MAPS FOR THE JOURNEY Geographical, Historical, and Literary Context

1. CHAPTER TWO MAPS FOR THE JOURNEY Geographical, Historical, and Literary Context

2. A. Introduction • Context: • The historical, cultural, social, or political circumstances surrounding an event or record • The OT in context: • Geographical & historical map • Historical context • Cultural context 2. Time Frame of the OT • 1300 – 1100 BC to 333-64 BC

3. B. Archaeology & Biblical Studies 1. Archaeology is an ancient activity: • Ancient Israelites were interested in a kind of archeology: • Notice certain locations with remains of previous generations

4. Archeological digs • Understanding the context of each find is as important as the actual item found • The artifact is almost useless if we do not know the level of the dig, other artifacts associated with it, and its location

5. Decoding Ancient writing • Pictograms: • the earliest form of writing in which pictures represented words or ideas • Eventually evolved into symbols • Before alphabets were invented, scribes needed to learn hundreds of signs and symbols • Alphabet: • Developed by Phoenicians • Literacy was not widespread

6. Decoding ancient writings • Hieroglyphic writing: ancient Egyptian writing, advanced pictographs • Rosetta Stone featured the same text in both hieroglyphics and Greek, allowing Greek readers to work on Egyptian translations • The “Mesha Inscription” • Discovered in 1868 • References have evidence that piece together the world in which the Old Testament was created

7. The “Merneptah Stele” • Discovered by Sir Flanders Petrie • Writes about a “people” called “Israel” • Oldest reference to the Israelites in existence

8. 4. Other archeological evidence • Stone tools: • shows humans have lived in the Palestinian region over a million years • From 10,000 BC human began to live in group • Prehistoric artifacts: • Objects dated to a time before writing developed and written record exist • Two of the most important sites for discovering prehistoric artifacts are Jericho and Ain Ghazal: • Tools of the Israelites show us they settled in the hills of Palestine instead of on the coastal plains • Largest motivation for writing was not spiritual or religious, but business or military

9. Vocabulary • Context • Pictograms • Scribes • Hieroglyphic Writing • Prehistoric

10. Modern Day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syrian Coastlands Area that was once Canaan http://www.public.iastate.edu/~cfford/fertile%20crescent.jpg

11. C. Land of Canaan • Zones of Canaan (now Palestine): • Coastal Plains: • Plains along the coast of Mediterranean sea • Become narrow towards the North of Palestine • Most people lived here • Hill Country: • Runs up the back of Palestine • hills turn into mountains. • Jordan Valley (rift Valley): • Meting between the continental plates of Africa and Asia • Frequent earthquake • Transjordian Plateau: • King’s highway • Major trade rout of ancient world

12. Fertile Crescent: Conflict Corridor • Narrow arable land connecting Egypt and Mesomotamia • Major trade route and military transportation: • blessed with fertile land • Cursed with war and conflicts • Consequently: • the Old Testament has many examples of warfare- it was all around the Israelites • The Israelites’ God Yahweh was portrayed as a warrior • Since the Israelites could not do much military damage, they needed to rely on their God to protect them • It was not the vast empires that wanted to control the Israelites, rather the passageway they lived in that interested enemies

13. Before Israel: The Canaanites • Israel arose into the land known as Canaan • The Canaanites established a strong civilization: • The Canaanites worshipped a variety of gods in temples • The most popular was Baal • This was Yahweh’s most significant rival. • Having lived in close proximity, there are mutual influences in culture, religion, customs…

14. D. Tracing the history of the Israelites from the Old Testament • Primeval History: • From Adam to Abraham: first 12 chapters of Genesis. • It is hard to trace the reliable history of the Israelites using Genesis (a religiously motivated story of the origin of a people). • The Patriarchs and Matriarchs: • Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph • Matriarchs: Sarah, Rebeckah, Rachel • Unifying history of the Canaanites people converted to Yahweh • Theme: God’s faithfulness even at the constant failure of humanity

15. Exodus Period • The book of Exodus formally introduces the Chosen People • Early Israelite faith was based on: • A relationship with a God named Yahweh • Worship in a movable shrine or tent • Basic moral expectations (laws) • Assumptions about the Religion of the Jews: • Worship and living by the laws of Yahweh began among Egyptian slaves and converted Canaanites • Eventually lead to the belief that God would save the people from their enemies, and that faith meant obedience to God wherever they lived • Israelite Monarchy • Began about 1020 BC • Saul was the first king • David, the most successful king: unite a diverse people against Philistines • Solomon and the temple • Divided kingdom: the north fell in the hands of the Assyrian

16. Assyrian Exile • About 8th century BC, Israel (northern Kingdom) joined a coalition of states in an attempt to resist increasing pressure of the Assyrian Empire • Judah (southern kingdom) refused to join • Assyria invaded the west, the coalition of states: • Deported large numbers of newly conquered, and replaced them with a group from another part of the empire. • Assyrian empire was eventually defeated by the rise of a rival Mesopotamian power, the Babylonians • Judah was left alone.

17. Babylonian Exile • Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Assryrians and placed a new ruler, Zedekiah, on the throne • The Exile: • He returned to Babylon with Jewish exiles • Involved upper classes of Jewish society and anyone who posed a threat to the rule of Babylon

18. Post-Exilic Judean Society • Exile represents one of the most decisive changes in destiny for the Jewish people • Judean formed a strong communal and faith identity under the leadership of priests. • Judeans continued to reconstruct the faith, community, and temple worship • Diaspora: a group migration or flight away from the homeland into one or more other countries

19. E. Background on Literature Styles of the Bible • General Remarks: • The main task of the historical writers of ancient Israel was: • to illustrate their understanding of God • how He was involved in their lives • The Old Testament was written as religious literature

20. Pentateuch • Core of the Old Testament • Means “five books” • In the Hebrew Bible, called the Torah • Collections of laws contained in first five books: • Covenant Code (contained in Exodus) • DeuteronomicCode (included Deuteronomy) • Priestly or religious laws added by priests (found mainly in Leviticus)

21. Historical Books - Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles • Tell about the history of Israel as a collection of tribes and then moving toward existence as a royal state • Discuss the breakup of the kingdom: • Disobedience of the kings • Disasters preceding the exiles

22. Wisdom Books and Psalms - Includes books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom, and Sirach - Intended to guide people in learning the lessons of human life • Main themes of wisdom literature: • Relationships • Diplomacy • Gaining of Knowledge • Dangers of Adultery

23. Literature Styles The main activities of the prophets: - To be messengers of God - To be God’s prosecutor, delivering judgement on sinful acts - To act as tireless advocates for the less fortunate of Israelite society

24. Chapter 2 - Review