The Hebrew bible, as distinct from the Christian understanding of the "old testament".
17
votes
5answers
572 views
Why is the Septuagint (LXX) significant?
What is the LXX and why is it so noteworthy that there is a Greek translation of the OT? Wouldn't it be better to reference the Hebrew original?
10
votes
2answers
159 views
Did Jephthah have pets?
Judges 11:29-40 tells the story of Jephthah's victory over the Ammonites. Before the battle he promises, "whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the ...
5
votes
7answers
581 views
How did mankind's way of relating to God change in Genesis 4:26?
At the end of Chapter 4 of Genesis there is a statement in verse 26, "It was then that men began to invoke the Lord by name." Other translations have "call on the name" or "worship the LORD by name". ...
1
vote
2answers
118 views
Was Nathan a false prophet?
After David established himself in Jerusalem, Nathan prophesied:
“The Lord declares to you that He, the Lord, will establish a house for you. When your days are done and you lie with your fathers, ...
26
votes
6answers
558 views
How do Jewish scholars differ from Christian scholars in their approach to the Tanakh?
What are the characteristic differences between how Jewish scholarship approaches the text of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and that of Christian scholars? If their approach was the same I assume they ...
10
votes
3answers
141 views
Why does the Septuagint contain non-Tanakh books?
The deuterocanonical books, treated as part of the Bible by the Orthodox and Catholic churches, are accepted because they appear in the Septuagint. However, they are excluded from the Jewish Bible, ...
9
votes
2answers
755 views
What is the significance of “east” in the Scriptures?
There seems to be some significance to the east in the Scriptures.
The garden is planted in the east of Eden
Cherubim are stationed on the east side of the Garden of Eden
Parts of the burnt offering ...
7
votes
3answers
329 views
How does the Noah's Ark narrative relate to the Gilgamesh flood account?
How does the Noah's Ark narrative relate to other the Gilgamesh flood account?
For reference, the Biblical flood account is in Genesis 6-10 and the Gilgamesh flood account is on Tablet XI. The ...
4
votes
2answers
182 views
Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) significant?
Is there anything that the Dead Sea Scrolls made clearer regarding the texts of the Old Testament? Did their discovery change the way we view the development of the Tanakh?
3
votes
5answers
600 views
Why did the Law of Moses tolerate polygyny (polygamy) but not polyandry? [closed]
Why did the Laws of Moses tolerate men having multiple wives, but did not grant the same type of toleration to women? I am not asking why God tolerated polygyny, although that may be included in the ...
2
votes
3answers
114 views
Old Testament connection between circumcision and (re)birth? [closed]
In the New Testament, spiritual circumcision is equated with the new birth.
Does a circumcision-birth connection exist in the Old Testament or Tanakh? I've thought about posting this at Judaism.SE or ...
2
votes
4answers
388 views
Which hermeneutical approaches support a literal interpretation of the Creation account?
I had always been told that a day meant 24 hours, but a systematic theology textbook I read disputed that pretty well. (Please do not address this item in particular. This isn't the question I'm ...
0
votes
2answers
122 views
Why is God called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? [closed]
Jesus termed God as mentioned in the title. On what account did he do that specifically regarding these three fathers? Why did he not say: The God of Noah? Or the God of Joseph? Or the God of Moses? ...
