History 107 Lecture 10

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History 107Lecture 10

• Hebrew Civilization Judges, Kings, and Prophets

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Moses delegates the period of Judges

• Exodus 1813-16
• The next day Moses sat as judge for the people,
  while the people stood around him from morning
  until evening. When Moses father-in-law Jethro
  saw all that he was doing for the people, he
  said, What is this that you are doing for the
  people? Why do you sit alone, while all the
  people stand around you from morning until
  evening? Moses said to his father-in-law,
  Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
  When they have a dispute, they come to me and I
  decide between one person and another, and I make
  known to them the statutes and instructions of
  God. When the people have a dispute, they come to
  me and I decide between one person and another,
  and I make known to them the statutes and
  instructions of God.

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Moses delegates the period of Judges

• Exodus 1817-22
• Moses father-in-law said to him, What you are
  doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself
  out, both you and these people with you. For the
  task is too heavy for you you cannot do it
  alone. Now listen to me. I will give you counsel,
  and God be with you! You should represent the
  people before God, and you should bring their
  cases before God teach them the statutes and
  instructions and make known to them the way they
  are to go and the things they are to do. You
  should also look for able men among all the
  people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and
  hate dishonest gain set such men over them as
  officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and
  tens. Let them sit as judges for the people at
  all times let them bring every important case to
  you, but decide every minor case themselves. So
  it will be easier for you, and they will bear the
  burden with you.

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Period of Judges (1250-1000 B.C.)

• Moses delegates authority to judges
• Hebrews remain pastoral, rural people
• People of Israel vs. Nation of Israel
• The Twelve Tribes
• Southern Tribes Judah
• Northern Tribes Israel

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Conflict with the Philistines

• Around 1050 B.C., the Philistines begin to
  threaten the Hebrew people
• Philistines are semi-nomadic Sea Peoples from
  Greece
• Philistines have separate (non-Semitic) identity
  not Canaanites
• Brought grapes and olives to Palestine
• Established a metalsmithing monopoly
• Built five small but well fortified cities (Gaza,
  Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath)
• Overlords and a constant threat during the period
  of Judges

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Hebrew Kingship A Golden Age

• To counter the Philistines and to be like other
  nations, the Hebrew Judges elected Saul as their
  king (1025 B.C.)
• Samuel, an important tribal judge and religious
  leader, selected and anointed Saul
• Chronology of Hebrew Kings
• 1025 1000 B.C. Reign of Saul
• 1000 970 B.C. Reign of David
• 970 924 B.C. Reign of Solomon
• 924 B.C. Division of kingdom

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King Saul (1025 1000 B.C.)

• Early years Saul worked from his power base in
  the North to free the Hebrews from Philistine
  domination, but had limited success.
• Backlash Due to Sauls military and personal
  failures, Samuel withdrew his support from Saul
  and elevated a young warrior named David.
• A rival David began to fight against the
  Philistines and won many battles. Saul continued
  to loose, which the Biblical authors portrayed as
  divine retribution.
• Saul drove David from his court, and he became an
  outlaw.
• The end David eventually joined the Philistines
  and defeated Saul.

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King David (1000 970 B.C.)

• Kingship David became King of Judah (his
  homeland) Israel
• Military David thoroughly defeated the
  Philistines
• Empire building Expansion to Dead Sea, River
  Jordan, River Euphrates, and Southern Syria
• Culture Israels cultural prestige diminished
  Canaanite identity
• The Hebrews gradually became city dwellers
• Jerusalem Established capital in Jerusalem
• Taxes Expansion of Jerusalem comes at a cost
• Religion Reorganized the priesthood of Yahweh,
  brought the ark to Jerusalem, and planned temple
• Composed many Psalms (sung poetic prayers
  associated with divine worship)

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King Solomon (970 924 B.C.)

• Highpoint of Israels power
• Major accomplishment Completion of Temple
• Style of Leadership Near Eastern potentate.
  Harem with 300 wives 700 concubines. Built
  grand palace
• Established commercial fleet at Gulf of Aqaba
• Raised taxes to pay for building projects
• Northern kingdom frustrated with taxes
• At Solomons death (924 B.C.), Northern and
  Southern kingdoms split
• North (Israel) establishes new capital in Samaria
  under King Jeroboam I
• Jeroboam revives old religious sites (Ham and
  Bethel) and appealed to Hebrew and Canaanite
  populations that remained polytheistic

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Age of Prophets (750 550 B.C.)

• Crisis In 772 B.C., Assyrians destroy Northern
  Kingdom
• Hebrew prophets (preachers) arise to explain
  what went wrong
• Critique of society Crisis has come because
  Hebrews have drifted from Yahweh and the Torah.
  Destruction a result of declining values
• Prophetic messages To restore the North (Israel)
  and preserve the South (Judah), the people should
  return to the law and Gods covenant
• God wills the good evil comes from people and
  not from God
• God cares less for ritual and sacrifice than for
  justice and ethical behavior

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Age of Prophets (750 550 B.C.)

• Prophets Amos, Hosea, and Jeremiah preach
  repentance in Judah in the early 500s B.C.
• However, in 586 B.C. the Chaldeans
  neo-Babylonians, destroyed Jerusalem and its
  great Temple, taking prominent Hebrews from Judah
  and Israel back to Babylon (Babylonian Captivity
  period)
• Ezekiel and second Isaiah prophesy during the
  Captivity
• Judaism very influenced by this destruction
  beginning of Diaspora
• In 536 B.C. King Cyrus of the Persians permits a
  return and rebuilding of the Temple (beginning of
  Second Temple period)

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Discussion Jeremiahs Prophecy

• Using the assigned passages from Jeremiah, answer
  the following questions
• How is this text organized? What role to oracles
  play in the text and how are they used?
• What is Gods case against the Hebrews?
• What punishment will the Hebrews receive as a
  result of their disobedience?
• According to Jeremiah, have the leaders and
  priestly class participated in this decline of
  values?
• Is God about to abandon the Chosen People, or
  does Jeremiah offer some measure of hope?
• Summary What sort of revival and renewal is
  Jeremiah suggesting to the readers of this text?