Introduction to

the “Kethuvim”
and
The Psalms
 The Writings: Kethuvim
• Contains the Following Writings:
– Job, – Daniel
– Psalms – Ezra- Nehemiah
– Proverbs – Chronicles

• Also Contains the Megilloth – “Festival Scrolls”

– Ruth Pentecost
– Esther Purim
– Song of Solomon 8th Day of Passover
– Ecclesiastes Feast of Tabernacles
– Lamentations Ninth of Ab
 Exploring the Bible
“The Tanakh’s third and final division, the
Kethuvim (Writings), contains the most diverse
material ranging from volumes of poetry, such as
Psalms, Song of Songs, and Lamentations; to short
stories, such as Ruth and Esther; historical
narratives, such as Ezra and Nehemiah; books of
wisdom, such as Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes;
and visionary speculations about God’s future
intervention in world history in the Book of Daniel”
(Harris, 9).
 The Writings: Kethuvim
Dates of Official Recognition
as Fixed Canon
• Torah ~400 BC
• Nevi’im ~200 BC
• Kethuvim ~100 BC

*Luke 24:44 shows Jesus giving credence to

the Psalms being canonical.
 The Writings: Kethuvim
• Types of Literature in the Kethuvim
– Songs – Short stories
– Wisdom Literature – Historical Narrative
– Apocalyptic Literature – Poetry

• Four Groups of Kethuvim Lasor, Hubbard and Bush pg. 427

– Wisdom Literature Job, Psalms, Proverbs
– The Five Scrolls (Megilloth) Ruth, Esther, S.O.S., Ecc., Lamen.
– Daniel Daniel
– The Complex Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles
 The Writings: Kethuvim
• “Though the writings do not contain specific commands
of God as does the Law, or verbatim oracles as do the
Prophets, they are nonetheless essential for the
edification of God’s people: they give indispensable
patters for prayer and praise; they offer insight to God’s
work in history, they alert the reader to the lessons to
be drawn from creation and the human social
environment; they reflect the anxious and angry
responses of believing people to the mystery of God’s
ways; and they model the courage and devotion God’s
people are to maintain despite human frailty and hostile
opposition.”
Lasor, Hubbard and Bush pg. 427