What are the Three Holy Books in Judaism and the differences between each one?

Answer 1

Judaism has only one holy book, the Tanakh, which is divided into three parts:

Torah

Neviim (Prophets)

Ketuvim (Writings)

1) The Torah (תורה) is the primary Jewish holy book. It includes the 5 Books of Moses. These books are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Jews believe that the Torah was given by God to Moses (Exodus 24:12), who transmitted it to the people and put it in writing (Deuteronomy 31:24). Portions of the Torah are read in front of the congregation several times a week; and the scroll containing the Torah is considered holy. The word "Torah" derives from the Hebrew Word "yarah" which means "to aim" or "direct" and Jews believe that the words of the Torah aim and direct a Jew to proper action belief. The word Torah also has the same root as 'morah', meaning teacher.

1-5: The Torah (Five Books of Moses):

• 1. (בראשית / Bereshit) - Genesis
• 2. (שמות / Shemot) - Exodus
• 3. (ויקרא / Vayikra) - Leviticus
• 4. (במדבר / Bamidbar) - Numbers
• 5. (דברים / Devarim) - Deuteronomy

2) Nevi'im (×?ביאים) The Prophets. The Jews see the books of the Prophets as the story of their past and the relationship between God and Israel. Jewish tradition (Talmud, Bava Batra 14b) states that the prophetic books were written by the authors whose names they bear: Joshua, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, etc. Judges is credited to Samuel, and Kings was written by Jeremiah. The Prophets includes a total of 8 books according to the Jewish count.

6-9: The Nevi'im Rishonim (Early Prophets):

• 6. (יהושע / Yehoshua) - Joshua
• 7. (שופטים / Shophtim) - Judges
• 8. (שמואל / Shemuel) - Samuel (I & II)
• 9. (מלכים / Melakhim) - Kings (I & II)

10-13: The Nevi'im Acharonim (Later Prophets):

• 10. (ישעיה / Yeshayahu) - Isaiah
• 11. (ירמיה / Yirmiyahu) - Jeremiah
• 12. (יחזקאל / Yechezkel) - Ezekiel
• 13. (תרי עשר / Trei Asar), the twelve Minor Prophets

Books and Prophets within the Trei Asar:

a. (הושע / Hoshea) - Hosea

b. (יואל / Yo'el) - Joel

c. (עמוס / Amos) - Amos

d. (עובדיה / Ovadyah) - Obadiah

e. (יו×?×” / Yonah) - Jonah

f. (מיכה / Mikhah) - Micah

g. (×?חום / Nachum) - Nahum

h. (חבקוק /Chavakuk) - Habakkuk

i. (צפ×?×™×” / Tzefanyah) - Zephaniah

j. (×—×’×™ / Chagai) - Haggai

k. (זכריה / Zekharyah) - Zechariah

l. (מלאכי / Mal'akhi) - Malachi

3) Ketuvim (כתובים) "Writings" includes the remaining History Books: Daniel, Lamentations, and others. Jewish tradition (Talmud, Bava Batra 14b) states that the prophetic books were written by the authors whose names they bear: Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, etc. Ruth was written by Samuel, Lamentations was written by Jeremiah, Psalms was set in writing by King David, Chronicles was written by Ezra; Proverbs, Song of Songs and Kohellet (Ecclesiastes) were written by King Solomon; and Esther was written by Mordecai and Esther. Concerning Job, the Talmud states more than one opinion as to when it was written. The Writings consists of 11 books by the Jewish count:

14-16: The "Sifrei Emet":

• 14. (תהלים / Tehillim) - Psalms
• 15. (משלי / Mishlei) - Proverbs
• 16. (איוב / Iyov) - Job

17-21: The Five Megilot ("Five Scrolls"):

• 17. (שיר השירים / Shir Hashirim) - Song of Songs
• 18. (רות / Rut) - Ruth
• 19. (איכה / Eikhah) - Lamentations
• 20. (קהלת / Kohelet) - Ecclesiastes
• 21. (אסתר / Esther) - Esther

22-24: The rest of the Writings:

• 22. (ד×?יאל / Daniel) - Daniel
• 23. (עזרא ו×?חמיה / Ezra v'Nechemia) - Ezra & Nehemiah
• 24. (דברי הימים / Divrei Hayamim) - Chronicles (I & II)

Further information

The term Torah can refer loosely to the entire Jewish Bible.

Tradition places the sealing of the Tanakh around 340 BCE.