Exam 3: Pre-Exilic Prophets
What does "Zephaniah" mean?
"He Whom Yahweh has Hidden"
What does "Micah" mean?
"Who is like Yahweh?"
What does the name "Maher-shalal-hashbaz" mean?
"to the spoils!"
What are 2 definitions of social justice?
(1) putting the world to rights, (2) empowering the weak
Define: "writing vs. non-writing prophet" & "major vs. minor prophet
- -Major prophets had longer book lengths than minor prophets.
What does the title "the book of the twelve" mean and not mean about these books?
-12 separate scrolls that connect thematically -total length = 1 major prophet
What are the 4 parts of an oracle?
-Call to Listen to God's Word -Proclamation of God's Word -Consequences for Obeying/Disobeying -Rejection of Prophet/Message
Know the facts about "the Life of the Prophet"
-Estimated 40-60 years of service -No one turned back to God during his career -Court Prophet
Know the facts about "Isaiah the Man"
-Husband and Father -Resident of Jerusalem -Member of Elite Royal Family?? -Called to Prophesy -Sawn in two under King Manasseh in 687-642 BC
What are the 4 functions of a Prophet?
-Intercede for God and Man -Call People Back to God -Offer People a Second Chance -Demonstrate Justice/Grace
What are the meanings of the names of Hosea's and Gomer's 3 biological children?
-Jezreel (boy) - Jehu's massacre, "to sow/scatter" -Lo-Ruhama (girl): "Not Pitied" -Lo-Ami (boy): "Not My People" (Lev. 26:12)
What is Hesed? Why does God want Hesed instead of sacrifice?
-Kindness or love between people, of piety of people towards God as well as of love or mercy of God towards humanity. -The Israelites' sacrifices meant nothing to God anymore.
What are the 7 "must-know" facts about prophets?
-Some trained in schools, some not -Some prophesy by words, others by actions -Most are creative and odd, outcasts in society -All of them embody their message -All of them have been convicted by God -Some predict the future; most offer possible futures -All of them have a message for their day
What are 4 issues that dominate the focus of the prophets?
-Worship -Covenant Faithfulness -Social Justice -Repentance
What 3 ways does Jonah prefigure Jesus' death and resurrection?
1. 3 days in the fish 2. Separated from God's presence 3. God delivered him from Sheol("the grave") and brought up life from the pit/grave
What 3-4 things makes Jonah an "a-typical" prophet?
1. Angry at Nineveh & God 2. Awaits Destruction 3. Abhors God's forgiving nature 4. Jonah wants to control life/death
What are the 4 promises of restoration Amos offered the exiled Israelites?
1. Davidic King 2. Independent Kingdom 3. Abundant Produce 4. Repossess the Land
What two promises define faithfulness?
1. Monogamy 2. Unconditional Love
What does Isaiah mean by: 1. Israel does not "know" God, 2. "Holy one of Israel", 3. "utterly estranged"?
1. Providence should not have led to gratitude 2. Distinct; Other 3. Beyond Remedy
What are the 3 ways in which the rich forced the poor into slavery?
1. Raised Prices 2. Reduced Product 3. Sold Chaff as Food
What are the 2 meanings of the "Immanuel" prophecy?
1. The future Virgin Birth of Jesus 2. Judah's deliverance from Syria & Ephraim
What 6 things does God send in the book of Jonah to show his presence?
1. Word 2. Storm 3. Fish 4. Plant 5. Worm 6. East Wind
In what 3 ways did Israel commit spiritual prostitution?
1.Misdirected praise to Baal 2.International Entanglement 3.Materialism & Wealth
In what century and to what audience did Isaiah prophesy?
2nd c. BC
How long is Jonah's sermon in Hebrew? How long in English?
5 words in Hebrew, 8 in English
When was the Syria-Ephraim war?
735 BC
What is Isaiah's "new commission" in chapter 40?
A Message of Comfort: -Exile is over -Yahweh will lead the exiles home -Wait on the LORD to be renewed
Joel compares the coming of the Day of the Lord to what sudden event?
A thief in the night
How long after the book of Jonah was the book of Nahum written?
About 100 years
Who was the dominant political power in the 8th century?
Assyria
With whom does Ahaz ally as a vassal (God, Ephraim, or Assyria)?
Assyria
What would forgiveness mean for Assyria?
Assyria's atrocities would no longer by used against them
What eras are suggested for dating Joel?
Assyrian period or Babylonian context (9th - 6th century)
What is Habakkuk's second complaint? What is God's answer?
Babylon is worse than Judah, how can they judge Judah? - The just shall live by faith, Babylon will also be destroyed
What are the two possible structures for Isaiah?
Bad News (Old Testament), Good News (New Testament) Pre-exilic (8th C), exilic (6th C), post-exilic (5th C)
Who was Baal?
Canaanite fertility god
Petra
Capital City of Edom
What does "Nahum" mean?
Comforter
Yahweh is searching for "the wicked" to destroy. What sin are they especially condemned for in 1:12?
Complacency
What foreign king was anointed by God to lead Israel?
Cyrus of Persia
Capital of Syria?
Damascus
What manuscript of Isaiah is nearly complete and from the 2nd century, confirming its accuracy?
Dead Sea Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa)
Edom/Red
Defeated by the Nabatean Arabs. In 312 BC, the area is called Idumaea.
What do each of the 5 metaphors for Israel's 'fleeting love' signify (e.g. dew, heated oven, etc.)?
Dew- Disappears after some time Heated Oven- They run rampant with their desires Unturned Cake- Israel has spent too much time with other nations and too little time with God Silly Dove- Israel calls out to other nations in addition to God instead of soley relying on Him Treacherous Bow- Not useful/harmful to God and themselves
What did Edom do and not do with regard to Israel that caused Yahweh/Obadiah to condemn them?
Edom took advantage of Judah when the Babylonians invaded instead of helping the Judahites
Know 4 terms for the northern kingdom of Israel:
Ephraim, Samaria, Israel, N. Kingdom
What was the root cause of religious depravity: failure to attend worship or failure to apply spiritual lessons?
Failure to apply spiritual lessons
From whom and why does Amos say the famine, drought, pestilence, war, and fire came upon Israel?
From God because Israel had sinned and sinned despite God's continuing efforts to help them
In Hebrew, "Im" has 2 different meanings. How does this affect the meaning of "Immanuel"?
God "with/against" us
What does it mean that the coming Messiah will deliver Israel from "the Assyrian"?
God will deliver Israel from the Assyrians and the future Messiah will deliver us all from the ultimate enemy of sin and death
"The just shall live by faith" (Habakkuk _:_) and "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him" (Habakkuk _:_)
Habakkuk 2:4; 2:20
How did Amos' geographical origin affect the response by his audience?
He was rejected by Northern Israel where God called him to prophesy because of his heritage as a native of South Judah
Which famous Idumaean ruled over Judea in the days of Jesus?
Herod the Great
What attributes of God do the books of Jonah and Nahum display?
His forgiveness, slowness to anger, goodness, and compassion
What does Isaiah prophesy to Ahaz about his enemies, and how does he confirm it?
Isaiah prophesied the fall of Syria & Ephraim -Confirmed by 3 signs of male children: Immanuel, Maher-shala-hasbaz, Messiah
Who will likely be judged first on the final judgment day?
Israel
What two metaphors are used in Hosea for God's relationship with Israel?
Israel is God's prodigal wife & son
In Amos 1-2, what nation is condemned eighth in the lineup and for what?
Israel- Oppressing the Weak
How does the book of Jonah end?
It ends with a question.
What is the lesson Jonah is to learn from the plant he loved that grew and died in a day?
Jonah cares more about plants than people
Who is "Lucifer" in Isaiah 14?
King of Babylon
What are the possible meanings of the locust plague in ch 1 and the military attack in ch 2?
Locust Plague- Repent for the DOL is near. Military Attack- The DOL will be darkness, sudden like a thief.
What is the theme of Joel?
Locust plague
What more could and does God require of us (the 3 acts and 2 divisions)?
Love Man (do justice), Love Hesed (covenant faithfulness), Love God
Who are the major prophets? Minor prophet?
Major: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Minor: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.
What was Hosea called to do that embodied his message?
Married a Woman (Gomer) of Prostitution
What spiritual posture will cause some to be hidden by Yahweh on the Day of the Lord?
Meekness and Humility
Which book, chapter, and verse told Herod where the Messiah would be born?
Micah 5:2
What were the Assyrians experts in?
Military might, exiling whole nations, and torture (example: decapitation)
Know the features of Isaiah's call in chapter 6.
Model's Israel's call -God is Israel's King and Holiest of all -Isaiah realized his unholiness -God purified Isaiah with fire -Heavenly council calls for volunteer messenger -Isaiah's mission: Preach until no one can listen
The book of Nahum is about justice against what nation?
Nineveh
Who is "the lion being attacked" in the book of Nahum?
Nineveh
Who needed a prophet?
North Israel, Judah, Gentile Nations
Hosea is the only writing prophet from where?
North Kingdom
What is the theme of Obadiah?
O Bad Edom!
What is the shortest book of the Old Testament?
Obadiah
Which 2 minor prophets are not referenced in the New Testament?
Obadiah & Nahum
the Sik Canyon
One mile long canyon that leads to the great city of Petra (it's 30 ft. wide)
What New Testament books/authors use the phrase "the just shall live by faith"?
Paul in Romans and Galatians. Also found in Hebrews
Who quotes from Joel in his Acts 2 sermon?
Peter
What are the 3 major time periods that separate the latter prophets?
Pre-exilic, exilic, post-exilic
3 Major Messages of Obadiah
Pride, Lack of Brotherliness, Divine Retribution
For what purpose did God intend his temple? How was it abused in Jesus's day?
Purpose: To be used as a place of prayer for all the nations Abuse: Money-changers prevent Gentiles from coming to pray
What term describes the economic system at the time (i.e. the rich get richer, poor get poorer)?
Rent-capitalism (monopoly)
What was the purpose of the large fish?
Salvation (to save Jonah)
What is the theme image associated with Zephaniah?
Searching for the Wicked - Yahweh carrying a lamp going through the city of Jerusalem looking for the wicked
What does the name "Obadiah" mean?
Servant/worshipper of the Lord
What was Amos' profession before he became a prophet?
Shepherd, Dresser of Sycamore Trees, Volunteer Prophet
Why are the locusts targeting the wine of the wealthy & sacrificial system?
So that repentance must now come through humility rather than sacrifice (there is nothing left worth sacrificing)
What is the theme of Amos?
Social Justice
What 2 nations & 2 kings tried to bully Ahaz of Judah into a coalition against Assyria?
Syria & Ephraim
What is significant about the fact that the military army will come "from the north"?
Syria is north of Israel
What does Habakkuk mean by "the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him"?
The LORD is in Heaven and the inhabitants of earth should stand in awe of Him
To whom does the "Righteous Branch" refer?
The Messiah who will usher forth a second exodus
What does the hyperbole of the Day of the Lord reflect in Zephaniah?
The Universality of Judgment
What does God promise to restore if Israel repents (Joel 2:25)?
The fortunes of Zion (Jerusalem)
What time period most interests the prophet- the present or distant future?
The present
What do you call the purpose of Habakkuk that attempts to explain God's ways?
Theodicy
How did the wives of Israel participate with their husbands in oppressing the poor?
They demand more wealth from their husbands
How did the Assyrians use fish hooks?
They hooked them into their captive's noses or jaws and used that to exile them
What reason are we given three times in Jonah chapter 1 for why Jonah went to Tarshish?
To get "away from the face of YHWH"
What does it mean for "the just to live by faith" in the context of Habakkuk?
Wait on God's timing
What is Habakkuk's first complaint? What is God's answer?
Why is God sitting by watching the violence in Judah, God is not idle but preparing the Babylonians to punish Judah
What does the name Isaiah mean?
Yahweh is salvation
What is the form or format of Habakkuk?
complaint and answer
Why was Jonah angry with God?
for forgiving the people of Nineveh
What does Jonah attempt to dictate to God?
forgiveness
What is syncretism?
mixing of religions
Why is Hosea called "the deathbed prophet"?
the last prophet to the Northern kingdom before it fell