OT Test 3
Haggai
challenged all of these people to resume the work done on the temple says that the drought and the bad circumstances were because they were sinning by not continuing to build the temple he proclaims a divine shakedown from God so that all is given to the temple which is his alongside everything else and so that the temple will be even more glorious than before haggai suggest that Zerubbabel is going to e the branch of the new line of David
Sheshbazzar
A prince of Judah who led the first return of Judean refugees from Babylonian exile in 538 BCE; son of Jehoyachim; him and his people sanctify the altar so that the people could worship; but the old people weep when they see this house because it was not as magnificent as what was before; the young ones are shouting for joy that there even is a temple started
What languages is the book of Daniel written in?
Aramaic and Hebrew
What is the essence of 2nd Isaiah's message?
"Govern the life of Judah at the end of the exile is that Jerusalem is to be comforted (40:1-2)""Yahweh is at the threshold of a new, decisive intervention in the life of the world. Yahweh will do a new thing in the world on behalf of Jerusalem (372).""The intervention will effect the nullification of Babylonian power, and liberate Israel from Exile (373)" tidings of comfort and joy; suffering servant passages introduced
What were some of the literary and theological developments of the Exile?
-Literary development-loss of land and temple -began to write the Pentateuch by priestly writers, stories of how God was faithful, did not want to lose memories -Deuteronomist added last words to Pentateuch, continued to work on historical books-Samuel and Kings -Started work on prophetic books-parts of Isaiah, and Ezekiel Theological -needed to makes sense of why God allowed this to happen, struggled with meaning of suffering, -Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Second Isaiah track despair and hope -Lamentations is written during the exile, talks about what has been destroyed and knows that it has been God's decision, asking for God to return to people -FIRST TIME WE SEE SYNAGOGUES
Ezra
458: Ezra makes the Torah the absolute truth again; reinstates passover if the Persians caught on to their kingdom plans, they saw fruit from their prophetic life Ezra comes with silver and gold for the Jewish government from Babylon where some Jewish people still lived the agenda seemed to be the revival and purification of the folks living in Jerusalem one way to purify was to put aside foreign wives Ezra 10:10-11 "separate yourselves from the people of the land and from the foreign wives" tries to bring people back to order by daily public reading of the law
Zerubbabel
515: Zerubbabel and Jeshua complete the temple reconstruction appointed in 520 by Darius; sheshbazzar's nephew and a decendent of Jehoachim (and thus David) arrived with sidekick Jeshua spoken to by Zecharaiah about the sprout on the throne
Who was Cyrus and why should we care?
538 BC; King of Persia who decreed that the Israelites could return home after the Babylonian exile; worship and rebuilding of the temple could commence; the Assyrians would also have to give gold and temple items to the Israelites as they left to return to Jerusalem; sent Ezra; Might have been "the Messiah" that Isaiah 44:28 wrote about. Cyrus' empire came to an end under Alexander and the Greeks
Be able to describe the major empires and main dates for everything after the deportation to Babylon in 587 BCE through the beginning of the Roman period.
587 - 2nd deportation; Zedekiah Persia takes over Edict of Cyrus - 538 515 - new Judian govenor Darius 458 - ezra and others restart temple building Nehemiah returns to build walls Greeks take over Persians take over Maccabean revolt Rome takes over
Second deportation of judah
587 BCE
When did Judah fall and to whom?
587 to the Babylonians, King Nebbechaunezzar
First deportation of Judahites to Babylon
597 BCE
Battle of Carchemish
605 BC; Babylon, led by the young Nebuchadnezzar, defeats Egypt and Assyria at the Battle of Carchemish on the Euphrates; opened up all of "the land of Hatti" (Syria and Palestine) to the Babylonians; Babylon now controls all of Syria and Palestine; Jeremiah prophecies about this against Egypt but Jehoiakim will not listen and instead throws that prophecy into the fire
Battle of Megiddo
609 BC; Pharoah Necho II against Josiah; Necho needed to get through the Kingdom of Judah to get to Carchemish to unite with the Assyrians against the Babylonians; they battled at Megiddo, Josiah dies by arrow while on a chariot in battle disguised and Judah becomes a vassal to Egypt; this is against the prophetess Hulda's prophecy that Josiah would die a peaceful death
How might the book of Esther have been helpful to people of the Diaspora? ...to us today?
Addresses the condition of Israelites in a foreign land. Perhaps shows God's favor toward the Jews even in a foreign land? For us today...how to be faithful in an unfaithful culture. Can teach us about proportion...?
Why is Malachi angry with the priests?
Although the Levites were supposed to be the priests, we know that by the time of Malachi (475BCE), the Levites are second class to the Aaronite priests. Malachi, using an ironic inversion of the blessing from Numbers 6:23-27, rants against the Aaronite priests for the way they have dishonored the Lord by sacrificing unclean animals. Malachi is probably a Levite. And Malachi is a clever name because it means My Messenger. Malachi's eschatological vision is that the priesthood would be refined by a refining fire, which would burn up the Aaronites and leave the Levites. We know from tradition and history that Malachi's hope was not realized. He lost.
Why might the book of Daniel be a bit like the TV series, M*A*S*H?
Apocolyptic and calling out in place systems Written about one period (Babylon) but a message about a later period (Greek/Hellenistic)
Who was Jeremiah's secretary?
Baruch
How would you explain my suggestion that Malachi is "a priest prophesying against rival priests"?
Bechtel claims that this is a reconstructionist theory and that you cannot base a theology on a reconstruction. HOWEVER, if we don't start out with some kind of theory, "we are likely to get some bizarre notions of what it means today. We ignore the context at our own peril." She says that the present, refined canonical form provides some theological depth: Although Malachi's political agenda was never realized, his words live on. They call us to a deeper sense of vocation in ministry, to obedience and sincerity in life and worship. All priests are Levites but not all Levites are preists
How does Daniel differ from prophetic eschatology?
Daniel is not predicting the end of times; Daniel is looking to a time when God will intervene so Greek oppression will end. It is set in Babylonian exile, but was most likely written during and about the Greek oppression that occurred under Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Identify the main characters of the book of Esther and their roles in the story (including the eunuchs!)
Esther (Hadasa)- Heroine whom book is named after. Adopted daughter and niece of Mordecai the Jew. Is married to Xerxes, passes on Mordecai's information to Xerxes about the plot on the king's life. Later on intercedes at Mordecai's request on behalf of her people to stay the pogrom of Haman's edict by having a series of dinners with King and Haman and Mordecai. Fasts on days leading up to the pogrom. Xerxes aka Ahasuerus - King of Persia, marries Esther, rewards Mordecai for alerting him to the plot on his life. (also called Ahasuerus) Vashti - Xerxes first wife who was deposed after refusing to dress up for Xerxes and his guests. Mordecai - Jew who becomes aware of plot on Xerxes life and makes it known to him through Esther. Refuses to bow down to Haman and thus incurs his wrath. Is eventually remembered and honored by king, receives Haman's estate through Esther and takes over as new prime minister. Haman - Xerxes prime minister who becomes angry with Mordecai and all Jews when Mordecai refuses to bow to him. Issues edict in King's name declaring on the 13th of Adar that all Jews be killed. Is eventually stopped by Esther and Mordecai and hung in his own gallows by Xerxes. Memucan - Counseled Xerxes to depose Vashti 'less all wives take her example. Hegai - Eunuch in charge of the harem, favors Esther. Hathack - Eunuch responsible for attending to Esther. Shaashgaz - Eunuch in charge of concubines Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who guarded the entrance, who plotted to kill Xerxes. Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven highest-ranking princes of Persia and Media, the inner circle with access to the king's ear.
Who was Ezekiel and how did he communicate God's message to the exiles?
From the line of Zadok, meaning he was the creme de la creme of priests; his role as prophet began prior to the 1st deportation, and continued to the exiles; communicated most prominently through crazy sign acts like swallowing a scroll and seeing a wheel in the air and the dry bones
What theological developments do we see in the Servant Songs of 2nd Isaiah?
God calls the servant to lead the nations, but the servant is horribly abused by them and in the end, he is rewarded We do not know who this "servant" is, but they will do Yahweh's purpose in the world. Jewish interpreters see the community of Israel as the servant. "What counts here is not the identification of the servant, but the affirmation that the vicious cycles of displacement can be broken and healing made possible, but not without cost."
Which prophet received a message about faith/faithfulness when he took a stand on his "watchtower"? What was the historical context of that book?
Habakkuk 2:1 Context BBFP 344-347: Nebuchadnezzar was deporting Judah (587BC). "The Rhetoric of Habakkuk concerns the wild, destructive power of evil in the world of Judah." "Habakkuk urges the faithful to wait, because in the long run, Yahweh will prevail and the arrogance on the empire will fail (347)" Seems here that God is backing Babylon
Describe Jeremiah's vision of the "new covenant"
Jeremiah 31:31 unlike the old covenant, the people will not forget this one because it will be "in their minds" and written "on their hearts" and so everyone will have access to God without the need for their neighbors to tell them; God will forgive all sins and wickedness
Jeshua
High Priest sent by King Cyrus to help God's people rebuild the altar with Zerrubabel
How does Isaiah 56-66 differ from the earlier parts? How is it similar?
III Isaiah differs from I and II because "The soaring hopes of I and II Isaiahs are but a memory and the harsh realities of the restoration and disillusionment keep poking through". There are "symptoms of disillusionment and frustration." It is poetry from pain. "The pain is what gives it its poignancy and makes the prophet strain even harder to see into God's future." ******* III Isaiah retains a certain amount of continuity with I and II because "there was a concern for holiness, a note of hope." Also, "The conditional language of I and II comes back along with its appeal to every age." It makes use of the "If/then pattern encountered in early chapters of Isaiah and elsewhere."
Give a couple of examples of 3rd Isaiah's disillusionment. ...of his hope.
In Bechtel's lecture, she reads Isaiah 56:9-57:5 and Isaiah 64:9-12 as examples of disillusionment and harsh reality. She reads Isaiah 57: 13-21 to show a glimmer of hope. The conditional language of I and II Isaiah comes back along with its appeal to every age. Bechtel reads an example from Isaiah 58: 6+. She reads Isaiah 55:17+ in order to show the "glimpse of a future that only God can see clearly". This is the text about the new heavens and new earth. Isaiah 66:10+ depicts Jerusalem as the nurturing mother, but then this imagery shifts to depict God as the mother.
What chapters in Jeremiah describe Jeremiah's "temple sermon," and what was it about?
Jeremiah 7 and Jeremiah 26; calls for the people to act justly and repent so that the house of the Lord will not fall and God will dwell in the temple with his people; if they do not repent, God will do what he did to Shiloh and will cast his people out just as he did to all the offspring fo Ephraim equates worship with justice
Which king burned Jeremiah's scroll?
Jehoiakim cuts up Jeremiah's scroll and burns it in his brazier (36:23)
What is the theological significance of Jeremiah's real estate deal in Jer. 32?
Jeremiah buys a field even though Zedekaih is under siege by Babylonians; he bought his cousin Hanamel's field because he believed in the lord's prophecy and in the future God had showed him; theologically Jeremiah is saying that the Israelites will return, tangible sign of hope, Jeremiah puts his money where his mouth is.
Did Jeremiah enjoy being a prophet? What makes you think so?
Jeremiah was not, like most prophets eager to be a prophet, he did not seek the position. He was appointed by God, wanted to give up, trusted in God, preached the word, no room for fear or excuses and continued to try to do the work in obedience to God. Not a happy call for Jeremiah closely identifies with people and their pain, resisted call in 1:6-Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy," But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, "I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord."
Darius I
King in Daniel Third ruler of the Persian Empire (r. 521-486 B.C.E.). He crushed the widespread initial resistance to his rule and gave all major government posts to Persians rather than to Medes
Which prophet celebrated the fall of Nineveh?
Nahum, Nineveh fell in 612 to Babylon
In sociological/psychological terms, what influences people to write apocalyptic?
People write apocalyptic to address the disenfranchised and marginalized populations; to encourage people to adhere to their faith in crisis; to place crises in a cosmic perspective and broader history; and to give people hope that God will prevail even when circumstances seem to the contrary. While written in times of distress, they are more optimistic than not. The writings recognize the possibility of martyrdom, yet recognize that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
What's the main theme of the book of Ruth? (Hint: see BBFP)
The book of Ruth is based on the theme of human love, but also including loyalty and kindness. Term for erotic love is used in Ruth (as in Song of Songs), but another repeated term used for love is hesed, which would include loyalty and kindness. "The book makes clear that both God and humans can be agents of love"
Why are the books of Jonah and Ruth sometimes seen as protest pieces vs.the "narrow exclusivism" of the post-exilic period?
The books of Jonah and Ruth could be seen as "minority reports" on how to regard foreigners in the post-exilic period. (A minority report is a separate report presented by members of a committee or other group who disagree with the majority).Some in Judah might have wanted to, as in the book of Ezra, "shore up their sense of identity" by purging itself of foreigners, and foreign wives. These books would have provided an alternate view, and would have helped address some of the ethical issues with "getting rid of" these foreigners. What about the wives? What about the children? How are they to be a part of the community? These stories shows how the people of God includes grace and mercy on those outside of Judah, and therefore should be repeated in their present circumatancees
Malachi's name means "my messenger." How/why is that relevant for the book?
The situation with priests and rituals is so dire, he prophesies that those who revere God will need the help of a prophet to survive judgment—related to expectations of an appearance of a Messiah. Bechtel says his words live on in the Levitical job description in chapter 2—priestly vows. He longs for the purification of the temple and helped define the vision that was realized in Jesus Christ.
Be able to describe the various sections of Daniel and how they may reflect their Sitz im Leben.
The setting of Daniel is in Babylon though it was written during the Greek/Hellenistic period when persecution of Jews increased under Antiochus Epiphanies. The first part (short stories) of Daniel has more of an optimistic tone was probably written when the persecution wasn't as severe; and the second part (apocalyptic visions) reflect a broader conflict as the persecution became more severe. Her lecture notes on Daniel has a chart of images/symbols and who they refer to that might be helpful.
What are some of the features of apocalyptic literature?
The two major features are Eschatological Orientation (MAJOR tilt toward the future with God changing things from how they have been) and Theological Dualism (stronger sense of good verses evil than in the rest of Biblical lit.). Other features are:visions, animal symbolism, numerology, mention of a messiah, angelology/demonology, predicted woes, astral influences and pseudonymity.
What was life like for the exiles when they returned from Babylon? How does this Sitz im Leben shapethe various biblical literature from this period?
They were allowed to have leaders, but the leaders had limited, if any, power of their own. There was antagonism between the returners and those who had remained in the land. Ezra 3:10-13 describes the rebuilding of the temple. 'old people who had seen the first house on its foundations wept with a loud voice though many shouted aloud with joy.' There was hope for a ruler from the Davidic line, but there was a disquieting fear, because it could all be taken away again. The land was not really theirs anymore. biblical passages quoted: Haggai 1:9-10, Zechariah 6:11-13, Ezra 6:16-22 produced good art setting of persecution and oppression
Who were the Levites?
Though they all come from the same "father," Levi; the Levites assist the high priests (Aaronites), who descend from the tribe of Aaron. Malachi condemns the priests and argues that the Levites would do a better job.
Several passages in Ezekiel that communicate hope
Yahweh promises their return to the land - Ez. 11 Yahweh to act as the good shepherd - Ez. 34:11-16 The valley of dry bones - Ez. 37:1-14 Restoration as one people - Ez. 37:15-23 There will be a Prince who will govern - 44:3 Renewal of all creation - 47:7-12 Redistribution of the land - 45:1-8
What historical situation does Jeremiah's vision of the "good figs and the bad figs" reflect?
about the 1st deportation; God says that the good figs symbolize the people of Judah who will survive the Babylonian exile and eventually return; the bad figs are King Zedekiah, the royal officials, the people who will remain in Judah and Jerusalem, and those who live in Egypt Jeremiah 24:1-7
Jehoiakim
aka Eliakim; reigned during the Battle of Carchemish (605); Jehoiakim withholds his tribute to Babylon because he believes then not as dominate as Assyria and they kill him Prophets: Habakkuk and Jeremiah
Jehoiachin
aka Jeconiah; son of Jehoiakim; during his reign, Judah takes it on the chin; reigns during the first deportation to Babylon (597) and gives himself up to Babylon; all the men of valor are also taken captive, only the poor are not
Zedekiah
aka Mattaniah; third son of Josiah and Jehoiachin's uncle; placed in power by Babylon who changes his name from Mattaniah to Zedekiah; last king of Judah before Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 587 BC in the 2nd deportation which was brought on by Zedekiah rebelling against Babylon in the 9th year of his reign, by year 11 there was not food and they dried to sneak out of the city by a hole in the wall but Zedekiah and his family was found, Z had to watch all his family be killed in front of him and had his eyes gouged out before he was taken to Babylon and Jerusalem was laid to waste by Babylonian King Nebbechadnezzar; only the vine dressers and tillers are left in the city
Zechariah
name means branch or spout from God it is prophesied that he will rebuild the temple and lead in peace calls for the sprouting of Zerrubabel
Nehemiah
public reading of the law actually happens in this book, technically he is a Jew in the employment of another Persian, Xerxes 1 445: commissioned to rebuild the wall here
