Lecture 14

Question 1

Protest stories in Exodus versus Protest stories in Numbers-Exod. 32 –

Answer 1

Levites strap on their swords and kill manyoNum. 11 –Fire consumes parts of the campoNum. 12 –Miriam turned leprousoNum. 16 –Earth swallows Korah and his followers Num. 16:45ff –Plague breaks outoNum. 21:4-9 –God sends snakes and many die

Question 2

The literary context of the protest stories in Numbers versus Exodus-

Answer 2

Threatens to get rid of all the Israelites and make Moses into a great nation Exod. 32:10; Moses bargains with God saying if you do that, what will the other nations think. God relents. God also threatens to disown them in Num. 14 and Moses again intercedes quoting Exod. 34.

Question 3

Types of Complaints in the wilderness-

Answer 3

Resources,Legitimacy and authority, Safety and Military

Question 4

Goldencalf story and options for understanding the calf-

Answer 4

The calves may be representing Yahweh.In this case it was image worship of Yahweh (In Mesopotamia the gods would ride upon their cultic animal)oOr could be idolatry, theworship of other gods

Question 5

The meaning/purpose of the protest/rebellion stories-

Answer 5

Stories explain why the generation that came out of Egypt died in the wilderness and had to wander in the wilderness; explains why Moses did not enter the promised land.Teaches about God’s character; power to provide, but also about his mercy despite the repeated complaints;
Aaronic Priests versus Levites- all of aarons descendants could be priests but not all his descents were priests so not all of them could go in the temple

Question 6

Balaam-

Answer 6

Balaam, a non Israelite prophet, which is very rare is hired to curse Israel but he blesses them.