History & Chronology
What happened in 722 BCE, and why is it significant?
The fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria; it marks the end of Israel as an independent state.
What problem does kingship claim to solve in ancient Israel?
The problem of political instability and lack of centralized leadership (as seen in Judges).
Why is the Tel Dan inscription significant?
It's our earliest reference to the "House of David" outside the Bible.
How does Passover function as a means of maintaining national identity?
It ritually reenacts an Israelite origin story, obligating each generation to see itself as if it had personally come out of Egypt.
Who are the "returnees" and "remainees"?
Returnees are Judean elites who were exiled in Babylon and later returned to Judah at the behest of King Cyrus, while remainees are the poorer Judean populations who remained in the land.
The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Babylon; it ends the Davidic monarchy and leads to exile.
What concern do anti-monarchy traditions express about having a human king?
That a king may oppress the people and replace divine authority with human power.
Which Moabite inscription mentions the "House of Omri"?
The Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone).
Which strategy for identity preservation appears in Psalm 137?
Refusing to forget Jerusalem and resisting assimilation in exile.
How is Jerusalem / Zion portrayed in Lamentations 1?
As a personified woman.
What happened in 539 BCE, and how does it change Judean history?
Persia conquers Babylon; it allows Judeans to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
What is one reason the Deuteronomistic History criticizes northern kings?
They allow worship outside Jerusalem / commit the "sin of Jeroboam."
What is the significance of the Cyrus Cylinder?
It presents Cyrus as divinely appointed and reflects a broader imperial policy of religious tolerance to secure the loyalty of conquered peoples.
A new covenant inscribed on the heart.
What are the four competing models of Israel's origins?
Nomadic family (Genesis), released slaves (Exodus), conquest (Joshua), and incremental expansion (Judges).
Why is 515 BCE important?
The Second Temple was built and consecrated.
What does it mean to say the Israelite king is "anointed"?
That he is divinely chosen and authorized by YHWH.
Assyrian reliefs from Nineveh depict the siege of this Judahite city.
Lachish.
Which term in Ezra 9-10 signals concern about preserving ethnic identity?
"Holy seed."
What major structural difference marks the ending of the Tanakh compared to many Christian Old Testaments?
The Tanakh ends with Chronicles, while many Christian Old Testaments end with the Prophets.
Why is 332 BCE a turning point for Judea?
Alexander the Great conquers Persia; Greek rule begins.
What are the three recurring commitments of the Deuteronomistic History in 1-2 Kings?
Pro-David, pro Judah / Jerusalem, pro-centralized worship.
Which Assyrian artifact reports Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem and tribute from Hezekiah?
The Rassam Cylinder.
How does Ruth potentially challenge Ezra's strict ethnic boundaries?
It identifies a Moabite woman as a direct ancestor of King David.
Why is Omri a particularly important example of the difference between Deuteronomistic evaluation and archaeological evidence?
Archaeology portrays Omri as powerful and significant, while the biblical text minimizes him due to Deuteronomistic theological commitments.