Midterm

Question 1

What are the reasons why the book of Exodus is the “foundation of Judaism and Israel’s national identity?

Answer 1

• Exodus holds the 10 Commandments and initial elements of the Law.
• Events in Exodus became the credo for the Jewish reason for existence.

Question 2

In relation to the date of the Exodus, be able to recognize the “biblical issues.”

Answer 2

• Vague references for personal names and dates
• Period of elapsed times are implied

Question 3

In relation to the date of the Exodus, be able to recognize the “extra-biblical issues.”

Answer 3

• Who still believes there was an Exodus? (Or a Moses for that matter!)
• No evidence

Question 4

List the archaeological periods, with dates, that were discussed in class

Answer 4

• Early Bronze Age: 3500 – 2000 BC
• Middle Bronze Age: 2000 – 1550 BC
• Late Bronze Age: 1550 – 1200 BC

Question 5

Be able to recognize which events were categorized in those archaeological periods.

Answer 5

• Early Bronze Age:
  o Dawn of civilization in the Fertile Crescent
  o Probably post-dates any info in Gen. 1-11, possibly with the exception of the Tower of Babel
• Middle Bronze Age:
  o Most likely time of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph
  o Family of Israel makes Egypt home
  o Hyksos period
• Late Bronze Age:
  o Enslavement in Egypt
  o Time of the Exodus

Question 6

How many years has passed between the Exodus and the period of Solomon, according to 1 Kings 6:1?

Answer 6

480 years

Question 7

What group of letters mention a group without a homeland called the “Apiru”, or “Habiru”?

Answer 7

The Amarna Letters

Question 8

What cities were the Hebrews building according to Exodus 1:11?

Answer 8

Pithom & Ramesses

Question 9

What event or phenomena in the Central Hills of Canaan suggest that the Israelites arrived after 1200 BC?

Answer 9

There was an explosion of growth in the population in 1200 BC.

Question 10

What people group took control of Egypt in the 18th century BC?

Answer 10

Semitic people

Question 11

Who proposed that the Pentateuch was a product of 4 different sources?

Answer 11

Julius Wellhausen

Question 12

How do the opening verses of Exodus serve as a transition from Genesis?

Answer 12

• Israel’s (Jacob’s) family comes to Egypt during the time of Joseph.
• The names are arranged by their birth mothers, the last of which are the sons of Jacob’s concubines.

Question 13

What is the “crisis in the plot” of the narrative as introduced in 1:8?

Answer 13

A new “king” came to power who did not know Joseph.

Question 14

In 1:10, the phrase “and go up from the land” is a Hebrew idiom that might be better translated in what way?

Answer 14

“Taking possession of the land.”

Question 15

What excavated city actually shows the existence of “Pi-Ramesses” during the Ramesside era?

Answer 15

Qantir

Question 16

What were the names of the Hebrew midwives mentioned in 1:15-16?

Answer 16

Shiphrah & Puah

Question 17

The instruction to the midwives to “observe them as they deliver” (literally, “look upon the stones”) is considered by some as a euphemism for what?

Answer 17

“Look at the genitals.”

Question 18

From what tribe is Moses born?

Answer 18

Levi

Question 19

The word tebah, used for the basket Moses was placed in, was also used in what otherbiblical story?

Answer 19

Noah’s ark

Question 20

What is the Egyptian meaning of Moses’ name?

Answer 20

“Born of”; typically combined with the name of a diety-theophonic name.

Question 21

What biblical passage suggests that Moses was trained with “all the wisdom of the Egyptians?”

Answer 21

Acts 7:22

Question 22

What ancient city in northwest Arabia supports the idea of a Midianite homeland during the Late Bronze Age?

Answer 22

Qurayya

Question 23

What Hebrew word is used for Reuel as a “priest” of Midian that is typically only used for Israelite priests?

Answer 23

“Cohen”

Question 24

Be able to list the elements of the “Theophany Structure” motif found in Exodus 3.

Answer 24

• Intro description in the third person
• Deity’s utterance of the name of the (mortal) addressee
• Response of the addressee
• Deity’s self-asseveration (declaration)
• His quelling of human fear
• Assertion of his gracious presence
• The hieros logos (sacred word) addressed to the particular situation
• Inquiry or protest by the addressee
• Continuation of the hieros logos with perhaps some repetition of elements

Question 25

What is the mountain of God called in 3:1?

Answer 25

Horeb

Question 26

Where is the traditional location of Mt. Sinai?

Answer 26

Jebel Musa

Question 27

The Hebrew word for the burning bush, seneh, suggest what translation?

Answer 27

Suggests a small bush or “thorny shrub”/Sinai

Question 28

Who is the Angel of Yahweh, according to Douglass Stuart?

Answer 28

Jesus himself

Question 29

The name “Yahweh” is believed to be a derivative of the verb hayah, which has what basic meaning?

Answer 29

“To become”

Question 30

Be able to recognize the three basic ways the verb can be translated as given in class.

Answer 30

“Being” à I will be, I cause to be, I am.

Question 31

Moses requests a journey of how many days into the wilderness?

Answer 31

3 days

Question 32

List the 3 “signs” that God gave Moses the power to preform to convince the elders of Israel and the Pharaoh himself?

Answer 32

Snake, leprosy, blood

Question 33

What was Moses’ initial protest in 4:10-17?

Answer 33

He’s slow of speech and tongue

Question 34

What was Moses’ final protest in 4:10-17?

Answer 34

Please send someone else to do it

Question 35

4:14 states that “God’s anger burned” with Moses, but what is the literal reading of the Hebrew idiom?

Answer 35

“God’s nose burned with Moses”

Question 36

Be able to identify the basic summary points of God’s directive that Moses return to Egypt in 4:18-31.

Answer 36

All those seeking his life were dead, perform the signs God showed to Moses, God would “harden” his heart, and Pharaoh hardens his heart.

Question 37

What does God reveal to Moses in 4:22-23 regarding the plagues of Egypt?

Answer 37

Fate of the firstborn – they will die.

Question 38

Be able to identify the key elements of Moses’ encounter with Pharaoh in 5:1-14.

Answer 38

• Yahweh’s demand that Pharaoh let His people go to worship in the wilderness.
• Pharaoh’s fearless resistance – “Who is Yahweh?”
• Pharaoh’s stubbornness shown by increasing suffering of the Hebrews.

Question 39

According to some Egyptian traditions, the reigning Pharaoh is the embodiment of what god?

Answer 39

Horus

Question 40

By what name was God by the Patriarchs according to 6:3?

Answer 40

El Shaddai

Question 41

In the final genealogy of chapter 6, where is the emphasis placed?

Answer 41

Levitical background