CSBS 1311 Final Exam Study Guide April 26, 2014

II. Part Two: Writings

4/7 Ezra Ezra 1; 3-4; 9-10 OTS, 187-88, 194-203

Vocabulary

Aramaic- language spoken by Babylonians and Persians; closely related to Hebrew through the
exie and Restoration it b/c the common languge of Jews in Paestine.
Exile- Assyrian exile. Babylonian exile, all have to do with the Jews being moved from their
land and having to live among their enemies
Restoration- Used to describe numerous aspects of Israels return to the land and rebuilding of its
society after the Exile. More formally, Restoration designates the period in Israels
story beginning with the Decree of Cyrus and having an indefinite end point.
Memoir- Usually refers to a persons writings about the events of his life ; first-person ; Ezra
memoir & Nehemiah memoir
Second Temple- rebuilt temple that replaced Solomons temple; it was completed in 515 B.C.E ;
restored Jerusalem community as well ; religion of this period referred to Second
Temple Judiasm

Study Questions

1. What changes did Israel experience as the result of the Babylonian Exile?
Being separated from all signs and symbols of their God, they learned how much
God meant to them. The dream and the promise of the continuing kingship of David's
descendants had been shattered. The synagogue probably got its start during the exile.
The people of God realized that the exile was a punishment for past sins. Israel would
become a kingdom of ecclesiastical rulers: Sadducees, Pharisees, High Priests and
Scribes. There would never be another Jewish king of Israel.

2. What were the three major groups of Israelites that formed in the wake of the Babylonian
destruction, and how were they related to each other?
i. Those who remained in Judah- the poor
ii. Those who moved to Egypt- Alexandria (2
nd
largest city of area)
iii. Those in captivity in Babylon

All three communities found new ways to think about, speak about, and engage the
presence of God, even in very different contexts.
3. How did Cyrus conquest of the Babylonians affect the Jews in exile?
The Decree of Cyrus:
1. Exiled persons permitted to return to their homelands
2. Encouraging subject peoples to rebuild their shrines!
3. Financial assistance

4/9 Nehemiah Nehemiah 1-2; 4; 6 OTS, 203-07

Vocabulary

Governor- Israelite monarchy not established due to Yehud remained a Persian province; it was
ruled by a governor appointed by the Persian Empire. Nehmiah was one of such
governor of Yehud
Yehud- Jewish homeland, Judah, as a province of the Persian Empire.
Torah- When Exra reads the book of law of Moses to the gathered people of Israel it may have
been the first time in the Bible that this word is used in a phrase the designates
something like the form of the Pentateuch we have today.

Study Questions

1. What were Nehemiahs accomplishments as governor?
- So he kicked out Tobiah and specialy cleansed the room for normal use
- Collected tithes so Levites could return to working in the Temple (not go farming etc)
- Ordered city gates to close on the Sabbath so that foreign traders and farmers could not bring
their goods that day so the Sabbath can be observed.
- Issued a decree that that no such mixed marriage would be permitted

2. How did Ezra and Nehemiah address the issue of foreign wives? Why?
Ezra made the Jewish men held to their promise of divorcing their wives and kicking
them out along with the children they had with them. Nehmiah issued a decree and
beat Jews with foreign spouses as well as rooted out foreign influences from Jewish
life. To make sure that the preservation of Jewish religious life was kept.

4/11 Proverbs Proverbs 1; 3; 9; 30; 31 OTS, 300-08

Vocabulary

Wisdom- Refers to the way of thinking & talking about the world embodied in the wisdom
literature which includes proverbs, ecclesiasts, job & the wisdom psalms; originated in & was
nurtured by the family and tribe & was oral; two kind: practical (proverbs) and philosophical
(Job)
Proverbs- Hebrew word mashal can refer to various types of sayings, including riddles, short
stories, and wise sayings; English word proverb refers to a short easy-to-remember
saying; mashal: proverb; a statement of truth or standard of appropriate behavior
Proverb- is an easily remembered saying that contained one main point

Study Questions

1. How was Israelite wisdom related to the wisdom of other countries?
Very similar in sayings and structure just the Israelite replaced foreign gods for YWHW;
Israel often borrowed and learned his wisdom questions (but not its answers!) from other nations
of the Ancient Near East

2. How did the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemopet influence the Israelite book of Proverbs?
It contained materials from it, lots of parallels from the text are included in the book
of Proverbs

3. What was the primary theme of the book of Proverbs?
Practical wisdom and instruction; wisdom

4. What does Proverbs 31 tell us about the status of women in ancient Israel?
Tge ideal woman is considered to have a good reputation, diligent, prudent, wise,
compassionate, caring for the family and being honored by the family.

4/14 Job Job 1-3; 38-42 OTS, 308-17

Vocabulary
Satan- is the adversary
Theodicy- discussions of the theologial problems raised by human suffering

Study Questions

1. What are some of the common assumptions and beliefs that form the background of the book
of Job?
1.) God was just and gave justice to humankind.
2.) This life was all there was- no life after death with rewards and punishments
3.) If justice was to be done it was in this life.

2. What is the role of Satan in Job 1 and 2?
The adevsary, who challenged God
3. What are Jobs arguments to his friends? To God?
Job was righteous that he wasnt being punished beacause of his sins.

4. Describe the form and content of Gods response to Job.
Divine speeches that included questions to Job which tested him ans knowedge of
nature/creation to get Job to realize he does not have all the answers.

4/16 Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs Eccl. 1-3; 12; Song 1-8 OTS, 317-24

Vocabulary

Qoheleth- the Preacher; The Teacher, Preacher, Schoolmaster, Acquirer (person of wisdom,
wealth, pleasures)
Vanity- A vapor, a breath, something that vanishes into thin air; temporary, short-living

Study Questions

1. Why is Ecclesiastes called skeptical wisdom?
The book voiced skeptical, pessimimistic feeings of a man who had tried everything
but had found nothing satisfying or meaningful to invest his life.

2. What sort of philosophy of life does Ecclesiastes advocate?
History moves in circles, having no purpose or goal

3. How has the Song of Songs most often been interpreted, and why?
Allegorical interpretation
Husband = LORD and bride = Israel
Husband = Jesus and bride = Church

4. Who are the characters in the Song of Songs?
Supposedly Solomon and the maiden (maybe her hometown boyfriend)

5. What are the various ways readers might understand the designation Qoheleth?
One way is that the is called such because he is on a mission to find the truth.


4/21 & 23 Psalms Psalms 1; 2; 8; 19; 22-23; 42-45; 51; 56; 65; 84; 90; 100;
119; 137; 150
OTS, 189-90; 324-33

Vocabulary

Parallelism- relating ideas to each other
Synonymous Parallelism- the first line and the second line is the same idea
Antithetical Parallelism- the first and second line are opposites
Synthetic Parallelism- the first line introduces the idea and the second line explains it further
Meter- the rhythm of the poem
Psalms- psalmos- Greek for hymnl; most introspective: expression of hurt, pain, jo, questions
and thoughts toward God
Hallelujah- Praise Yah or Praise the Lord
Hymns of praise- praise towards Gods greatness or faithfulness; form: call to worship, motive
for praise; a renewed call to praie God; individual example
Laments- Tragedy or a complaint; form: A cry to God for help, complaint or description of
predicament, a prayer for deliverance, words of assurance (prophet or oracle)
Imprecatory psalms; psalms that express violent hatred of the psalmists enemies

Study Questions

1. What evidence suggests that the book of Psalms is a collection of songs produced over a
long period of time?
Words or figures/events mentioned in or used in the passage reflects different time
periods.

2. How is the book of Psalms arranged, and how might it function as a book rather than just a
collection of individual poems?
They are arranges in different types baed on their setup and content. By associating
them with Israelite worship service they can be seen as being more connected than
individually.

3. What might the expression psalm of David mean?
It could mean in the style of David, dedicated to David, or to David
4. What did Hermann Gunkel contribute to our understanding of the Book of Psalms?
He saw that they fit into 5 major types and that they can be seen as connected rather
than individual.

5. What are Gunkels five major classes of psalms?
Hymns of Praise (communal & individual), Laments(communal & individual),
Thanksgiving








4/25 Judah in Eclipse Ruth 1-4; Esther 1-10 OTS, 337-44

Vocabulary

Particularism- closed to the world, (Joshua, Judges, Exra-Nehmiah) Nations drawn to Yahweh if
Israel faithful
Universalism- Actively bring others to Yahweh noahic covenant with all people ( Isaiah, Ruth,
Jonah)

Study Questions

1. Why do some interpreters view the book of Ruth as a response to the marriage policies of Ezra
and Nehemiah?
Due to the relationship between Ruth, a non-Jew, to Boaz, a Jew. They were wed and
because of it she became one of the ancetors to King David.
2. What were the viewpoints of the universalists and particularists in post-exilic Judaism?
What conditions gave rise to these opposing views?
Particularists believed their responbility was that of focusing on being the exclusive
nation of God and in doing so other people would be drawn in. Univeralists belived that
Judiasm be open to others and took on a more missionary approach. The Disporia of Jews
after the Exile led to that as Jews decides wether to accept the gentiles around them or be
reclusive.
4/28 Book of Daniel Daniel 1-12 OTS, 344-51

Vocabulary

Maccabean Revolt- a revolt led by Matthias against the Selcuids and continued on by his son
Judas Maccabeus, and defeats the enemy. Cleanses temple and rebuilds altar, peace
w/ Selcuids & secures Israel religious freedom.
Hasidim- a sectarian group that arose during the 1
st
and 2
nd
centuries B.C.E with Judiasm. This
group was characterized by strict adherence to the Law and ecentualy separated from
the Maccabeans because of the latters overtly political activity.
Hasmoneans- rules an independent Jewsih state in the wake of the Maccabean Revolt. They
ruled nearly a century until the Romans conqured Palestine in 63 B.C.E
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego= Jews who worked for King Nebuchanezzar. They refused to eat
the meat and drink the wine or milk products offered to them do their their dietry
restrictions. And instead ate vegtables and drank water and turned out better than the
others and were chosen to work in the court. Also were thrown into the furnace for
disobeying the decree than one mut bow to worship an idol, but made it out alive.
Apocalyptic literature- type of literature found the 2
nd
part of the book of Daniel that contained
good vs. evil, codded language, bizzare imagery, cret knowledge, and a focu on a
cataclyclimic end of the world.
Study Questions

1. What are the most important purposes of the book of Daniel?
To introduce Daniel as a person who is divinely gifted to interpret dreams, etablish a
setting in the time of the Babylonian Empire for the activity of Daniel, and portray
Daniel and his friends in the face of threats to their live to provide a model of
faithfulness for readers under imperial rule; basically keep faith and the faithful are
indeed delivered
2. What are the two main divisions of the book of Daniel?
1.) Are the stories about Daniel ch.1-6
2.) Apocalyptic viion for thoe under presecution ch.7-12

3. How is Antiochus Epiphanes symbolized in the book of Daniel?
Little horn



4/30 Book of Jonah Jonah 1-4 OTS, 285-86

Vocabulary

Jonah- prophet who was suppose to warn the people of Ninevah of judgment but refused and
tried to sail away, storm came and was thrown in water and swallowed by huge fish
and later spit out by the coast by Ninevah
Ninevah- capital city of Assyria

Study Questions

1. What elements of the story of Jonah cause some readers to view it as a type of literature
other than a straightforward historical report?
Satire the used in it, the theme of it, and some of the descriptions and maybe some of the
events took place in the story. As the story of Jonah is not written by him but about him
and the story aimed at a more universalit idea that Jews should be more worried about
other humans and their fate.

2. What was the book of Jonah designed to say?
Dont be so closed off, reach out to the Gentiles; Actively bring others to Yahweh