How To Read The Jewish Bible, authored by biblical scholar, and professor, Marc Zvi Brettler, is an enlightening text, guiding people on how to read the Hebrew scriptures in a more purposeful way. Brettler reveals that this book provides a response to the frustration many readers hold with the Hebrew Bible, based on the accustomed tendency to filter it through the lens of present day culture. Generally, he argues, as a result this leads one to either misconstrue passages, or the arrive to the definitive conclusion that the Bible holds no value within our contemporary era and therefore, as a whole, is irrelevant and should just collect dust. Written as a general introduction to the Hebrew Bible, Brettler designedly provides a neutral approach to aid readers of all backgrounds to find deeper
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This again is a distinction from the structure of the “Christian Bible”, further supporting his intention of taking a “Jewishly sensitive” (pg 3) approach in his writing. As discussed in class, Brettler describes the Torah as “Instruction”, or teachings. The second division, Nevi’m, meaning “Prophets”, contain the writings of former and latter prophets, with teaching on how to return to the Torah. Finally Kethuvim are the “Writings”, containing life examples to learn from. Alongside his brief synopsis of the history of ancient Israel, these four chapters combined provide the necessary framework for the reader to have a beginning knowledge of the make up of the Jewish Bible. As well, they provide rationales for reading the Hebrew Bible with a historical-critical approach, through the lens of the culture and conventions of Ancient Near East World, to gain the fullest understanding of why it was important to the Jewish culture of that day and age, and what relevance it brings to this
This again is a distinction from the structure of the “Christian Bible”, further supporting his intention of taking a “Jewishly sensitive” (pg 3) approach in his writing. As discussed in class, Brettler describes the Torah as “Instruction”, or teachings. The second division, Nevi’m, meaning “Prophets”, contain the writings of former and latter prophets, with teaching on how to return to the Torah. Finally Kethuvim are the “Writings”, containing life examples to learn from. Alongside his brief synopsis of the history of ancient Israel, these four chapters combined provide the necessary framework for the reader to have a beginning knowledge of the make up of the Jewish Bible. As well, they provide rationales for reading the Hebrew Bible with a historical-critical approach, through the lens of the culture and conventions of Ancient Near East World, to gain the fullest understanding of why it was important to the Jewish culture of that day and age, and what relevance it brings to this