Highland
Presbyterian
Church
Summer of 2015
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
Highland
Presbyterian
Church
THEOLOGICAL NARRATIVE AND
DEUTERONOMIC HISTORY
(IN OTHER WORDS, NEVER LET THE TRUTH GET IN THE WAY OF A GOOD STORY)
Objectives for a OT Survey Class:
1. Review general content and explore the literary patterns and the
historical and cultural contexts.
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
Objectives for a OT Survey Class:
1. Review general content and explore the literary patterns and the
historical and cultural contexts.
2. Give curious parents and grandparents of youth a sense of what we
cover in youth Sunday school.
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
Objectives for a OT Survey Class:
1. Review general content and explore the literary patterns and the
historical and cultural contexts.
2. Give curious parents and grandparents of youth a sense of what we
cover in youth Sunday school.
3. Offer some perspective of contemporary archaeology where finds
support or contradict assumptions of the Biblical record.
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
“Theological Narrative and deuteronomic History”
(In other words, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.)
7/12
Session 1
Mythic Storytelling from a Hebrew Point of View:
“The Purpose of Humanity”
7/19
Session 2
Patriarch Legends and Literary Motifs:
“Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob”
7/26
Session 3
Moses, The First Savior:
“Covenants, Contracts, and Community”
8/2
Session 4
deuteronomic History: part 1
“Joshua, Judges, and Conquest”
8/9
Session 5
deuteronomic History: part 2
“We Three Kings”
8/16
Session 6
Prophets of the Divided Kingdom:
“Conscience of the King”
“Theological Narrative and deuteronomic History”
(In other words, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.)
7/12
Session 1
Mythic Storytelling from a Hebrew Point of View:
“The Purpose of Humanity”
7/19
Session 2
Patriarch Legends and Literary Motifs:
“Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob”
7/26
Session 3
Moses, The First Savior:
“Covenants, Contracts, and Community”
8/2
Session 4
deuteronomic History: part 1
“Joshua, Judges, and Conquest”
8/9
Session 5
deuteronomic History: part 2
“We Three Kings”
8/16
Session 6
Prophets of the Divided Kingdom:
“Conscience of the King”
Session 3: Moses, The First
Savior
“Covenants, Contracts, &
Community”
Outline of todays class:
1. Review of the Text
2. Historicity of Moses and the Exodus
3. Importance of Moses as both Symbol and “Savior”
4. Moses and his Covenant Community
General Outline of Exodus
Exodus 1
Exodus 2
Exodus 3-4
Exodus 5-6
Exodus 7-10
Exodus 11-13
Exodus 14
Exodus 15
Exodus 16
The Israelites are oppressed in Egypt, midwives to kill boys
Moses is born, grows up in the palace, and flees to Midian
Moses meets YHWH at the burning bush
Signs, Moses returns to Egypt; Pharaoh deals harshly with
Israelites
The plagues
The final plague, the first Passover
Crossing the Sea
The Song of Moses & Miriam
Bread from heaven
General Outline of Exodus
Exodus 17
Exodus 18
Exodus 19
Exodus 20
Exodus 21-24
Exodus 25-31
Exodus 32
Exodus 33
Exodus 34
Exodus 35-40
Water from the Rock
Jethro advises about leadership
At Mount Sinai
The Ten Commandments
More laws on slaves, violence, property, restitution, festivals,
The Ark of the Covenant & the Tabernacle
Moses returns down the mountain, the Golden Calf
Moses intercedes for the people
Covenant Renewal
Making the Tabernacle and the Ark
Is Moses and the story of the
Exodus historically verifiable?
General Historical Timeline of Hebrew Bible (BCE)
1800-1400?
1400-1200?
1200-1050?
1050-930?
c. 922
722
586
538
334
Abraham and other Patriarchs migrate to Canaan (or develop from
within)
Possible Exodus from Egypt (if historical)
Conquest of Canaan / Period of Judges (if historical)
First Kings of a United Kingdom (Saul, David, Solomon)
Kingdom divides into Northern Kingdom (Israel/Ephraim); and
Southern Kingdom (Judah)
Assyria defeats Northern Kingdom and captures capital Samaria
Babylon defeats Southern Kingdom and destroys capital Jerusalem
Hebrew exiles are returned from Babylonian captivity, when Cyrus of
Persian defeats Babylonia, and begin to restore the Temple
Alexander the Great captures Palestine and Persia and Hellenizes the
known world
General Historical Timeline of Hebrew Bible (BCE)
1800-1400?
1400-1200?
1200-1050?
1050-930?
c. 922
722
586
538
334
Abraham and other Patriarchs migrate to Canaan (or develop from
within)
Possible Exodus from Egypt (if historical)
Conquest of Canaan / Period of Judges (if historical)
First Kings of a United Kingdom (Saul, David, Solomon)
Kingdom divides into Northern Kingdom (Israel/Ephraim); and
Southern Kingdom (Judah)
Assyria defeats Northern Kingdom and captures capital Samaria
Babylon defeats Southern Kingdom and destroys capital Jerusalem
Hebrew exiles are returned from Babylonian captivity, when Cyrus of
Persian defeats Babylonia, and begin to restore the Temple
Alexander the Great captures Palestine and Persia and Hellenizes the
known world
General Historical Timeline of Hebrew Bible (BCE)
1800-1400?
1400-1200?
1200-1050?
1050-930?
c. 922
722
586
538
334
Abraham and other Patriarchs migrate to Canaan (or develop from
within)
BRONZE AGE
Possible Exodus from Egypt (if historical)
Conquest of Canaan / Period of Judges (if historical)
First Kings of a United Kingdom (Saul, David, Solomon)
Kingdom divides into Northern Kingdom (Israel/Ephraim); and
Southern Kingdom (Judah)
Assyria defeats Northern Kingdom and captures capital Samaria
Babylon defeats Southern Kingdom and destroys capital Jerusalem
Hebrew exiles are returned from Babylonian captivity, when Cyrus of
Persian defeats Babylonia, and begin to restore the Temple
Alexander the Great captures Palestine and Persia and Hellenizes the
IRON AGE
known world
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
Session 3: Moses, The First
Savior
Egyptian History
Old Kingdom
First Dynasty (3150-2890 BCE), Second Dynasty (2890-2686 BCE), Third Dynasty (2686-2613 BCE), Fourth Dynasty
(2613-2589 BCE), Fifth Dynasty (2498-2345 BCE), Sixth Dynasty (2345-2181 BCE)
Narmer, Sneferu, Khufu
First Intermediate Period
(2181-2134 BCE) [Seventh – Tenth Dynasties]
Middle Kingdom
Eleventh Dynasty (2134-1991 BCE), Twelfth Dynasty (1991-1802 BCE)
Second Intermediate Period
(1802-1550 BCE) - [Thirteenth – Seventeenth Dynasties]
Hyksos ruled Egypt
New Kingdom
Eighteenth Dynasty (1549-1292 BCE), Nineteenth Dynasty (1292-1203 BCE), Twentieth Dynasty (1190-1077 BCE)
Ahmose, Thutmose I, Hatshepsut, Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten), Tutankhamen, Seti I,
Rameses II, Merneptah
Twenty-Second Dynasty (943-720 BCE), Twenty-Third Dynasty (837-762 BCE), Twenty-Four Dynasty (732-720 BCE),
Twenty-Fifth Dynasty (752-653 BCE), Twenty-Sixth Dynasty (672-525 BCE)
Sheshonk I (Shishak), Necho II
Egyptian History (BCE)
Hyksos ruled during second intermediate period
New Kindom begins with 18th dynasty
Ahmose (1549-1524)
Amenhotep I (1524-1503)
Thutmose I (1503-1493)
Thutmose II (1493-1479)
Hatshepsut (1479-1458)
Thutmose III (1479-1424)
Amenhotep II (1424-1398)
Thutmose IV (1398-1388)
Amenhotep III (1388-1350)
Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) (1351-1334)
Tutankhamen (1332-1323)
Ay (1323-1319)
Horemheb (1319-1292)
19th dynasty
Rameses I (1292-1290)
Seti I (1290-1279)
Rameses II (1279-1213)
Merneptah (1213-1203)
Egyptian History (BCE)
Hyksos ruled during second intermediate period
New Kindom begins with 18th dynasty
Ahmose (1549-1524)
Amenhotep I (1524-1503)
Thutmose I (1503-1493)
Thutmose II (1493-1479)
Hatshepsut (1479-1458)
Thutmose III (1479-1424)
Amenhotep II (1424-1398)
Thutmose IV (1398-1388)
Amenhotep III (1388-1350)
Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) (1351-1334)
Tutankhamen (1332-1323)
Ay (1323-1319)
Horemheb (1319-1292)
19th dynasty
Rameses I (1292-1290)
Seti I (1290-1279)
Rameses II (1279-1213)
Merneptah (1213-1203)
Egyptian History (BCE)
Rameses II
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reigned for 67 years
Great wife: Nefertari
First born son: Amunherkhepshef
Great warrior first half of life (ex. Battle of Kadesh)
Lost both his wife and first born son (co-Regent) around
his 21st year of rule (mid-life crisis)
Tomb builder second half of life
Rameses moved the capital from Memphis to the Delta
(close to the storehouse cities mentioned in Bible)
Outlives many of his wives and children: His 13th son,
Merenptah becomes his successor (creator of Stella with
first written reference to Israelites in history)
19th dynasty
Rameses I (1292-1290)
Seti I (1290-1279)
Rameses II (1279-1213)
Merenptah (1213-1203)
Egyptian History (BCE)
Examples of Other Historical Consistencies with Text:
• Birthing Stones
• Brick made with straw
Examples of Historical Inconsistencies with Text:
• Number of Israelites in exodus as compared with total population
estimates.
• Lack of archaeological evidence of Israelite traveling through desert into
Canaan
• No Egyptian records of mass exodus or unusual activity at the Canaanite
border bases
What is the importance of
Moses in our tradition?
(Symbol, Savior…?)
Moses…..? (‫“ )מֹשֶׁ ה‬moshe”
Exodus 2: 3-10
she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket (‫” ֵּתבָ ה‬teba”) for him, and plastered it
with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds (‫“ סּוף‬suf”) on the bank of
the river. 4 His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. 5 The daughter of Pharaoh
came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket
among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it…………
3 When
…………..10 When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her
son. She named him Moses (‫“ מֹשֶׁ ה‬moshe”), “because,” she said, “I drew him out (‫מָ שָ ה‬
“mashah”) of the water.”
‫מֹשֶׁ ה‬
“moshe”
Moses
‫מָ שָ ה‬
“mashah” to draw out
“mss” Rameses, Thutmose
Moses…..? (‫“ )מֹשֶׁ ה‬moshe”
Exodus 2: 15b-21
But Moses fled from Pharaoh. He settled in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well. 16 The priest of
Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s
flock. 17 But some shepherds came and drove them away. Moses got up and came to their defense
and watered their flock. 18 When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have
come back so soon today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hands of the shepherds;
he even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why did
you leave the man? Invite him to break bread.” 21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave
Moses his daughter Zipporah in marriage.
‫יָשַׁ ע‬
“yasha” salvation or deliverance (make wide or deliver into a wide open space)
If you were the writer of the Gospel of Matthew and you wanted to help your audience understand Jesus
as a SAVIOR who came to fulfill Judaism………………..?
Exodus 1:15-16
Matthew 2:16
Both have a King trying to kill babies
Exodus 2:5-10
Matthew 2:13-15
Both are rescued with the involvement of family
members
Exodus 4:19
Matthew 2:20
Both return home when the enemy is dead
Exodus 14: 21-22
Matthew 3:13, 16
Both pass thru the water
Exodus 4:22
Matthew 3:17
In both stories there is an identification of the
child of God
Deut 29:5
Matthew 4:1-2
Both experience the wilderness
Exodus 16:2-4
Matthew 4:3-4
Both are confronted with hunger and the
temptation to grumble against God
Exodus 32:1-4
Matthew 4: 8-10
Both are tempted to worship a false God
Exodus 19:20
Matthew 5:1-3
Both go up Mountain in order to provide Law (or
re-interpret the Law)
Sermon on the Mount
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth……
21"You
have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder and anyone who murders
will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to
judgment.
27"You
have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at
a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
38"You
have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39But I tell you, Do not resist an
evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to
abolish but to fulfill.
Perhaps Matthew is suggesting that Jesus observed the
Jewish leadership of his day not leading the people to be
the “Covenant People” that he thought God had called
them to be?
Perhaps Matthew is suggesting that Jesus observed the
Jewish leadership of his day not leading the people to be
the “Covenant People” that he thought God had called
them to be?
Covenant?
Noah
Abraham
Jacob
David
Moses?
What is a Covenant?
‫( בּרית‬Ber-it’)
What is a Covenant?
‫( בּרית‬Ber-it’)
Covenants / Contracts
From the ancient world:
• Marriage contracts
• Land grants
• Suzerain-Vassal Treaty
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
What is a Covenant?
‫( בּרית‬Ber-it’)
Covenants / Contracts
From the ancient world:
• Marriage contracts
• Land grants
• Suzerain-Vassal Treaty
What is a Covenant?
Covenant / Contract from the ancient world:
Suzerain-Vassal Treaty
1. Pre-amble: Introduction of the superior party of the contract.
2. Historical Prologue: Assures the second party of the qualifications of the
superior party to fulfill the contractual terms…to provide protection. Assurance
is provided by outlining the historical deeds of the superior party.
3. Stipulations/Injunctions: Typically starts with a pledge of loyalty, followed by
a list of duties and obligations.
4. Safekeeping of Contract / Renewing contract with witnesses
How does Moses relate to the
concept of Covenant?
What is a Covenant?
Covenant / Contract from the ancient world:
Suzerain-Vassal Treaty
Exodus 20
20 Then God spoke all these words:
2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the
house of slavery;
3 you
shall have no other gods before me.
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is
in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under
the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD
your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to
the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing
steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my
commandments. 7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD
your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
20 Then God spoke all these words:
Pre-amble
2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the
house of slavery;
3 you
shall have no other gods before me.
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is
in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under
the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD
your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to
the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing
steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my
commandments. 7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD
your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
20 Then God spoke all these words:
Pre-amble
2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the
Historical Prologue
house of slavery;
3 you
shall have no other gods before me.
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is
in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under
the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD
your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to
the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing
steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my
commandments. 7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD
your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
20 Then God spoke all these words:
Pre-amble
2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the
Historical Prologue
house of slavery;
3 you
shall have no other gods before me.
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is
in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under
the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD
your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to
the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing
steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my
commandments. 7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD
your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
Stipulations/Injunctions
8 Remember
the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and
do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you
shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female
slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the
LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the
seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land
that the LORD your God is giving you.
13 You shall not murder.
14 You shall not commit adultery.
15 You shall not steal.
16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your
neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that
belongs to your neighbor.
Stipulations/Injunctions
4. Safekeeping of Contract / Renewing contract with witnesses
4. Safekeeping of Contract / Renewing contract with witnesses
Joshua 24
Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads,
the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua
said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and
his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. 3 Then I took
your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made
his offspring many………..…
…………..…..22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have
chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses”…………
………….……..25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and
ordinances for them at Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and
he took a large stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the LORD. 27 Joshua
said to all the people, “See, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words
of the LORD that he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, if you deal falsely with
your God.”
THE ANCIENT HEBREW PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THEMSELVES TO BE IN A
CONTRACT WITH GOD!
They understood that their God had responsibilities; and that they had
responsibilities (individually and as a community.)
EXODUS 2: 23-24
The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the slavery their cry for
help rose up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
LEVITICUS 19:18
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you
shall love your neighbor as yourself.
THE ANCIENT HEBREW PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THEMSELVES TO BE IN A
CONTRACT WITH GOD!
They understood that their God had responsibilities; and that they had
responsibilities (individually and as a community.)
EXODUS 22: 21-22
21 You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. 22You
shall not abuse any widow or orphan.
EXODUS 23: 1-9
You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious
witness. 2 You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you
shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice; 3 nor shall you be partial to the poor in a
lawsuit. 4 When you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.
5 When you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden and you would hold back
from setting it free, you must help to set it free. 6 You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor
in their lawsuits. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and those in the right,
for I will not acquit the guilty. 8 You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the officials, and subverts
the cause of those who are in the right.
What is the importance of the story of
Moses and the Exodus?
What does it mean for us to
see ourselves as a covenant
community?
Highland
Presbyterian
Church
Old Testament Survey 2015
THEOLOGICAL NARRATIVE AND
DEUTERONOMIC HISTORY
(IN OTHER WORDS, NEVER LET THE TRUTH GET IN THE WAY OF A GOOD STORY)