Jewish

The Development of Jewish Scriptures and Writings

  • 1312 BCE

    The Torah is Given at Mount Sinai

    This is when Moses went up Mount Sinai and revived the ten commandments and the 603 Mitzvah
  • Period: 1300 BCE to 900 BCE

    Oral Law

    The Oral law was formed and recorded. Oral law was to be used in accord with the Torah.
  • 800 BCE

    Midrash

    Midrash are stories not law. The Midrash comes from the Tenach. There are 2 types of Midrash – those explaining the law are called ‘midrash halachah’ and those that explain stories are called ‘midrash aggadah’.
  • Period: 500 BCE to 200

    Talmud

    Talmud means 'Learning' in Aramaic terms. It contains complications of the law with detailed elucidations from the wisdom of the Rabbis. It also contains history, stories and theological reflection. The Talmud contains the Halakhah (rules and laws of living) and the Haggadah which means telling.
  • 245 BCE

    Torah is Translated into Greek

    This was of great importance for all the Greek Jews. However after this the Greeks persecuted the Jews.
  • 2 BCE

    Tenach

    Also known as the Hebrew bible. It is made up of three sections, containing a number of books and chapters and verses. The first section is the Torah (Jewish law), Second is the Nevi'im (Book of the Prophets) and the third is the Ketuvim which is a collection of other writings loosely described as wisdom Literature.
  • 200

    Mishnah

    Rulings on every possible life situation. It contains expositions and interpretations of legal sections of books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deutertonomy.
  • 500

    Gemara

    Contains all discussion and argument from all sources that eventually led to the formalisation of the Mishnah.
  • 875

    Siddur

    The Siddur is the Jewish prayer book. It contains prayers that were set at the time of the Second Temple, Psalms, The Ethics of the Fathers and excerpts from other sacred writings.
  • Period: 1135 to 1204

    Gemara and Mishnah

    These two sacred texts are completed
  • 1563

    Shulchan Aurch

    A codification of the halachah for Sepherdi Jews.