Final Exam Flashcards
(48 cards)
Bamoth
High place(s)
Nabi
The Hebrew word for Prophet.
Root meaning “call”
One who calls/one who is called
The Greek is Prophetes
The division of the kingdoms
Israel (Northern Kingdom)- Judged for the sin of Jeroboam
- This was the sin of decentralizing worship (Deuteronomistic)
- This Kingdom was also under Ahab and Jezebel. She was the bad one
- Doomed from the beginning
- Northern Kingdom fell 721 BCE (Assyria)
Judah (Southern Kingdom)- Judged against David
- Always had a Davidic King
- Their sin was the continuation of the cult of the Bamoth
- Gets a chance because of David
- Fell in 586 BCE (Babylon)
Division fulfilled prophecy about Solomon.
Apostasy and Reform
Theme in Kings
On the basis of the contents of Deuteronomy, the books of Kings keep up a steady critique of the nation’s failure to preserve the purity and unity of worship. The focus of criticism is worship of foreign gods and sacrifice outside of Jerusalem.
Davidic Kingship
Theme in Kings
God’s special favor to David and the abiding Davidic dynasty in Jerusalem. David’s devotion serves as a model for measuring the fidelity of subsequent kings. Yahweh’s special favor to David is the basis of Jerusalem’s divine protection when the Assyrian ruler Sennacherib attacks Hezekiah.
Prophetic Word
Theme in Kings
Prophets appear throughout the books of Kings, interpreting events and signaling what to expect in the unfolding plot. Ahijah prepares for the rise and fall of Jerusalem and for that of the entire Northern Kingdom.
Women are Important
Theme in Kings
Women are presented as pivotal characters and actors in the unfolding of history. (Jezebel, the widow…)
Types of Prophets
- Seers
- These guys are the ones who have visions, get worked into a prophetic frenzy, and all that jazz - Cultic Prophets
- Connected to worship centers
- Seers
- Intercessors
- Taught the word to pilgrims - Court Prophets
- Advisors to the king
- Nathan as an example
- Spoke truth to power (were supposed to do this)
- Important political role - War prophets
- Rallied troops for battle
- Predicted victory
- Military advisors
- Cursed the enemy - Guild Prophets
- Communal existence
- Followers (sons) of a main (father) prophet
- Elisha and Elijah were probably leaders of guilds
- Often antagonistic to the king (as opposed to the other classes which were often more concerned with pleasing the king)
- Influence and power with the people - Radical prophets
- Prophets of the 9th and 8th centuries BCE (see other card for more. - Classical Prophets
Radical Prophets
Condemned all Israelite practices
Claimed divine authority for their assertions
Elijah and Elisha were early examples from the 9th century
Classical Prophets
Radical prophets who wrote/who’s words were preserved
- Amos
- Hosea
- Micha
- Isaiah
Rise of radical prophecy in Israel
• Religious threat to the worship of YHWH as God of Israel
- Came under the greatest threat during the reign of Ahab
• Economic and social developments
- The upper classes controlled the economic power and denied the power to the lower classes
- They exploited and oppressed the poor
• Major shift of power in international affairs
- Rise of Assyria
- Called into question the power of YHWH
- Prophets said these nations became powerful as a tool of YHWH’s judgment.
The subject matter of the prophets
- Political, social, and religious circumstances
- They analyzed the situation, evaluated it, and gave recommendations for a solution.
- They looked at the behavior of the people and evaluated the current circumstances accordingly.
Kingly Superscriptions
Book of Kings
- Dating info
- Theological evaluation of reign
- References to the chronicles or annals of the Kings of…
- Comment on death (burial in Judah) and successor.
Prophetic Superscription
The prophets
- Prophet’s name
- Names of the reigning king(s)
- Description of the audience
Characteristics of Prophetic Literature
- These are anthologies of works (probably out of the oral tradition)
- They have a history of Growth
- They have superscriptions
- Narratives happen in prose
- Prophecy happens in poetry
Prophetic Poetry
- The majority of prophetic writing is in poetry
- Poetry represents preaching or speeches
- Sometimes it is song
- This is “messenger speech”
- “Thus says the LORD.”
Two main types of speech in prophecy
Judgment Speech:
- Points out wrong behavior
- Shows the consequences of that behavior
- “Therefore” is a key term
Salvation Speech:
- Restoration/redemption
- Usually at the end of a prophetic book or section
- Happens after a disaster
- “On that day” is a key term
General message of the prophetic works
- Then end of Israel and why it will happen
- The restoration of Israel
Important dates and events in Israelite prophecy
- Moses is the first Prophet
- The Persian period brought the age of Prophecy to a close
- The beginning of the prophetic period starts with Amos
- The end is impossible to date with certainty, since the last prophets spoke of an ongoing restoration
3 chronological clusters in Israelite prophetic history
• Cluster 1- 800 BCE-750 BCE
Amos, Hosea, Micha, Isaiah 1-39
The key event of these is the fall of Israel to the Assyrians in 722-721
After the fall of Israel, Judah Survives as a vassal to the Assyrians until the fall of Nineveh
There were prophets in Judah at this time, but the works of the prophets were not preserved until before the fall of Judah
• Cluster 2- 700 BCE-539 BCE
Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Nahum Habakkuk (maybe Obadiah)
600bce
The next key event is the 586bce fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians
Ezekiel (He was supposedly captured in the first captivity in 597bce)
Isaiah 44-55
• Cluster 3: The restoration 538bce Decree of Cyrus king of Persia (Restoration of Judah becomes possible)
Haggai, Zechariah, Isaiah 56-66,
500bce- Malachi, (Jonah and Joel)
Mishpat
Hebrew- Justice
Key term in Amos
Tsedaquah
Hebrew- Righteousness
Key term in Amos
Major themes in Amos
- Yahweh’s sovereignty over the Nations
- Expressed in the opening oracles against the nations
- Judgments for crimes against humanity in war, slavery, and desecration of tombs - Social Justice and luxurious living
- These were the condemnations of Israel
- Most of the time is spent here
- Exploitation and oppression of the poor - Israelite Cult
- The wealthy were very religious, but they lacked justice and righteousness
- they offered extravagant sacrifices that were funded by the exploitation of others - Yahweh-Israel Relationship
- Israel is special because of the covenant
- This means they have a special responsibility
- Breaking the covenant means they will be judged - Doom for the state of Israel
- This is the ultimate message of Amos
- Judgment will come through cosmic calamity and through foreign aggression (earthquakes and wars)
- Judgment is inescapable
- “Prepare to meet your God, o Israel.”
- Amos plays on the theme of “The day of the Lord”
Yom YHWH
The day of the Lord
- Initially viewed as the day God will judge the nations
- Amos and the prophets shifts it to talking about the day God Judges Israel.
