Jonah and Daniel

Jonah

• Jonah = Dove• Not so much

prophecy as narrative• Only prophet sent by

God to a heathen nation

• Characterized by disobedience

• Only prophetic oracle in the book remains unfulfilled

Historicity

• In all likelihood, the book is legendary (i.e. Robin Hood or William Tell)

• Based upon Gath-hepher who counseled Jeroboam II in a successful conflict against the Syrians

• Important moral themes

The Story

Some Geography

Biblical Humor• Exaggerated Behavior

(Running away from God)• Inappropriate Action

(Sleeping Through a storm)• Outlandish Situations

(Prayer of Thanksgiving from within the fish)

• Ludicrous Commands (Animals must wear sackcloth)

• Emotions Contrary to Expectation (Anger at mercy)

• Emotions Out of proportion to the Situation (Anger that the plant died)

Major Themes

• God plans salvation• God desires

salvation for all

Daniel

• Daniel = God Judges• A legendary or

psuedopigraphal book• Parts in the

Deuterocanon• Apocalyptic Literature• Likely collected over a

period of time with the apocalyptic pieces occuring on the eve of the Maccabean revolt (ca. 167)

Folklore

• Humor• Wise Courtiers• Endangered heroes• Foolish Kings• Rags to Riches

Context for Apocalypticism• 334 – 332 – Alexander the Great

invades Palestine – He does not force his culture or religion on the people, but his successors do.

• Greek culture begins to mix with Hebrew culture = Hellenism

• The Greeks believe the Jews to be barbarians w/o religion because they are monotheistic. This leads to idolatry

• Antiochus (Epiphaneus, The Evil One) enforces Hellenism

• Maccabees revolt• Romans arrive – they permit a pseudo-

Jewish dynasty to rule – Herodians• Idolatry becomes rampant• The lower classes attempt to resist,

thus bring more oppression upon themselves

• The promises of the prophets appear to be unfulfilled, to they are projected into the future in a new literary genre

• Apocalypticism flourishes in times of persecution and turmoil

Prophecy v. Apocalypticism

Prophecy• Deals with coming

messiah• Messiah is deliverer of

Israel• Prophet concerned

about righteousness• Visions imply the

meaning of the message – dry bones symbolize life and death

Apocalypticism• Deals with Messiah• Messiah will deliver all

the oppressed• Concerned for the

overthrow of the oppressor

• Visions are arbitrary, and often only understood by those within the circle to whom the message was delivered

Common Symbols in Apocalypticism

• Eyes = knowledge• Horns = Power• White = Victory• Red = Bloodshed• Black = Disaster• Pale Green = Death• Purple = Royalty• Seven = Fullness• Twelve = Fullness or perfection• Four = Universality• Three = A few, several, a portion• Six = Failure, evil• 3.5 = a limited number• Thousand = A number beyond

measure

The Interpreter of Signs (Chap. 5)

Susanna (Chap. 13)

Bel and the Dragon (Chap. 14)