Many questions have been asked as to how the canon of the Old Testament
was formed--that is, how and when did the Jews first begin to
understand that the Books of the Old Testament were inspired by God.

About the first five Books--the Books of the Law--there had never been
any question. From the very earliest times those Books, so wonderfully
given to the people, had been the strength and stay of the Children of
Israel.

But many books had been written in the days of the old Jewish kings,
and also after the return of the people from Babylon: some of these
were very beautiful and helpful. How were the sacred Scriptures first
divided from the other Jewish writings?

We do not know. Some have thought that Ezra the scribe, with the
assistance of a council of elders, fixed the canon of Hebrew Scripture;
others have supposed Nehemiah to have undertaken the work; but most
likely it was a gradual process, directed by God Himself, who inspired
His servants to carry out His will.

The Christian Bible is composed of two parts, the Old and the New
Testament; but the Jews divided their Scriptures--our Old
Testament--into three parts, and they certainly looked upon some books
as far more sacred than others. The 'Torah'--that is, the
Law--included, as we have seen, the first five books of the Bible.
From the very earliest days the Torah was reverenced as containing the
commandments and promises of God.

The second division consisted of the 'Prophets,' these being subdivided
into the 'Former Prophets' (four volumes)--Joshua, Judges, Samuel,
Kings--and the 'Latter Prophets' (three volumes)--Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel--and the Twelve Minor Prophets (which were included in one
book).

Next in order of sanctity came the third division, the 'Writings,' and
these again were subdivided into three groups: the poetical Books of
the Psalms, Proverbs, and Job; the 'Rolls' or 'Readings' (seven
volumes)--Solomon's Song, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther,
Daniel, and one volume containing Ezra and Nehemiah; and, lastly, in a
separate book, Chronicles. Thus the whole Scriptures were contained in
twenty-four books.

Indeed, not until the Greek translation was made were the books grouped
in the order in which we have them now, and at the same time their
number was increased to thirty-nine by taking the writings of each of
the prophets separately, and treating Ezra and Nehemiah as different
books.

And now God, who has spoken