Study unit 2 - OT World Flashcards by Juanita Du Plessis

Why is “The fertile crescent” called by that name?

Adequate rainfall + irrigation along coastal plains + river valleys
Permits agriculture + settled life
Earliest civilizations of ANE

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What was the reason for lower Mesopotamia’s agricultural productivity?

Located between rivers

Lower - networks of canals - irrigated flood plain

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Name the hometown of Abraham

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Which empires were responsible for destruction in the divided kingdoms

Assyria + Babylonia

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Anatolia / Asia Minor saw many battles. Explain why this happened

Stores of minerals + metal ores in central mountain ranges

Resource for commercial trading w. rest of ANE - food staples + domestic wares

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Why should you take note of the form of the Hittite treaty?

Parallels between Hittite treaties + Deut.

Insight - relationship between law + covenant

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Name the six elements that a standard treaty consists of

Preamble
Historical Prologue
General + specific stipulations
Blessings + curses
Document clause
Divine witness to covenant

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Syro Palestine constitutes a land bridge. From the knowledge that you
acquired, what do you expect would happen in such a region

Between East + West
Foreigners
Hardship + famine - Nile
Trading + migration of slaves

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What gave rise to the importation of the religion of Baal

Canaan = promised land
Presence of Philistines on coast + several Canaanite groups inland
Israel won’t possess land without conflict
Incomplete conquest of Canaan under Joshua - Hebrews prey to seductive influence of Canaanite Baalism + idoltary

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What was the geographical cause of Egypt’s stability

Up to 8 inches of rain annually

Agricultural activity based on irrigation of rich alluvial soil deposited along river basin - a.r.o annual flooding

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Where was Josiah killed?

Megiddo

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What was the reason for direct travel not being possible between Mesopotamia
and Egypt?

Extensive dessert of Arabian peninsula

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What was the reason why Ammonites and Moabites were not permitted to
enter the assembly of the Lord?

Denied Hebrews passage through southern Transjordan on their way to Canaan
Enemies of Israel during Judges days through united + divided kingdoms

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Indicate by way of explanation where the Edomites lived

To south of Moab from River Zered to Gulf of Arabia

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Describe the typical climate of Palestine in short.

Mild to cold winter, some snow at higher elevations
Rainy season = October - April
Hot, dry + cloudless = May - August

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Name the dominant geographic feature of Egypt

Nile

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Why did Egypt enjoy seclusion from the outside world?

Desert borders + Med. sea to north - natural geographical boundaries
Fewer incidents of foreign aggressions

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During which Egyptian age can the patriarchs be dated?

Middle Kingdom Egypt

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Describe the area Syria-Palestine comprises of.

Nothern bend of Euphrates along Med. coast, southward to Sinai-desert

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What is the primary geopolitical importance of Syria-

Palestine?

Role as land bridge along fertile crescent

Name Israel’s only harbour?

City of Acco, in Bay of Haifa

Name two characteristics of the Jezreel valley.

Rich soil

2. Intersection for region’s great highways

Which region was the home to Israel’s most bitter enemy?

Southern coastal plain

Name the four main regions into which the highlands can be

subdivided.

Galilee
Ephraim
Judean Hill country
Eastern Negeb

What is significant about Mount Hermon?

Highest point along Levant coast

Which road connects Ephraim and the Judean Hills?

North-south road along eastern shape of central hills of Ephraim + Judean Hill

Why is the Dead Sea named as such?

Salt content of 30% No natural outlet Too toxic

Name the four rivers that formed the natural boundaries of the Trans Jordanian highlands

1. Yarmuk 2. Jabbok 3. Arnon 4. Zered

Into which four areas can this region be divided?

1. Bashan 2. Gilead 3. Moab 4. Edom

On which one of the highways will you find Ugarit?

Way of the sea

How powerful was Egypt and Mesopotamia respectively in the Late Bronze Age?

Egypt - dominant | Mesopotamia - political weakness

Give the estimated time when Moses was born.

Late Bronze Age

Where was the law given by God, and what was the function | thereof?

Sinai Peninsula Maintain new covenant relationship Protect in promised land

Which sea is nearest to the place where Moses died?

Dead Sea

Provide the two probable dates of Israel’s exodus from Egypt.

1446/1275 | New Kingdom Period

Who disrupted the great powers of the ancient world in 1200 BC, and why did it happen?

Egyptians + Hittites Fall of Troy + Fall of Mycenaean cities Survivors fled by sea along coasts of Med. Disrupting all major powers of AW

When and where did Joshua and the children of Israel settle?

End of Late Bronze Age | Taken Canaan + settled in central highlands

How did leadership function during the time of the settlement?

Rose from ranks of common people on temporary ad hoc basis Divinley gifted + ordained Consolidate strength and resources of tribes during times of national/regional crisis

Who were the first two kings of Israel?

Saul + David

What was the difference in the organization of the tribes before and after David?

David - unified tribes, provided economic + political freedom After reign: Solomon - expanded Israel's borders to Euphrates in north + Egypt in south Great wealth + prosperity Given wisdom + ability to govern people

Indicate the borders of Israel in Solomon’s time.

Euphrates - north | Egypt - south

What happened to the kingdom after the death of Solomon?

Split into 2 weaker nations Israel - north Judah - south

What was the reason for the prosperous reigns of Jeroboam II and Uzziah?

Assyrian imperialism emerged in mid-ninth cent - began to impact politics of Syria-Palestine Assyria - period of internal weakness in 1st half of 8th cent = long prosperous reign: Jeroboam II - Israel Uzziah - Judah

Give a brief description of the end of the Northern Kingdom.

Tiglath-Piliser III - Assyria back to full strength (745), stronger + ready to be used as God's instrument of destruction against northern Israel Wavered between paying tribute to Assyrians/rebelling Son, Shalmaneser V - laid siege to Samaria (Israel's capital) (725) - northern nation fell 3 years later -become province in Assyrian Empire

Name the first classical prophets.

Amos Hosea Isaiah Micah

Who were the kings of the reign that replaced Assyria’s power?

Sennacherib Esarhadon Asurbanipal

Describe the end of the Southern Kingdom, concisely.

Assyrians defeat traditional enemies to north - Urartians Assyria - experienced persistent, ever-present problem closer to home Chaldeans of southern Babylonia - growing more rebellious + difficult to contain = independant + replacing Assyrians

Describe the second temple period very concisely.

3 seperate Jewish exile groups returned to Jerusalem to rebuild + start over 1st Group (Zerrubbabel + high priest Jeshua) - tried to rebuild temple - battle opposition, discouragement + lack of resources After ministries of Haggai + Zechariah (prophets) - finally finished