Exam Flashcards
Execration Texts–
1925 CE–pottery bought in Luxor and when they were reassembled they made about 80 different dishes and vases; Inscribed with writing/cursive hieratic . Real writing–mentions names of countries, towns, rulers alleged to be enemies of Egypt. voodoo/sympathetic magic–they took these vessels/wrote on them the town of x, name of ruler, each vessel had one or two names and then you smashed the vessel and thats what should happens to your vessels
Earliest mention of Jerusalem appears here–rushalimum.
Yikran and shashan were princes mentioned of jerusalem
Amarna tablets–Armana letters–
you can find clay tablets but not papyrus bc it preserves really well–preserved international correspondence; If it had been in hieroglyphs it wouldve been on papyrus and wouldnt have preserved.
discuss vassals and international scene
Tel amarna is archaeological site
~350 letters in this collection, 6 from Abdi hepa
Akhenaten
14c bce–heretic king pharoah Akhenaten moves capital away from Thebes to new town in desert so he could worship sun all day long–Brings father’s and his own international correspondence–babylonian king writing letters “WHY ARE YOU MAKING MY MESSENGER STAND IN SUN ALL DAY”
Abdi-Hepa–
prince/king of jerusalem sending letters to pharoah of jerusalem in late bronze age
Jerusalem is city with king and vassal and important enough to communicate with pharoah. One of many canaanite city states–they ask for small petty requests and praise themselves and they impugn motives of neighbors. Egyptian sovereignty in land of israel over bickering vassals
Yevusim–
first occupiers of Jerusalem, under King Aravnah? Idea that jerusalem was impregnable so they placed blind and lame statues–mocking. Jerusalem was only vulnerable in north. we don’t know what happened to them.
Watershed Moment –
the moment David conquers the Yevusim. Went from provincial canaanite town of some importance and destiny changed to the political and ultimately religious capital for a new nation
Yoav–
tunnels thru Gichon spring to conquer, previously impregnable (hence blind and deaf)
carbon dating
-we have the same amount of carbon in our bodies but we stop when we die and radioactive carbon begins to die - halflife 5740 years
Cant carbon date stone or pottery but can do anything that was once alive
Olive pits used a lot
Ir David–
Ir david (the oldest part of jerusalem) got left out of old city of jerusalem David’s city. Common practice in ancient near east to make it his city when he conquers it; Ir david rebranding was typical
Metzudat Zion, Stepped Stone Structure–
Stepped stone structure excavated long time ago–house is from time of chizkiyahu but the structure itself mustve been holding up an important building. Speculated that it was metzudat tzion fortress. stepped stone structure were integrated into david’s palace (mazar’s theory)
Aravnah
The man who owned the land that became the Temple Mount. the raised area that became Kodesh Kodashim was Aravna’s threshing floor
Eilat Mazar and Discovery of David’s Palace (?), Large Stone Structure–
From area h kathleen kenyon found this palmette evidence of state govt; Eilat mazar noticed that and put it together with the pasuk bc they were looking in canaanite jerusalem but mazar argues–he went “down” to the fortress–maybe the palace is outside the city and david wouldnt knock down people’s houses to build his palace–found large stone structure, probably David’s palace
Shmuel 2: 8:17–David goes south from his palace to fortress to fight phlishtim
Beit haMikdash–
cedar imported from Tyre.
Temple plan is a tripartite (three parts). Standard plan for the times. Three parts are ulam (courtyard), heichal (main room), and the Dvir (Holy of Holies). No archeological evidence of this edifice.
Shlomo’s Temple is innovative. Heichal comes from Sumerian. E.Gal means “great room.” Sumerian to Akkadian and Akkadian to Hebrew. Cubit is a foot and a half. Heichal was 20 cubits wide and 40 cubits long. Main building height is 30 cubits. Temple was 60X20. Ulam has extra space so add 10. No archeological evidence of the structure, but there are archeological parallels. (tayinat (2) and ‘Ain Dara)
reminiscent of halani palaces in turkey and syria
tayinat
There is a sight in Turkey called Tel Tayinat. In 1936 they did some excavations by the University of Chicago. They found a palace, and next to the palace, they found a structure very similar to the Temple structure. This temple in Turkey dates after Shlomo’s time. In 2008, they (University of Toronto) went back to Tayinat to dig more, and they found a second Temple on the other side. Dimensions are remarkably similar. Jewish Temple plans are well known throughout the east. Temples in the Ancient east were considered homes for deities. When they dug in the “Dvir,” they found gold, bronze, iron, libation vessels, foil, and more. Even more found. They found Cuneiform tablets. Cuneiform was invented by the Sumerians (Iraq) (used 2000 before Shlomo’s time). The Sumerians die out and the common language becomes Akkadian. They wrote on clay tablets. Size of someone’s hand (a little bigger). Tablets were found in the Holy of Holies. The luchot. Parallels! It was an appropriate place to put them. The ones at Tayinat are vassals treaties. Treaties outlined the responsibilities (and if they don’t do their job) of the vassals. Found basalt column base.
Ain Dara
Another archaeological parallel is at ‘Ain Dara (from the same time of Shlomo), not far from Tayinat. Excavated in the 80s. Decorative motifs very similar to the Temple. There are feet carved into stone. If one compares their layouts, we can see similarities. All have pillars. All tripartite.
Located in south west Syria, Temple is from the 10th century — same as Shlomo Ha’Melech. Had steps approaching platform. Flanked by two columns. In the courtyard had a large stone basin like in Shlomo’s. They had cherub structures. 3ft Long Footprints in stone leading to the temple. Expansion of Jerusalem
Water Gate/Layout and Activities
Northern entrance to city was a commercial area. Meetings, trades, announcements, prophets. Storage rooms. There were outer and inner gate houses. Cistern outside the gate. The outer gate also had a projecting tower, this gate we know today. Gates were the hub of activity, where people congregate.
Gates had 3 parts:
Outer-gate house (some chambers there, also had a road that led into the gate)
Watergate complex (open area within gate complex)
Inner-gate house (leads into the city itself)
Topography of Jerusalem
Jerusalem (unlike big cities) isn’t by water, or trade routes. It’s 9 acres and is known as Central Hills/Hill Country area.
Jerusalem’s only water source is in Ir David, the Gichon and cities were built on hills nearby (old city) the water source.
Not built to sustain many people.
Jerusalem was often attacked from the north because that’s the only place where you can get the high ground.
Rechavam
Son of Shlomo, in his time civil war and Israel splits away under Yeravam ben Nevat.
Still building so labor tax. People want him to stop the tax, but he didn’t. People appointed Yeruvam, (not from the Davidic line). Kingdom split north and south. Yeruvam’s North= Kingdom of Israel (capital Shomron). Rechavam South=Kingdom of Judah (Jerusalem.) The north tribe had 2 mini temples (in place of the Temple in Jerusalem.) in Don and Beit El (at the 2 ends of the new Israel kingdom). Jews weren’t attached to Jerusalem as the spiritual center, bc BHMK wasn’t around for long enough. Jerusalem/Judah/South lost power and got poor because it borders no one. Judah/Israel/North got power and rich because they bordered countries so trade. The 2 kingdoms had war for 50 years until mutual enemy - Aram.
Atalia
She is an Israelite princess who marries the Judahite prince Jehoram(not the one who becomes king) When Jehoram dies, he is succeeded by his son Ahaziah and when he dies she takes over. She tries killing all her grandchildren.
Assyrian Approach to Conquest and Empire:
Assyrians were builders. Used transmigration, when they conquered a city- deport people all over Assyria to build it. They aim for world domination and conquer Judah and Israel. They speak and write acadian. They turn the conquered states into a vassal (puppet king: if the king will not cooperate , put someone else. Doesn’t usually last long.) or a province, and set up their own ruler. Assyrian governor that will rule. Goes from: vassal - puppet king - vassal.
Assyrian imperial policy make people dependent on state take away external ties and rely on state for survival/take away their resources/farmland
Yeshayahu’s advice
The Navi Yeshayahu advises Chizkiyahu. Chizkiyahu wants to rebel. Why? Doesn’t like paying taxes. Why collect money and send it to the enemy? He is a vassal. Wants political independence. Stops paying tribute and attacks. Advised by Yeshayahu to rebel
Senchariv
Sencheriv was the Assyrian king who wrote on prisms that were found in Nineveh. Writings on the prisms were about the siege and that he conquered many cities and he was successful, and after Jerusalem, he was going to go to Egypt.
Growth under Chizkiyahu
Everyone knows what Assyrians do to people. Jerusalem will now become a big city. Israel brings technological know-how. Getting refugees from Israel as Assyria attacks them whose practice is more syncretistic (two religious traditions blended).
During the times of Chizkiyahu Jerusalem expanded. The refugees from the north fill it in.
Chizkiyahu centralizes Jerusalem as the place of worship. Purify Judaism from idolatrous elements. Religious reforms. Israel goes through 100 years of economic growth. Growing. Trading.
Siege of Jerusalem/preparations
Yeshayahu HaNavi influences Chizkiyahu religiously. Yeshayahu enforces no idols and to celeb He tells C to rebel and not be a vassal to Ashur. C knows that if he does this he has to prepare for a siege in 3 ways.
- makes sure there’s enough food. Food stored in jars, such storage jars were found with “Lemelech Seals”, seals with a sun disc, beetle, and a city listed on them.
- He builds a second wall around the wall that is already there. Everyone helps build the wall bc they know they’re at risk.
- He diverts the water source from the Gichon not only bc it’s in an inconvenient area but also from the Assyrians. The diversion of water was greatest technological advance of all time, it was diverted 2 feet uphill! (DOWNHILL, the tunnel used gravity to divert water, the amazing part was that it worked with only a 2 foot change in height over a long distance–⅓ mile)
Broad wall
Broad wall remains in the Old City found from Chizkiyahu’s time. Founded after 1967. Uncovered a huge portion of the wall.
LMLK seals
Found some “Lemelech” seals. If one is making a siege, they need food and water (able to get water easily). Created a system for storing food. State sponsored storage vessels. Found at least 2,000 of these stamps for the siege. Names of four cities on it. Each vessel (storage jars) typically weighed around 50-80 pounds. Likely only one strong guy would lift it. Probably buried them in the ground to stay cool (and because they can’t stand on their own). That was the first thing Chizkiyahu did, gather provisions.
Conclusion of siege
The conclusion of the siege is that Sencheiruv couldn’t conquer the city, and Chizkiyahu had to pay a fine. But when they conquered the north (Israel), refugees fled to Judah, so Jerusalem expands 4-5x and becomes a big city. These immigrants come with a lot of knowhow, but they religiously practice Syncretism which will affect others. Chizkiyahu made reforms disallowing idols. He broke the serpent from Moshe, getting rid of syncretistic elements that refugees brought to Jerusalem.
Water tunnels
Chizkiyahu made a tunnel from the Gichon spring (down the slope, Kidron) to the Silwan pool (lower part, Central) (incredible engineering feat.) Goes by Ir David. Built completely underground (couldn’t really see where they were building). Gravity transports the water. About a third of a mile. Change of elevation from the spring to the pool. Done by a team of two. One team started at the pool, the other at the spring, they worked toward each other. If you touch the wall, you can feel the difference of the chisel marks. We know this because of an inscription they found inside. Had to carve niches where they could put their lamps (no natural light). Chizkiyahu’s numbers. Date of Construction: 701 BCE Length: 1,750 feet (⅓ mile) Direct Distance: About 1,000 feet Entrance: Gichon Spring
The inscription is by the exit of the Silwan Pool. Founded in 1909 by the Parker expedition. Ktav Ivri. The original was cut out by the Ottomans and is in Istanbul. Goal was to divert the waters so the Assyrians could not have access to it. Concealed the entrance to the water. Area of water is inconvenient. Central Valley was more convenient. Inscription was written by an engineer. Literacy is higher than it was in Egypt and Mesopotamia (if an engineer can write). Recounts the exciting moment when the tunnel was completed.
Yoshiyahu religious reforms
Religious reform: pillar figurines, horse with sun disc
Yoshiyahu collected Pillar Figurines from people and buried them in Favissae - sacred burial pits. They were female figurines made of clay with breasts. These common household rituals; said to be figurines of fertility, or lactation because of breasts - hoping to help kids reach 5 years (They were not thought to be idols because made of cheap material?) Also thought to be an Assyrian figurine, as the molds have Phoenician influence.
Horse with sun-disc: Yoshiyahu collected horse sundisk idols that the kingis of Judah set up in front of the Bet Hamikash in the honor of the sun. They were found in a second sacred burial pit.
Yoshiyahu’s story
In 625 Bavel threw off the yoke of Ashur. Ashur has no more control over Bavel. Bvael becomes independent. Same time as Yoshiyahu. Yoshiyahu knows Assyria is weakening. Yoshiyahu expands his territory (pushes up north). Very successful king. In 622 he began to repair the Temple. During the renovation is when the scroll is found by the Cohen Gadol. Yoshiyahu reads the scroll out loud to the people and he initiates reforms (whatever Menashe did he removed/overturned it). Gets rid of bad things that Menashe did. Burns Baal. Abolishes rural shrines. Expands Judah up to the kingdom of Israel (expands northward). Destroys the shrines of Beit-El and Shomron. Expanding and becoming more frum. Reinstates Pesach. Reigns for 31 years (started at eight years old). Same time while Assyria is declining while Bavel is rising. In 612 Bvael conquered Ashur. Yoshiyahu does not know Bavel (knows Ashur).
Yoshiyahu had this passion against Egypt because of something he read in the Torah scroll they just found. Didn’t want them to control. Feared that if Egypt defeated Bavel, that Israel would come under Egyptian control (meaning slaves).
Yoshiyahu was able to expand because Assyria was weak. Yoshiyahu confronts Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo. who is on his way to fight the Bablyonias (the way to get there was through Israel). Yoshiyahu gets strong feelings. Yoshiyahu did not want to become slaves again. Yoshiyahu is killed by Pharaoh Neco.
Ketef Hinnom
There was a need for a new burial ground for people. He made a burial chamber in Ketef Hinnom, which was able to fit many people in one chamber. (Each family would have their own burial chamber and there would be dead people laid out, unburied, on top, and underneath there would a repository with good like pottery and jewelry. After the dead bodies were dead for a long time and decomposed, their bones would be placed in the repository and a new dead body would be put in its place, on top of the repository). Sometimes tombs were robbed of its grave goods. Around 1,000 objects were found inside, including 2 silver amulets (which contained Birchas Kohanim written on it)- first old copy of biblical texts.
Amidst all this, they found thin layers of silver foil that were rolled with a hole in the middle to be worn as necklaces. Found two silver amulets rolled to be hung by a string around the neck.
One was found 7cm above the floor (far down). Second one was found while sifting. Ketef Chinnom amulets. Both embedded in pottery from the 6th/7th centuries. Read them. Ktav Ivri. First one is 27X97ml. First one has part of the blessing of Birkat HaCohanim. Second one is smaller (half an inchX1/2 inch). It says the blessing of Birkat Cohanim! Some people wear silver necklaces with this bracha today! This is the oldest existing copy/writing of anything written in the Torah.
Nevuchadnezzar/ Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnetzar attacked Jerusalem from the north. From the northwest corner. All enemies come from the north. Weakest spot because there are no natural defenses. Herod will address this problem. The Babylonians made a breach in the wall big enough to let them in, and then they went in and destroyed it. After the Temple is destroyed, its game over. In the ancient Near East, once two groups went to war, if one temple fell, then their leader lost, and the winners would take the temple vessels. Babylonians also destroyed the Philistines and deported them. They adapted to their religion. Their religion was dead. Jews think differently. G-d is punishing us, and He is using the Babylonains as His agent. Yehudah now becomes a vassal to Bavel, but it’s not much. Population declines to about 90%. 10% of them stay. Lots of Babylonian arrowheads were found in Jerusalem. Iron arrowheads. Big finds. Hard to find ancient iron, because it doesn’t preserve. Eventually the Babylonians destroy the whole city. Remains of rooms that were burnt on the easrten slope. They never reoccupied the slopes after.
Babylonian approach to conquest
Babylonian conquest resulted in mass deportations of the elite to Bavel so that the capital would grow, destroying every region they conquered. The Babylonians conquered and ended the Assyrian rule; so Jerusalem becomes a vassal to Bavel. They allow the people they exile to keep the lifestyle they lived, encouraging them to contribute to society and make it succeed. Babylonian empire lasts 65 years.
Babylonians come as destroyers, not conquers.
Yirmiyahu’s perspective
Once disaster strikes, after Yirmiyahu predicted this situation, and told them not to rebel, he becomes the comforter. Yirmiyahu makes it clear, “We can serve G-d from an alien land.” You can be a Jew without living in Yehudah and without a Temple. This was not heard of before. Yimriyahu says to go plant and settle. Also, “no one will miss the Aron. It’s gone. One day the exiles will return.”
