The Sacred Texts and Holy Writings of Judaism
There are two main sacred texts or holy writings in Judaism, they are The Ten Commandments and the Torah.
The Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God on top of Mount Sinai, located in the Sinai Peninsula. While leading the Hebrews out of Egypt, Moses climbed Mount Sinai and prayed. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai he was holding two stone tablets. The stone tablets had the Ten Commandments engraved onto them. The Ten Commandments and other teaching Moses told his people are important, because they became the basis of civil and religious laws in Judaism.
The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible or the five books of Moses. The first book is named Genesis. Genesis explains the beginning of the world and the decendents of Abraham. The second book is Exodus. Exodus explains God's plan for the Jewish people as revealed to Moses. God tells Moses to lead the Jews out of Egypt and Moses obeys. A bond is formed with God in exchange for following his laws. The third book of the Torah is Leviticus. Leviticus explains the proper way to praise God. It includes dietary laws, animal offerings, and ritual impurity. The fourth book is Numbers. Numbers talks about the forty years the people were in the desert wandering and the journey to Canaan. Numbers emphasizes holiness, faith, and trust in God. Lastly, the fifth book of the Torah is Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy, Moses gives his final will to the people before he dies. These books are the most important writings in the Jewish faith. The Torah explains the basic Jewish laws, and describes the life of Jews until about 1200 BCE when Moses died. It is believed that Moses wrote the Torah from listening to the words of God. The Torah says, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great"(Genesis 12:1-2). This quote is from the Torah and is God talking to Abraham. God is telling Abraham to move all his family to Canaan, around 1800 BCE. Abraham obeyed, and his family moved to Canaan in about 1650BCE.
The Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God on top of Mount Sinai, located in the Sinai Peninsula. While leading the Hebrews out of Egypt, Moses climbed Mount Sinai and prayed. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai he was holding two stone tablets. The stone tablets had the Ten Commandments engraved onto them. The Ten Commandments and other teaching Moses told his people are important, because they became the basis of civil and religious laws in Judaism.
The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible or the five books of Moses. The first book is named Genesis. Genesis explains the beginning of the world and the decendents of Abraham. The second book is Exodus. Exodus explains God's plan for the Jewish people as revealed to Moses. God tells Moses to lead the Jews out of Egypt and Moses obeys. A bond is formed with God in exchange for following his laws. The third book of the Torah is Leviticus. Leviticus explains the proper way to praise God. It includes dietary laws, animal offerings, and ritual impurity. The fourth book is Numbers. Numbers talks about the forty years the people were in the desert wandering and the journey to Canaan. Numbers emphasizes holiness, faith, and trust in God. Lastly, the fifth book of the Torah is Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy, Moses gives his final will to the people before he dies. These books are the most important writings in the Jewish faith. The Torah explains the basic Jewish laws, and describes the life of Jews until about 1200 BCE when Moses died. It is believed that Moses wrote the Torah from listening to the words of God. The Torah says, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great"(Genesis 12:1-2). This quote is from the Torah and is God talking to Abraham. God is telling Abraham to move all his family to Canaan, around 1800 BCE. Abraham obeyed, and his family moved to Canaan in about 1650BCE.
