Intro to Old Testament Midterm

What does the Primeval Prologue refer to?

The beginning of all things, covering Genesis 1-11.

What are the major teachings of the Primeval Prologue?

Teachings concerning creation, sin, judgment, and grace.

What is the significance of the Hebrew word 'bara'?

It signifies God's unique ability to create.

What two names for God are used in Genesis 1-2?

Elohim (God) and Yahweh (LORD).

What was created on Day 1 of creation?

Light.

What was created on Day 2 of creation?

The firmament, separating the waters above from the waters below.

What was created on Day 3 of creation?

Land.

What was created on Day 4 of creation?

The luminaries: the sun, moon, and stars.

What was created on Day 5 of creation?

Fish and fowl.

What was created on Day 6 of creation?

Animals and man.

What does the term 'tob' signify in the context of creation?

It means 'good'; God declared creation good six times.

What is the nature of sin according to Genesis?

Sin is disobedience to God's expressed will and is divisive and deadly.

What was God's judgment of Adam and Eve?

They were sent out of the Garden of Eden.

What was God's judgment of Cain?

Cain was made to be a wanderer.

What was God's judgment of Noah's neighbors?

They were destroyed in the flood.

What was God's judgment of the Babel community?

Their languages were confused, preventing understanding.

How does God's grace manifest in the story of Adam and Eve?

God made them clothes after their disobedience.

What was Abraham's characteristic as a patriarch?

He was a man of reverent trust.

What was Isaac known for among the patriarchs?

He was passive and prayed for his barren wife.

What does Jacob's name mean?

One who follows at the heel or takes advantage.

What was Joseph's role in Egypt?

He was favored over his brothers and became a dream interpreter.

What significant event does the book of Exodus describe?

God's deliverance of His oppressed people.

What was Moses's first question to God during his call experience?

Who am I?

What did Moses ask Pharaoh?

'Let my people go.'

What is the significance of the new king over Egypt in Exodus?

He did not know Joseph, leading to oppression of the Hebrews.

What were the plagues in Egypt a contest between?

The one true God and the gods of Egypt.

What are the two proposed dates for the Exodus?

Early date: 1446 BC; Late date: 1290 BC.

What does the term 'hardening of Pharaoh's heart' refer to?

The attribution of Pharaoh's stubbornness to both God and Pharaoh.

What is the meaning of the Hebrew word 'Berith'?

'To establish a relationship not naturally existing.'

What does 'Karath' mean in the context of covenants?

'To cut,' as seen in Genesis 15:7-18 and Exodus 24:8.

What are the four types of covenants mentioned?

Parity, Patron, Promissory, and Suzerainty.

What is a Parity covenant?

A covenant where both parties are bound by an oath with equal obligations.

What is a Patron covenant?

A covenant where a superior binds himself to an inferior with obligations benefiting the inferior.

What is a Promissory covenant?

A covenant that guarantees future obligations without establishing a new relationship.

What is a Suzerainty covenant?

A covenant where a superior binds himself to an inferior with obligations benefiting the superior.

What do the first four commandments of the Ten Commandments express?

Man's relationship with God.

What do commandments 5-10 of the Ten Commandments express?

Man's relationship to man.

What is the difference between Casuistic and Apodictic laws?

Casuistic laws are conditional ('if…then'), while Apodictic laws are non-conditional and express absolute truths.

What is the significance of the Tabernacle in the biblical context?

It served as a holy place where God dwelled among the people, with specific instructions for its construction and use.

What was the purpose of the Day of Atonement?

To allow the high priest to enter the Holy of Holies once a year to atone for the sins of himself and the people.

What does the Holiness Code emphasize?

Sanctification, purification of the land, and neighborly love.

What are the three types of Levites and their responsibilities?

Gershonites (tabernacle coverings), Merarites (tabernacle constructs), Kohathites (tabernacle contents).

What are the stipulations of the Nazirite vow?

No strong drink, no haircuts, and no touching dead bodies.

What is the significance of the Shima in Deuteronomy?

It emphasizes the oneness of God and the importance of loving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength.

What is the role of refuge cities in biblical law?

They provided protection for unintentional manslayers from the kinsman redeemer.

What does the term 'Cherem' refer to?

Dedication to a pagan deity or practices that needed to be removed from the land.

What does Moses' final address in Deuteronomy include?

Recounting God's mighty acts, restating covenant laws, and three appendices.

What is the significance of the blessings Moses gave to the tribes?

They were a final impartation of God's favor and guidance before his death.

What does the phrase 'Ten times of Trouble' refer to?

Instances where the Israelites complained and tested God, yet He provided deliverance each time.

What are the two goats used in the Day of Atonement ritual?

One is sacrificed, and the other is released into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of sins.

What is the significance of the Holy of Holies?

It is the most sacred part of the Tabernacle, entered only once a year by the high priest.

What does the term 'apodictic law' refer to?

Laws that express necessary truths and absolute certainties, such as the Ten Commandments.

What is a patriarch?

A patriarch serves as a family or clan leader.

How did the new Egyptian king try to stop the growth of the Hebrew people?

1. Enforcing hard labor on the Hebrews

2. Telling the midwives to kill all male Hebrew children.

3. All male Hebrew children were to be thrown in the Nile.

Whole burnt offering

Atone for unwitting sin in general. Completely consumed

Sin offering

Atone for a specific unwitting sin that you committed in the past, and then later became aware that it was sinful. Fat burned, rest for food.

Guilt offering

Atone for a known sin. Fat burned, rest for food.

Cereal offering

To secure or retain the goodwill of Yahweh. Token burned, rest for priest.

Peace offering

To render thanks to Yahweh. Fat burned, rest for food for both the priest and the giver.

What is a Nazirite Vow?

A vow that gave an opportunity for a non-Levitical person to be able to have a special place or service to God

Elements of the Heiligeschicte (Salvation history)

1. Emphasized the continuous ways God provided for the people.

2. God led his people over every known geographical barrier, provided for all their physical needs, aided the people in overcoming each political barrier.

3. Refuge cities.

Phylactery

a small leather box worn on the head and arm

Meduzah

A small, decorative scroll containing scripture, placed on doorposts.

Dream Stele – Thutmose IV

Plaque that commemorated his dream of becoming Pharoah, he was not the legal heir

Armana tablets

Egyptian tablets that speak of a group identified as the Habiru, very likely the Hebrews

Who were the Gershonites?

Levites responsible for the tabernacle coverings

Who were the Merarites?

Levites responsible for the tabernacle constructs-inner workings that hold up the coverings.

Who were the Kohathites

Levites responsible for the tabernacle contents. Served as priests.