3 models of revelation
Min Hashamayim
Progressive Revelation
Scrapbook model
Credit to Angela Gluck who taught this to me.

Dear Israel (my people)

I’d like you to do all the things I’ve asked in this letter (the Torah). You’re the ones I’ve chosen to keep all the mitzvot (commandments). Keep my covenant and I'll bless you etc etc.

Moses is going to bring this letter to you so you know exactly what to do.

Lots of love,
God x x x

Written down by a person or people
Who really called?
What did they actually say?

Divinely inspired, written by humans.

Open to human error
Progressive revelation – may have been put together over a period of time

The Jewish people wrote the Torah in order to make sense of their collective experience of the divine.
Bottom up model.
Laws are followed because of their effect on the community, not because ‘God said so’