Final answer:
The writing of the Hebrew Bible likely began around 1000 BC, during the time Hebrews were settled in Canaan. Significant contributions to the Hebrew scriptures occurred during King Josiah's reforms around 621 BCE, with later developments influenced by historical events such as the Babylonian Captivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Writing of the Hebrew Bible
It is possible that the writing of the Hebrew Bible could have started around 1000 BC, which aligns with the archaeological and historical evidence indicating the presence of Hebrews in Canaan. The earliest known writing, cuneiform, emerged around 3400 BC in southern Mesopotamia.
By 2600 BCE, it evolved into a comprehensive script for various languages, spread across the region including Israel. Hebrews, under the influence of spiritual ideas and their experience in different empires, began to centralize their religious practices.
King Josiah's reforms in the seventh century BCE, especially the compilation of the Torah around 621 BCE, marked a significant moment in the Hebrew religion and the writing of sacred texts.
With the contribution of prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and the pressures of the Babylonian Captivity, the Hebrews further developed their faith and scriptures. These scriptures, while inspired by divine guidance, also hold interesting historical insights that historians and archaeologists continue to explore to provide a nuanced understanding of Hebrew history.