Week 11: Exile and Return: Rebuilding Cultural Identity (2 Kings, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Ezra)

Question 1

Kings of Judah

Answer 1

Solomon (1005-965)
David (970-931)
Rehoboam 
Ahaz
Hezekiah (715-687)
Manasseh (687-640)
Josiah (640-609)
Jehoahaz (609)
Jehoiakim (608-598)
Jehoiachin (597) 
Zedekiah (597-587)

Question 2

Judah in the 7th and Early 6th Centuries BCE:

Answer 2

The End of Assyrian Domination and the Fall of Jerusalem…

At the beginning of the 7th c BCE, the Assyrian Empire was approaching the pinnacle of its power, but by the end of the century, the Assyrians had disappeared from the scene.

Judah was caught between a resurgent Egypt and rising Babylon, and would inevitably become the loser.

During this time was the era of two important Judean kings:
( 1 ) Manasseh
(Hezekiah’s son and successor, a loyal Assyrian vassal)
( 2 ) Josiah
(Manasseh’s grandson, who took advantage of Assyrian weakness to again assert Judah’s independence and to carry out a religious reform)

But the momentum toward Judah’s destruction increased…
Just over 20 years after King Josiah’s death in 690 BCE, the dynasty founded by David (400 years earlier) ended as Jerusalem and its Temple were destroyed by the Babylonians. This event is preserved in: 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

Question 3

Micah of Moresheth-Gath

Answer 3

Micah one of the 12 minor prophets (contemporary of Isaiah), he was from Moresheth-Gath, an outlying village southwest of Jerusalem.

He was critical of excess of Jerusalem, and predicts that new leadership will come out of Judah, specifically out of Bethlehem

He used vivid and gruesome language: cannibalism

Question 4

Micah of Moresheth-Gath: Date

Answer 4

715 BCE

Question 5

Micah of Moresheth-Gath: Biographical Info

Answer 5

Micah one of the 12 minor prophets (contemporary of Isaiah), he was from Moresheth-Gath, an outlying village southwest of Jerusalem.

Question 6

Micah of Moresheth-Gath: Main Message

Answer 6

He was critical of excess of Jerusalem, and predicts that new leadership will come out of Judah, specifically out of Bethlehem

He used vivid and gruesome language: cannibalism

Question 7

The Babylonian Exile nears…

Answer 7

Isaiah predicts the Babylonian exile: “Days that are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your ancestors have stored up until this day, shapp be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left says the Lord” (Isa 39:6)

He says this around 698-701, 100 years before the Babylonian exile. He is able to read the signs of the times, and predict what is going to happen.

Question 8

King Manasseh of Judah

Answer 8

After King Hezekiah dies, his son Manesseh takes over in 687

Question 9

King Manasseh of Judah: Date

Answer 9

687 BCE

Question 10

King Manasseh of Judah: Reputation

Answer 10

Manasseh’s long reign shows he was politically savvy, however, the Bible hates him.

As far as the Bible is concerned, Manasseh is one of the worst kings of all time, and the Bible blames him for the Babylonian exile.

The only way the Bible evaluates someone is by how they practice the law.

When the Bible evaluates Manasseh negatively, it is less explicit; it accuses him of strange religious practices (worshipping indegenous nature gods of Canaan, child sacrifice, divination).

2 Kings 21: lists all of the things of which Manasseh is guilty. This passage evaluates Manasseh according to the law of the prophet (Deut. 18), rather than the law of the king (scholars are unsure why). Perhaps this is suggesting that the king should be as insightful and perceptive as a prophet (and perhaps not even need the intercession of a prophet)

Question 11

Judah as a Vassal to Assyria

Answer 11

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Question 12

King Josiah of Judah

Answer 12

Josiah is the grandson of Manasseh, he is just a boy when he takes the throne and reigns for 31 years.

Question 13

King Josiah of Judah: Date

Answer 13

~640BCE

Josiah just a boy when he comes to the throne. He reigns for 31 years.

Question 14

Josiah’s Reform

Answer 14

Josiah initiated a massive religious reform.

Anything that was not Yahweh was destroyed, and Josiah centralizes all of worship at the Temple in Jerusalem.

Kings 1 23:15: Josiah reverses the sin of Jeroboam

The Bible is fond of Josiah. He was not a lazy King, he went out into campaigns.

At the time that all of this is happening in the book of Kings, there is a lot of stuff happening around Israel. External pressures from the bigger nations have not disappeared.

Assyria is controlling the northern area, but maintaining its strength by making alliances with Egypt → they are trying to control the whole fertile crescent.

Manasseh was a vassal of Assyria, paying tribute to Assyria so Assyria will not destroy him.

So by the time King Josiah, his grandson is King, he is still holding onto Assyria.

Assyria and Egypt are in an alliance. Assyria has been the stronger nation, and it appears to the rest of the world that Assyria is the stronger nation, but Egypt actually becomes stronger. Babylon figures this out, and Babylon leapfrogs over Assyria and attacks Egypt, which strips Assyria of its power.

This leads to the Babylonian exile.

Question 15

What leads to the Babylonian exile?

Answer 15

Assyria and Egypt are in an alliance, and Assyria has been the stronger nation, and it appears to the rest of the world that Assyria is the stronger nation, but Egypt actually becomes stronger.

Babylon figures this out, and Babylon leapfrogs over Assyria and attacks Egypt, which strips Assyria of its power.

Question 16

King Josiah of Judah: Reputation

Answer 16

Josiah’s Reform = Insufficient

“The Lord did not turn from the fierceness of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him. The Lord said, “I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel; and I will reject this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there” (2 Kings 23:26-27)

605 BCE: The Babylonians defeat Egypt and gain power throughout the region. Assyrian power disappears.

How do the biblical writers try to make sense of things? From the biblical perspective, God is being angry and wrathful with Jerusalem and Judah. Even though Josiah was a good king, it was not enough. Manassah’s sins were so great that it was still going to be punished.

Question 17

After King Josiah

Answer 17

609 BCE: Josiah (who is in Jerusalem) dies in battle at Egypt against Egyptians.

At this point, Assyrian power has given way to Egyptian power.

After Josiah: Egypt places Jehoahaz on the throne, but then replaces him with Jehoiakim (he reigns for 11 years, then decides not to pay tribute and then dies, so he does not have to deal with the fall of that…).

Egypt names the king and renames him, which shows that they are in power.

Question 18

Prophet Jeremiah (active 627-586 BCE)

Answer 18

Main message: Judah needs to repent or else it will be conquered by Babylon

Jeremiah worked during Josiah’s reign until the fall of Jerusalem. His life is an important part of his prophecies.

Question 19

Jeremiah: Date

Answer 19

Probably began ministry in 627 BCE

Question 20

Jeremiah: Biographical Info

Answer 20

Jeremiah’s biographical details are integral to his oracles.

Jeremiah is told he cannot get married (Jer 16:2-4).
What would that signify for a man in ancient Jerusalem? His entire inheritance and lineage will be gone. Jeremiah is asked by God to symbolize, in his own life. the destruction of Jerusalem and Judea.

Jeremiah hates his life and lives in depression.

He is so infused by the inspiration from God that Jerualem and Judah have to repent and if they do not, Babylon will crush them.

Jeremiah was miserable and hated his life, predicted the Babylonian exile, hated for it and people did not want to listen to him.

Question 21

Jeremiah: Message

Answer 21

Attacks moral complacency

Against royal theology

Question 22

Jeremiah’s Sermon in the Temple (7:1-15)

Answer 22

Jeremiah clearly indicates that God’s dwelling in Judah is contingent on the Judeans’ behavior. If they are sinful, the implied threat of God’s presence will leave.

Jeremiah stands at the Temple and says a sermon to the Judeans (he addresses everyone; all of Judah is responsible).

Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’ (reposition = sarcasm)

Why are these words deceptive?
They commit all of this bad behaviour and then go to the Temple and pretend they are clean

EMPTY WORSHIP: deeds are not matching what is expected of you.
He is calling out the Judeans for being hypocrites, and criticizes their moral complacency and trust in royal theology. He attacks the complacency of “knowing” God dwelt in the Temple and suggests they amend their ways by following the Deuteronomic statutes.

If you do not repent, God will punish you by using Babylon: Jeremiah is suggesting that God will use Babylon as his instrument of punishment against Judah. (Note: this is probably the biblical authors trying to make sense of the Babylonian exile in light of God’s protection of Jerusalem and dwelling in the Temple).

Question 23

Jeremiah’s Prediction

Answer 23

Jeremiah predicts the exile:

If you do not repent, God will punish you by using Babylon.

Eventually, Jeremiah is captured and taken to Egypt. Jeremiah predicts that the Babylonian exile will last a long time. He predicts 70 years, but it actually is 50 years.

Jeremiah’s instructs: you are going to be in exile for a long time, unpack and cooperate.

In this oracle, we see a shift in Jeremiah. We begin to see a bit of hope that people will come out at the other end of the exile.

So Jeremiah also predicts the end of the exile.

We have a prophet who is able to perceive the signs of the times

Question 24

Jeremiah 31:31-34: The New Covenant

Answer 24

“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”

Part of Jeremiah’s hopefulness comes with theological insight which is critical for understanding theological development of babylonian exile. He talks about the law of God not being written on tablets or engraved in stone, but being written in somebody’s heart; being inscribed in their being
It is constitutive of the human being; God’s law will be a part of the make up of human beings.

Question 25

Jeremiah 32:6-44: Jeremiah buys a field

Answer 25

As a sign of hope, Jeremiah buys a field (he is instructed by God to buy a field). It becomes a sign of restoration that there will be some kind of return
Counter-sign to not having a family.

Question 26

Jeremiah Predicts Babylon’s Downfall

Answer 26

Jeremiah finishes his prediction, in a circle, buy predicting Babylon’s downfall. He predicts that God punishes Babylon, despite that He used them as his instrument for punishment.

Question 27

Summary of Jeremiah

Answer 27

Jeremiah is a Deuteronomistic Prophet; he is closely aligned with Deuteronomistic values of exclusive Yahweh worship, care for under-privileged, adherence to the law.

Promotes repentance and full conversion.

Understands the devastation of Jerusalem as a result of God’s anger toward Judah’s lack of belief (apostasy).

This all shows that God is sovereign over all the other nations.

Question 28

Fall of Judah to the Babylonians: Last Days of Judah

Answer 28

609 BCE: Josiah dies while trying to hold off the Egyptians at Megiddo
Jeohoahas becomes king, but is deposed by Egypt
Pharaoh names Neco Eliakim king over Judah, and changes his name to Jehoiakim
Beginning of ch. 24: Babylon has gained control (Jehoiakim was the vassal of Egypt, but Babylon became stronger, and he becomes a vassal to Babylon)
He is a bad king for making alliances with other nations

Question 29

Fall of Judah to the Babylonians: Jehoiakim’s Rebellion (598 BCE)

Answer 29

598 BCE: Jehoiakim refuses tribute to Babylon and then dies.

598 BCE: Jehoiachin becomes king over Judah (another son of Josiah).

While he is king, Babylon attacks Jerusalem. They lay siege to Jerusalem in 598, and in 597, Babylon sends King Jehoiachin and the other elite (Royal family, military leaders, priests - all of the rich) into exile (~10 000 people).

Question 30

597 BCE

Answer 30

1st wave of Babylonian exile (~10 000 people)

Question 31

597 BCE: 1st wave of Babylonian exile (~10 000 people).

Answer 31

The Priests are significant because we need to think of theological understanding and power. The Priests are necessary for Temple service and proper worship, and without proper worship, God will leave the Temple. So by taking away the Priests, Babylon is demonstrating its power. They cut the head off of Jerusalem society: no king, no leadership, no proper worship.

Question 32

What leads to the Babylonian exile?

Answer 32

Babylon puts their own (Judean) king on the throne. Babylonians install Mattaniah as king over Judah, changing his name to Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17). Zedekiah is the last King of the Davidic dynasty to be on the throne in Jerusalem, ever (after Zedekiah, there were no more Davidic kings).

Zedekiah rebels against Babylon.

The people in Jerusalem are starving, and Zedekiah is a coward and runs away to the Dead Sea, but he is captured (2 Kings 24:20-25:1). They slaughtered him violently and the last thing that he sees is his sons being killed (his dynasty being ended).

Another puppet king, Gedeliah, is put on the throne, but he is soon assassinated and the people are scattered.

Babylonians are tired of Kings rebellion, and the throne being replaced, so they completely wipe out Jerusalem (wipe out the city, city walls, Temple, and so on) and exile most of the people.

Question 33

586 BCE

Answer 33

2nd wave of Babylonian exile: Babylon destroys Jerusalem and exiles most people.

Question 34

586 BCE: 2nd wave of Babylonian exile: Babylon destroys Jerusalem and exiles most people.

Answer 34

“So Judah went into exile and out of its land”

The poorest people - “the people of the land” - are spared; their job is to be vinedressers and farmers; tillers of the soil (we have heard this phrase with Adam and Cain) So this entails a judgement about tillers of the soil.

Who is in Babylon right now? Kings, Persists, royal Family, Military, Educated…then eventually, most of the other people.

Who is left in Israel? The poorest people are left.

Question 35

During the Babylonian exile, who is in Babylon? Who is left in Israel?

Answer 35

Babylon: Kings, Persists, royal Family, Military, Educated…then eventually, most of the other people.

Israel: the poorest people are left.

Question 36

The Earliest Community of Judaism

Answer 36

The poor who are left in Jerusalem as tillers of the land become the earliest community of Judaism…

It is during this exilic period that the final stage of (Priestly) editing takes place.

People begin developing ways to maintain cohesion and worship of Yahweh; they develop ways to visibly maintain cohesion and identify community (symbols, signs, dressing a certain way, kosher food, language, genealogies).

Synagogue develops, and there becomes an emphasis on written word.

Question 37

548 BCE

Answer 37

Babylonian Exile ends

Question 38

548 BCE: Babylonian Exile ends.

What happens when the Babylonian exile ends?

Answer 38

When exile comes to an end 50 years later, people are allowed to return to their homes.

We have 2-4 generations in 50 years.

Some of the people at the end of the exile return, and some stay, and we end up with DIASPORA: a dispersed population where Jews who are connected to the original Judean situation are now living elsewhere; this generates a whole host of developments in Judaism e.g., translation of Bible, spread of Judaism throughout Empire).

However, not all of the people have been exposed to the new emphasis on Jewish cohesion and identity.

This leads to divisions and tensions within the group about who is Jewish; What constitutes Jewish identity?

The people who experienced the exile maintain that only those who experienced the exile are true Judeans.

The poor people who were left behind had develop their own leadership, governments, etc. and had to get married and have children to survive, and so they are accused of mixing themselves with non-Jews.

Question 39

Coping Strategies in Exile

Answer 39

(1) Monolatry → Monotheism
(2) God as “omnipresent”

During the Babylonian exile, Jews in exile began to think that Marduke was the more powerful God. But after the exile, we see a leap from Monolatry → Monotheism.

The insight becomes that God (Yahweh) is the one who is in control over all other nations. We see this in Isaiah 44-45: “I am Yahweh, there are no other gods beside me.”

How could this happen?
During this time period, gods were national. The god that a person worshipped was the god of the particular nation in which they lived. This posed a problem for Judeans during the Babylonian exile. How can Yahweh be worshipped in a foreign land when they are physically separate from Him? Psalms 137: “How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?”

How do we get the theological leap to monotheism? Prophet Ezekiel…

Question 40

Ezekiel, Prophet in Exile

Answer 40

Ezekiel was a Priest probably in the 1st Babylonian exile.

He has a vision of the throne, God’s throne and God’s presence in the Temple.

He tells the people that they need to repent.

Question 41

Ezekiel’s Vision (10-11)

Answer 41

10:9: He has a vision of God’s glory in the Temple as movable (it is portable; it has wheels → he goes on in chapter 10 about the wheels)

Ezekial is in Babylon and has a vision of God’s glory moving from Jerusalem and going North-East to the presence of the people in Israel.

Ezekiel is saying that God can travel with the people. This provides hope for the people in exile that God is with them.

He has a vision that God’s presence will go back into Jerusalem with the people and the city will be renamed.

This is a huge theological leap that ensures the survival of Judaism (if it were not for this theological leap, then the ancient people/religion of Israel and Judaism would not exist today).
There is also a theological leap to monotheism.

Question 42

Ezekiel’s Vision → Theological Leap

Answer 42

Prophet Ezekiel was in exile, and has a vision that God’s glory leaves the Temple and joins the people in exile. This leads to the theological leap that God joins His people wherever they are. God is not locked to the land and the Temple.

The final stage of editing of the Pentateuch took place during the exile, so sometimes those theological leaps are mapped back onto the Pentateuch stories.

Question 43

The End of Exile: God’s Glory Returns to Jerusalem (43:1-5)

Answer 43

Ezekiel has a vision of God’s glory returning to Jerusalem, then the Eastern gate is shut, and it is a place only for God.

Question 44

Social questions arising at the end of the exile: who is part of the group and who is not?

Answer 44

What constitutes Jewish identity?

The people who experienced the exile maintain that only those who experienced the exile are true Judeans.

The poor people who were left behind had develop their own leadership, governments, etc. and had to get married and have children to survive, and so they are accused of mixing themselves with non-Jews.

The question then becomes: Who is allowed to worship Yahweh?

Is it an exclusive group, or are Jews to bring the religion to the rest of the world?