THE HEBREW BIBLE The Torah, also known as the Hebrew Bible, is the principal scripture of Judaism. Christians likewise consider the Hebrew Bible as divine scripture. With some minor changes, it appears in Christian bibles as the 'Old Testament.' Jews, however, do not accept the term 'Old Testament', preferring the term Hebrew Bible.

The Ark of the Covenant, from a relief found near the 3rd century synagogue in Capernaum, Israel

The Bible is usually distinguished in three parts:

• The Law or Five Books of Moses (the Torah proper) that consist of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Five Books of Moses are often referred to by their Greek name Pentateuch, meaning 'five scrolls.'
  
  
• The Books of the Prophets (Nevi'im), including the former prophets (Joshua, Judges, I and II Samuel, I and II Kings) and the latter prophets (including, among others, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Twelve Minor Prophets).
  
  
• The Writings (Ketuvim) which include the Psalms, Proverbs, the Book of Job, the Song of Songs, Ruth and others.
  
  

Taken together, the Hebrew Bible is often referred to by Jews as the TaNakh, using the first letters of each group: Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim.