Searching for the Ancient Israelites Mike Bryant First

Searching for the Ancient Israelites Mike Bryant First Lutheran Church

Course Overview Or Old Testament History in 2 Slides or Less

Course Overview 1. Origins: the Israelites before ca. 1200 B. C. Sojourn in Egypt The Exodus Emergence in Canaan 2. Toward a kingdom (1200 -931 B. C. ) Era of the Judges The Philistines Foundation of the monarchy David & Solomon

Course Overview 3. The Kingdom Divided Israel: the northern kingdom (931 -722 B. C. ) Israel falls to the Assyrians Judah: the southern kingdom (931 -586 B. C. ) The Babylonian captivity 4. A Conquered People Persian rule: Cyrus the Great (539 -332 B. C. ) Greek rule: Alexander, Ptolemies and Seleucids (332164 B. C. ) Independence under the Maccabees (164 -63 B. C. ) Roman rule

Review 1 Egypt & Canaan Trade, then migration, then hostilities Hyksos (Canaanite) rule (1650 B. C. – 1550 B. C. ) Dating the Exodus No firm evidence, biblical or otherwise Stela of Pharaoh Merneptah, 1208 B. C. mentions Israelite origins Archaeological record begins 1200 B. C. Links to Hyksos and habiru

Toward a Kingdom

Defining Israelite By 1200 B. C. a people calling themselves Israel and/or Hebrews existed in Canaan Multiple tribes but belief in a common ancestor: Abraham Belief in a shared history: the Exodus Worship one god: Yahweh

The Cult of Yahweh YHWH: the Hebrew name for God No vowels in ancient Hebrew Original pronunciation unknown Yahweh most common rendering Jehovah another Yahweh the god who revealed himself to Abraham & Moses Covenant between Yahweh and Israelites An “exclusivity agreement”

The Cult of Yahweh Midianite origins? Midian one of Abraham’s sons (Genesis 25) Moses visits Midian after fleeing Egypt Moses was minding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, priest of Midian. He led the flock along the side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the flame of a burning bush. Exodus 3: 1 -2

The Cult of Yahweh Possible Egyptian references to a god named Yahweh 13 th century BC Shasu-Bedu—southeast of Dead Sea & Sinai

The Cult of Yahweh Monotheism or henotheism? Henotheism: only one god is worshipped but existence of other gods is acknowledged Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord… Who among the gods, O Lord, is like you? Exodus 15 Among the gods, not one is like you, O Lord… Psalms 86: 8 You shall have no other god to set against me…you shall not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous god. Exodus 20

The Cult of Yahweh The Tabernacle: original shrine of Yahweh Hebrew for “dwelling place”—i. e. , for the Divine presence A tent constructed according to God’s specifications, described in Exodus An outer chamber and the holy of holies

The Cult of Yahweh The Ark of the Covenant Holds tablets containing 10 commandments God’s throne? From the cover, between the two Cherubim over the Ark, I shall deliver to you all my commands to Israelites. Exodus 25: 22 The Ark of God, which bears the name of The Lord of Hosts, who is enthroned upon the cherubim 2 Samuel 6: 2

The Cult of Yahweh The Ark of the Covenant Priests of Yahweh carry it before the army to ensure victory When they came to a certain threshing floor, the oxen [transporting the Ark] stumbled, and Uzzah reached out to the Ark of God and took hold of it. The Lord was angry with Uzzah and struck him down for his rash act. 2 Samuel 6: 6 -7

The Judges Bible presents judges as a series of 12 national leaders Reality is probably that judges were local, leading their tribe, or possibly a confederation of a few tribes The Song of Deborah (Ch 5), describing a battle, lists 10 tribes, 4 of whom did not join the fight Later chapters describe fighting amongst the tribes Abimelech described as “prince over Israel for 3 years” (Ch 9) but details of his rise and fall are all localized in Shechem

The Judges What is a biblical judge? No concept of permanent government Settling disputes only peacetime “government” Judge=Hebrew word shaphet Local wise folk gain authority by charisma and reputation for fairness At that time Deborah wife of Lappidoth, a prophetess, was judge in Israel. It was her custom to sit beneath the Palm-tree of Deborah and the Israelites went up to her for justice. Judges 4: 4 -5

The Judges What is a biblical judge? No concept of permanent government Charisma equated with divine favor: “the Spirit of Yahweh” was upon them Deborah described also as a prophetess Office of judge not hereditary; 12 described arise spontaneously in different tribes

The Judges What is a biblical judge? Occasional military leaders “Judge” only concept of a leader though judging and military leadership very different Same wise charismatic people trusted to judge are turned to in times of military crisis

The Judges Growing distinction between military and judicial leaders without corresponding terminology Deborah Female judge but as a woman cannot lead army Appoints Barak to act as general Barak agrees only on condition that she accompany him She warns that his eventual victory will bring him no glory because the enemy will “fall into the hands of a woman; ” he goes anyway Song of Deborah (Ch 5) considered oldest fragment in the Bible—very similar to ancient Canaanite battle poems

The Judges Growing distinction between military and judicial leaders without corresponding terminology Gideon Midianites have conquered “Israel” Gideon arises as a military hero apparently out of nowhere: “look at my clan: it is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my father’s family” Gideon’s people try to offer him permanent leadership and a dynasty

The Judges Growing distinction between military and judicial leaders without corresponding terminology Gideon Midianites have conquered “Israel” Gideon arises as a military hero apparently out of nowhere: “look at my clan: it is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my father’s family” Gideon’s people try to offer him permanent leadership and a dynasty

The Judges What is happening during the era of the Judges? Conflict and co-existence with Canaanites Battles against Canaanite kings, absorption of Canaanite territory Deborah/Barak vs. Jabin, Canaanite King of Hazor Apparent peaceful blending with Canaanites as evidenced by repeated flirtation with pagan cults of Baal and Asherah Judge Gideon also has a Canaanite name: Jerub-Baal (let Baal plead) Bible explains this as a nickname for tearing down Baal’s altar

The Judges What is happening during the era of the Judges? Conflicts with Trans-Jordanian peoples: Arameans, Amonnites, Moabites, Midianites Israelites—or at least some tribes—temporarily succumb to foreign rulers Conflicts among the Israelite tribes “All the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba” join forces against Benjamites Punishment for disturbing story in chapter 19 Conflicts with the Philistines

The Philistines One of the “Sea Peoples” described by the Egyptians Vikings of the Mediterranean world Egyptian word is Peleset Generally equated to Aegean Pelasgians Inhabitants of Greece and/or Western Asia Minor Archaeological finds similar to Mycenaean Greece First mentioned by Homer in The Iliad as allies of Troy "I will tell you truly all, " replied Dolon. "To the seaward lie the Carians, the Paeonian bowmen, the Leleges, the Cauconians, and the noble Pelasgi. ” The Iliad, Book X

The Philistines Carve out a niche in southwestern Palestine (modern Gaza strip) beginning around 1200 B. C. “Palestine” derived from Philistine Possibly settled as vassals by Egypt Five city-states

The Philistines Conflict with Israelites: Dan Philistia’s northern neighbor Samson a Danite Migration of Dan

The Philistines Capture the Ark Philistines camp near Aphek Israelites take Ark from Shiloh, hoping for divine assistance in battle Philistines rout Israelites, kill sons of Priest Eli Move Ark from town to town, but Yahweh plagues locals with hemorrhoids Finally move Ark into temple of major god, Dagon Statue of Dagon found prostrated before Ark, twice Philistines rid themselves of the Ark

The Monarchy A response to Philistine threat Samuel, king-maker Judge and prophet Saul, a Benjamite, chosen Anointed by Samuel Initial victory over Amonites Early victories over Philistines Breaks their strangle-hold on iron trade

David & Saul Lyre-player in Saul’s court Soothes king when “evil spirit” afflicted him Fells the Philistine giant Goliath Slays 200 Philistines to earn princess’s hand His military successes earn Saul’s jealousy David and his band flee into the wilderness Becomes a mercenary leader, fights for Philistines

David King (ca. 1010 B. C. ) Saul dies in battle Ish-Bosheth succeeds but Judah recognizes David Ish-Bosheth murdered, kingdom united David’s conquests Zenith of Israel’s political power Jebusite (Canaanite) city of Jerusalem—David’s capital

Solomon King (ca. 970 -931 B. C. ) Disputed succession Son of David’s Jebusite wife, Bathsheba Continues David’s glory Builds Temple Respected world leader Marries Pharaoh’s daughter Allied with Hiram of Tyre Visited by Queen of Sheba

Solomon Decline begins Loses Aram in north and Edom Revolt of Jeroboam Foreman of forced laborers Conspires against Solomon, is discovered and flees to Egypt