Exam 2 Terms Flashcards
Lex talionis
Identification: the law of exact retributions or “law of retaliation”; for example “an eye for an eye”
Significance: This is first featured in the Code of Hammurabi and is also found in the biblical legal material. This type of law was actually intended to limit retaliation and violence so that the punishment fit the crime. Retribution is presented as the prerogative of God.
Tabernacle
Identification: The moveable shrine that served as the Israelites’ place of worship after the Exodus from Egypt described in Exodus 26. Also called the “tent of meetings.”
Significance: Reflects the moveable presence of God for the people on the move and depicts the divine presence moving from the mountain to the people. It is the setting for the giving of the holiness code. It reflects P’s experience with & in the temple in Jerusalem.
Apodictic Law
Identification: A type of law characterized by absolute or general commands or prohibitions, as in the Ten Commandments.
Significance: It is often contrasted with casuistic law.
You can find apodictic law present in the Ten Commandments.
Reed Sea
Identification: The body of water that the Israelites crossed in their Exodus from Egypt.
Significance: the Hebrew translation identifies this body of water as the “reed sea” and is most likely one of several smaller bodies of water or wetlands east of the delta. The Septuagint mistranslated this term as the Red Sea. The translation could effect the interpretation of the story.
Although later translated/identified as the Red Sea, it is more likely one of the several smaller bodies of water or wetlands east of the Nile Delta. As translated from Hebrew, it would be less climactic for the chariots to cross if only a Reed Sea. It is significant because it is referenced over and over throughout scriptures as a way to remember the mightiness and victory of God.
Herem/ban
Identification: Utter dedication of everything in the land to God and it’s restriction for the deity’s use, such as the spoils of war, including captured and killed people .It refers also to all of the cities of Canaan destroyed by the Israelites, and they were to be totally destroyed so that their worship of Yahweh was not corrupted
Significance: emphasizes the liturgical aspect of the land; the land is being used as a liturgical ritual act and is being purified for God’s use.
Code of Hammurabi
Identification: An ancient collection of laws issued by the Babylonian King Hammurapi in the mid-eighteenth century (BCE). Primary purpose may have been glorification of royal power, but did embody 2 key legal principles: these were the laws that were the laws that were binding throughout the kingdom and justice was to be proportionately retributive.
Significance: It demonstrates casuistic law and is very similar to the Covenant Code in particular and may have even influenced the authors of the Covenant Code. It is an example of a non-biblical law code similar to others in the ANE.
Holiness Code
Identification:
- chapters 17-26 of Leviticus
- a prescription for how God’s people, including the priests, will be consecrated and maintain holiness.
Significance:
- recognized as an originally independent source
- principal theme is holiness of YHWH and of his people
- scholars suggest an “H” (Holiness school) author for this section
- moves the notion of holiness beyond the technicalities of ‘P”
- can be characterized by the repeated use of words having to do with holiness
- Holiness extends here to the entire holy land, not just the sanctuary (P)
- The themes of clean/unclean and sacred/profane
Suzerainty-Vassal Treaties
Identification: A binding agreement between king or suzerain and lesser king, the suzerain’s vassal.
Significance:
- Characteristics of these treaties are found in Ten Commandments and Covenant Code
- Biblical texts are modeled after these treaties
- significant difference: uniquely places Yahweh in the superior role and the people in the lesser role.
- father son language
Casuistic Law
Identification: Case law, often in the form of a conditional sentence, in which specific situations addressed
Significance:
- contrasted with apodictic law = (more general)
- Casuistic law deals with the particular
- primary type of law found in the Covenant Code.
- Uses the lex talionis concept to limit justice that could be enacted
Song of the Sea
Identification:
- Ancient poem
- depicts a song sung by Miriam after Israelites crossed the Sea of Reeds
- celebrates the destruction of the Egyptians and glorifies God who really really triumphed.
Significance: The antiquity of Song of the Sea supports the idea that there is some historical significance to an Exodus out of Egypt and can be helpful in dating the Exodus
Covenant Code
Identification: The collection of laws found in Exodus 20.22-23.33, identified as “the book of the covenant.”
Significance:
- oldest collection of laws in the Bible
- consists largely of casuistic law
- shows organization and values of the society that produced it
- Code of Hammurapi and Covenant Code the deity is the source of legal authority
Merneptah Stele
Identification: an upright stone slab erected by Pharaoh Merneptah after a victorious campaign in Syria and Palestine which dates sometime in the 13 century BCE
Significance:
- shows distinction b/t Israelites & Canaanites
- used to help date the exodus
- earliest reference to Israel that is non biblical
Plains of Moab
Identification: The land east of the Jordan from the promised land that serves as the literary setting where the Israelite people remain through Deuteronomy.
Significance:
- location where law of Deuteronomy is given to Israelites by God
- presents law of Deuteronomy is present before entering promise land
- time here marks a time of quiet with no deaths, complaints, or rebellions… just waiting.
- The Moab covenant made here (Deut 29:1) supplements the Sinai covenant.
DtrH
Identification: The books of Joshua - 2 Kings, excluding Ruth, known as the Deuteronomistic History
Significance:
- narrative history of Israel in the Promised Land
- produced in several editions from the late eighth to the sixth centuries BCE by Deuteronomisitc Historians who were informed by the principles of the book of Deuteronomy.
Albrecht Alt
Identification: German Theologian from the early 20th century.
Significance:
- distinguished casuistic law from the more general apodictic law found in the Decalogue
- Stated that Casuistic law deals with particular cases as opposed to general guidelines.
- introduced infiltration theory: it is possible that the Hebrews rose to power gradually after entering the land as opposed to conquering all at once.
