Final Exam Flashcards
Bamoth
High place(s)
Nabi
The Hebrew word for Prophet.
Root meaning “call”
One who calls/one who is called
The Greek is Prophetes
The division of the kingdoms
Israel (Northern Kingdom)- Judged for the sin of Jeroboam
- This was the sin of decentralizing worship (Deuteronomistic)
- This Kingdom was also under Ahab and Jezebel. She was the bad one
- Doomed from the beginning
- Northern Kingdom fell 721 BCE (Assyria)
Judah (Southern Kingdom)- Judged against David
- Always had a Davidic King
- Their sin was the continuation of the cult of the Bamoth
- Gets a chance because of David
- Fell in 586 BCE (Babylon)
Division fulfilled prophecy about Solomon.
Apostasy and Reform
Theme in Kings
On the basis of the contents of Deuteronomy, the books of Kings keep up a steady critique of the nation’s failure to preserve the purity and unity of worship. The focus of criticism is worship of foreign gods and sacrifice outside of Jerusalem.
Davidic Kingship
Theme in Kings
God’s special favor to David and the abiding Davidic dynasty in Jerusalem. David’s devotion serves as a model for measuring the fidelity of subsequent kings. Yahweh’s special favor to David is the basis of Jerusalem’s divine protection when the Assyrian ruler Sennacherib attacks Hezekiah.
Prophetic Word
Theme in Kings
Prophets appear throughout the books of Kings, interpreting events and signaling what to expect in the unfolding plot. Ahijah prepares for the rise and fall of Jerusalem and for that of the entire Northern Kingdom.
Women are Important
Theme in Kings
Women are presented as pivotal characters and actors in the unfolding of history. (Jezebel, the widow…)
Types of Prophets
- Seers
- These guys are the ones who have visions, get worked into a prophetic frenzy, and all that jazz - Cultic Prophets
- Connected to worship centers
- Seers
- Intercessors
- Taught the word to pilgrims - Court Prophets
- Advisors to the king
- Nathan as an example
- Spoke truth to power (were supposed to do this)
- Important political role - War prophets
- Rallied troops for battle
- Predicted victory
- Military advisors
- Cursed the enemy - Guild Prophets
- Communal existence
- Followers (sons) of a main (father) prophet
- Elisha and Elijah were probably leaders of guilds
- Often antagonistic to the king (as opposed to the other classes which were often more concerned with pleasing the king)
- Influence and power with the people - Radical prophets
- Prophets of the 9th and 8th centuries BCE (see other card for more. - Classical Prophets
Radical Prophets
Condemned all Israelite practices
Claimed divine authority for their assertions
Elijah and Elisha were early examples from the 9th century
Classical Prophets
Radical prophets who wrote/who’s words were preserved
- Amos
- Hosea
- Micha
- Isaiah
Rise of radical prophecy in Israel
• Religious threat to the worship of YHWH as God of Israel
- Came under the greatest threat during the reign of Ahab
• Economic and social developments
- The upper classes controlled the economic power and denied the power to the lower classes
- They exploited and oppressed the poor
• Major shift of power in international affairs
- Rise of Assyria
- Called into question the power of YHWH
- Prophets said these nations became powerful as a tool of YHWH’s judgment.
The subject matter of the prophets
- Political, social, and religious circumstances
- They analyzed the situation, evaluated it, and gave recommendations for a solution.
- They looked at the behavior of the people and evaluated the current circumstances accordingly.
Kingly Superscriptions
Book of Kings
- Dating info
- Theological evaluation of reign
- References to the chronicles or annals of the Kings of…
- Comment on death (burial in Judah) and successor.
Prophetic Superscription
The prophets
- Prophet’s name
- Names of the reigning king(s)
- Description of the audience
Characteristics of Prophetic Literature
- These are anthologies of works (probably out of the oral tradition)
- They have a history of Growth
- They have superscriptions
- Narratives happen in prose
- Prophecy happens in poetry
Prophetic Poetry
- The majority of prophetic writing is in poetry
- Poetry represents preaching or speeches
- Sometimes it is song
- This is “messenger speech”
- “Thus says the LORD.”
Two main types of speech in prophecy
Judgment Speech:
- Points out wrong behavior
- Shows the consequences of that behavior
- “Therefore” is a key term
Salvation Speech:
- Restoration/redemption
- Usually at the end of a prophetic book or section
- Happens after a disaster
- “On that day” is a key term
General message of the prophetic works
- Then end of Israel and why it will happen
- The restoration of Israel
Important dates and events in Israelite prophecy
- Moses is the first Prophet
- The Persian period brought the age of Prophecy to a close
- The beginning of the prophetic period starts with Amos
- The end is impossible to date with certainty, since the last prophets spoke of an ongoing restoration
3 chronological clusters in Israelite prophetic history
• Cluster 1- 800 BCE-750 BCE
Amos, Hosea, Micha, Isaiah 1-39
The key event of these is the fall of Israel to the Assyrians in 722-721
After the fall of Israel, Judah Survives as a vassal to the Assyrians until the fall of Nineveh
There were prophets in Judah at this time, but the works of the prophets were not preserved until before the fall of Judah
• Cluster 2- 700 BCE-539 BCE
Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Nahum Habakkuk (maybe Obadiah)
600bce
The next key event is the 586bce fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians
Ezekiel (He was supposedly captured in the first captivity in 597bce)
Isaiah 44-55
• Cluster 3: The restoration 538bce Decree of Cyrus king of Persia (Restoration of Judah becomes possible)
Haggai, Zechariah, Isaiah 56-66,
500bce- Malachi, (Jonah and Joel)
Mishpat
Hebrew- Justice
Key term in Amos
Tsedaquah
Hebrew- Righteousness
Key term in Amos
Major themes in Amos
- Yahweh’s sovereignty over the Nations
- Expressed in the opening oracles against the nations
- Judgments for crimes against humanity in war, slavery, and desecration of tombs - Social Justice and luxurious living
- These were the condemnations of Israel
- Most of the time is spent here
- Exploitation and oppression of the poor - Israelite Cult
- The wealthy were very religious, but they lacked justice and righteousness
- they offered extravagant sacrifices that were funded by the exploitation of others - Yahweh-Israel Relationship
- Israel is special because of the covenant
- This means they have a special responsibility
- Breaking the covenant means they will be judged - Doom for the state of Israel
- This is the ultimate message of Amos
- Judgment will come through cosmic calamity and through foreign aggression (earthquakes and wars)
- Judgment is inescapable
- “Prepare to meet your God, o Israel.”
- Amos plays on the theme of “The day of the Lord”
Yom YHWH
The day of the Lord
- Initially viewed as the day God will judge the nations
- Amos and the prophets shifts it to talking about the day God Judges Israel.
Historical background of Amos
• Jeroboam II reigning
• Uzziah (Dies in 745 BCE)
• During the time of Jeroboam II Israel enjoyed a Time of restoration of power
• Tiglath-pileser II is the king in Assyria
The stories in kings to this point reflect conflicts between Israel and Syria
external conflicts let Israel regain power
• This was a time of economic recovery in Israel and Judah
• During this time there were natural occourences Amos pointed to as judgment
Social background of Amos
- Economic recovery in Israel
- Unequal economic standards
- 99% suffered oppression of the 1%
Religious background of Amos
- The wealthy were very religious
- The oppression of the people allowed for extreme acts of piety in the upper classes.
- (Amos’s complaint is that Justice and Righteousness—piety lived out—were nonexistent.)
Hesed
Hebrew- Steadfast love
Key concept in Hosea
- Loyalty/Devotion
Da’at Elohim
Hebrew- The knowledge of God
Key concept in Hosea
- Refers to intimacy (in the carnal knowledge kind of way)
- Knowing/obeying the commandments
- Obedience is not trusting in anything but YHWH
Emeth
Hebrew- Faithfulness/truth
Rahaim
Hebrew- Compassion/mercy
Zonah
Hebrew- Promiscuity
speaks of a promiscuous woman
Historical Context of Hosea
o He’s an 8th century prophet
o ministry from the end of the reign of Jeroboam II
o J II Was succeeded by Zechariah who was assassinated a few months later
Themes of Hosea
Themes and Message of Hosea
- Yahweh-Israel Relationship: The divine election of Israel as Yahweh’s special people
- Israel’s Rejection of Yahweh and Breaking the covenant:
- Judgment and Punishment:
- Hope for Restoration: Yahweh’s appeal for Israel’s return
Marriage metaphor in Hosea
- God has chosen Israel
- Israel is prone to unfaithfulness
- Israel dishonors God in this way
- Questions God’s provision
- Questions God’s control
- Everything God does is to get Israel to return
- Tries to get Israel’s attention through making things hard for Israel
- Divorce is a picture of the Judgment on Israel
Israel’s unfaithfulness in Hosea
- Making treaties with other kings
- The history of the monarchy
- Disregard for Torah
- False worship
Judgment in Hosea
- All of it is to get Israel to return
- War
- Famine
Similarities between Isaiah and Micah
- Prophets to Judah
- Worked in the 8th Century
- Talk about the same stuff
- Micah is Isaiah on a small scale
- Divided into 3 sections
Micah 1-3/Isaiah 1-39 (contains oracles of Judgment)
M. 4-5/Is. 40-55 (Prophecies of salvation)
m. 6-7/Is. 56-66 (Mixture of accusation, lamentation and prophecy of salvation) - Jerusalem/Zion is prominent in both books
- Same general message (See other card)
General message of Isaiah and Micah
- The fall of Judah is interpreted theologically as a divine punishment for the sins of the nations, and the eventual restoration of a religious community in Jerusalem is seen as divine grace.
- This story of judgment and salvation is the paradigm for God’s rule over all the nations
- The universal rule of YHWH will be established in the future
- Jerusalem will play a central part in the universal rule.
- Zion/Jerusalem—Where YHWH Dwels—is the tower of Justice, but at the present moment, that status of Zion is not realized because of the corruption found in it.
- For Zion to become what it is supposed to be in Micah, it must be completely destroyed, and then a new Zion will rise up and be elevated so that all nations will see it and go there seeking justice.
- For Is. He recognizes that it’s not what it is supposed to be and in need of cleansing, but that doesn’t require the complete destruction of Jerusalem. Only the bad elements need taken out.
Big difference between Isaiah and Micah
Micah says Jerusalem must be destroyed, then a new Zion will arrive. Isaiah says Jerusalem needs to be cleansed.
Background of Micah and Isaiah
- Assyria is in power
- Israel and Syrene are allied against Assyria
- They try to get Judah into the alliance, and when Judah refuses they attack Judah
- This is the Syro-Israelite Crisis
Messages and themes of Micah
- Social Justice: accuses leaders of injustices against the powerless people
- Judgment: Total destruction
a. Military conquest and exile
b. Desolation
c. Purification of the land and destruction of cities - Salvation: reversal of fortune and the elevation of Zion
- Yahweh’s Requirements: justice and humble walk with God
Messages and themes in Isaiah
- The rebelliousness of Judah: Judah as a rebellious child; disappointing vineyard
- Cultic Worship: Empty rituals
- Yahweh’s universal reign of peace: Future elevation of Jerusalem2:1-5 (Micah 4)
- The status of Jerusalem/Zion: current corrupt status and future purification and elevation
- Judgment:
a. Day of Yahweh as a day of judgment
b. Judgment on and the fate of a corrupt society: Focus on leaders
c. Military conquest - Message During Isaiah’s later Ministry: Two phases
a. Political Advice during Ahaz’s reign: Message during the Syro-Israelite Crisis (7-12)
i. Shear yahub
ii. Immanuel
iii. Maher-shalal-hash-baz
iv. Messianic Passages: 9:1-7; 11:1-12:6-reassurance to the Davidic house
b. Political Message during Hezekiah’s reign:
i. Reliance on foreign powers
ii. Faith in Yahweh as the proper posture during political crisis
iii. The role of Assyria
iv. The inviolability of Zion/Jerusalem
Shear yahub
Heb- A remnant will remain
Name of Isaiah’s first son
Positive- there will be a remnant left over
Negative- There will ONLY be a remnant
Maher-shalal-hash-baz
Heb.- “The spoil hastens, plunder comes quickly”
The name of Isaiah’s second son
Immanuel
- This is a prediction of peace in the land
- A woman giving birth in a natural peaceful way
- It is a prediction that the Israel and Syrene will not be around by the time this child is weaned
The throne names of the Messiah
• Wonderful Councilor- good judgment in matters of state
• El Gibbor- Divine warier (mighty God)
• Everlasting Father (long live the king)
• Prince of Peace-
o describes the king’s role as protector against foreign aggression
o The king responsibility to preserve internal order
Messianic Message
- These are a reassurance that the Davidic line will continue
- This is a positive message that says Judah can celebrate the positive political change for Judah
- 9:1-7—the focus is on positive conditions in Judah
Chapter 11 (More messianic stuff)
1—Summary of the main claim
2-9—Davidic king described in detail
• Represents traditional royal ideology
10—Points to the future prestige of the Davidic line
• This king will be sought out to rule among the nations.
11-16—Talks about eh reunion of Israel and Judah and the power that will come from that.
12:1-6— talks about the conclusion
• The people will survive and that God is the one who protected them and is still with them.
