Theme 3 Flashcards
Asherah –
Canaanite mother goddess, often associated with fertility. Some early Israelites may have worshipped her alongside Yahweh.
Baal –
Canaanite storm and fertility god, often seen as a rival to Yahweh in biblical texts.
El –
Chief god in Canaanite religion, sometimes merged with Yahweh in early Israelite beliefs.
Oral Traditions –
Stories, genealogies, and songs passed down verbally before written records, often evolving over time.
Segmentary Society –
A decentralized tribal society where villages and clans cooperate in times of crisis but lack centralized government.
Trickster –
A clever character who survives through deception; common in early Israelite traditions (e.g., Jacob).
Merneptah Stela –
Egyptian monument (c. 1207 BCE) with the first known mention of “Israel,” describing them as a tribal people.
Cultural Memory –
Collective stories and traditions that shape a group’s identity, often blending history with later reinterpretations.
Village –
Small, self-sustaining agricultural communities (50–300 people), focused on clan-based survival.
Monarchical City-State –
Centralized cities ruled by kings, with professional armies, walls for defense, and taxation of surrounding areas.
Empire –
Large, hierarchical state ruling multiple peoples and territories, often by conquest and tribute (e.g., Egypt, Babylon).
What is the Biblical View (Joshua) of Israel’s “Conquest” of Canaan
Israel conquered and destroyed Canaanite cities under divine command.
What is the Archaeological Findings of Israel’s “Conquest” of Canaan
No evidence of a total conquest; instead, cities fell gradually, likely due to environmental and external pressures.
What is the Scholarly View of Israel’s “Conquest” of Canaan
Most Israelites were originally Canaanites who adopted a distinct identity, with only a small group (e.g., Moses’ followers) possibly coming from Egypt.
Tradition History –
How stories and beliefs evolved over time, shaped by different generations.
Transmission History –
The process of passing down texts and traditions, including changes due to oral retelling or later editing.
Progression of oral traditions
- Early Israelites relied on oral storytelling, passing down traditions about ancestors, victories, and divine intervention.
-Oral traditions changed over time to reflect new challenges and contexts. - Tricksters, like Jacob, were celebrated as survivors in a hostile world.
-Some stories (e.g., Exodus) likely evolved from real events but were reshaped over centuries.
