Lecture 9 palestine in the old testament time
- 1. • Physical Geography of Bible Lands • Patriarchal Palestine • The Exodus—Settlement Period • The Monarchy
- 2. Physical Geography of Bible Lands Physical Geography of Bible Lands
- 4. Three climactic zones of Palestine Mediterranean Steppe Desert When the morning breezes in Jerusalem from the west (off the Mediterranean sea), it most likely a pleasant day. But if the wind comes from the east (0ff the desert), then a hot or a humid day is expected.
- 5. In general, Palestine has a moderate climate in which January is the coldest month, 46F, and summer temperatures average to 90F. Palestine has two seasons: rainy and dry. When the Bible speaks of “early rains,” it refers to rains that begin before October while the “latter rains” refers to the rains that continue to May. In addition, dewfall is also important to Palestine as it provides moisture to vegetation during dry season. It can also be heavy (cf. Judges 6:36-40).
- 6. Four Topographic Zones of Palestine Jordan Valley Eastern Plateau Hill Country Coastal Plain
- 7. • Effects of Geography • Waterways of Palestine was not used in bringing together people into a common bond like that of Egypt and Mesopotamia. • Valley systems in the hill country separate group of people from one another. Amelekites and Perrizites are partly a result of the isolation by topography.
- 8. • Being a crossroad from Egypt to Mesopotamia, it caused little opportunity for Palestine to have its own identity. • It helps us understand some phrases in the Bible such as “go up to Jerusalem” or “go down to Jericho.” • It affects the lifestyle of the people.
- 11. Babylonia Genesis 1-11 Preservation of the Godly Line Adam and Eve Noah Noah's sons Palestine Genesis 12-36 Provision of God's Promise Abraham Isaac and Ishmael Jacob and Esau Egypt Genesis 37-50 Provision of God's Promise Joseph and Brothers
- 12. Abraham –Esau God established a covenant with Abraham that he will be a father of all nations. But Sarah was barren, so he thought the promise will be fulfilled through Eliezer. In ANE culture, big family was a normal and economically-wise because of agricultural nature of their lives.
- 13. A son is necessary to the name of the family. Nuzi text mentions that if the couple has no son, ey should adopt one; and the son is obligated to serve his parents and bury them when they died. Nuzi text also mentioned that it is acceptable to give a maidservant to have a child like what Sarah did (Gen 16:2).
- 14. Pre-nuptial agreement may be taken: if Gillimninu (the bride) will not bear children, Gillimninu shall take a woman for Sheninnu (the bridegroom). The sending away of Hagal and Ishmael may be against the culture of that time, as it says in one agrrement: Gillimninu shal not send (handmaid’s) offspring away.” However, with God’s intervention, Abraham obeyed. Burial of Sarah at Machpelah; Abraham was rich in gold, silver, and livestock, but he had no land. So he bought a piece of land to bury his dead from Ephron in Hebron.
- 17. The route of Exodus The Red Sea that Israelites traverse Mt. Sinai The Law of God and other Law Codes in ANE OT law code is religiously oriented, while others are civil. The Mesopotamian believed that Shamash (their god) gave Hammurabi his law code for the purpose getting along with each other. On the other hand, OT law was given primarily for people and God relationship (vertical), then to man (horizontal.)
- 21. (1) Abraham, Sarah, & Terah leave Ur for Canaan (Genesis) (2) Abraham’s 2 sons: Isaac and Ishmael Isaac had Jacob & Esau Jacob had 12 sons & 1 daughter (3) Joseph sold into Egypt (concludes Genesis) (4) After 400 years, Moses leads Israelites out (Exodus) (5) Moses received the Law at Mt. Sinai.(Exodus/Leviticus) (6) Twelve spies sent to Canaan but because of unbelief the begins 40 years of wilderness wanderings (Numbers). (7) Second Covenant (Deuteronomy) before crossing Jordan River. (8) Joshua invades/conquers/divides up Canaan=> Israel. (Joshua/Judges)
- 24. The 14 judges (excluding Eli and Samuel) were spread throughout the land of Israel. Just before the time of the Judges, the land was distributedto the different tribes of Israel. Each area was differently affected by surrounding enemies such as the Mesopotamians, Canaanites, Ammonites and Philistines.
- 25. The Monarchy
- 26. After Israel demanded for a king at the time of Samuel, the last judge, Israel entered into monarchical government. Saul-David-Solomon, time of the United Kingdom of Israel After the time of Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel was divided into northern kingdom of Israel and southern kingdom of Judah. Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. while Judah by the Babylonians in 605 B.C.
Editor's Notes
- #5: The mro