Ketuvim, Hebrew: כתובים is the third and final section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). In English translations of the Hebrew Bible, this section is usually called "The Writings" or "Hagiographa."
In the Jewish textual tradition, Chronicles is counted as one book; Ezra and Nehemiah are counted together as well. Thus, there are are total of eleven books in the section called Ketuvim (see the enumeration below).
Psalms, Proverbs, and Job contain special cantillation notes appropriate to their poetic nature. In old masoretic manuscripts they are presented in a special form emphasizing the parallel stitches in the verses, also a function of their poetry. Collectively they are known as Sifrei Emet (based on an abbreviation of the first letter from each title in Hebrew).
The five relatively short books of Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther are collectively known as the Hamesh Megillot (=Five Scrolls). These five scrolls are traditionally read over the course of the year in many Jewish communities. The list below presents them in the order they are read in the synagogue on holidays, beginning with the Song of Songs on Passover.
The order of the books in Ketuvim varies in manuscripts and printed editions. Some, for instance, place Chronicles first instead of last. The following list presents the books in the order found in most common printed versions of the Hebrew Bible today.
Hebrew (English) עברית
Sifrei Emet (The Three Poetic Books)
'''Hamesh Megillot (The Five Scrolls)- 4. Shir ha-Shirim (Song of Songs) שיר השירים (Passover)
- 5. Ruth (Ruth) רות (Shavuot)
- 6. Eikha (Lamentations) איכה (Ninth of Av)
- 7. Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) קהלת (Sukkot)
- 8. Esther (Esther) אסתר (Purim)
- 9. Daniel (Daniel) דניאל
- 10. Ezra-Nehemia (Ezra-Nehemiah) עזרא-נחמיה
- 11. Divrei ha-Yamim (Chronicles) דברי הימים
