Term
| Are there any queens during this time or women Judges? |
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Definition
Deborah= woman judge
Athaliah (daughter of King Ahab of Israel) |
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Term
| Be familiar with the Cycle of the Judges |
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Definition
Cycle:
1. Sin- Israel turns from YHWH (apostacy-abandoning their religion)
2. Punishment- an enemy oppresses Israel
3. Repentance- Israel cries for help
4. Deliverance- YHWH sends a Judge to deliver Israel (peace)
--Apostasy, oppression, repentance, deliverance, peace |
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Term
| How is the beginning of Samuel connected to the end of Judges? What issue arises? |
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Definition
• Samuel is Israel’s last judge
• Moral condition of the nation had deteriorated; chaotic; people only did what was right in their eyes—suggests a need for a faithful king who would lead the people back to their God (where Samuel picks up) |
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Term
| Which Judge had his hair cut? What are some features of other judges? |
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Definition
• Samson had his hair cut by Delilah
• Deborah- “woman of fire”; confident
• Gideon- anything but a mighty warrior; slow to recognize and respond to God’s call
• Samson-shadow of what a judge should be; brash, bold, powerful but naïve and vulnerable at same time; supposed to be in a state or condition called the Nazirite vow (devoted exclusively to YHWH from birth), but did not honor that; drawn to Philistine women, Delilah in particular who cuts his hair; more successful in death than life |
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Term
| Which Judge needed proof to believe God would support him? |
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Definition
| Gideon needed proof; proposed test of the wet sheepskin (if he laid it out overnight and it became wet, while surrounding ground remained dry, it would mean victory—still needed more proof and asked for just the opposite; YHWH made both happen) |
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Term
| Israel’s desire for a King? Why do they want a King? |
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Definition
| After the chaos of the Judges era, Israel craved and needed strong direction; people were inclined to have a king because present political circumstances something more than the previously mandated divine rule: a strong/unifying human king. |
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Term
| Saul’s Rise and Fall: What does Saul do that causes his fall? |
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Definition
• Fell prey to the temptations of power
• Disobeyed Samuel by offering a sacrifice at Michmash (which was Samuel’s priestly duty alone)
• Took spoils of war and spared Agag (Amalekite king)—Samuel becomes furious and won’t have anything to do with Saul
• Saul broke holy war rules
• Begins to listen to the people rather than God
• Samuel removes Saul’s divine endorsement |
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Term
| David’s Rise to Power: What does David do to solidify his kingdom? |
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Definition
• Anger about soldier finishing off Saul—mourns Saul’s and Jonathan’s deaths (political saavy)
• Did nothing that might serve to alienate the loyal followers of Saul (virtually entire entity of northern Israel)
• Mourns Abner’s death (commander of Saul’s army) and does not condone his right-hand man Joab’s killing of Abner (sensitive to feelings of Saul’s loyalists)
• Has traitors who kill Ishbaal killed (not condoning violence done to house of Saul) |
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Term
| Davidic Covenant: What is it? What kind of theology emerges because of the Davidic covenant? |
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Definition
• YHWH’s promise to build a house for David (meaning a perpetual dynasty)
• YHWH pledged his enduring support for the line of David
• That there will be a divinely sponsored king over Israel forever—ushered in a time of shalom remembered as the golden age of Israel
• Royal Theology- view that God made a covenant with David that his family will stay in power |
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Term
| 5. David and Bathsheba: Who are the major characters in the story of David and Bathsheba? |
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Definition
• David, Bathsheba, Uriah (her husband), prophet Nathan (who exposes David’s guilt and delivers judgment that David’s own sins would be duplicated within his own family, but even worse), baby of Bathsheba (who dies as punishment)
• Also, sons Amnon and Absalom who fulfill Nathan’s prophecy—Amnon raping sister Tamar, Absalom killing Amnon, then taking over Jerusalem from David for a while (having sex with David’s wives on public rooftops) |
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Term
| Solomon’s Wisdom and Downfall? What signals to everyone that Solomon should be king? |
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Definition
Solomon’s wisdom was recognized when he effectively made Jerusalem the religious capital of Israel by building the temple there
• Solomon’s fall was because he had to much public debt and had too many wives.
• Soloman ask’s God for wisdom and mentoring through out his rein |
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Term
| What is the book of Deuteronomy’s relationship to this material? |
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Definition
| Joshua is part of the Deuteronomistic history which is a body of material that is an extended review of Israels history fro the conquest under Joshua through the destruction of 587 BCE |
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Term
| Who helps them into the land? |
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Definition
| Rahab the prostitute who assisted the Israelite spies |
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Term
| Where are some of the inclusive dimensions in Solomon’s story? |
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Definition
| Solomon prays for foreigners as much as his own people |
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Term
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Definition
| “beautiful young woman” assigned to be David’s female companion “to keep him warm at night” in his frail old age; his concubine; Adonijah tries to marry her after David’s death in order to gain the throne |
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Term
| The Divided Kingdom: Rehoboam and Jeroboam: Who is Solomon’s son? Who implements idolatrous features? Etc., etc. |
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Definition
• People become dissatisfied with Solomon’s rule because of cession of land in the north, high state taxation, and use of Israelites forced labor
• Rehoboam=Solomon’s son
• Jeroboam implements idolatrous features (golden calves at shrines in Israel’s worship centers at Dan and Bethel—punished by premature death of his son Abijah |
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Term
| What does it mean to walk in the way of Jeroboam |
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Definition
| Jeroboam is evil in the Lords sight. To walk in the way of Jeroboam, is to act in evil ways |
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Term
| which kingdom is in the North/South |
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Definition
• North kept name Israel—comprised of some ten tribes
• Southern became Judah—Schechem was capital |
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Term
| Remember the three major Powers that came up against Israel and Judah: |
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Definition
| Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians (Cyrus of Persia) |
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Term
| Which nation is known for warfare (its military prowess and its God of war) |
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Definition
| Assyrians- known for their ruthlessness; brutal people who justified brutality on religious grounds |
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Term
| Which nation took Israel into Exile? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which King came up against Hezekiah? |
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Definition
| Sennacherib (Assyrian King who attacked Jerusalem in Judah) |
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Term
| Who is the first King to initiate idolatrous worship after Solomon’s death? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which nation is connected to Nebuchadnezzar? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which nation is connected to Cyrus? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| The name or title of an otherwise unidentifiable person in Isaiah's prophecy; means "God is with us." |
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Term
| What are the dates for the exile? |
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Definition
| The Babylonian exile was the period in the middle of the sixth century BCE when Judeans were taken as captives to Babylonia and resettled there; it officially ended in 539 BCE, but many Judeans nonetheless remained there. |
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Term
| What is the date that Israel in the North and Judah in South were Exiled (see Bandstra for this) This is basically a repeat…. |
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Definition
• Israel in the North exiled: 721 BCE
• Judah in the South exiled: 586 BCE |
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Term
| Here you want to remember things like who is Elijah’s successor? |
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Definition
| Elisha (similar to that of Moses and Joshua); Elisha cycle is much more occupied with miracles than with religious and political confrontation. |
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Term
| Who is his major nemesis? Who is King during this time? Etc. |
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Definition
• Major nemesis: Jezebel, Baal worshipper, wife of Ahab
• Ahab is kind during this time |
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Term
| What is the background that gives insight into Elijah’s story? |
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Definition
• Elijah recognizes that Israel’s primary allegiance must be to King YHWH
• Elijah forces Israelites to choose YHWH or Baal by proving: which deity grows our food? Takes away the drought? YHWH. |
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Term
| What is the name of the religion which forms the background for Elijah’s story? |
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Definition
| Canaanite religion of Baal |
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Term
| Hezekiah: What happened while he was King? |
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Definition
• Ruled Judah well (one of the best kings of Judah)
• Judged on basis of his piety and religious reforms
• Assyrians led by Sennacherib attacked Jerusalem during his rule |
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Term
| What did Hezekiah do when he faced trouble? |
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Definition
• Took the matter to God; prayed
• Did not react in desperation |
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Term
| Who was the King that came up against Hezekiah? |
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Definition
| Sennacherib (Assyrian King); attacked Jerusalem in Judah |
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Term
| What happened in the battle? |
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Definition
| Assyrian army departs after a disaster attributed to the work of the angel of YHWH which decimated the army (185,000 soldiers killed) and prompted Assyrians to leave Canaan |
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Term
| Who is Cyrus? How is he described? |
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Definition
• Cyrus was ruler of Persia who conquered Babylon and incorporated its territory into his empire; Persian monarch who opposed the Babylonian empire
• Viewed by Judeans as “their great deliverer”—even referred to as messiah (anointed one) |
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Term
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Definition
• Hezekiah
• An “otherwise unknown” person
• Birth predicted by Isaiah to Ahaz
• Assured Ahaz that line would continue |
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Term
| What King is Isaiah telling to remain faithful? |
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Definition
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Term
| In Isaiah’s call, how is God portrayed? Is there any emphasis on the immanence of God? |
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Definition
• In Isaiah’s call, God is envisioned as a great king attended by his Divine Council (here called seraphs with six wings)
• There is emphasis on the immanence of God- God’s presence and activity in the world |
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Term
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Definition
| Hosea, Joel, Amos (Assyrian period prohets), Nahum (Babylonian Prophet), Jonah (Persian period prophet), Habakkuk (Babylonian prophet) |
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Term
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Definition
| One called to speak for God |
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Term
| What is the difference between a minor and major prophet? Can you distinguish a minor from a major if I put them on the exam? |
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Definition
• Length
• Majors (aka the Latter prophets): Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
• Minors: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
• ***What about Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings—Former |
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Term
| Why are they called minor prophets? Who first person to call the Book of the Twelve the Minor Prophets? |
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Definition
• Because they are shorter in length
• Augustine |
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Term
| Modern day analogies of prophets...? |
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Definition
| Ghandi, MLK, Cornel West, Dorothy Day, William Stringfellow, Oscar Romero |
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Term
| Which minor prophet deals with theodicy? |
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Definition
• Habakkuk
• Questions YHWH’s justification in allowing Assyria (treacherous ppl) to treat Israel so cruelly |
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Term
| Which minor prophet uses his family life as an example? |
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Definition
• Hosea
• Wife Gomer is a prostitute
• Her three children serve as prophetic signs having to do with northern kingdom of Israel |
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Term
| Which prophet spoke out against Assyrian Power? |
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Definition
• Nahum
• Depicts the gorey battle of Ninevah vividly
• Basic them of Nahum= YHWH will punish any nation that treats his people (Israel) cruelly (retribution theology)
• Ends with a question |
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Term
| Which prophet spoke a message of repentance to Ninevah? |
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Definition
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Term
| Name some of the major themes from each one we covered: |
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Definition
• Foreign Alliances
• Idolatry
Themes:
Amos- God’s righteousness and justice
Hosea- God’s righteousness and Love
Nahum- God’s sovereignty
Habakkuk- Theodicy
Jonah- God’s universal mercy
Haggai- second temple
Joel- Day of Yahweh
• Injustice
• Superficial Religion (Amos accuses Israel of this) |
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Term
| Which prophet said “let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream….” To what modern leader is this prophet related? |
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Definition
• Amos
• MLK (quoted Amos’ statement) |
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Term
| Which prophet runs from God? |
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Definition
| Jonah tries to run away from God’s calling him to Ninevah by getting on a boat going in the opposite direction |
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Term
| Which prophet is arguably sectarian and nationalistic and perhaps does not understand the mercy or grace of God to others? |
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Definition
| Jonah. Doesn’t understand why God showed grace to Ninevah |
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Term
| The Writings (Ketuvim) are what? |
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Definition
| • Third major division of the Hebrew Bible |
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Term
| How are the writings and the Hagiography different? |
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Definition
| They are the products of postexilic Judaism—reveals community wrestling with its changed circumstances and changing identity |
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Term
| Why can the writings be considered more universalistic? |
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Definition
| Because they take on a more secular outlook on the world; pulls things from everywhere; not just about God |
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Term
| What stance are these writers taking with regard to the past (on the writings)? |
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Definition
• They wrestle with their theological past
• The Writings sometimes allude to or quote passages that can be found in earlier books
• Recalling earlier traditions/prophecies affirmed the faithfulness of God/calling ppl back to faithfulness |
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Term
| How are these books related to reflection (the writings)? |
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Definition
• Community is in a mode of reflection—wrestles with meaning and application of Torah and Prophets
• New traditions must be applied in relevant ways |
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Term
| What is the Theme of Proverbs? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| what kind of theology does proverbs affirm? Where does this theology come from? |
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Definition
• Retribution theology
• Proverbs maintains the strict correlation between the practice of wisdom and earthly reward, contrasted with the foolish life that leads inexorably to tragedy and ruin
• Retribution theology comes from Job (and proverbs) |
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Term
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Definition
| Suggests a perspective on understanding the world dominated by the use of reason, a search for order, and teaching moral behavior. |
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Term
| How are the proverbs inclusive? Secular? |
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Definition
• Could also be viewed as having direct literary contact with other similar political, religious, or intellectual books
• Gives practical advice on how to behave and act in business situations |
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Term
| Job;Retribution theology: how does Job relate to this? |
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Definition
| if you keep a covenant you get rewarded; if you break it you get punished |
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Term
| What theme—which we have covered in several places—is Job addressing? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| No equated with Satan from NT. A member of the divine council, satan means adversary and accuser, which may have been an official function within the council |
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Term
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Definition
• No
• The fact that God doesn’t tell him why marginalizes retribution theology |
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Term
| According to Long and recent archaeological excavations, how is Baal depicted on the stone relief? How does Elijah’s theophany (1 Kings 19:11-14) relate to this depiction of Baal? |
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Definition
| Baal depicted as being a storm god, riding the clouds and controlling the seasons by providing rain; a club in his right hand and a lance in the other extending upward into a tree or a lightening bolt; speaks in a voice of thunder which shakes the earth |
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Term
| In this article what happens to Baal when he encounters death? Who saves Baal? |
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Definition
| The confrontation ends in a stalemate and he is confined in the underworld in defeat; the goddesses Anat and Shapsh rescue his (and restore him to his throne) |
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Term
| What mistaken judgment does Elijah—this great hero of faith—make about himself (1 Kings 19:10, 14, 18)? What does he learn from Yahweh? |
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Definition
Elijah mistakenly thinks that he is alone. He thinks that God isn’t involved because he can’t physically see the signs.
He learns that God will anoint other kings and will have 7000 loyal people who will follow. |
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Term
| What do we learn about the Israelite view of God/Hebrew Bible from Elijah’s story (think about the title and the subject of the article)? |
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Definition
| We learn that “God doesn’t always Thunder”—he more often works as a “calm, quiet voice” in the lives of faithful men and women who wouldn’t necessarily be considered “great” or “gifted” |
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