Philosophical Library - The Wisdom of the Torah

The Wisdom of
The Torah

Edited by Dagobert D. Runes

Philosophical Library

CONTENTS

Following is a list of the books of Written Torah, in the order in which they appear in Jewish translations. First is listed the Hebrew name of the book, then an English translation of the Hebrew name (where needed). The Hebrew names of the first five books are the first key words mentioned in each book (i.e., In the beginning is the opening of Genesis.)

TORAH (The Law):

Bereishith (In the beginning ) (Genesis)

Shemoth (The names ) (Exodus)

Vayiqra (And He called ) (Leviticus)

Bamidbar (In the wilderness ) (Numbers)

Devarim (The words ) (Deuteronomy)

NEVIIM (The Prophets):

Yehoshua (Joshua)

Shoftim (Judges)

Shmuel (I & II Samuel)

Melakhim (I & II Kings)

Yeshayah (Isaiah)

Yirmyah (Jeremiah)

Yechezqel (Ezekiel)

The Twelve (treated as one book)

Hoshea (Hosea)

Yoel (Joel)

Amos

Ovadyah (Obadiah)

Yonah (Jonah)

Mikhah (Micah)

Nachum

Chavaqquq (Habbakkuk)

Tzefanyah (Zephaniah)

Chaggai

Zekharyah (Zechariah)

Malakhi

KETHUVIM (The Writings):

Tehillim (Psalms)

Mishlei (Proverbs)

Iyov (Job)

Shir Ha-Shirim (Song of Songs)

Ruth

Eikhah (Lamentations)

Qoheleth (the authors name) (Ecclesiastes)

Esther

Daniel

Ezra & Nechemyah (Nehemiah) (treated as one book)

Divrei Ha-Yamim (The words of the days) (Chronicles)

The Torah, or the Hebrew Bible, is the cornerstone of the Jewish religion and law. The Torah (meaning Teaching) originally referred only to the Books attributed to Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. This Torah of Moses came to be known in Greek as the five-volumed book, which we know in English as the Pentateuch. The Torah encompasses the whole of the Hebrew Bible (the body of scripture known to non-Jews as the Old Testament and to Jews as the Tanakh or Written Torah), together with the Talmud (Oral Law). An ever-expanding source of intellectual and emotional insight, the Written Torah provides knowledge to those who study it, and leads to a solid relationship with God for those who take it to heart and make it their own.

The Wisdom of the Torah contains selections that highlight the Hebrew Bible as a book of philosophy and literature, allowing the beauty and power of the writings themselves to touch the soul of the reader. Poems and proverbs, commandments and rituals, prophecies and praises: they all speak to us of a God who cares, who is engaged with his people. We can be a rebellious and stiff-necked lot, complaining in one breath and pleading for protection and mercy in the nexta fact of our humanity often reflected in the text. We are creatures of paradox, capable of achieving great heights or falling to great depths, sometimes from one moment to the next. One has to look no further than King David to find such greatness of faith and human frailty, yet he is a towering man of God: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? There is much for a twenty-first-century seeker to find in the Torah about understanding, pride, forgiveness and stubborn allencompassing love.

The great men behind the Book who are represented hereMoses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiahhave given the world words of hope for generations, and voiced expressions of despair with equal poignancy. Their inspired writings, only a portion of which are collected in this volume, have endured over millennia and continue to speak to us today. For affirmation of Gods righteousness, look to Moses:

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass;