Israelite Religion Flashcards
In general, Anderson seems to share Noll’s idea of a continuity between Canaanite and Israelite religions. He makes two exceptions, however. Which are these? Would you agree with him? Check for your answer also what Noll says about the role of the covenant.
2 exceptions / Anderson’s argument is not so strong
1. Anderson suggests that what is special about Israelite religion is monotheistic; but this is a development as outlined by Noll
2. Anderson suggests that the covenant treaty; Noll: this was a replacement in exile when there was no king anymore, connection treaty between king and central god / Israelite – treaty is between people and god idea became more important in exile when there was no king
Explain how the discovery of various layers in the Pentateuch or Torah (see Lemche 1988) can help us reconstruct developments in religious history.
The discovery of various layers in the Pentateuch or Torah can help us reconstruct developments in religious history as the changing mentalities can inform us
Describe the different roles of priests and prophets and their different backgrounds on the basis of Anderson 1994.
Read Jeremiah chapters 27 and 28 in a Bible translation of your choice (or hereLinks to an external site.) and discuss the following points: (a) Did prophets always agree with each other? (b) How many prophets are mentioned in this story? (c) What public did prophets have? (d) How do Hananiah and Jeremiah bring their messages?
Explain how Judaism at the end of the millennium could be pluriform in spite of the centrality of the Law.
Judaism could be pluriform despite the centrality of the Law due to the different interpretations of the law and sectarianism
History of Israelite religion
- Descriptive and analytical
- Historical and comparative
approach to religion - Historical-critical approach to the
Bible - Use of contemporary sources from
neighbouring people
Theology of the Old Testament/Hebrew
Bible
- Normative (Jewish or Christian
perspective -> theologies) - Systematical approach to religion
- Very often a canonical approach is
chosen: the Bible is used as one
book, without attention to
developments over time and
geographical differences - if other sources are used, then the
New Testament or doctrinal works
What is the Sukkot/Tabernacles
Festival of Ingathering
a week-long fall festival commemorating the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness
Names of God
El
* YHWH (in translations: LORD)
* Elohim = God, gods
* Adonay = Lord
* God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of my father
* Pahad Yitshaq, Abbir Ja’aqob = Fear of Isaac, Powerful of Jacob
* Elohe Tsebaot = God of Hosts
* El Eljon = El of the Height/the Highest
* El Olam = El, the eternal one
* El Elohe Yisrael = El, the God of Israel
* El Shaddai = El of the Mountain
* El Bethel = El of Bethel (= House of El)
Three levels of religiosity in Israelite Religion
- Main cult in the city
- Village cults
- Household cults
- Urban temples AND rural shrines
:: Mesopotamia
same as Caanaite religion
How were the Priests?
based on genealogy (kohanim: descending from Aaron,
thus section of the Levites). Involved in the cult. Hierarchy. Issue of
purity
How were the Prophets?
called by God (but often paid by the court). Bringing
messages from God
The Exile and afterwards
- Monotheism
- Ethnic solidarity
- Central position of Temple and Law
- Personal responsibility: Chronicles rewrites Samuel and Kings
- Eventually: belief in life after death
- Apocalypticism
- Messianism
Diversity
- Pharisees
- Zealots
- Sadducees
- Essenes
- Qumran sect
- Jews in the Diaspora with all sorts of opinions
- Pharisees > later Rabbinic Judaism (Mishna, Talmudim, Midrashim:
oral Torah)
What are the 4 literary sources for the Torah
- Usual dating Newer Proposal
- J 10/9th c. 7/6th c. Yahwist – anthropomorphic god (Judah)
- E 9/8th c. - Elohist – more abstract god (northern)
- D 7th c. 6th c. Deuteronomy
- P 6/5th c. 5/4th c. Priestly sources
