REL 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Books Of Samuel, Tanakh, Book Of Leviticus
Document Summary
Around 5000 bce, civilizations began to emerge in the ancient near east. Some ancient civilizations referenced in the tanakh: sumer (5000-1500, ancient egypt (3500-100, ancient babylon (1800-1170, assyrian (1200-612, persian achaemenes empire (550-330) Written tradition (which can be traced back to ~1000 bce) was preceded by an oral tradition. Some date the oldest tradition to 2000 bce. For a study of ancient judaism, we have two main sources (others too): sacred scriptures of the torah, tanakh, archeology. Three collections of writings: torah-the most sacred, read from in sabbath services, nevi"im, ketuvim. Genesis: creation, noah, abraham & the tribes of israel. Challenge for early jewish history- the torah/tanakh is the major source. Archeology can confirm some claims, not others. Reward/ punishment here in this world/ life in world to come. Sacrificial tradition tradition in which there are no longer animal/ other sacrifice. No real concept of life after death life after death & resurrection of the dead.
