2 Exodus 21-40

Question 1

What borders are promised to the Israelites?

Answer 1

From Red Sea to Sea of Philistines, from Wilderness to Euphrates.

Question 2

What does God say will happen to the inhabitants of Canaan?

Answer 2

They will be driven out little by little. God will hand them over to you and you shall drive them out before you.

Question 3

How much was a talent?

Answer 3

Around 34 kilograms

Question 4

How much was a shekel?

Answer 4

Around 11 grams

Question 5

What are the three sections of the tabernacle? And what did each contain?

Answer 5

1 Outer Court –enclosed by curtains

Contains: Bronze altar for burnt offerings and Bronze Basin for priests to wash hands and feet.

2 Holy Place –inside Tabernacle tent

Contains:

Table of Showbread –12 loaves of bread, eaten (stale) by priests at end of each week

Golden Lampstand (menorah)

Altar of incense

3 Holy of Holies –innermost chamber

Contains:

Ark of covenant with two stone tablets

Aaron’s rod

Pot of manna

Question 6

What is the significance of the 12 loaves of showbread?

Answer 6

Represent 12 tribes of Israel – suggesting they are always in presence of God

Question 7

What did Aaron’s rod do?

Answer 7

Used against Pharaoh, also buds and produces almonds

Question 8

When did Jews stop sacrificing animals and why?

Answer 8

After destruction of second temple in 70AD.

Torah mandates that sacrifices be made in “place the Lord your God will chose” –which was understood to be the temple.

Question 9

What replaced the sacrifice of animals in Judaism after the destruction of the second temple?

Answer 9

Rabbinic Judaism, emphasizing prayer, Torah study and ethical deeds as means of worship, with synagogue and study hall centres of Jewish life.

Question 10

When and how was the second temple destroyed?

Answer 10

In 70AD after the siege of Jerusalem in the Great Jewish Revolt, by General Titus (later to become Emperor).

Question 11

How long did Moses spend on Mt Sinai receiving the law?

Answer 11

40 days and nights

Question 12

How did Moses respond to the golden calf?

Answer 12

Got angry, broke the tablets of the law (god gave some new ones later)

Burned the calf, scattered on water and made the people drink it

Struck down 3000 men who participated in the idolatry

Question 13

What is the current trend among scholars as to the historicity of Exodus?

Answer 13

That it’s a myth written down or invented by exilic and post-exilic Jewish scholars.

Question 14

What’s a theophany?

Answer 14

Appearance of God

Question 15

What’s the relationship between the abundance of laws in the Torah and the Babylonian exile?

Answer 15

Babylonian captivity must be due to violation of covenant with God (given Hebrews are chosen people). Thus freedom must involve reestablishment of covenant to find god’s favour.

Question 16

Who are the Levites, what is their role and why?

Answer 16

Levites are descendants of Levi, one of 12 sons of Israel.

Role of priests, because of their involvement in massacring the apostates at Mt Sinai.

Question 17

In what way does the tabernacle mirror the structure of the universe?

Answer 17

Same threefold structure: Courtyard –earth
Holy Place –heavens
Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) – heavenly dwelling of God.

Question 18

What is depicted here?

Answer 18

Worship of the Golden Calf, follower of Filippo Lippi, 1500

Question 19

What is depicted here?

Answer 19

Crossing of the Red Sea, Poussin, 1634

Question 20

What is depicted here?

Answer 20

Moses being found in rushes, Dura-Europos Synagogue, 250BC, Syria

Question 21

What is depicted here?

Answer 21

Children of Israel in Egypt, Edward Poynter, 1867

Question 22

What is depicted here?

Answer 22

Moses with the Tablets of the Law, Rembrandt 1659