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Jeanie C. Crain, ProfessorMissouri Western State University4525 Downs DriveSt. Joseph, Mo 64507 |
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Please note: The html and pdf links provided below contain files still being updated; for the most current work, please stay within this web page. Chapter 2 History and Chronology Section A: Chronology In order to read the Bible with any
degree of understanding at all, students should familiarize themselves with a
brief chronological structure which can be easily memorized and used to place
books appropriately in the era they describe. While students will quickly
discover that almost no one agrees on the early traditions, time and sometimes even
setting, most chronological structures tend to agree with what happens with the
monarchy in 1000 BCE Links:
Students
will find that understanding this overview will help them considerably when
they read, for example, Isaiah and can place this prophecy within the eighth
century BCE Isaiah, of course, dates itself: "The vision of Isaiah
concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah, kings of Judah" (1.1). Knowing Isaiah's date tells the student
that Isaiah begins this prophecy prior to the fall of the Northern Kingdom
(722/21) to the Assyrians. If they read closely, they will understand why
Isaiah has been said to contain a First, Second, and Third period, the context
responding to different times. Section B: History Moses An
understanding of the history involved (in its simplest form) is also a
requirement for appreciating the literature of the Bible. For example, Oxford
University Press provides the following kind of brief synopsis. Using the Old and New Testament Judaism
has no Old Testament, although it shares with Christians the Old Testament
tradition as it appears in the books embraced by Christians. Jewish tradition
tells the Old Testament story in three parts: Torah (Genesis through
Deuteronomy), Prophets (Former: Joshua through Kings; Latter: Isaiah through
Malachi), and Writings (the rest of the books). Name of God Original
Hebrew contained only consonants; as a result, the Hebrew name for God is
represented by the Tetragrammaton, YHWH. Pronunciation of the name has been
lost, but pious Jews did not pronounce the name anyway, circumlocution it by
using adonai (the Lord) and hasshem (the Name). JEHOVAH is a combination of
YHWH and the Masoretic adonay. Narrative The
narrative of the Hebrew Bible is a continuous story--from the tale of Abraham
coming out of Babylonia through the Exodus under Moses. After the exodus out of
Egypt, the story tells of the conquest and settlement of Canaan, the founding
of the Monarchy (Saul, David, Solomon), the division of Israel (Southern Judah
and Northern Kingdom with Samaria as capital), the destruction of Israel or the
Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians in 721/22 BCE followed by the destruction of
Jerusalem (the Southern Kingdom) in 586 BCE by the Babylonians. Successively,
other civilizations involved with these people are the Persians, Greeks, and
Romans. The
Old Testament story is from the creation of the world to the building of the
second temple to the prophetic predictions of age of peace under the Messiah's
rule; a subplot is one in which the people of Israel rebel against YHWH. Links: Jerusalem and the Temple Mount
History Divided into Periods 1.
Patriarchal: Dated from the first third of the second millennium (2000-1700
BCE) Story
of Patriarchs: Abraham, Jacob, Joseph (spouses also play a role: Sarah, Isaac's
Rebekkah, and Rachael) Central
theme: God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3) of a land and a people (Israel)
through whom all other people would be affected. 2.
Exodus, Election, Covenant Details
surrounding the exodus are lacking, although we know the people to become Israel
come out of Egypt. Disputed details include the pharaoh of the exodus, the
route of the exodus, and the location of Sinai as well as the origin of the
person name of Israel's God. The
Hebrews were slaves in Egypt who escaped under Moses' leadership. Moses is the
central figure in Israel's history from Exodus through Deuteronomy. 3.
Settlement The
Israelites cross into Canaan (called Palestine by the Romans). Excavation
points to 1200-900 BCE in the Iron Age for this crossing. Joshua
and Judges record the settlement. Whether the settlement was a blitzkrieg,
rapid and definitive, or a lengthy and complicated process is still being
debated; Joshua suggests the former. Judges suggests the latter, with
settlement being completed under David and Solomon. The
period of the judges records charismatic, military leadership and portrays the
tribes as being loosely confederated. There was no king in Israel, and people
did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 21.25). 4.
The United Monarchy 1020
BCE onward Israel
sets up strong, central role to survive Philistine threat. People
demand to be like other nations (1 Samuel 8.20). Kingship
occasions a serious theological crisis: the conflict is between secular and
spiritual interests. Yahweh is sole king, and the earthly king is to be
Yahweh's representative. Saul
(1020 BCE): Israel's first king; his major challenge was to contain the
Philistines (I Samuel 13-31);
Saul is unable to prevail over the Philistines; he commits suicide. Saul is
basically a good person who was thrust into a role for which he was unprepared.
David
(1000-961 BCE): (2 Samuel 9-20, I Kings 1-2) David
is one of Israel's heroes, and he becomes the model for the Messianic king of
the latter scriptures. The narrative brings a disarming candor which allows
readers to see the human side of this ideal king. David is a military leader
who unites the Judah and Israel into one kingdom. He rules over Judah from
Hebron and expands his kingdom. David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and
established his capital there on neutral grounds. Jerusalem becomes known as
Zion or the City of David. David ruled over the United Kingdom for thirty-three
years. Solomon
(1 Kings 1-11) Solomon
is a political rather than a military leader. He is praised for consolidating
the kingdom and for establishing administrative districts; he is also known for
his trade and commerce and distinguished himself with elaborate building
projects, such as the temple and adjacent palace complex. He used forced labor
and taxed heavily. The kingdom, united for seventy years, fell apart at
Solomon's death. 5.
The Divided Kingdom Egypt
was in constant conflict with both the Northern and the Southern kingdoms;
internecine war continued until Israel (the Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians
in 721/22). The Northern Kingdom was larger and stronger than Judah (Southern),
but Judah was more stable and survived into 586/7, when it was conquered by
Babylonia. 6.
EXILE During
the last two decades of its history the Kingdom of Judah was caught in a power
struggle between imperial Egypt and Babylonia, each striving to fill the power
vacuum left by Assyria. The last three kings of Judah—Jehoiakim (609—598 BC),
Jehoiachin (three months), and Zedekiah (597—587 BC)—were undistinguished.
During Jehoiakim's reign in 605 BC the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar defeated
the Egyptian pharaoh Neco in battle at Carchemish, placing Judah under the
control of Babylonia. This was a turning point in Judah's history. Jehoiakim
(see Jeremiah 36) refused to listen to Jeremiah's prediction of the impending
Babylonian destruction. In
597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and deported Jehoiachin to Babylon,
as well as thousands of leading citizens, among them Ezekiel, who became a
prophet in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar
then appointed Zedekiah as a puppet in place of the exiled Jehoiachin. Jeremiah
was a kind of adviser to Zedekiah, who sought his counsel but seldom followed
it. Jeremiah, a realist, urged Zedekiah (Jeremiah 37—38) not to rebel against
Babylonia, but instead to capitulate. As a result, Jeremiah was accused of
being a traitor. Zedekiah rebelled against the Babylonians, and in 587—586 BC
Nebuchadnezzar attacked and destroyed Jerusalem and its temple, deporting many
of its inhabitants to Babylon. Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, was taken to
Babylon, was imprisoned for treason, and died there. At the same time the
fortified towns of Judah, including Lachish, were also destroyed. (Oxford
Companion to the Bible) 7.
THE POSTEXILIC PERIOD This
is the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Sheshbazzar, governor of Judah appointed by
Persian Cyrus, leads exiles back to Jerusalem. The temple is rebuilt under
Zerubbabel in 520 BC The help of the mixed race, Samaritans from Samaria, is
refused. The Samaritans build their own temple on Mount Gerizim. In
445 BCE Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem. Ezra
functions as leader of the people, enforcing strict observance of the Jewish
law. Ezra calls for endogamy, disturbed by the number of mixed marriages that
have resulted during the exile. Links: Send
comments to: Crain@griffon.missouriwestern.edu Copyright 1997MWSC/Jeanie C. Crain
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