Unit 2: Prophets and Writings of Israel

apocalypse

type of literature influenced by the prophetic tradition, characterized by visions/dreams, symbols, numerology, angels/demons, cosmic upheavals, and emphasis on the end time. Reveals the future or the heavenly realm to interpret the readers' circumstances, ex. Daniel and Revelation

Apocalyptic/Apocalypticism

the belief that God will soon intervene in history to defeat evil and bring final judgment. It expects a dramatic end to the present world and the beginning of a new, divine order.

Book of the Twelve

twelve Minor Prophets that scribes gathered together as a single prophetic collection arranged in roughly chronological order (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi).

Day of YHWH (day of the lord)

in the tradition of the Latter Prophets, the day of victory and reign of YHWH over those who oppose the divine will. At times, Israel is included among those who oppose YHWH because of corrupt religious and social systems.

Form Criticism

Study of biblical texts by classifying their literary types—like hymns, laments, parables, and miracle stories—and examining how each functioned in Israel’s or the early church’s life and worship.

book of Isaiah

An OT book included in the Latter Prophets. Scholars typically argue that the book originated in stages. Chapters 1-39, Proto-Isaiah, relate primarily to the eighth-century prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem. Chapters 45-55, Deutero-Isaiah, come from an exilic prophet who carries the Isaianic tradition into the sixth century. Chapters 56-66, Trito-Isaiah, relate to the time after the return from exile.

Lament Psalms

a major type of psalm characterized by a cry out to God, a description of a crisis, a plea for help, and a statement of trust that God has heard the prayer. Lament psalms often conclude with a vow to praise the God who comes to deliver.

Latter Prophets

division of the Hebrew Bible that consists of the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Book of the Twelve

Pragmatic wisdom

generalized truths about life; basic sayings for living as God intended. Ex. Proverbs

prophet

a messenger from a deity who speaks on behalf of the deity. they bring ancient Israel's faith traditions to bear in interpreting life for the people of faith and apply these traditions to the present relationship of the community with YHWH.

Prophets; division of the OT

one of the three major divisions of the Hebrew Bible; consists of the books Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Book of the Twelve.

proverb

a compact, memorable, applicable saying about life. Provides practical instruction for living.

psalm

a song or poem used in worship. various types (e.g. praise, laments, thanksgivings, royals.)

Rhetorical Criticism

analysis of how a text persuades or affects its readers; looking for features such as structural patterns, repetition, wordplays, forms of argumentation, and type scenes.

Speculative wisdom

literature exploring the meaning of life; questions traditional wisdom perspectives, ex. Job and Ecclesiastes

Acrostic hymn

a type of poem in which the first letter of each line or paragraph follows a particular pattern; each verse spell out the Hebrew alphabet in order (Psalm 119, parts of Lamentations and Nahum)

Antiochus IV Epiphanies

second century BCE Seleucid king; his name means "god manifest." He brutally forced Hellenism (Greek culture) on the Jewish people and desecrated the Jewish temple, which prompted the Maccabean revolt. Many scholars see the book of Daniel as a reflection of Jewish persecution under his rule.

Benediction

a brief word of blessing and Thanksgiving to God. Usually one concludes each of the five collections of the Psalms.

Cult

a term referring to organized worship, often occurring in a temple setting. Can be specifically Jerusalem's organized worship in the temple

Idolatry

worship of idols, which were material figures or images that represented deities; was widespread in the ancient world and is strictly forbidden in the biblical tradition. In addition, the biblical tradition forbids the fashioning of any kind of image to represent YHWH.

Parallelism

one of the major characteristics of Hebrew poetry. Matching structures in adjacent lines, words, or sections that communicate in memorable ways. The three major types are synonymous, antithetic, and stair-step

antithetic parallelism

the second line articulates a contrast to the first

stair-step parallelism

the second line takes the thought a step further than the first

synonymous parallelism

the sense of the second line is similar to that of the first

Persia, Persians

One of the great empires of ancient Mesopotamia. They succeeded the Babylonian Empire in controlling Mesopotamia in 539 BCE and allowed the Israelite exiles to return to their homeland. Fell to the Greeks in 332 BCE

Postexilic

relating to the period of Israelite history following the return from the Babylonian exile in 539 BCE

Satan

a Hebrew term meaning "accuser." Appears in the narrative of Job as the instigator of Job's accusation and testing. By the time of the New Testament, the title comes to be associated with a supernatural adversary of YHWH who leads humans to sin

Second temple

the Jewish temple in Jerusalem that was built in the late sixth century BCE at the end of the Babylonian exile. The period of Israelite history after the reconstruction of the Jerusalem temple after the Babylonian exile until the Roman destruction of the temple in 70CE is titled based on this

Sign act

the term given to prophecies that take the form of symbolic actions the prophet performs

Theodicy

the term given to the questions and attempted answers related to the justice of God. The traditional articulation of the issue is how one can claim the existence of an all-good and all-powerful God in the face of evil and suffering in the world.

Wisdom Literature

the name commonly given to the books of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. These books are related to the Israelite wisdom movement, which was concerned with finding the best way of living a good life within an ordered universe. The tradition is associated with instruction and guidance both within family contexts and in the royal court.

Writings

one of the three major divisions of the Hebrew Bible. They include the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1-2 Chronicles

Assyria

One of the great empires of ancient Mesopotamia; capital city was Nineveh. They conquered the N. Kingdom of Israel in 722/721 BCE and sieged Jerusalem in 701 BCE. Their empire fell to Babylon in the late 7th cent, BCE

Babylon

One of greatest empires of ANE; rose to power after defeating the Assyrians. Sacked Jerusalem first in 598/597 BCE and took many inhabitants into exile. Took Jerusalem completely in 586.

What makes a prophet?

sign acts, “thus says the lord”, poetic language (hyperbole, figurative, etc.), historically grounded, foretelling vs forth-telling

Northern kingdom (Israel)

Samaria is the capital city (bad city with corrupt kings), conquered by Assyria the 10 “lost” tribes never reunite again

Southern kingdom (Judah) 

Capital city is Jerusalem, “Judah,” able to withstand Assyria threat, conquered later by Babylon who took all the important people and left farmers to tend to the land

Phenomenon of Prophecy 

1) classic expression of prophecy were oral in nature [prophets preaching in crowds] 2) spoken & written in poetic form 3) short speeches 4) historical setting 5) came in written forms in the books carrying the name of the prophets 

Oracle

short prophetic speeches (includes a proclamation from God often related to the loyal of the people)

foretelling

predicting the future

forthtelling

speaks forth the word of YHWH and in that sense is preaching of righteousness

Amos

A prophet from Judah (SK) who preached in Israel during the 8th century BCE. He was a sheep breeder. He condemned 1) oppression of the poor 2) corruption of the legal system 3) decadence in the religious life of the community. His message was the Day of YHWH.

Prophets oppose two kinds of sin

1) social injustice 2) idolatry

Hosea

A prophet in 8th-century BCE Israel (NK). He used his marriage to an unfaithful wife as a symbol of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. He called the people to repentance and promised God’s steadfast love despite their sins.

Isaiah

An 8th-century BCE prophet in Judah. He warned of God’s judgment on Israel. He urged trust in God rather than alliances with foreign powers. Has access to the highest positions in power. Three parts: pre-exilic, exilic, and post-exilic.

Isaiah’s prophesies revolved around these time periods

1) Syro-Ephraimite crisis (735 BCE) 2) The Assyrian Threat (711 BCE) 3) The Assyrian Seige of Jerusalem (701 BCE)  

Micah

An 8th-century BCE prophet in Judah. From Moresheth-Gath, represents the rural communities (contrast to Isaiah) follows a judgement-hope pattern

Jeremiah

A prophet in Judah during the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE. Relates to 3 periods: 1) reign of Josiah 2) reign of Jehoiakim 3) reign of Zedekiah & beyond. Greek vs Hebrew differs. We have more biographical information about him than any other prophet. Referred to as The Weeping Prophet. His ministry was difficult, and he spoke on how Jerusalem was destined to be destroyed

Lamentations

a series of acrostic poems mourning Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon in 586 BCE. It expresses grief, guilt, and suffering while acknowledging God’s justice and hope for restoration. 

Numerology (1)

unique, better

Numerology (2)

strengthing, confirmation, not alone

Numerology (3)

spiritual (good or bad)

Numerology (4)

corners of the earth, cosmos 

Numerology (6)

profane, evil, 1 away from holy

Numerology (7)

holiness, perfection

Numerology (10)

totality, completeness

Numerology (12)

12 tribes, God’s people

Cyrus

The ruler of Persia in 538 BCE who issued an edict allowing the return of Israel to their land. He is seen as the chosen one of YHWH who made it possible for the remnant of Judah to return to Jerusalem

structure of lament psalms

The most common type of psalm. Its structure includes an Invocation (call to God), a Complaint (description of crisis), a Petition (plea for help), and a Conclusion (expression of trust)

structure of hymns of praise

Structure includes an Introduction (call to praise), Body (reasons for praise), and Conclusion (renewed call to praise)

eschatology

the study of the last things

recapitulation

A formalized structure in Apocalyptic Literature where a text repeats itself.

prophets of Assyrian period

amos, micah, hosea, first isaiah

timeline of invasions of Israel

1. Assyria: Conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722/721 BCE; sieged Jerusalem (Southern Kingdom) in 701 BCE. 2. Babylon: Sacked Jerusalem in 598/597 BCE and completely conquered it in 586 BCE, leading to exile. 3. Persia: Succeeded Babylon in 539 BCE, allowing exiles to return. 4. Greece (Seleucid Empire): Succeeded Persia in 332 BCE, with significant persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanies in the 2nd century BCE. 5. The Maccabean Revolt (starting in 167 BCE) led to the establishment of the independent Hasmonean Dynasty. This period of Jewish self-rule lasted until 63 BCE 6. Roman Republic, under Pompey the Great, conquered Judea, marking the beginning of Roman influence and eventual direct rule over the region.

lamentation acrostic poem

22 verses = 22 hebrew letters, 66 verses in chapter 3 creates a chiasm