Old Testament Exam 2 - Talley

Old Testament Exam about Numbers through Ruth

Main message of Numbers

Israels organization (1-9) and tests of obedience from Sinai to Moab (10-36).

Purpose of Numbers

Gods faithfulness in the midst of Israel's continual rebellion.
Further disclosure of the holy nature and character of God.
A history of the journey to the Promised Land (ch 33)
An organizing of the nation before they enter the land.

Contents of Numbers

Highlights of the wilderness testing and rebellion of the covenant people during the formative period of the nation's relationships with Yahweh.

Highlights of the wilderness wanderings, which resulted from Israel’s rebellion. (9:15, 10:11-12; 33)

The record of the two censuses (1 and 26), both taken in anticipation of entering the land with the wanderings and passing of a generation in the middle

A diary of Israel's early relationship with Yahweh.

Major Emphases of Numbers

The Census- 4 Primary functions:
-ascertain and recruit manpower of war (1:3).
-allotment of work assignments (3:4).
-establishing a basis for taxation cf. (30:11)
-assist in organizing the masses

Two Censuses in Numbers

Chapter 1: first generation, post-exodus
Chapter 26: second generation, post-exodus

The testing by Yahweh (Deut. 8:1-2)

The Lord puts His people in situations to determine what's in their hearts.
-Ex 20:20
-1 Chr 29:17
-Psa 139:23
-Numbers 14:11 (signs and belief)
-Exodus 4:30-31; 14:31

Rebellion against God

-God's response toward people (14:11-38)
-foolishness runs deep (39-45)
-God's inward response (Ps 78:40-41)

Main message of Deuteronomy

A restatement and reaffirmation of the Law for Israels second generation.

Purpose of Deuteronomy

-To reinforce the Mosaic covenant to the new generation. There is a detailing of Yahweh's faithfulness to His people with an emphasis on His expectations for His people to remain in covenant with Him.
-To prepare the nation for the conquest of the Lord by reminding them of God's past faithfulness. He will continue to be with them.

Message of Deuteronomy

Reminds Israel that there is a manner of life for when they have been called.
(6:4-9, 10:12-13)
Result:

Demonstrates that the Law is not mechanical, but rather the route to true piety and morality.

Structure of Deuteronomy

Expands the 10 Commandments to show the "spirit" of the Law
\-pertaining to God
\-pertaining to fellow community members

\n The structure of the book evidences this expansion. There are various views on how this is to be understood.

Commandment

1-5 Authority
2,6-8 Dignity
3,9 Commitment
4,10 Rights and Privileges

Sermon #1

1:1 Historical Reflection

Sermon #2

Call to be God's people
5-26 Commandments
27-28 Blessings/Curses

Sermon #3

29:1 Covenant renewal and blessing

Major emphasis of Deuteronomy (8)

-The Law
-Central Sanctuary
-History as theology
-Consequences of Disobedience
-"Shema" passages
-Covenant Renewal
-Serious responses to sin in order to maintain purity
-There are many social concerns in the covenant-

Purpose of the Historical Books (2)

-There is always a purpose to the way history is written.
-In the Bible

In the ANE (3)

-rarely presented an objective view of what actually happened
-more often, it's purpose was propaganda which was recorded in order to benefit the one in power
-as a result, the documents are often self-serving, where a king boasts of his accomplishments, embellishing the positive, ignoring the negative, and at times taking credit for his predecessors.

What is NOT the focus of the Historical Books in the Bible?

The focus is not on the boasting of a king for the purposes of self-aggrandizement. In fact, there are several occasions where there are more failures presented than accomplishments.

What is historical literature in the Bible motivated by?

Historical literature in the Bible is motivated by historical concerns.

What is the purpose of the Historical Books?

its purpose is didactic, with the goal of showing the ways in which the Lord has acted in history to fulfill his covenant promises and to carry out his agenda. It is a revelation of who Yahweh is by recording what he has done. He has a plan for all of history and makes sure it happens.

Methodology of the Historical Books

With the purpose being to convey instruction about and knowledge of Yahweh, the method is not random, individual narratives, but rather the use of patterns and cycles of history portrayed by each generation.

Therefore, we cannot look at isolated texts. We have to look at patterns, themes, and motifs, which reveal the "big picture" of Yahweh at work with his people.

Yahweh is always the focus, and each book contributes a new part of his unfolding plan.

Main message of Joshua

Conquest (1-12) and possession of the land throughout faith in Yahweh (13-24).

Purpose of Joshua (2)

-To convey how Yahweh kept His covenant promise (He is faithful).
- To bring the Israelites into the land that He had shown Abraham (He keeps His promises)

Point of Joshua (2)

-Yahweh is determined to bring it about
-Yahweh is capable of bringing it about
(Background found in: Deut 31:6, 23, also in Moses 31:1-13, and 31:14 and 31:27).

Purpose and message of Joshua

It is a story about Yahweh who brings about victory through a people who follows His instructions.

Misconceptions in Joshua (2)

-It is simply a book about a courageous man, Joshua.
BUT actually very little is stated about Joshua and his actions.
-It is simply a book about military conquests.
BUT actually very little is stated about military strategy and achievement.

Major Emphasis of Joshua (5)

-Covenant and Land
-The Ban
-The Divine Warrior, 10:14
-Sovereign Intervention
-Corporate Solidarity, 7

Covenant and Land (3)

-The fulfillment of the Promise Land is realized. It was promised to Abraham 400 years prior to this.
-The COMPLETION of this promise is the concern of this book.
-The land is central to the nation of Israel. So, when Israel's future disobedience occurs, one of the worst prophecies a prophet would utter was removal from land. The land is still a focus in the news.

Definition of "the ban"

consecrate something or someone as a permanent and definitive offering for the sanctuary; in war, consecrate a city and its inhabitants to destruction; carry out this destruction; totally annihilate a population in war; kill.

What is the point in war?

to annihilate everything; total destruction

Definition of "Holy War"

a war or violent campaign waged by religious partisans to propagate or defend their religious faith

Most well known "Holy War"

Islamic Jihad

What is the goal of the Islamic Jihads?

Their goal is NOT to convert people to Muslims, but to EXPAND their religion

Legislation for "the ban"

First provided in Deut. 7:1-11 (before occupation of the land); however, also see another passage on warfare, 20:1-18 (after the occupation of the land)

Followed in Joshua

Ultimately, God is the one who is behind all the warfare

Deut. 7:2 "... defeat them, destroy them totally. Make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them." Who was this directed towards?

the seven nations

Main purpose of Joshua

Judgement: to judge the wickedness of the people who already occupied the land

Presentation: Yahweh's concern that his own people would be deceived and let astray to follow other gods

Protection: to protect the holiness of God's people

Confirmation: to confirm the Lord's oath to Abraham

Divine Warrior Point:

Yehweh engages in combat on behalf of his people.
cf. Moses's cry in Num. 10:35 or the proverb found in Prov. 21:31

What is central to Joshua?

Use of miracles. It demonstrates for us that Yahweh enters history in order to execute his plans and to carry out his promises, that is his continuous plan to draw people to himself.

Corporate Solidarity Idea:

-There is one sinner, yet the entire community is punished
-There is one sinner, yet the whole family is stoned

Theology of Joshua

The juxtaposition of the battles of Jericho and Ai.

Promises of Joshua

1:5-9 FOLLOWING the Lord's Word
4:21-24 REMEMBERING the work of the Lord

Main message of Judges

Israels apostasy, oppression, and deliverance during the time of Judges.

Examples of depravity (3)

-religious degeneration, 17-18 Danites
-moral degeneration, 19-21 Benjamites
-A series of glimpse into everyday life in Israel to show how bad it really was

What happens when Yahweh's people are disobedient?

Yahweh is committed to his covenant with his people, but, when his people are disobedient, the blessings of the covenant are removed.

Judges presents a

Picture of the depravity ensued after the conquest, subsequent removal of blessings.

Primary key phrase in Judges (1-16)

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Secondary key phrase in Judges (17-21)

No king in Israel, everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

Cycle of Judges \#1

The nation would stray from God.

Cycle of Judges \#2

An enemy nation would oppress them.

Cycle of Judges \#3

The nation would cry for deliverance.

Cycle of Judges \#4

God would raise a deliverer.

Cycle of Judges \#5

They would again faithfully serve God for a time until... \#1

Theology of Judges

The constant waywardness of the people and the resulting consequences.

Major Emphasis in Judges (2)

-The Office of "Judge"
-Israel's Apostasy

The Office of "Judge" (3)

-Pre-Judges Exodus 18:13 ff
-General comments
-Role

General comments for the judges (4)

-Not elected, nor appointed, but rather they assumed the role of leadership when the need arose
-"judged" or "led"
-There 15 total judges if Barak is a judge with Deborah and Eli/Samuel are included
-The chronology of the judges presents some problems

Role of the judges

-Primarily, they assume a witness role to stop foreign aggression against the nation, but, they also assume an advisory role of some type where people would come to seek counsel 4:4-5.
-They did not seek to occupy much of a spiritual role.
-Their task: to deliver the nation
-Yahweh used them even in the midst of their bad decisions, 14:3.

Israel's Apostasy: the problem

Ch 1: Failure to completely conquer Canaan
Ch 2: Failure to destroy Canaanite religion

Israel's Apostasy: the explanation

-Monotheism was NOT normative for them
-Israel forgot her history

What is the major purpose in writing the book of Judges?

The major purpose in writing the book is to show how Israel's SPIRITUAL condition determined its POLITICAL and MATERIAL situation

Main message of Ruth

Yahweh's blessings upon the loyal love of Ruth through her Kinsman redeemer Boaz.

Kinsman Redeemer Point:

To provide the means to redeem or buy back that which was lost.

Emphases of Ruth

-provides a stark contrast to the period of the Judges as depicted(1:1)
-provides an intro to the monarchy, reign of David.
-Yahweh preserves the lineage and seed of Messiah. The promised seed of Gen. 3:15 is still on the way. Ruth is a unique story of a single family and their trial and tragedy - the only book in the Bible that focuses on a single family.

Major emphases of Ruth

-Deut. 25:5-10 If a man dies and has no son, the brother was obligated to bear a son by his widow to maintain her as an heir.
-Lev 25:25-31; 47-55 If land had to be sold, it could be bough back by a relative to keep it in the family.
-The "kinsman-redeemer" provided the means to redeem or buy back to hat was lost ( New Testament implication: Christ).

Theology of Ruth

The books teach that those who seek relationship with the Lord and follow His design for life whole heartedly will experience the blessings.