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Exodus c. 1450? 1250? BC. “ The Departure ” (from Egypt) Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons, progenitors of 12 tribes of Israel Joseph sold to Egyptian slavers by brothers, interprets Pharaoh ’ s dream, saves Egypt and others from famine Hebrews settle in Egypt, made slaves, multiply
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Exodus c. 1450? 1250? BC • “The Departure” (from Egypt) • Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons, progenitors of 12 tribes of Israel • Joseph sold to Egyptian slavers by brothers, interprets Pharaoh’s dream, saves Egypt and others from famine • Hebrews settle in Egypt, made slaves, multiply • Moses escapes order to kill male Hebrew children, adopted by Princess of Egypt but but raised by Hebrew mother • Moses shows loyalties by killing taskmaster beating slave, forced to flee Egypt
Exodus • Moses, settles down, marries, meets God in burning Bush • What is your name? (Which god are you?) • “I am” = play on the name Yahweh. • The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob • Moses reluctant • Poor public speaker - brother Aaron will do the talking • Miracles for credibility
The Ten Plagues • Makes Pharaoh let the Israelites go • God hardens Pharaoh’s heart so he can pour out full measure of his wrath • Demonstrates Yahweh’s power and spreads his Name • Loot • Last Plague = Angel of death, kills firstborn • Escape across parted Red Sea, Pharaoh & army drowned when waters close • Song of Moses • Yahweh is a Man of War • Who is like you, O Yahweh, among the gods?
Passover • Named from Angel of death “passing over” Hebrew houses • Celebration of the Exodus from Egypt • Defining event - God as deliverer • “I am Yahweh, your God, who brought you out of Egypt” • Passover Lamb - blood on doorposts protected from Angel of Death • Unleavened bread - haste • Bitter Herbs - slavery
Passover • Originally eaten in haste, dressed to travel, bloody doorposts Modernizations • Other boiled meat (lamb substitute) • Pebbly mixture of walnuts, apples, cinnamon, wine - mortar of slaves • Vegetables - parsley, celery or potato dipped in salt water (tears) • Roasted Egg - mourns destruction of temple where special Passover sacrifice made • Find the matza game for kids, gifts
Amalekite Ambush • Attack from the rear, where old, sick, defenseless are • God promises revenge, carries out 400 years later under Saul
The Ten Commandments • Not the only commandments, just really important ones • Engraved on tablet’s by God • Originals destroyed by Moses, replacement set put in Ark of the Covenant
The Ten Commandments • No other gods • No idols • Don’t misuse “Yahweh” • Sabbath (no work on Saturday) • Honor parents • No murder • No adultery • No stealing • No perjury • No coveting (only internal attitude)
The Ark of the Covenant • Written on 2 stone tablet’s by God’s finger • Replacement set put in ark • Only priests could carry
40 Years in the Wilderness • Caleb’s recon mission • Faithless Israelites • Moses loses his temper • Miriam struck with leprosy - why? • Blessings and Cursings
Kosher • Large land animals • Split or cloven hooves • Chew the cud • Fish • Gills, fins and scales • No shellfish! • Birds: No predatory birds scavengers
Yom KippurThe Day of Atonement • Sacrificial goat • Scapegoat (Azazel) • Excess sins transferred from people to priest to goat, who is driven into the desert • Today: Time of repentance, reflection, resolution to do better in the coming year
The Invasion of Canaan • Why is Canaan the “Promised Land”? • The “Ban” • Achan’s Sin • Moral Implications
Samson • Judge of renowned strength • Nazarite Vow • Weakness: Foreign Women • The Woman of Timnah - Philistine
Samson • Interracial marriage was interfaith marriage • When you marry a foreigner, you marry her gods • Samson & Solomon shared same weakness
Samson • The Sovereignty and Providence of God: Yahweh uses human weakness to accomplish his purposes • “…for Yahweh sought an opportunity against the Philistines”
Samson • Nazarite vow • The lion and the riddle • “Out of the eater came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet.” • Philistine extortion, cheating, fiancé conspires against him, marries best man • Samson wages one-man war against the Philistines.
Delilah • Another Philistine • No marriage plans this time • Nags him night and day for the secret of his strength • Samson finally betrayed, hair cut in his sleep
Samson • Eyes put out • Chained between pillars at Temple of Dagon • Samson “killed more Philistines in death, than he did in life”
The Monarchy • Under Judges Israel was a loose confederation of tribes • Secular explanation: no united military defense, no standing army • Religious explanation: God was punishing them for worshiping idols
Saul • First King - tall, charismatic, good commander, but insubordinate • Makes a sacrifice reserved for Levites (Priests) • Botches the Amalekite genocide • Resorts to necromancy (séance to bring up Samuel) • Commits suicide, body mutilated, cremated
David • Good King, makes Saul look like a false start • Promised an everlasting Kingdom, model for the Messiah • Sin with Bathsheba results in personal and political consequences • Nathan’s parable of the pet lamb
Solomon • Asks God for wisdom, given riches as well • Weakness for foreign women, builds temples to their gods • Because of his Father, retains Kingdom, but his son loses it • 922 B.C. Israel split into Northern and Southern Kingdoms
The Divided Kingdom • Secular explanation: Reheboam’s rash threats, regional conflicts and resentment over Solomon’s building projects • “My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins!” • Religious explanation for split: God is punishing Solomon for idolatry
Successive Conquest • The Split of the Kingdom into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms in 922 B.C. • Israel falls to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. • Judah falls to the Babylonians in 587 B.C. • The Babylonian Captivity • Temple system and sacrifice less important • Emphasis on study of scripture and prayer on Sabbath at local house of worship (synagogue) • Importance of Teacher schooled in Scripture & Tradition (Rabbi)
Successive Conquest • The Persians Defeat the Babylonians, Jews return to Judah, rebuild Jerusalem • The Greek Conquest and Maccabean Revolt • Hanukkah • Roman Rule • Rebellion and the Diaspora 70, 130 A.D. • The Holocaust and Restoration of Israel in 1948
Other Themes of the Tanakh • Life After Death • The Messiah • Job and the Problem of Evil