Old Testament Midterm

THE MINIMUM, MUST-KNOW TIMELINE

1. 1250 B.C.(E.) - Moses and Exodus

2. 1200-1000 - Conquest, Settlement, and Judges

3. 1000 - David/United Monarchy

4. 922 - Division of the Kingdom

5. 722 - Fall of the Northern Kingdom, Israel

6. 587 - Fall of the Southern Kingdom, Judah (Exile)

7. 538 - Edict of Cyrus; Return from Exile

8. 515 - Completion of the Second Temple

9. 450 - Ezra and the Law

The Ten Commandments

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make idols.

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

5. Honor your father and your mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal

9. You shall not bear false witness

10. Thou shalt not covet

Nine critical moments in the OT

1. Creation

2. The Call of Abraham

3. Exodus (Sinai and Covenant)

4. Conquest and Settlement

5. Establishment of the Monarchy

6. Division of the Kingdom (Israel/Judah)

7. Fall of Israel (Rise of Assyria)

8. Fall of Judah and Exile (Rise of Babylon)

9. Return to the Land and Restoration (Rise of Persia)

The three Lee University core values

Ethical Action, Responsible Citizenship, Redemptive Service

The Tanakh

the jewish name for the OT/ other name is TNK

The Tetragrammaton

the Hebrew name of God transliterated in four letters as YHWH or JHVH and articulated as Yahweh or Jehovah.

The Documentary Hypothesis

The view that the Pentateuch is a combination of at least four authors; JEDP

W. M. L. de Wette

established the modern view that Deuteronomy was a distinct book, separate from the Tetrateuch, and that it was composed during King Josiah's time (later that otherwise thought)

Chaoskampf

war with chaos

Imago Dei

Image of God

Primeval History (“the first age”)

Creation and Eden (Gen 1-3), Cain and Abel (Gen 4-5), Noah and the flood (Gen 6-9), Table of Nations (Gen 10), Tower of Babel (Gen 11)

Cain

The eldest son of Adam and Eve and murderer of his brother Abel

Babel

The tower to the heavens that God destroyed, making everyone speak a different language.

Abraham and Sarah

Abram = “exalted father” / Abraham = “father of multitudes”

Sarai = “my princess” / Sarah = “princess”

Isaac and Rebekah

Rebekah married Isaac. She bore two sons, Esau and Jacob. Rebekah was assertive but sometimes thought God needed her help. She favored Jacob over Esau and helped Jacob deceive Isaac. Genesis tells us that Rebekah married Isaac, and they had two sons, Esau and Jacob. The Bible story of Isaac and Rebekah teaches us about faith, trust, and God's timing.

Jacob, Leah, and Rachel

Jacob had two wives, Leah and Rachel. Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah by her father, Laban, after working for him for seven years to win Rachel. Jacob was then allowed to marry Rachel as well, in return for seven more years of labor. Leah was Jacob's first wife and the older sister of Rachel. Rachel was Jacob's second wife and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

Shiphrah and Puah

Hebrew midwives who defied Pharaoh's orders to kill Israelite baby boys

The “Hyksos”

A people of mixed Semitic and Asian descent who invaded Egypt and settled in the Nile delta c.1640 BC. They formed the 15th and 16th dynasties of Egypt and ruled a large part of the country until driven out c.1532 BC.

Merneptah Stele

earliest reference to Israel in the archeological record

Apodictic law

thou shalt not kill/steal/lie (absolute)

Casuistic law

“if…then…” only in certain cases (case by case)

Nadab and Abihu

Nadab and Abihu were the sons of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel. Nadab and Abihu offered "strange fire" before the Lord, which He had not commanded them to do. As a result, fire came out from the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord

Ketef-Hinnom amulets

would have been rolled up, and had multiple blessings on them. predates the dead sea scrolls.

Suzerain Vassal treaties

God's covenant/treaty with Israel

The Shema

An affirmation of Judaism and a declaration of faith in one God. It is one of the oldest fixed daily prayers in Judaism, recited morning and night

Martin Noth

a German biblical scholar best known for his work on the Deuteronomistic History theory

DtrH

Deuteronomic histories

Joshua

He was the personally appointed successor to Moses. He led the Israelite tribes in the conquest of Canaan after the Exodus from Egypt

Judges Cycle

sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, security

Hannah

She was one of the wives of Elkanah and the mother of the prophet Samuel. Childless at first, she prayed for a son and promised to dedicate him to God. Her prayers were answered, and she brought forth Samuel, whom she took to Shiloh for religious training

Samuel

A prophet, judge, and the last of the judges before Israel transitioned to a monarchy and he anoints the first two kings. He is dedicated to God, and he grows up under the priest Eli's care.

Saul

the first king of Israel

Tel Dan Stela

a fragmentary stele containing an Aramaic inscription which dates to the 9th century BCE. It is the earliest known extra-biblical archaeological reference to the house of David

Solomonic Enlightenment

Economic, political, and military security and success under Solomon’s rule

Retributive Theology

The prophetic theology/ Obedience -> Blessing | Disobedience -> Punishment

Josiah

Godly king of Judah from roughly 640 to 609 B.C

Prophecy-Fulfillment scheme

a concept in biblical studies that connects the prophecies of the Old Testament with their fulfillments in the New Testament1. This idea is fundamental in understanding how the two Testaments relate to each other and how biblical prophecy is interpreted

Sins of Jeroboam

Golden calves at Dan and Bethel, Unauthorized Priests, Unauthorized Worship Sites, Political Use of Religion

What are four gifts of the OT?

Poetry, Honesty, Theology, Ecclesiology (People of God)

What are four problems in OT theology?

Violence, Judgment/Wrath of God, Law, Imprecation (Cursing)

What are the “big ideas” for interpreting the Bible?

BIG IDEA 1 READING THE BIBLE (OR ANY TEXT!) DEMANDS INTERPRETATION

BIG IDEA 2 BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP CAN ASSIST US WITH INTERPRETING THE TEXT CRITICALLY AND FAITHFULLY.

BIG IDEA 3 KNOWING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT FOR INTERPRETATION, BUT THERE IS MORE TO READING THAN JUST HISTORY

BIG IDEA 4 WHEN WE INTERPRET THE BIBLE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF LITERATURE WE ARE READING (GENRE)

BIG IDEA 5 SCRIPTURE AS A WHOLE CONSTITUTES A “MACRO-GENRE” UNTO ITSELF.

BIG IDEA 6: NONE OF US READ THE BIBLICAL TEXT OBJECTIVELY. OUR EXPERIENCES LEAD US TO INTERPRET THE TEXT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

BIG IDEA 7: BECAUSE THE TEXT CAN BE READ IN MANY WAYS, “GOOD” (OR FAITHFUL) INTERPRETATION REQUIRES DISCERNMENT.

BIG IDEA 8: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GUIDES TO HELP US INTERPRET THE TEXT FAITHFULLY (SEVEN…TO BE PRECISE).

What are the “guides” for faithful interpretation of the Bible? (*Note: these need not be memorized verbatim but rather understood so as to be able to identify and/ or recognize applications of them*)

1. Historical Context

2. Genre

3. The details of the text | What’s there and how’s it there?

4. Literary context | What comes before/after the passage?

5. Canonical context | How does this fit within the Bible as a whole?

6. Ecclesial context | How has the Church interpreted this text?

7. Holy Spirit | “Without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the Word can do nothing.” (Calvin, Institutes, 3.2.33)

What are the “Three Worlds of Biblical Interpretation”?

The World Behind the Text (Window), The World Within the Text (Stained Glass), The World in Front of the Text (Mirror

What are various problems scholars have recognized with Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch?

Third person references, Anachronisms(to this day/at that time), Doublets/triplets, Different divine names, Different styles, vocabulary, etc.

What are the four sources summarized by Wellhausen and refined by Martin Noth in the Documentary Hypothesis (i.e., JEDP)? What are their proposed dates and/or locations?

J = Y/Jahwist | 10th cent. B.C. (time of David); South/Judah

E = Elohist | 9th c. B.C. (after Solomon); N/ Ephraimite

D (core of Deut) = 7th c. B.C. (Josiah); cf. de Wette

P = 6th cent. (Babylonian exile)

Final form = 6th/5th c. or late

How does modern scholarship on the Pentateuch help us?

An appreciation for the diversity and differences among Pentateuchal texts • A revelation concerning the “mechanism” of biblical authority | “Treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Cor 5:7)

The ancestral narratives (Genesis 12-50) are marked by a tension between God’s promise(s) and threats to that promise. What are specific examples of God’s promise(s)?

kids and land

What are specific examples of threats to God’s promise from Abraham through Joseph?

negative interactions with foreigners, inability to conceive, and his brother

What is the twofold structure of Exodus?

1. Exod. 1-18

   Rescue (what God has done)

   “Salvation” or “Grace” or “Election”

2. Exod. 19-40

   Relationship (what Israel must do)

   “Current” or “Works/Deeds”

What is the significance of this division (twofold structure of Exodus)?

This twofold structure highlights both the physical liberation from slavery and the spiritual formation of Israel as a people bound by covenant to God. It underscores the idea that freedom isn't just about escape but also about finding a purpose and living by divine principles.

What is the sixfold form of the typical OT call narrative (as seen in Moses’ call in ch. 3)

1. Divine confrontation

2. introductory word

3. commission

4. objection

5. reassurance

6. sign

What is the context of the law given at Sinai?

the context for relationship with God

What kinds of laws are there?

apodictic, casuistic, and traditional division(civil, ceremonial, & moral)

What are the major concerns of the law?

justice, companionship. worship

What changes between God and Israel with the building of the tabernacle? (3 things)

God's Presence, Centralized Worship, Covenant Relationship

How do the biblical authors connect the tabernacle construction back to the creation event?

Divine Blueprint, Sevenfold Structure, Rest and Completion

These parallels emphasize that the Tabernacle is a microcosm of the created world, a place where God's presence dwells with His people, mirroring the original intent of creation.

How is God’s holiness understood/addressed in the book of Leviticus?

Holiness is embodied and entails all aspects of human life, Sin as uninhabitable environment for God’s holiness, The invitation to holiness for humans, The danger of holiness to humans

What two major boundaries is Leviticus concerned with?

holiness and cleanliness

What are two major transitions presented in Numbers?

Geographical and generational

How is the geographical transition structured in Numbers

a. in the Sinai wilderness(mostly good) (11months and 19 days)

b. From Sinai to Kadesh (mostly bad) (complaints, rebellion and fear)

c. From Kadesh to the Plains of Moab (signs of hope)(military victories, blessings, new leaders, land)

What are the various dates proposed for Deuteronomy’s composition?

1. Early dating (Moses traditions)

2. Later dating = 622 BC (Josiah)(W. M. L. DeWette (1805))

3. Editing after exile (587 BC)

What are suzerain vassal treaties?

God's covenant/treaty with Israel

What are the suzerain vassal treaties structural components?

Preamble, Historical Prologue, Stipulations, Deposit(Periodic Reading, Duplicates and Copies), Witnesses, Blessing/Curse

Why do the suzerain vassal treaties matter for dating Deuteronomy?

It helps to confirm an early date for Deuteronomy, demonstrates the unity of the book, and supports the authorship of Moses.

What is DtrH?

a theory proposed by Noth/Deuteronomy, Joshua through 2King minus Ruth

When is DtrH dated?

after 562 BC

What is the Dtrh’s style?

Deuteronomy’s language, speeches of major figures at key moments, recounting the past and looking to future punishments

What is DtrH message according to Noth?

disobedience deserves destruction

Why does the DtrH hypothesis matter?

it’s saying that the books are a literary unity constructed by a single author or editor

What are four theories proposed by biblical scholars for Israel’s emergence in the land?

Conquest Model, Peaceful Infiltration Model, Peasant Revolt Model, Pastoral Nomad Model

What are some ways in which the authors/editors attempt to limit violence in Joshua?

The conquest as a defensive campaign.
- The conquest as a multi-national phenomenon
- The reversal of insider/outsider groups
- The symbolic significance of the nations
- The limitation of violence to Israel's past
- The presence of God and/in human violence

What are some “broad movements” of digression/devolution across the books of Judges?

General increase in years of captivity and decrease in years of peace.
- General increase in inter-tribal hostility
- General decrease in God's power/presence

How does the representation or treatment of women change across the book?

it starts with women as leaders, warriors, and agents, then woman as victims, then women as disobedient

Who are the major judges in Judges?

Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson

Who is the only true “judge” in the Judges?

Deborah

What are internal and external factors that give rise to Israel’s kingship?

internal:
- Cival war
- Idolatry
- Population and wealth increases

External:
- Rise of the Philistines

What three stories make up the “collection(s)” in 1-2 Samuel?

1. The Ark Narrative
2. The History of David's Rise
3. The Succession Narrative

What are the major successes and failures of David’s rule?

Major Successes:

Military Victories, Expansion of Territory, Religious Consolidation, Covenant with God

Major Failures:

Adultery and Murder, Census Incident, Family Strife, Abuses of Power

What are the major features/events of Solomon’s wisdom, building projects, economics, and politics?

Wisdom (Proverbs and Songs, Judgment)

Building Projects(Temple, Palace, Fortifications)

Economics (Trade and Commerce, Wealth)

Politics(Alliances, Diplomacy)

What are the general features of Israel and Judah in the divided kingdom?

Israel (Northern Kingdom): Capital, Political Instability, Religious Practices, Economy

Judah (Southern Kingdom): Capital, Political Stability, Religious Practices, Economy

Who are the only three “righteous” kings in Israel’s/Judah’s history?

David, Hezekiah, Josiah

What are the features of prophetic theology in Kings?

God's Sovereignty, Covenant Faithfulness, Judgement and Mercy, Role of the Prophets, Social Justice

structure of the Jewish Tanka

Torrah(law), Nebi’im(prophets), Kethubim(wrightings)

Torrah

5 books (Gen, Exod, Lev, Num, Deut)

Nebi’im

Former Prophets: Joshua, Samuel, Judges, Kings • Latter Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, “Book of the 12”

Kethubim

The Poetic Books: Psalms, Prov, Job • The Five Megillot: SoS, Ruth, Lam, Eccl, Esther • Other books: Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles

T/F: Israel had to/believed they had to keep God’s law to keep his grace

False

How is the generational transition structured in Numbers

a. Census 1: old gen (Num1)

journey to Kadesh should take 11 days, but took 38yrs, 10 months (Failure of first generation)including Moses and Aaron

b. Census 2: New gen (Num26)

Joshua, Caleb and new gen. representatives of fidelity and continuity

structure of the book of joshua

1. the conquest of the land

2. the division of the land

3. Joshua’s final words

four settlement theories

conquest, peaceful infiltration hypothesis, peasant revolt hypothesis, and gradual evolution hypothesis

where does modern scholarship on the Pentateuch fall short?

The text as we have it now is the only sure thing, Only the text as we have it now is Holy Scripture