Midterm Study

Torah

The first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentateuch.

Patriarchs

The founding fathers of the Israelites: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).

Exile

The period when the Jewish people were displaced from their homeland, particularly during the Babylonian Exile.

Cyrus the Great

The Persian ruler who allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

Documentary Hypothesis

The scholarly theory that the Torah is composed of four sources: J (Yahwist), E (Elohist), P (Priestly), and D (Deuteronomist).

Septuagint

The Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, produced in the 3rd to 2nd century BCE.

Masoretic Text

The authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible, preserved and transmitted by Jewish scholars known as the Masoretes.

Diaspora

The dispersion of Jews outside of Israel, particularly after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE.

Exodus

The biblical story of the Israelites' departure from slavery in Egypt.

Neolithic Age

A historical period characterized by the development of agriculture and pottery, dating back to roughly 10,000–4000 BCE.

Iron Age

The period in ancient history characterized by the widespread use of iron, which includes the establishment of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Merneptah Stele

An inscription from ancient Egypt, significant for being the earliest known reference to 'Israel' in the historical record.

Tel Dan Inscription

A significant archaeological find that refers to the 'House of David', confirming the historical existence of King David.

High places

Locations used for worship in ancient Israel, often associated with polytheistic practices before the centralization of worship in Jerusalem.

Amarna Letters

A collection of diplomatic correspondence between the Egyptian administration and various other entities, including city-states in Canaan.

Peshitta

The Syriac translation of the Bible, used primarily in the Christian tradition.

Judges

Leaders in ancient Israel who acted as military saviors during times of crisis, characterized by their charismatic authority.

Hellenistic Period

The era following the conquests of Alexander the Great, which saw the spread of Greek culture and influence throughout the Mediterranean and Near East.

Archaeological Dating Methods

Techniques used to determine the age of artifacts and structures, including relative dating (e.g., stratigraphy) and absolute dating (e.g., radiocarbon dating).