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Tanakh and Talmud
The Tanakh is the set of books that constitute the Hebrew Bible. The Talmud, which comprises the Mishnah (Jewish Oral Law) and the Gemara (commentary on the Mishnah) is the written deliberation of Jewish principles and laws.
5,774 Questions
The Jewish "Bible" is the "Tanach" Composed of the Torah (First Five Books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Liviticus, Numbers and Deureronomy.) Then the books of the prophets, Joshua, Judges, and others, followed by the writings, Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Lamentations, Esther and others.) Everything in there can be found in what Christians call the "Old Testament" although translations, and the order of the books differ.
How did God help Moses convince the Pharaoh to let the Hebrews leave Egypt?
Well, ya see, Pharoah was a hard headed egotistic man. He was not easily convinced.
God through a cluster of plagues upon Pharoah and Egypt. The more Pharoah resisted God's command, the worse the plagues got. FInally, God had a plague sent as "The messenger of Death" went around Egypt, taking the souls of the first born son's in Egyptian families. This seemed like a revengeful plague, as Pharoah Ramses I had initially killed the first born children of the Israelites long ago.
So, Pharoah's son had died, and now in his agony and pain, he let the Israelites go.
He had a change of heart at the end, but lost anyway, because none has the strength to go against God, who is almighty.
The polytheistic law-code of Hammurabi was assembled by human beings, while the Torah which includes the Ten Commandments (Exodus ch.20) was, according to tradition, given by God (Exodus 24:12). The code of Hammurabi, and those of Eshnuna, Lipit-Ishtar and the Hittites (etc.), were subject to occasional revision, reversal, and eventual abandonment, while the Torah's commands were not. Many law codes limit themselves to legal matters, whereas the Torah intersperses its laws with moral exhortations and subjects of belief, behavior and attitudes. The Jews, by and large, adhered to the practices of the Torah, which calls for kindness, charity, scholarliness, the value of human life, equal treatment, and the abhorrence of promiscuity. The code of Hammurabi, on the other hand, calls for literal retaliation. Robbers are killed. Women are not considered legally equal to men; and landless men are not judged equally to landowners.See also the Related Link.
Name the judges in the book of Judges in the Bible?
Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson. Some add Barak and Abimelech, but they are not given the title of Judge in the Tanakh (Jewish Bible).
Another two are Eli and Samuel, but they are named in the book of Samuel, not in the book of Judges.
What are the sources of information about the ancient Hebrews?
There are three possible sources of information about the ancient Hebrews:
- The Old Testament. This was written by Jewish authors from the seventh century BCE onwards. It suffers from potential nationalistic bias and its reliance on what were already ancient traditions that had evolved over time. It is likely to omit anything unflattering or contrary to the political and religious realities of the time in which it was written.
The biblical texts can even be analysed, to establish when certain passages were written and by whom. This can provide information about how the Hebrew self-identity evolved.
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- Archaeological finds in Palestine for the Israelite era. These can at times either agree with the biblical sources, or disagree. Even when they agree, they shed new light on just who the Hebrews, or Israelites, were and what they believed. Archaeological finds have established the beginning of the Hebrew language as around the end of the tenth century BCE, and shown it to be based on the Canaanite language.
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- Historical records from Egypt and other parts of the ancient Near East. These are typically found in the archaeological record and can either confirm or disprove the Bible. By providing information about what other peoples of the time believed, they can also shed light on on what the Hebrews believed and how their religion evolved.
How did the ancient Hebrews develop Judaism?
Scholars now know that during what is now called the period of the Judges and during the first half of the monarchy, Hebrew religion was thoroughly polytheistic, as evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. Inscriptions found at Kuntillet 'Ajrud and at Khirbet el-Qom even appear to mean that the goddess Asherah was the consort of YHWH (Yahweh), the national God of Israel. Gradually, the number of gods in the Hebrew pantheon reduced, with, for example YHWH becoming syncretised with the Father of the gods, El (biblical: Elohim). Monotheistic Judaism finally evolved during the Babylonian Exile. In other words, Judaism, as we understand it, did not yet exist at the time of the Patriarchs or even the early monarchy.
Jewish answer:
Abraham (18th century BCE) came from ancestry that had been God-fearing a couple of centuries earlier but had afterwards slipped into idolatry (Joshua 24:2). Nimrod, the idolatrous tyrant, had brought Abraham's father (Terah) from the Semitic ancestral seat near the conjunction of the Balikh and the Euphrates, and instated him in a position of power in his army in the royal Babylonian city of Ur, where Abraham was born. Nimrod persecuted any who would question his idolatrous cult.
The Kuzari (Rabbi Judah HaLevi, 1075-1141) states that Abraham was gifted with high intelligence; and, as Maimonides (1135-1204) describes, Abraham didn't blindly accept the ubiquitous idolatry. The whole populace had been duped, but the young Abraham contemplated the matter relentlessly, finally arriving at the conclusion that there is One God and that this should be taught to others as well. This is what is meant by his "calling out in the name of the Lord" (Genesis ch.12). As a young man, he remonstrated with passersby in public, demonstrating to them the falsehood of their idols; and our tradition tells how he was threatened and endangered by Nimrod.
Subsequently, Terah relocated to Harran; and it is here that Abraham began to develop a circle of disciples (Rashi commentary, on Genesis 12:5).
Later, God told Abraham in prophecy to move to the Holy Land, which is where Abraham raised his family.
He continued his contemplations, eventually arriving at the attitudes and forms of behavior which God later incorporated into the Torah given to Moses. Abraham taught disciples (Talmud, Yoma 28b), gave tithes (Genesis ch.14), strove to raise a family (Genesis ch.15, 17, and 24) which would serve God (Genesis 18:19), made a covenant with God (Genesis ch.15 and 17), welcomed guests into his home (Genesis ch.18) unlike the inhospitable Sodomites (Genesis ch.19), prayed for people (Genesis ch.18), rebuked others when necessary (Genesis ch.20), eulogized and buried the deceased (Genesis ch.23), and fulfilled God's will unquestioningly (Genesis ch.22). He became renowned as a prince of God (Genesis 23:6).
All of these forms of behavior were based upon the ways of God, which Abraham comprehended through his contemplations. These, and similar personality traits, were the teachings of Abraham and his descendants.
It is therefore clear why God expresses His love for Abraham (Isaiah 41:8) and calls Himself the God of Abraham (Genesis 26:24), and says that Abraham obeyed Him fully (Genesis 26:5). And this is why, according to our tradition, Abraham is credited with having begun the religion which became known as Judaism. However, Abraham and his descendants observed their traditions voluntarily, until the Giving of the Torah to Moses 3325 years ago, when God made it obligatory.
Isaac is the second of the three Forefathers and (like Abraham and Jacob) one of the greatest personages in Judaism.
Isaac (Yitzhak) was a son of Abraham (Genesis ch.21); and God said that His covenant with Abraham would continue with Isaac (Genesis 17:18-19). Isaac had facial features that were identical to Abraham (Rashi commentary, Genesis 25:19).
God tested Abraham by asking him to offer Isaac as an offering (see Genesis ch.22); and this readiness for self-sacrifice bestowed a special holiness upon Isaac (Talmud, Yevamot 64).
Isaac married Rebecca (Genesis ch.24), his second cousin. Rebecca gave birth to two sons, Esau and Jacob (Genesis ch.25).
God spoke to Isaac, confirming His covenant with him (Genesis ch.26).
Despite harassment from the Philistines, Isaac enjoyed great success (ibid.). He reopened all the wells which his father had dug and the Philistines had stopped up (ibid.). The king of the Philistines, unable to ignore Isaac's phenomenal success, petitioned him to make a mutual treaty of non-aggression (ibid.).
In his advanced years, Isaac sought to bless his elder son Esau (Genesis ch.27). Rebecca took pains to thwart this and to ensure that Jacob would receive the blessing, since she had learned through prophecy (Genesis 25:23) that Jacob would be more favored by God. Later it became apparent that Isaac admitted Rebecca's having done the right thing, since he blessed Jacob again (Genesis 28:1-4) even after he found out what had happened (see Genesis 27:6-16).
Isaac sent Jacob to the ancestral family seat in Mesopotamia to choose a wife (Genesis ch.28). Though Jacob didn't return for over twenty years (Genesis 31:38), God granted Isaac extra years, so that he lived on for two decades after Jacob's return.
Isaac was buried next to his father Abraham (Genesis 49:31).
Jacob, son of Isaac, was the last of the Patriarchs (Talmud, Berakhot 16b). He spent a lot of time in the tents (Genesis 25:27) studying his ancestors' teachings (Rashi commentary, ibid.); and eventually, like Abraham and Isaac before him, reached the level of prophecy, in which God spoke to him and promised His protection (Genesis 28:10-15).
When the opportunity presented itself, Jacob asked his brother Esau to sell him his first-born birthright (Genesis 25:29:34), since he sensed that Esau wasn't pious enough to fully deserve it. Thus began the fulfillment of the prophecy which Rebecca had heard, that Jacob would become the dominant of her two sons (Genesis 25:22-23).
Jacob's life was replete with tribulations. He managed to come out ahead despite the wiles of the deceitful Laban (Genesis 29:25 and 31:41) and the danger presented by the angry Esau (Genesis 27:41 and 32:12). There were painful events with his daughter Dinah (Genesis 34:1-7) and with his being separated for two decades from his beloved son, Joseph (Genesis ch.37); and his wife Rachel died at a young age in childbirth (Genesis 35:16-19).
These troubles were a portent for the tribulations of the Jews in their times of exile. But Jacob received, in prophecy, God's affirmation of His covenant and blessing (Genesis 28:13-14; 35:9-12; 46:2-4), signifying that the exile would eventually end.
These three, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were the founders of the Israelite (Jewish) people, both physically and spiritually; and God calls himself "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" (Exodus ch.3) eighteen times in the Torah.
It is their ways and traditions that the Torah preserves.
What were the chief legacies of ancient Hebrews to Western Civilization?
You have asked a wide-ranging question with many hundreds of details in its answer. I'll provide a few examples.
The long, rich history of Judaism gives the western world much of its shape today. Many of the laws, traditions, culture and values are directly attributable to Judaism.
1) The Jews' monotheistic religious tradition shaped the Western beliefs about God.
2) The 7-day week, including a day of rest for everyone.
3) The concept of morality was also the work of the Hebrews, including the dignity and value of a person. Women's rights also were carefully maintained in this ancient culture. Israelite women could own property, could initiate court cases, could have their own servants, and could own fields and businesses; and the Torah specifies marital rights for women (Exodus 21:10). Today's laws giving women equal rights under the law are a by-product of Judaism.
4) Under Israelite law, everyone had recourse to the courts. A child, widow, wife, etc., could initiate legal action against any citizen to redress perpetrated harm. Compare this to those societies in which only mature, land-owning males had any legal status.
5) What is customary to be eaten in Western society is a reflection of much of the Judaic dietary law. With the exception of the pig, Western society does not eat species not contained in kosher law. Owls, mice, insects, rats, snakes, cats and dogs are not eaten by most Westerners and it is a direct result of Jewish culture.
6) Parents are responsible for teaching children. Illiteracy among Israelites, in every generation, was rare. Universal education in the Western world is taken for granted today, yet this is a recent development. In Judaism, however, it goes back 3300 years. Judaism has always maintained that education is the highest goal of man in his pursuit of Godliness. This tradition has now been passed on to Western culture.
7) Infants are to be protected and cared for, whether or not they turned out to be the gender you were hoping for. Compare this to societies in which unhealthy babies, or females, were killed.
8) Cruelty to animals is not acceptable.
9) Government is accountable to a higher authority. In other ancient societies, the monarch was all-powerful. Among the Israelites, however, the king was under the constant scrutiny of the Divinely-informed prophets, who didn't hesitate to castigate him publicly for any misstep in the sight of God. And, other than for the crime of rebellion, the king couldn't punish any citizen by his own decision. He was obligated by the Torah-procedures like everyone else.
10) A robber repays double to his victim, or works it off. Cutting off the hands of a robber is a punishable crime. Debtors are not imprisoned or harmed. They are made to sell property and/or work to repay what they owe. Compare this to the Roman practice by which anyone could accuse a man of owing them money and the debtor could be killed.
Western jurisprudence in general is based in part upon Judaic Torah observance. A quick look at the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and the laws that follow (Exodus ch.21-23) gives a very good summary of most modern law.
11) It is the responsibility of the community to support the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger passing through.
It is important to note that every one of the above was instituted among the Hebrews (a.k.a. the Israelites) thousands of years earlier than in other nations. Here's just one example: Aristotle, who was among the greatest of the Greeks, and Seneca, the famous Roman, both write that killing one's young babies is perfectly acceptable.
Which of King David's sons was Israel's most famous king?
Scripturally it would probably be Solomon, king of Israel from 1037 to 998 B.C.E.
Instead of asking God for riches, glory, and victory, Solomon requested a wise, understanding, and obedient heart in order to be able to judge Israel. (1 Kings 3 :4-14)
1 Kings chapters 6 to 8 describe how he built the temple in Jerusalem, and reigned peacefully for many years and while faithful to God, was given more wisdom than anyone who had ever lived.(1 Kings 10:1-9, 24 and 2 Chronicles 9:1-8)
Eventually, however, his heart was turned away from the true God 1Kings 11:1-8.
Without Rashi's commentaries, which are still seen by Jews as being among the most authoritative, the Torah and the Talmud would be much more difficult for us to understand. Rashi (1040-1105) was also seen as instrumental in the development and articulation of Ashkenazic Jewish traditions, being the counterpoint to the Sephardic Jewish leader Rambam (Maimonides, 1135-1204).
What did the ancient Hebrews offer for sacrifices?
Exod.29 [1] Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish, [11] And thou shalt kill the bullock before the LORD, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
[12] And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar.
[13] And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
Answer:
One of the topics in the Torah (Leviticus ch.1-8) is that of sacrifices. Since the Holy Temple doesn't exist today, we don't now offer sacrifices. In earlier times, sacrifices were one of the ways of serving God; a type of manifest prayer. They consisted of bullocks, goats, sheep, rams, turtle-doves, or fine flour, accompanied by an offering of oil and of wine (see Numbers ch.15). Some offerings were obligatory and some were voluntary; some were for the individual and some were for the public. There was one offering which was intended to provide merit for the non-Jewish nations as well.
Some of the ideas included in the sacrifices are: gratitude (the Shelamim-offering, Leviticus ch.3), dedication to God (the Olah-offering, Leviticus ch.1), celebration (the Hagigah-offering during Festivals), atonement (the sin-offerings, Leviticus ch.4-5), and public worship (the offerings in Numbers ch.28-9).
Our traditions teach that as long as the sacrifices were offered in the Temple, the world was blessed (Talmud, Ketubot 10b) and atoned for (Sukkah 55b).
Some people have a misconception that the Prophets were not in favor of sacrifices. This is a mistake. The same Prophet Samuel who said that obedience is more important than offerings (1 Samuel ch.15), himself offered up sacrifices to God (1 Samuel ch.13).
Did the 10 plagues affect God's people in Egypt?
Every one in Egypt was affected, as frogs were everywhere, Not only the ones god sent but also the ones the Egyptian magcians made to come on the land. magi
What contributions did women make in ancient Hebrew society?
Some were political and military leaders, such as queen Esther or the judge Deborah. Or Miriam, the sister of Moses, was a spiritual leader.
Answer 1
Ancient Hebrew societies were largely male dominated. Polygamy was a common practice, but died out around the time Jesus was around. Women were considered the property of men, and in every way inferior to men. For example, the women would not eat with the men but instead eat while standing and serving the men. Women kept a distance from men on streets and were restricted from certain parts of the "Temple." They basically cooked, cleaned, farmed, and made bore children for the men, who they often times called "lord" or "master".
Answer 2
very much like modern society, with functions such as learning the law as a child, taking care of her household as married adult and producing children also in times of festivity it is mentioned in the old testament they had a prominent role in leading celebrations such as occurred during a nascent David's victories, The Exodus, and Jael's dispatching of Sisera while he slept in her tent.
Answer 3- Polygamy died out among Jews about one thousand years ago, unlike what the first answer claims. It was prohibited through a decree made by Rabbi Gershom. Before that, it was much more seldom than what the first answer claims. In the Talmud, for example, you have to search far and wide to attempt to find a single Sagewho had more than one wife. In the Tanakh also, with the exception of some of the kings, polygamy was rare.
- Several women achieved prophecy (Talmud, Megillah 14a).
- Israelite women could own property, could initiate court cases, could have their own servants, and could own fields and businesses. The Torah specifies marital rights for women (Exodus 21:10); and any husband who anguished his wife could expect Divine punishment (Talmud, Bava Metzia 59).
- Women ate at the table (unlike what the first answer says), except during their menses. They were restricted from some parts of the Temple, but so were men (Mishna, Keilim ch.2).
- A circumspect husband would seek out the advice of his wife (Genesis 31:3-16), because she could be trusted to supervise the goings-on in the home (Proverbs 31:27), just like a Chief Executive Officer.
How did the Hebrew view of history differ from that of the Mesopotamians and the Egyptians?
I don't know how the Egyptians and Mesopotamians viewed history, so I won't speak for them.
The Israelite view is that God has placed before us three books of wisdom. The most important is the Torah. The other two "books" are: the created world, including the stars and planets, plants, animals, and ourselves; and the events of history. History is seen by the religious Jew as a book of Divine lessons.
What are facts about Abraham the founder of Judaism?
When God promised Abraham a son he was 75 years old. His son was finally born when he was 100 years old.
- Answer 2
The Kuzari (Rabbi Judah HaLevi, 1075-1141) states that Abraham was gifted with high intelligence; and, as Maimonides (1135-1204) describes, Abraham didn't blindly accept the ubiquitous idolatry. The whole populace had been duped, but the young Abraham contemplated the matter relentlessly, finally arriving at the conclusion that there is One God and that this should be taught to others as well. This is what is meant by his "calling out in the name of the Lord" (Genesis ch.12). As a young man, he remonstrated with passersby in public, demonstrating to them the falsehood of their idols; and our tradition tells how he was threatened and endangered by Nimrod.
Subsequently, Terah relocated to Harran; and it is here that Abraham began to develop a circle of disciples (Rashi commentary, on Genesis 12:5). Later, God told Abraham in prophecy to move to the Holy Land, which is where he raised his family. He continued his contemplations, eventually arriving at the attitudes and forms of behavior which God later incorporated into the Torah given to Moses.
Moses achieved the highest level of prophecy (Deuteronomy ch.34) and was called upon by God (Exodus ch.3). He brought the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery (Exodus ch.12). He received the Torah from God (Exodus 24:12) and later recorded it in writing (Deuteronomy 31:24). He went up on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights (Deuteronomy ch.9-10) and brought down the Two Stone Tablets with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 31:18). He brought the Israelites into the covenant with God (Exodus ch.19 and ch.24), and he oversaw the building of the Tabernacle (Exodus ch.35-40). He was the humblest of men and the greatest of prophets (Numbers ch.12).
What language did the ancient Hebrews speak?
It depends at what point, but mainly Hebrew and Aramaic.
What did the Ancient Hebrews trade?
By around 700 BCE, camels were being used to cross the Jordanian desert, providing new trading opportunities for Judah, particularly as a transit point for trade between the east and Mediterranean ports. With its new wealth, Judah could absorb Israelite refugees after the destruction of Israel in 722, and its population grew rapidly.
Jews of the diaspora were expected to help support the Jerusalem Temple, and their pilgrimages also added to the Judean economy. By the beginning of the Christian era, 'God fearers' became an important new source of revenue for Jerusalem. These were pagans who wanted to be sure to worship all the gods for fear of offending any. Since the Jewish God could only be worshipped in Jerusalem, they added to the economic welfare of Judea.
What did xerxes witness in salamis?
A foothill of Mt Aigaleos above the overlooking the strait between Athens and Salamis.
What are the characteristics of the supreme being of the ancient Hebrews?
The Creator of the universe.
Dictionaries define "Judaism" as The monotheistic religion of the Jews, since the founding principle of Judaism was and is the belief in One ethical God. This was the teaching which was spread by Abraham, and has continued since then. From Judaism, belief in One God has spread through the Western world.
Does the Arab world align with Isaac or Ishmael?
Abraham one of gods messangers had two wives Hager and Sarah. Ismael was Hager's son and Isaac was Sarah's son. each son would be the father of a nation. The Israelites descended from Isaac and the Ishmaelites from Ishmael.And as said that Arab where identified as Ishmaelities.
What happened to the Hebrew Children and the fiery furnace?
The three Hebrew boys were thrown into the fiery furnance as the king had made an golden statue and demanded that all the people should bow down humbly to it but these three refused to do so.
Why did the ancient Hebrews settle in Canaan?
God gave Abraham the land of Canaan, modern day Israel.
