ABSTRACT
The Hebrew Bible, a book valued and treasured by varied groups of people, is also referred to as the "Old Testament/' or the "Tanakh". Each designation makes a specific theological statement. "Tanakh" is actually a Hebrew acronym composed of initials for the original tripartite division of the Hebrew Bible, which differs from the Christian ordering. The Hebrew Bible consists of three sections: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim. The Torah, also called the Pentateuch, or Five Books of Moses, begins with the creation of the world and then follows a particular genealogical line as it develops from family, to clan, to nation. The Torah ends with the death of Moses and the Israelites poised on the border of Canaan, ready to enter the land. The section of the Bible called the Prophets continues where the Torah left off. The third division of the Hebrew Bible is known as the "Ketuvim", the "Hagiographa", or the "Writings".
