1

Independent study report for "Introduction to the Old Testament BI-

5003"
My name: Berehanu Belete
Date started:10/10/13
Date completed:
Total: 0 words

TABLE OF CONTENTS - updates automatically by CLR + A ("select all") -> F9

Chapter 1 – Introduction.......................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2 – Genesis..............................................................................................................................2
Chapter 3 – Exodus..............................................................................................................................2
Chapter 4 – Leviticus...........................................................................................................................3
Chapter 5 – Numbers............................................................................................................................3
Chapter 6 – Deuteronomy....................................................................................................................3
Chapter 7 – Joshua...............................................................................................................................3
Chapter 8 – Judges...............................................................................................................................3
Chapter 9 – Ruth...................................................................................................................................3
Chapter 10 – Samuel............................................................................................................................3
Chapter 11 – Kings...............................................................................................................................3
SUBMIT PROGRESS REPORT 1 (your document in progress) HERE....................................4
Chapter 12 – Chronicles.......................................................................................................................4
Chapter 13 – Ezra-Nehemiah...............................................................................................................4
Chapter 14 – Esther..............................................................................................................................4
Chapter 15 – Job...................................................................................................................................4
Chapter 16 – Psalms.............................................................................................................................4
Chapter 17 – Proverbs..........................................................................................................................4
Chapter 18 – Ecclesiastes.....................................................................................................................5
Chapter 19 – Song of Songs.................................................................................................................5
SUBMIT PROGRESS REPORT 1 (your document in progress) HERE....................................5
Chapter 20 – Isaiah...............................................................................................................................5
Chapter 21 – Jeremiah..........................................................................................................................5
Chapter 22 – Lamentations...................................................................................................................5
Chapter 23 – Ezekiel............................................................................................................................5
Chapter 24 – Daniel..............................................................................................................................5
Chapter 25 – Hosea..............................................................................................................................6
Chapter 26 – Joel..................................................................................................................................6
Chapter 27 – Amos...............................................................................................................................6
Chapter 28 – Obadiah...........................................................................................................................6
Chapter 29 – Jonah...............................................................................................................................6
Chapter 30 – Micah..............................................................................................................................6
Chapter 31 – Nahum.............................................................................................................................6
Chapter 32 – Habakkuk........................................................................................................................7
Chapter 33 – Zephaniah.......................................................................................................................7
Chapter 34 – Haggai.............................................................................................................................7
Chapter 35 – Zechariah........................................................................................................................7
Chapter 36 – Malachi...........................................................................................................................7
SUBMIT YOUR FINAL REPORT NOW...................................................................................7
 2

Instructions
- The report consists of your text as answer to the questions
- You should write a sentence or two on every topic (question)
- Use as many pages as you need for proper aswers
- You don't need to use references in your text. All answers are
based on the textbook.
- Use full sentences in your answers.
- Be concise. Don't try to write too much.
- In MS Word, update the word count by pressing CTRL + A
(select all) and then press F9
- Write your answers book by book. Remember: Use only one or
two sentences per answer.
- You can move on faster than required.

Note: This is your main learning activity and assignment for the
course.
There is no project paper or exam.

Chapter 1 – Introduction
- Trace the question of OT introductions in recent years.

Is there unity to the Old Testament message or is there

irreconcilable diversity.

- Describe the three-fold scope of IOT.

Historical background, literary analysis, and theological

message.

- Explain what makes up the historical background to the OT.

 3

So even though the authority of the Bible is focused on thetext and

not on the events it narrates, it is still of utmost importance to
read the Bible in the light of the time period from which it comes.

- Explain the minimalist scholarly perspective.

Their argument in a nutshell is that since the biblical text is

clearly not an objective work of history, it must be supported by
extra biblical evidence before its historical claims may be taken as
true.
- Describe the elements of biblical historiography.

Selectivity, Emphasis, Order, and Application.

- Identify the hermeneutical cautions when reading the OT.

The warning to read the Bible “in its context”

and not to treat passages in an isolated fashion.

- List the aspects of OT poetry.

Terseness, Parallelism , Meter, and Imagery.

- Identify the characteristics of genre and story.

A genre is a group of texts that bear one or more traits in

common with each other. Stories speak to a broader segment of
the people of God than would a more technical and precise form
of communication.

- Describe how passages or books might have a theological

message.
 4

A multiperspective approach responds that the Bible (passages or

books ) is about God. Theology here refers to discourse about
God, his nature, and, even more important, his relationship with
his creatures.

- Note what OT elements might be taken up in the NT.

The Old Testament does not simply provide proof texts for the
coming Messiah. Its major themes point forward to Christ’s
coming suffering and glory.

Chapter 2 – Genesis
- Evaluate the various historical-critical approaches to Genesis and
the Pentateuch.
Wellhausen’s work had a massive influence because, for the first
time, he was able to associate the history of the development of
the Pen- tateuch with the history of the development of Israelite
religion in a way that convinced most of the leading scholars of
Europe, England, and America, while pushing his critics (notably
Hengstenberg and Delitzsch) to the margins of scholarship.

- Note the lexical, literary, and theological differences that give

rise to source-critical questions.
- Explain the importance of ancient Near Eastern background and
context to the Genesis and the Pentateuch.

- Describe why literary and theological perspectives are essential

to understanding Genesis and the Pentateuch.

- Identify the different authorial emphases in Genesis 1-11, 12-38,

and 39-50.
 5

From Creation to the Tower of Babel, The Patriarchal

Narratives,and The Joseph Story.
- Consider how Genesis is taken up in the New Testament.
The creation account, the account of the fall, Abrahamic
covenant, and Joseph’s life account are parts taken up in the NT.
Chapter 3 – Exodus
- Explain the question of authorship and any evidence related to
Moses.
- Describe the two main proposals for the historical exodus.
- Note the historical (archaeological), textual, literary, or
theological challenges to identifying the exodus event.
- Consider the literary divisions and themes set forth in Exodus 1-
18, 19-24, and 25-40.
- Note the general layout of the wilderness tabernacle and
surrounding Israelite camp.
Chapter 4 – Leviticus
- Explain the similarities and differences of the five offerings.
- Describe the content of the Holiness Code in Leviticus 17-27.
- Note the relationship of the priesthood to the people.
- Consider how priestly and sacrificial expectations are applied to
the messiah in the NT.
Chapter 5 – Numbers
- Consider the three literary structures (chronological,
topographical, and topical) that Longman and Dillard set forth.
- Describe how the censuses in Numbers 1 and 26 provide a
thematic emphasis to the book.
- Note the instances of rebellion and obedience in the book.
- Describe how the wilderness topos is taken up later in the OT
and NT.
 6

Chapter 6 – Deuteronomy
- Note why Deuteronomy receives so much attention from
historical-critical scholars.
- Reflect on Deuteronomy as a treaty in comparison to Hittite and
Assyrian treaties.
- Consider how the book serves as a bridge between the
Pentateuch and the Historical Books (Former Prophets).
- Describe the figure and expectation of Moses for ancient Israel
and later NT writers.
Chapter 7 – Joshua
- Evaluate the question of a Deuteronomistic History.
- Reflect on the various origins and conquest theories for Israel.
- Consider the conquest narrative in light of the Joshua-Judges
literary complex
- Explain the ethical implications of holy war, land, and the
Canaanites.
- Identify how the themes of conquest and rest are taken up in the
NT writings.
Chapter 8 – Judges
- Note the differences between the major and minor judges.
- Describe the “cyclical” or “spiral” decline of the Israelite people.
- Reflect on the question of kingship and tribal relationships.
- Consider how figures such as Samson and Jephthah are
portrayed in the NT.
Chapter 9 – Ruth
- Consider how God is an implicit/explicit character in Ruth.
- Note how the names of the figures foreshadow the characters’
role in the book.
- Describe the various legal and social practices evinced in Ruth.
- Reflect on why Ruth is important in the OT and NT contexts.
 7

Chapter 10 – Samuel
- Describe how 1 and 2 Samuel is best read as one book.
- Note how the author sets forth the idea of kingship.
- Identify the various literary elements in Samuel.
- Consider the differences between the MT and LXX versions of
Samuel.
Chapter 11 – Kings

- Note the literary relationship of the former prophets Joshua-

Judges-Samuel-Kings.
- Evaluate the question of sources and authors.
- Explain the vexing issue of chronology.
- Describe the potential literary and theological relationship
between Deuteronomy and Kings.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------
SUBMIT PROGRESS REPORT 1 (your document in
progress) HERE
Note: You can finalize your text later. The grade will be based on
your final report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------

Chapter 12 – Chronicles
- Reflect on how Chronicles is a synoptic or parallel version of
Samuel-Kings.
- Note the theological particulars of the chronicler.
- Describe how genealogy and priesthood play an integral role to
postexilic contexts.
- Explain how Israel and Judah are portrayed in Chronicles.
 8

Chapter 13 – Ezra-Nehemiah
- Consider the post-exilic milieu of Ezra-Nehemiah.
- Describe the historical questions of dating and authorship.
- Note the various shifts in the literary complex of these books.
- Explain the importance of temple and wall restoration for Second
Temple Judaism.
Chapter 14 – Esther
- Identify some of the ethical and historical challenges to Esther.
- Note the genre and style of the book.
- Consider how the Esther story relates back to the Saul-Agag
saga.
Chapter 15 – Job
- Evaluate the question of historical context and identity of the Job
character.
- Note the intricate literary relationship among the prose prologue
and epilogue and the poetic core of speeches.
- Consider the changes from one speech cycle to the second and
third.
- Explain how Job is a universal wisdom story of suffering and
theodicy.
Chapter 16 – Psalms
- Evaluate the question of authorship and psalm titles.
- Note the five-book literary arrangement and the theological
implications.
- Consider the various psalm genres.
- Describe the endearing quality of the Psalter for Judaism and
Christianity.
- Identify how the Psalter is used by NT writers.
 9

Chapter 17 – Proverbs
- Note the literary and authorial differentiation between Proverbs
1-9 and 11-31.
- Consider how Proverbs serves both the familial and social
wisdom contexts.
- Explain the types of wisdom genres and expressions.
- Describe the nature of wisdom literature, Lady Wisdom, and
Lady Folly as a theological foil.
Chapter 18 – Ecclesiastes
- Explain the observation of the editorial frame narrative.
- Note the wisdom perspectives between Qoheleth and the
narrator.
- Identify the nature of retribution both in this life and the
hereafter.
- Consider wisdom in Ecclesiastes with Job and Proverbs.
Chapter 19 – Song of Songs
- Evaluate the genre and literary structure of Songs.
- Consider the role of Solomon in the book.
- Note how ANE love poetry is taken up in the OT and NT.
- Describe the way Jewish and Christian interpreters take up
Songs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------
SUBMIT PROGRESS REPORT 2 (your document in
progress) HERE
Note: You can finalize your text later. The grade will be based on
your final report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------
 10

Chapter 20 – Isaiah
- Evaluate the question of authorship for Isaiah.

Jewish and Christian interpreters alike regarded Isaiah son of

Amoz (1:1), the eighth-century prophet, friend and con-fidant of
Hezekiah, as the author of the entire book.

- Note the literary and theological complements in Isaiah 1-39 and

40-66.
Scholars have often contrasted the theology of Isaiah 1–39 with
the remain-der of the book by saying that the remnant theme plays
no important role in the second half. However, the so-called
Servant Songs are directly related to this theme.

- Consider the historical and social context of Isaiah ben Amoz.

The first half of the book presumes a setting in Jerusalem in the

eighth century during the period when Assyria was dominant in
the region. However, in the second half of the book, the audience
addressed is already in exile in Babylon (48:20).

- Reflect on the Suffering Servant Songs.

It is because the faithful remnant arises from a period of judgment

that surviving Israel could be called the “Suffering Ser-vant.”

- Describe how Isaiah is taken up in the NT.

It would be difficult to overstate the importance of Isaiah for the

Christology of the church. The New Testament writers appealed to
Isaiah repeatedly to explain events in their own day.
 11

Chapter 21 – Jeremiah

- Note the call narrative for Jeremiah.

Jeremiah’s career runs from the time of his call to prophetic

ministry dur-ing the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign (627/26 BC;
Jer. 1:2) through the destruction of Jerusalem and his subsequent
departure into Egypt (41:16–44:30).

- Consider the political situation in the late 7th century BC.

Although the Assyrian Empire had dominated the ancient Near

East for over two centuries, its demise came very quickly. After the
death of Ashurbanipal (c.631 BC), the last great king of ssyria, the
Assyrian Empire contracted and dis-integrated in just over twenty
years.

- Reflect on the idea of a New Covenant.

On the one hand, God’s covenant with David is conditioned on

obedience (17:24–25; 21:12; 22:1–5; 38:20). On the other, it
cannot be broken irrevocably, for God will make a new covenant
with David and his descendants (23:5; 30:9;33:15–17, 21–22), a
covenant as sure as the day and night (33:23–26).

- Describe the differences between LXX and MT Jeremiah.

The order of the oracles against the nations also dif-fers in the
two texts: the order in the MT is roughly geographical, moving
from south to north and west to east; the order in the LXX appears
instead to approx-imate the order of political importance
(Thompson 1980, 31).

- Explain how Moses and Jeremiah might be associated.

 12

Moses set the model for the prophets who came after him. Just as
God had put his words into the mouth of Moses so that what he
spoke was in truth the very word of God, so God put his words
into the mouth of his prophet Jeremiah (1:9; Deut. 18:18).

Chapter 22 – Lamentations

- Identify the possible historical context for Lamentations.

The book was written in reaction to the destruction of Jerusalem

at the hands of the Babylonians in 587 BC. Thus it is a omposition
of the exilic period(for a description of this period see Provan,
Long, and Longman 2003, 278–86).

- Note the poetic and literary aspects of the book.

Recent studies have tended to view the book more holistically, a

position typified by Grossberg’s (1989) extensive studies of the
literary features that not only create variety within the poem but
also unify it. Ferris is typical in his con-clusion that Lamentations
is to be classified as a communal lament similar to those found
within the Psalter.

- Consider the genre type.

Hermann Gunkel initiated the modern discussion of the genre of

Lamen-tations by concluding that it was a Mischgattung, a
combination of several different types of literature. He argued that
chapters 1, 2, and 4 were funeral songs; chapter 3, an individual
lament; and chapter 5, a communal lament.
 13

- Describe the writer’s view of Yahweh.

Behind this judgment, which is due to the sin of the people, is God
himself.It is not the Babylonians, but God himself who will estroy
them, specifically,God the Warrior.

Chapter 23 – Ezekiel
- Reflect on the dating scheme in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel was the son of a priest. Since he was called to prophetic

office when he was thirty years old, during the fifth year of the
exile of Jehoiachin, king of Judah (592 BC, 1:1–2),1 the prophet
must have been born around 623–622.
- Note the Davidic expectations set forth by the author.

God would again be in their midst (48:35; cf. 11:20; 14:11;

36:23, 27–28). The nation would again live under a Davidic
prince (37:24–25; 45:7) who would rule righteously (34:24).

- Describe the Oracles against the Nations section in chapters 25-

32.

The oracles of woe against Jerusalem then give way to a series of

oracles against surrounding nations, though primarily against
Tyre and Egypt (chaps.25–32).

- Explain how the prophet engages in performative-prophetic

activity.
The prophet enacted the siege of Jerusalem by using an iron pan,
sketching the events on a clay tablet (4:1–8), and eating siege
rations (4:9–17). He shaved his beard, divided and discarded the
hair in ways that foresaw the fate of the citizens of Jerusalem (5)
 14

- Consider the notions of a restored land and temple.

The nation would again live under a Davidic prince (37:24–25;

45:7) who would rule righteously (34:24). God would give to his
people a new heart and a new spirit (36:24–28). The God who had
abandoned his temple (10) would return to it in glory again (43).

Chapter 24 – Daniel

- Note the genre types of the court narrative in 1-6 and apocalyptic
prophecy in 7-12.

The first half of the book of Daniel contains six separate stories
that focus on Daniel and/or his three comrades—Hananiah,
ishael, and Azariah. Although it is the shorter half, Daniel as a
whole is often characterized as an apocalyptic prophecy.

- Consider the historical challenges in Daniel.

At the least, the internal evidence leads us to believe that Daniel

was the source of the vision reports of Daniel 7–12. These vision
reports are often framed by third-person introductions (e.g., Dan.
7:1), and this leaves open the possibility that the final editing was
done by someone other than Daniel.

- Reflect on Daniel and Jewish ethics in the Diaspora.

However, many of the stories contain either a real or threatened
danger to God’s people represented by Daniel and his three
friends, and in any case, the exile looms over the characters
throughout.
 15

- Describe how the empires vision relate to Jewish history as an

eschatological event.

While Daniel lived and prophesied, the people of God were

oppressed and downtrodden, but the message of Daniel’s
prophecy is that the kingdom of God will be victorious.This
victory will be both certain and complete.

- Explain how Daniel and the “son of man” imagery is taken up in

the NT.

Even more striking is the picture of Jesus Christ as theDivine

Warrior who comes to finally end and completely defeat the owers
of evil (Rev. 19:11–21). Right at the beginning of the book (Rev.
1:7), he is described by a quotation from Daniel 7:13 as the one
who rides the cloud warchariot.
Chapter 25 – Hosea

- Describe how Hosea 1-3 relates to 4-14.

Everyone agrees that there is a major break between Hosea 1–3

and 4–14.The marriage analogy dominates through the first part,
but the large second part of the book uses a multitude of images.

- Identify possible historical associations with the oracles.

Hosea’s prophetic ministry probably began late in the reigns of
Jeroboam II in the North and Uzziah in the South and ended early
in Hezekiah’s rule of the South (see Provan, Long, and Longman
2003, 266–77).
 16

- Note how Hosea is the only Israelite prophet to Israel.

Hosea, as we will see, is clearly a prophet of the North, and his

prophecy is in the main directed toward the North.

- Relate the relationship between the first and second prophetic

cycles in 4-11:11 and 11:12-14:8.

A further division between chapters 11 and 12 may also be

argued, result-ing in two cycles of judgment and hope in chapters
4–14, which parallel the twofold transition from judgment (1:2–9;
2:2–13) to hope (1:10–2:1; 2:14–3:5,which may be further broken
down into two separate salvation oracles: 2:14–23; 3:1–5).
Chapter 26 – Joel
- Identify the historical setting for Joel.

The prophet pre-sumably lived in the environs of Jerusalem which

provide the setting for the book.Because of his familiarity with the
temple and concern with worship there, some have identified him
as a cultic or temple prophet (Kapelrud; Ahlström).

- Note the relationship between locust judgment and temple

sacrifices.

The prophet saw in the out-break of a locust plague the hand of

God chastening and driving Israel to repen-tance. This locust
outbreak was a warning that if Israel was not repentant, a more
devastating army would come against the nation.

- Reflect on the literary genre of Joel.

Several features suggest that the such lament. book of Joel as a
whole is either a liturgical text intended for repeated use on
 17

occasions of national lament or at least a historical example of

one such lament.

- Consider the Day of Yahweh topos.

This terrible Day of Judgment on the nations would also be a day

when God would show compassion and mercy to those among his
people who were repen-tant and who called on the name of the
Lord (2:32 [MT 3:5]).

- Describe how Joel is set forth in the NT.

Joel is most familiar to Christians because of the extensive use

made of 2:28–32 [MT 3:1–5] in the New Testament.

Chapter 27 – Amos

- Note how the Judean prophet is received in northern Israel.

Although he preached in the northern kingdom, Amos was himself

from Tekoa, a town in Judah five miles south of Bethlehem.
Traditionally, he has been thought to have come from the lower
social classes of ancient Israel.

- Reflect on aspects of the Oracles against the Nations.

Among the oracles against foreign nations (chaps. 1–2), the

oracles against Tyre (1:9–10), Edom (1:11–12), and Judah (2:4–
5) are often viewed as sec-ondary because of minor deviations
compared with the forms of oracles against the other nations
mentioned.
 18

- Consider the various visions in the book.

The first four of these (7:1–3, 4–6, 7–9; 8:1–3) are similar to one
another, but also distinct from the fifth (9:1–10). In the first four
God “showed” (7:1, 4, 7; 8:1) the prophet objects or events, and
there is dialogue between God and the prophet. In the last vision
the object seen is the Lord himself, and there is no dialogue
between God and the prophet.

- Describe expectations for Davidic monarchy and temple

restorations.

Although many have associated this oracle with a later redactor

(see above), the prophet here appears to hold out hopes for the
reinstitution of a united monarchy involving both North and
South, united under David’s shelter (9:11; “tent” NIV).
Chapter 28 – Obadiah

- Note the literary genres and style in the book.

What would be a single oracle against a foreign nation in one of

the other prophetic books has in Obadiah become an independent
book.

- Identify the historical context of Obadiah.

The superscriptions to the prophetic books often contain some

information about the time in which the prophet lived, an
indication of his home town, and the name of his father. None of
the above is provided for Obadiah, and even his exact name is a
matter of debate.
 19

- Assess the role of Edom and the nations in the destruction of the
Jerusalem Temple.

The prima facie evidence for this date is Obadiah’s apparent

denunciations against Edom for its raids into Judah at the time of
Jerusalem’s fall (vv. 11–16), an event remembered in other
biblical passages (Ps.137:7; Lam. 4:21–22).

Chapter 29 – Jonah

- Assess the attitude and tone of Jonah.

One of the most strik-ing characteristics of the book in its Old

Testament setting is its attitude toward those outside of the
covenant community. It is certainly not unprecedented that God
shows concern for Gentiles.

- Consider the poetic hymn of chapter 2.

The only serious issue surrounding the literary unity of the book of
Jonah arises with the psalm in the second chapter (2:2–9).

- Note the relationship between Jonah and Nahum.

- Identify how Jonah is taken up in the Gospels.

Jesus himself compared and contrasted his ministry with the
ministry of Jonah (Matt. 12:38–45; Luke 11:24–32). He was asked
for a miraculous sign,and in response he said that he would be
three days and three nights in the earth.
 20

Chapter 30 – Micah
- Reflect on the historical context of Micah.

In reaction, Sennacherib threatened the independence of

Jerusalem (701), but through the ministry of Isaiah and Micah,
Hezekiah repented of his sins and God spared the city.

- Note the divine theophany that begins the book.

As early as 2:12–13, Yahweh speaks in comforting tones of

salvation after judgment. The final picture of God (7:18–20)
shows him to be unprece-dented in grace and true to his covenant
promise to Abraham. The promises to David are not dead, but will
be fulfilled in the future (5:1–2).

- Describe the literary style of the book.

Micah did not speak these oracles at one time. The book is best
taken as an anthology of his prophetic messages over the years of
his ministry.

- Consider how Micah is used in the NT.

The gospel of Matthew cites future.Micah 5:2 in references to

Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem (see Matt. 2:5–6). In its Mican context,
the oracle looks forward to a future David-like ruler. That is the
significance of the Bethlehem birthplace.

Chapter 31 – Nahum
- Note the divine theophany that begins Nahum.
The message of the judgment of the Assyrians—and,
specifically, the destruction of Nineveh—communicated
compassion toward the people of God.
 21

- Consider the style and tone directed against Nineveh.

Nahum’s poetic style is strikingly good. Its beauty contrasts with
the harsh-ness of its message. Both in his imagery and in his use of
compact parallelism Nahum showed him-self a master poet.

- Reflect on the historical setting for Nineveh’s destruction.

The prophecy places itself in the seventh century BC. This date is
estab-lished by the mention of the destruction of Thebes, which
occurred in 664 BC (3:8), and the major focus of the prophecy,
the destruction of Nineveh, which took place in 612.

Chapter 32 – Habakkuk
- Note the prophetic complaints toward Yahweh.

Habakkuk initially complained about the wickedness, injustice,

and vio-lence rampant in Judah (1:2–4). The prophet is asking the
age-old question,“Why do the wicked prosper?” The Lord’s
answer was not what the prophet expected.

- Reflect on the way Habakkuk concludes with a divine

theophany.

The prophet’s response to his vision is a hymn, a victory song

describing the appearance of the Divine Warrior in his war
chariot. At his coming, the heav-ens and earth convulse (3:3–7).
The Lord shows his dominion over the chaotic waters as he had
done at creation; he comes with his weapons to judge the nations
as he had done at the exodus (3:8–15).
 22

- Consider the historical background of the late 7th century and

the oracle.

Habakkuk was written at the time when God was “raising up the
Babylonians”(1:6), that is, at a point late in the seventh or early
in the sixth century BC.

Chapter 33 – Zephaniah

- Note the relationship between Zephaniah and the Josianic

reform.

It is also possible that we need to maintain a distinction between

the official reforming activities of the king and the abuses among
the wealthy and the general populace, such that the sins decried in
the book cannot be used with confidence to determine whether
Zephaniah was active before or after Josiah’s reform.

- Reflect on the Oracles against the Nations in chapter 2.

The prophet announces universal judgment (1:2–3; 3:8) and then

details its effects on Judah (1:4–2:3; 3:1–7) and the nations (2:4–
15); this is followed by an announcement of universal blessing
and its effects on Judah and the nations Zephaniah to (3:9–20).

- Consider the Day of Yahweh theme.

Themes of judgment, grace, and mercy predominate in the book.
 23

This day is the day when God vindicates his own honor and
appears with destructive judgment against sin, whetheramong
Gentile nations (2:4–15) or in Israel itself (1:14–2:3).

- Describe the expectation of restoration in Zephaniah 3.

The divine fury Zephaniah anticipates will purge the nation so

that a sinless remnant will emerge (3:13); that remnant will be
gathered from the nations, restored to the land and to divine favor
(2:7; 3:19–20).

Chapter 34 – Haggai
- Assess the relationship between temple building and land
fertility.

December was the middle of the growing season, and the prophet
assures the people that time away from farm work to work on the
temple would not mean poor harvests, but to the contrary, a great
harvest was ahead (cf. 1:5–11).

- Note the political and social milieu of Haggai.

Years passed until finally, in 520 BC, God raised up two

prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, who urged the people to get
their priorities straight and to build the temple. The people
responded to the preaching of both prophets, and the temple was
completed in 516 (Ezra 6:15).

- Reflect on the “Branch” figure in Haggai.

 24

Chapter 35 – Zechariah
- Describe the literary sections of Zechariah 1-8 and 9-14.

As mentioned above, the two sections focus on different temporal

horizons: 1–8 is concerned with issues of immediate interest to the
restoration community, whereas 9–14 reflect more apocalyptic
and eschatological imagery.

- Consider the visionary sequence in chapters 1-6.

Zechariah 1–8 shows a few features of apocalyptic literature,

chapters 9–14 con-tain these elements with greater frequency; this
is commonly viewed as a more “advanced” apocalypticism, and
hence, as significantly later.

- Identify the shepherd imagery in 9-14.

A date in the Maccabean period was championed by scholars who

saw the actions and fate of Maccabean rulers depicted in the
shepherd imagery of 11:4– 17 and 13:7–9 and the reference to a
murder in 12:10.

- Note on Zechariah is used in the NT.

Christian readers of this prophet cannot but notice that the

coming age of full redemption is inaugurated by a messianic king
who makes a humble appear-ance, bringing righteousness and
salvation to Jerusalem while riding on a don-key (9:9; Matt.
21:5).
 25

Chapter 36 – Malachi
- Consider the identity of “malachi”.

With little exception, scholars agree with Glazier-McDonald

(1987, 14) that Malachi is a “child of the Persian period.” The
evidence is overwhelming.The temple has been rebuilt,3 but
already disillusionment has set in.

- Note the temple and priestly issues related to the oracles.

Indeed, thecovenant of Levi is evoked in order to point out that the

priests were not living up to their responsibilities before the Lord.
Fishbane (1983) insightfully described how the disputation
against the priests (1:6–2:9) uses the language of the priestly
blessing in Numbers 6:22–27 in order to curse the priests for their
sins.

- Assess the expectations for Moses and Elijah.

After this analysis, three verses remain, which form a kind of

double appen- dix: (1) 4:4 [MT 3:23] is a call to observe the
Lord; (2) 4:5–6 [MT 3:24–25] announces the future arrival of the
prophet Elijah on the eve of the day of the Lord.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------
SUBMIT YOUR FINAL REPORT NOW.
The course grade will be based on your final report.
 26

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------