THE PROPHETS
(Nevi’im)
The Former Prophets:
Joshua – 2 Kings
Deuteronomistic History:
v
A long narrative
version of Israel’s history from the conquest of Canaan (late 13th
century b.c.e.) to the destruction of the Jewish state (6th century
b.c.e.)
v
“history” seen
through the lens of Mosaic theology
v
The Mosaic Covenant
defines the ups and downs of all historical events
v
Notice the importance
of moral behavior
Deuteronomistic History
Mosaic Theology
The Covenant with Moses made on Mt. Sinai is central to Israel’s
self-understanding; Mosaic Theology:
v When
Israel worships Yahweh alone and is faithful to the covenant, peace and plenty
reign.
v When
the people betray the covenant, the nation suffers military defeat, financial
ruin, and eventual enslavement to foreign masters.
“The Prophetic School of Theology”
v The
Prophets were the interpreters of the established religious tradition of their
times.
v They
did not create a new theology as much as underscore the dominant Mosaic
Theology of which they were the guardians; covenant guardians.
v They
are “instruments” of Yahweh.
“The Prophetic School of Theology”
v
Prophets are not
“psychics,” predicting the future.
v
Prophets do not
articulate new rules or laws.
v
Prophets show the
people how they are measuring up to the demands established by the covenant.
v
Prophets speak of
Yahweh’s judgment under the “old rules” of the covenant.
v
Prophets reveal a new
understanding of how Yahweh’s will is to be accomplished through historical
events.
“The Prophetic School of Theology”
v Prophecy
is not a passive religious
experience such as mystical or ecstatic experience; there is no
loss of identity or spirit-possession .
v The
Israelite prophets are fully aware of their inspirational source = YAHWEH.
v Prophets maintain an intense social and
historical awareness; they are definitely “plugged into” reality.
The Struggle with Canaanite Culture
v Loyalty
of Yahweh is the first requisite for national success; disloyalty brings
failure.
v However, the tribal confederacy (12 tribes of
Israel) was formed in the midst of Canaanite culture.
v Converts
to the religion of the Hebrews (Yahwism) still worshiped Canaanite gods and goddesses.
Canaanite Religious Systems
v Similar
to primal or tribal religions today (more than 200 million
practitioners, world-wide).
v Land-based,
earth-centered, fertility cults designed perfectly for a pre-literate,
pre-scientific agricultural society.
v Ritual
activity focuses on controlling divine powers in the interest of human
well-being.
The Appeal of Canaanite Religion
v The
land is the sphere of divine power; natural processes (fertility, wind, rain,
sun, etc.) are personified in a wide-variety of deities.
v Baal
is the “lord” or owner of the land; Astarte is his consort.
v
Baal and Astarte must have successful sexual
relations to insure fertility in agriculture.
The Appeal of Canaanite Religion
v Imitative
or sympathetic ritual magic is the primary form of worship.
v Canaanite
farmers are not spectators in the drama of insuring natural processes.
v By
ritually enacting the sexual activity of Baal and Astarte in the Temple,
humans could participate in the fertility process.
v Sexuality
& fertility are ritually-linked.
The Former Prophets: A Historical Overview
v
The conquest of Canaan (Joshua)
v
The Judges and the 12 tribe confederacy; battles
with Canaanite city-states (Judges)
v
The Philistine crisis and the establishment of the
monarchy under Saul, David, and Solomon (1&2 Samuel, 1 Kings)
v
Israel divides into Israel (northern kingdom) and Judah
(southern kingdom) (1 Kings)
The Former Prophets: A Historical Overview
v
The parallel histories of Israel and Judah; Assyria
destroys Israel (northern kingdom) in 721 b.c.e. (2 Kings)
v
King Josiah’s religious reforms in Judah after 621
b.c.e. (2 Kings)
v
Babylon destroys Judah (587 b.c.e); the Jews (people
of Judah) are taken into exile (2 Kings)
The Latter Prophets: A Historical Overview
The 3 Great
Social/Political Crises:
v
The Assyrian Crisis: (8th century b.c.e);
Prophets = Amos & Hosea in Israel (Northern Kingdom); Isaiah & Micah in
Judah (Southern Kingdom); Israel falls to the Assyrians, 721 b.c.e.
v
The Babylonian Crisis: (7th-6th
b.c.e.); Prophets = Habakkuk, Jeremiah, & others.
The Latter Prophets: A Historical Overview
v
Judah falls to King Nebuchadnezzar and the
Babylonians, 587 b.c.e.
v
The temple is destroyed and the elite (priests,
etc.) are taken into exile in Babylon
v
The postexilic adjustment (6th-5th
b.c.e.); Prophets = Ezekiel, 2nd Isaiah, Haggai, & others; Cyrus
of Persia allows the Jews to return from exile; visions of a New
Jerusalem.
Biblical knowledge: 2 Types
v
Knowledge gained from a life-time of direct
interaction with the Bible = reading it and living with the book;
“becoming the Bible.”
v
Knowledge about the Bible = a vast set of
traditions, folk tales, culture-based opinions, “warm & fuzzy” theological
clichés, and dogma that allow people to believe in the Bible but never
actually read it or live it.
The “Selective Canon”
v Many
religious groups preach the literal truth of the entire Bible
v However,
they actually have a “selective canon”
v The
ignore books of the Bible that “don’t fit” their doctrinal interpretation of
“God’s word.”
v Or
they “select” passages out of context and use them to support some religious or
political ideology
Religion & Violence
6 reasons why religions become violent:
§
Absolute Truth Claims
§
Exclusivity - “We are special to God”
§
Blind Obedience
§
Establishing the “Ideal” Time
§
The End Justifies Any Means
§
Declaring Holy War
Preventing Religious Violence in a Post-9/11 World
v
Religious
organizations should cultivate an atmosphere in which it is not only
appropriate but absolutely necessary to question authority. This
includes:
v Religious leaders
v Religious doctrines/dogma
v The interpretation of sacred texts
v Concepts of the divine
v The behavior of the group
v The “means” used to reach any “end” in the name of God
Origins of Israel: 3 Models
v
The traditional conquest model
v
The peaceful infiltration model
v
The social revolution model
JOSHUA
v Purpose:
To glorify Yahweh through Joshua’s
military victories against the Canaanites.
v Reality:
a brutal war of extermination; genocide against the people who occupied the promised
land.
v Two
parts:
v The
conquest of Canaan: (1:1 – 12:24)
v The
Division of the land: (13:1 – 24:23)
HOLY WAR!
v
Joshua describes a war
of extermination with Yahweh’s blessing and assistance.
v
Holy War = the sacrificial
ban
v Deut. 7:1-6; Deut. 20: 16-18: every man, woman, &
child dies as a sacrifice to Yahweh
v
Josh. 11:20 =
describes Joshua’s holy war
v Josh. 11:1-15: the total destruction of Hazor
v The “crime” of these people was that they happened to
occupy the land Yahweh promised to His people.
The Conquest of Canaan:
Three Campaigns
v
Josh. 5-8: the “walls come tumblin’ down” in
Jericho; the sin of Achan (7:25-26); the capture of Ai (8:10-29).
v
Josh. 9-10:
the tricky Gibeonites and the slaying of 5 kings (see 10:22-27).
v
Josh. 11: the destruction of Hazor
Josh. 23:1-24:28: Joshua’s farewell and a covenant renewal at
Shechem
JUDGES
v “Judges”
are charismatic (spirit-filled) military leaders who intervene in major crises.
v Judges
provides a connection between the time of the tribal confederacy and the
monarchy.
v Deuteronomistic
theme: Israel’s troubles result from a failure to keep the covenant.
v sin-punishment-repentance-deliverance
cycle provides the narrative theme.
Highlights of Judges
v Overall,
there are 12 Judges listed; here are a few “unsuitable for Sunday school”
tales:
v Ehud
disembowels Eglon (Judg. 3:12-30)
v Deborah
and Barak; Jael drives a stake into Sisera’s head (Judg. 4:1-5:31)
v Jepthah’s
vow; sacrifices his own daughter after a foolish promise to Yahweh (Judg.
10:6-12:7)
Highlights of Judges
v Samson
and Delilah: a “proto-Superman” battles the Philistines, is seduced by Delilah,
and finally knocks down the temple to Dagon (Judg. 13:1 – 16:31).
v The
Levite and the Sin of the Benjamites:
threats of homosexual rape and gang rape of a slave woman; war and
retribution (Judg. 19:1-21:25).
Samuel: Two literary Sources
v The
Late Sources: compiled in the latter days of the monarchy (750-650 b.c.e.)
v The
Late Source begins the Book of Samuel
v Key
ideas:
v Choosing
a king was a mistake (see 1 Sam. 8:10-22)
v Sin
caused the personal failures of Saul, David, and Solomon
v David,
in spite of being king, merited God’s favor
Samuel: Two Literary Sources
v The
Early Source: probably written by a single individual during the reign of King
Solomon
v Most
of 2 Samuel is from the Early Source
v Key
ideas:
v Choosing a king is divinely ordained (compare 1 Sam.
9:15 – 10:1 with 8:10-22)
v David is a real hero, but a very human one capable of
noble and ignoble acts
The Books of Samuel:
The Philistine Crisis
v
The Samuel Cycle
Samuel is a transitional figure; part priest, warrior,
judge, prophet, almost-king, etc.
•
Samuel’s
birth, dedication, early ministry (Sam. 1:1-4)
•
Travels of the Ark (4:1 – 7:17)
•
The Search for
King (8:1 – 12:25)
The Samuel Cycle
v Anoints
Saul as Israel first king (9, 10)
v Delivers
farewell speech 12 (expresses the deuteronomistic perspective, naturally)
v Rejects
Saul (13, 15)
v Anoints
David to be king in place of Saul (16)
v Dies
and is buried at Ramah (25)
v Appears
to Saul as a spirit (28)
Samuel: The Philistine Crisis
II: The Saul Cycle
Saul is the first king; a
tragic figure who has great political success but loses favor with Yahweh.
Saul’s failures set up David’s
successes.
• Anointed
king by Samuel (9, 10)
• Rescues
Jabesh-gilead and is acclaimed king by Israel; a great victory! (11)
The Saul Cycle
v
Disobeys Samuel by
offering a sacrifice at Michmash (13)
v
Battles Philistines
and orders Jonathan executed (14)
v
Rejected as king by Samuel (15)
v
Tries to kill David
(19)
v
Pursues David; David
spares his life (23,24,26)
v
Dies on Mt. Gilboa;
mortally wounded, he falls on his own sword (commits suicide, in effect) (31)
Samuel: The Philistine Crisis
v
The David Cycle
2 Samuel, “The Book of David,” presents an extraordinarily
honest story of Israel’s greatest king.
•
David’s rise to power (2 Sam. 1:1 – 8:18)
•
Mourns the death of Saul and Jonathan (1)
•
Anointed king over Judah (2)
•
Anointed king over Israel (5)
The David Cycle
v Captures
Jerusalem and makes it the capital (5)
v Brings
the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (6)
v Given
Davidic covenant promises (7)
v Commits
adultery with Bathsheba (11)
v Flees
Jerusalem after Absalom’s coup d’etat (15) (Amnon, Tamar, Absalom story)
v Dies;
Solomon follows him as king (1 Kings 2)
1 & 2 Kings
v Originally
a single book that the Septuagint translator divided into 2 parts.
v Covers
the history of Israel from the death of King David to the fall of Jerusalem.
v Includes
older court archives and the prophetic traditions of Elijah and Elisha.
v PRIMARY
PURPOSE: to explain why the chosen people lost the promised land.
Solomon In All His Glory
v
Read: 1 Kings: 2-3,
8, 11
v
Solomon is a pious
leader, wise, a gifted administrator who centralizes the worship of Yahweh in a
magnificent Temple in Jerusalem.
v
He reigns during a
time of unparalleled peace and prosperity.
v
However, the DH
criticizes him for numerous marriages to foreign women who seduce him into
idolatry.
Solomon
v Becomes
king and secure the throne (1, 2)
v Receives
wisdom from God ((3)
v Builds
a temple in Jerusalem for Yahweh (5-8)
v Visited
by the Queen of Sheba (10)
v Marries
700 wives and 300 concubines (11)
v Dies
and is buried in Jerusalem (12)
The Division of the Land:
Israel & Judah
v Read:
1 Kings 12
v Rehoboam
continues excessive taxation; Jeroboam I rebels and forms the Northern Kingdom
(Israel).
v Elijah,
King Ahab, Jezebel and the Mount Carmel “Cosmic Superbowl”
v Yahweh
1, Baal worshipers 0
v Read
1 Kings 17-22
The Story of Israel
v Read:
1 Kings 14, 17-19; 2 Kings 1-2, 9-10, 17
v Takes
place during the Assyrian crisis
v Kings
are judged by their religious purity or lack thereof
v Elisha
and King Jeru cycle = Jehonadab slaughters Baal worshipers; Jezebel is eaten by
dogs (2 Kings 9: 31-27)
v Evil
King Ahaz brings on downfall (2 Kings 17)
The Story of Judah:
“Good King, Bad King”
v Read:
2 Kings 18-25 (the Babylonian Crisis)
v King
Hezekiah & and the Assyrian invasion under Sennacherib
v King
Manasseh = “the worst of the worst” = Baal worship, black magic, human
sacrifice
v King
Josiah = initiates major religious reforms
v Judah
falls to the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar; the people lose everything!
The Deuteronomistic Assessment
v Blame
the victims, the chosen people.
v The
covenant community deserved to suffer.
v The
Davidic dynasty is over; King Jehoiachin, the last anointed descendant, is a
deposed king without a country living in exile.
v Irony
= the “end” becomes the beginning of a people, the Jews (people from
Judah) write the Torah and return to the Holy Land (538 b.c.e.)
Reflections on The Prophets
v The
Prophets provide the moral tone and ethical foundation of the
Bible.
v The
Ethical dimension = “proper patterns of action” – laws, customs, and
morals define proper patterns of action in any society
v
The biblical prophets understand the ethical dimension
in terms of the covenant with God!