Introduction to Biblical Literature [Middlebury College]

Introduction to Biblical Literature

Who were the 12 tribes of Israel?

• Tribe of Rueben
• Tribe of Simeon
• Tribe of Levi
• Tribe of Judah
• Tribe of Isaachar
• Tribe of Zebulun
• Tribe of Dan
• Tribe of Naphalti
• Tribe of Gad
• Tribe of Asher
• Tribe of Joseph
• Tribe of Benjamin

Important events in the OT (some NT)

• 1250 BCE Moses Commissioned by YHWH, leads Exodus from Egypt; 10Commandments
• 1200 BCE Israelite tribes settle in Canaan
• 1200-1020 BCE Judges rule ancient Israel
• 1020 BCE David’s dynasty established
• 950 Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem
• 922 Israel divided: north vs. south
• 722 Assyria destroys northern kingdom
• 622 King Josiah reforms worship
• 587 Babylon destroys southern kingdom, destroys temple
• 539 Cyrus the Great of Persia destroys Babylon; releases Judaean captives
• 515 Second Temple built in Jerusalem
• 332 Jerusalem capitulates to Alexander the Great (Hellenistic rule, Ptolemies/Seleucids)
• 63 BCE Roman rule begins (70 CE temple destroyed by Romans after Jewish revolt)

First 12 books of the Old Testament

• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• Numbers
• Deuteronomy
• Joshua
• Judges
• Ruth
• 1 Samuel
• 2 Samuel
• 1 Kings
• 2 Kings

Genres Present in the Bible

• Genealogy
• Narrative
• Myth/Legend
• Moral tales
• Song
• Letters
• Parable
• Prophecy
• Epistles/Letters
• etc... (see next slide)

Slide 6

King David's Court - Theological history

• How does this text convey the theology of the writers at the time?