Ch 2 - Introducing The Old Testament

Question 1

Tobit (apocrypha)

Answer 1

Relates the title character’s devotion to the Torah and Jewish customs in Nineveh during Israel’s captivity there. 200 BC

Question 2

Judith (apocrypha)

Answer 2

Relates the wiles of a dog her Israel as she single-handedly rallies her people to victory over the Assyrians after slaying the Assyrian general Holofernes. 150 BC

Question 3

Additions to Esther (apocrypha)

Answer 3

These additions make Esther a more pointedly religious book and temper its apparent lack of theology by mentioning God. From the Greek 160 BC.

Question 4

1 Maccabees (apocrypha)

Answer 4

Tells the history of the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid kings of Syria and struggle against sorption of Jews into the Hellenistic world. Hebrew 100 BC, Greek survives.

Question 5

2 Maccabees (apocrypha)

Answer 5

Overlapping 1 Maccabees 1 through 7, relates selected incidents from this period to illustrate the heroism of the Jews and the protection they receive from God. Greek 124 BC

Question 6

Wisdom of Solomon

apocrypha

Answer 6

The first for the book is devoted to encouraging Jews in Egypt to remain faithful in a culture that encourages pagan worship. The second part of the book purports to be Solomon speaking in praise of wisdom. Greek 50 BC.

Question 7

Sirach (apocrypha)

Answer 7

Ben Sira or Ecclesiasticus, The wisdom of Jesus Ben Sira. It is mostly pithy sayings about worldly wisdom, commonsense, and good behavior. Hebrew 190 BC translated to Greek 132 BC.

Question 8

Baruch & the Letter of Jeremiah (apocrypha)

Answer 8

Contains four documents telling about Jewish devotion to God’s law and their messianic hopes in the Babylonian exile. Probably first cent. BC. However chapter 6 was written up to one century earlier.

Question 9

Daniel 3 addition
Prayer of Azariah
(apocrypha)

Answer 9

The prayer is purported to be by one of the three young Jews condemned to be cast into a furnace my Nebuchadnezzar. Greek second century BC.

Question 10

Daniel 3 addition
Song of the 3 Young Men
(apocrypha)

Answer 10

This song was supposedly sung in praise to God by the three men in the furnace. Has been used in worship in Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, and Lutheran Churches. Greek 2nd Cent BC.

Question 11

Daniel addition
Suzanna
(apocrypha)

Answer 11

Typically Daniel 13, this short story tells of how Daniel is a boy in the Babylonian captivity rescued Suzanna, Who was condemned to death. Greek Second century BC.

Question 12

Daniel Addition
Bel & the Dragon
(apocrypha)

Answer 12

Included as Daniel 14, a brief account of Daniel’s wisdom proving the Babylonian God Bel is a fraud and the dragon worshipped by the Babylonians is a false God by destroying it. Greek second century BC.

Question 13

Ammon

Answer 13

The ancient people descended from Abraham’s nephew a Lot. They inhabited the Transjordan plateau to northeast of the Dead Sea. Also the name of the region inhabited by these people.

Question 14

Apocrypha

Answer 14

Books often grouped with the canonical books of the Bible by protestants but not considered part of scripture. They are accepted as part of the Canon by RC and EO.

Question 15

Arabah

Answer 15

The area south of the Dead Sea extending southward to the Gulf of Aqaba

Question 16

Bashan

Answer 16

Region east and northeast of the Sea of Galilee.

Question 17

Bronze Age

Answer 17

Period of time in the ancient near East when bronze was the metal of choice for making most tools.

Question 18

Canaan

Answer 18

Son of Ham and grandson of Noah; also another name for Palestine, the region consisting in recent times of Israel and the western part of Jordan.

Question 19

Covenant

Answer 19

Mutually binding set of promises.

Question 20

Dead Sea

Answer 20

Body of salt water at the southern end of the rift valley in Palestine, fed by the Jordan River.

Question 21

Deuterocanonical

Answer 21

Adjective meaning “second canon” used to describe books considered part of the Old Testament canon by RC & EO, but considered part of the apocrypha by protestants.

Question 22

Edom

Answer 22

An ancient people descended from Abrahams son Esau. They inhabited the Transjordan plateau south and southeast of the dead sea. Also, the region inhabited by these people or another name for Esau.

Question 23

Egypt

Answer 23

Country in the extreme north east corner of Africa. In ancient times, Egypt was mainly a narrow strip of land on both sides of the Nile river.

Question 24

Essenes

Answer 24

Very small ancient Jewish sect that arose in the two centuries before Christ. They refused to sacrifice in the temple in Jerusalem, since they consider the Jewish priesthood and his rights to be corrupt in their day.

Question 25

Gallilee

Answer 25

Region in the northern central hills of Palestine west and northwest of the city of Galilee.

Question 26

Gilead

Answer 26

A region in the Transjordan plateau south of the Yarmuk river and north of the dead sea, bisected by that Arnon river.

Question 27

Hasmonean

Answer 27

Adjective derived from the name Hasmon, an ancestor of Jewish priestly family, used to describe the family of the Maccabees and their successors.

Question 28

Hellenization

Answer 28

The spread of Greek culture and language through the ancient near East in the centuries following the conquests by Alexander the great.

Question 29

Iron Age

Answer 29

Period of time in the ancient near East when iron became the metal of choice for making most tools. There was a period of overlap between the Bronze Age and the iron age (Th Philistines worked with iron before Israel did).

Question 30

Jordan River

Answer 30

The main river in Palestine. It flows from north to south beginning from its source in the extreme north of the rift valley and ending at the Dead Sea.

Question 31

Judea

Answer 31

Later, Latinized name for Judah.

Question 32

Judah

Answer 32

One of Jacobs 12 sons. The large southern region in the central hills of Palestine inhabited by the tribe of Judah.

Question 33

Levant

Answer 33

The region along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean sea including Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.

Question 34

Major Prophets

Answer 34

The larger prophetic books.

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and sometimes Lamentations.

Question 35

Mesopotamia

Answer 35

The land in the Middle East around in between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Question 36

Minor Prophets

Answer 36

The 12 smaller books of prophecy, which were together as a single book in ancient times.
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi.

Question 37

Moab

Answer 37

And ancient people descended from Abraham’s nephew Lot. They inhabited the Transjordan plateau east of Dead Sea. Also, the region inhabited by these people.

Question 38

Negev

Answer 38

Extreme southern portion of the central hills in Palestine. It is a very dry wilderness region.

Question 39

Palestine

Answer 39

The region consisting in ancient times of Israel and the western part of Jordan, also called Canaan.

Question 40

Parity Covenant

Answer 40

A covenant made between two parties roughly equal in status or power.

Question 41

Patriarchs

Answer 41

The term used to describe the great mail ancestors of the people of Israel – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Question 42

Pentateuch

Answer 42

From the Greek for “five books”; the five books of Moses (Gen, Ex, Lev, Num, & Deut), also called the Torah.

Question 43

Pharisees

Answer 43

An ancient Jewish sect that arose in the two centuries before Christ. They resisted Hellenistic influence in Jewish religious belief and practice.

Question 44

Plain of Acco

Answer 44

The portion of the coastal plain in Palestine that is directly west of Galilee and extends southward to Mt. Carmel.

Question 45

Plain of Philistia

Answer 45

The portion of the coastal plain in Palestine from Joppa in the north to Gaza in the south. This region was named after the Philistines, who inhabited this plain throughout most of the Old Testament era.

Question 46

Plain of Sharon

Answer 46

The portion of the coastal plain in Palestine south of Mt. Carmel to the city of Joplin. In ancient times this plane was mostly marsh and dense forest.

Question 47

Polytheism

Answer 47

The belief in and worship of more than one god.

Question 48

Ptolemaic

Answer 48

Adjective used to describe the ancient Greek kingdom founded in Egypt by Ptolemy the Great, one of the successors of Alexander the Great.

Question 49

Saducees

Answer 49

And ancient Jewish upper class sect that arose in the two centuries before Christ. Their beliefs were heavily influenced by Hellenistic philosophy. Therefore, the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead and the existence of angels.

Question 50

Samaria

Answer 50

The region in the central Hills directly west of the Jordan River, South of the Sea of Galilee, and north of the Dead Sea. Also major city in this region.

Question 51

Sea of Galilee

Answer 51

Body of water in the north part of the rift valley through which the Jordan River flows.

Question 52

Seleucid

Answer 52

Adjective used to describe the ancient Greek kingdom founded in Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine by Seleusis I, one of the successors to Alexander the great.

Question 53

Semitic

Answer 53

Adjective used to describe related languages and peoples of the ancient near East including the Israelites, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Arabs, Assyrians, and Babylonians.

Question 54

Shephelah

Answer 54

The foothills in Judah between the coastal plain and the central hills.

Question 55

Suzerainty Covenent

Answer 55

The covenant imposed by a suzerain on his vassal.

Question 56

Suzerain

Answer 56

A superior ruler to whom faithfulness and submission are due.

Question 57

Tanak

Answer 57

Jewish acronym for the Old Testament (Torah, Neviim, and Kethivim).

Question 58

Torah

Answer 58

Hebrew for “law” or “instruction.” It is also used in a narrow sense to denote the five books of Moses.

Question 59

Yahweh

Answer 59

Personal name of God in the Old Testament.