REL 1004 - FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE

Know Amos's: Place of origin & the Date and Location of his Prophetic Career

Judah, 750 BCE in the Northern Kingdom Israel

Explain the distinctive characteristics of secular wisdom (1-3 sentences on each). Non-revelatory

Knowledge based on human observation/reason/experience

Explain the distinctive characteristics of secular wisdom (1-3 sentences on each). Non-historical

Knowledge learned from ordinary life experience of the mature, wise person, not from the nation's special history

What are the three wisdom books in the Jewish canon of the Bible?

Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes

How have Early Christians understood the Hebrew prophets?

predictors of Jesus Christ

Know the approximate date of the speeches of so-called Second Isaiah.

(ca. 545-540).

What is the gist of Yahweh's response to Job's complaints, according to D. N. Freedman, and why does Yahweh's response satisfy Job? (2 sentences).

- God's speeches to Job essentially assert that he is too busy running the university to pay attention to humans like Job. -Yet the very fact that God addresses Job at all conveys indirectly to Job the consoling message that God is attentive to Job's situation.

Review the structure and compositional history of the book of Job. Which parts of the book are most ancient?

- Pre-exilic prose tale (1;2;42) = most ancient

Reread the prologue in chs 1-2. How does it depict Job, the Satan, and Yahweh? Why, according to the prologue, does Job suffer?

- a test to see whether Job will curse God if he loses his blessings

Review the different themes in the preaching of second Isaiah, including: the two eras of the "former things and the latter/new things"

- former things = Israeltie history from exodus to exile - latter things = era of salvation soon to come

Review the different themes in the preaching of second Isaiah, including: Yahweh as the only deity

- real monotheism

Review the different themes in the preaching of second Isaiah, including: Yahweh as the Lord of history

- steers course of international events

Explain how Job challenges the beliefs/assumptions of the wisdom tradition as set forth, for example, in the book of Proverbs and as articulated by Job's friends. (How does Job respond to the arguments of his friends?) Does the response of God to Job's complaint resolve questions about innocent suffering and divine injustice? Explain.

- wisdom set forth by Proverbs that the unrighteous will fall while the righteous will be divinely blessed, however, Job followed God - God directs Job's attention to the wider world of nature, where God's wisdom is evident yet ultimately beyond human comprehension. - God thus shows that Job is in no position to judge the ways of God.

How the Bible describe the underworld Sheol, specifically, the deepest level of Sheol? (2-3 sentences)

1. Shoel = the underworld. What kind of a place is this, and what is "life" like in it? a. Dark, gloomy place. Silent. Where the dead go and rest and sort of fade away. Not real bad. Not real good either. b. Job 10:21-22 c. Psalm 94:17 d. Job 3:17 e. Isa 14:9-11 f. 1 Kings 11:43 and 15:24

Which chapters in the book of Isaiah supposedly derive from him? Explain specifically how the historical perspective of these chapters might warrant assigning them to an exilic prophet.

-Supposedly chapters 40-55 derive from him. -speeches of Isaiah assume and address circumstances of Babylonian exile

Review the different themes in the preaching of second Isaiah, including: The all-powerful word of Yahweh

-exile = fulfillment of pre-exilic prophecy - future deliverance = fulfillment of second isaiah's prophecies

Dates for: Davidic rule

1000 BCE

Dates for: Exodus from Egypt

1250 BCE

Date for: Cyrus of Persia

539 BCE

Date for: Fall of SK

586 BCE

Date for: Fall of NK

722 BCE

Date for: Amos' Prophecy

750 BCE

Review the different themes in the preaching of second Isaiah, including: The return from exile

= new Exodus

Reread Deuteronomy 32:8-9. Be able to present (2-3 sentences) Mark Smith's interpretation of the passage (see his article, bottom of p. 2).

According to mark smith, this text envisions the god Elyon (an epithet of el?) as the chief feity in a pantheon. Each nation has its patron god, and Yahweh is the patron god of Israel.

Explain the distinctive characteristics of secular wisdom (1-3 sentences on each). Stress on the order of existence

Assumption that the world has a structure (an order) that has existed since creation and the wise person can see it

Review again the biblical portrait of Elijah. Be especially familiar with the story of the contest at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18). How is it a "double" contest?

Contest 1: • Who is the true God? Baal or Yahweh? Contest 2: • Who is the true prophet that can pray and get an answer from the true God: the many prophets of Baal or the prophet of Yahweh?

According to the class lecture, Israelite religion in its earliest phase envisioned a four-tiered pantheon. Which deities were in the first tier?

El and Asherah, a divine royal couple

According to U. Avner, the story of Jacob in Genesis 28:10-22 attests the Israelite understanding of a standing stones or pillar as a deity or the abode of a deity. Explain briefly.

Genesis 28 describes Jacob awakening from a dream at the site of Bethel and "This stone...shall be God's house." Avner states Jacob 'probably believed the stone contained God's spirit.'

The speeches of the prophets were concrete sayings for definite circles pursuing specific policies at particular times. Their messages, then, cannot be understood apart from the circumstances that they addressed. Review the different historical settings of Amos. How did their messages address historical, social, political, and/or religious circumstances/developments?

I. Amos - judgment and social criticism theme a. historical background - Reign of Jereboam II - Territorial expansion into the northern Transjordan - Economic prosperity - Widespread national and religious pride - Economic polairization 'widening gap between upper and lower classes' - Judicial discrimination against lower classes - Counter expansion of syra-damascus ca. 755 onward - Anti-jero sentiment in Israel ca. 755 onward

Know the typical iconography/imagery of Asherah, especially the sacred tree flanked by ibexes, the lion, and the nude female with pubic triangle

I. Asherah is usually depicted in several different ways. a. A humanoid form, usually portrayed as a nude female, the breasts and pubic triangle being a strong indicator b. A sacred tree flanked by two ibexes c. A lion

Was the veneration of Asherah widespread among Israelites? Review Susan Ackerman's answer and explanation.

Said to have been worshipped at sites throughout Israel. Some passages refer to the Asherah icon Josiah destroyed in the Temple of Yahweh itself in Jerusalem. Also, some were found in the temples at Dan and Bethel in the Northern kingdom.

We divided the Hebrew prophets into what two groups?

The Early Prophets and the Classical Prophets

To which section of the Jewish canon do these books belong?

The Writings

According to the class lecture, Israelite religion in its earliest phase envisioned a four-tiered pantheon. In what tier was Yahweh?

The second tier, with the other children of El

Explain the distinctive characteristics of secular wisdom (1-3 sentences on each). Eudemonic

Ultimate goal of wisdom is human happiness, e.g., longevity, posterity, wealth, good reputation.

How did this organization change in early monarchical times?

Yahweh was identified with El, and thus he moved up to the first tier and became the husband of Asherah

Be able to explain briefly (2-3 sentences) the different themes of Amos's preaching: His social criticism

a. Affluent oppress the poor and weak b. Unjust judicial practices c. Unfair business

Know the different portraits of early prophets, including... The Seer" in 1 Samuel 1:9

a. Clairvoyant, paid for services, and esteemed when word comes true

Review the following ideas and practices that the Bible attributes to the Israelite cult of the dead.

a. Dead people are divine beings (1 Sam 28:13). b. The dead can foretell the future, and so people consult them through necromancers (Isa 8:19; Deut 18:11). c. People care for the dead by providing food (Deut 26:14). d. The "teraphim" may be ancestor figurines for use in the home and in the public cult for divination.

Be able to explain briefly (2-3 sentences) the different themes of Amos's preaching: His reinterpretation of old national traditions of salvation in order to proclaim judgment (e.g., the "Day of Yahweh" in 5:18-20 and the special election of Israel in 3:2).

a. Election tradition 3:2 - Israel's status as the special people of Yahweh is the reason why Y's punishment of nation is especially harsh - 'day of Yahweh' 5:18-20 1. When Yahweh will fight against, not for Israel

Be able to explain briefly (2-3 sentences) the different themes of Amos's preaching: His emphasis on the coming judgment

a. Expectation of the divine judgement predominates in Amos b. Disaster that Amos expects - End of dynasty of Jeroboam - Oppression by an adversary - Syria - Damascus? - Exile of the population (4:23; 6:7; 7:11) - End to prophecy (8:11-12)

Know the approximate dates and location of the career of Isaiah, the eighth-century prophet (ca. 750-700 BCE, in Judah). Review the different themes in his preaching, including: Transcendence of God - great distance between Yahweh and humans

a. God = majestic, all-powerful, holy b. Humans = lowly creatures with false pride

According J. Cook, Israelites believed that they could avoid Sheol, or at least the deepest parts of Sheol. How supposedly could they do this? Explain Cook's argument/evidence (4-5 sentences).

a. Israelites believed that they could avoid the deepest part of Sheol by maintaining kinship ties between the living and the deceased. b. The power of the dead was never denied. - Biblical tests stress the importance of being buried on ancestral territory. Otherwise the dead are "cut off" form the family - Archaeology of Judahite tombs show that people were interred near home and village and thus in proximity to their living kin - The bombs also demonstrate the belief that kin should lie together. Multiple family members are buried together. - Remembering the dead helps the dead to avoid the depths of Sheol. The bonds to their living kin are maintained through memory. Remembrance sustains the deceased in death.

Know the different portraits of early prophets, including... Elisha

a. Leader of group called 'sons of prophets' - Lower class jews who give eli room and board b. Music induces spirit possession: possession produces oracles c. Military consultant - Whether Y is for or against - Location of enemy ambushes d. Performs miracles - Cleans water source - Increases oil supply of house - Increasing food to hungry crowd - Revive dead - Purify poisoned food - Cursing disrespectful children e. Medical advisor - Suggest cure - Give prognosis f. Role in political revolution: gives divine sanction to overthrow government

Know the different portraits of early prophets, including... Anonymous Prophet 1 Samuel 10

a. Organized into groups b. Connected to sanctuaries c. Music involved their "prophesying" perhaps as a means of inducing ecstasy d. "prophesying" involves unusual behavior, as though one has been "turned into a different person" e. Unusual behavior understood as the result of a spirit possession f. Spirit possession is thought to be contagious. It can spread from the group to anyone who comes among them. g. Group identified by 'father' or leader or perhaps founder of the group

Know the different portraits of early prophets, including... Nathan

a. Serves king as court prophet b. Advises king on cultic matters, revealing Jahweh's view of cultic innovations c. Gives dynastic oracles that legitimate ruling dynasty by declaring Jahweh's support d. Role in enthronement ritual of new king

The speeches of the prophets were concrete sayings for definite circles pursuing specific policies at particular times. Their messages, then, cannot be understood apart from the circumstances that they addressed. Isaiah the eighth-century prophet. How did their messages address historical, social, political, and/or religious circumstances/developments?

a. Theme - Emphasis of transendance of God - Emphasis on zion/Davidic traditions - Emphasis on Yahweh's plan/counsel in history b. Historical background - Judean prophet in Jerusalem ca. 750-700 bce - Assyrian kings dominate Syro-Palestinian states like Damascus, Tyre, Israel, Judah, - Frequent revolts by anti-Assyrian coalitions of Syro-Palestinian states. None succeed.

The speeches of the prophets were concrete sayings for definite circles pursuing specific policies at particular times. Their messages, then, cannot be understood apart from the circumstances that they addressed. 2ND Isaiah How did their messages address historical, social, political, and/or religious circumstances/developments?

a. Theme - Yahweh steers course of history - Only God - Creator of the world - Cyrus = Yahweh's agent of salvation - Deliverance from exile = new exodus b. Historical background - 597: Nebuchadnezzar and Babylonians capture Jerusalem and deport King Jehoichin and other Judeans. - 586: Nebuchadnezzar and Babylonians capture Jerusalem a second time and sack the city.

Know the different portraits of early prophets, including... Elijah

a. Wears special mantle that legalizes authority and possess magical power b. "man of God" or Divine man who performs miracles - Multiplying food - Reviving dead - Bringing drought and rain - Killing soldiers with fire from heaven c. Intercedes with deity: Yahweh heeds his prayer d. Gives oracle that shows Yahweh's rejection of the king and thus sanctioning the overthrow of the government

Know the approximate dates and location of the career of Isaiah, the eighth-century prophet (ca. 750-700 BCE, in Judah). Review the different themes in his preaching, including: Emphasis on Y's plan in world history and Isaiah's interpretation of Assyria as Y's instrument/agent of wrath and judgment

a. Y is lord of history; steering world events b. Assyria = Y's agent of wrath c. Y's plan calls for punishment of Assyria and liberation of Davidic kingdom

Know the approximate dates and location of the career of Isaiah, the eighth-century prophet (ca. 750-700 BCE, in Judah). Review the different themes in his preaching, including: Emphasis on Zion and Davidic traditions (especially syro-ephraimite war in 734 bce)

a. Zion/Jeru is holy city of Y. he resides there and will protect them against enemies b. Davidic kings chosen by Y and he will maintain their throne c. Syro-ephra war - Rezin of Syria-Damascus, Pekah of Israel, and others rebel against Assyria - Ahaz of Judah refuses to join the revolt. - Rezin and Pekah besiege Jerusalem to depose Ahaz

Review the two uses of the term "asherah" in the Hebrew Bible:

a. as the proper name of a goddess, Asherah (see 1 Kings 15:13; 18:19; 2 Kings 21:7; 23:4 and 6) b. as a common noun for a wooden cult object, "the/an asherah," presumably a tree or a wooden pole (see 1 Kings 16:33; 2 Kings 13:6; 18:4; Deut 16:21), which perhaps represents the goddess Asherah.

Be familiar with the following archaeological evidence for the cult of the dead in Judah.

a. bench tombs that accommodated the burial of 15-30 people, presumably representing several generations of a family. b. provisions in the tombs, like bowls for foodstuffs, jugs for liquid, and food remains (e.g., sheep bones), that suggest that nourishment in the afterlife was a major concern.

Be able to present and explain briefly the archaeological evidence for the Israelite veneration of Asherah, including:

a. inscription and drawing on a large storage jar at Kuntillet 'Ajrud - the Pithos A inscription states "May you be blessed by Yahweh and his Asherah." Much debated, however, some archaeologists believe the diety is depicted on a 'lion throne' behind Yahweh/El. b. the terra cotta cult stand from Tanaach - two pillars commemorating Asherah. One pillar being a female. The second being a lion.

Be able to explain briefly (2-3 sentences) the different themes of Amos's preaching: His critique of the cult (4:4-5; 5:21-24)

a. reflection on an extravagant cult of Yahweh b. no wholesale rejection of the cult c. Amos condemns cult when not accompanied by social justice NOTE: Amos rarely, if ever, accuses Israelites of worshiping foreign gods or idols

Review the major themes of theological wisdom in Proverbs.

a. the emphasis on the "fear of Yahweh" as the essence or beginning of wisdom b. stress on the limits of human reason. c. wisdom comes, in part, from Yahweh. b. the interpretation of personal disaster as divine punishment for human sin and folly. c. the personification of wisdom as "Lady Wisdom" and her role in creation (Prov 8:22-36)

Review some of the major themes of secular wisdom in Proverbs:

a. the value of prudence and self-restraint b. the contrast between the just/righteous/wise person and the wicked/foolish person (their different ways and fates) c. the idea of mechanical retribution

Know the approximate dates and location of the career of Isaiah, the eighth-century prophet.

ca. 750-700 BCE, in Judah

How does G. Holscher understand the Hebrew prophets?

ecstatic poets

Know that most scholars divide the book of Isaiah into three parts: First Isaiah (chs 1-39); Second Isaiah (chs. 40-55); and Third Isaiah (chs. 56-66). Explain this division.

i. First Isaiah (1-49) - speeches of 8th century prophet and additions by late editors ii. Second Isaiah (40-55) sayings of Exilic prophet ca. 540 bce iii. Third Isaiah (56-66) - sayings of most exilic prophets

What are the Ugaritic texts (date, language, provenance?), and how are they relevant to the study of Israelite religion? (2-3 sentences)

i. Found in 1928 at the ancient city of Ugarit, on the Mediterranean coast in north Syria ii. Written in a semitic language similar to Hebrew called ugaritic iii. Date to the 15th century bce iv. Important generally because - They inform us about Canaanite religion - They illuminate aspects of Israelite religion

Reread Psalms 29:1, 89:6-7 and 95:3. Be sure that you see how these texts envision a pantheon with Yahweh as king over the other gods.

i. Psalm 29:1 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. ii. V. 9 might speak of deities assembling in the heavenly temple and prasing Yahweh - Psalm 89:6-7 iii. Ps. 95:3 - Lord is great god, great king above all gods

Present Avner's interpretation of the two standing stones in the temple at Arad, and explain his reasoning (3-4 sentences).

i. there is no doubt that the temple is not Isrealite due to the two small ostraca are names of two Israelite priestly families. ii. pair of pillars represent a pair of deities in the holy of holies portion of the Arad temple.

How have Traditional Jews understood the Hebrew prophets?

interpreters of Jewish/Mosaic law

Explain the distinctive characteristics of secular wisdom (1-3 sentences on each). Non-nationalistic

not interested in nation Israel specifically but in universal problems

Who were the Classical Prophets?

o 750 BCE onwards o Separate books with their speeches

Who were the Early Prophets?

o Prophets before Amos o Stories found only from Genesis to Kings

How does J. Wellhausen understand the Hebrew prophets?

religious geniuses who thought up ethical monotheism

Review the different themes in the preaching of second Isaiah, including: Yahweh as the lord of the cosmos

that is, as the creator of the world