Bible Test #3 - Clay Smith

What happened in 586 BCE?

Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its temple

What happened in 539 BCE?

Cyrus’ Edict (Preserved in the Cyrus Cylinder)

What is the Sequence of Kings?

1. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon

2. Cyrus, king of Persia

3. Zerubbabel, governor of Judea

4. Alexander the Great, king of Greece

5. Antiochus IV Epiphanes, contemptible king of Seleucids

6. Judah Maccabee/Hasmoneans - the hammer/story of Hanukkah

Nebuchadnezzar

• king of Babylon

• Daniel’s friends refuse his food

Cyrus

• king of Persia

• Lord’s messiah

• He allows exiles to return to build their temple in 539 BCE

Alexander the Great

• king of Greece

• spread Greek culture

• had 4 succcessors

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

• (contemptible) king of Seleucids (Syria)

• “Abomination of Desolation”

What are Alexander’s successors referred to as?

The Diadochi

What does Epiphanes mean?

(god) manifest

Daniel 1

Daniel and his friends refuse to eat from the King’s table

What literary feature(s) unify Daniel 2-7?

• The fact that they are all Aramaic

• Achaism

Apocalyptic Literature

Apocalypse = Revelation (unveiling)

1. “God’s-eye view” of suffering

2. lots of symbolism

3. God wins!

Content and Interpretation of Daniel 7 & 11

• Daniel sees four beasts:

• lion with the wings of an eagle - perhaps Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar?)

• bear with ribs in its mouth

• leopard with wings and four heads

• unnamed animal with horns - refers to Greeks (Seleucids) - little horn points to Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Interpretation - refers to a great king (Alexander) who does, and 4 kings will be in his place.

What was Cyrus’ edict and rule as YHWH’s “messiah?”

• He returned the images of the gods to their places and gathered all their inhabitants and returned them to their dwellings.

• “Whose right hand He has grasped, Treading down nations before him…Opening doors before him…”

What is the historical context for prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah (based on Ezra)?

• Ezra 5:1

• Zerubbabel was leader at the time

• Rebuilding of the temple

What is the disagreement between Haggai and the people at the start of Haggai?

the people are putting their own needs before the Lord.

What Persian site is evoked/challenged by the “wealth of nations” passage in Haggai 2?

Persepolis, temple built by Darius, the Persian

Who is Zerubbabel and what is his significance according to Haggai?

• A Davidic governor of Judea

• Signet Ring = Davidic politician

What is the general message of Zechariah’s 8 visions?

4 Horsemen | 4 Chariots -Through Persia, God’s 70-year judgement is over!

4 Horns/Blacksmiths | Woman in a Basket - Babylon’s wickedness has not gone unpunished!

Jerusalem is Measured | Flying Scroll - Jerusalem will become strong and faithful!

Joshua’s New Clothes | The Lampstand - Joshua and Zerubbabel will herald the Messianic age!

How is Jerusalem portrayed in Zechariah 8?

A park where kids play without fear and old people soak it all in!

How is kingship portrayed in Zechariah 9-14?

• God as a Divine Warrior

• A donkey is the animal he rides on.

What is the meaning of “Malachi?”

my messenger

What headings does Malachi echo?

• From Zechariah 9-14

• Some believe Malachi is an additional oracle appended to Zechariah

What is the form of the book of Malachi?

6 disputations with a brief appendix

What is the content of Malachi’s disputations?

Disputation 1 - I love you, and therefore, punished Edom for looting and gloating over you when you fell to Babylon.

Disputation 2 - You, priests, have despised my name by offering defective animal sacrifices. My “covenant with Levi” must hold!

Disputation 3 - You have been faithless, and the Lord hates divorce! (think Hosea)

Disputation 4 - The Lord will come in judgment (via a messenger!) because of your complaint, “Where is the God of justice?”

Disputation 5 - You are “robbing” God by not bringing full offerings and tithes.

Disputation 6 - You say God is not just, but just wait - God will act in justice!

How does God love Israel in the 1st Disputation?

Destroys Edom

Who is identified with the “messenger” in Malachi 4?

Elijah

Who is identified with the “messenger” in the NT gospels?

John the Baptist

What is Joel considered out of the Books of the 12?

“literary anchor”

What does disaster mean?

locusts/Day of the Lord