Étude 1 sur 2 · Les textes fondateurs de la Bible

  1. Study 1: The Founding Texts of the Bible
  2. Étude 2 : La source Élohiste

History of the Bible

  • BIB001 The Founding Texts of the Bible

    The article deals with the writing of the first five books of the Bible. It highlights oral transmission, writing, and the integration of various literary sources. The importance of textual preservation through the centuries is also addressed, as are the historical motivations of the writers.

    Deuteronomy 4.9 (King James Version) :
    Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

Historical notes

  • INF042 The Elohist source

    The Elohist source (E) is one of the four hypothetical sources of the Torah according to the documentary hypothesis. It is distinguished by its use of the term Elohim for God, a transcendent theology, and the use of dreams and visions as modes of divine revelation. Dated to the 9th-8th century BCE, it is thought to have originated in the northern kingdom of Israel. Its validity remains debated among contemporary scholars.

    Genesis 20 (King James Version) :
    And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.Notea man’s…: Heb. married to an husbandNoteintegrity: or, simplicity, or, sincerityBut Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.Notewhere…: Heb. as is good in thine eyesAnd Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

Further reading
  • ANN054 The Jews

    Article ANN054 clarifies the terms used to describe the people of Israel: Jew, Israelite, Israeli, Hebrew, and Semite. Each term has a distinct meaning depending on the…