Theology

Vocabulary and names:


Judge

Baal

Astarte

Cycle of Sin (again)

Moab

Canaan

Bethlehem

Jerusalem

Ehud

Deborah

Ruth

Naomi

Boaz

Obed

Redeemer

Shepherd

Hannah

Samuel

Saul

David

Bathsheba

Uriah the Hittite


Certainly, here's a brief explanation for each term:


 Judge:Leaders in ancient Israel chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from oppression. Examples include Gideon, Samson, and Deborah.


 Baal: A term used in the Bible to refer to various gods worshiped in the ancient Near East, often associated with idolatry.


Astarte: An ancient Near Eastern goddess, often associated with fertility and worshiped in Canaan.


Cycle of Sin: Refers to a recurring pattern in the Book of Judges where the Israelites would sin, face oppression, cry out to God, and then be delivered by a judge.


 Moab: A region east of Israel, and also the name of a people descended from Lot, Abraham's nephew.


Canaan:The ancient land that roughly corresponds to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of Jordan.


Bethlehem: A significant city in the Bible, notably the birthplace of King David and Jesus Christ.


Jerusalem: The capital city of ancient Israel and a holy city in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.


Ehud: A judge of Israel known for delivering the Israelites from the Moabites.


 Deborah: A prophetess and judge in ancient Israel, known for her role in defeating the Canaanites.


Ruth: A woman of Moab who became an ancestor of King David through her loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi.


Naomi: Ruth's mother-in-law, who faced hardships but ultimately found redemption through the actions of Ruth and Boaz.


Boaz: A wealthy landowner who showed kindness to Ruth and became her husband, playing a significant role in the lineage leading to King David.


Obed: The son of Boaz and Ruth, and the grandfather of King David.


Redeemer: In a biblical context, a kinsman-redeemer was a relative who could rescue family members from difficulty, often through marriage or financial assistance.


Shepherd: A common biblical metaphor, representing care, guidance, and protection. It is often used to describe God and leaders.


Hannah:The mother of the prophet Samuel, who fervently prayed for a child and dedicated him to God.


Samuel: A significant figure in the Bible, born to Hannah, who became a prophet and the last judge of Israel before the era of kings.


Saul: The first king of Israel, chosen by the people, but later rejected by God due to disobedience.


David: The second king of Israel, known for his military successes, poetry (Psalms), and being an ancestor of Jesus according to the New Testament.


Bathsheba: The wife of David, with whom he had an adulterous relationship, leading to complications in their family.


Uriah the Hittite: A loyal soldier in David's army, husband of Bathsheba, who was intentionally placed in a dangerous position by David, resulting in his death.


Possible study questions:


  1. Explain why the pagan religions during Judges were attractive to the Israelites. Be able to explain the descriptions of the two gods Baal and Astarte.


The pagan religions during the Judges period were attractive to the Israelites due to the allure of fertility and agricultural prosperity associated with the gods Baal and Astarte. Baal was often depicted as a storm and fertility god, while Astarte was a goddess of love and fertility, appealing to the basic human desires for abundance and well-being.





  1. Describe how the judges could be heroic, such as the stories of Ehud and Deborah.

 

The judges were considered heroic in stories like Ehud and Deborah due to their courageous leadership. Ehud, for example, assassinated the oppressive Moabite king, and Deborah, a prophetess and judge, led the Israelites to victory against their enemies. Their actions demonstrated bravery and a commitment to justice, making them heroic figures in the historical narratives of the Judges period.

  1. Explain why life for the Israelites was full of problems in the book of Judges. Provide at least two examples.  

 

 Life for the Israelites in the book of Judges was fraught with problems due to a cycle of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. Two examples are the idolatry and moral decline among the Israelites, leading to divine punishment, as seen with the worship of foreign gods like Baal. Additionally, internal conflicts and external invasions, such as the oppression by the Midianites, contributed to their challenges during this period.

 

 

 

 

  1. Provide two reasons why Boaz was an admirable person who deserved to be called a redeemer. 

 

 Boaz was considered an admirable redeemer in the biblical narrative for two main reasons. Firstly, he demonstrated kindness and generosity by ensuring that Ruth, a widow, had enough food while gleaning in his fields. Secondly, Boaz fulfilled the role of a kinsman-redeemer by marrying Ruth, thereby preserving the family lineage and providing for her and her mother-in-law Naomi in a culturally significant way.

 

 

  1. When Ruth’s husband died, she had two options. What were they, and what choice did she make, and why did that make her deserving of being called a redeemer? 

 

 When Ruth's husband died, she could either return to her people or stay with Naomi. She chose to stay, expressing loyalty with "Where you go, I will go." Her commitment to Naomi's well-being and family continuity made her deserving of being called a redeemer.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Why was Saul made king, and how is this similar to what we have discussed about what Americans sometimes look like in their leaders? 

 

 Saul was made king in ancient Israel because the people demanded a king to lead them, similar to other nations. This desire for a visible and powerful leader is reminiscent of how Americans sometimes look for charismatic and authoritative qualities in their leaders, seeking a figurehead to represent strength and guidance.

 

 

 

 

  1. Compare the type of leadership found in the Book of Judges and the type of leadership found in the book of Samuel.  

 

 Leadership in Judges is cyclical and decentralized, with temporary judges. In Samuel, leadership transitions to a more stable and centralized monarchy under Saul and David, reflecting a shift in the political structure of ancient Israel.

 

 

 

  1. Describe two achievements that David did as king or before he was king?  

 

 Before becoming king, David achieved renown for defeating the giant Goliath, showcasing his courage and faith in God. As king, he united the tribes of Israel, establishing Jerusalem as the capital and bringing political and religious stability to the kingdom.

 

 

 

  1. What was David’s crime and what was his cover-up of the crime? What were the consequences of his actions?  

 

 David's crime was adultery with Bathsheba, and he covered it up by orchestrating Uriah's death. Consequences included the death of their child and ongoing family turmoil, notably Absalom's rebellion.