Ancient Israel's Judges: Divine Leadership & Tribulation

1. CHAPTER 5 Kings & Prophets: Awaiting the Messiah

2. In ancient Israel, judges were those who acted as temporary military leaders, as well as arbiters of disputes within and between tribes. Judges were also expected to remind the people of their responsibility to God. • DEBORAH • GIDEON • JEPHTHAH • SAMSON

3. Joshua, Conquest, and Holy War: quick review • Judges. Definition of “judge.” Structure of the book. • Possible four-stage development of the book • Judges 2:1-3:6: Deuteronomistic (Dtr) “speech” • Ehud, the left-handed judge, by Fr. Michael Simone, SJ • Judges 4-5: Deborah and Barak. Song of Deborah • Judges 6:1-8:35. Midianite Oppression and Gideon • Judges 9. Abimelech’s attempt to establish a dynasty • Judges 11-12. Jepthah and his vow • Judges 13-16. Samson • Judges 17-18. Migration of the tribe of Dan and its Sanctuary • Judges 19-21. The Levite’s Concubine • Book of Ruth Judges and Ruth

4. Judge = tribal chieftain. From death of Joshua to civil war, 1200-1020 bce, though “410 years” if you add up all the years of war and rest in Judges. Probable overlapping of local leaders. “Major” and “minor” according to records of deeds. • Apart from introduction (2:16-19), the word “judge” occurs only once, as a title of the Lord (11:17). Human judges are called “saviors” or “deliverers,” but only Othniel, Ehud, Tola, and Samson are so called. Term is not applied to some popular judges--Deborah, Gideon, and Jephthah. • Four stages of development of book (Richard Nelson). (1) stories of local crises and leaders; extended narratives”; “father’s house” (Heb. bêt ’āb); narrative artistry; (2) stories collected for didactic purposes, possibly by mid-8C, good and not so good leaders; (3) incorporated into DH in Josiah’s time; (4) DH revised in light of destruction and exile. Judges. Definition of “judge.” Structure of the book. Possible four-stage development of the book

7. Judges 2:1-3:6. Dtr speech • Ehud Judges 3:15-30 • Judges 5. M. Coogan in CBQ 40 (1978) 143-66. IA 2-5 B 6-8 II 9-13 III 14-18 IV 19-23 VA 24-27 B 28-30 Judges 2:1-3:6: Deuteronomistic (Dtr) “speech” Ehud, the left-handed judge

9. 1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang: 2 When locks go untrimmed in Israel, When people dedicate themselves -- Bless the LORD! 3 Hear, O kings! Give ear, O potentates! I will sing, will sing to the LORD, Will hymn the LORD, the God of Israel. 4 O LORD, when You came forth from Seir, Advanced from the country of Edom, The earth trembled; The heavens dripped, Yea, the clouds dripped water, 5 The mountains quaked -- Before the LORD, Him of Sinai, Before the LORD, God of Israel. 6 In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, In the days of Jael, caravans ceased, And wayfarers went By roundabout paths. 7 Deliverance ceased, Ceased in Israel, Till you arose, O Deborah, Arose, O mother, in Israel! 8 When they chose new gods, Was there a fighter then in the gates? No shield or spear was seen Among forty thousand in Israel! 9 My heart is with Israel's leaders, With the dedicated of the people -- Bless the LORD! 10 You riders on tawny she-asses, You who sit on saddle rugs, And you wayfarers, declare it! 11 Louder than the sound of archers, There among the watering places Let them chant the gracious acts of the LORD, His gracious deliverance of Israel. Then did the people of the LORD March down to the gates! 12 Awake, awake, O Deborah! Awake, awake, strike up the chant! Arise, O Barak; Take your captives, O son of Abinoam! 13 Then was the remnant made victor over the mighty, The LORD's people won my victory over the warriors. 14 From Ephraim came they whose roots are in Amalek; After you, your kin Benjamin; From Machir came down leaders, From Zebulun such as hold the marshal's staff. 15 And Issachar's chiefs were with Deborah; As Barak, so was Issachar -- Rushing after him into the valley. Among the clans of Reuben Were great decisions of heart. 16 Why then did you stay among the sheepfolds And listen as they pipe for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben Were great searchings of heart! Song of Deborah Judges 5 (NJPS with modifications)

10. 17 Gilead tarried beyond the Jordan; And Dan -- why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained at the seacoast And tarried at his landings. 18 Zebulun is a people that mocked at death, Naphtali -- on the open heights. 19 Then the kings came, they fought: The kings of Canaan fought At Taanach, by Megiddo's waters -- They got no spoil of silver. 20 The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera. 21 The torrent Kishon swept them away, The raging torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with courage! 22 Then the horses' hoofs pounded As headlong galloped the steeds. 23 "Curse Meroz!" said the angel of the LORD. "Bitterly curse its inhabitants, Because they came not to the aid of the LORD, To the aid of the LORD among the warriors.“ 24 Most blessed of women be Jael, Wife of Heber the Kenite, Most blessed of women in tents. 25 He asked for water, she offered milk; In a princely bowl she brought him curds. 26 Her left hand reached for the tent pin, Her right for the workmen's hammer. She struck Sisera, crushed his head, Smashed and pierced his temple. 27 At her feet he sank, lay outstretched, At her feet he sank, lay still; Where he sank, there he lay – destroyed. 28 Through the window peered Sisera's mother, Behind the lattice she whined: "Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why so late the clatter of his wheels?" 29 The wisest of her ladies give answer; She, too, replies to herself: 30 "They must be dividing the spoil they have found: A damsel or two for each man, Spoil of dyed cloths for Sisera, Spoil of embroidered cloths, A couple of embroidered cloths Round every neck as spoil." 31 So may all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But may His friends be as the sun rising in might! And the land was tranquil forty years. Song of Deborah Judges 5 (NJPS with modifications)

11. Judges 6:1-8:35. Midianite Oppression and GideonJudges 9. Abimelech’s attempt to establish a dynasty

12. A. Outline of Jephthah’s Story. Intertwining public and private events, the story moves as follows: • Theological Preface: 10:6-16 • Introduction: The Juxtaposition of Crises (10:17-11:3) • Public crisis: Enmity between the Ammonites and the Israelites (10:17-18) • Private crisis: Enmity between Jephthah and his brothers (11:1-3) • Scene One: Resolution and Refusal (11:4-28) • Resolved: The private crisis (11:4-11) • Unresolved: The public crisis (11:12-28) • Scene Two: Slaughter and Sacrifice, with a Postscript (11:29-40) • Public slaughter of the Ammonites by the Israelites (11:29-33) • Private sacrifice of his daughter by Jephthah (11:34-39b) • Postscript (11:39c-40) • Conclusion: The Aftermath (12:1-7) • Intertribal conflict: Ephraim versus Gilead (12:1-6) • The death of Jephthah (12:1-7) (Phyllis Trible, NIDB) Jephthah Judges 10:6-12:7

13. 1.Judges 13:1 : Introduction • 2.Judges 13:2-25 : The Birth of Samson • 3.Judges 14:1-15:19 : Samson and the Timnite Woman • 4.Judges 15:20 : Original Ending of the Samson Cycle • 5.Judges 16:1-3 : Samson and the Prostitute of Gazah • 6.Judges 16:4-31 a: Delilah Leads to Samson’s Death • 7.Judges 16:31 b: Second(ary) Ending of the Samson Story • (Marc Zvi Brettler, NIDB) • Left: Samson and Delilah, Peter Paul Rubens Samson Stories Judges 13-16

14. Read 1 Samuel 12Why are verses 8 & 10 different from verse 12?

15. 1 Samuel 1-3 Luke 1-2 Roman occupation. “In the days of King Herod. . .” Luke 1:5 2. Elizabeth, no child (1:7). Mary, no child. 3. Mary’s Magnificat (1:46-55). 4. The priest, Zechariah, failed to respond fully to announcement of John the Baptist’s birth (1:20). 5. “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man” (2:52). 6. Angels: “”to you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, who is the Messiah.” 1. No king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes (Jdg 16:29; 17:6; 21:25) 2. Hannah was barren (1:2) 3. Hannah’s “Magnificat” (2:1-10) 4. The priesthood was corrupt(1:12-25). Eli did not rein in his two corrupt sons. 5. “Samuel grew in stature and worth in the estimate of the Lord and the people.” (2:26) 6. Samuel announces Saul as king, and then David. “Cross-reference”: 1 Samuel 1-3 and Luke 1-2

16. Structure • 1 Sam 1-3 Childhood and Prophetic Call of Sam • 1 Sam 4-6 Story of the Ark of the Covenant in battle • 1 Sam 7-13 Samuel and Israel’s decision to have a king • 1 Sam 13-21 The Story of Saul’s failure and David’s rise • 2 Sam 1-8 David’s period of kingship over all Israel • 2 Sam 9-10 The “Succession Narrative” of David’s sons • 2 Sam 21-24 Appendix of other David Traditions Sources • Ark Narrative (1 Sam 4:1-7:1); • Saul cycle (1 Sam 9-10; 11; 13-14); • David’s rise (1 Sam 16:14-2 Sam 5:10); • Absalom’s revolt (2 Sam 13-20). 1 and 2 Samuel: Structure (Boadt) and Sources (McCarter)

18. The Monarchy of Israel • Israel’s Final Judge • Choosing a King • Samuel was Israel’s last and most significant judge. • Toward the end of his life, the people clamored for a king. • Samuel warned against this. • Saul was selected king but lost the kingship because he disobeyed divine commands. • David was anointed by Samuel to replace Saul. • Saul fell on his sword in despair.

19. 7Come, stand before the Lord while I cite against you all the kindnesses that the Lord has done to you and your fathers. 8[1]"When Jacob came to Egypt, your fathers cried out to the Lord, and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 9 But they forgot the Lord their God; so He delivered them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the king of Moab; and these made war upon them. 10[2]They cried out to the Lord and said, 'We have sinned, for we have forsaken the Lord and worshiped the Baalim and the Ashtaroth. Oh, deliver us from our enemies and we will serve You.' 11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel, and delivered you from the enemies around you; and you dwelt in security. 12[3] But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me, 'No, we must have a king reigning over us' — though the Lord your God is your King. (NJPS) 1 Samuel 12. Dtr. Vv. 1-15, introduction; vv. 6-12, review of history; vv. 13-15, conditions; vv. 16-24, prophetic judgment. Below: artful narrative: three times Israel is in danger. Twice they cry out (= pray) to God. Third time, they don’t cry out; they simply demand a king.

20. “Samuel-Saul Compromise” i.e., Israel can have a king if balanced by a prophet speaking up for Sinai covenant. Samuel does grandly 3 tasks later prophets do routinely. 1. Authorize holy war. Cf. prophets’ oracles “against/on” foreign nations. 2. Anoint and depose kings. Cf. prophets’ on kings (e.g., Isaiah). 3. Assess the people’s adherence to covenant demands. Cf. prophets’ exhortations and denunciations. David and Goliath (1 Sam 17) is a composite of two accounts of David’s victory over a Philistine champion. First account: (roughly) contained in vv. 1-11. 32-54. Second account: contained in vv. 12-31, 55-58, and portions of ch. 18. Not attested in oldest Greek mss. (LXX first translated in Egypt in 3C-2C bce. 19 Again there was fighting with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, whose spear had a shaft like a weaver's bar. (2Sa 21:19 TNK) Saul and the emergence of Kingship. David and Goliath. 1 Sam 17. Samuel, last judge and first prophet.

21. Israel’s Greatest King • David became the sole king of Israel, uniting all tribes into a single nation. • David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem to show YHWH’s abiding presence to the new nation. • David had has faults for which he begged forgiveness. • Solomon succeeded his father as king.

22. Three Important Passages1. David and Abigail, the wife of Nabal. 1 Sam 25.2. The Death of Saul and David’s Lament (1 Sam 31-2 Sam 1)3. David Anointed King of Israel, His Capture of Jerusalem, His Bringing of the Ark, and God’s Promise of a Dynasty (2 Sam 6-7)

23. Halpern, Baruch. David's Secret Demons: Messiah, Murderer, Traitor, King. 2003. Steven McKenzie, King David: A Biography. 2000. David Bosworth, Catholic Biblical Quarterly 68.2 (2006) 191-210. Halpern and McKenzie Influenced by Kyle McCarter’s view that Book of Samuel is an “apology” defending David against (1) he sought to advance himself at Saul's expense; (2) he was an outlaw; (3) he was a Philistine mercenary; (4) he was implicated in Saul's death; (5) he was implicated in Abner's death; (6) he was implicated in Ishbaal's death. Halpern: conservative on historicity, skeptical on David’s virtue. Stories can’t be later than Solomon (941-922 bce), because of the charges. But David guilty of all murders, except Uriah’s (!), and further was a Philistine mercenary who conquered Israel (Northern Kingdom). He even instigated Absalom’s rebellion. Bosworth: Assumption that literature is didactic, piety and Realpolitik are incompatible; David as pious shepherd or cunning usurer both caricatures. Historical examples: Thomas a Becket vs. Henry II; Constantine; Catherine the Great; Julian the Apostate. Bible breaks with ANE portrayals of kings: David not shown as always victorious or always popular. David: model king or felon? McKenzie, Halpern, & Bosworth.

24. Part I A Kingdom of Shalom 1 Kings 1-10 1 Solomon sits on the throne 2 Politics and the Promise of God 3:1-15 The Pattern for Kingship 3:16-5:18 Wisdom and Prosperity (I) 5:19-ch. 7 Building the Temple 8 Dedicating the Temple 9:1-9 Promise and Threat 9:10-10:29 Wisdom and Prosperity (II) Part II Shalom is Broken 1 Kings 11-16 11 Solomon’s Sin and Its Result 12:1-32 Rehoboam’s Folly and Jeroboam’s Sin 12:33-13:32 God’s Word against Bethel 13:33-14:20 God’s Word against Jeroboam 14:21-16:34 Paradigmatic History (I) Part III Israel under the Prophetic Word 1 Kings 17:1-II Kings 8:15 17 Life in the Midst of Death 18 The Lord, He is God 19 Elijah “Burns Out” and Re-commissioned 20 Ahab Violates the Ban 21 Royal Tyranny and Prophetic Condemnation 22:1-40 God’s Ruse against Ahab 22:41- II Kings 1:18 Jehoshaphat and Azariah 2Elisha Inherits the Mantle 3 A Miracle for Moab 4 Four Gifts of Life 5 Naaman Comes to Faith 6:1-8:15 Stories of Prophetic Power Part IV Israel’s Last Chance and the End II Kings 8:16-ch. 17 8:6-ch. 10 Fruitless Reform in Israel (Jehu) 11-12 The Fruit of Reform in Judah (Joash) 13-15 Paradigmatic History (II) 16 Ahaz and Judah’s Open Future 17 God Casts Israel Out of Sight Part V Judah: Paradox of Promise and Punishment II Kings 18-25 18-19 God versus Sennacherib 20 Reflections on Judah’s Deliverance 21 Manasseh, the Worst King Ever 22-22:30 Josiah, the Best King Ever 23:31-25:26 The Promise Dismantled 25:27-30 Can the Promise Live? Richard Nelson First and Second Kings (Interpretation; John Knox, 1989)

25. Solomon 3:1-11:43. 3:1-10:29 is a positive and 11:1-43 is a negative evaluation of Solomon. Arrangement is topical rather than chronological: wisdom 3:1-4:34 (savoir faire, including administration) building (of temple) 5:1-9:25 wealth 9:26-10:29. Temple stems from the time of Solomon. In 6:1, the fourth year of Solomon is ca. 956 B.C. It stood until 586 and was rebuilt ca. 520, "Second Temple," and again rebuilt under Herod the Great (37-4 B.C.). Temple not a modern church or synagogue but "the house of Yahweh." People had access to court but not to interior of building. Holy of Holies was entered once per year by High Priest on the Day of Atonement. Temple was public in political and economic sense. No archeological record of the temple building, but generally presumed to have stood on the site of the present Moslem shrine the Dome of the Rock (late 7C). Details: cubit probably the royal cubit of 20.9 inches. The pillars "Jachin" meant "May [God] establish. . .[?]" and "Boaz," "in the strength of . . .[?]"). Each 18 cubits high with an elaborate capital 3 cubits high. Ulam was probably unroofed, at least no roof is described. Hêkal, NRSV "nave," was also used of temple as whole. Had clerestory windows It contained the table of bread of presence, small altar, and 10 golden lamp stands in two groups, one north and the other south, probably cylinder with lamps attached. There were storage rooms on three sides up to second story. The Holy of Holies was perfect cube, 20 x 20 x 20 cubits; probably lifted up from floor and down from ceiling. Each cherub had a 10 foot span. Seven years under construction and a fourteen day feast celebrated its completion. Connected with the rise of kingship and with the dynastic god Yahweh. Public relations function. Larger and finer than comparable W Semitic temples. (C. Meyers, "Temple," HBD.) Solomon: sage, builder, man of wealth

26. I Kings 8: Solomon's Prayer Dedication on 7th month (from spring New Year Festival), but originally New Year Festival. “Yahweh has become king.” (mālak, Pss 93:1:; 96; 99). 7 petitions, vv. 31-51). Theology of divine presence: Distinction between yashab, "dwell," and "cause my name to dwell"; two different ways of describing divine presence. The emphasis was on encounter for the purposes of worship and petition. Israel was most "intensely alive" there (von Rad). A similar use of "life" and "death" language in Ezekiel for proximity to the deity. Note reference to exile, prob. from Dtr2. 1 Kings 11: Negative ending. 11:1-13 is Dtr, written in the light of Deuteronomy 7. Note the pattern of good beginning and negative ending in Saul and David stories. Punishment comes in the form of three enemies: (1) 11:14, Lord “raised up” Hadad the Edomite; (2) 11:23, “raised up” Rezon, son of Eliada; (3) vv. 26-40, Jeroboam, son of Nebat, third and climactic place. Solomon: sage, builder, man of wealth

28. In Class Assignment:Pg. 103, Q’s 1-3Pg. 107, Q’s 1-7

29. Jeroboam’s cultic innovations, 1 Kings 12:26-30. Shrines at Dan and Bethel to rival Jerusalem, “After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold and said to the people: "You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough. Here is your God, O Israel”, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." “Original sin” of North. • “Paradigmatic History”(Nelson) 14:21-16:34. “The behavior of these kings and the history of their reigns tell the broader national story in miniature.” (Nelson, p. 100). People of Judah as well as their king receive blame, but in Israel, the king is the focus of blame and rejection. Penchant for sin grows worse especially for Israel. David is the measure of conduct for Judah. • Most obvious structural elements are the opening and closing formulas for almost every king. The opening formula aligns each king’s first year with the whole term of the king of the other kingdom, then states the number of years he reigned. The editor describes the entire reign of this particular king, then reverts back to report on the other king or kings who came to the throne during the first king’s rule. E.g., 1 Kgs 15:9-24 describes the 41-year reign of Asa of Judah, then 15:25-22:40 backtracks to cover the five kings who came to throne of Israel during Asa’s long reign. • Assessment of kings. Northern kings are always judged negatively, for offering sacrifices outside Jerusalem (in defiance of Deut 12), i.e., “walking in the way of Jeroboam” (Jeroboam I, 922-901 bce), the first king of Israel. He established shrines in Dan and Bethel, rivaling the one shrine in Jerusalem. Of Judahite kings, only Hezekiah (715-687/6 bce) and Josiah (640-609 bce) receive unqualified approval. Important observations on 1 Kings 12-17

30. Genre: prophetic legend. Orally transmitted, written down later. Focus on prophet’s deed rather than word. • “Historicity,” better, how to interpret for a modern audience? Miracle is not about “natural laws,” but something unusual, inexplicable, explodes the ordinary and shocks people out of their indifference. In opposite direction, could also be “ordinary,” God supporting the natural order (Ps 134:4-9). Enlightenment explains all in secular terms, but biblical miracle “is only a special case of God’s constant work in the world.” G. Lohfink, 141 • Elijah cycle. 1 Kings 17-19. 1 Kings 17:3 interlocking stories, Life in the midst of death: Elijah and the raven, E. and the widow’s hunger, E. and the widow’s son. • 1 Kings 18: public challenge • 1 Kings 19: Elijah’s retreat and attempted resignation, leading to further activity by Elisha, Hazael, and Jehu. Elijah Cycle 1 Kings 17-2 Kings 1

31. 2 Kings 2. Ascension of Elijah. Cf. Moses and Jesus. • 2 Kings 5. Naaman the Aramaean “leper” comes to faith. • 2 Kings 8:16-ch. 10. Jehu. Fruitless reform in Israel. • 2 Kings 11-12. Joash). Fruitful reform in Judah. • 2 Kings 17. Reflection on the fall of the Northern Kingdom. • 2 Kings 18-20. Hezekiah. Cf. 2 Chronicles 29-32. • 2 Kings 21. Manasseh, the worst king ever. • 2 Kings 22:1-23:25a. Josiah and his reform. • 2 Kings 23:25b-25:30. Collapse, but not without hope 2 Kings Overlook

32. The ascension of Elijah 2 Kings 2:8-14 • Ascension of Moses and Jesus 1. Review of Elijah cycle (1 Kings 17-2 Kings 2). Yhwh alone; role of spirit (will recur in Ezekiel); deeds not words; conflict with Ahab & Jezebel, political role (qesher, conspire, conspiracy).2. 2 Kings 2. Ascension of Elijah. Cf. Moses and Jesus. Deut 34:5 So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the LORD, died as the LORD had said; 6 and he was buried in the ravine opposite Beth-peor in the land of Moab, but to this day no one knows the place of his burial. 7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated. 8 For thirty days the Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab, till they had completed the period of grief and mourning for Moses. 9 Now Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom, since Moses had laid his hands upon him; and so the Israelites gave him their obedience, thus carrying out the LORD'S command to Moses. 10 Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. 11 He had no equal in all the signs and wonders the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all his servants and against all his land, 12 and for the might and the terrifying power that Moses exhibited in the sight of all Israel. Luke 24:45-53. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 46 And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And (behold) I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.“ 50 Then he led them (out) as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. 51 As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. 52 They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and they were continually in the temple praising God. 8 Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which divided, and both crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha answered, "May I receive a double portion of your spirit." 10 "You have asked something that is not easy," he replied. "Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not." 11 As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 When Elisha saw it happen he cried out, "My father! my father! Israel's chariots and drivers!" But when he could no longer see him, Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two. 13 Then he picked up Elijah's mantle which had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan. 14 Wielding the mantle which had fallen from Elijah, he struck the water in his turn and said, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over. (2Ki 2:8-14 NAB)

33. Elisha (vv. 1-14) 1. Naaman journeys to Elisha (vv. 1-7) 2. Elisha heals Naaman (vv. 8-14) • Naaman (vv. 15-19 • Gehazi (vv. 20-27) Note: in each of the three segments (A, B, C) one character dominates, yet each segment leads to the next, broadening the perspective; servants are wiser than their masters; Naaman is converted from arrogance and dismissal of Israel to humility and faith in Israel’s God; he will be cured of his leprosy and the greedy and opportunistic Gehazi will be afflicted with leprosy. Is the lesson “universalism” (the noble pagan Naaman is better than the Israelite servant Gehazi)? Or is it that the God of Israel is able to heal and to punish anyone, Israelite or Aramaean, through the prophetic word? Luke 4:27: “Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” Naaman Comes to Faith in Yhwh (2 Kings 5). (After Robert Cohn in Berit Olam series, Liturgical Press, 2000)

34. Jehu. Fruitless Reform in Israel • Joash. Fruitful reform in Judah. 2 Kings 8:16-ch. 10. Jehu. Fruitless reform in Israel.2 Kings 11-12. Joash. Fruitful reform in Judah. 11:1-3. Athaliah, mother of Ahaziah, daughter (or granddaughter) of Omri of Israel, kills off Judahite royal family, but Jehosheba, King Joram’s daughter, hides Joash, son of Ahaziah. 11:4-20. After 7 years, Jehoiada, carries out intricate plan to unseat Athaliah and install Joash as king. Covenant between Lord, King, and people. Joash reforms Temple service, but does not remove high places and has to pay tribute to Hazael, Aramaean king. Modest reform, but fruitful because of God’s promise to David. Joram and Ahaziah (8:16-29). Judah and Israel are both corrupt. Designation of Jehu (9:1-16) by a young prophet sent by Elisha Jehu’s seven violent acts (9:17-10:36) Jehoram (9:11-26); Ahaziah (9:27-29); Jezebel (9:30-37); Ahab’s seventy “sons” (10:1-11); Ahaziah’s kinfolk (10:12-14); loyalists in Samaria (10:15-17); the worshipers of Baal (10:18-28). Death of Jehu (10:29-36). Ambiguous assessment. “Original sin” of worship at Bethel and Dan will continue to haunt and will eventually bring down the Northern kingdom.

35. 18:1-12. Exposition. Judah, in contrast to Israel (1 Kings 17). Key word “trust.” (following Nelson) • 18:13-35. The complication • 18:36-19:7. The first reaction. • 19:8-13. Further complication. • 19:s14-34. The second response • 19:35-37. Jerusalem is saved. • 20. Reflections on Jerusalem’s deliverance. • 20:1-11. Hezekiah’s illness • 20:12-19. Hezekiah’s folly. • Manasseh, the worst king ever. 21:10-12: “Then the LORD spoke through his servants the prophets: ‘Because Manasseh, king of Judah, has practiced these abominations and has done greater evil than all that was done by the Amorites before him, and has led Judah into sin by his idols, therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'I will bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that, whenever anyone hears of it, his ears shall ring.’” 2 Kings 18-21. Hezekiah (Nelson). Cf. 2 Chron 29-32. Manasseh

36. Hezekiah’s Tunnel. 2 Kings 20:20 and 2 Chron 32:20. Overview of tunnel’s route and glimpse inside

37. .. the tunnel ... and this is the account of the piercing. While ... were still . . . the axe, each man toward his neighbor , and while there were still three cubits to the piercing [there was hear]d the voice of a man calling to his neighbor, because there was a crack in the rock, on the right and on the left. And on the day of the piercing, the hewers struck , each man toward his neighbor, axe against axe, and the waters flowed from the source to the pool, one thousand two hundred cubits, and one hundred cubits was the rock above the heads of the hewers. ...(Michael Coogan translation) Siloam Tunnel Inscription

38. Basic structure of Josiah’s reform. Five royal initiatives. 1. Discovery of the book (22:3-11; “sent,” v. 3) 2. Inquiry about the book (22:12-20; “commanded,” v. 12) 3. Covenant and the book (23:1-3; “sent,” v. 1) 4. Reforms from the book (23:4-20; “commanded,” v. 4) 5. Passover from the book (23:21-24; “commanded,” v. 21) • Counter-theme of doom (23:26-30) • Collapse (23-31-25:30) 2 Kings 22:1-23:25a. Josiah and his reform

39. Solomon was known for his wisdom. • Solomon was corrupted by his office. • After his death, Israel was split into the Kingdom of Judah (south) and the Kingdom of Israel (north). • Assyria’s destruction of the northern kingdom in 721 BC • Babylonian captivity of the southern kingdom in 587-586 BC A Divided Kingdom

40. Prophets of the Northern Kingdom • Elijah and Elisha • Elijah taunted the king’s pagan prophets • Next to Moses, Elijah is the greatest of the OT prophets. • He was present at Jesus’ Transfiguration • Elisha succeeded Elijah

41. Amos • Hosea Prophets of the Northern Kingdom Message: To accuse Israel of sin and infidelity to God but show that God still loved the Chosen People Message: Worship of God must show itself in concrete deeds of mercy and justice to the weak and the poor.

42. Isaiah Prophets of the Southern Kingdom Largest of all the prophetic books The Chosen People must imitate God’s holiness by righteous living and true worship. Compared the nation to a vineyard that God cultivated

43. Jeremiah Prophets of the Southern Kingdom Shouted the love of a God who desperately wanted the Chosen People to repent Became a living symbol of God’s message Compared YHWH to a potter who would mold the nation in his hands

44. Micah • Ezekiel Prophets of the Southern Prophets Message: keep the Sabbath and follow the law of holiness Message: Foretold a coming Messiah who would lead Israel to peace and justice

45. Living in a foreign land and intermarriage led to a loss of identity. Without a Temple, Jewish exiles gathered in synagogues where they studied and prayed together. The Babylonian Exile

48. Definitions of apocalypticism, apocalyptic eschatology, and the genre of apocalypse. • Common operating assumptions of biblical historians, particularly in the Deuteronomistic History. "From below." Focus on earthly events and human motivations, though with comments on divine causality. • Another tradition of describing history more typically ancient Near Eastern—"from above." Emphasis on divine causality, mythic, heightening of historical events, e.g., 2 Kings 2, chariot brings Elijah to heaven. Other examples: Isa 27:1; Ezekiel 38-39; Zechariah 9-14; Psalm 46, 48. • Paradigm shift in biblical understanding is found in Book of Daniel, composed 167-163 bce in reaction to desecration of Jerusalem Temple by Antiochus IV (175-163 bce). Daniel 2, 7, and 10-12: four kingdoms plus a fifth that will end the four kingdoms, ending "the ongoing struggle between good and evil in history." • In the "Judaisms" prior to 70 ce (e.g., Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes), Essenes were carriers of apocalypticism. Lived in wilderness, Qumran, in accord with Isa 40:3; cf. Mark 1:2-3. John the Baptist. Prior to scrolls discovery in 1948, we did not know Jewish carrier of apocalyptic. Examination of sectarian writings, esp. Community Rule. New Exodus. • John the Baptist announced the coming of the fifth kingdom; Jesus his disciple. New Exodus. • Mark 13:1-37, the "Little Apocalypse. See handout. • Contrast: in "normative" (or "formative") Judaism of late 1C-mid 2C ce, apocalyptic elements largely absent. • A Catholic response to Christian and Jewish readings of "Scriptures." Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible (2002). The New Testament and Apocalypticism

49. Apocalypticism (broadly defined): the belief that God has revealed the imminent end of the ongoing struggle between good and evil in history (a major theme in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). Apocalyptic eschatology: the expectation of the future characteristic of apocalyptic literature. Apocalypse: a genre of revelatory literature with a narrative framework, in which a revelation is mediated by an otherworldly being to a human recipient, disclosing a transcendent reality which is both temporal, insofar as its envisages eschatological salvation, and spatial insofar as it involves another, supernatural world (John J. Collins). Examples of apocalypses: Daniel 7, 10-12; Revelation. • Common assumptions of biblical historians, particularly Deuteronomistic Historians: (1) history is seen largely as kings' acts; (2) divine causality is operative and recorded; (3) God’s will can be "read" from events on earth; (4) world history consists of four kingdoms rising and declining, succeeding one another (names of the empires can vary but not the number four); (5) empires rise and decline reflects the status of their divine patron in the heavenly world, especially in the assembly of gods. Apocalypticism. Assumptions of biblical historians.

50. Ps 48 2 God is our refuge and stronghold, a help in trouble, very near. 3 Therefore we are not afraid though the earth reels, though mountains topple into the sea -- 4 its waters rage and foam; in its swell mountains quake. Selah. 5 There is a river whose streams gladden God's city, the holy dwelling-place of the Most High. 6 God is in its midst, it will not be toppled; by daybreak God will come to its aid. 7 Nations rage, kingdoms topple; at the sound of His thunder the earth dissolves. 8 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our haven. Selah. 9 Come and see what the LORD has done, how He has wrought desolation on the earth. 10 He puts a stop to wars throughout the earth, breaking the bow, snapping the spear, consigning wagons to the flames. 11 "Desist! Realize that I am God! I dominate the nations; I dominate the earth." 12 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our haven. Selah. Ezekiel 38:1 (NRSV)The word of the LORD came to me: 2 O mortal, turn your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him 3 and say: Thus said the Lord GOD: Lo, I am coming to deal with you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal! 4 I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws, and lead you out with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all of them clothed in splendor, a vast assembly, all of them with bucklers and shields, wielding swords. 5 Among them shall be Persia, Cush, and Put, everyone with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its cohorts, Beth-togarmah in the remotest parts of the north and all its cohorts -- the many peoples with you. 7 Be ready, prepare yourselves, you and all the battalions mustered about you, and hold yourself in reserve for them. 8 After a long time you shall be summoned; in the distant future you shall march against the land of a people restored from the sword, gathered from the midst of many peoples -- against the mountains of Israel, which have long lain desolate -- a people liberated from the nations, and now all dwelling secure. Another tradition of history writing. "History from Above."