I. =Name.= Here is a volume which we call "The Holy Bible." The word
"bible" means "books"--_biblia_, plural of Greek _biblion_, "book." So
the Bible is "The Sacred Book," and by its very name calls attention to
the fact that it is not one book, but many: 39 books in the Old
Testament, 27 in the New--66 books in the Bible. Its composite nature is
not less important for us to keep in mind than its unity. Especially is
this true of the Old Testament, of which we speak mainly in this lesson.
II. =Origin.= How came these books into being? This is a question of the
"higher criticism"--that is, the study of subjects back of and above
those belonging to the meaning of the text; not higher because more
important, but higher because pertaining to an earlier period. Certain
conclusions, however, may be accepted.
1. Much of the contents of the Bible, especially of the Old Testament,
was given _orally_, through stories, songs, and poems recited, through
prophetic discourses, and through traditions handed down from generation
to generation--a method of instruction universal before books were
printed.
2. These oral teachings were _written_, some at the time when they were
given, others later, sometimes after generations of oral repetition. The
writing of different portions of the Bible was carried on at various
times, in various places, and by various writers; perhaps through 1,600
years, and by more than 40 writers, most of whom have remained unknown.
In the writing and rewriting He'brew scholars of Old Testament times did
not hesitate to modify the older works as they saw reasons for so doing.
We respect the "works of authors," and would not alter the language of
Chaucer or Milton or Macaulay; but He'brew prophets and scribes in early
times cared more for the contents than for the authorship of their
sacred books.
3. As long as there were prophets in Is'ra-el and Ju'dah to declare the
will of the Lord the need of a written and authoritative Scripture was
scarcely recognized. But prophecy ceased about B. C. 450, and then
began the _work of the great scribes_, of whom Ez'ra was the chief, in
bringing together, editing, and copying the sacred books. Perhaps about
B. C. 400 the Old Testament was practically complete. But it is evident
that the precise text was not fixed for centuries afterward, as the
earliest translation (the Septuagint; see below) shows that a text was
followed different from that now read. The text of the He'brew Bible was
not finally adopted until later than A. D 200.
III. =Language.= 1. Nearly all the Old Testament was written in He'brew,
the language of the Is'ra-el-ites, called by the As-syr'i-ans on their
monuments "the tongue of the west country," in the Bible "the lip of
Ca'naan" (Isa. 19. 18) or "the Jews' language" (2 Kings 18. 26).
2. Certain parts of Dan'iel and Ez'ra and one verse of Jer-e-mi'ah (Jer.
10. 11) were written in Ar-a-ma'ic (2 Kings 18. 26, "Syr'i-an
language"), often, though inaccurately, called Chal'dee.
IV. =Form.= 1. The books of the Old Testament were _written upon
parchment_, the prepared skins of animals. The letters were large, and a
manuscript roll embraced generally only one book; and several rolls were
needed for the longer books.
2. Their use was almost entirely _limited to the synagogue_, and few
copies were ever owned by private persons. After touching the roll of an
inspired book one must wash his hands in running water before touching
anything else.
3. When the synagogue rolls were well worn they were cut up into smaller
pieces for _use in the schools_, where the Bible was the only text-book.
When worn out they were burned or buried. The Jews did not preserve
ancient writings, which is one reason why all the manuscripts of the
Bible are of comparatively modern date.