Searching for the Ancient Israelites

Mike BryantFirst Lutheran Church

Course Overview

OrOld Testament History in 2 Slides or Less

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

(332-164 B.C.) Independence under the Maccabees (164-63 B.C.) Roman rule

Course Overview

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

Israel Israelite origins

Archaeological record begins 1200 B.C. Links to Hyksos and habiru

Review 1

Toward a Kingdom

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

Defining Israelite

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 13th 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 25:22The 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

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 (Ch5), 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” (Ch9) 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

The Judges

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

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 (Ch5) 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 Judges

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

The Philistines

"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

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 Philistines

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

The Monarchy

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

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

David

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

Solomon