Palestinian Jews, but also from the Greek Bible of the Dispersion Jews. Now to understand, first of all, how it came about that a distinct line of demarcation was drawn between what we now know as the canonical books, and those of the Apocrypha, it will be necessary to consider briefly the _idea of a Canon_ in the Jewish Church, the approximate date at which this idea arose, and the date at which the Canon was finally closed. It will be important to touch also upon the question as to whom the formation of the Canon was specially due, as well as the reason for which some books were admitted into the Canon,[199] and others excluded. This will be our task in the present chapter. The further questions concerning the two other bodies of literature referred to just now will occupy us in subsequent chapters. We must first offer a few remarks upon the subject of the Hebrew Canon as we now have it in the Hebrew Bible. I. THE HEBREW CANON IN ITS PRESENT FORM The Hebrew Bible contains twenty-four books[200]; the following table will show the divisions and sub-divisions into which these books were placed by the Jewish Church:[201] i. The Law, or _Torah_, i.e. the five books of Moses, called by the Jews the “five-fifths of the Law.” ii. The Prophets, or _Nebiim_; this has two sub-divisions: (_a_) The “Former Prophets,” or _Nebiim rishônim_, i.e. the books of Joshua, Judges, 1, 2 Samuel, 1, 2 Kings. (_b_) The “Latter Prophets,” or _Nebiim acharônim_; i.e. the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets, which are reckoned as one book. iii. The Writings, or _Kethubim_; this has three sub-divisions: (_a_) Psalms, Proverbs, Job. (_b_) Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther; these are technically known as the five “Scrolls,” or _Megillôth_. (_c_) Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, 1, 2 Chronicles.