Religion 101- Test 3

In Isaiah 58 the prophet speaks about the people fasting (depriving themselves of food to focus on spiritual thoughts) and how the Lord disapproves of their fasting. Why is the Lord unhappy with their behavior?

Although they fast, they do not show kindness to their workers or the poor.

Read Isaiah 37:21-38. How does the Assyrian attack on Jerusalem conclude?

An angel visits the Assyrian army's camp, and the Assyrians leave after 185,000 of their number have died.

In Jeremiah 1:11-19, what foreign enemy does God say he is bringing to punish Jerusalem?

An unidentified enemy "from the north."

Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12. Who is the speaker in this passage?

At the beginning and end the speaker is the Lord, but in the middle the speaker is an unidentified "we."

Read Jeremiah 39, which describes the Babylonian overthrow of Jerusalem. Which of the following most accurately reflects what Babylon did to Jerusalem here?

Babylon utterly destroyed the city, but left the countryside for a small number of poor people to tend.

Read Ruth 1. Why is Naomi bitter when she returns to Bethlehem?

Because her husband and sons have all died

Read Ruth 3. What does Boaz promise to do for Ruth?

Carry out the obligation of a close kinsman toward her ("redeem" her).

Shiloh

City destroyed by the Philistines; mid-11th century BCE (excavations); appears in Judges; Samuel was a baby here; Ark moved from here to Jerusalem

Read pages 116-122 in the Longman textbook. What is the main reason that many scholars give for saying that Isaiah did not compose chapters 40-66 of this book?

D. The assumed historical context of chapters 40-66 is the Babylonian and Persian exiles, while chapters 1-39 come from the Assyrian period.

Josiah

Discovers the book of the covenant. Rebuilds the temple in Judah. Follows the laws of Dueteronomy "with all his heart". Destroys idols in high places. King at age 8, Faithful King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, discovered a book in the Temple (Book of Deuteronomy) and implemented reforms to recommit the people to the covenant with God and to eliminate worship of false gods.

Read Isaiah 1:1-20, where Isaiah describes the land of Judah as desolate, laid waste, and burned with fire. What behavior does he appeal for the people to maintain, in order to make conditions better in the future

Doing justice and righteousness by tending to the needs of widows and orphans.

According to the Longman text book (pages 134-138), what are the historical circumstances in which Ezekiel becomes a prophet?

Ezekiel was a Jewish priest sent into exile at the same time as the young king, Jehoiachin (= Jeconiah), before the city of Jerusalem was fully destroyed.

Read Isaiah 6:8-13, noticing what it says here about eyes, ears, and heart (= "mind"). What is the Lord's stated goal regarding the people's eyes, ears, and heart

He wants the people's eyes, ears, and hearts to be unresponsive to the Lord's words.

Read Nehemiah 1-2. Nehemiah is an official in the court of King Artaxerxes of Persia. What is his reason for leaving the court and going to Jerusalem?

He wants to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem

Isaiah 53 describes how a particular "servant" has suffered. Why has he undergone this suffering?

He was suffering for the wrongs committed by others.

Read Isaiah 37:1-20. How does King Hezekiah respond to a threatening message from Sennacherib, king of Assyria?

Hezekiah takes the message to the temple and prays to the Lord to deliver them.

Read pages 128-129 in the Longman textbook. What primary influence does Jeremiah have on ideas taught in the New Testament?

Jeremiah introduces the notion of a "new covenant," which New Testament writers apply to the work and teachings of Jesus.

Read Isaiah 2:1-5. What does Isaiah envision for Jerusalem "in the last days"?

Jerusalem will be a place of peace, where all nations will come to learn about the teachings of the Lord.

typical labels and activities of prophets

Labels of prophets: -stand in god's council -serve as the "messenger" of god -called "man of god," "seer" "servent of god" "sentinel" Activities of prophets: -announce gods plans -promote the laws of moses -advise leaders -speak for the poor and opressed -most predictions were conditional. usually some short-term which shows trustworthy.

Nebuchadnezzer

Revives Babylon. Rebuilt canals, temples, walls, moats. City is largest and most highly regarded in history of Mesopotamia. Marches to jerusalem and carries away idols

Read Isaiah 7:10-17, where Isaiah gives King Ahaz a "sign" about a boy. In verse 16, Isaiah mentions two kings that Ahaz is afraid of. Who are these two kings?

Rezin of Aram and Pekah of (North) Israel

Read Isaiah 7:10-17, where Isaiah gives King Ahaz a "sign" about a boy. In verse 16, Isaiah mentions two kings that Ahaz is afraid of. Who are these two kings

Rezin of Aram and Pekah of (North) Israel.

Boaz

Ruths husband, an israelite. , a generous farmer who marries Ruth

Read Jeremiah 24, where Jeremiah compares the people to two baskets of figs, one basket good and one basket bad. What is it that is "good" or "bad" about the people in this prophecy?

Some people will be treated "good" by the Lord (blessed), and some will be treated "bad" (punished).

Hezekiah

Son of ahaz. Demolishes high places. Shatters foreign idols. Extends the walls, doubling the size of the city. Digs a tunnel to expand the water supply. Leads a coalition to challenge Assyria. Threatens to destroy Israel. , Succesful militarily, in that he strengthened walls of Jerusalem and made water systems, and religiously: Cleansed temple, and Celebrated passover in 2nd month; Revival under his rule; made religious reforms. Attacked Idolatry.

Rehobom

Son of solomon. becomes king of judah.

Cyrus

Takes over Babylon from Persia and establishes the Persian Empire. He is "anointed" (messiah). The lord gives him success. Cyrus designates funds for a new temple. , Persian emperor who defeats the Babylonians and allows the people of Judah to return to their homeland

In Isaiah 45:16-28, the Lord repeatedly makes a bold claim to reassure his people. What is this claim?

That he alone is God.

Read Isaiah 10:5-23. Which of the following describes the relationship between the Lord God of Israel and Assyria in this section?

The God of Israel determines and controls the military successes of Assyria, even though Assyria is unaware of this fact.

In Isaiah 40:12-31, what primary idea(s) does Isaiah use to inspire his listeners to have hope and confidence in the Lord?

The Lord is the all-powerful Creator of the universe, not something created.

Read Isaiah 36, where an Assyrian army has surrounded the city of Jerusalem (701 B.C.). The field commander ("Rabshakeh") for the Assyrian army tries to persuade the defenders of Jerusalem to surrender. He discourages them from "depending on" or "having confidence in" two powers to save them, implying they are weaker than Assyria. Which of these are the two powers that he says cannot save Jerusalem?

The Lord or Egypt.

Read Isaiah 5:1-7. What does Isaiah say about seeing and hearing in this passage

The Lord sees and hears the suffering of the oppressed in the nation.

Read Isaiah 5:26-30. What does the reader "see" and "hear" in this passage?

The growl and darkness created by an approaching army.

Read 2 Kings 17:1-18. What happens to (North) Israel because the Lord is angry with the nation?

The king of Assyria conquers Israel and carries the people away to Assyria.

In Ezekiel 37:15-28, what do the two sticks represent?

The kingdoms of Judah and Israel, which will be reunited under a king from the house of David.

Read Jeremiah 31:1-22, where the Lord talks about bringing his people back from the land of the north. More specifically, who is he talking about here?

The people of (North) Israel, who had been exiled by Assyria

In Isaiah 40:1-11, to whom is Isaiah addressing his words of comfort?

The people of Jerusalem and of the towns of Judah

Jeremiah 7:1-15 is known as Jeremiah's "Temple Sermon," because Jeremiah speaks these words at the gate leading into the temple. What metaphor does he allude to here to describe the way the Israelites use the temple?

The temple is like a hideout for thieves, where they go to escape punishment.

Read Jeremiah 7:16-28. What fundamental sin does Jeremiah accuse the people of in these verses?

They do not listen to the Lord.

In Ezra 10:1-17, what great sin among the leadership of Judah and Jerusalem does Ezra try to correct?

They have married foreign women.

Anathoth

This city is the home of Mosaic theology and is the home of Jeremiah. It is also the city to which Abiathar is banished by Solomon

Ezra 1 contains a proclamation by King Cyrus of Persia regarding Judah. What is Cyrus's primary intent, according to this proclamation?

To build a temple to the Lord in Jerusalem.

Ahaz

Trusts in Assyria instead of the Lord. , Unfaithful king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, sacrificed his son in pagan worship, made an agreement with Assyria and paid them tribute in exchange for protection, replaced God's altar in the Temple with one to the Assyrian gods, father to faithful Hezekiah.

Ruth

a moabite who marries boaz an israelite. against ezra and nehemiah's rules. , a book of the Old Testament that tells the story of Ruth who was not an Israelite but who married an Israelite and who stayed with her mother-in-law Naomi after her husband died

Micaiah

had a vision of god in heaven on a throne. Goes to jail for not wanting to invade assyria , The prophet who told Ahab that th Lord has sent a lying spirit to the mouths of hte prophets in order to decieve Ahave and lead him to his death.

Sennacherib

king of assyria who says not to trust the lord. , king of Assyria who invaded Judea twice and defeated Babylon and rebuilt Nineveh after it had been destroyed by Babylonians (died in 681 BC)

Naomi

the mother-in-law of Ruth whose story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament

Jereboam

the servant of solomon who inherited the 10 tribes that became north israel. , man who inherits all tribes but judah

characteristics of jeremiah's "New Covenant", its relationship to the mosiac covenant, and its relationship to the new testiment

this future covenant "not like" mosiac covenant" 1. internalized laws: god will write these on your heart (before it was "you will write these on your heart") 2. like a marriage: god is the husband, israel is the wife 3. experiencing and imitating god (if you are like the lord, you will take care of those in need) 4. forgiveness granted: shown since mt. sinai

possible goals of ezra's inter-faith marriage policy (and how ruth represents a contrary example(

why do ezra and nehemiah focus on interfaith marriages: 1. social goal: their religion is key to maintaining their cultural ID 2. practical goal: they want to prevent another exile 3. economic goal: control of marriages provides control of temple finances 4. spiritual goal: marriages are symptomatic of a general "unfaithfulness" -ruth(moabite) who marries boaz (israelite) -no criticism of this marriage, only praise -ezra and nehemiah may approve because ruth professes faith in god (compare with rahab of jericho) -ruth is one of two foreign women in the line of david

Read Isaiah 7:1-2 (again) and 2 Kings 16:5, and you will see that these two passages are talking about the same event. Then read 2 Kings 16:6-18. How does King Ahaz respond to the situation he faces in these passages?

-He makes an alliance with the king of Assyria, who then attacks Damascus to relieve the pressure on Judah. -He builds an altar in Judah that looks like one he had seen in Damascus

Read Psalm 115:1-11. What does this psalm say about seeing and hearing?

-Idols have eyes and ears, but they cannot really see and hear. -People who trust in idols have eyes and ears, but they cannot really see and hear.

the goal of Josiah's reform and jeremiah's use of a marriage metaphor to evaluate it

-Josiah is given "the book of the covenant'' and says if the people don't follow the laws of the lord, they will suffer. he rebuilds the temple in judah. -josiah destroys high places, celebrates passover, reforms hold until josiah's death -hosea used his promiscuous wife as a living illusion for n. israel's worship of idols -unfaithful Israel" is not as bad as "unrepented judah" -the lord divorced n. israel (exile), but planned to remarry her . -divorce is termination of the mosiac covenant and rejection of jerusalem

Contrast the histories of N. Israel and S. Judah

-Lord announces to Soloman: "I will tear the kingdom from your son and give it to your servant" -also "I will give one tribe to your son, because of David" -Two kingdoms -1. Jereboam (slave): 10 nations of North Israel -2. Reheboam (soloman's son): south judah -ahijah the prophet gives 10 of 12 pieces of cloak to jereboam, symbolizing fate of the nation

Micaiah and Elijah as examples of how prophets confronted kings of n. israel

-Michaiah's vision: saw god in heaven on his throne and they are discussing what to do with the northern king of israel. he stood in the council of god and could hear what the angels were saying King=god advisors=angels messengers=prophets. -both kings of judah and north israel called on 400 royal prophets to attack assyria. alll 400 profits said go for it , micaiah says dont do it and goes to prision -elijah's vision: contest between baal priests and elijah to see which god is real. baal priests die from blood sacrifice, elijah mocks them. elijah pours water over his offering and god consumes it with fire. this is done during a drought.

the themes of idolatry and the lord as creator/king

-an idol has to be made; people have to take care of it -the lord makes people, no idol can compare with the lord -nothing that is made can compare with what makes it -dont give up! those who wait for the lord shall renew their streanth -it appears the writer is responding to despair in the face of arrogant babylonians

the primary accomplishments of ezra and nehemiah

-ezra is a scribe and judge, reorganizes the judicial system -nehemiah is the governor and city builder -ezra teaches the laws of moses, nehemiah enforces them Main projects: -rebuild the walls of jerusalem -enforce moses laws (sabbath) -provide for the levites -disbands interfaith marriages

The personal history of isaiah that influences how he describes his "call" Isaiah 6

-isiah is longest book in the bible. divided in two parts. part 1 predicting that assyrians would invade. part 2 a couple hundred years later, predicting the persian period. -isaiah is in the temple of jerusalem -he is a priest/levite because he is in the temple -the king of uzziah died and was punished with leprosy for going to the temple when he wasn't supposed to -isaiah, the pure priest, no identifies with uzziah the unclean king -seraph touched lips with live coal to clean lips

*Prophets compared with royal messengers

-main theme "be true to the mosaic covenant with god, or expect consequences" (kings or prophets?) King of Israel and judah seek advice from royal profits

how ezekiel prophesies hope (valley of dry bones, two sticks, new jerusalem

-people feel that babylon is their ''grave" -ezekiel sees a vision of a valley full of bones -as he speaks the bones click together into skeletons flesh and skin cover them -he calls on the wind (spirit) which blows and revives the bodies -this is god's promise to revive the nation "i will put my spirit withinyou " -the two sticks, judah+joseph/ephraim/israel, tied together. showing renewification of the N. and s. under the house of david -there is a new "everlasting covenant'' of peace -a bronze man gives a tour of the 12 strip land -a river bubbles up from under the temple, flowing to the dead sea making it full of fish -trees along the river bear fruit and produce medicine -god's power to revive nature symbolizes power to revive the nation

the identification and role of the "suffering servant" in isaiah 40-55

-several references to a "servant" mixed signals about who he is. -past servants include heroes like moses, david, joshua, and "the prophets" -this servant functions as a "light to the nations" one who suffers for the crimes of others 1. israel is the servant suffering for the nations 2. the prophets are suffering for the israelities 3. jesus is suffering for all nations -the new testiment texts apply this to jesus (mechanical, deeper)

Major themes of isaiah (5) and ways he expresses each one (reference to 'eyes' and 'ears' to address idolatry, 'oppression of the weak' implied in the song of the vineyard; the lord uses assyria like an axe to show he is in control; the lord's disgust with sacrifices, etc)

1. The lord is king: when he sees the vision of god in the throne room 2. trust in the lord alone 3. don't worship idols: south judah had idols and isaiah says "eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear" those who make idols are like them and those who worship them are like them 4. don't mistreat the weak: the government is blind and deaf to inequities 5. (ONLY) a remnant will return: -"But like the stump of an oak tree remains standing when it has been felled. 50 cities in teh beginning of isaih, 2 at the end. isaiah knew this would happen. a new good will come -israel is well tended vine that produces wild grapes. isaiah harvested sour grapes -expects justice, sees bloodshed. expects righteousness, hears a cry -israels response to gods generosity is greed and opression. -assyria is an axe cutting down all cities. assyria thinks they are the lumberjack but just the axe. god is the lumberjack making all the calls

Four sins of Jeroboam

1. builds temples in dan and bethel 2. places golden calves there 3. appoints new priests (not levites) 4. reschedules fall festival -each of these breaks one of the laws of moses. jereboam changes worship for a clean break. he is the same as aaron by committing these four sins.

Four messages isaiah uses to reassure ahaz against northern neighbors

1. his son-"a remnant" will return 2. two "fiery" kings are flickering torches. (not strong nations anymore) 3. enemies are led by (human) kings have fiath in the king 4. sign of immanuel (god is with us)

Four types of "fulfillment" regarding prophecy

1. mechanical fulfillment-OT predicted one event, comes to pass in NT (isaiah predicting people won't listen to jesus' parables) 2. Deeper Fulfillment-predicitng two events (one OT, one NT). NT event is more significant (isiah talking about own time and god thinking ahead) 3. parallel situations- similarity between OT circumstances and NT circumstances, so same words apply (NT writers saw similarities between isaiah's audience and jesus) 4. accommodation-NT writer takes a phrase out of OT to make a different point in the NT (isiah and Jesus different but used the same words)

primary teachings of amos (the lord judges all nations, etc.) and distinctive ways he expresses each one (for example, "seek" "day of the Lord")

1. the lord judges all nations, especially north israel: "you only have I known, therefore I will punish you" 2. North Israel is plagued by institutionalized inequitites: the wealthy get wealthier by exploiting the vulnerable poor. bribed judges are always in favor of the rich. 3. religion in north israel is hypocritical: the worship more than the lord requires, yet do not address the needs of the poor. For amos, worship means nothing without day to day lives of mercy, justice and righeousness. -seek in amos 5: seek god not evil. rich taking advantage of poor. MLK quote -amos is famous for justice!!!

how six verbs in jeremiah's "call" summarize the tone of his prophecies

1.pluck up-field 2. pull down-field 3. destroy-demolition 4. overthrow-demolition 5. plan 6. build -"i appointed you a prophet to the nations" -"i'm just a kid (similar to moses)" -"I will be with you, i will put my words in your mouth." -first prophecy (ok) -describes his career: threats, warnings, new hope

the message of jeremiah's vision of two fig baskets

2 baskets of figs in front of the temple -good figs=fortunate people (exiled in babylon) -god will "build" and "plant" them -god will give them a heart to know me they will return with all of their heart -"bad figs"=unfortunate people left in jerusalem -nations will ridicule them "sword, famine, and plague" (code for seige)

Jeremiah's "temple sermon" (accusations, the significance of Shiloh)

2 part message 1. if he people stop oppressing the weak and braking the 10 commandments then you and god can live in the same place but.. 2. they treat his house like a "pen of robbers" misplaced confidence after hezekiah -the leaders operate as if they are god's ultimate-"eternal" choice Shiloh: -if it could happen in shiloh, it could happen to jerusalem. he wants them to learn from his ancestor's mistakes. -religion is empty without: righetousnes, justice, and mercy

Zedekiah

9 years after babylonians take over judah, zedekiah leads the resistance of jerusalem. sneaks out of jerusalem when it is burning. his eyes are stabbed out and he is killed after watching his family get killed before him. , Last king of Judah before Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC

Read Isaiah 7:1-9. In verse 7, the Lord says, "It will not stand / take place." To what is he referring? What "will not stand / take place"?

A threat to invade Judah and replace King Ahaz with another ruler.

Read Isaiah 5:8-25. Which of the following describes the kind of people that have stirred up the anger of the Lord in this passage

A. People who constantly expand their landholdings. B. People who prefer to party rather than acknowledge what God has done for them. C. People who say that evil things are really good. D. People who are more concerned about drinking than defending the innocent.

Read Jeremiah 31:27-40, where the Lord talks about the future of Israel and Judah. What does he say regarding God's covenant with Israel and Judah in the future?

A. The sins of the people will be forgiven. B. God's laws will be written on the hearts of the people. C. Everyone will "know" the Lord. D. The Lord will be their one and only God.

In Nehemiah 6, Nehemiah describes how three non-Israelite leaders tried to keep Nehemiah from finishing his work. What did they do to stop Nehemiah?

A. They used their friendship with influential Jews to persuade or intimidate Nehemiah to suspend the work. B. They hired someone to trick Nehemiah into hiding from assassins inside the temple, which would have been a violation of the temple's holiness. C. They spread rumors that Nehemiah was trying to become king in Jerusalem. D. They threatened to tell the Persian king that Nehemiah was leading a Jewish rebellion against the Persians.

In Isaiah 45:1-13, over what king does the Lord specifically claim authority, and on what basis?

He claims authority over King Cyrus, on the basis that he (the Lord) is the Creator of heaven and earth.

What actions does Nehemiah take, according to Nehemiah 13, to show his sincere devotion to God?

He evicts a foreign nobleman who has been given a place to live in one of the storage rooms of the temple. D. He prohibits merchants from selling their wares on the Sabbath Day. E. He beats those who have married foreign wives.

Read Ruth 2. Why does Boaz treat Ruth so generously?

He has heard about Ruth's selfless actions on behalf of Naomi, Boaz's relative.

Read Isaiah 6:1-7, where the prophet Isaiah sees a vision of "the Lord of hosts." How is God portrayed in this vision

He is portrayed as a powerful king.

Read Isaiah 7:1-2 (again) and 2 Kings 16:5, and you will see that these two passages are talking about the same event. Then read 2 Kings 16:6-18. How did King Ahaz respond to the situation he faces in these passages?

He makes an alliance with the king of Assyria, who then attacks Damascus to relieve the pressure on Judah. D. He builds an altar in Judah that looks like one he had seen in Damascus.

Read Jeremiah 3:1-13. What real-life situation does Jeremiah use here as an analogy for the relationship between God and Israel?

He portrays Israel as God's unfaithful wife.

Read Ezekiel 37:1-14. How does Ezekiel symbolically portray the hopelessness of the people of Israel, while they live in exile in Babylon?

He portrays their hopes as dried bones, filling a valley.

How is the call of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-10) similar to the call of Moses in Exodus 3?

Jeremiah gives a reason why God should not call him.

Read Ruth 4. What famous ruler is a direct descendant of Ruth and Boaz?

King David of Judah.

Ahab

King of North Israel. Condemned by Elijah for abusing power to gain prosperity. , the wicked king of Israel. Led by his Phoenician wife Jezebel, he established the cult of Baal and persecuted the worshipers of the True God

Jezebel

Phoenician Princess, her people started worshipping Baal. god of weather and fertility. , the wicked queen of Israel who persecuted the prophets of the True God. She was a Phoenician, and she was fanatically devoted to the Phoenician god Baal

Elijah

Profit who challenged Baal to see which offering would strike the lightning of god. , the great prophet who challenged the pagan rulers of Israel. He was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot

Ezra 7 contains a decree issued by King Artaxerxes of Persia. What are two primary goals of this decree?

Providing supplies for the Jerusalem temple, and organizing a system of judges in the region

Propaganda of assyrians (about "trust"/"rely on"0 during teh assyrian attack on jerusalem, how hezekiah and isaiah respond

assyrian commander uses propaganda: 1. dont trust in egypt (like a splintered walking stick) 2. don't trust in the lord (he is no different, hezekiah offended him) king sennacherib threatens again and letter is sent to hezekiah and he takes it to the temple and shows it to the lord to pray for guidance. isaiah brings the lord's response 1. i am the holy one of israel 2. assyrians will be led away like a horse 3. a remnant will remain "for my sake and the sake of david"