Prepared by: Richard G.

Pazcoguin UST-IR

The word testament means agreement or covenant.

The Old Testament refers to the several agreements made by God with His Chosen People, and in a special way, to the covenant mediated by Moses through whom the laws of the Lord were given to Israel. The Old Testament is a collection of books of different literary genre, all expressing how the Chosen People experienced the saving work of God in their nations history. The Old Testament is also known as the Hebrew Scriptures since it refers to the collective written tradition of the Israelites.

The Old Testament is a collection of memories, a record of faith experiences. It is partial account of the Sacred History of Gods Chosen People. Understanding the text presupposes belief that it is indeed God that speaks. The Old Testament should be read by Christians in the light of the New Testament.

"the economy of the Old Testament was deliberately so oriented that it should prepare for and declare in prophecy the coming of Christ, redeemer of all men. Even though they contain matters imperfect and provisional, the books of the Old Testament bear witness to the whole divine pedagogy of God's saving love: these writings "are a storehouse of sublime teaching on God and of sound wisdom on human life, as well as a wonderful treasury of prayers; in them, too, the mystery of our salvation is present in a hidden way.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 112 Dei Verbum 15

The people possesses

a land

NORTHERN KINGDOM: ISRAEL 721

creation

a king

Sacred History of the North (E) ELIJAH AMOS HOSEA ISAIAH MICAH

Assyrian Invasion

patriarchs

To give meaning to their life they go back to their traditions

JEREMIAH
Jerusalem

a temple

SOUTHERN KINGDOM: JUDAH

Sacred Judean History (J)

Babylonian Invasion

c. 1000BC David conquers Jerusalem and makes it Israels capital. Solomon organized the Kingdom. During this time, literature began. People wrote down their memories of their experiences of God, in particular, their liberation from Egypt. In an attempt to give meaning to their life by identifying their origins, they then wrote about the patriarchs, as well as the origins of humanity and the universe. When Solomon died around 933BC, the Kingdom was divided. The Northern Kingdom was called Israel, with Samaria as its capital, and the southern Kingdom became Judah, with Jerusalem as its capital.

Judah remained faithful to Davids dynasty and the people regarded the King as the principle of unity and as Gods representative. They believed that God lived in their midst in the Temple. Isaiah and Micah were the prophets that preached in Judah.Their Sacred History is known as the Yahwist Tradition (J). Israel broke out with Davids dynasty, therefore the king did not enjoy as much religious importance as the king of Judah. The prophets were regarded as Gods representatives, defending the peoples faith from adulterations brought about by the Caananite religion which revered the Baals. Elijah, Amos, and Hosea were the prophets of the North. The Sacred History of the North, which also began under David and Solomon, is called the Elohist Tradition (E). In 721, Israel was invaded and destroyed by the Assyrians. In 587, Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians, and the able men were brought to Babylon to work.

Reflection and the traditions become BOOKS

EZEKIEL II ISAIAH
EZRA. About 400 brings together J,E,D,P to form the LAW or PENTATEUCH

ALEXANDER conquers the Middle East

Sacred Priestly History (P)

The scrolls of the PROPHETS are composed

167-164 persecution under Seleucids Age of Martyrs ROME expands empire

In 538 Cyrus liberates the Jews

The reflections of the WISE MEN culminates in various masterpieces

DANIEL

APOCALYPSES

This was the time of the formation of the three great groups SADDUCEES PHARISEES ESSENES

The people of Judah were in exile in Babylon for half a century. During this era of suffering and wavering faith in God, the Prophet Ezekiel and a disciple of Isaiah exhorted the people by reminding them of Gods power and faithfulness manifested their past experiences. The priests presented once again to the people their traditions to help them find meaning in their suffering. This development gave birth to what will later be known as the Priestly Tradition (P). In 538, Cyrus of Persia freed the Jews. They settled in Palestine again. The sacred three sacred histories together with Deuteronomy was compiled by a priest-scribe, Ezra, thus forming a unique book: the Torah or Law. As wise men reflected over their faith-life experiences, they wrote these down and the products were masterpieces like Job, Proverbs, and Tobit.

In 333 Alexander the Great conquered the Middle East and spread the Greek culture and language. In 167, King Antiochus, a Syrian Seleucid successor of Alexander, forced the Jews to renounce their faith. He prohibited the observance of the Sabbath rest and the practice of circumcision. He abominated the temple by offering a pig, an unclean animal, on the altar. He martyred countless Israelites who chose to hold on their faith. The cruelty of Antiochus prompted an uprising known as the Maccabean revolt. During the time of Syrian Seleucid rule, scripture authors wrote apocalypses: the coming of an end time, the culmination of history which is Messianic age when God finally puts an end to the sufferings of his people. The Maccabean revolt was successful and gave the Jews a century of self-rule. In 63C, Rome took over the Middle East.

a.k.a. -TORAH the law -PENTATEUCH five containers

The Torah is revered by the Jews as the most sacred of all writings. The Torah was a tangible manifestation of Gods divine guidance in their earthly pilgrimage. This section is also called Pentateuch because it is made up of five books:

GENESIS

LEVITICUS

NUMBERS EXODUS DEUTERONOMY

JOSHUA

JUDGES

RUTH

The historical books tell the story of the chosen people as they strived to live the provisions of their covenant with God. Sadly, often they were EZRA unfaithful to the covenant. Nonetheless, the historical books highlight the fidelity of God, who was firm in his conduct of justice but abounding in love and mercy despite NEHEMIAH the peoples disobedience.

JUDITH

ESTHER

1 and 2 SAMUEL 1 and 2 KINGS

1 and 2 CHRONICLES

TOBIT

1 and 2 MACCABEES

Prophecy is among the recognized modes of revelation in Israel. The Prophets help the Israelites to see events as signs pointing towards God; they warn the people on the consequences of their infidelity to the covenant. The Prophetic writings contain the following themes: 1.Faithfulness to God 2.Justice for the poor and the oppressed 3.The coming of the Messiah

ISAIAH

EZEKIEL

JEREMIAH +LAMENTATIONS BARUCH

DANIEL

OBADIAH

JONAH

ZEPHANIAH

HOSEA

MICAH

HAGGAI

JOEL

NAHUM

ZECHARIAH

AMOS

HABAKKUK

MALACHI

JOB

As the Israelites reflected on human life in the light of their faith, they composed prayers, poems, hymns, sayings, and parables which express their religious insights on the life, as well as on the different things that affect humanity.

SONG OF SONGS

PSALMS

WISDOM

PROVERBS

ECCLESIASTES

SIRACH (ECCLESIASTICUS)

It should be noted that while we call the first Testament Old, we do not mean that it is obsolete. Rather, we affirm Gods first love for Israel: that when God revealed himself to humanity, his had to start with a group pf people- the Israelites. This love was eventually universalized with the coming of Christ who mediates the new and everlasting covenant. Hence, the New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old. One would not appreciate the fulfillment if one does not know the promise.

THEO AERTS and BERNARD HURAULT THE CATHOLIC BIBLE Quezon City: Claretian Publications, 2001 ETIENNE CHARPENTIER HOW TO READ THE OLD TESTAMENT Quezon City: Claretian Publications, 1997 IAN KNOX C.S.Sp. THEOLOGY FOR TEACHERS Ottawa: Novalis Press, 1994 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH