Expert: Brenda Martin - 6/16/2003

Question
how many books are in the Hebrew Bible, and what are the three parts it's divided into? In which of the three parts of the Hebrew Bible are the following books?
Job
Leviticus
Jonah
Psalms
Thank you!

Answer
Hi Kate, you asked--1.HOW MANY BOOKS ARE IN THE HEBREW BIBLE?

There are 39 divinely inspired books from Genesis to Malachi.

2. WHAT ARE THE THREE PARTS IT'S DIVIDED INTO?

The books of the Hebrew Scriptures as they appear in most Bible versions may be divided into three sections: however  such divisions are rather general, since the historical section contains poetic portions (Ge 2:23; 4:23, 24; 9:25-27; Ex 15:1-19, 21; Jg 5) as well as prophetic (Ge 3:15; 22:15-18; 2Sa 7:11-16); the poetic section contains historical material (Job 1:1–2:13; 42:7-17) as well as prophetic (Ps 2:1-9; 110:1-7); and in the prophetic section historical information and poetic material are found (Isa 7:1, 2; Jer 37:11–39:14; 40:7–43:7; La 1:1–5:22).

(1)Historic, Genesis to Esther, 17 books;
(2)Poetic, Job to The Song of Solomon, 5 books;
(3)Prophetic, Isaiah to Malachi, 17 books.

3.IN WHICH OF THE THREE PARTS OF THE HEBREW BIBLE ARE THE FOLLOWING BOOKS?JOB, LEVITICUS, JONAH, PSALMS?

Psalms and Job are in the poetic section, Leviticus is in the historic section, Jonah is in the Prophetic section.

All the best, brenda