BOLD 2030 Final Exam Swindle Part 1

Who were the prophets who prophesied exclusively post exile?

Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

How many waves of deportation to Babylon did Judah experience?  When?

3. 606, 597, 586.

What kind of impact did the Babylonian exile have on the people of Judah?

The exile represented a complete revocation of the covenant promises. The land was lost. The descendants were taken captive. The monarchy was dissolved. The city and temple were destroyed.

How long was the exile?

70 years

What Persian king issued a decree allowing all the exiled people to return home?

Cyrus the Great in 539

How many waves of return did the people of Judah experience?  When?

3. 539; 458; 444.

Who led the first wave of returnees home, and led the temple rebuilding effort?

Zerubbabel

Why was the temple rebuilding effort stalled for sixteen years?

Opposition to the rebuilding arose. They were afraid of their opponents. They were concerned with their own interests, not the Lord’s. They were stingy with their possessions. They thought the work was not important enough to take seriously.

Which prophets stirred up the people to finish what they had started?

Haggai and Zechariah

Be familiar with the basic content of Haggai’s four oracles.

1.      The exhortation to rebuild the temple: Dated August 1,520 B.C. Concerns the rebuilding of the temple.

2.      The future glory of the temple: Dated October 20, 520 B.C. Concerns the glory of the new temple.

3.      From defiled to blessed: Dated December 24, 520 B.C. Concerns holiness and uncleanness.

4.      YHWH’s signet ring: Dated December 24, 520 B.C. Concerns the future of God’s people.

Be familiar with the messianic imagery of Zechariah.

1.      The branch

2.      The humble entrance

3.      The price and the potter’s field

4.      The pierced one

5.      Shepherd struck, sheep scattered

How did Zechariah receive his message (chapters 1-8)?

Night visions

How did the people respond to the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah?

Positively. The extravagant hopes of the post-exilic prophets Haggai and Zechariah had yet to materialize. Although the temple had been rebuilt, the ideal age had not begun.

What is the attitude of the people to whom Malachi prophesies?

Malachi, then, spoke to a disheartened group who questioned both the love and justice of God. “You say these things will happen,” they cried, “but they never happen.”

What is unique about Malachi’s book?

Malachi had an interesting way of addressing the people. Disputation. A charge is made by the prophet, the people challenge the charge, then the prophet refutes challenge giving additional facts and illustrations.

What does Malachi teach concerning the following:  offerings; the role of priests; marriage; giving?

In Israel, the rule of the sacrifice was this: You sacrifice had to be the first and the best. The priests had two jobs in Isreal: to teach the people the ways of God and to lead the people in the worship of God. There are two things that people of done that displeased God in the marriage: They have married the wrong kinds of people and the people they are marrying are not being faithful to them. There are two reasons for the sexual act in marriage: Procreation and pleasure.

Malachi ends with a promise of God to send what messenger before the final day of the Lord?  To whom does the New Testament connect this promise?

Elijah; John the Baptist

In what kinds of settings was the book of Psalms used by the church?

For proclamation, prayer, and personal devotion.

What makes the Psalter especially useful for the church’s worship?

Singing, praying, and preaching. Songbook and devotional guide.

What is the Hebrew title of Psalms?  What does it mean?

Tehillim - Praises

What name is most commonly associated with Psalms? What other names are mentioned in the book?

1.      David (Seventy-three psalms are attributed to David within the book.) The New Testament attributes two additional psalms to David (Psalm 2 [Acts 4:25-26];  Psalm 95 [Heb. 4:7]).

2.      Moses (Psalm 90).

3.      Solomon (Psalms 72, 127).

4.      Asaph (Psalms 50, 73-83).

5.      Heman (Psalm 88).

6.      Ethan (Psalm 89).

7. Sons of Korah (Psalms 42, 44-49, 84-85, 87). 

What does it mean that Psalms is a collection of collections?

The editor (the person or persons responsible for collecting and organizing the psalms) is to be differentiated from the author (the composer of individual psalms). Collected throughout history from multiple sources.

Should Psalms be studied historically (according to their historical context) or liturgically (according to how they were used in Israel’s worship)?

Psalms can be studied both historically, to understand their context and origins, and liturgically, to examine their role in Israel's worship practices.

How long a period of time is reflected in Psalms?

reflects a period of approximately a thousand years, from the time of Moses (around 1400 BC) through the post-exilic period (around 400 BC).

Into how many books is Psalms divided? What is the most logical explanation for this?

Psalms is divided into five books, likely reflecting the five books of the Torah, which emphasizes its importance in the Hebrew Scriptures and the liturgical practices of ancient Israel.

Be able to list Longman’s types of psalms and the subcategories of each.  Also, I will give you a psalm to read and you will have to be able to identify what kind of psalm it is.

1.      Hymns: General praises of God; The earthly monarch; Songs of Zion.

2.      Laments: Individual Laments; Communal Laments.

3.      Thanksgiving: Individual Thanksgivings; Communal.

4.      Minor types: Confidence/Trust; Remembrance; Torah; Wisdom.

What books are considered “Wisdom Literature”?

Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, focusing on moral and philosophical themes in life.

Whose name is most commonly associated with the Wisdom Literature?

Solomon

According to the lecture, where did the wisdom tradition really begin?

The royal court and family/clan

What other names are connected to the wisdom literature?

The wise, men of Hezekiah, Agur, Jakeh, King Lemuel.

Why does the wisdom literature have universal appeal?

It has situations that relate to everyone.

What are the two kinds of wisdom presented in these books?

Didactic or practical wisdom and philosophical or speculative wisdom.

What is the purpose of the book of Proverbs?

To provide practical guidance and moral instruction for living wisely and making sound decisions in life.</span>

What is retribution theology?

The belief that God rewards good behavior and punishes wrongdoing, holding individuals accountable for their actions in this life and the next.

What is the unique contribution of Israelite wisdom?

Parallelism. The fear of YHWH…to which we will return. While wisdom may describe a high degree of expertise in a field, it also deals with expertise in negotiating the complexities of life. It has to do with developing the kind of character that will enable one to navigate life successfully, and to contribute to life fully. It is not a “how to” book, but a “how to be” book. According to Longman, biblical wisdom is more closely related to emotional intelligence than I.Q.

What is the difference between Proverbs 1-9 and 10-29?

1-9 clusters of proverbs. 10-29 are mostly single sentence proverbs presented in random fashion.

What are the three most pervasive themes of 1-9?

Peer pressure, greed, and illicit sex.

What two women invite the young man to dinner in Proverbs 9?

Lady Wisdom (a poetic personification of God’s wisdom; she represents God) and Mistress Folly (a poetic personification of the idols that seduce God’s people away from him).

Why is it not enough simply to be able to quote individual proverbs?

Have to listen and practice the wisdom.

What are the three primary ways to study Proverbs?

Individual line, clusters, longitudinally & thematically.

Who is Qoheleth?

One who assembles. The preacher and teacher.

What is hevel?

That which is without substance. That which is not lasting. ESV – Vanity. NIV – Meaningless.

In what areas of life does Qoheleth seek satisfaction?

Work; wisdom (works, wealth, wine, women); Time; People; and God.

What are the “joy passages”?

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, 3:12-13, 22, 5:18-20, 7:14, 8:15, 9:7-10, 11:7-12:1.

What is the major question that drives the narrative of Job?     

The major question is why the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper.

What is theodicy?

The justice of God. Vindication of divine goodness and providence in view of the existence of evil.

What is Song of Solomon about?

Sex