Complete List of Terms and Definitions for Hebrew Bible 6

Terms Definitions
Prophets Nevi'im
Exodus Torah 2
Deuteronomy Torah 5
Joshua Prophets 1
Genesis Torah 1
ban "devoted to destruction".  hebrew word "herem".  That which is specifically set aside for God's purpose.  Refers to the spoils of war, the extermination of indigenous populations (the Canaanites) as mandated by God in the book of Joshua.  Considered a smaller part of what became known as "holy war".
Samaria Capital of the Northern kingdom.  Capital was moved here by Omri (whose 4 king dynasty ruled through the mid-9th century BCE).
Aramaic Language which the bible switches to in parts of Ezra (from Hebrew).  Use of Aramaic spread throughout Persian period.  During 4th and 5th centuries it replaced Hebrew as the major spoken language of Palestine.
Latter Prophets Material by and about individual prophets in separate books, added to texts on prophetic legends beginning in the 8th century BCE.  Arranged (somewhat arbitrarily) in order of length.  Overall there were 4 scrolls of the prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial and the Twelve.
Succession Narrative The hypothetical (does not exist outside of biblical texts) source found in 2 Samuel 9-20 and 1 Kings 1-2.  Its major theme is an explanation of why Solomon became his father David's successor.  Also called the "Court History of David". Includes a history of Solomon's birth, the death of David's and Saul's other sons, as well as David's rivals.  Historical fiction, includes dialogue and foreshadowing.
Writings Third part of the Hebrew bible, contains a variety of genres.  Generally written or edited later than the law, the torah or the prophets. Includes two major anthologies, the book of psalms, the book of proverbs.
Acrostic Used in the bible, alphabetically to aid in memorization.  Book of Lamentations has four alphabetic acrostics in its first four chapters.  One is Psalm 119 which is the longest chapter in the Bible.
Davidic Covenant Contractual metaphor in which God commits himself to the Davidic dynasty.  First this occurs conditionally ("Psalm 132: if your sons keep my covenant..") and then unconditionally (2 Samuel 7.14: But I will not take my steadfast love from him...your house and your kingdom shall be made forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.")
JUDGE "In premonarchic Israel" they were the highest authority at the tribal level.  Principally considered military leaders who arose during times of need or conflict (Weber referred to them as "charismatic leaders" for this reason).  Also presided over covenental law (as in the modern sense of judges).  Deborah, Ehud, Samson are famous judges.
Megiddo A strategic site that defended a major pass from the coastal road to the interior.  The site of Josiah's attempt to block the Egyptian advance in 609 BCE.  Because of teh number of battles fought there, i the book of Revelation, Megiddo (rendered as har megiddo "mountain of Megiddo" or Armageddon) is made the final escatological battle between the forces of good and evil (Rev 16.16)
The "Isaiah Apocalypse" Four chapters (Is 24-27) which describe the endtimes in vivid detail. Really really intense, but lacks a systematic chronology, appears to be a collection of independant shorter poems.  Uses the imagery of Israel as a vineyard, and the gleaning that will occur when the Lord reaps his harvest.
Covenant lawsuit A distinct genre, beginning in Hosea and continuing through the minor prophets in which Yahweh sues Israel for breach of contract (ie- for violation of the Sinai covenant). Hosea 12.2:  The Lord has a lawsuit against Israel, and will punish Jacob according to his ways.
Diaspora From the exile of Judeans to Babylon in 597 BCE, many Jews were no longer living in Judah, but had dispersed and were living outside of the promised land.  Tensions between these two distinct geographies and those who lived in them occurred.
First Zechariah Chapters 1-8.  Deal with late sixth century BCE.  Primary focus is on issues of leadership in the restored community in Judah, and the reconstruction of the Temple.
Wisdom literature Type of literature extant from the third millenium BCE to early CE from Egypt to southern Mesopotamia.  Concerned with the realities of the human experience, from the mundane to the sublime,  and with the realtionship between that experience and the divine.
"Woman Wisdom" Found in Proverbs 1-9, and implicitly elsewhere, wisdom is personified as a female figure.  Speaks frequently in the first person and identifies herself, not just as the divine companion, but also as the source of order in society and success in life.
Royal Ideology The cluster of concepts that both derived from and supported and shaped the institution of the monarchy.   Part of the considerable influence the Davidic monarchy would have on the formation of biblical traditions (unsurprising, gvien that the Davidic monarchy lasted 400 years).
Zion (Mount Zion) Poetic term for Jerusalem.  As a result of the substitution of the Davidic covenant for the Sinai covenant, Mount Zion begins to replace Mount Sinai as "the locus of revelation". (Psalm 50. 2-3: Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth...")
United Monarchy The reigns of David and Solomon which lasted for most of the 10th century BCE. Had far-reaching consequences for both Judaism and Christianity.
Former Prophets First part of the section of the Hebrew Bible known as the 'Prophets'.  Includes the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings.  Features prophecy (divine interpretation).  Christian canon includes the books of Ruth, Chronicles, Ether... etc. here.  But Jewish canon has them as part of the "writings".
Temple of Solomon Temple of Jerusalem built by Solomon during a period of massive building projects.  Only about 30 feet by 100 feet.  Housed the ark of the covenant.
Second Zecariah Scholars date this part of Zecariah as belonging to the 5th century BCE.  Contains two parts, both with the heading "oracle", linked by theme of "day of the lord".
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.

A voice cries: "In the wildernes 		Second Isaiah, prophesying during time of exile as prophet of hope and comfort. He provides reassurance that YHWH has forgiven the exiles and will help them return home. Language about making a way in the wilderness comes from Exodus tradition—YHWH delivers His people.
Northern kingdom of Israel One of the kingdoms that flourished following the United Monarchy.  Ruled by a succession of dynasties until its conquest by the Assyrians in 722 BCE.  Probably home to the author responsible for the E (Elohim) source found in the Torah.
Ammonites and Moabites People of the kingdoms east of the Jordan river.  Biblical referred to as the people who descended from Lot (Abraham's nephew).  Frequently in conflict with the Israelites, though King David was said to have been descended from a Moabite.
SONG OF DEBORAH Considered one of the oldest parts of the Hebrew Bible (probably 12th century BCE).  Victory hymn.  Account of the victory of some of the northern tribes over the Canaanites.  found in Judges 5.2-31
…the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD.  So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan….The commander of his army was Sisera….Because he…had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to Blank- Deborah (the Judge). She speaks for God as a prophetess. God has her direct general Barak to go to battle, but he is hesitant to obey a woman, which costs him the credit for the success.
Day of the Lord First used in Amos, imortant term in prophetic and apocalyptic literature.  Primary imagery is militaristic; it is the day when Yahweh as teh divine warrior will come to fight against his enemies.  Eventually develops, in both Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature as the day of judgement, as in Malachi.
…the LORD spoke through _____.  He said to him, "Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet." And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot. Then the LORD said, "Just as my servant _____ has gone stripped and barefoot fo Blank- First Isaiah. Symbolic act by prophet. Nakedness of Isaiah symbolizes humiliation that will result if Israel allies itself with Egypt or other nations.
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! …I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will pu Ezekiel speaking, a prophet of Babylon exile, provides oracles of hope. Vision of the valley of dry bones, a metaphor for the restoration of Israel. God will breathe new life into them and return them to the promised land.
The LORD said to _____, “Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” Blank- Hosea. Wife of whoredom= Israel and its infidelity. Prophetic denouncement of apostasy, one of two main sins of Israel. Symbolic act of prophet meant to demonstrate YHWH’s meaning to His people. If Israel repents, YHWH will ‘marry’ the covenant community again.
So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. …Then _____ said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them Blank- Elijah, prophet in northern kingdom of Israel. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel (Northern Kingdom) not keeping covenant by worshipping Baal. Elijah challenges prophets of Baal to sacrificial showdown that YHWH wins. Denouncement of infidelity or apostasy: worshipping idols, one of Israel’s two main sins. The slaughter seems to be divinely sanctioned, as in holy war.
The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge'? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be Ezekiel speaking. Change from YHWH will no longer punish sons for the sins of their fathers (now individual responsibility) Therefore, exiles can have hope that their repentance will be accepted by YHWH. A newly faithful generation, they will be restored to the promised land.