Bible Canon

THE BIBLE CANON : M. M. NINAN
TANAKH
The Hebrew Bible is called the TaNaKh.
The letters T-N-K are an acronym for the three parts of the Bible of Judaism:
• Torah (tor-AH) -- ה)‏ ‏,תּוֹרָ‏ literally "teaching") The Law, also called the Pentateuch
(Greek for "five books")
חמישה חומשי ( Torah Printed versions of the Torah are often called Chamisha Chumshei
Chumash. literally the "five five-sections of the Torah"), and informally a ‏,תורה
• Nebiim ( neh-veh-EEM) ‏,נְבִיאִים)‏ "Prophets") consists of eight books.-- The Prophets.
This cover the time from the entrance of the Israelites into the Land of Israel until
the Babylonian captivity of Judah known generally as the "period of prophecy".
• Ketubim (keh-tu-VEEM) ‏,כְּתוּבִים)‏ "Writings") -- The Writings - known by the Greek title
"Hagiographa" and consists of eleven books. These encompass the remaining books,
and include the Five Megillot (Five Scrolls). They are sometimes divided into such
categories as Sifrei Emet אמת)‏ ‏,ספרי literally "Books of Truth"), the "wisdom books",
the "poetry books" and the "historical books".
Jesus quoted it thus: "The Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms" (Luke 24:44).
Listed below are the books of the Tanakh. Three main "headers" show the three divisions of
the book spoken of above. Additionally the Prophets section is subdivided into the Former
Prophets and the Latter Prophets. The Latter Prophets also include "The Twelve" (Minor
Prophets).
"In the case of the historical books, such as Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 &
2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, it is believed that the priest-scribe Ezra compiled them
from original records made nearer the time of their occurrence (works such as The Book of
Jashar and The Book of the Wars of Yahweh).
These are, as of yet, lost to us but it may be that these will one day be found again. Ezra’s
compilation would have taken place in the 5th century B.C. As for the books of prophecy
and other writings, both poetic and moral, there is little attestation as to when they were
finally organized into a coherent unit but the Tanakh as we know it today was closed around
the year 200 B.C.
Over the next few centuries, the text would be standardized and given proper vocalization
and punctuation, allowing for better translation. This work was carried out entirely by the
Sopherim (“scribes”) and the Masoretes (“keepers of tradition”)."
http://www.theopedia.com/Development_of_the_canon
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