An Overview of Old Testament History Lecture 2 By L. Timothy Myers Butler Community College

Introduction Salvation History Salvation History The Nature of God The Nature of God One, Sovereign, Transcendent, and Good One, Sovereign, Transcendent, and Good Names for God Names for God Yahweh Yahweh Elohim Elohim El Shaddai El Shaddai Adonai Adonai

Introduction The Nature of Man The Nature of Man Image and likeness of God Image and likeness of God Free moral agent Free moral agent We are to love others because people have the image of God in them We are to love others because people have the image of God in them The Covenant The Covenant It is a contract It is a contract It is Israel’s constitution and is what made them into a nation It is Israel’s constitution and is what made them into a nation It carries a missionary obligation It carries a missionary obligation

Introduction The Law The Law The Law(s) are the specifics of the covenant The Law(s) are the specifics of the covenant The Law is divided into three areas: The Law is divided into three areas: Moral law Moral law Civil law Civil law Ceremonial law Ceremonial law There is to be no partiality before the Law There is to be no partiality before the Law People are more important than property People are more important than property

Introduction The Role of the Prophets The Role of the Prophets They acted as Israel’s historians – they interpreted events in light of the Covenant They acted as Israel’s historians – they interpreted events in light of the Covenant They “foretold” and “forthtold” events They “foretold” and “forthtold” events They stressed the direct spiritual-ethical encounter between the individual and God They stressed the direct spiritual-ethical encounter between the individual and God They were greatly concerned about social justice They were greatly concerned about social justice

Creation Even though Genesis does deal with the creation of the universe, its main purpose is to trace the origins of the nation of Israel Even though Genesis does deal with the creation of the universe, its main purpose is to trace the origins of the nation of Israel Even though the first eleven chapters are problematic to modern readers, it nevertheless is a giant leap forward in regards of explaining the origins of the universe as opposed to the creation myths of the Ancient Near East Even though the first eleven chapters are problematic to modern readers, it nevertheless is a giant leap forward in regards of explaining the origins of the universe as opposed to the creation myths of the Ancient Near East

Creation God creates in an orderly fashion without violence or bloodshed God creates in an orderly fashion without violence or bloodshed Everything He creates is good Everything He creates is good Mankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation Mankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation He is made in His image He is made in His image He is able to fellowship with God He is able to fellowship with God He is a free moral agent He is a free moral agent

Creation The Fall The Fall Explains the origins of evil Explains the origins of evil Essentially sin is man trying to be his own god Essentially sin is man trying to be his own god The Flood The Flood Result of mankind’s evil Result of mankind’s evil The Noah story is found in many Ancient Near Eastern cultures The Noah story is found in many Ancient Near Eastern cultures The Sumerians date their history before/after the flood The Sumerians date their history before/after the flood

Creation The Tower of Babel The Tower of Babel The tower was probably a ziggurat The tower was probably a ziggurat Explains the origins of languages and cultures Explains the origins of languages and cultures Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Amorite = Hebrew Amorite = Hebrew Abrahamic Covenant = land, seed, and blessing Abrahamic Covenant = land, seed, and blessing Joseph story Joseph story Explains how Israelites went to Egypt Explains how Israelites went to Egypt Fits into known Egyptian history with the coming of the Hyksos Fits into known Egyptian history with the coming of the Hyksos

The Exodus The Hyksos The Hyksos Moses and the Plagues Moses and the Plagues Some can be explained scientifically Some can be explained scientifically However they are to show that Yahweh is more powerful than all the Egyptian gods put together However they are to show that Yahweh is more powerful than all the Egyptian gods put together The Crossing of the Red Sea – 1446 B. C. The Crossing of the Red Sea – 1446 B. C. It can be explained scientifically It can be explained scientifically There are several possible routes There are several possible routes

Exodus The Giving of the Law The Giving of the Law The Tabernacle and the Priesthood The Tabernacle and the Priesthood The Wilderness Wanderings – 40 years The Wilderness Wanderings – 40 years

The Conquest of Canaan Joshua the New Leader Joshua the New Leader Israel Crosses the Jordan River – 1406 B. C. Israel Crosses the Jordan River – 1406 B. C. Conquest of Major Sites by 1399 B. C. Conquest of Major Sites by 1399 B. C. Jericho Jericho Hazor Hazor Completion of the Conquest and Settlement – B. C. Completion of the Conquest and Settlement – B. C.

The Period of the Judges B. C. Cycles in the Book of Judges Cycles in the Book of Judges Sin Sin Servitude Servitude Supplication Supplication Salvation Salvation Silence or serenity Silence or serenity The Nature of the Judges The Nature of the Judges Military leaders not judges in our sense of the term Military leaders not judges in our sense of the term

The Period of the Judges B. C. Canaanite Religion Canaanite Religion Fertility cult Fertility cult Baal and Asherah Baal and Asherah Human sacrifice and temple prostitution Human sacrifice and temple prostitution “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes… When there was no king in Israel.” “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes… When there was no king in Israel.”

The United Kingdom B. C. Saul B. C. Saul B. C. Fought Philistines Fought Philistines Mental breakdown Mental breakdown David, hero in his court David, hero in his court David B. C. David B. C. Ideal king Ideal king Jerusalem – political and religious capital Jerusalem – political and religious capital Conqueror, domestic statesman, religious leader Conqueror, domestic statesman, religious leader

The United Kingdom B. C. Solomon B. C. Solomon B. C. Great builder Great builder Temple Temple Palace Palace Forts and cities Forts and cities Great wealth and peace Great wealth and peace Alliance through marriages Alliance through marriages Trading voyages Trading voyages Taxes and forced labor Taxes and forced labor Tension and conflict Tension and conflict

The Divided Kingdom B. C. Northern Kingdom of Israel Northern Kingdom of Israel Wealthy Wealthy Agriculturally Agriculturally Center of international trade Center of international trade Religiously and politically unstable Religiously and politically unstable Two religious centers for Yahweh worship – idols – Amos Two religious centers for Yahweh worship – idols – Amos Baal worship – Elijah and Elisha Baal worship – Elijah and Elisha Conquered by Assyrians in 722 B. C. Conquered by Assyrians in 722 B. C.

The Divided Kingdom B. C. Southern Kingdom of Judah Southern Kingdom of Judah Poorer than Israel Poorer than Israel Dynasty of David Dynasty of David Worship becomes formal and synchronistic – Isaiah and Jeremiah Worship becomes formal and synchronistic – Isaiah and Jeremiah Crisis of the Assyrian Invasion in 701 B. C. – King Hezakiah Crisis of the Assyrian Invasion in 701 B. C. – King Hezakiah Babylon conquers Judah in 586 B. C. Babylon conquers Judah in 586 B. C. Destroys walls and temple Destroys walls and temple Deports much of the population back to Babylon Deports much of the population back to Babylon Spent 70 years in exile Spent 70 years in exile

Babylonian Exile and the Return B. C. Synagogue worship begins Synagogue worship begins Cyrus allows Jews to return in 538 B. C. Cyrus allows Jews to return in 538 B. C. Temple rebuilt in 515 B. C. Temple rebuilt in 515 B. C. Walls of Jerusalem rebuilt in 444 B. C. Walls of Jerusalem rebuilt in 444 B. C. Old Testament era closes Old Testament era closes

Contributions Laws, morals and ethics Laws, morals and ethics Ethical monotheism Ethical monotheism Worth of the individual Worth of the individual Concepts passed on to Christianity Concepts passed on to Christianity The idea of social justice The idea of social justice