felt the need of preserving their tradition; much of this was done orally at
first; written later. When moving into the period of Judaism (post-exilic Israel),
the struggle to rebuild revealed the tension of the creativity of the past and the
bleakness of the present. Jews desired to make the law so important that God
would not again send the people into exile. Pentateuch became guarded (“fence
built around it”); by 400 BCE it had become the revelation; it had become
canonized.
E. Prophets – Big prophets had students or disciples who transmitted,
interpreted, and added to their writings. Exile is key date. Prophecy decline and
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Bible 110 Old Testament
dies in post-exilic period so that great prophets are elevated. The canonization
of prophets occurred from 400 → 200 BCE. When Samaria went its own way
and took the Pentateuch, only, as its canon, prophets were not canonized. It
happened during this two hundred year period. Prophets were never elevated as
high as the Pentateuch.
F. Writings – These are writings which are left over. These materials developed
later, managed to survive, or were written by earlier authors. The Psalter is the
core of these; then books developed around the Psalter 200 → beginning AD or
CE.
G. Council of Jamnia 90 CE – before this canonicity came through usage; this
was first attempt to stabilize or close the canon by council.
1. Fall of Jerusalem – 70 CE loss of heritage; need to standardize scripture
to preserve their faith.
2. Rise of Christian Church; Judaism needed a weapon to fight the emerging
church.
At Jamnia the Pentateuch was rubber stamped; former and latter prophets
allowed to remain, except Ezekiel whose laws were viewed as contrary to Moses.
It could stand in with the understanding that its laws were not to be read in the
synagogue. Chapter one was not to be read because of it description of God.
Writings had to stand on their own merit; scrutinized closely (ie Proverbs
had contradictions; Esther survived because of connections with purim). Jamnia
did not close debate on OT canon. This continued until 4th century and even until
today.
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Bible 110 Old Testament
Text of Old Testament
A. Basic Hebrew text is Masoretic text. Names come from translators. Until 19th
century the Archetypal theory was accepted about the OT text, that is, one
legitimate Hebrew text from which all other texts were copied. Discovery of old
geniza by Paul Kahle yielded 200,000 fragments of Biblical and non-biblical texts.
From this geniza many textual traditions were discovered, dispelling the
archetypal theory.
B. Masoretes were the ones who copied the ancient manuscripts beginning in the
1st century CE through 10th century. Hebrew originally was consonantal; no
vowels. Vowels were oral, not written, until 6th – 7th century CE when Masoretes
developed a shaky system of vowel points.
C. Schools or types of texts
1. Ben Asher – predominated in 8th -0 9th century. Our present OT texts are
based on them
2. Ben Naphtali – tended to give way to Ben Asher. One text remains from
1055 CE Babylonian tradition.
3. Egyptian textual form – closely related to LXX
4. Palestinian textual tradition – Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Josephus
RSV is based on Masoretic text
5. Septuagint (LXX) – translation of Hebrew Scriptures into Greek the
vernacular. Origin of LXX from Letter of Aristeas: Ptolemy Philadephus
sponsored this translation made by 72 men in 70 days. But the story is
forgery. Aristeas lived 100 years after Ptolemy. The letter was
propaganda for the version. Version began about 300 BCE and grew,
was revised until 100 CE when it was finalized.
6. Aramaic Targum 1st – 2nd century CE (translation and paraphrasing of OT
in Aramaic). Elaborations and comments on Masoretic texts – secondary
source.
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Bible 110 Old Testament
7. Syrian Pehitta – 3rd century CE. Not much known
8. Vulgate – Latin version translated from Hebrew by Jerome 390-405 CE.
Translated declared heretical until 16th century when it was made official.
Represents Masoretic tradition.
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