Old Testament

Whatever the uncertainties of detail and the discussions between specialists, all agree that the books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament or First Covenant) were written in the Asian Near East, more precisely in the region closest to Africa, somewhere between the end of the 2nd millennium and the 1st century BC.

A number of the books of the Old Testament were written before and during the Judean Exile of 597 BC. Others took their definitive form during the Persian period, on the return from Exile.

However, a canon was not formulated until 98 A.D. in Yavneh (probably Jamnia in the Holy Land) when the foundations of a new worship practice had to be established after the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of its Temple by the Roman legions (70).

History >

Biblical history begins with the creation of the world and focuses on the relationship between God and mankind, in particular with the people of Israel, who are often described as a small people surrounded by great powers. The stories include major events such as the Exodus, the conquest of the Promised Land, and periods of kingship and exile.

The Dead Sea Scrolls >

The Dead Sea Scrolls, also known as the Qumran Scrolls, are a collection of parchments and papyrus fragments, mainly in Hebrew, but also in Aramaic and Greek, unearthed mainly between 1947 and 1956 near the site of Qumran, then in Mandatory Palestine (1947-1948), and later in the West Bank.

The oldest manuscripts >

A biblical manuscript is a copy of a text from the Jewish and Christian religions, written before the use of printing. The word manuscript comes from the Latin manus (hand) and scriptum (written), Bible from the Greek βιϐλια (books).

The oldest Torah scrolls >

The Torah scroll, or Sefer Torah, is a sacred manuscript containing the text of the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch. The term is sometimes extended to include all the books of the Tanakh (Old Testament).

Old Testament books >

In the 4th century BC, the five books of the Torah were definitively established. The Jewish canon was established at the end of the 1st century CE. Taking the first letters of the three names, Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim, the Jews formed the word TaNaKh, by which they named the Scriptures.

Tradition of Judaism >

Judaism is a monotheistic religion with roots stretching back thousands of years. It is characterized by rituals, traditions and practices that have stood the test of time. The main concepts of Judaism include the Torah, the Talmud and the mitzvot (commandments).