An Overview of Old An Overview of Old Testament HistoryTestament History

Lecture 2 Lecture 2

By By

L. Timothy MyersL. Timothy Myers

Butler Community CollegeButler Community College

IntroductionIntroduction

Salvation HistorySalvation History The Nature of GodThe Nature of God

One, Sovereign, Transcendent, and One, Sovereign, Transcendent, and GoodGood

Names for GodNames for God YahwehYahweh ElohimElohim El ShaddaiEl Shaddai AdonaiAdonai

IntroductionIntroduction

The Nature of ManThe Nature of Man Image and likeness of GodImage and likeness of God Free moral agentFree moral agent We are to love others because people have the We are to love others because people have the

image of God in themimage of God in them The CovenantThe Covenant

It is a contract It is a contract It is Israel’s constitution and is what made It is Israel’s constitution and is what made

them into a nationthem into a nation It carries a missionary obligationIt carries a missionary obligation

Introduction Introduction

The LawThe Law The Law(s) are the specifics of the covenantThe Law(s) are the specifics of the covenant The Law is divided into three areas:The Law is divided into three areas:

Moral lawMoral law Civil lawCivil law Ceremonial lawCeremonial law

There is to be no partiality before the LawThere is to be no partiality before the Law People are more important than propertyPeople are more important than property

IntroductionIntroduction

The Role of the ProphetsThe Role of the Prophets They acted as Israel’s historians – they They acted as Israel’s historians – they

interpreted events in light of the interpreted events in light of the CovenantCovenant

They “foretold” and “forthtold” eventsThey “foretold” and “forthtold” events They stressed the direct spiritual-ethical They stressed the direct spiritual-ethical

encounter between the individual and encounter between the individual and GodGod

They were greatly concerned about social They were greatly concerned about social justicejustice

CreationCreation

Even though Genesis does deal with the Even though Genesis does deal with the creation of the universe, its main purpose creation of the universe, its main purpose is to trace the origins of the nation of is to trace the origins of the nation of IsraelIsrael

Even though the first eleven chapters are Even though the first eleven chapters are problematic to modern readers, it problematic to modern readers, it nevertheless is a giant leap forward in nevertheless is a giant leap forward in regards of explaining the origins of the regards of explaining the origins of the universe as opposed to the creation myths universe as opposed to the creation myths of the Ancient Near Eastof the Ancient Near East

Creation Creation

God creates in an orderly fashion God creates in an orderly fashion without violence or bloodshedwithout violence or bloodshed

Everything He creates is goodEverything He creates is good Mankind is the pinnacle of God’s Mankind is the pinnacle of God’s

creationcreation He is made in His imageHe is made in His image He is able to fellowship with GodHe is able to fellowship with God He is a free moral agentHe is a free moral agent

Creation Creation

The Fall The Fall Explains the origins of evilExplains the origins of evil Essentially sin is man trying to be his Essentially sin is man trying to be his

own godown god The FloodThe Flood

Result of mankind’s evilResult of mankind’s evil The Noah story is found in many Ancient The Noah story is found in many Ancient

Near Eastern culturesNear Eastern cultures The Sumerians date their history The Sumerians date their history

before/after the floodbefore/after the flood

CreationCreation

The Tower of BabelThe Tower of Babel The tower was probably a ziggurat The tower was probably a ziggurat Explains the origins of languages and culturesExplains the origins of languages and cultures

Abraham, Isaac, and JacobAbraham, Isaac, and Jacob Amorite = HebrewAmorite = Hebrew Abrahamic Covenant = land, seed, and Abrahamic Covenant = land, seed, and

blessingblessing Joseph storyJoseph story

Explains how Israelites went to Egypt Explains how Israelites went to Egypt Fits into known Egyptian history with the Fits into known Egyptian history with the

coming of the Hyksoscoming of the Hyksos

The ExodusThe Exodus

The HyksosThe Hyksos Moses and the PlaguesMoses and the Plagues

Some can be explained scientifically Some can be explained scientifically However they are to show that Yahweh However they are to show that Yahweh

is more powerful than all the Egyptian is more powerful than all the Egyptian gods put togethergods put together

The Crossing of the Red Sea – 1446 The Crossing of the Red Sea – 1446 B. C.B. C. It can be explained scientifically It can be explained scientifically There are several possible routes There are several possible routes

Exodus Exodus

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

yearsyears

The Conquest of Canaan The Conquest of Canaan

Joshua the New LeaderJoshua the New Leader Israel Crosses the Jordan River – Israel Crosses the Jordan River –

1406 B. C.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 Completion of the Conquest and Settlement – 1399-1350 B. C. Settlement – 1399-1350 B. C.

The Period of the JudgesThe Period of the Judges1350-1051 B. C. 1350-1051 B. C.

Cycles in the Book of Judges Cycles in the Book of Judges Sin Sin Servitude Servitude SupplicationSupplication SalvationSalvation Silence or serenity Silence or serenity

The Nature of the Judges The Nature of the Judges Military leaders not judges in our sense Military leaders not judges in our sense

of the term of the term

The Period of the Judges The Period of the Judges 1350-1051 B. C. 1350-1051 B. C.

Canaanite ReligionCanaanite 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 Every man did that which was right in his own eyes… When there was no in his own eyes… When there was no king in Israel.”king in Israel.”

The United Kingdom The United Kingdom 1051-931 B. C. 1051-931 B. C.

Saul 1051-1011 B. C. Saul 1051-1011 B. C. Fought Philistines Fought Philistines Mental breakdown Mental breakdown David, hero in his court David, hero in his court

David 1011-971 B. C.David 1011-971 B. C. Ideal king Ideal king Jerusalem – political and religious capital Jerusalem – political and religious capital Conqueror, domestic statesman, Conqueror, domestic statesman,

religious leader religious leader

The United Kingdom The United Kingdom 1051-931 B. C.1051-931 B. C.

Solomon 971-931 B. C.Solomon 971-931 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 The Divided Kingdom 931-586 B. C.931-586 B. C.

Northern Kingdom of Israel Northern Kingdom of Israel Wealthy Wealthy

AgriculturallyAgriculturally Center of international trade Center of international trade

Religiously and politically unstable Religiously and politically unstable Two religious centers for Yahweh worship – Two religious centers for Yahweh worship –

idols – Amos 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 KingdomThe Divided Kingdom931-586 B. C. 931-586 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 – Worship becomes formal and synchronistic –

Isaiah and Jeremiah Isaiah and Jeremiah Crisis of the Assyrian Invasion in 701 B. C. – Crisis of the Assyrian Invasion in 701 B. C. –

King Hezakiah 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 Babylonian Exile and the Return 586-430 B. C. 586-430 B. C.

Synagogue worship begins Synagogue worship begins Cyrus allows Jews to return in 538 B. Cyrus allows Jews to return in 538 B.

C. 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 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