BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books

Final Examination Review Sheet

Things You Should Review:

 The geography of the Ancient Near Eastern World and Ancient Israel

MAPS
 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
Final Examination Review Sheet
 The layout and function of the tabernacle/temple.

 The aspects of the Patriarchal/Abrahamic covenant

1. Land

2. Nation

3. Blessing/Source of Blessings
 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
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 The plagues and their relationships to ancient Egyptian deities

 The layout of the Mosaic covenant as compared to the ancient vassal treaties

The ten commandment are patterned after the literary format pf the Hittite suzerain-vassal

treaty with:

 Preamble

 Historical prologue

 Covenant stipulations.

 Statement Concerning Text of Covenant

 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
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 Public Reading of the Covenant

 Witnesses

 Blessings

 Curses

The first four statutes circumscribe the relationship of the vassal (israel) to the suzerain

(yahweh), while the last six commandments order human relationships within the vassal

(Israel) community.

 The ten commandments

1. You shall have no other Gods before me

2. You shall not make for yourselves an idol

3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God

4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy

5. Honor your father and your mother

6. You shall not murder

7. You shall not commit adultery

8. You shall not steal

9. You shall not give false testimony

10. You shall not covet

 The major feasts of the Old Testament

o Passover

o Pentecost

o 9th of Ab

o Day of Atonement
 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
Final Examination Review Sheet
o Feast of Tabernacles, Tents or Booths

o Dedication

o Lots

 The major empires and people groups of the ancient world of significance to the

study of the OT

o Egyptian Empire

o Old Babylonian Kingdom

o Assyria

o Hittites

o Neo-Babylonian Empire

o Persian Empire

o Alexander’s the Great Empire

o Roman Empire

 The major historical/archeological periods related to the study of the Old Testament

1. Early Bronze Age (3300 BCE – 2000 BCE)

2. Middle Bronze Age (2000-1550)

3. Late Bronze Age (1550-1200)

4. Iron Age I (1200-1000)

5. Iron Age II (1000-586)

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Final Examination Review Sheet
6. Babylonian Period (586-539)

7. Persian Period (539-330)

8. Hellenistic Period (330-63)

9. Roman period (37 BCE – 324 CE)

 The dates of major events (patriarchs, exodus, establishment of monarchy,

destructions/exile of Samaria and Jerusalem, cycles of return of the exiled people to

the land, time of the Maccabees, etc)

o Around 2000 to 1600 BC: Patriarchal Period: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his 12

sons.

o Joseph in Egypt around 1600 BC

o Around 1200 or 1500 BC: Moses leads the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery

o Settlement in Canaan 1200 BC

o Around 1000 b.c.e.: David begins ruling as Israel’s King

o Around 950 b.c.e.: King Solomon, David’s son, builds the Temple in Jerusalem

o Around 925 b.c.e.: Israel splits into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah

o 721 b.c.e.: The northern kingdom of Israel is conquered and exiled by the

Assyrians, becoming the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel

o 586 b.c.e.: The southern kingdom of Judah is conquered and exiled by the

Babylonians, which begins the Exilic Period

o A Century of returns
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Final Examination Review Sheet
 First Wave 538 BC: Edit of Cyrus King of Persia allows the Jews to return

to their homeland.

 Second Wave (522 BC) Led by Zerubabbel. Rebuil Jerusalem Temple

 Third Wave (458 BC) Led by Ezra. Torah and religious reforms

 Fourth Wave (444 BC) Led by Nehemiah. Rebuilt Jerusalem Walls.

o Around 165 b.c.e.: The Hasmoneans, under Judah Maccabee, rededicate the

Temple, which is today celebrated as “Hanukkah” (1 Maccabees 4)

o 70 c.e.: The destruction of the Jewish Temple by the Romans

 Major archeological sites and evidences discussed in relation to Old Testament

events

 The different senses of Scripture according to the Church Fathers

Historical/Literal

Allegorical/Typology

Anagogical/Moral

 Specific Patristic interpretations of key passages events (creation and fall, human

nature based on early chapters of Genesis, God’s appearances to the Patriarchs and

Prophets, the events of the Exodus, the purpose and place of the Law in the Old and

New Covenants, Messianic hopes emerging from the Old Testament, Christ as the

fulfillment of the Old Testament)

 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
Final Examination Review Sheet
Key Terms:

Words

Monotheism: belief that there is only one God.

Syncretism: amalgamation of different religions, cultures

Polytheism: the belief in or worship of more than one god.

Absolute Chronology: A chronology that determines the age of a feature or event in years

Relative Chronology: A chronology that determines the age of a feature or event relative to

the age of other features or events

Middle Bronze Age (2000-1550)

Late Bronze Age (1550-1200)

Iron Age I (1200-1000)

Iron Age II (1000-586)

Babylonian Period (586-539)

Persian Period (539-330)

Hellenistic Period (330-63)

Pentateuch: means the first five books of the Bible. These books are Genesis, Exodus,

Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Casuistic Law: is based on precedents and is usually in the form of “if/then” conditional

statements.
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Final Examination Review Sheet
Apodictic Law: regulations in the form of divine commands (e.g., the Ten Commandments)

Prohibition (in the Law)

Death law

Civil Laws is a body of rules that defines and protects the private rights of citizens

Ceremonial Laws: the "ceremonial law", dealing with forms of worshipping God and with

ritual cleanness

Cultic Laws: laws regarding the cult in the temple?

Primeval History: The primeval history, the name given by biblical scholars to the first eleven

chapters of the Book of Genesis, is a story of the first years of the world's existence.

Creation: the action or process of bringing something into existence.

Paradise: the garden of Eden

Fall: the fall of Adam and Eve into sin bringing in death and corruption and the passions.

Pantheon all the gods of a people or religion collectively.

Patriarchal History the era of the three biblical patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

according to the narratives of Genesis 12–50.

Covenant an agreement between God and his people, in which God makes promises to his

people and, usually, requires certain conduct from them.

Election

Theophany
 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
Final Examination Review Sheet
Yahweh (Name of God)

Decalogue

Documentary Hypothesis

Yahwist

Elohist

Deuteronomist

Priestly Writer

Exodus

Vassal Treaty

Vassal

Suzerain

Passover

Holiness/Consecration

Impurity/Unclean

Purity/Clean

Purifying

Atonement

Sacrifice(s)
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Final Examination Review Sheet
Day of Atonement

Sabbath

People

Israelites/Hebrews

Hittites

Egyptians

Sumerians

Babylonians

Assyrians

Philistines

Arameans

Canaanites

Moabites

Edomites

Phoenicians

Amalekites

Midianites

Israel & Judah

 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
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Adam

Eve

Noah

Abraham

Isaac

Jacob

Joseph

Sons of Jacob

Moses

Aaron

Levites

Priests

Joshua

Samson

Gideon

Deborah

Barack

Samuel
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Eli

Hophni

Phineas

Saul

David

Jonathan

Absalom

Solomon

Reheboam

Jereboam

Omri

Ahab

Jezebel

Elias (Elijah)

Elisha (Elisseus)

Jehu

Ahaz

Hezekiah
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Final Examination Review Sheet
Josiah

Sennacherib

Isaiah

Manasseh

Josiah

Jehoiachin

Nebuchadnezzar

Cyrus the Great

Zerubbabel

Ezra

Nehemiah

Ruth

Esther

Tobit

Judith

Antioches IV Epiphanes

Alexander the Great

Maccabees
 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
Final Examination Review Sheet
Baal

Asherah

Marduk

Hammurabi

Deuteronomistic History

Historiography

Archeology

Literary Criticism

Textual Criticism

“The Ban” in Joshua

Apostasy

Levirate Marriage

Kinsman Redeemer

Tribal League

Monarchy

Ark of the Covenant

Tabernacle

Temple
 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
Final Examination Review Sheet
Davidic Promise

United Monarchy

Divided Kingdom

Chronicler

Purim

Hannukah

Places

Fertile Crescent

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Nile River

Tigris River

Euphrates River

Canaan/Palestine

Asia Minor/Anatolia

Arabian Peninsula

Coastal Plain

Central Highlands
 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
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Jordan Rift

Transjordan Plateau

Jordan River

Dead Sea

Levant

Sea of Galilee

Be able to locate these events in their respective books/chapters:

Genesis

1. Creation of the World: Gen ch 1-2

2. Fall of Mankind and Expulsion from Paradise Genesis ch 3

3. The Flood Genesis ch 6-9

4. Call of and Promise to Abraham Genesis ch 12

5. The Ratification of the Abrahamic Covenant (when God passed through the animal

parts) Genesis ch 15

6. The Introduction of Circumcision: Genesis ch 17

7. Abraham hosts three “angelic visitors”: Genesis ch 18

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8. Abraham “Offers” Isaac as a Sacrifice to God: Genesis ch 22

9. Jacob’s vision of the heavenly ladder with angels ascending and descending: Genesis ch

28

10. Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt: Genesis ch 37

11. Joseph, now second to Pharaoh in Egypt, reveals himself to his brothers: Genesis ch 45

Exodus

12. Call of Moses at the Burning Bush: Exodus ch 3

13. The Original Passover: Exodus ch 12

14. The crossing of the Red Sea: Exodus ch 14

15. The Israelites receive the Ten Commandments at Mt Sinai: Exodus ch 20

16. The Original Ratification of the Mosaic Covenant: Exodus ch 24

17. The Incident of the Golden Calf: Exodus ch 32

18. The Lord makes his glory to pass by Moses on Mt Sinai and renews the Covenant:

Exodus ch 34

Leviticus

19. The Consecration of Aaron as Priest: Leviticus ch. 8

20. The Day of Atonement: Leviticus ch. 16

21. Levitical Pronouncement of Blessings and Curses (26)

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Numbers

22. The spies sent into the Promised Land: Numbers 13

23. The Rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram: Numbers 16

24. The Trial of the Fiery Serpents and Moses makes the Brazen Serpent: Numbers 21

Deuteronomy

25. Deuteronomic Ten Commandments: Deuteronomy 5

26. Warnings about false prophets (13)

27. Laws regulating kings (17)

28. Promise of the future prophet (18)

29. Deuteronomic Pronouncement of Blessings and Curses (28)

30. The Death of Moses and the hope for a prophet like Moses: Deuteronomy 34

Joshua

31. Battle of Jericho: Joshua 6

32. Covenant Renewal (Reading of the Law) at Ebal and Gerezim: Joshua 8

33. Covenant Renewal at Shechem: Joshua 24

Judges

34. Israel’s Cycle of Apostasy: Judges 2-3

 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
Final Examination Review Sheet

I Kingdoms

35. Birth of Samuel: 1

36. Call of Samuel: 3

37. Israel’s Request for a King (8)

II Kingdoms

38. Davidic Promise (7)

39. David and Bathsheba: 11

III Kingdoms

40. Solomon Consecrates the Temple (8)

41. The Man of God’s Oracle against the Sin of Jereboam (13)

42. Elijah’s Contest with Prophets of Baal (18)

43. Elijah’s Vision on Mt Horeb (19)

IV Kingdoms

44. Fall of Samaria to Assyria (17)

45. Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon (25)

II Maccabees

46. Martyrdom of the 7 Youths and their Mother (7)

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Final Examination Review Sheet
47. Rededication of the Temple – Hannukah (10)

Canon of St Andrew of Crete

You will be given a number of verses from the Canon of St. Andrew and asked to explain a few of them. I will

ask you to give a brief background to the incident alluded to and then to briefly explain what application the

canon makes. I will not just the more obscure references (like Ahitophel) but events you should be more

familiar with. You may review the canon here online: http://www.orthodoxchristian.info/pages/canon.htm

Everyone Should Write this Essay (20 Pts)

Write an essay summarizing the overarching narrative that runs from Genesis to Maccabees. Be sure to address

the following themes: Creation/Fall, the Abrahamic Promise/Covenant, the Exodus and Sinai Covenant, the

Davidic Covenant, the Exile and Return, and the Sense of Disappointment and Anticipation experience by those

returning from the Exile which points towards and finds fulfillment in the New Testament. Be sure to highlight

how the covenants begin to unfold in the Old Testament but remain ultimately unfulfilled looking forward to the

coming of Christ.

Choose One Additional Topic and Write an Essay on It (20 Pts)

1. We learned about and discussed the Israelite conquest of the land of Canaan. This story raises problematic

moral questions for some. Write a brief essay addressing these concerns by attempting to answer the following

questions: How do we square the fact that we, as Christians, believe in a loving, gracious and just God with the

fact that God seems to have commanded the people of Israel to commit an act of ruthless genocide against the
 BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
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people of Canaan? How would you respond to someone who said that the Christian scriptures endorse violence

against others as much as the Quran because of the stories in the book of Joshua? Does this mean Christians can

carry out Jihad?

2. We discussed the impact of Judah's diaspora on the development of Jewish religious beliefs and practices

during their exile in Babylonian and in the post-exilic restoration. Describe some aspects of/events in the exile

experience which brought about some of these changes, specifically commenting on the following developments:

A. Shift from monolatry and syncretism to strict monotheism

B. Development of a clearer eschatological outlook and its importance for the Jews

C. Shift from temple to synagogue and home-based worship/ritual

D. The rise in importance of rituals like Passover, circumcision and Kosher/purity laws

3. The modern science of archaeology has shed a great deal of light on the customs and history described in the

Old Testament. Discuss in general why archaeology is useful but some of its limitations in proving the authenticity

of the events described in the biblical narratives. Use one of the cases as an example, describing what discoveries

archaeologists have uncovered in relation to the block of biblical narrative, what evidence it might offer and what

might account for any difficulties in providing clear proof of the authenticity of the biblical account.

A. The Patriarchal Narratives

B. The Egyptian Bondage and Exodus of the People of Israel

C. The Conquest of the Promised Land

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Final Examination Review Sheet
4. The Holy Fathers did not limit their interpretations of the Old Testament to strictly literal and historical

readings, but employed allegorical and typological interpretations to understand the Old Testament in relation to

the mystery of Christ and the Church. First, describe the four senses or levels of meaning the Church Fathers say

exist within the Scriptures. Then, briefly explain how the Church Fathers understood one of the following Old

Testament events, first summarizing the biblical story and then describing the interpretation of one or more of the

Holy Fathers we read or discussed in relation to it.

A. Man’s Original Creation and Fall into Sin

B. The Passover and Exodus out of Egypt

C. The Revelation and Construction of the Tabernacle

5. Although Israel was commanded by God to worship Him and Him alone, it is clear from the pages of the Old

Testament that they had a hard time remaining faithful to this command. Explain the cycle of Israel’s apostasy in

the time of the Judges and later during the reigns of Kings Jereboam and Ahab and how God attempted to

straighten his people out through the Judges and Prophets.

6. We read about and discussed the synoptic works (“synoptic” meaning works of history that look at the same

events) of the so-called Deuteronomic History (Joshua/Judges/Samuel/Kings) and the Chronicler’s History

(Books of Chronicles). Discuss the different historical settings of the composition of these two histories and the

differences in their approach to and portrayal of Israel’s history, especially the time from the reign of King David

to the Babylonian Exile. What might account for the differences between their portrayals based on when they

were writing, for whom, and why? What message would the different histories convey to their audiences? Why

should we not be troubled by the fact that we have these two different groups of historical accounts (think of the

Gospels)?
BIBLE 331 – Old Testament I – Pentateuch and Historical Books
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