in doing a quick search of the Hebrew and Christian bibles, we find a remarkable difference. In the Jewish bible (Tanakh), we find three separate references to Satan (the book of Job is considered one reference because it is one continuous story). However, in the New Testament, a book 1/3 the size of the Hebrew bible, we find 35 references to Satan.
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DBT9, I don't know why your reference source would find this fact remarkable. A similar quick search would also reveal a huge imbalance of the number of times Jesus is mentioned in the Tanakh compared to the Christian Greek Scriptures. So, isn't this what would be expected?
Satan and Jesus are the main characters of the Bible's first prophecy, but their identity could only be learned as the prophecy was expanded and explained throughout the rest of the Scriptures. This is one of the most outstanding proofs the Holy Scriptures are inspired by God rather than the product of men.
(Genesis 3:15) And I will put enmity between you(SATAN) and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring(JESUS). He will crush your head, and you will strike him in the heel.”
Besides Jews give little weight to the Tanakh . Check with Taughtbuffet. Many Jews would agree with the comment by Adin Steinsaltz, a rabbi: “If the Bible is the cornerstone of Judaism, then the Talmud is the central pillar, soaring up from the foundations and supporting the entire spiritual and intellectual edifice . . . No other work has had a comparable influence on the theory and practice of Jewish life.” (The Essential Talmud)
Orthodox Jews believe not only that God gave the written law, or Torah, to Moses at Mount Sinai but also that God revealed to him specific explanations of how to carry out that Law, and that these were to be passed on by word of mouth. This was called the oral law. Thus, the Talmud is the written summary, with later commentaries and explanations, of that oral law, compiled by rabbis from the second century C.E. into the Middle Ages.
Their giving more weight to oral law led to frequent clashes with Jesus.
(Matthew 15:1-3) Then there came to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying: “Why do your disciples overstep the tradition of the men of former times? For example, they do not wash their hands when about to eat a meal.” In reply he said to them: “Why do you overstep the commandment of God because of your tradition?
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