The Hebrew Bible has parallels with other "scriptures" from the ancient world. Consider the flood story in each and every tradition: read the various versions of the flood story. How are they dissimilar? How are they similar? Describe what this suggests regarding the Hebrew Scriptures.
One of the central suppositions of the Jewish faith is Covenant. This covenant conditions the manner that they understand their own history. In this light, look Deuteronomy 28:15 - 68. This passage lays out some of the curses which will come on the Israelites should they select not to respect this covenant, and honor the requirements of it. Consider how these curses condition the Jewish understanding of their own history, specifically the destruction of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms by the Assyrians and Babylonians correspondingly, and the return to Jerusalem under Cyrus.