The Ancient Israelites Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the origins, historical evidence, and religious evolution of the Ancient Israelites based on the lecture notes.

Patriarchs

Biblical figures from Ur identified as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

Merneptah Stele

A historical artifact used as evidence in the study of the Ancient Israelites' origins as migratory Canaanites.

Tel-Dan Stele

Historical evidence providing proof of the "House of David" even though history suggests the era consisted of tribal warchiefs rather than a unified kingdom.

Animists

The original belief of the early Hebrews that their gods existed in nature and typically functioned as protectors of the family.

Covenant

A national or ethnic agreement created between the people and a particular god.

Folk Religion

A religious practice among Hebrews that was not monotheistic and did not require everyone to associate with the same god.

El Shaddai

The name of the god Abraham worshipped in Genesis 12 and made his Elohim.

Yahweh

A deity introduced in Exodus as a war god; later texts by Second Isaiah identified Him and Elohim as the same god.

Documentary Hypothesis

The scholarly theory concerning who wrote the Torah.

Prophets

A long tradition of men from Mesopotamia who could speak to gods and remained devoted to Yahweh during times of upheaval like those of Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea.

King Josiah

The King of Judah who claimed to discover the "lost" law code of Deuteronomy ($Source D$) and used it to rewrite Jewish history.

Fall of Judah

The event of Babylonian captivity that occurred in the year $586$.

Second Isaiah

The individual ($Source P$) who finished the book of Isaiah and rewrote the Bible to be monotheistic.

Enuma Elish

The Babylonian text that served as the basis for the writing of Genesis 1.

Tiamut

The figure defeated by Yahweh according to Isaiah 51: 9-10.

Canaanite religion

The religious tradition around $1200\,BC$ involving the worship of Ba’al, Asherah, and El Elyon.

Where did the Ancient Israelites come from?

The Ancient Israelites originated from the region of Canaan, which encompasses modern-day Israel, Palestine, and parts of Jordan and Lebanon. They are believed to have emerged from the larger group of Semitic peoples and established their culture and religious practices in this area.

What are some of the problems with the Exodus account?

The Exodus account is debated due to lack of archaeological evidence, historical inconsistencies, and variations in oral traditions. Additionally, the timing of events, such as the Israelites' presence in Egypt and the timeline of the conquest of Canaan, raises further questions.

Do we have evidence of a unified kingdom? Of a House of David?

Archaeological findings suggest that while there was a kingdom of David, evidence for a unified monarchy is debated. Some artifacts, like the Tel Dan Stele, reference a "House of David," but overall evidence remains inconclusive.

What is a covenant?

A covenant is a solemn agreement between God and the Israelites, involving mutual commitments and promises, often represented through rituals or laws.

Know how the Hebrew religion evolved…in detail!

over time from ancient practices and beliefs into a structured monotheistic faith, particularly after the Babylonian Exile.

What is the Documentary Hypothesis?

The Documentary Hypothesis is a scholarly theory proposing that the Torah was derived from several distinct sources, identified as J (Yahwist), E (Elohist), P (Priestly), and D (Deuteronomic), which were later compiled into the current form.