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 28.10-22 (King James Version) :
    And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.NoteHaran: Gr. CharranNotespread…: Heb. break forthAnd he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.NoteBeth-el: that is, The house of GodAnd he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
    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…