Lecture 11_Habakkuk and Zephaniah

Question 1

What is the timeframe of Habakkuk?

Answer 1

1. between the rise of the Babylonian power (626 BC)

2. and fall of Jerusalem (587/6 BC).

Question 2

What is the overall theme of Habakkuk?

Answer 2

the Faithfulness of YHWH

Question 3

What are two reasons for the dating of Zephaniah?

Answer 3

1. 1:4-5 describes syncretistic worship typical before the Josianic reforms of 621 BC
2. 2:13 predicts destruction of Nineveh which occurred in 612 BC

Question 4

What is the dating of Zephaniah?

Answer 4

1. 625 BC

2. dated to the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC),

Question 5

What is the point of “the righteous will live by his faith”?

Answer 5

when Babylon destroys Jerusalem,

God’s people will live by faith/faithfulness and not material measures

Question 6

What is the message/structure of Zephaniah?

III. The Aftermath of Judgment?

Answer 6

A. The Salvation of the Lord (3:9-13)

B. A Song of Praise for the Salvation of the Lord (3:14-20)

Question 7

What is the verse and the center of the chiastic structure of Zepheniah?

Answer 7

1. 2:11

2. God’s Kingdom Fully Realized

Question 8

There is a TC problem with “Now the righteous one by his/its faithfulness will live.” What is Meade’s conclusion?

Answer 8

1. The interpretive tradition
2. combined with proximity of the pronoun/antecedent
3. favor the faith of the righteous one.

Question 9

What are two of the condemnations that are in the fivefold woe oracles in Habakkuk?

Answer 9

1. seduction of companions (2:15-17)

2. idolatry, which refuses to acknowledge the lordship of the Creator (2:18-19)

Question 10

What are the themes of Habakkuk?

Answer 10

1. Israel’s Heritage. [Habakkuk expresses many facets of Israel’s heritage.]
2. Habakkuk 2:4

Question 11

What is special about Habakkuk 3:3-7?

Answer 11

1. It is part of Habakkuk’s prayer

2. The manifestation of the Divine Warrior

Question 12

In the second cycle of dialogue between Habakkuk and God, what is the lament and the divine reply?

Answer 12

1. Why is evil still tolerated in light of Divine sovereignty (1:12-17)
2. YHWH is faithful to his Promises (2:1-4)

Question 13

In the first cycle of dialogue between Habakkuk and God, what is the lament and the divine reply?

Answer 13

1. Plea for endorsement of Hab’s ministry of the Word (1:2-4)
2. The efficacy of the Word will be seen (1:5-11)

Question 14

What is special about Habakkuk 3:8-15?

Answer 14

1. It is part of Habakkuk’s prayer
2. contains the purpose for Yahweh’s coming
3. has a historical reference to exodus
4. Mythological references

Question 15

What is the message/structure of Zephaniah?

Answer 15

I. The Day of the Lord: Judgment upon Judah (1:1-18)
II. The Day of the Lord: Judgment upon the Nations (2:1-3:8)
III. The Aftermath of Judgment (3:9-20)

Question 16

What is the verse and the conclusion to the fivefold woe oracles in Habakkuk?

Answer 16

1. 2:20

2. YHWH rules over all creation

Question 17

What is the structure of Habakkuk?

Answer 17

1:1-2:3a Question and answer, Habakkuk and YHWH
2:5-20 A fivefold condemnation of the oppressor
3 Habakkuk’s expectation

Question 18

Where in the NT is Habakkuk 2:4 quoted?

Answer 18

2. Romans 1:17.
3. Galatians 3:11.
4. Hebrews 10:38