Midterm Flashcards
(112 cards)
1
Q
Masoretes
A
Jewish scribe-scholars from b/t 6th & 10th century CE
2
Q
What family of Masoretes was largely responsible for preservation of Masoretic text?
A
Ben Asher
3
Q
Etiology
A
Study of causation; origination
4
Q
Purpose of etiological myth
A
Explains name or produces mythic history for a family
5
Q
Example of etiological myth
A
Lot’s wife in Gen 19 explaining why there are pillars of salt in Dead Sea area
6
Q
722
A
Fall of N kingdom Samaria, capital of Israel, by Assyrians
7
Q
621
A
Reform of Jerusalem cult by King Josiah; promotion of “the book of the law”
8
Q
586
A
Destruction of Jerusalem by Babylonians; beginning of Babylonian exile
9
Q
Enuma Elish:
A
- Akkadian creation story from Nebuchadnezzar (1100 BCE)
- Marduk becomes king of Gods by defeating Tiamet, cutting her corpse in 2 halves that represent the cosmos
10
Q
Enuma Elish theme
A
Humanity needs a strong king like Marduk
11
Q
Atrahasis
A
- Akkadian creation myth (1700 BCE)
- Atrahasis uses advice of Enki (water below earth god) to prevent Enlil (earth god) from reducing humanity by using a all-encompassing flood (7 days&nights)
12
Q
Amarna Letters
A
14th cent tablets from Akhenaten’s monotheist reign in Amarna that describe affairs in Canaan
13
Q
Nadab and Abihu:
A
‘offered unholy fire’ before the Lord and were consumed by fire, teaching that neglect of proper ritual may prove fatal.
14
Q
Ugarit
A
- Ancient port city discovered 1929 revealing most significant aspects of Canaanite religion available.
- “greatest literary discovery from antiquity since the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphs and Mesopotamian cuneiform”
- evinces culture parallels: El, Baal, Anat, etc are same god
15
Q
What is the OT translated from Greek called?
A
Septuagint
16
Q
OT: who sponsored translation of Torah to Greek
A
Ptolemy II
17
Q
Legend says ____ Jewish scholars translated books of Moses as early as ____ cent
A
Legend says 70 Jewish scholars translated 5 Books of Moses to Koine Greek as early as 3rd cent
18
Q
Ysrir
A
Could mean “Israel”: Possible evidence that “Israel” was an entity at the end of 13th cent; contains list of defeated sites in Canaanite and reference to devastation of ysrir
19
Q
Edinnu
A
Derivation of name “Eden” from Akkadian edinnu, from Sumerian plain or steppe; or from Aramaic root fruitful, well-watered
20
Q
Habiru/Hapiru/Apiru
A
important players in the ‘revolution’ model of Israelite settlement in Canaan during Joshua period
Apiru= Asiatic, peasant class revolutionary Semitic people who already lived in Canaan that rose up against land-owning elites
21
Q
What source(s) are Habiru/Hapiru/Apiru found
A
Amarna letters and elsewhere in Near East
22
Q
Dilmun
A
ancient port city in modern day Saudi Arabia also associated with Sumerian myths as “paradise” or garden that links it to EDINNU and Eden
23
Q
Jean Astruc
A
formulated idea that Moses books were compiled through use of other sources: J and E
24
Q
Richard Simon
A
wrote “A critical history of the ot” (1678) documenting anachronisms in Moses books making Mosaic authorship untenable
he was condemned
25
Covenant Code
Legal, religious and sacrificial stipulations and rules that formed a moral/ethical code in Exodus 20:23--23:33 that must be followed for God to uphold his end of the covenant with the Israelites
26
What is the covenant code modelled after
Near Eastern Suzerainty Treaties in which a ruler recounts his beneficence and demands loyalty of subjects through series of stipulations and rules and lists blessings and curses that follow from following or breaking the covenant
27
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad
forbidden
denotes free will; ability to choose and make decisions using one's own faculty
evil= inaccurate translation
28
Tree of Life
source of life (not immortality)
| not forbidden
29
what tree was Adam and Eve forbidden to eat from
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad
30
Who was the charismatic king
Saul
31
dynastic kingship
happened in South starting with David and following after him bc of the promise of Nathan
32
Spinoza
denounced Mosaic authorship in Theological-Political Treatise (1670) as "ungrounded, even irrational"
33
Who does Spinoza claim is the real author of Moses books in his Theological-Political Treatise
Ezra, who lived in the 5th C
34
Julius Wellhausen
German scholar associated with literary source criticism who postulated classic formation of Documentary Hypothesis
35
What is Wellhausen's Documentary Hypothesis
OT was compiled from 4 distinct sources: JEDP
36
Phyllis Trible
feminist OT scholar highlighting misogynist biases
37
What is Phyllis Trible particularly known for
her exegesis of the story of Jephthah and the sacrificial offering of his daughter as a "text of terror"
her interpretation of Gen 2-3 in which she clarifies meaning and usage of Hebrew gender-neutral word "adham" illuminating theological basis for gender equality and condemnation of male supremacy
38
Herman Gunkel
German scholar who developed the idea of sitz im leben as a method of form criticism
39
Micah the Ephraimite and the Levite from Bethlehem
in the last days of the Judges when Israelite society was spiraling into divided chaos, these two sought to dismantle Yahwism and further contributed to the demise of Israel. Micah, a northern idolater, installed a Levite from the South as a priest. The Levite instigates a conflict between Benjamin and the other tribes wherein his concubine and a virgin daughter are raped and murdered by the men of Gibeah and subsequently chopped into pieces by the Levite and sent throughout Israel as proof of Benjamin’s iniquity.
40
Toledot
a recitation of generations that tied Israel to the creation of the cosmos and located them within a sacred narrative; forms inclusio around narratives
41
Ban (herem)
holy war, total annihilation of people and society, seen as a sacrifice to God. no plunder was allowed.
42
Huldah (the prophet)
female prophet who authenticated the Torah that was rediscovered in the reign of Josiah; despite her contributions, she was looked down on for stepping out of line as a woman
43
Josiah
interpreted as the best king in Israel since David who was foreshadowed by Joshua. Torah was rediscovered during his reign which compelled him to instigate sweeping reform of centralization and monotheism
44
Rehoboam
First king of the southern kingdom of Judah following the split of the empire after Solomon. Went to war with Jeroboam in the North; constant state of antagonism for 17 years between N and S
45
Sisera
Canaanite tribal commander in the book of Judges during the time of Deborah and Jael. Sisera is hoodwinked and assassinated by Jael which affects the victory of the Israelites over the Canaanites
46
Jacob's name
Jacob means "heel" or "to take advantage" signifying the supplanting of his brother Esau's place as first-born. Jacob was a trickster until he wrestled with God and was given a new name, Israel
47
Minor Judges
6: Shamgan, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon and Abdon
48
Major Judges
6: Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Japheth and Samson
49
Mark of Cain
placed upon Cain by God for his transgression of murdering his brother Abel. it was a mark of protection, not shame or exclusion that signified that justice and vengeance was God's alone
50
Naaman the Aramean
an Aramean warrior with a skin disease that was healed through Elisha and converted to the Israelite's monotheistic worship of God in a way that signified the holiness of the land
51
Abishaag
shunammite, beautiful girl/virgin brought to David when he was old and could not be warm (hot water bottle); she was the king’s attendent and waited on him, but he was not intimate with her.
52
Succession Narrative
The story of how Solomon assumed the throne of David through the machinations of Bathsheba and Nathan who saw the ineptitude of Adonijah as a leader, the rightful successor of the throne, and supplanted him.
53
Obadiah
chief of staff (major domo) for king Ahab who worshipped YHWH as opposed to the king and his wife Jezebel. he hid and saved the lives of 100 prophets.
54
Mt. Carmel
site where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a showdown between Baal and YHWH through a contest of fire.
55
Jehu
elected as the new king of Israel by tag-team Elijah and Elisha after Ahab and Ahaziah; follows precedent of murderous religious zeal in purging the enemies of YHWH and Baal-worship from the kingdom
56
Jezebel
a phoenician princess married by king Ahab who was against YHWH and killed the prophets
57
Jael
female contemporary of Deborah who murdered Canaanite commander Sisera to finalize the victory of Barak over the Canaanites. Image of the femininity as dangerous and untrustworthy.
58
Deuteronomion
greek word for Deuterononmy which means "second law"
59
3 Reigns
1 & 2 Kings (Greek: 3 & 4 Reigns) was originally a single work
· It covers 400 years of history: From Solomon to the release of Jehoiachin
· Three portions:
o Solomon (1 Kgs 1-11)
o The Two Kingdoms (1 Kgs 12-2 Kgs 17)
o Last Days of Judah (2 Kings 18-25)
60
El
chief god in the Canaanite pantheon that was a precursor and cultural standard against which Israel's concept of El arose. A supreme, transcendent, creator god that sits as king above everything. Always revealed through intermediaries.
61
Baal
comes from Canaanite mythology and means "Lord"; became a god in Canaanite legend that was assimilated into Israelite worship of YHWH. A warrior storm god that fights for the survival of his people.
62
Dagon
a Phillistine god and father of Baal. primary appearance is in the story of the capture and return of the ark.
63
Azazel
a desert spirit/demon/god of the wilderness that was appeased through the offering of the scape-goat on the Day of Atonement
64
Manasseh
heretical king of the South in 7th century that unravelled much of his predecessor Hezekiah's attempts to centralize Yahwistic worship.
65
Deuteronomists
scholars and scribes during Manasseh's reign that opposed his platform of Canaanite syncretism and pushed for the reform of Hezekiah. Created an early form of Deuteronomy.
66
Judges
charismatic military leaders and spiritual warlords upon whom the spirit of God rested and who offered some form of order and security in the chaotic years following the Israelite inhabitation of Canaan
67
Aphek
royal city of Canaanites in extreme N of Asher, the king of which Joshua kills;
Place Philistines encamped while Israelites pitched Ebenezer, before the fatal battle in which sons of Eli were killed and the ark was taken
68
Jehoiachin
succeeded father Jehoiakin at age 8 and reigned for 100 days
69
Jericho
place of fragrance in plain of Jordan, over against where the river was crossed by the Israelites.
most important city in Jordan valley
given to tribe of benjamin and inhabited in the time of Judges
70
Gilgal
"Rolling" city on E side of Jericho where they celebrated the Passover in Joshua as they did before leaving Egypt, and where they camped after crossing the Jordan river
71
William Foxwell Albright
Archeologist who made use of ancient near east lit as context for the bible
72
Kiriath-jearim
"city of woods" where ark stayed before David got it and brought it back to Jerusalem;
helps identify border between Judah and Benjamin;
73
What was Kiriath-jearim before Joshua's holy war
Kiriath-Ba'al
74
Holiness Code
subset of priestly code in Lev 17-26 with an ethical character, concerned with effects of people's behavior on other people and animals that was lacking from the original priestly code.
75
Gideon
given more attention than any other judge except Samson.
Gideon was a judge chosen by angel of Lord bc of his weakness and who fights Midianites in the south; success proposes first kingship in Israel, though Gideon declines
76
Adonijah
son of David born after Absalom; presumed he was his Father's successor for kingship
77
Jephthah
Vows to God that if he’s victorious in battle he’ll sacrifice “whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me.” Is greeted by only daughter; expresses more grief than Abraham but fulfills his vow: no ram in the bushes tho, God doesn’t always provide a substitute
78
Book of the Covenant
Casuistic law/ apodictic (if x, then y); perhaps associated with establishment of N kingdom by Jeroboam I in late 10th cent or with King Hezekiah of Judah reform in late 8th cent
79
Ehud and Eglon
Ehud was a Judge that was a lefty who killed a Moabite king through trickery
80
Sitz im Leben
social location, how it functions in real life- function and purpose
81
Northern Confederacy
There are lines of evidence in Joshua, Judges, and Samuel that there was a confederacy of northern tribes shortly before the monarchy, centering first in the northern city of Shechem (see Joshua 24) and then later in the northern site of Shiloh (1 Sam 1-3).
It need not have all 10 northern tribes at once, but certainly all 10 tribes were represented in time.
The member tribes brought their local narratives of their cultural memories—of liberation, providence, and ways of settlement in the land—and their theological traditions.
The diverse stories became an amalgam of a shared history, and their common acknowledgement of that shared history gave them a federal identity.
Became a unified story.
Southern tribes worshipped El. They don’t mention Yahweh.
82
Mesha king of Moab
Rabbis pointed out that human sacrifices were never demanded by God, or if demanded, also averted
83
Adonijah
son of David born after Absalom; presumed he was his Father's successor for kingship
84
Absalom
Amnon, David's firstborn, was killed by Absalom (3rd son) for the rape of his full-sister, Tamar (Absalom's half-sister)
85
Form criticism
fragmentary view focusing on smaller units that make up biblical text.
Genre of social location and helped to place Bible in the context of Babylonian lit for comparison
86
Who is responsible for form criticism?
Hermann Gunkel
87
Sitz im Leben
social location, how it functions in real life- function and purpose
88
Sitz im Leben
"setting in life": genre of biblical criticism developed by Herman Gunkel that focused on the context wherein the text was created and its purpose in that time
89
Rahab
a Canaanite who was an "other" to the Israelites election and purpose as the people of God who nonetheless is faithful to YHWH and saves the day for the Israelites by opening the way into Canaan and saving their lives.
90
ziggurat
a form of temple common to the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians of ancient Mesopotamia. The earliest examples of the ziggurat date from the end of the third millennium BCE and the latest date from the 6th century BCE.
91
phillistine pentapolis
5 cities held by the phillistines in the 12th century that were a strong foothold and base for their control of the land in the period that marked the beginning of Kings
92
Zarephat
From 2 Kings 17 (last days of Judah) Elijah goes to Zaraphath, a Phoenician commercial capital where Baal (storm God) is worshipped but there's been a drought; YHWH ordains a widow to sustain Elijah, and YHWH brings rain. The point of the story is that God uses an outsider to be his agent
93
The Ways of Jeroboam
following Solomon and the divide of the kingdom, Jeroboam created shrines of worship outside of Jerusalem in the North. Many of the succeeding kings followed in these pagan ways
94
Jebusite Jerusalem
David chooses Jerusalem as the capital of Israel but there are allusions to continuity with the ways of worship of the Canaanite Jebusites that were practiced in the city for ages before David conquered it
95
JE
combination of Yahwist (J) and Elohist (e)
96
J
Yahwist
- immanent
- southern and personable
- more or less complete
97
E
Elohist
- transcendent
- northern
- fragmentary
98
creation of humankind
- Elohim
- "let US make"
- image of God=reflect God into the world
- adam=male/female
- unlike concern with overpopulation in Atrahasis, Elohim wants us to turn the f up and multiply
99
Cain and Abel: Cain
- farmer/worker of the ground
- carelessly brought fruits of the land
- gains no favor from God; downcast
- God says do right and be uplifted
- God does not discipline before the murder, but pleads with wisdom that Cain not be self-destructive
- post-murder=discipline (the earth will no longer yield strength to Cain
- Cain becomes a wanderer
100
Cain and Abel: Abel (meaning of name; duties; offering)
- Abel=vapor
- shepherd
- best choice fat-portions of first-born
101
YHWH-El at Shiloh: what is Shiloh?
cultural center of the north
102
YHWH-El at Shiloh: who is El?
El=chief God in Canaanite mythology
| -father, king, creator, compassionate; fertility god
103
Ark of YHWH Sabbaoth who sited enthroned upon the cherubim
Ark represents divine presence
- footstool of throne of god
- held tablets of 10 commandments
- carried into battle against Philistines
- Philistines took ark, regretted it big time cause of 7 yrs of plagues and gave it back
- then placed in forest town Kiriath-jearim associated with Baal
- Baal and YHWH become one as warrior/fighter
104
Revelation of Divine Name: where was it revealed?
Mt Horeb
105
Revelation of Divine Name:significance of revelation
- reunited Moses with people's heritage
- revelation is connected to the suffering, liberation, and redemption of people of Israel= active and intimately involved
- first revelation of name distinguishes this god among others
106
Yom Kippur and Atonement in Leviticus: what does Yom Kippur even mean
The Day of Atonement or Day of Covering
107
Yom Kippur and Atonement in Leviticus: How many sacrifices, significance of last sacrifice (which did not involve spilling blood)
- 3 sacrifices: a bull and two goats
- last goat is touched by Aaron the High Priest through which all sins and defilement of people not vocalized or known are imparted (scapegoat)
- scapegoat is then sent out to the wilderness to Azazel
108
Ancient Near Eastern Suzerainty Treaty form
suzerain id's himself, recounts his beneficence to people, demands absolute loyalty of people, lists curses and blessings if people do not abideby or respect stipulations
109
Jephthah and his Daughter
- Jephthah: elected leader cause charisma
- bargains with god for victory by promising to sacrifice first person to walk through his door
- his daughter walks thru
- daughter is not saved like Isaac was
110
Anarchy in Judges
- transition from Moses/Joshua, 1st gen leaders, to monarchy
- judges serve military rather than judicial purpose; power from charisma rather than family
- provides context for why Israel wanted/needed a king even tho Moses warns against in in Deut
111
Hebrew Bible isn't straightforward because (5)
- canonization
- CE: OT points forward to NT; leaves shit out
- Lang/Translations: no vowels
- Criticism/ context: gaps in historical settings/contexts within text
- cultural notes: must read critically, not at face value
112
Different types of criticism and associated figures (5)
- source (Wellhausen)
- Form: focuses on smaller genres in bible (Gunkel, sitz im leben)
- redaction: smaller units that were combined by editor with agenda (von Red, Noth)
Archaeology: albright
Sociological: focuses on some version of historical criticism and Gunkel's work with sitz im leben
