OLD TESTAMENT EXAM #2

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GENESIS

EXODUS

LEVITICUS

NUMBERS

DEUTERONOMY

JOSHUA

JUDGES

RUTH

1 SAMUEL

2 SAMUEL

1 KINGS

2 KINGS

1 CHRONICLES

2 CHRONICLES

EZRA

NEHEMIAH

ESTHER

JOB

PSALMS

PROVERBS

ECCLESIASTES

SONG OF SOLOMON

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I. EXODUS

A. Introduction

1. The beginning mentions a change in Egypt: a new Pharaoh arises who doesn't know Joseph and his story

2. Population growth: All the descendants of Jacob were 70 persons

- Remember the covenant! Egypt is the "incubator" for the nation of Israel

- The people of Israel multiplied greatly and the land was filled with them

B. Moses the Deliverer

1. Born a Hebrew but later adopted by Egyptians

- Baby boys were tossed in a river because they were illegal

- Moses' parents put him in a basket and set him on the river, and Miriam, Moses' sister, watched him

- Pharaoh's daughter bathed in the river and took pity on baby Moses

- Miriam suggests finding a nurse and it's Moses' mom

2. Moses flees to Midian after he killed an Egyptian

- Moses goes near the well and rescues 7 daughters

- Marries Zipporah and they have a child

- During those days the Pharaoh died and slavery became an even bigger problem

- God begins the work of rescuing his people

3. Moses encounters God (The Burning Bush)

- Moses takes his sandals off because the ground is holy and it's God manifest

- GOD: I AM WHO I AM | YAHWEH: tetragrammaton (tetra = 4, gramma = letters)

- Moses is reluctant but God continues to show support; Moses will deliver his people from Egypt

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C. Three Key Events in Egypt

1. TEN PLAGUES

Moses comes into Egypt with Aaron and tells Pharaoh he has to release Israel. Pharaoh refuses, so the plagues happen, and they bash the gods and ruin the economy.

Nile turns to blood

Frogs, gnats, flies

Plague on the cattle

Boils on skin

Hail falling from the sky

Locusts

Terrible darkness covers land

Israelite section of Egypt was not affected.

2. PASSOVER

The 10th plague is the death of every firstborn male. It could only be prevented by putting lamb's blood on the door after eating a meal of lamb and unleavened bread. Pharaoh's household is personally affected by this plague and he lets the Israelites go.

3. RED SEA

"The crossing of the Red Sea is central to the OT as the resurrection Christ is in the NT."

The Israelites get to the Red Sea. They were actually wandering around, not taking the "highway" up towards the Jordan Rift. God purposely put the Israelites in a difficult spot, close to the Red Sea, in preparation for a great deliverance and destruction of Egypt's forces.

- Near the Red Sea was a marshy area called the Yam Suph

- Yahweh is a warrior, and we need Him to be; the Lord's enemies will tremble

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II. THE LAW (Exodus & Leviticus)

- EXODUS: birth of a nation

A. What was the Law?

1. Gracious gift of Yahweh to his people

2. Constitution for a nation

3. Covenant of Yahweh

- The Moses Covenant apparently resembles that of the Hittites before, as the Ancient Near East was "contractal"

- The difference here is that God's covenant is like marriage (VAN NESTE'S WORDS)

- KING -> GRACIOUS ACTIONS / HOW HE PROVIDES FOR PEOPLE -> CALL FOR LOVE

4. Guarantee of the Lord's presence with his people

5. Opportunity to be a blessing

B. Understanding the Law

1. OT Law compared to other ANE Laws

(Code of Hammurabi: Babylonian code of law)

a. Places a primary concern on human life

- Always requires extreme punishment, except for accidental occurances

b. Involves an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth

- Basic idea is proportionality

- You don't gouge someone's eyes out if they look at you weird; avoid disproportionate punishment like maiming

c. Has claims against property judged more leniently

- God provides provisions so the situation (i.e. debt) doesn't get out of hand

EX: 7 year forgiveness, Jubilee year, bond servanthood

d. Includes worship practices

- Commandments 1-3: There was nothing quite like them in the ANE codes

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2. The Lay of the Law

a. The Decalogue (Exodus 20: 1-17)

"Ten Words"

1) No other gods before me [Exodus 34:14, 15:11]

2) No graven images / idols

3) Don't take the name of the Lord in vain [Exodus 28:29]

4) Keep the Sabbath day holy

- Sabbath is heaven practice [Exodus 20:11]

- Israelities are to imitate God's creation in the way they live

5) Honor your father and mother

- Only command with a promise attached to it: you'll live a long life

- Bible is big on God-given authority

6) Don't murder

- Capital punishment and war are the product of The Fall

- Hate and anger = murder (or leads to murder)

7) No adultery

- Includes lustful thoughts and actions

- "Why do we listen to / watch what Jesus died to destroy?"

8) Don't steal

- Have respect for others' property

9) Don't bear false witness

10) Don't covet wives, houses, property, etc

- This is directed to the heart and encourages us to practice contentment

b. The Book of the Covenant

Follows the 10 Commandments and gives more details

c. The Tabernacle

Symbol of presence of God (center of camp)

d. Leviticus

Managing the presence of God

Promoting holiness and providing atonement

3. Kinds of Laws

a. Faithfulness in relationships, concern for foreigners, economic justice, concern for poor

b. Respect for blood as respect for life [Leviticus 17:10-12]

c. Avoidance of false worship

- Tattoos (ritualistic cutting/marking) are banned in this context

d. Reflecting Yahweh as creator / Sabbath principles

C. The New Testament and Law Keeping

Purpose of Law: Protect Israel's distinctiveness and purity

Expose sin and restrict it

To lead us to Christ

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III. NUMBERS (Wanderings in the Desert)

1. Grumbling (ch.11)

Appreciate God's provision

- They complained about their situation and misfortunes; they weren't being grateful

- God is angry and decides to send them a new provision, quail, which led to a plague

2. Aaron & Miriam (ch.12)

Respect God's chosen leader

- Moses' siblings spoke out against Moses because he married a Kushite woman

- They figured God could speak through them, and questioned why Moses was so special

- Their sin angers God and Miriam gets lepresy

- She now has to be outside the camp until she becomes clean

3. Kadesh-Barnea (ch.13-14)

Trust God's power and direction

- Of all the spies, Caleb and Joshua were the most faithful (the land was fruitful, but invasion would be futile)

- They'll wander for 40yrs until finding the Promised Land because of their lack of faith

- Every adult will die by then besides Caleb and Joshua

4. Rebellion of Korah (ch.16)

Accept God's leadership (the one God puts in leadership)

- Korah is from the tribe Levi, and he and some others rise up against Aaron and Moses

- They believe God is also with them

- Korah and his people are swallowed up by the earth and perish

5. Fiery Serpents (ch.21)

People are grumbling again

- "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?"

- Snakes are biting people and they're dying

- Anyone who's been bitten must look to the bronze serpent and they will be healed (through faith)

6. Baal Worship & Immorality

They begin to get involved with pagan women, taking up idolatry and immorality

- Phineas is a priest that sees what's going on and spears people going into their tent

- God blesses him for not tolerating the continuation of sin

- God delivers the judgment that has been authorized; we don't take sin nearly as seriously as God does

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IV. DEUTERONOMY

Deutero = second | nom = law

SERMON: representing the law

4th most quoted book in NT

A. Main Themes

1. LOVE

Shema | Deuteronomy 6:4-5 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."

A) Monotheism

B) Love God

C) Remember God's Word

2. LAND

True prophet for Israel is Moses; anyone God speaks to will be 100% right

Next leader after Joseph is Joshua, but there's nobody like Moses

Other prophets arrive (like Samuel, Isaiah, Elijah, etc)

The ultimate prophet is Jesus

3. DANGER OF THE LAND

When you get blessings from the Lord, be careful, because you'll become more dependent on his help and might forget he's helping you in the first place. Key message: Don't forget God.

4. ALL THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S (connected to the idea of the land)

God has given his people a certain part, but the entire world belongs to Him

5. CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART (metaphorical)

Deuteronomy 10:16 "... circumcise the foreskin of your heart and no longer be stubborn"

TL;DR LOVE HIM

6. NO ONE LIKE YAHWEH

Deuteronomy 32:31, 33:26-29

"For their rock is not as our Rock; our enemies are by themselves."

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V. JOSHUA

A. The New Leader

name means Salvation

- He leads people into the promised land as the "ultimate rescuer"

- Was Moses' second hand man (army general)

B. Military Strategies of the Conquest

2 Phases

1. Knocks out major enemies

Attacks main cities, then political centers, then the backs of the operation

a) Central Campaign

b) Southern Campaign

c) Northern Campaign

2. Mopping Up / Dividing

C. Lessons from Joshua

CHAPTER 1: Tells us about the transition to new leader

Joshua isn't Moses, and the person most aware of this is Joshua himself. God tells him to be strong and courageous.

Obedience is important; keep the Word clearly in your mind so you can do what it tells you to do

CHAPTER 2: Theology from a prostitute

Rahab hides the people who went to the prostitute house. They were there because they heard spies were at the house, and she tells them about the spies. Rahab says God is the true God and that they must spare her; she has converted, and no longer trusts the gods of her people. Rahab becomes a member of the tribes.

CHAPTER 3: Parting of the Jordan River

To go into this land to fight (which was at the flooding stage)

Parting water is a sign of God's power

CHAPTER 5: Circumcision and the Passover

Coming into Promised Land means no more manna

So Covenant must be renewed

All men need to be circumcised - requirement of faith

CHAPTER 6: Time to Conquer Jericho

They run into a wall and have to march around it for 7 days. God wins the Battle of Jericho; it's not the army's strength. The horn is blown and the walls fall down, and the "7 days" aren't accidental. Victory came on the Lord's day. Rahab and her family are spared, and the first fruits of conquest must be given to God.

CHAPTER 7: Fighting Ai

Joshua received a direct command from God about Jericho. The same doesn't apply for Ai, so they don't defeat this little city. Furthermore, there was sin in the camp; Achan had taken some valuables for himself (and not the Lord). Achan and his family are stoned and left as monuments.

CHAPTER 10: God Extends the Day

JOSHUA 22:5 - The tribes are sent to their places and it's stressed that they must BE VERY CAREFUL to follow the commandments

JOSHUA 24:31 "Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lorddid for Israel"

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VI. JUDGES

A. Who Were the Judges?

"Rescuers" / charismatic leaders / "deliverers raised up by God"

God raises them up, and the Judges are militarily involved to rescue God's people

B. Pattern Characterizing People in this Period

Sin -> Servitude to Judgment -> Supplication/Repentance -> Salvation/Deliverance

This cycle would repeat and last for months/years. There was a downward spiral of paganization, and the Judges also got worse.

C. Purpose of the Book of Judges

1. Show consequences of disobedience

Opposite of Joshua, which showed blessings from obedience

2. Prepare the way for a king

"There was no king" -- frequent phrase

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D. Glimpses from the Judges

CHAPTER 1-2: 1-5 Divine Rebuke

God's people are faithful, but eventually a generation comes that doesn't know the Lord. This event repeats.

CHAPTER 3

In Ehud's time, the king of Moab is oppressing the people. Ehud is the rep of the people to take tribute to the king, Eglon. Ehud says he "has a secret message" to get close to the king, and when they checked him for weapons earlier, they did it assuming he was right-handed (and checked whatever he could access with his right hand). But Ehud was actually left-handed, and still had his blade strapped to his thigh. So he stabs Eglon with it and Moab is eventually defeated. God rescues his people from them.

Shamgar defeated the Philistines, killing 600 of them with an ox goad.

Gideon fought Midian. He destroyed the totem poles for worshipping Baal.

He has 32000 forces. 2/3 of his forces left, but that still wasn't small enough. After drinking water, more leave (the ones who kneeled and didn't lap up the water) and only 300 soldiers are left. That's enough; God gives Gideon and his forces a great victory.

Jephthah led the Israelites in battle against Ammon and, in exchange for defeating the Ammonites, made a vow to sacrifice whatever would come out of the door of his house first. Jephthah "barters" with God like pagans do. He sacrifices his daughter, and while God gives him victory, he doesn't know God's word. He thinks he's obeying God, but he was more likely to do despicable things.

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VII. RUTH

This book is considered to be a literary masterpiece.

Ruth herself is from Moab, she marries Boaz, and Naomi is her mother-in-law.

A. Setting

Time of the Judges: it was bleak, but in the midst of the darkness Ruth shows a glimmer of hope

C. Themes

1. God is in control

2. God is working his purposes out

3. David

This is where the story ends. His line will have Rahab and Ruth.