Books on OT EthicsBooks on OT EthicsBrueggemann, Walter.Brueggemann, Walter. The Land: Place The Land: Place as as

Gift, Promise, and Challenge to BiblicalGift, Promise, and Challenge to Biblical

FaithFaith. 2d ed. Minneapolis: Fortress, . 2d ed. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2002. 2002.

Kaiser, Walter. Kaiser, Walter. Toward an Old Testament Toward an Old Testament

Ethics.Ethics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983. 1983.

Wright, Christopher J. H.Wright, Christopher J. H. Living as the Living as the

People of God: The Relevance of Old People of God: The Relevance of Old

Testament EthicsTestament Ethics. Downers Grove: IVP, . Downers Grove: IVP,

1984.1984.

The writing of The writing of history in the Old history in the Old

TestamentTestament

History of Historiography of the History of Historiography of the OTOT

Renaissance periodRenaissance period17th century: 17th century: Bible as any other bookBible as any other book

18th century: deist 18th century: deist Development in 19th centuryDevelopment in 19th century►Increase in religious liberalismIncrease in religious liberalism►Increase in ANE knowledge Increase in ANE knowledge ►Rise of Documentary HypothesisRise of Documentary Hypothesis

20th century: challenges the 19th 20th century: challenges the 19th century developmentscentury developments

Contemporary ApproachesContemporary ApproachesHistorical-critical methodHistorical-critical method

►Strauss’s argumentStrauss’s argument►Every account irreconcilable with the Every account irreconcilable with the known and universal laws that govern known and universal laws that govern events is unhistorical events is unhistorical

►Every account in which God disturbs Every account in which God disturbs the natural course of events is the natural course of events is irreconcilable with the known and irreconcilable with the known and universal laws that govern events universal laws that govern events

►Therefore every account in which God Therefore every account in which God disturbs the natural course of events is disturbs the natural course of events is unhistorical unhistorical

Contemporary ApproachesContemporary ApproachesHistorical-critical methodHistorical-critical method • Troeltsch’s principlesTroeltsch’s principles

►Criticism: presupposed skepticism Criticism: presupposed skepticism towards one’s sourcestowards one’s sources►Analogy: present human experience Analogy: present human experience limits what can qualify as “historical” limits what can qualify as “historical” in the pastin the past►Correlation: limiting potential Correlation: limiting potential historical causation to either natural historical causation to either natural forces or human agency forces or human agency

Contemporary ApproachesContemporary ApproachesSocial science methodsSocial science methods

►Multidisciplinary approaches: Multidisciplinary approaches: archaeology, sociology, anthropology archaeology, sociology, anthropology

►reject biblical account altogether for its reject biblical account altogether for its reconstruction of the history of Israelreconstruction of the history of Israel

Modern literary methodsModern literary methods

►Definition of literature: an interpretive Definition of literature: an interpretive presentation of experience in artistic formpresentation of experience in artistic form

►Synchronic rather than diachronic Synchronic rather than diachronic ►Pitfall: view OT as pure literature—art for Pitfall: view OT as pure literature—art for

art’s sakeart’s sake

The future of the study of the The future of the study of the historiography of the OThistoriography of the OT

►Historians must aware of one’s own Historians must aware of one’s own presuppositionspresuppositions

►Refining historical-critical methodsRefining historical-critical methods Criticism, analogy, correlationCriticism, analogy, correlation

►Restricting the claims of the social Restricting the claims of the social sciences in historical reconstructionsciences in historical reconstruction

►Rethinking the consequences of Rethinking the consequences of modern literary criticism for historical modern literary criticism for historical reconstructionreconstruction

Nature of Biblical Nature of Biblical HistoriographyHistoriography

► Selectivity: Israel’s relationship with Selectivity: Israel’s relationship with God God

► Emphasis: didactic purposes Emphasis: didactic purposes ► Order: not necessarily chronologicalOrder: not necessarily chronological► Application: Application:

to mediate God’s words to his to mediate God’s words to his people people

to apply them to the congregation to apply them to the congregation of Israel of Israel

Kingship in ancient IsraelKingship in ancient Israel

Request for a kingRequest for a king

►ReasonsReasons To fight against foreign To fight against foreign

domination (Alt)domination (Alt) Israel’s geographical and social Israel’s geographical and social

locations needed a strong locations needed a strong central government for long-central government for long-term planning term planning

Royal IdeologyRoyal Ideology►Yahweh as King: Human king ruled as Yahweh as King: Human king ruled as

Yahweh’s earthly representative Yahweh’s earthly representative ►Provide and maintain order in IsraelProvide and maintain order in Israel►Function as warrior to protect and Function as warrior to protect and

defend the state (1 Sam 8:20)defend the state (1 Sam 8:20)►Act as judge to establish justice (2 Sam Act as judge to establish justice (2 Sam

14:1-24; 15:1-6; 1 Kgs 3:16-28; etc)14:1-24; 15:1-6; 1 Kgs 3:16-28; etc)►The king as Priest (1 Sam 14:33-35; 2 The king as Priest (1 Sam 14:33-35; 2

Sam 6:13, 17; 1 Kgs 3:4; 15; 8:12-65; Sam 6:13, 17; 1 Kgs 3:4; 15; 8:12-65; etc)etc)

The Judgment Throne at the The Judgment Throne at the Gate of DanGate of Dan

The King as Judge The King as Judge

King as Priest King as Priest

High Place at DanHigh Place at Dan

Requirement for Israelite Requirement for Israelite kings kings ►Chosen by GodChosen by God

►Must be one of the IsraelitesMust be one of the Israelites►Not acquire great number of horses Not acquire great number of horses ►Not to make people to return to EgyptNot to make people to return to Egypt►Not acquire many wives, nor moneyNot acquire many wives, nor money►Keep and study Law all the days of his Keep and study Law all the days of his

lifelife►Not consider himself better than his Not consider himself better than his

brothers brothers ►Obey the LawObey the Law

The Davidic Covenant The Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7=1 Chron 17) (2 Sam 7=1 Chron 17)

►Outline of 2 Sam 7Outline of 2 Sam 7 Occasion for the promise (vv.1-7)Occasion for the promise (vv.1-7) God’s work in the past (vv. 8-11a)God’s work in the past (vv. 8-11a) God’s work in the future (vv. 11b-17)God’s work in the future (vv. 11b-17) David’s thanksgiving for the promise David’s thanksgiving for the promise

now (vv.18-21)now (vv.18-21) Praise for God’s favor in the past (vv. Praise for God’s favor in the past (vv.

22-24)22-24) Prayer for this promise in the future Prayer for this promise in the future

(vv.25-29)(vv.25-29)

The importance of the The importance of the Davidic covenant in NTDavidic covenant in NT

►Jesus is proclaimed to be the Son Jesus is proclaimed to be the Son of Davidof David

►Jesus’ self claimJesus’ self claim►Jesus’ self-portrayal as the true Jesus’ self-portrayal as the true

shepherd of the flockshepherd of the flock►Paul’s sermon in Acts 13:32-37Paul’s sermon in Acts 13:32-37►Other NT writers affirm that Jesus Other NT writers affirm that Jesus

is the true “Son of David”is the true “Son of David”

The Theology of the Former The Theology of the Former Prophets (Joshua-Kings)Prophets (Joshua-Kings)

►The struggle against pagan idolatry The struggle against pagan idolatry ►The centralization of worshipThe centralization of worship►Significance of Exodus, covenant and electionSignificance of Exodus, covenant and election►A firm belief in monotheismA firm belief in monotheism►Observance of the TorahObservance of the Torah►The land as God’s giftThe land as God’s gift►Retribution and motivationRetribution and motivation►The fulfillment of prophecy The fulfillment of prophecy ►The role of kingThe role of king

Appropriation of the Appropriation of the Message of the Former Message of the Former

ProphetsProphets►3 guidelines for interpreting 3 guidelines for interpreting

narrativesnarratives Pay attention to the selection of the Pay attention to the selection of the

details of the narrativedetails of the narrative Pay attention to the arrangement of Pay attention to the arrangement of

the these detailsthe these details Pay attention to quotation attributed Pay attention to quotation attributed

to one of the key individuals in a textto one of the key individuals in a text

Case Study: 1 Kgs 17:1-24Case Study: 1 Kgs 17:1-24Questions to askQuestions to ask::►How is Elijah introduced in the How is Elijah introduced in the

passage?passage?►How many scenes are there in this How many scenes are there in this

chapter? 5Ws-Who, when, where, chapter? 5Ws-Who, when, where, what, why?what, why?

►What is the climax of this chapter?What is the climax of this chapter?►What conclusion can we draw?What conclusion can we draw?►What timeless principles can we derive What timeless principles can we derive

from this conclusion?from this conclusion?

Outline of 1 Kgs 17:1-24Outline of 1 Kgs 17:1-24

►Introduction of Elijah (v.1)Introduction of Elijah (v.1)   ►Scene 1: Elijah and Ahab (v.1) Scene 1: Elijah and Ahab (v.1) ►Scene 2: God commands Elijah to Scene 2: God commands Elijah to

hide (vv. 2-7) hide (vv. 2-7) ►Scene 3: Elijah and the Widow of Scene 3: Elijah and the Widow of

ZarephathZarephath (vv. 8-16)  (vv. 8-16) ►Scene 4: Elijah revives the Scene 4: Elijah revives the

Widow’s son (vv.17-24)Widow’s son (vv.17-24)

Timeless principles Timeless principles ►God’s word is dependable in judgment God’s word is dependable in judgment

when we abandon our God (v.1; cf Deut when we abandon our God (v.1; cf Deut 28:23-24)28:23-24)

►God’s word is dependable in provision God’s word is dependable in provision when we do his will (vv. 2-7)when we do his will (vv. 2-7)

►God’s word is dependable when we God’s word is dependable when we come to the end of our resources (vv. 8-come to the end of our resources (vv. 8-16)16)

►God’s word is dependable when all hope God’s word is dependable when all hope is gone (vv. 17-24)is gone (vv. 17-24)