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Old Testament
Exam 1 Old Testament
124
Religious Studies
Undergraduate 4
07/13/2010

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Term
What is the Old Testament?
Definition
Set of 39 books that are scriptures to 3 religions. 24 books in Hebrew scripture
Term
When were the writings accepted by Jews?
Definition
Compiled and accepted by Jews as authoritative around 90 CE
Term
What are the 3 religions that the Old Testament serves as scriptures?
Definition
Jews, Christians, and Muslims
Term

What are these books referred to for Christians?

Definition
the Old Testament: testament comes from the Greek word meaning covenant. Used by the Apostle Paul who borrowed it from Jeremiah 31:31 referred to Hebrew scriptures as "Old Convenant"
Term
Scripture to Jews
Definition
Called Tanaach. Hebrew Scripture goes from Isaac to Jacob
Term

Scripture to Christians

 

Definition

Is the BIBLE

(from the OT to the NT)

Term
Scripture to Muslims
Definition

1. the Koran Arabic word written by the founder of Islam Mohammed 6th century Common Era

2. dictated Koran to his wife, received visions from the angel Gabriel. Traced lineage to Abraham – first wife Sarah; practice called surrogacy she couldn’t have children;

 3. Haggar was the Egyptian gave birth to Ishmael. Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Which one is the heritage going to? 

 4. Sarah forces Abraham to send Haggar and Ishmael away; go into Arabian desert; centuries later; birth of Mohammed.

Term
Anthology
Definition
written by different writers, at different times, and for different reasons and put together in one book
Term
Why are the books known as scriptures?
Definition
Because they are inspired and believed to be the word of God; judgement of faith
Term
What is a Canon?
Definition
set of books considered to be scriptures inspired by a religion therefore followed
Term
Hebrew Canon consist of how many subdivisions and what are they?
Definition

1. The law: Torah or the Pentateuch

2. The Prophets

3. The writings

Term
Describe the first subdivision of the Hebrew Canon
Definition

Law or Torah or Pentateuch: first 5 books in the OT:

Gen, Exd, Lev, Num, Dtr

1. begins with 2 account of creation, the fall (sin), flood (2), Noah, sin, Babel, Patriarch (Abe, Isaac, Jacob), Joseph (Jews relocate to Egypt and then become enslaved), EXODUS (Moses leads ppl out of Egypt), Sinai (covenant with God) LAW, Edge of Jordan, death of Moses

Term
Key theological historical Event
Definition
The Exodus: Moses leads the ppl out of captivity. Exodus to the Jews is like the resurrection to the Christians
Term
Key figure in the Pentateuch
Definition
Moses: God communicates through Moses. Hebrew scrolls ae identified as the 5 books of Moses
Term
Mosaic authorship
Definition
Christians theory that Moses was the author, then came the contradiction of the enlightenment. Number of repititions and anarchronism
Term
Anachronism
Definition
out of sequence chronologically
Term
Documentary Hypothesis
Definition

Old Testament scholar named J Wellhausen developed the theory that there were 4 writers of the

Pentateuch J E D P

Term
What themes appear in the Pentateuch?
Definition
Monotheism, Covenant with Noah, Covenant with Moses, Covenant with Abraham
Term
When was the formal acceptance of the books?
Definition
400 BCE
Term
Describe the second subdivision of the Hebrew Canon?
Definition
Called the Prophets: two subdivisions: Former Prophets and Latter Prophets
Term
Former prophets
Definition

Joshua, Judges, 1,2 Samuel, 1,2 Kings.

Involve conquest -> exile. Includes Age of Judges, United Monarchy, Divided Monarchy. HISTORY OF ISRAEL

Term
Latter Prophets
Definition
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, plus 12 minor prophets ie Amos, Josaiah
Term
When was the second subdivision written?
Definition
200 BCE
Term
Central figure in the Prophet section of the Hebrew Canon?
Definition
None, Centers around the history of Israel and God's involvement in the history through Kings like David, Priests, and Prophets. Includes divine judgement and punishment for Israel's sins
Term
Describe the third subdivision of the Hebrew Canon?
Definition

The Writings: set of misc material.

1. Historical books: 1,2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah

2. Collection of hymns: Psalms, and Lamentations: song of mourning over the fall of Jerusalem

3. Wisdom tradition: ethical philosophical: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes: talk about morality, reflective issues, divine justice

4. Misc books: Song of Solomon, Ruth, Esther: very important books describing women in a very positve way. Esther saved her people from destruction. And Daniel is a prophet but book was written 175 BCE

Term
Why study the Old Testament?
Definition

Historical Considerations

Literary Value

Theological Ideas

Term
What are historical considerations?
Definition
History of Israel will help understand contemporary political situation.
Term
What is literary value?
Definition
Many books considered to be world literature. Good example that was contemporary with Greek tragedy
Term
What are theological Ideas?
Definition

origins that are important to ppl today. Monotheism: Judaism, Christianity, Muslim

Hindus have 1000's of gods

Relationship between religious faith and ethics

Divine retribution: rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior.

Term
How do we study the OT?
Definition
Method called Historical Methods and consist of 4 methods: Texual, Source, Form, and Traditional
Term
What is Textual Criticism?
Definition
attempts to determine the earliest/oldest version of a certain text. Earliest text written in Hebrew dates back to 1000 BCE some maybe 4000 yrs old
Term
What is the earliest copy of text complete version called?
Definition
Codex Aleppo: found in city in Syria and dates back to 950 CE. Referred to as MT (Masoretic Text)
Term
Dead Sea Scrolls
Definition
set of manuscripts found 1948-1955 in caves near the Dead Sea in Qumran.
Term
What are Essenes?
Definition
group of ppl; Sect of Jews like a denomination. Lived in Qumran and spent their time copying scrolls. Date back to 250 BCE
Term
Scrolls are of 2 types...what are they?
Definition

1. Sectarian scrolls: talked about life and the beliefs of the Essenes: talked about coming of the Kingdom of God, John the babtist and Jesus

2. Biblical manuscripts: copies of every book in the OT except Esther. Almost identical to Codex Aleppo...very few major differences.

Term
What is the Greek OT version called?
Definition
LXX: Septuagint: came about following conquest of Alex the Great in 333
Term
What is Hellenization?
Definition
forcing Greek culture where ever. They had to translate from Hebrew to Greek. 250 BCE and we don't have copies of that version
Term
What are the earliest copies of the OT in greek?
Definition

4 manuscripts:

1. Codex Sinaiticus 4th CE

2. Codex Vaticanus 5th CE

3. Codex Alexandrinus 5th CE

4. Codex Bezae 5th CE

Term
What did the Greek versions contain?
Definition
OT and NT. Also contained Apocrypha: books written between OT and NT
Term
What is the Apocrypha?
Definition
Set of 17 books 250-90 CE during the Greek period. Gives a closer look on Judaism. For Roman Catholics, not Jews and Muslim.
Term
Differences between Hebrew and Greek OT
Definition

1. LXX is chronological; MT arranged by Canon

2. Greek contains Apocrypha; MT does not

3. Books in Apocrypha are different lengths Jeremiah is 52 CH in MT and 36 in LXX

 

Term
What are the translation differences?
Definition

Greek uses hellenistic mentality

Hebrew has the Jewish mentality

Term
What is the version of the OT in Latin best example?
Definition
The vulgate: contains the OT and NT and the Apocrypha
Term
Who made the translation of the Vulgats?
Definition
St Jerome and included the Apocrypha. Dates to 4th CE.
Term
What are the dates the Roman Catholics used the vulgate?
Definition
From 4th CE to 1961 Roman Catholics used latin version.
Term
Who translated the German version of the Bible?
Definition
in 16th century by Martin Luther, town called Wittenberg; helped by Guttensberg. Left off the Apocrypha. He was a German Monk
Term
Who was St Jerome?
Definition
German monk; he got defrocked for his questioning of the laws of the Catholic Church. This marks the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
Term
Who made the English version of the Bible?
Definition
M Coverdale and J Wycliffe; not widely used b/c thought to be heretical
Term
Who changed the English version of the bible?
Definition
King James I when he became king of London. Scholars made version in 1611 known as King James Version. First authorized published version of English
Term
When did the Revised Standard version become available?
Definition
1952 and in 1995 New Revised Standard Version. English version is not a literal translation
Term
What is Source Criticism?
Definition

Who was the author

What is the date

what are the circumstances

 Looks at written document

Term
What is the multiple authorship of Isaiah?
Definition

Bernard Duhm noticed differences in historical settings.

CH 1-39 8th century Isaiah

CH 40-55 6th century II Isaiah

CH 56-66 5th century III Isaiah

Term
What is Form Criticism?
Definition
push is back to the oral stage of traditions, when it was passed along by word of mouth. Literary Genre, Structure of the unit, intent of the writer, setting in life.
Term
What is the best example of form Criticism?
Definition
Method by H Gunkel, patriarchs in Gen 12-36. He said the material was saga not history.
Term
What is Traditional criticism?
Definition
refers to a set of usually theological ideas. Several traditions: covenant, temple, monarchy.
Term
What is a good example of tradition criticism?
Definition
M. Noth saw a common view in these books: Deut, Joshua, Judges, 1,2 Samuel, 1,2 Kings.
Term
What did M. Noth conclude?
Definition
these were 6th century Redactor and called it Dtr. A redactor takes material from different sources and makes it say what he wants to say.
Term
What is the purpose of the Historical Method of Criticism?
Definition
To bridge the historical gap between then and now.
Term
What are tels?
Definition
large piles of dirt, Arabic word for mound.
Term
What is stratigraphy?
Definition
Layers of strata in the tels
Term
What is Excavation?
Definition
when archeologist begin to dig down a site.
Term
What is artifact?
Definition
found on top of mounds and was what they found within tels
Term
What are sherds?
Definition
also known as potsherd: broken pottery ppl would find on top of tels.
Term
Who is W. F. Albright?
Definition
1920, 30, and 40's archeologist during WWI and WWII. Major site he excavated was Debir. Became standard model for stratigraphic excavation
Term
Who is George Ernest Wright?
Definition
student of Albright. excavated biblical city of Shechem. Wrote a book called Shechem
Term
Who is Kathleen Kenyon?
Definition
excavated Jerusalem and Jericho. Not much results from Jerusalem. Re-excavated Jericho found a tower 8000BCE and Jericho wasn't resettled.
Term
Who is D Y Yadin?
Definition
new wave scholar major part of 20th century. 1990's major work shifted from European to Israeli scholars. He escavated 2 sites: Hazor-largest mound in Israel and Madada: limestone mountain located at ehe southern tip of the Dead Sea. 1600 ft tall.
Term
What was so important about Masada?
Definition
It was the site of a suicide pact made by 869 Jews that didn't want to become Roman slaves.
Term
What did they find?
Definition
Dead Sea Scrolls. Over 800 manuscripts found in caves. Housed in Israel in a cave called the Dome of the Rock.
Term
What else did they find in the caves?
Definition
pottery, tools, and weapons and remains of ancient sancutaries. We'd like to find the remains of the Solomonic Temple. When King David and King Solomon were around was when Jerusalem was important 1000 BCE
Term
What was the History of the Ancient Near East called?
Definition
the Fertile Crescent or the Levant. Territory that begins with Persian Gulg down to Egypt. Mesopotomia, Syria/Palastine, and Egypt
Term
What is the earliest major archeological period called?
Definition
Paleolithic Period or Old Stone Age: 300,000BCE-10000BCE
Term
What is the major site in Syria/Palestine called?
Definition
Ubaidiyah...earliest site that indicates human occupation
Term
What is homo erectus?
Definition
Oldest bones dated back to 300,000 BCE
Term
What is after the Paleolithic Period or Old stone age?
Definition
Mesolithic or the Middle Stone Age: dated from 10000-8000BCE.
Term
Why is the Middle stone age important?
Definition
Because we assign the two earliest complete skeletal ramains found in Syria/Palestine. 2 men found at Mt Carmel and 1 at Jericho. and a Mesolithic Tower found in Jericho (circular and strong)
Term
What is the third period called?
Definition
Neolithic or New Stone Age: dated 8000-4000 BCE: civilization underway and rise of modern cities. Lrg cities in Egypt, Meso, and S/P. Beginning of ceramic industry.
Term
What is the Chalcolithic period?
Definition
After the New Stone Age: 4000-3000BCE; main material was copper and city was Ghassul. Copper was too soft so it was mixed with tin.
Term
What came after the Chalcolithic Period?
Definition

The Bronze Age: 3000-1200BCE

Early Bronze 3000-2200

Middle Bronze 2200-1700

Late Bronze 1700-1200

Term
What is so important about the Bronze Age?
Definition
Albright assigns the patriarchs to this period (Abe, Isaac, and Jacob). Culture goes down after the Middle Bronze Age
Term
What is the Iron Age?
Definition

Dates 1200-

Comes after the Bronze Age. History of Israel.

Term
Describe Mesopotomia
Definition
Earliest cultured known in this area was Sumerian 2800-2000. Land called Southern Meso. Sumer was a collection of otherwise city and states: Nippur, Lagash, Eridu, Babylon, Ur.
Term
When did Sargon I establish Empire of Akkad?
Definition
2300 BCE
Term
What are Sumerians credited for?
Definition
System of writing called Cuneiform
Term
What is cuneiform?
Definition
system of wedge writing by pressing pencil into the plate. Is a script not a language. Spoken and written language was cuneiform. with development of writings came narratives, prayer, poems, hymns, and proverb.
Term
What are the 3 Law Codes?
Definition

Ur-nammu 21th- 3000

Lipit-Ishtar 19th

Eshnumma 19th

All written in casuistic style and are case-law (if...then..) and they show up in the OT

Term
When did the Sumerians come to an end?
Definition
As a result of the conquest of Gutians. 3 of the city states survived called the City-State of ppl. They moved into southern Meso around 2000
Term
When was the City-State Period?
Definition
1900-1750. First city was called Asshur - 1850 which is Modern day Iraq. Became first Assyrian Empire; on the Tigres River
Term
What was the second city of the City-State Period called?
Definition
Mari. Located on the Euphrates. 1800; found a royal palace with library that contained the Mari Letters.
Term
What are the Mari Letter?
Definition
Documents with lrg number of Personal names that appear in OT: Sarah, Benjamin. Letters also talk about political situation as absolute chaos. Social economic group (Haribu harrassing the citizens)
Term
What is the third city that survived in the City-State period?
Definition
Babylon: became the strongest and dominated the entire region. It gets a period all on it's own
Term
When was the first Dynasty of the Babylon Period?
Definition
1750-1550. First King Hammurabi: responsible for editing and compliling the Law Codes.
Term
What was significant about King Hammurabi?
Definition
He made a stele (8.5 ft tall) and put the law codes on it. On the very top was a picture of the Babylonian Sun god Shemesh.
Term
What is the significance of the picture on the stele?
Definition
It gives the law a strong theological sanction. His empire came to an end by the Hittites in 1550.
Term
Describe the Hittite Empire.
Definition

1. very militaristic people. they wanted the land of Canaan b/c it had a bridge that connected Europe and Asia with Africa

2. Result left Canaan devestated. Egyptians and Hittites fighting

3. They introduced light horse-drawn chariot. Discovered wood that was strong and lightweight and built chariots

Term
Describe the Hurrian Empire
Definition
Lived in Mitanni and lasted from 1700-1500. Mitanni is in the Northern part of Syria. Capital city is Nuzi. Library with Nuzi Text that talked about social and religious practices of the people. Also known in the OT as Hyksos. 1750 they relocate down to Egypt. Picked up the Hebrews on their way. Ruled for 100 years
Term
What two biblical text did we discuss outside the bible?
Definition
The Mari Letters and the Nuzi Text.
Term
Describe the Cassites Empire.
Definition
1500-1400 they lived in South Meso and lived where the 1st Dynasty of Babylon. Preserved lots of Sumer/Babylo legends and text. Major contribution to Western Civilization.
Term
Describe the Assyrian Empire.
Definition

First Empire was from 1850

Middle Assyrian Empire was from 1440-1040

Third Assyrian Empire was from 876-612

Term
Which Assyrian Empires was most important and why?
Definition

The 3rd Empire considered to be the Evil Empire. 4 Kings date to 8th century

Tiglath-Pileser III

Shalmaneser V

Sargon II

Sennecherib

Term
What happened in 722-721?
Definition
Sargon II conquered northern Kingdom known as Israel; destroyed city of Samaria. Capital of 3rd empire was Nineveh.
Term
What happened to Nineveh?
Definition
fell to the army of Nabopolassar and the Neo-Babylonians in 612. He slipped out of town to Carchemish -609 but Nabo caught up with him.
Term
Describe the Neo-Babylonians
Definition

612-539 major conqerers of Syrians. 3 major kings

Nabopolassor

Nebuchadnezzar

Nabonidus

Term
What happened in 587-586?
Definition
Nebuchad conquered the southern Kingdom and sent Jews into exile. They didn't last very long.
Term
Describe the Persian Empire
Definition
539-333 Cyrus the Great put Neo-Baby to end 6th century. known for famous EDICT: Let the Jews return home.
Term
When did the anti-Jewish begin?
Definition
in 168 town called Modine. Priest Mattathias was gathering ppl for worship. He dies and passes on to son Judas Maccabeus
Term
What is the Maccabean Revolt?
Definition
Greeks called it this because Judas Maccabeus develops a revolt that recaptured part of Jerusalem called the Temple Mound.
Term
What is significant about December 1st?
Definition
Origin of Hannukah: commemorates the recapture.
Term
What is Darius the King known for?
Definition
5th century. Wanted a memorial and it was built on a Behiston Rock.
Term
What is the significance of the Behistun Rock?
Definition
helped scholars learn to translate cuneiform just as Rossetta Stone allowed us to read heiroglyphics
Term
Who were the Cultural elite?
Definition
They were noted for work in Philosophy and art. History of Persia would be found in Iran.
Term
What Persian religion had a major impact on the OT?
Definition
Zonoatrianism: came about 6th century religious leader Zoraster. Notion of Devil comes from here. Eschatology (coming of God-Final days)
Term
Who brought Persians to end?
Definition
Greeks 333-165 with the conquest of Alex the Great. After his death the empire was divided between 3 generals.
Term
What were the 3 subdivisions of the Greeks?
Definition

Antagonids: Greece and Macedonia

(northern part of Greece)

Seleucids: Syria and parts of Mesopotomia

Ptolomies: Egypt and Palestine

Term
What happened in 200BCE with Greeks?
Definition
Seleucids were angry and Antiochus IV Epiphanes took over and they annexed Palastine. He took on Hellenization. Jews were not allowed to practice their religion
Term
What are the 2 capital cities of the Northern Kingdom?
Definition
Tizrah and Samaria
Term
How did the Jews come back to the land?
Definition

First wave in 538 by Sheshbazaar

Second wave in 525 by Zerubabel

Term
What were the problems of the returning Jews?
Definition

Persecution: hostility broke out between Babylonians and Samaritans

Poverty: flat line economy

Pessimism: deployed erchaton

Term
Who prepared the Rosetta stone and why?
Definition
Egyptians b/c they thought ppl would not remember who they were. They prepared Trilingual inscription: Greek, Demotic, hieroglyphics. Found in 1798 lead to discovery on how to read hieroglyphics
Term
Who were the different chief gods of Sumer?
Definition
An, Enlil, and Enki
Term
Chief gods of the Assyrians?
Definition
Ashur
Term
Chief gods of the Babylonians?
Definition
Marduk and Shemesh
Term
Chief gods of Egypt?
Definition
Ra, Amon-Ra, Aten
Term
Chief gods of Canaan?
Definition
El, Baal, and Yah
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