Inside the Tanach: A Guide to Its Structure and Meaning

The Hebrew Bible, known as the Tanach, is the sacred collection of texts that guides Jewish faith and life. The word Tanach is an acronym for Torah, Neviim, and Ketuvim. These books were written by the prophets and sages of Israel, with the Torah transmitted by Moses, the greatest of all prophets. Each section of the Tanach reflects a different level of divine inspiration, and understanding these differences deepens our appreciation for the holiness of these texts.

The Composition of the Torah

One of the foundations of Jewish belief is that the entire Torah was given to Moses directly from Hashem. This includes all five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Rambam teaches that we are obligated to believe that every verse in the Torah comes from Hashem, without exception. This includes verses that seem simple or technical, as well as verses that express the greatest spiritual ideas. All are equally divine, equally holy, and equally true.

Moses’ level of prophecy is unique in Jewish tradition. We are taught that no prophet before or after him reached his level, and that he was chosen by Hashem above all humanity. Because of this, no later prophet is permitted to contradict the Torah of Moses. Every true prophet must uphold the Torah and its commandments.

The Rambam also records that before his passing, Moses wrote thirteen Torah scrolls. He gave one to each tribe of Israel and entrusted the final scroll to the Levites, ensuring that the Torah would be preserved accurately for all generations.

The Writing of the Prophets

There is an important difference between prophecy and divine inspiration. Prophecy is a higher level of spiritual perception. The Rambam explains that most prophets received their visions while in a dream or a deeply elevated state of consciousness. These visions often came in the form of metaphors, and the prophet, through wisdom granted by Hashem, understood their meaning.

Many prophets lived among the Jewish people after the time of Moses. However, our sages taught that only prophecies that were necessary for future generations were recorded. For this reason, the books of the prophets contain messages that continue to guide, inspire, and challenge us until today.

Our sages also transmitted the tradition of who recorded each prophetic book. Joshua recorded the Book of Joshua. Samuel recorded Judges and Samuel. Jeremiah recorded Kings and Jeremiah. Isaiah was recorded by King Hezekiah and his associates. Ezekiel and the Twelve Prophets were recorded by the Men of the Great Assembly.

The Writing of the Writings

The books of Ketuvim were written through divine inspiration known as Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit. This is not the same as prophecy, but it is still a form of divine influence. The Rambam explains that a person inspired by the Holy Spirit experiences a powerful inner awakening that leads them to speak words of wisdom, praise, guidance, and truth, while fully awake and aware.

Through this inspiration, King David composed Psalms. King Solomon spoke Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, which were later recorded by King Hezekiah and his court. Daniel, Job, Chronicles, and other books were likewise composed through this divine inspiration. The Book of Esther is also described by our sages as having been written with Ruach HaKodesh.

Our sages transmitted the tradition regarding the authorship of these books as well. Ruth was recorded by Samuel. Psalms by King David. Job is attributed to Moses. Lamentations was written by Jeremiah. Ezra and Chronicles were recorded by Ezra the Scribe. Daniel and Esther were recorded by the Men of the Great Assembly.

The Closure of the Tanach

After the prophetic books and the writings were completed, the Men of the Great Assembly finalized the Tanach. From that point forward, no books could be added and none could be removed. These texts were accepted by all Jewish communities as sacred and authoritative.

The Jewish historian Josephus, who lived at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple, testified that the Jewish people held their scriptures with deep reverence. He wrote that throughout the generations, no one dared to add, subtract, or alter anything in these texts. Jews accepted these books as the word of God and were willing to live by them and even give their lives for them.

A Final Note

The structure of the Tanach reflects the depth and order of divine communication with the Jewish people. The Torah stands at the highest level of revelation, the prophets convey messages necessary for the spiritual direction of the nation, and the writings express divine inspiration that shapes the heart and soul. Understanding these distinctions strengthens our connection to the sacred texts and deepens our appreciation for the eternal wisdom they contain.