BIb LIt Mid Term

Identify the following locations: Egypt, Israel/Canaan, Mesopotamia, Sumer, Assyria, Babylonia, Mediterranean Sea, Tigris and Euphrates, Nile, Philistia, Jordan River, Hittite Empire

Go see a map

What was the size of the nation of Israel?

Small, about the size of New Jersey

Why were Mesopotamia and Egypt two of the earliest civilizations?

For Egypt: The Nile

For Mesopotamia: Tigris and Euprates

Why do people call Israel a "land bridge"?

In order for people to get to water routes or land routes, they would have to travel through Isreal

Why did other nations want to control the land of Israel?

So they could expand their territories and conquer each other.

Give the dates of the following events: proposed date of the Exodus, collapse of civilization, Assyrian exile, Babylonian Exile, return from exile.

Exodus: Around 1265 BC

Collapse of Civilization: 1177 BC

Assyrian Exile: 722 BC

Babylonian Exile: 586 BC

Return from Exile: 538 BC

Know roughly when ANE history begins and ends and what event is associated with the beginning/end

Beginning: 3500 BC with the First cities

Ends: 331 BC with Alexander conquers Persia (323)

What were the three major time periods in ANE history?

City-states: 3000-1600 BC

Territorial states: 1600-1200 BC

Empires: 950-331 BC

What were the common characteristics of city states?

Patron deities, Military conflicts, Divine right of rule

What is the Merneptah stele and why is it important?

Victory monument of Pharoah Merneptah and he boasts about capturing the land of Israel.

What was the "collapse of civilization" in 1177 BC?

The Sea people invaded Hatti and Egypt and they left no monuments. They controlled the best part of the coast. And the land of Israel opened up because nations abandoned them.

What were the political reasons that Assyria conquered Israel?

The pay vassels to Assyria.

What were the political reasons that Babylon conquered Judah?

They got the land of Israel and they destroyed the temple. They took the remaining people back to Babylon

What would be the best argument that the Exodus/collapse of civilization/exile/return from exile was the most significant event in Israel's history?

Exodus: They were freed from slavery and became their own nation

Collapse: Natural disasters and The Sea People conquered the biggest threats to Israel; Hatti and Egypt. The land of Israel opened up.

Exile: Babylon conquered Judah.

Return: They got to return to their homeland

What does this expression mean: "The bible was written for you, but it wasn't written to you"?

It is written for you today and it is living and active. But it was also written between 2 and 3,000 years ago.

What are three main steps to the journey of reading the Bible?

Observation, Interpretation, and Application

Who is Marduk and what did he do?

He was the grandson of 2 Titans who killed Tiamat and split her body into the land of the ANE

Who is Tiamat and what did she do?

She was a Titan mother and she was the mother of all.

In Enuma Elish, who/what existed at the very beginning of time?

When the heavens above did not exist and the earth had not come into being, there was Aspu , the first in order and Tiamat, who gave birth to them all.

How was the earth created in Enuma Elish?

Marduk or Bel created it from Tiamat's body

How were humans created in Enuma Elish?

Ea and Marduk create them from the blood of Qingu

For what purpose were humans created in Enuma Elish?

To be slaves of the gods

How did the Babylonian creation account Enuma Elish end?

Marduk sits on his throne in Babylon and rests.

Compare/contrast how the Babylonian creation account ended with how Genesis 1:1-2:4a ended.

God ended the 7th day by resting in His creation. Marduk rested in Babylon on his throne anon the world he created with destruction.

What was the difference between the way the world started (the primordial situation) in Gen 1 and Gen 2?

Formless and void vs. desert land

What was the difference between the way God fixed or changed (the primordial situation) in Gen 1 and Gen 2?

Ordered creation vs. relational creation

What was the difference between the methods God used to fix or change (the primordial situation) in Gen 1 and Gen 2?

Speaks into creation vs. molds and breathes life

What was the difference between where God appears to be while he creates in Gen 1 and Gen 2?

In Gen 1 He is in Heaven or outside of the earth and in Gen 2 He is on the earth

What was the difference between the portrait of humans in Gen 1 and Gen 2?

In the image of God-Selem and ruling the earth vs. workers of the earth

What was the difference in timing/length of creation between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2?

6 days vs. not specified

What is the difference in the way Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 ended?

God rested on the whole creation and order was established vs. life began and right relationships formed.

How does the YEC/Day-Age/Framework Theory/Archetypal Theory view understand Genesis 1?

YEC: Literal Historical-Literal 24 hour days

Day: Literal Historical "Yom-age" Yom=day in Hebrew. They believe that each 7 days in gen 1 was an era

Frame: Poetic Historical- Not in literal order

Archetypal: Poetic Historical - Focused on the function of creation

What is the main pushback that critics have towards the YEC/Day Age/Framework Theory/Archetypal view of Genesis 1-2?

YEC: Suggests that the world is 6,000 years old

Day: Yom usually means days and because they see it as history, they think that reptiles came before birds.

Frame: It is not taking the Bible literally and the parallel is not perfect

Archetypal: How can you be sure that it is functional?

What is the view of the YEC/Day Age/Framework Theory/Archetypal view regarding how science relates to the bible?

YEC: Bible and science do not agree

Day: Bible and Science won't contradict

Frame: Bible and Science are doing different things

Archetypal: Bible and Science are doing different things

What was the nature of Adam & Eve/Cain/Lamech/Noah's generation/the Towers of Babel builders sin?

Adam: They wanted to be powerful like God by eating from the tree of good and evil

Cain: He was jealous of the Lord's favor over Abel

Lamech: He killed because he thought he had a right to protection from God

Noah's gen: The people had many wives and lived in evil

Babel: The builders disobeyed God by not spreading out and multiplying.

How did the sin of Adam & Eve/Cain/Lamech/Noah's generation/the Towers of Babel builders create a break in relationship between the person and God?

Adam: They were afraid of God because they were full of shame.

Cain: God heard Abel's blood cry from the ground and Cain had taken the first life in creation that was not his to take.

Lamech: God has to start a new line of Adam

Noah's gen: The humans became corrupt so God regretted making them and purged them from the land.

Babel: The humans wanted to make a name for themselves and be their own rulers

How did the sin of Adam & Eve/Cain/Lamech/Noah's generation/the Towers of Babel builders create a break in relationship between the person and creation?

Adam: They had to struggle against creation. Childbearing and hunting for food/work

Cain: He cursed the ground with his brother's blood

Lamech: He thought his father's protection would fall on him

Noah's gen: The people were taken from creation and the world was started anew

Babel: The humans wanted to make a name for themselves and be their own rulers

How did God show mercy to the Adam & Eve/Cain/Lamech/Noah's generation/the Towers of Babel builders?

Adam: God clothed them and provided for them. He also drove them out of the garden

Cain: God gave him protection so no one would kill him.

Lamech: God continued Adam's line through Seth

Noah's gen: God let Noah live to start a new generation

Babel: God made the people speak in different languages so they would scatter and multiply.

How could one argue that the sin of Adam & Eve/Cain/Lamech/Noah's generation/the Towers of Babel builders was the most egregious sin in Genesis 3-11?

Adam: They were the first to sin in a sinless place

Cain: He was the first to kill

Lamech: He was prideful, had many wives, thought protection was on him, and he killed many.

Noah's Gen: God regretted making them and they were wiped out

Babel: They went against what God wanted for them and they tried to make a name for themselves/rule

What was the inciting incident of Genesis?

When God calls Abram and tells him to go on a journey

What are the three promises God made to Abraham?

Great nation, Bless him, make his name great

What does "to bless" mean in Hebrew?

Barak

What was the purpose of Abraham's call?

So that all the people on earth would be blessed through him

What was one way Abraham blessed outsiders or foreigners in Genesis 12-26?

Abraham blesses Abimelech

What is one way Abraham did not bring blessing to outsiders or foreigners in Genesis 12-26?

He lied to Pharoah and Abimelech about Sarah being his sister

What is one example of an outsiders or foreigners in Genesis 12-26 bringing Abraham blessing?

The Hittites blessed Abraham with a land to bury Sarah

What is one example of outsiders or foreigners in Genesis 12-26 bringing Abraham cursing or not blessing him?

He told Pharoah that Sarah was his sister and God sent plagues

What does the name Hagar mean in Hebrew?

Foreign thing

Hagar is the first person in the bible to give God a name; what name does she give him and what did it mean?

El Roi- The God who sees

What are the ways God blesses Hagar?

He provides for her, gives her a son, and gives her provisions in the desert

What are the ways God blesses Ishmael?

His descendants would be many and he would be blessed

What are the ways Hagar experiences pain or difficulty?

Hagar was used to bear a child for Abraham by order of Sarah but Sarah was furious that Hagar got pregnant. So she threw Hagar out of the house. She also gets thrown out after Isaac is born into a desert with no where to go.

What best describes how Joseph/Judah/Jacob/Egypt transforms throughout Genesis 37-50?

Joseph: Goes from being powerless against his brothers to being second in command over Egypt

Judah: Goes from being selfish to selfless

Jacob: Goes from being in despair to being in hope

Egypt: Goes into 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine

What are the ways that Pharaoh tries to stop the Israelites from increasing in number?

Slavery of the Israelites, Mid-wives kill the baby boys, and throw every baby into the nile

What is Pharaoh's problem with the Israelites?

He is afraid of Israelites increasing in number and wanting to take his place on the throne.

Who are the people who save Moses before Moses saves Israel?

Shiphrah and Puah (mid-wives)

Mom and sister of Moses

Pharaohs daughters

Reuel and daughters

Zipporah

What is the significance of all of the people who help save Moses before Moses saves Israel?

They are mostly women. God using the week for good.

What happens when Moses flees from Egypt after he kills an Egyptian?

He saves Reuel's daughters, marries Zipporah, and works for his father-in-law

How did the Hebrew people plunder the Egyptians when they left Egypt?

God made the Egyptians favorably disposed to the Israelites and all they had to do was ask for things and the Egyptians gave them it.

What is the best argument that Pharaoh/Pharaoh's daughter/Shiphrah & Puah/Moses or Zipporah is the most powerful and influential character in Exodus 1-4?

Pharaoh: He had power over the land and made the people do his bidding

Pharaoh's Daughter: She saved Moses and had a say in Pharaoh's house

Mid-wives: They went against Pharaohs wishes and saved babies

Moses: He was for the Israelites and protected them from the mean Egyptians

Zipporah: She saved Moses directly from God by circumcising their son.

How does the theme of creation show up in the exodus narrative?

When the Israelites flee from Egypt, their redemption is a new creation.

How do the plagues specifically match the creation narrative in Genesis 1?

The plagues represent un-creation. Many plagues caused death while Gen 1 creation caused life. Darkness overshadowed the land while Gen 1 showed light.

What is one way of understanding the poetic justice of the plagues in the Exodus narrative?

Pharoah is against God's creation so God shows him un-creation

What is the connection between Israel walking through the Red Sea and Genesis 1?

Chaotic waters still and waters divide on to dry ground

What is so significant about the Exodus event?

There was a mixed crowd, the new community was forged, and it showed the beginning of the "blessing" God intended

What is the best argument for the view that Pharaoh hardened his own heart in Exodus and God just gave him over to his own pride?

His own: There were many times in the Bible where Pharoah hardened his own heart

God: There were many times in the Bible where God hardened Pharaohs heart

What is the best argument for the view that God hardened Pharaoh's heart in Exodus in order to display his power?

God wanted to show Pharoah His power after Pharoah had thought he was the greatest in all the land and tried killing off God's chosen people

What is the best argument for the view that you cannot unentangle God and Pharaoh in terms of who is at fault for the hardening of Pharaoh's heart?

There is significant evidence in the Bible that both Pharoah and God hardened Pharaohs heart

What is the best way to describe Jesus' overarching approach to the law?

Jesus came, not only to enforce the law but to expand on it, to uphold it.

What is apodictic and casuistic law?

Apodictic: Universal, sounds like a principal: "You shall not murder"

Casuistic: "Case" law- what to do if someone violates apodictic laws

What is a covenant?

An agreement for a long-term relationship

Where did the idea of covenants originate?

Kings in the ANE made treaties/covenants with other nations

Why is the narrative context of the law so important for understanding it?

Narrative context helps us fit the context into the Bible story without taking the Bible out of context in our everyday lives.

What happens at Mount Sinai and how long was Israel there?

Israel was consecrated but there were scared of the people in the land of Canaan so they were there for 1 year

What is the best argument for understanding God not allowing Moses/the people to enter the Promised land as God's mercy?

God gave the people what they wanted by dying in the wilderness and God showed Moses the beauty of the promise land before he died.

What is the best argument for understanding God not allowing Moses/the people to enter the Promised land as God's judgment?

The people rebelled a lot against God and rose up against Moses so their punishment was justified. Moses said "Do WE have to..." implying that he has the same power as God and he tapped the rock twice when God said to stretch out his hands.

TOTS Read "Creation Made Perfect" closely. What is God's intention in creation? What does it mean that humans bear his image? How are they to image God?

1. To tell a story about the origin of the world and humanity from a priestly perspective. It also emphasizes humanity's personal interactions with God and the world.

2. To be God's corporate partner within all creation

3. To represent the humanity created from the ground and to show the living breath that God formed us to be

TOTS Read the section "Creation Unraveling" closely. How does Kelle argue that we should understand the first disobedience of eating from the tree in the garden in Gen 3? What's the nature of their wrongdoing? (p.47-51 in the ebook version)

That the humans wanted the power to be like God. They were prideful and didn't understand fully the weight of sin.

TOTS How does Gen 4-11 illustrate the need for God's redemptive work in connection with that?

Cain, Lamech, and Noah show the need for God's work in right relationships and how sin keeps getting worse and worse

TOTS How does the author connect how Abraham and the patriarchs act to the original sins committed in Genesis 3 and following?

Adam and Abraham had a covenant with God that their descendants would be many.

TOTS What does the idea that Abraham and family are God's chosen people or "elect" people imply? What are they chosen for?

They are to be a nation of undivided loyalty and wholehearted devotion to YHWH. They are chosen to be a blessing on other nations

TOTS What is going on with Pharaoh's hardened heart? (p.70 in the ebook version)

Pharoah sometimes hardens his own heart but YHWH also does it to show the power He has

TOTS What is the goal of Yahweh when it comes to the plagues? This is emphatic in the text of Exodus and your textbook talks about it too (p.70 in the ebook version)

The show Pharoah who is truly above all.

TOTS How is the Exodus narrative a creation narrative?

It shows the creation of the chosen people and the leaders who follow God.