Tanakh

Tanakh

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The Tanakh (תַּנַ"ךְ‎) is the canonical collection of Jewish texts, which is also a textual source for the Christian Old Testament. The Tanakh is an acronym derived from the names of its three divisions: the Torah ("Teaching"), the Nevi'im ("Prophets"), and the Ketuvim ("Writings").

Structure

The Tanakh is divided into three main sections:

Torah

The Torah, also known as the "Pentateuch," consists of the first five books of the Tanakh. These are:

• Genesis (בְּרֵאשִׁית‎, Bereshit)
• Exodus (שְׁמוֹת‎, Shemot)
• Leviticus (וַיִּקְרָא‎, Vayikra)
• Numbers (בְּמִדְבַּר‎, Bamidbar)
• Deuteronomy (דְּבָרִים‎, Devarim)

The Torah is considered the most sacred part of the Tanakh and is traditionally believed to have been revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Nevi'im

The Nevi'im is divided into two sub-sections:

• Former Prophets:

 * Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ‎, Yehoshua)
 * Judges (שֹׁפְטִים‎, Shoftim)
 * Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל‎, Shmuel)
 * Kings (מְלָכִים‎, Melachim)

• Latter Prophets:

 * Isaiah (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ‎, Yeshayahu)
 * Jeremiah (יִרְמְיָהוּ‎, Yirmeyahu)
 * Ezekiel (יְחֶזְקֵאל‎, Yechezkel)
 * The Twelve Minor Prophets (תרי עשר‎, Trei Asar)

Ketuvim

The Ketuvim includes a diverse collection of writings:

• Psalms (תְּהִלִּים‎, Tehillim)
• Proverbs (מִשְׁלֵי‎, Mishlei)
• Job (אִיּוֹב‎, Iyov)
• The Five Megillot:

 * Song of Songs (שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים‎, Shir HaShirim)
 * Ruth (רוּת‎, Rut)
 * Lamentations (אֵיכָה‎, Eicha)
 * Ecclesiastes (קֹהֶלֶת‎, Kohelet)
 * Esther (אֶסְתֵּר‎, Esther)

• Daniel (דָּנִיֵּאל‎, Daniel)
• Ezra-Nehemiah (עֶזְרָא־נְחֶמְיָה‎, Ezra-Nehemiah)
• Chronicles (דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים‎, Divrei Hayamim)

Language and Textual Tradition

The Tanakh is primarily written in Biblical Hebrew, with some portions in Biblical Aramaic (notably in the books of Daniel and Ezra). The text has been preserved through meticulous copying by scribes over centuries, with the Masoretic Text being the authoritative version in Jewish tradition.

Interpretation and Commentary

Jewish tradition holds that the Tanakh is not only a historical document but also a source of divine wisdom and law. It is studied with the aid of various commentaries, such as those by Rashi, Maimonides, and others. The Talmud and Midrash also provide interpretative frameworks for understanding the Tanakh.

Significance in Judaism

The Tanakh is central to Jewish religious life and practice. It is read publicly in synagogues, particularly the Torah, which is read in a yearly cycle. The Tanakh also informs Jewish law, ethics, and theology.

Also see

• Torah
• Nevi'im
• Ketuvim
• Masoretic Text
• Talmud
• Midrash
• Hebrew Bible