Reference to Writing in the Old Testament

The earliest reference to writing in the Old Testament is Exo 17:14. The next is Exo 24:7, mentioning the Book of the Covenant (Ex 20 through 23). The Book of the Wars of Yahweh is named in Num 21:14. Other early references are Jdg 5:14 margin; Jdg 8:14 margin. By the time of the monarchy the king and nobles could write (2Sa 11:14; 2Sa 8:17), but not the common people, until the time of Amos and Hosea, when writing seems to have been common.

This biblical study was taken from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co