JCE Bible Knowledge flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Torah

The five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Called the Pentateuch; read in a fixed annual cycle in synagogue liturgy.

Parashah

A weekly Torah portion. Each has a Hebrew name taken from its opening distinctive word; the annual cycle completes on Simchat Torah.

Shema

Deuteronomy 6:4–9, beginning 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.' Recited twice daily as a central declaration of monotheistic faith.

Decalogue

The Ten Commandments, given at Sinai and recorded in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. They ground Israelite ethics in exclusive worship and social obligations.

Holiness Code

Leviticus 17–26, emphasizing ritual and moral holiness. It commands love of neighbor (19:18) and love of the stranger (19:34).

Former Prophets

Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. These narrative books recount Israel's history from conquest through monarchy to exile.

Trei Asar

The Twelve Minor Prophets counted as one book: Hosea through Malachi. They span the eighth to the Persian period.

Deutero-Isaiah

Isaiah 40–55, a section addressing exiled Judah with consolation and the servant songs. Critical scholarship distinguishes it from Isaiah 1–39.

New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31–34 promises a covenant written on the heart, with sins forgiven. It is a key prophetic theme of restoration.

Ezekiel's Vision

Ezekiel 1 describes the chariot (merkavah) vision by the Chebar canal; Ezekiel 37 presents the valley of dry bones as national revival.

Five Megillot

Song of Songs (Pesach), Ruth (Shavuot), Lamentations (Tisha B'Av), Ecclesiastes (Sukkot), and Esther (Purim). Each is read on its festival.

Psalms

A collection of 150 poems in five books, including laments, thanksgivings, and praises. Central to Jewish and Christian liturgy.

Wisdom Literature

Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. These books explore practical and philosophical wisdom, often grounded in the fear of the Lord.

Book of Daniel

Court narratives (1–6) and apocalyptic visions (7–12). In the Hebrew canon it belongs to Ketuvim, not Nevi'im.

Ezra-Nehemiah

A single book in the Hebrew canon recounting return from Babylon, Temple rebuilding, and reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Persian period.

Chronicles

A retelling of Israel's history from Adam to Cyrus, emphasizing David, the Temple, and proper worship. It parallels Samuel and Kings with different concerns.

722 BCE

The fall of Samaria to Assyria under Sargon II, ending the northern kingdom of Israel. Its population was deported and resettled.

586 BCE

The destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple by Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. It marks the start of the Babylonian exile.

538 BCE

Cyrus the Great's decree permitting Judean exiles to return and rebuild the Temple. It conventionally marks the end of the Babylonian exile.

Accession-Year System

A method of counting regnal years where the first partial year is not counted. Judah used it, while Israel used non-accession counting, causing apparent discrepancies.

Merneptah Stele

An Egyptian inscription (c. 1208 BCE) mentioning 'Israel' among defeated peoples. It is the earliest known extra-biblical reference to Israel.

Tel Dan Stele

A ninth-century BCE Aramaic inscription mentioning the 'House of David.' It provides extra-biblical evidence for the Davidic dynasty.

Mesha Stele

A Moabite inscription by King Mesha recounting his revolt against Israel. It parallels the account in 2 Kings 3.

Dead Sea Scrolls

Manuscripts found near Qumran from 1947, dating roughly third century BCE to first century CE. They preserve the oldest known Hebrew Bible texts.

Via Maris

An ancient coastal highway linking Egypt with Syria and Mesopotamia. It was a major trade and military route through the land of Israel.

Rashi

Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040–1105, Troyes), author of concise Hebrew commentaries on Torah and Talmud. His Torah commentary blends peshat with midrash.

Ibn Ezra

Abraham ibn Ezra (1089–1167, Spain), a grammarian and philosopher. His terse biblical commentary emphasizes philology and often alludes rather than explains.

Ramban

Nachmanides (1194–1270, Girona), a commentator who frequently disputes Rashi and Ibn Ezra. His exegesis combines philosophy and kabbalistic depth.

Mikraot Gedolot

A printed rabbinic Bible presenting the biblical text with a standard set of commentators, typically Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Ramban, and Rashbam, at the margins.

Peshat

The plain or contextual sense of a biblical text. It is distinguished from derash (homiletical), remez (allusive), and sod (mystical) readings.

Theodicy

The problem of why the righteous suffer. Job explores it and receives a divine speech from the whirlwind rather than a simple answer.

Masoretes

Scribes of the seventh to tenth centuries, based in Tiberias, who standardized vocalization and cantillation. The Ben Asher family tradition became authoritative.

Ketiv and Qere

Masoretic notations marking a written form (ketiv) differing from the read form (qere). They preserve textual variants and guide synagogue reading.