religions of the middle east tuesday, october 21, 2008 monarchy, captivity, diaspora, job,...
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Religions of theMiddle East
Religions of theMiddle East
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monarchy, Captivity, Diaspora, Job, Afterlife, Rabbinic & Modern Judaism
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monarchy, Captivity, Diaspora, Job, Afterlife, Rabbinic & Modern Judaism
First Midterm ExamFirst Midterm Exam
Tu 10/21 at 3pm to Tu 10/28 at 7pm CEN 456 lab, Cottage Grove Center or
approved proctor See syllabus for further details
Tu 10/21 at 3pm to Tu 10/28 at 7pm CEN 456 lab, Cottage Grove Center or
approved proctor See syllabus for further details
The MonarchyThe 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
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
SaulSaul
First King - tall, charismatic, good commander, but insubordinate
Makes a sacrifice reserved for Levites (Priests)
Botches the Amalekite genocide Resorts to necromancy Commits suicide, body mutilated, cremated
First King - tall, charismatic, good commander, but insubordinate
Makes a sacrifice reserved for Levites (Priests)
Botches the Amalekite genocide Resorts to necromancy Commits suicide, body mutilated, cremated
DavidDavid
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
Samuel’s parable of the pet lamb
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
Samuel’s parable of the pet lamb
SolomonSolomon
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
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 KingdomThe 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
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 ConquestSuccessive 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
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
Successive ConquestSuccessive Conquest
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)
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 ConquestSuccessive 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
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
Did God keep his promise to David and Solomon?
Did God keep his promise to David and Solomon?
Promised an “everlasting” kingdom Conditional promise? Later Jews (and Christians) came to believe
the promise would be fulfilled by a descendent of David who would restore a united Kingdom of Israel (the Messiah)
Promised an “everlasting” kingdom Conditional promise? Later Jews (and Christians) came to believe
the promise would be fulfilled by a descendent of David who would restore a united Kingdom of Israel (the Messiah)
The MessiahThe Messiah
Hebrew for “annointed one”, sign of being chosen by God, of God’s spirit, royalty
Military leader like the Judges who would deliver Israel from their enemies and establish an everlasting Kingdom
Developed over time as empire after empire conquered Israel
Hebrew for “annointed one”, sign of being chosen by God, of God’s spirit, royalty
Military leader like the Judges who would deliver Israel from their enemies and establish an everlasting Kingdom
Developed over time as empire after empire conquered Israel
The Babylonian Captivity(587-538 BC)
The Babylonian Captivity(587-538 BC)
No Temple, so no animal sacrifices (afterwards less important)
Worship in private homes centered around study of scriptures and prayer (become Synagogue system)
Rising importance of a Rabbi (“teacher”) to interpret scripture
Talmud Begins
No Temple, so no animal sacrifices (afterwards less important)
Worship in private homes centered around study of scriptures and prayer (become Synagogue system)
Rising importance of a Rabbi (“teacher”) to interpret scripture
Talmud Begins
The Afterlife in Early Judaism (2000 BC - 538? BC)
The Afterlife in Early Judaism (2000 BC - 538? BC)
The dead go to Sheol (“the grave”) No conscious experience good or bad Eternal rest unless you break God’s law and
conduct a séance (necromancy)
The dead go to Sheol (“the grave”) No conscious experience good or bad Eternal rest unless you break God’s law and
conduct a séance (necromancy)
Later Judaism538? BC to Present
Later Judaism538? BC to Present
Bodily Resurrection Persian Zoroastrian Influence Ezekiel’s Vision - Valley of Dry Bones Questions about God’s Justice Daniel 12:2 ONLY unambiguous reference
in entire Tanakh
Bodily Resurrection Persian Zoroastrian Influence Ezekiel’s Vision - Valley of Dry Bones Questions about God’s Justice Daniel 12:2 ONLY unambiguous reference
in entire Tanakh
JobJob
Early view: Punishment for sin Later view: Test from God, Satan
Early view: Punishment for sin Later view: Test from God, Satan
JobJob Why do bad things happen to good people? Wager between God and Satan Satan borrowed from Persians? Only TWO other references in Tanakh
1 Chronicles 21:1, (cf. 2 Sam 24:1) Zechariah 3:1-2 Is. 14:12-22 and Ezekiel 28:12-19 refer to the
Kings of Babylon and Tyre, not Satan
Why do bad things happen to good people? Wager between God and Satan Satan borrowed from Persians? Only TWO other references in Tanakh
1 Chronicles 21:1, (cf. 2 Sam 24:1) Zechariah 3:1-2 Is. 14:12-22 and Ezekiel 28:12-19 refer to the
Kings of Babylon and Tyre, not Satan
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
A test of our faith from Satan We can’t hope to understand God’s ways;
we should just trust and obey No corporate responsibility Rejection of misfortune as a manifestation
of divine wrath? (Deuteronomy 28)
A test of our faith from Satan We can’t hope to understand God’s ways;
we should just trust and obey No corporate responsibility Rejection of misfortune as a manifestation
of divine wrath? (Deuteronomy 28)
The HolocaustThe Holocaust
The theme of Job writ large 6 million Jews killed, most in gas chambers Garnered international sympathy Israel made a nation after WW II without it?
The theme of Job writ large 6 million Jews killed, most in gas chambers Garnered international sympathy Israel made a nation after WW II without it?
JudaismJudaism
Meaning in History God works through the Nation of Israel and the
Jewish people Human problem = sin (willful disobedience to
God’s commands) Solution: Concentrate on one group of people,
give commands and enforce them. Animal sacrifices early on, later repentance only
Meaning in History God works through the Nation of Israel and the
Jewish people Human problem = sin (willful disobedience to
God’s commands) Solution: Concentrate on one group of people,
give commands and enforce them. Animal sacrifices early on, later repentance only
Major festivalsMajor festivals Passover (Exodus celebration) Shavuot (Pentacost - Law given 50th day after
Passover) Sukkot (Wilderness Wandering - Tablernacles) Purim (Saved from Persians by Esther) Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Hanukkah (Festival of Lights, independence from
Greeks/Seleucids)
Passover (Exodus celebration) Shavuot (Pentacost - Law given 50th day after
Passover) Sukkot (Wilderness Wandering - Tablernacles) Purim (Saved from Persians by Esther) Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Hanukkah (Festival of Lights, independence from
Greeks/Seleucids)
The TalmudThe Talmud Commentary on The Law Theology, Demonology, Practical
Application (e.g. how to keep Sabbath) Opinions of Rabbis from the Babylonian
Captivity on Authoritative but not inspired
Commentary on The Law Theology, Demonology, Practical
Application (e.g. how to keep Sabbath) Opinions of Rabbis from the Babylonian
Captivity on Authoritative but not inspired
Four Branches of JudaismFour Branches of Judaism
Orthodox Conservative Reformed Reconstructionist
Orthodox Conservative Reformed Reconstructionist