Great discussion last night! Seeing that the midterm has now been taken by all of you, I can now publish these notes online with ease. If there are any edits that need to be made to the content, please let me know ASAP so we can have an accurate set of content.
All questions written and prepared by Alice Keefe.
Be ready to describe any of the methodological approaches we have discussed, and be able to give an example of the application of that approach to a specific text in the Hebrew bible.
What is the Tanakh? In what way is the Tanakh the same as the Old Testament? In What way are they different?
The Tanakh is the name of the Hebrew Bible. It contains three sections and the name is derived from them.
The Tanakh and the Old Testament are very similar, except that both versions place emphasis on different criteria, so the books in each have an alternative order. The Old Testament is used more as an historical reference for the New Testament.
What is the Septuagint? Why is the Septuagint valuable to biblical scholars?
The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. The word Septuagint means “seventy”. The work is significant to biblical scholars because it helped shaped the formation of The Christian Bible, but also was one of the first translations of the Hebrew Bible in another language rather than Hebrew. Another crucial fact about the Septuagint is that it differs greatly in age than the Masoretic Text, which some scholars claim that the Greek translation was more accurate than the Masoretic, but soon became very similar as editions were re-written over time.
Clarify difference between Israelis and Israelites. The term Israel has multiple meanings. Explain.
Israelis is a modern term for people who reside in the geographical location of Israel whereas Israelites is a term to define the ancient peoples that descended from the 12 tribes of Jacob/Israel, whether they followed Judaism or not.
The name Israel is attributed to Jacob, the Northern kingdom, and the territory occupied by Solomon’s kingdom
Define: Canaan, the Levant, Way of the Sea, King’s Highway, Philistines, Bronze Age, Iron Age
The following answer is provided from Karen Weatherwax and Elizabeth Murphy.
Canaan: usual designation for the land promised to Abraham, used almost exclusively (biblically) for the period before Israel came into existence. Land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, Perizzites, the Raphaim, the Girgashites and the Jebusites (biblical pre-Israel inhabitants of the land)
Levant: term used to refer to lands just East of the Mediterranean Sea, Western part of the Near East, between modern Turkey and Egypt.
“Way of the Sea”: Major North-South route, along the Eastern edge of the coastal plain from Egypt Northward
King’s Highway: Major international route just east of the Rift valley on the Trans-Jordanian plateau; connecting Arabia with Damascus
Philistines: Part of a group of Sea people, unsuccessfully attacked Egypt, settled on the Southeast coast of the Mediterranean Sea, flourished there and began to extend territory North and East. Came into conflict with Israel (who was also expanding its own territory). Defeated by the monarchies of Israel. (Reference to Palestine)
Bronze Age: (3 eras): Early Bronze age, 3300-2000, Middle Bronze Age, 2000-1550, Late Bronze Age, 15500-1200. Following the rise of urban centers in Egypt and Mesopotamia came the Bronze age.
Iron Age: setting for the rise of Israel in Canaan, 13th-12th century BCE
What ancient gender codes are reflected in the story about Deborah and Jael (Judges 4-5)?
The following answer is provided from Karen Weatherwax and Elizabeth Murphy.
Ancient gender codes in Deborah and Jael: the tendency to identify women (the few who are included in scripture) by the name of the man they are married to and the idea of the shame of Sisera who was delivered into the hands of a mere woman both point to gender-coded attitudes. The idea that Jael, the one who kills Sisera, is a woman only emphasizes the victory being Yahweh’s and Yahweh’s alone because he “sold” the mighty general into the “hands of a woman”- the ultimate degradation. (Coogan)
Why do scholars believe that Judges 5 is one of the oldest pieces of writing in the Bible?
According to Coogan on pg. 216, Judges 5 is one of the oldest pieces of writing because of the grammar and content in the writing. The victory hymn matches up with events in the 12th century BCE and also has other trace elements of early biblical poetry.
How/why did tension emerge between archeology and biblical studies? The discipline today is not called biblical archeology, but Syro-Palestinian Archeology. Why the new name?
The following answer is provided from Karen Weatherwax and Caitlin Hartlaub.
“Very little of the huge amount of material that was excavated before WWII and published could be directly related to the Bible, and debates often ensued about how to synthesize biblical and archaeological data” (Coogan 58) “Many archaeologists lacked sufficient expertise to connect what they excavated with written sources, especially the Bible and many biblical scholars simply ignored the potential contributions of the archaeology to the interpretation to the Bible. “
What is the Deuteronomistic History? Who or what is the Deuteronomistic Historian? What thematic or theological concerns inform the work of the Deuteronomistic Historian?
The following answer is provided from Karen Weatherwax and Caitlin Hartlaub.
The Deuteronomistic History: the narrative history of former prophets (several books (Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings) united via the editorial work of the Deuteronomistic Historian. Covers 600 Years.
Deuteronomistic Historian: (hypothetical editor) Aim was not objective historical account, but rather theological history of Israel and preserving traditions. Stresses 1 God, worship @ Temple,
“Name DH emerges from close thematic ties with book of Deuteronomy and its agenda:
Final editing probably occurring during Babylonian Exile – in retrospect, the DH sees almost entire history of Israel in the land as a history of apostasy. Invasions, military defeat, is the deserved punishment from God for this apostasy. “
What is an etiology? Give an example.
Think of etiological myth… a myth intended to explain a name or create a mythic history for a place or family.
Examples include:
What do you learn from the book of Judges itself about forms of political organization in Israel in the pre-monarchic period?
The following answer is provided from Karen Weatherwax and Caitlin Hartlaub.
“Repeating cycle in judges: Apostasy – military threat/defeat - raising of a judge – victory and a period of peace – apostasy
Overall, DH present picture of Israel in premonarchic period as anarchy, civil war, and chaos.”
Repeating theme in Judges:“in those days there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes”
How was the term “judge” used in the larger context of the ancient Near East? What function(s) did the Judges of ancient Israel serve in their society?
The term “judge” has a different meaning in our society, where it pertains to those who reside over the courts of law. In the Near East, it was the highest authority at the tribal level. Coogan 214-15 states that “while some of the biblical judges did exercise judicial functions, presumably as interpreters of covenantal law, such as Deborah, most of them acted principally as military leaders.” For the Deuteronomistic Historian standpoint, they were leaders of Israel in its entirety, but it is likely that they were tribal leaders.
Who is Jephthah? Why do the men of Gilead turn to Jephthah for help? What vow does Jephthah make? Why does he make this vow?
What is levirate marriage? Illustrate with reference to Ruth and/or Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law.
What is cosmogony? According to the Enuma Elish, how was the world created? How does the cosmogony in Genesis 1 differ from the Enuma Elish (in terms of its theology about the nature of God, God’s relation to the world, etc)? What clues in Genesis 1 suggest that its authors were aware of the Enuma Elish cosmogony?
Biblical scholars, including Susan Niditch, argue that remnants of a “creation through battle” creation story still is visible in some of the poetic texts of the Hebrew Bible. Explain and support. What does the sea monster(AKA Rahab, Leviathan) have to do with the process of world creation?
The following answers are provided from Karen Weatherwax and Lindsey Arendt.
Cosmogony is the study of ancient Israelite religion, how the universe is shaped and ordered, creation of the world, etc. Enuma Elish states that a God, Marduk, created the world after fighting with a strong female water Goddess who was in the likeness of a dragon. He defeats her in battle, and cuts her in pieces using her to create land/earth, a heaven, bodies of water, living creatures, etc. It should be noted that ancient religions saw water as chaos, hence the fighting between Marduk and Tiamat, leading to Tiamat’s destruction and further creation of Earth.
This does not give a time frame in this creation story, whereas Genesis states that it was created in 6 days. The God in genesis creates earth in a turbulent, violent way on day 1; gusty winds and heavy rain. Tiamat’s fight with Marduk is violent. God creates monsters to roam the earth and Tiamat is seen as monster-like.
In the Enuma Elish, Marduk is physically involved with creation where as God in the Bible just states what he wants to do and it is done.
How beliefs did the people of ancient Israel have regarding the afterlife? What is Sheol? How does reference to 1 Sam 28: 7-15 help to illuminate ancient Israelite views of the afterlife?
There is one idiom that sticks out from Coogan that states that the dead “sleep with their fathers” or are “gathered to their kin”. Possible interpretations can include the concept of a family tomb or the idea of an afterlife. Sheol is the place where the dead reside on the Hebrew Bible. It is best described as “a dark, damp, and dirty place”. Sheol can be compared to the Greek Hades as a miserable and powerless state of existence. Sheol is also a place where all are equal, whether they were slaves or kings. In relation to 1 Sam. 28:7-15, where Saul has Samuel summoned from the dead. It was best described that Samuel was annoyed or felt like he was disturbed in some way when summoned, depending on translation.
How and why did modern scholars begin to question the traditional view of Moses was the author of the five books of the Torah? Who was Julius Wellhausen and what contribution did he make to biblical scholarship?
The following answer was provided by Karen Weatherwax
Modern scholars began to question the validity of the theory that Moses authored the Torah for multiple reasons. There were multiple versions of some stories, like the creation story in Genesis 1 vs. the story in Genesis 2:4b. Each story has a different view of God, something that is unlikely if written by one author. Another reason scholars had for doubting Moses’ authorship is that his death is recounted in Deuteronomy. There is also the matter of the inconsistency of Moses having taught from the promised land, when in Numbers 20:12 God tells Moses he shall not deliver his people to the promised land. Another question modern scholars faced were evidence of the text being written later than when Moses would have been writing, for example, the presence of the Philistines. Julius Wellhausen was a Bible scholar who in 1878 came up with the Documentary Hypothesis, the theory that the Bible had four different sources combined into one finished product, based on the different names given to God.
What is the Documentary Hypothesis? What distinctive characteristics help biblical scholars identify particular passages as stemming from the J, E, P and D sources?
The following answer was provided by Karen Weatherwax
The Documentary Hypothesis is the theory that the Bible had four different sources, JED and P, which were edited together to create the finished product we have today. The J source is also called the Yahwist source because Yahweh is the name given to God. It is concerned with Judah/ the Southern kingdom. Its God is one who is anthropomorphic, or close to humans. The E source or Elohist source calls God Elohim. Elohim is a more distant deity and communicates through prophets and dreams. It is more concerned with the northern kingdom, and has a different name for Moses’ dad. The D or Deuteronomic source demands exclusive worship of God, and pays particular attention to the special relationship between the lineage of David and God. The P source is called the priestly source because it focuses on the rituals and observances. It represents religious views that were not important until after the exile. The deity is called Elohim or El Shadday, and is remote and transcendent. It focuses on the covenants between Noah, Abraham, and then all Israel.
Summarize the thesis of Richard Friedman concerning the “cycle of deception” in the Jacob tradition. Highlight some specific passages where this theme of a cycle of deception is apparent. According to Friedman, what does the story say regarding how the cycle of deception finally comes to an end?
The following answer was provided by Karen Weatherwax
Friedman claims that all throughout the story of Jacob, through to Joseph, deception is practiced with the result of recompense following it. He claims that the cycle of deception continues until one family member, Joseph, puts family over revenge. Jacob deceives Esau into selling his birthright for some soup, and Jacob later deceives Isaac and receives Esau’s blessing. Laban deceives Jacob about which sister he is marrying, and Rachel later deceives both her father and Jacob about the stolen icons. Each of these deceptions is followed by an ironic deception perpetrated on the deceiver. Jacob is married to Leah because it was dark and he couldn’t see her, just as Isaac couldn’t see that he wasn’t Esau and gave him the blessing. Friedman claims that the cycle of deception comes to and end when Joseph forgives his brothers for selling him into slavery.
What is a narrative convention? Illustrate with respect to the convention of the barren wife. Also name another convention you can see at work in biblical narratives.
The following was provided by Karen Weatherwax
Narrative conventions are conventions within a narrative style. In the Bible, the convention of the barren wife clues the reader into the fact that she will have a child and that the child will be a special child. This was an appealing theme to the ancient Israelites because fertility was the key to salvation, so seeing a barren woman conceive and bear a special child gave other barren women hope. Another narrative convention is the theme of sibling rivalry and God preferring the younger child over the older. Jacob and Esau are a perfect example. They are always fighting with each other, and Jacob wins God’s favor.
Explain the disagreement between Fewell/Gunn and Sternberg over the interpretation of Genesis 34. What does Sternberg mean by “foolproof composition”? How do Fewell and Gunn challenge this idea through their interpretation of Genesis 34?
The following was provided by Karen Weatherwax
Fewell and Gunn disagree with Sternberg about the interpretation of Genesis 34, but there is also the bigger picture, in which they disagree about interpretation in general. Fewell and Gunn believe that the narrator wants the reader to feel sympathy with Dinah, an interpretation they arise at because they believe multiple interpretations are possible with any scripture. Sternberg disagrees and states that the reader is supposed to feel sympathy with the brothers and believe that their action in slaughtering the village of Shechem is justified in relation to the crime. Sternberg believes in “foolproof composition” meaning that the composition is created in a way that will lead competent readers to the same moral. Fewell and Gunn challenge Sternberg’s theory of “foolproof composition” simply by arriving at a different interpretation that is still based in the text.
Describe some of the typical characteristics of a group oriented society. According to Bechtel, was ancient Israel a group oriented society?
How important are boundaries for group oriented societies? How are boundaries marked (defined) and maintained. Why must boundaries be carefully guarded? Why are boundaries dangerous?
The following was provided by Karen Weatherwax
Group oriented societies operate on the principle that what is good for the group is good for the individual, so actions are always based on the survival of the group. People in the group have an automatic allegiance to the group, and they base their actions on relations of obligations, responsibility, mutual self-support, and reciprocity. The boundaries of the group are well defined by entrances and exits, and are guarded because they can be dangerous, by letting foreign elements into the group. Female sexuality is highly valued, because it controls the survival of the group, as well as the salvation of the group. Salvation is determined by living on through your offspring, not eternal life in heaven. Even though it is valued, women’s sexuality is also feared, because it can be used to go outside of the group. Group oriented societies also place a lot of value in the shame system. When someone goes outside of the group, they are shamed, as are members of their family. Bechtel claims that ancient Israel was a group oriented society.
How does Bechtel’s sociological approach to Genesis 34 challenge the interpretations of both Fewell/Gunn and Sternberg?
Bechtel’s approach challenges and brings to question if Dinah was really raped based on word choice used in Gen. 34.
What relevance does the birth story of King Sargon have for the study of the Exodus account of Moses’ birth and early endangerment?
It’s a rescue narrative, yet another convention of the time. It is a parallel with the story of Moses.
What is the Tetragrammaton, and where is it first formally introduced in the biblical story? What does it mean in English? How is it rendered in your English Translations?
The Tetragrammaton is the four letter sequence YHWH, or Yahweh in the modern. It was introduced in Exodus when Moses asked what God’s true name is. In ancient times, knowing the name of someone was a sign of having power over that person. If someone knew God’s real name, they’d have power over Him. Yahweh typically translates to I AM WHO I AM or I AM, but in the bible it shows up as THE LORD.
According to Brueggeman, what relevance does the Exodus story have for religious communities today? Your answer should include the following terms: prophetic ministry, oppression/triumphalism, enculturation, energizing memories and radical hopes, alternative community.
The following was provided by Karen Weatherwax
Brueggeman believes that churches today are enculturated with consumerism; it has become static and oppressive and we don’t even realize it. We treat consumables as idols and have abandoned the faith tradition. What we need is a prophetic minister, as Moses was, to look away from the dominant culture to an alternative culture which has the politics of justice and compassion which matches the vision of God’s freedom. To energize people to change, the prophetic leader must criticize and show the falseness, and get members of the public to speak out and criticize the static community and restore hope for what we will be given in the future. As the people of Egypt were oppressed by their mythically legitimated Pharaoh, Moses told them about YHWH, a God of freedom, who would not be oppressive or triumphalistic. God was free from any Pharaoh or king and therefore a community that accepted this God would be free. Moses inspired people to try to create this new community. Likewise, we are oppressed by our culture (consuming, money, pop culture, etc.) and need to remember our history and for this alternative community knowing that it is defined by and at the disposal of a free god.
Explain Trible’s argument about Miriam’s story in the books of Exodus and Numbers. According of Trible, was Miriam’s story more extensive and her role more prominent in earlier (oral) versions of the story? What evidence from the text does she use to support her argument?
The following was provided by Karen Weatherwax
Tribble definitely proposes that Miriam played a more significant role than the text (as it stands) may indicate. She uses the instances of the scripture leaving in the fact that Miriam was a prophet in her own right (even before Moses), the fact that the “Song of the Sea” seems to be in some way altered or changed, to fit a more positive portrait of Moses and the significance of Miriam’s death and the reaction of the Israelite people all to support her argument.
Source
Coogan, Michael D. The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures. N.p.: Oxford University Press, USA, 2005. Print.
