1 / 30

MAPS FOR THE JOURNEY Geographical, Historical, and Literary Context

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

hayley
Download Presentation

MAPS FOR THE JOURNEY Geographical, Historical, and Literary Context

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  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

More Related