Old Testament Exam 2 Flashcards
What are 4 topographic regions in biblical Israel?
1.Coastal Plains home to Philistines
2.Low Hills or Shephelah Conflict between Israelites and Philistines
3.Central Highlands-Jerusalem and much of Biblical story
4. Jordan Valley and Dead Sea- Desert land with few inhabitants.
What are the two main seasons in Israel?
Rain (Nov-Feb)
Dry and Barren (March-October)
What is the Mediterranean Triad?
Barley, Olives (Olive oil), Grapes (Wine)
What is the life expectancy of someone in biblical Israel?
About 38- Elders are about 50- 60 you were almost considered a saint
Describe the basics of houses and gates?
Houses typically held animals on the bottom floor, a staircase lead to the second floor and people lived on the second floor.
Gates were often the weakest part of the city walls, invading armies focused on breaking through the gates.
What are the 3 dates of the exiles and which includes the fall of Jerusalem?
597,587,582 (fall is in 587)
The Hebrew word for Shepherd is similar to what other word?
Friend
The Hebrew word for Pastures can also mean?
Homes
The Hebrew word for evil can also mean?
calamity, disaster, harm
What are 3 possible explanations for language of a table in the presence of one’s enemies?
1.Could have said Weapon For my enemies
2.The translators could have skipped over a letter and the passage may read “a table away from my enemies”
3.Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
What are the Key themes in Joshua?
Israel’s theology of warfare
Outsiders become insiders
Land distribution
Joshua Setting?
15th or 13th century BCE
Joshua MPV
“I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Jos. 1:9 NRSV)
Judges Key Themes?
The Cycle- Going to Hell down the spiral of bad to worse Judges
1. Going astray
2. People are oppressed
3. They cry out to God
4. God raises up judge
5. Judge rescues the people
6. Judge dies (do not always have all elements) Prototype- 2:11-23
Judges Setting
1400BCE or 1200BCE
Judges MPV
“The LORD’S messenger appeared to him and said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior!”” (Jdg. 6:12 CEB)
Ruth Key Themes
Immigration, Friendship, Hope
Describe the Threshing Floor
This is where people separate the chaff from the barley. This was a celebratory party - Social event
Setting of Ruth
12th or 11th century BCE
Ruth MPV
“But Ruth replied [to Naomi], ‘Don’t urge me to abandon you, to turn back from following after you. Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.’” (Ruth 1:16 CEB)
Major Periods of OT History(9)
Primordial
Patriarchal Period (2000-1500BCE)
Exodus, Wanderings, Conquest, Judges (15th or 13th until 1030 BCE)
United Monarchy (1030-920 BCE)
Divided Monarchy (920-587 BCE)
Exile (587-539 BCE)
Post-exilic/Persian (539-332 BCE)
Greek (332-63 BCE)
Roman (63BCE-476CE)
Where were the priests with the ark of the covenant while the people crossed the Jordan? (Joshua 3:7-17)
The priests were ahead of the people
When does the manna stop? (Joshua 5:9-12)
“The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.” (Josh. 5:12)
How does Joshua respond to the people saying they will serve God?
He tells them they need to make a choice and serve Him with all faithfulness. He tells them God will not tolerate them worshipping Him and other Gods.
Judges 4:1-7 What judge served after Ehud?
Deborah
Ruth 1:1-18 What are the nationalities of Naomi and Ruth? How are they related?
Ruth is Moabite. Naomi is Israelite. Ruth is Naomi’s daughter-in-law and both are widows
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 What does Ruth do to win Boaz’s affection?
Ruth cleans up and goes to the threshing floor.. she makes advances at Boaz. She declares he is their redeemer.
Ruth uncovered his feet (sexual reference) and Boaz took her and made love to? Maybe
Boaz meets with the redeemer relative but he turns down the opportunity and allows Boaz to marry Ruth…
her.
Chapter 5 Schlimm Book:
What are 5 things to consider when reading the Biblical text - especially scripture regarding - violence.
1). We do not always want to imitate people or their actions in the Bible.
2) We do not always want to imitate God.
3) We do not need to apply every scripture to our current lives.
4) We should not read scripture passages independently of other scriptures.
5) We do not need to have all the answers at all times.
1 Samuel 1:4-20 describe what is going on with Eli, Samuel, and Hannah.
Hannah is barren and prays for a son.
Eli thinks she is drunk while she prays, she moves her lips, but her voice is not heard.
When she has a son, Samuel, she brings him back to Eli the priest so he can be raised as a Nazarite in the temple.
1 Samuel 2:1-10 What does Hannah say about God?
There is no one like the LORD… God will bring justice and judgment on his adversaries and guard his faithful ones.
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 what did Samuel do as a boy?
Samuel was ministering for the Lord and grew up in the presence of the Lord. He was learning to be a priest.
1 Samuel 3:1-10 How is Samuel identified v. 20
A trustworthy prophet in all of Israel
1 Samuel 8: 4-20 What does Samuel say the king will do to the people?
The king will take men and create army’s and force people to work for his glory and take land and riches for himself.
1 Samuel 15-16 what happens what Samuel, Jesse, David,
Samuel goes to the house of Jesse and sizes up all the sons of Jesse but God doesn’t pick any of them.
God says humans look at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. V7
Then Jesse has to retrieve David from the field and Samuel anoints him with oil.
1 Samuel 17 - story and outline
David and Goliath
What is David’s response to Saul’s death?
David mourns Saul’s death and has the man who killed Saul, struck down
1 Samuel 17-18 David, Saul, Jonathan…
David kills Goliath, becomes famous
David and Jonathan become best friends and Jonathan gives David his cloak
Saul is angry at David’s attention and a evil spirit torments David.
David comes to sooth the king playing the harp..
Saul offers a daughter as a wife and David says no.
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
What happens with this covenant?
David becomes king and establishes Jerusalem and becomes more and more powerful because God was with him
2 Samuel 6 - What does David do before the ark? How does his wife respond?
David dances before the ark, Michal is embarrassed that David danced in his pajamas?
2 Samuel 7 - what promise does God make at the end of this text?
The house of David will be blessed forever
2 Samuel 11 - storyline
David sleeps with Bathsheba, she becomes pregnant, David gets Uriah drunk and places him in the frontlines of the battle to die
2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a -
Nathan’s parable
Nathan tells the story of the traveler and the rich man. He rebukes David for what he did to Uriah and Bathsheba
2 Samuel 18 what happens to Absalom? What is David’s response?
Absalom is killed by Joab’s armor bearers. David weeps and mourns
2 Samuel 23:1-7 how does David describe God’s covenant on his deathbed?
God’s covenant is arranged in every part…His house is right with God
1 Kings 3 : Solomon’s dream
God asks Solomon what does he wants - he wanted wisdom and understanding to rule the people
1 Kings 8 - how is the temple dedicated? How does it involve all humanity?
The priests move the Ark of the covenant to the Temple.
They sacrifice so many animals too many to count.
All gather as they moved the ark and God’s presence fills up the Holy Place in a dark cloud.
Solomon dedicates the temple.
They celebrate for 14 days
1 Kings Storyline?
Solomon become King
Solomon builds the temple
…
1 Kings 18 - storyline
Elijah meets King Ahab and the showdown at Mount Carmel
1 Kings 19 - Ahab and Jezebel in relation to Elijah…
Ahab reports to Jezebel that Elijah kills all the prophets of Baal
Jezebel threatens Elijah and Elijah flees to the mountain cleft
1 kings 19:9-18 - Elisha, Jehu
Elisha anoints Jehu as king of Israel
He anoints Elisha as his predecessor
1 Kings 19 How does Elisha join Elijah?
He burns his plow and sacrifices the oxen as a commitment to follow God and go with Elisha
1 Kings 21 Ahab and Jezebels death
Ahab wants to buy a vineyard the landowner refuses
Jezebel has the landowner kills and tells Ahab to take the vineyard
Elijah prophecies to Ahab and Jezebel that they will die and their blood will be licked up by dogs.
2 Kings 2 - what do prophets do at Jordan? What does Elisha ask?
The prophets go ahead,
Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.
Elisha is taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.
2 Kings 2:1-12 - how does Elijah end his time on earth?
Elijah is taken up to heaven in a chariot.. while him and Elisha are walking down the road…
2 Kings 4 - storyline
4 miracles of Elisha -
Widow and the vessels of oil
Shunammite woman’s son - place he stayed
Field stew made better
100 med fed with 20 loaves
2 kings 5: 1-3, 7-15 - Namaan’s healing
Namaan’s servant suggest Namman go to the prophet to ask for healing. Namaan has leporsy.
Namaan doesn’t want to do what Elisha asks.. the servant urges him to do the hard thing.
Gehazi follows Namman and asks him for more.. he thought Elisha let him off to easy.
Namman leprosy is transferred to Gehazi because of his greed..
2 Kings 5:1-14 - Namaan’s healing
Namman has leprosy.. his servant knows Elisha is the servant of the Lord
Elisha tells Namman to wash in the Jordan.. he gets mad at the directions..
His servant urges him to do the hard thing.. he goes and washes and is healed!
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 - first sermon recorded, note the context…
The Book of Law is read in the square and all the priests are teaching the people what is means.
This is after the rebuilding of the walls as the return from exhile
Esther 7 - Observe Purim - what is the story?
Queen Esther asks for her life and her peoples lives to be spared. She accuses Haman and he is impaled on a pole (meant for Mordecai) by order of the king.
Song of Solomon - 2:8-13
Images of beloved, lover, and creation
Lamentations 1:1-6 - in Exile, what has become of Zion’s lover and friends?
Zion mourns for on one comes to her festivals, the city is deserted; a widow
no one is there to comfort her
Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24 What comes before talk of God’s love and faithfulness?
suffering caused by God’s wrath, personal suffering, ridicule, depression, darkness,
Job 1:1, 2:1-10 What is the storyline?
God let’s the satan afflict Job with horrible sores, but Job does not curse God
Job 14:1-14 Contrast Trees and humans. What does Job want in v 13?
There is hope for trees, when they are cut at the roots they will sprout again, but a man dies. Job wants to be hidden in a grave until God’s anger has passed and then remembered again. He will wait for his renewal
Job 19:23-27a What are Job’s words in vv. 25-26?
Job knows that his redeemer lives, long after he is gone he knows he will see him with his own eyes
Job 23:1-9, 16-17 Job’s accusation in v. 16
Job is terrified of God and made his heart faint
Job 38:1-7, 34-41 what is the nature of God’s questions to Job?
God is questioning Job like a parent questions a child. He wants to make the point that He is in charge and has created all things…who does Job think he is?
Job 42:1-6, 10-17 Storyline
Job repented and apologized. He admitted that he didn’t understand. He had heard, but now he sees. God blesses Job more than before.
Proverbs 1:20-33 Consequence of ignoring wisdom (vv 26-27)
Wisdom will laugh when calamity strikes, and disaster comes
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 How is wisdom personified? Time described
Wisdom was established before the creation of the earth, ‘she’ shouts from the gates of the city voice goes to all humanity
Proverbs 9:1-6 How is wisdom personified? Wisdom invites_____?
Wisdom is personified as a hostess (a woman). She sets up her home as the city on the hill. With choice wine and meat.
Wisdom invites all who are simple and have no sense to come and walk in the way of insight.
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 Attitude toward the poor?
Do not show injustice towards the poor, instead feed them, share with them; the generous will be blessed
Proverbs 25:6-7 Basic Message
You should not put yourself higher than the king, he will humiliate you before his nobles
Proverbs 31:10-31 Summary of woman
A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised and honored for al that her hands have done
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23
Basic message
This basic message is that everything here is meaningless, work, and toil
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 What is God’s Gift?
God’s gift is for us to find satisfaction in our toil..
There is a time for everything..
Chronicles and Kings key themes
David, Solomon, Southern Kingdom
Chronicles MPV
2Chr 7:14 “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land”
Ezra-Nehemiah key themes(5)
The Struggle to Survive (literary style matches the difficulty of the times)
-The exiles
-YHWH’s temple (remains in ruins for decades)- Struggle to rebuild the temple
-Foreigners loom large and inhabit the homeland-Foreigners are bad, especially spouses
-Struggle to rebuild the city walls
Ezra-Nehemiah MPV
Neh 8:10 “Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Esther Key Themes(4)
Celebrations
Gender (woman vs man and power), Bravery
Violence
Esther Setting
486-465BCE During the reign of Persian King Xerxes I
Psalms Key Themes(3)
Humanity, World, God
Psalms Key Types
Imprecatory, Royal, Trust
- This is an ancient Songbook, Poetry
Psalms MPV
Ps 23:4 “even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Lamentations Key Themes
-Utter Grief, Praise?,
Lamentations Setting
588-587 as the Babylonian war machine starves the people of Jerusalem, then burst through its walls, killing deporting, destroying
MPV Lamentations
“they (God’s compassions) are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lam. 3:23
Song of Songs Key Themes
-Highly erotic poetry
Song of Songs MPV
“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grace, Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.” Son 8:6
CEB Joshua Intro
- God gave the land of Canaan
- Allotted the land as an inheritance
- Joshua is set in the 13th century BCE
- first portions composed in late 7th century
— concern for religious purity and absolute devotion to God. - book completed after Jerusalem destruction(587 BCE) or return to Judah in (539 BCE)
- Joshua: Moses apprentice, military leader, successor
- Authority is directed toward Moses and Eleazar
—Joshua is present in relation to Moses
—Eleazar stand with Joshua at the allocation, his death is noted not Joshua’s
— shared authority military and priest
Jewish Bible - First book of former prophets
Christian Bible -
- in the middle of the narrative (genesis - Esther)
- Mean to read as a sequel to Deuteronomy
- primary authority for Israel is God’s teachings through Moses
- national unity is a concern
- east of the Jordan was considered unclean and Joshua declared those tribes as part of Israel
Joshua Outline
Conquest of Canaan
Taking of Jericho
Distribution of Land
Judges Outlines
Intro: failure to complete conquest
Cycle of Judges
Deborah and Barrack Gideon Samson and the philistines No King Anarchy
Ruth Outline
Naomi is a Hebrew woman who goes to Moab because of the famine… her sons marry Moab woman.. and her husband and sons died.
Naomi brings Ruth back to Israel ..
Ruth Gleans and meets Boaz
Ruth and Boaz at the threshing Floor
Ruth and Boaz Marry
1 & 2 Samuel Outline
God makes Saul King
David anointed King
David and Goliath
David brings Ark to Jerusalem
God’s eternal promise to David
David’s sin with Bathsheba and Uriah
David’s son Absalom, usurps the throne and dies
Chapter 6 Schlimm - Women in the Bible
1) people say the Bible exalts men over women
2) people reject the Bible because of its gender bias
3) both woman and the Bible are sacred
_ God humbles people who exalt themselves and exalts people who humble themselves.
_ Genesis 1:27 affirms the value of both genders making a counter cultural statement.
- Avoid selfish readings of the text, when an over arching theme of sacrifice, giving to others, and avoiding selfishness does not connect well with men lording power over woman
- Shouldn’t take the most problematic cultural dynamics of biblical times and transfer them uncritically to the twenty first century.
Chapter 4 Schlimm - Morally Questionable Stories
Pursing Paradigms - vs. Searching for Saints
Zeroing in on virtues can better understand what to pursue in our own lives.
Matter of Principle -
Bible’s narratives illustrate ethical principles and words of wisdom
Reading Stories Well -
the good is intertwined with the bad
How is the test realistic and in what ways does it reflect the struggles of upright living?
Stories reflect life - giving us immense value because we can identify with the characters
Stories are laboratories - protect us as we weight the outcomes of decisions without the real life consequences
More Experience than we will experience
Fills the gaps of our own real life stories
NOAB Joshua Intro
– Author is unknown
– Scholars placed Joshua in different genres or groupings: Hexateuch(first 6 books), Enneateuch(first 9 books), or independent book written during post-exilic period
Do not read Joshua as straight History:
it represents a swift conquest but it was more gradual settlement
Structure:
– Conquest/Allotment
– Logical geographical arrangement(east to west)
–typology representing one character and event as an echo or foreshadow See Moses and Joshua’s parallel
–Teaching of Moses plays a huge role in Israel’s obedience or disobedience determines success or failure
–ritual concerns dictate some narration
HEREM:
Noun: devoted thing,
Verb: Utterly Destroy drive out, dispossess
wars were dedication to the glorification of the deity and the extension of the land and directives for the war spoils
Land ideologies
- territory of the 12 tribes(includes the 2 1/2 tribes in ALL of Israel
–True land of inheritance- puts emphasis on crossing the Jordan and would displace the tribes east of the Jordan
–Land claimed but not fully conquered ‘the land that still remains to be possessed.’
–expansionistic, utopian Israel which claims the distant Euphrates as the norther boundary
Unredeemed promise
incomplete conquest is judged
optimistic land blessings in the future
NOAB Judges Notes
Judges - term used during transitional period
meaning -‘Justice’
In the book - is means protagonist whose feats rescue Israel from oppression
Scholars - do no believe in 1 singular author(possible Samuel)
Pieced together and edited over the centuries -
Song of Deborah(2nd millennium BCE)
Reference to the Assyrian invasion of Samaria ch 18 - not completed before 722BCE
Correspondence leads to Deuteronomistic History - Entry into Canaan to Babylonian exile.
Core contains narratives of the northern heroes, but to adapt to Deuteronomistic History they added a southern hero, Gideon, moral deficiency.
Regional bias - norther tribes faithless, southern tribe of Judah - uniquely successfull
The Days after Joshua - various tribes securing the land against the Canaanites.
Bias toward Judah
The days of the judges - the cycle
do evil, God sends punishment, Israel cries out to the Lord, The Lord hears their cries, sends a ‘deliverer’ enemy is defeated and the land is at rest
tribes are fractious, identity as a people of the Lord is endangered - local culture, assimilation,
Illicit shrines, violence, internecine warfare
This is the moment things really fall apart in the Israelites story from Genesis to Kings
Judges sets us up for the kingship
ends without closure enticing you to read more - Ruth(Christians) 1 Samuel(Jews)
Feminist interpretation has brought judges front and center because of it many female characters and the graphic depictions of violence against women
CEB Judges Notes
Collection of stories about the time between Israel’s entrance to Canaan and the rise of Kings
‘ Judges’ comes from the Vulgate(Latin) judges, but CEB calls them Leaders
— some LED Israel
— Hebrew Root - to settle disputes
— tribal leader who delivers or rescues the people from distress
— who governed all of Israel for some period of time
Dating Judges
Process and date remain unclear
Framework - worshiping other gods, punished by being attacked, call on God to help, God send someone to rescue them
Framework concluded with They lived at peace for ____ years
Problems for Contemporaries
1- isn’t clear how accurately it’s stories reflect historical events
2 - the stories portray a troubling type of Holy War - God fights against Israel’s enemies.. whole people groups and specifically its depiction of women
3 - 20 female characters, appear as trophies or property, victims of violence.
Theological focus: increasing unfaithfulness to God parallels the decline of people’s social and moral life
Unfaithfulness, oppression, changed hearts, deliverance
Religious unfaithfulness, murder, revenge, and sexual violence
Judges appears to approve the need for a King.. but it also critiques kings and asked the question
What community character and moral leadership are required for God’s people to live faithfully
CEB Ruth Notes
Artistically Crafted: Key Phrases, wordplay, meaningful dialogue and careful organization
How important was community for the people in the ancient world
Naomi from Bethlehem
Ruth -Moab(enemies of Israel)
Assumed Customs:
Gleaning(letting the poor collect leftovers from the fields)
Levirate Marriage (Requiring men to marry brother’s widows to provide offspring)
Redeemer (the right to purchase land to keep it in the family)
God is in the wings - humans are central to the story
EMPTINESS to FULLNESS
BARRENNESS to FERTILITY
DEATH to LIFE
Bethlehemites acceptance of Ruth the Moabite - Unexpected and Remarkable
Perspective of 2 Widow’s - economically dependent, courage and resourceful,
Different are welcomed
Help for the poor
Care for the Elderly
Mention of King David places the writing during David’s family ruling Judah?
Marrying foreigners was a practice discussed during the post-exilic period(5th-6th BCE)
Placement - Christianity places Ruth between Judges and Kings
reflected from Greek and Latin manuscripts
Hebrew Bible - in the 5 scrolls of the writings because they read Ruth during the Festival of Weeks(end of harvest).
Royal Covenant and Divine Providence
NOT Included in the Deuteronomistic History!!!!
CEB 1 & 2 Samuel NOTES
one book until 16th century
Establishment of Kingship
internal failures
external threats (Philistines)
Samuel, Saul, David - God works through leaders/events(providence)
–Request for a king as sinful
–kingship as God’s gift to Israel
1) Samuel the Prophet; Eli’s corrupt family
Israel’s is in need of new leadership for a new future.
2) The story of Lord’s Covenant Chest
Israel needs new leaders, but the power for change comes from God.
3) Establishment of kingship and the choosing of Saul.
Samuel views this as sinful.
Saul’s story is one of promise and tragedy.
4) Rise of David
Traits that make him worthy to be God’s anointed king.
warrior, man of prayer, leader with wisdom and compassion.
5) David on the throne
David brings kingdom together and makes it stable
David brings the Lord’s covenant check to Jerusalem, giving it a place of honor.
Defeats Israel’s enemies
Loose tribal alliance to David’s firm leadership and infant royal state.
6) The court history of David.
David’s use of power - abuse of power (Bathsheba, Uriah, Nathan)
Marks the story in 2 parts
Blessing/Curse - Gift/Grasp
Rape, Murder, Exile, Rebellion, Civil War, Grief
David’s retreat to Jerusalem(trusts his future to God, depends on divine mercy)
7) Final Davidic Traditions
God’s sovereignty exceeds human sovereignty
God’s promise and direction - God’s willingness to look beyond human failures to find a future for Israel and its leadership.
Power doesn’t rise from the force of human personality alone. God acts to create a future for Israel.
God can initiate judge, renew, and empower but chooses to do so through human leaders and their gifts.
God’s providence will create the future.
Job Themes(2)
- The problem of Suffering
-God’s unknowability
Job MPV
He said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb; naked I will return there. The LORD has given; the LORD has taken; bless the LORD’s name.” Job 1:21
Proverbs Key Themes(4)
-The Wise and the Fool
-Day to Day realities (friendship, anger, happiness, work, correction, riches and poverty)
-Emotions and desires
-The right word for the right situation
Proverbs MPV
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings; In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Ecclesiastes Key Themes(3)
-Everything is a fleeting Breath
-Nothing endures
-Joy comes from small things
Ecclesiastes authorship
someone called the teacher or Qohelet
Ecclesiastes MPV
He has made everything suitable for its time; moveover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannnot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecc. 3:11
Features of Hebrew Poetry
-Symbolism/Imagery
-Repetition
-Wordplay
-Meter
-Parallelism
Types of Parallelism
-Synonymous (Second line says something similar to first)
-Contrasting (The second line says something contrasting)
-Chiastic Second line reinforces first but switches order (makes and x)
-Progressive- reinforces but takes it up a notch with a metaphor etc
