3rd test - Ist semester final

Question 1

What is the role of the prophets in the historical books?

Answer 1

1. theological spokesperson
2. problem solvers
3. Fore-tellers and Forth tellers
   4 Limited nature in comparison to ANE

Question 2

How is a prophet a theological spokesperson?

Answer 2

They deliver divinely sent messages

1. Primarily interpret events from a divine perspective
2. Especially prominent in the DtrH
3. Condemn sin (Bathsheba, idols)

They also give commentary on the historically kingly narrative:

1. Reevaluating war - Yahweh is always victorious
2. Offer hope and restoration in future

Question 3

How is a prophet a problem solver?

Answer 3

Consulted to answer problems (see 1 Sam. 9:6)

Question 4

How is a prophet a fore-teller?

Answer 4

Isaiah predicts deliverance of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19)

Question 5

How do prophets relate to the monarchy?

Answer 5

a. Occasionally lived in the royal establishment – occasionally sought out
b. King makers/ King breakers
c. Demonstrate the power of God
d. Condemn immoral activity

Question 6

What is the difference between biblical prophets and others in the ANE?

Answer 6

Ancients had many ways of ascertaining the will of the god(s), and prophesy was one of them

Question 7

How do the priorities of DtrH shape 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings?

Answer 7

i. Explain exile
ii. One God, One Cultic Center, One People
iii. Themes are:
1. No Idols/YHWH alone is God
2. Centralization of Cult
3. Obedience = Blessing / Disobedience = Curses

Question 8

How do the views of DtrH shape 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings?

Answer 8

i. As we have learned, there are a variety of sources that contribute to the books of 1 and 2 Samuel especially.
1. Rise of Saul/Rise of David/Ascension Narrative
2. Ark Narrative
ii. These become even more obvious in the doublets
1. i.e. Saul’s rise (1 Sam. 9:1-10:16, 10:17-27, 10:27-11:15)
2. i.e. David’s introduction to Saul (1 Sam. 16:14 vs. 17:55)
iii. However, there is a clear presence of the DtrH
1. See 1 Sam. 8:8, 8:18, 12:14-15 (obedience/disobedience)
iv. Therefore, DtrH uses these sources to serve his own ideologies in Samuel
1. One God,
a. 1 Samuel 8:7 –rejection of YHWH as king
2. One People
a. Not really sure what this means? Except maybe negative appraisal of division?
i. David does not usurp the throne?
3. One Cultic Center
a. Ark Narrative represents one cultic center until temple is built
4. Obedience vs. Disobedience
a. Saul’s sin leads to rejection as King
i. David is framed in a positive light over Saul
v. Likewise 1-2 Kings represents these themes throughout the narrative
1. One God -Blame Division of Kingdom on Solomon’s apostasy
2. One People -Division of Kingdom?
3. One Cultic Center -Building of the Temple
4. Obedience vs. Disobedience
a. Success of Hezekiah attributed to faithfulness
b. Apostasy of North leads to exile (2 Kings 17)
c. Sins of Manasseh leads to exile (2 Kings 24)
vi. Overall Thesis: Using history as theology, taking the sources that say what happened and adding commentary to explain exile.

Question 9

How do the views and priorities of the chronicler shape 1-2 Chronicles to be distinct from the earlier histories?

Answer 9

1. The goal of Chronicler was to focus on the temple (as opposed to DtrH which sought to explain exile)
   a. Completely positive view of David and Solomon - David and Solomon are responsible for the planning of the temple and its maintenance
   b. Hezekiah’s reforms centered around purifying of the temple
2. Fall of Jerusalem attributed to the people who rejected God in that generation
3. Manasseh’s repentance?

Question 10

How is David characterized by different sources and why is he characterized differently? Are these depictions positive, negative or mixed? How do the positive or negative depictions work towards the goals of different authors or compilers?

Answer 10

1. Rounded character
   a. Flawless in his early life
   i. probably result of “Ascension Narrative”
   b. “man of blood”
   i. killer of enemies, not Israelites
   c. Worshiper
   i. Positive, but in the manner of women (dancing)
   d. Failed Father
   i. Cannot control house
   ii. Subordinate to Bathsheba in end

Chronicler - starts with David being anointed as king over all Israel. Never mentions divided kingdom. - does not mention Hebron; includes David’s heros; omits succession narrative- David is an ideal king without flaws. Talks about how David made preparations for the building of the temple because Solomon was inexperienced.

Question 11

How is Saul characterized by different sources and why is he characterized differently? Are these depictions positive, negative or mixed? How do the positive or negative depictions work towards the goals of different authors or compilers?

Answer 11

1. Tragic Figure
   a. Once received Spirit of God – ends with Evil Spirit
   b. Obsessive
   i. Devotes life to killing David, not kingship
   ii. Kills Priests in order to get after David
   c. Rejected
   i. Fails to protect Israel
   ii. Fails to serve God

Chronicler???????

Question 12

How is Samuel characterized by different sources and why is he characterized differently? Are these depictions positive, negative or mixed? How do the positive or negative depictions work towards the goals of different authors or compilers?

Answer 12

1. Priest, Prophet, Judge
   a. Grows in aggressiveness
   b. King maker + king breaker
2. Overall a positive, essential figure

Chronicler ???????????????

Question 13

How is Manassah characterized by different sources and why is he characterized differently? Are these depictions positive, negative or mixed? How do the positive or negative depictions work towards the goals of different authors or compilers?

Answer 13

1. Worst of all the kings
   a. Reason for Judah’s exile

Chronicler: taken to Babylon as a prisoner and repented of his worship of other gods, returned to Jerusalem and became a model ruler. Tried to justify the length of his reign.

Question 14

How does archeological evidence of Babylon (specific writings and images found in archaeological contexts) parallel, clarify and/or contradict the biblical accounts of the monarchies and the rise and fall of Israel/Judah?

Answer 14

“Babylonian Chronicles” – cuneiform tablets that give annalistic accounts of the reigns of Babylonian rulers in the late seventh and sixth centuries

 i. reign of Nebuchadrezzar describes attack on Jerusalem in 597
ii. compare 2 Kings 24 b. Broken tablets found in Nebuchadrezzar’s palace
 i. list Jehoichin as one of many captives under house arrest
 ii. compare 2 Kings 25 c. Seal of Yehoyishma daughter of Shawash-sar-utsuz 
 i. Confirms transition to YHWH worship in Babylon
 ii. Shows exile wasn’t as oppressive as portrayed

Question 15

How does archeological evidence of Egypt (specific writings and images found in archaeological contexts) parallel, clarify and/or contradict the biblical accounts of the monarchies and the rise and fall of Israel/Judah?

Answer 15

The Merneptah Stele

i. Israel is included in the list of conquered peoples by the Egyptians.
ii. No reference is made within the Biblical account

Question 16

How does archeological evidence of the Mediterranean (specific writings and images found in archaeological contexts) parallel, clarify and/or contradict the biblical accounts of the monarchies and the rise and fall of Israel/Judah?

Answer 16

Tel Dan Inscription

i. The inscription may refer to the deaths of King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah.
ii. However 2 Kings 9 attributes death to Jehu
iii. First extrabiblical mention of the “house of David”
f. The Mesha Stela/Moabite Stone (ca. 830)
i. King Mesha of Moab expresses gratitude for victory over Israel
ii. See 2 Kings 3 for Biblical account

Question 17

How does archeological evidence of Assyria (specific writings and images found in archaeological contexts) parallel, clarify and/or contradict the biblical accounts of the monarchies and the rise and fall of Israel/Judah?

Answer 17

Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III (858-824)

i. Account of Jehu paying tribute to Assyria
ii. No reference to Jehu paying tribute appears in the Bible
h. Sennacherib’s Account of the Siege of Jerusalem
i. Taylor Prism – agrees with the Biblical account that Sennacherib attacked Judean cities, reaching Jerusalem, but failed to capture it
ii. The reasoning behind the failure to capture varies by account

Question 18

How does archeological evidence of Persia (specific writings and images found in archaeological contexts) parallel, clarify and/or contradict the biblical accounts of the monarchies and the rise and fall of Israel/Judah?

Answer 18

Cyrus Cylinder
i. Describes victory over Babylon AND tolerance toward conquered peoples and their religious sanctuaries (see Ezra 1:2-4)

Question 19

Provide an historical overview of major highlights in the rise, the institution of the monarchy in ancient Israel and Judah.

Answer 19

• Moses was the first leader of the people of Israel. He served as a leader of the people, but never as a King. Likewise with Joshua.
• As the people enter the land, they become zealous for a king like the other nation.
-Judges represents the first call for a King.
-Israelites attempted to make Gideon their king, he refused
-After Gideon dies, Abimelech attempts to establish a monarchy
-The end of Judges points toward the coming kingdom (21:25)
-Samuel resists Israel’s desire for a king
-Based on YHWH as king
-YHWH approves kingship
-Warns of the oppression associated with kingship
-Saul becomes the first king in Israel

Question 20

Provide an historical overview of major developments, and eventual collapse of the institution of the monarchy in ancient Israel.

Answer 20

• David is chosen to replace Saul as king
Davidic dynasty is promised upon the faithfulness of David
• Solomon follows David as King – builds the temple
-Represents the height of the Israelite power
-Solomon marries foreign wives and follows other gods, kingdom is broken
• Rehoboam refuses to lessen oppression, ????????kingdom is split
-Jeroboam assumes control of the northern kingdom (Israel)
-Rehoboam assumes control of the southern kingdom (Judah)
• The Northern kings continue upon a path of unrighteousness until their destruction in 722 BC
-Ahab is appraised as the worst king in Israel (1 Kings 16:30)
-Hoshea is the final king of Israel
• The Southern kings sway between righteous and unrighteous
-Ahaz makes a covenant with Neo-Assyrians
-Hezekiah refuses to pay tribute
-Builds tunnel for defense
-Begins reforms of religious and political nature
Manasseh undoes the reforms of Hezekiah
Josiah “discovers” book of the Law
Reforms religious practices
-Jehoiakim allows Judah to become vassal of Babylon
-Zedekiah rebels against Babylon and Judah is sent into exile

Question 21

Who are some of the major kings in the ANE and in what ways do their reigns coincide with and impinge upon the monarchy in ancient Israel and Judah?

Answer 21

Assyria
• Shalmaneser III – forces Israel to become a vassal of Assyria
• Tiglath-Pileser III – conquers and exiles Northern kingdom
-Spares Judah on account of covenant with Ahaz
-Forces Judah to become vassal of Assyria

Babylon
• Sennacharib – destroys major cities of Judah, except fails to conquer Jerusalem
• Nebuchadnezzar – forces Judah into exile

Question 22

How does Dtr assess the practice of the kings of Israel and Judah paying tribute to foreign nations? How is this political practice understood as a theological issue?

Answer 22

a. Paying tribute to a foreign nation makes YHWH subservient to the god of the foreign nation
i. The “Black Obselisk” shows the nature of tribute by depicting Jehu in a obsient position.

b. Seeking help from a foreign country is like seeking help from another god.
i. 2 Kings 16:5-18
1. In order to protect Judah from Israel and Aram, Ahaz sent to Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, submitting to become his vassal.
2. After TPIII saved Judah, Ahaz added an altar to the Neo-Assyrian god. He gave orders to burn the morning offering on it (16:15).
3. No doubt, Ahaz is appraised as one of the worst kings of Judah.
ii. Hezekiah, his son, in contrast, refuses to pay tribute as a part of his political and religious reforms, and he is considered one of the top 3 kings of Judah.
1. Even when faced with the reality of political destruction, Hezekiah refuses to pay tribute to Sennacherib, and God miraculously saves Jerusalem.

Question 23

What are some of the differing perspectives on kingship within DtrH found in the Old Testament?

Answer 23

i. Ambivalence towards Kingship
1. Positive – cultic centralization
2. Negative – abusive power -faithfulness/success dependent upon king
ii. Overall proves catastrophic
1. 1 Kings 10 – Summary of Solomon
2. 2 Kings 17 – Failure of Israel
3. 2 Kings 25 – Failure of Judah
iii. Yet redeeming qualities
1. Solomon asks for Wisdom
2. 2 Kings 18 – Success of Hezekiah
3. 2 Kings 22-23 – Josiah finds law/reformations
a. Realistically cannot redeem people (2 Kings 22:19)
iv. Desired a reform in which the ideals of the premonarchic period would be combined with the realities of monarchy

Question 24

What are some of the differing perspectives on kingship within Chronicles found in the Old Testament?

Answer 24

i. Protection of temple?

ii. Positive?

Question 25

What are some of the differing perspectives on prophets within Chronicles found in the Old Testament?

Answer 25

c. Prophets

i. ??

Question 26

How does the characterization of God differ between selected sources/schools within the material we have covered thus far? For example, compare the theologies of P and DtrH, or J and the Chronicler, or other such schools or sources. How are they different? How does the historical and geographic context of each school/source inform its theology?

P (exilic)

Answer 26

i. Ritualistic
ii. Covenant Language
iii. “purifies” Patriarchs
iv. Principles worked out
1. Structure/Order
2. Focus on the Sabbath
3. Emphasis on Blessing
4. Renewing of Creation
v. Leviticus
1. Emphasis on the Tabernacle
2. Emphasis on laws for a “transition” context
a. Ritual
b. Unclean/Clean
c. Year of Jubilee

Question 27

How does the characterization of God differ between selected sources/schools within the material we have covered thus far? For example, compare the theologies of P and DtrH, or J and the Chronicler, or other such schools or sources. How are they different? How does the historical and geographic context of each school/source inform its theology?

Dtrh exilic

Answer 27

i. One God, One People, One Cultic center
ii. No idols
iii. Obedience = Blessing
iv. End w/ hope

Question 28

How does the characterization of God differ between selected sources/schools within the material we have covered thus far? For example, compare the theologies of P and DtrH, or J and the Chronicler, or other such schools or sources. How are they different? How does the historical and geographic context of each school/source inform its theology?

compare and contrast P and Dtrh

Answer 28

Both written for exilic context
Emphasis on blessing, key focus for a people who are without hope
• Yet both outline extensive punishments for sin (cf. Lev. 26 + Joshua 9:34 [Deut. 28])
Both include memories of a mobile place of worship
• (tabernacle vs. ark)
Both offer hope for restoration of land (Year of Jubilee (Lev. 25) vs. 2 Kings 25)
Both written to remind Israel of covenant
Emphasis on covenant (Gen. 9 and 17)
Emphasis on covenant (Josiah 23)
Optomistic vs. Pessemistic Past
P- Purifies the patriarchs
Dtr.H – gives all the dirt
Specific vs. General
P – very specific rules to follow
Dtr.H – very general concepts to be obedient

Question 29

How does the characterization of God differ between selected sources/schools within the material we have covered thus far? For example, compare the theologies of P and DtrH, or J and the Chronicler, or other such schools or sources. How are they different? How does the historical and geographic context of each school/source inform its theology?

J

Answer 29

i. Emphasis on Judah

ii. Anthropomorphic Deity

Question 30

How does the characterization of God differ between selected sources/schools within the material we have covered thus far? For example, compare the theologies of P and DtrH, or J and the Chronicler, or other such schools or sources. How are they different? How does the historical and geographic context of each school/source inform its theology?

Chronicler

Answer 30

Chronicler ??????

Question 31

One of the major themes that has emerged in the course is the presence of multiple voices within the Old Testament. Various models of the composition of the Pentateuch, for example, suggest it is a composite text drawing from different traditions or sources. In the biblical material we have covered thus far, we have seen different collections of legal material, different portrayals of Israelite history (e.g., DtrH and Chronicles), differing perspectives on kingship, etc.
In what ways does it matter for contemporary communities of faith that such differences exist? Are they an asset? A liability? Something else?

Answer 31

a. Various testimonies
b. Various understandings of how God works
c. ??