Theology Test 2 - Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

L : How are Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers related yet different?

Exodus - describes the construction of the Israelite cultic implements

Leviticus - static picture is converted into scenes from the living cult

Numbers - concentrates on cultic laws of the camp in motion

L : What are the dual roles of the priestly class (Levites)?

Role defined in pedagogic: teach distinctions between holy and common/unclean and clean - instruct Israel not to cause defilement and to purge the sanctuary whenever it is defiled.

L : What is the distinction between ritual and ethical practice?

Ritual - sacrificial system; provided the nation of Israel with a detailed and distinctive arrangement whereby they would be able to maintain a close relationship with the God who had delivered them from Egypt.

Served as a strategic step forward in the divine program to transform Israel into a holy nation who would reflect the holiness of the Lord.

Ethical Practice - prayer; the priests takes over at the alter and continues the the sacrificial ritual in silence. By virtue of his sacred status, the priest acts as the offerer’s (silent) intermediary before God.

L : How is the prophet different from the priest? How are they similar?

Difference - Priest; cultic counterpart of the prophet. Priests primary job is to teach God’s people before God. Prophet’s primary call is to represent God before the God’s people.

Similar - Both are appointed by God.

L : What are the two sources of Leviticus?

What does it mean to say each is not homogeneous?

Priestly Code + Holiness Code

Not Homogeneous - each betrays the work of the schools

L : How are the two sources distinguishable?

Explain the differences, both in terms of concepts of holiness and of pollution.

Priestly code - spatial holiness limited to sanctuary, restricts holiness to priests and Nazirites

Doctrine of holiness - static, constricts holiness to sanctuary and priests, avoids word “holy”

Pollution - sanctuary is polluted by Israel’s moral and ritual violations, can be effaced by the violator’s purification offering (priestly sacrifice and confession)

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Holiness - coexistent with the promised land, holiness to all of Israel

Doctrine of holiness - dynamic, only priests are holy, calls upon Israel to strive for holiness

Pollution - non-ritualistic, polluting the land cannot be be expiated by ritual. Violations irrevocably lead to the expulsion of its inhabitants

N : Where did the names for Numbers come from?

Ancient Greek Translation - Arithmoi

Hebrew - Bemidbar “in the wilderness”

N : What is the structure of Numbers?

How are numbers related to these themes?

3 sections - in wilderness of Sinai, march through the wilderness to Transjordan, and in plains of Moab

2 military censuses - doubting Exodus generation and the new generation that takes its place

Led’s to believe that Numbers is the principal topic of the book

N : What are the sources of Numbers?

Priestly - interest in cultic matters pertaining to religious ritual + genealogy

Old Epic (J+E) - Lexicul + stylistic consistency elsewhere in the Pentateuch

Both preserve ancient traditions

N : What does Transjordan mean?

The prefix trans- is Latin and means "across" or beyond, so "Transjordan" refers to the land on the other side of the Jordan River

N : What are some of the highlights in the narrative?

* Balaam’s talking Donkey
* Priestly Benediction
* Spies returning to Canaan with huge clusters of grapes
* Manna and Quails
* Water from rocks
* Aaron’s Rod

N 13-14 : What are the Israelites afraid of? How do they respond?

The Israelites are afraid of dying in the wilderness after the lord took them out of Egypt. The respond by threatening to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb.

N 13-14 : How does the Lord respond?

The Lord comes down to the tent of meeting and said he would strike the nation and wipe them out clean if they do not obey.

N 13-14 : What did you learn in the footnotes?

* 40 days - stereotypical expression of biblical time
* First mention of oasis Kadesh (most of 40 years spent)
* Amelekites are the perennial enemy of the Israelites (inherited Negeb area)
* “Land that devours its inhabitants” - sign of infertility

D : What are the layers to the meaning of the word *torah*?

What is a *polity*?

Torah - law and constitution

Polity - political community

D : What is Deuteronomistic History and what does it influence?

Deuteronomistic History -

keep covenant = keep land

break covenant = lose land

D : In what way does Deuteronomy serve as a pivot point?

Deuteronomy is the pivot on ***which the theology of the Old Testament turns***

D : What are the major themes of Deuteronomy?

God's faithful promise-keeping, God's power to defeat the enemies in the land, exhortations to Israel to love, serve, fear, and obey God

D : Refresh yourself on Israelite history regarding the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests. When was Deuteronomy composed and by whom?

Core was composed in Jerusalem in the 7th century BCE in the context of religious reforms advanced by King Josiah (reigned 641–609 BCE)

Moses - author

D 5-6 : What are the differences between this decalogue and that found in Exodus 20?

Deuteronomy - you shall not grow jealous of your neighbor Exodus - did not mention this, only mentions covet and stealing.

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Deuteronomy - anyone who misuses it in any sense will be punished.

Exodus - it did mention the idea of using the Lord’s name in vain

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Deuteronomy - they can not work on the 7th day because the God who liberated them from Egypt said so

Exodus - the Lord made everything in 6 days and rested on the 7th 

D 5-6 : What is the *Shema*?

Shema - Hebrew: “Hear”, Jewish confession of faith made up of three scriptural texts, which, together with appropriate prayers, forms an integral part of the evening and morning services

D 5-6 : What is meant by ‘heart’ and what is meant by ‘soul?’ What is meant by ‘might?’

Heart - connoting human intellect and will

Soul - vitality of self-hood, conjoining in **Deuteronomic** rhetoric

Might - (or capacity) only shown here and is a tribute to King Josiah

D 5-6 : What is the aim of God’s law?

The aim of God’s law is to secure life. Strive to be in the right so you will get the verdict of acquittal.