(“Tanakh”, an acronym based on the Hebrew names of the three parts) is composed of three parts:
• Torah (“instruction”), 5 books containing the history of Israel up to Moses‘ death and above all the Law of Israel in diverse versions;
• Nevi’im (“prophets”), 8 books of prophetic texts;
• Khetuvim (“writings”), 11 works of history, wisdom and poetry.
The authoritative list (“canon”) of 24 Hebrew books was fixed soon after 70 CE. Around these Scriptures, which were regarded as being divinely inspired, grew up a body of traditional interpretations, which were collected and systematized in final form around 500 CE to form the “Talmud”.
