Old Testament Exam 1

Key dates, principles of interpretation, etc.

approx. date of Abraham’s life

2000 BC

date of the Exodus

1446 BC

approx. date of David’s life

1000 BC

date of Exile of Israel

722 BC

date of Exile of Judah

586 BC

Biblical/literary context

how does this relate to the rest of the Bible?

Historical context

how does this relate to external history?

cultural context

how does this relate to how people really lived?

chronological context

when did this happen & why does that matter

theological context

how does this relate to everything else we know & believe

genre

literary element; what kind of writing is this?

plot

literary element; how is this story told?

character

literary element; people in the story & how do we think of them?

symbolism

literary element; what parts of the story are more than literal?

allusion

literary element; where is someone else being referred to?

pacing

literary element; what parts of the story receive emphasis?

reversal

literary element; what happens in the story that is the opposite of what is expected?

protoevangelium

the first good message or the first gospel

the curse on men

rooted in work

sin twists man’s relationship with work

sin twists Adam’s perception of Eve to be negative where it was previously positive

work was always productive prior to the fall

the curse on women

rooted in relationships

painful childbirth: a physical, mental, and emotional pain stemming from relational hardship

desire for her husband: he will attempt to rule when they should be side-by-side (ezer kenegdo), and/or she will attempt to go against his leadership

worldview model

truth > values > behavior

and/or

story > symbol > praxis

ezer kenegdo

a suitable helper (help meet)

ezer: a helper, not a subordinate

kenegdo: corresponding to, different than, in the face of

the posture of marriage (based on ezer kenegdo)

not face to face, but side by side (partners)

what does it mean that Adam gave things their name (including Eve)

he takes accountability & ownership over them

who was Enoch (& significance in the Flood story)

Enoch is immortal, his son is Methuselah

Methuselah > name means “his death shall send” or “it is coming”

the people knew that the flood was coming for roughly 1000 years (Methuselah lived to 969)

Abraham & his significance

extremely wealthy > a politically valuable figure

semi nomadic

married to Sarah (various leaders such as Pharaoh & Abimelek tried to marry Sarah as an attempt to make a political alliance w/ Abraham)

Sarah’s death & Ephron the Hititite

Abraham did not want to take the field to bury Sarah from Ephron without paying him, though Ephron offered

Ephron offered because he wanted Abraham, who is politically significant, to owe him

Abraham pays well over the reasonable value of the land when Ephron charges a high price, caring more about burying his wife than overspending

the Abrahamic Covenant (primary purpose)

the purpose of the Abrahamic Covenant and God choosing a single nation was so that the Israelites would be a light on a hill and share the Gospel with all the nations (all creation would come into relationship with their creator)

people can become part of the nation of Israel (must leave behind the gods of their culture, worship & serve the LORD)