What about them is different from the three main divisions of the Jewish Bible (Torah, Nevim, and Kethuvim)? How are these books different from Esther, for instance?
2007-05-30 15:09:02 · 10 answers · asked by Anthropomorphic 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They were rejected by the council of Jamnia in 90ad, in part because they were written by Hellenistic Jews of the dispersion, and not by Palestinian Jews. I think that is accurate information, but you may want to check on it before you take my word.
2007-05-30 15:14:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
The books Susanna, Tobit, Judith, and others (Ecclesiasitcus or Ben Sirah, Belle and the Dragon, additions to Esther, Maccabees, etc.) are all considered Apocryphal works and are not part of the Jewish Bible.
The main suggestion as for why is because they were written after the canonization of the Hebrew Bible. Also many were written in languages other than Hebrew. There is much debate as to whether there is a theological reason that they were excluded, but we can't know for sure.
Later Rabbinic Judaism views these books with ambivalence saying that one is prohibited from studying them, at the same time as the Talmud quotes from Ben Sirah.
Apocryphal works are different Esther because Esther was canonized, though there is a discussion in the Talmud whether Esther should have made the canon.
2007-06-03 06:02:09 · answer #2 · answered by plonit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The books of Susanna, Tobit, and Judith and not believed to be factual. The Torah is the Law of Moses (the firs 5 books), the Nevim (means "Prophets" in translation) contains the books of History and Prophetic books. The Kethuvim (means "writings" in translation) contains all the other books of poetry, wisdom, hymns and includes Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and the Chronicles. The Torah, Nevim and Kethuvim makes up the "Tanakh".
2007-05-30 15:33:35 · answer #3 · answered by mxcardinal 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well actually there were several Jewish Canons in the first century. There was the Ethiopian Canon, the Pharisaical Canon, the Sadducee's Canon and the Essene/Diaspora Greek Canon.
The Christians used the Essene/Diaspora Greek Canon which included the books mentioned. The divisions are usually because of when the books were written in the case of the later books which include the books in question. They have been a part of the Christian Canon since the beginning of the Church.
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
2007-05-30 15:22:26 · answer #4 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The book of Tobit and Judith were in the Septuagint.
2007-05-30 15:39:55 · answer #5 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
These Books are also not in the Protestant Bible either.
There are a number of so called Books that did not make it into the Christian Cannon of Scripture.
They are referred to as the Books of the Apocrypha.
2007-05-30 15:17:59 · answer #6 · answered by zoril 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Read them and judge for yourself if they are not divinely inspired. They were considered canonical because they were considered as part of the deposit of faith. The Jews consider these books as part of the Writings. Ask a Jew, I have.
Peace and blessings!
2007-05-30 15:22:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Same reason they left out the BOOK OF DAVID.
2007-05-30 15:14:42 · answer #8 · answered by dave777 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They are spurious books written to mimic the inspired books of the Bible.
2007-05-30 15:12:33 · answer #9 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Because they are not. If you want to include them you can it's your choice. Do you believe they are inspired by the word of God?
2007-05-30 15:14:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋