Judaism—main
influence actually through Islam and Christianity. In 1998, 14 million Jews, but 1.94 billion Christians (1 billion
Roman Catholics). Living faith—not a
theoretical discussion today, so the controversy level rises.
“God
of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”—Patriarchs.
1.
Monotheism: Shema—Deut. 6:4-5; Isa 40:15-26; 43:10-12;
44:6,8.
2.
Covenant: Ex. 19:3-8; 24:3-8; Origin of nationalism also. “Is this your final answer?” Cursings/blessings—sign on dotted line. Free will—Deut. 30:15-19-20. Chosen people idea: Lev. 26:12; Ex. 19:15. Burden & benefits from this status.
3.
Graven
Images: Prohibition not absolute: Angels made: Ex. 25:17+; Ark of covenant, v. 22; I Kings 6:23+, v. 29. Vs.
Amish interpretation. Not a total prohibition
on all religious art actually.
Implications for art—if prohibit it, make statues or pictures of
anything then?
Destroy Idols:
Ex. 20:4-5; Deut. 27:15; Why
does this exist?—Deut. 4:15
Taliban issue:
Buddhas blown up; Would Moses have approved? Deut. 34:13-17 Why? Deut. 12:3.
Iconoclasm:
Byzantine Empire, Puritan England.
4.
Sacred
name—Yahweh/Jehovah—YHWH or YHVH. Ex.
3:13-15. Burning bush
incident.
Personal covenant name of God—intervening God who visits His people,
always existed. Ex. 6:2-4. “Eternal” or “Ever-Living” best single-word
translations in English, but connotations make God sound remote. “He causes to be,” “He exists,” “He who is,”
even “Was—is—will continue to be.”
Lev. 24:6, 11:
Ambiguity in the word (“nachav”) “blaspheme.” Declare distinctly or blaspheme.
Garden/hedge analogy concerning the written/oral
law’s relationship. Overkill on Gossip
article by Jew in Imprimus: Don’t say
anything positive about neighbor either.
Overkill on this law since wanted to be safe also.
After Ezra & Nehemiah, 450 b.c.,--Ave. people
prohibited, then priests, then high priest only on day of atonement. Simon (300-270 b.c. last).
Abraham
(Abram) and Sarah (Sarai)
Isaac
& Ishmael: Who’s the legitimate
heir? Bible vs. Quran.
Isaac
& Rebekah
Esau
& Jacob
Jacob: Married Leah when tricked by Laban,
uncle; Preferred Rachel, but she was
initially childless. Bilhah, maid,
given to Jacob as wife by Rachel.
Zilpah, maid, given to Jacob as wife by Leah. Sisterly jealously in a polygamous relationship: Story surrounding the birth of Issachar,
Gen. 30:14-18.
Jacob renamed “Israel.” Perseverer with God.
12
sons: Two most important, Judah (4th
by Leah) and Joseph (1st by Rachel). Scepter & Birthright blessing issue. Reuben, affair with Bilhah, cost him
preeminence.
Northern
vs. southern Kingdom: Jer. 3:6-12.
Analogy
of adulterous wife=Israel.
Obelisk
of Shalmaneser III of Assyria, Jehu bows down.
Messianic
kingdom: Isa. 61:1-3, 35:5-6. UN statue based on Isa. 2:1-4. Isa. 11:1-9, 9:6; Isa. 65:17-23. Isa. 13:1+
punishment first.
Unity
of Isaiah: 6:11-13 a prediction, yet by
“first Isaiah” about Judah’s devastation in 587 b.c. “Prophecy after fulfillment,” a priori bias.
Prophets
vs. own nation: OT very critical of
chosen people: Ironic? Much more so than even Greeks of
selves. Burdens of being chosen!
Four
basic charges: 1. Idolatry.
2. Neglect, oppression of poor,
weak in community 3. Sexual sin,
promiscuity. 4. Crimes of violence
5. hypocrisy. Isa. 1:13+, Amos
5:21+, Isa. 23:13.
Isa.
1:1+ Summary indictment. Jer. 11:1+
Basic theme. Eze. 23:1+, 16:1+
Marriage analogy. Jer. 10:1+ detailed attack on idolatry. Eze. 14:1+
Attack on idolatry. Jer. 19:5-6,
32:35: human sacrifice condemned. Jer. 22:13+, 34:1+, oppression of the
poor. Isa. 10:1+, Amos 5: Jer. 23:9+; Jer. 9:1+ vs. lying, adultery.
Baal: god of storm & rain. Why would farmers/peasants worship such a
god?
Babylonian
Captivity: After Jerusalem taken 3
times by Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar (604 b.c., 597 b.c., 587/6 b.c.). 70 years in exile. Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10.
Jeconiah taken into exile, 597 b.c.
Ezra
2:1+; 1:5—return of exiles, thanks to Cyrus of Persia as influenced by Jehovah.
525
b.c., first group under Zerubbabel;
Ezra, 458 b.c.; Nehemiah, c. 444 b.c., Cupbearer to Artaxerxes; Temple rebuilt by 515 b.c.
Ezra: systematized Judaism—scribe. End of idolatry as a major internal Jewish
problem: Had learned lesson!
Antiochus IV Eppiphanes (R. 175-65 b.c.) I Maccabees 1: Attacked Judaism in the name of Hellenization, ultimately failed. Scrolls of OT to be destroyed, pagan altars set up, those observing law to be executed. Women having sons circumcised to be executed, with babies hung from necks.
Judas’
Rededication: “festival of lights,” 8 days.
Hasmonanaean
family vs. Selucids, win independence.
Rome
in 161 b.c., signed treat to aid them vs. Seleucids, renewed in 134 b.c. Pompey, 64 b.c., arrives, sides with John
Hyrcanus vs. brother, Aristobulus.
After taking temple area, Pompey inspected it—surprised that no statue
of God in Holy of Holies. Ends
independent kingship among Jews.
Herod
the Great (37-4 b.c.): Cruel, yet
valuable to Rome for keeping Jews in line.
God diplomat and soldier. Puppet
king of Rome—not Jewish but Idumean.
Rebuilt the Temple (46 year project).
Initially rather careful of Jewish national feelings, but became
increasingly suspicious of Jews wanting to revolt. Killed wife, Mariame I, then two sons by him, Alexander and
Aristobulus. Had had 10 marriages, 15
children, succession struggle, two children Tetrarchs, one to be the king
(Archelaus). Built fortresses, central
bureaucracy, many good buildings, kept Romans from entering the Temple. Date of Jesus’ birth was the same as the
year of Herod’s death.
Jewish
revolts: 66-70 A.D., Romans distracted
by own civil war, delays retaliation.
132-35 Bar Kocheba, wipes out Roman legion caught by surprise. Under Trajan, 115 A.D.—Cyrene, 220,000
Greeks killed, Cyprus, 240,000; Egypt, many more; sawed many apart. Undermines Trajan’s war vs. Parthia.
Roman
toleration policy (why Greeks, Syrians resented Jews): Didn’t have to worship gods of Rome,
emperors, didn’t have to go into Roman army.
But Jews zealous, wanted independence again, dreamed of conquering
Messiah getting rid of Romans.
Hadrian
attacks Jewish law—law vs. circumcision helped promote 132 A.D. revolt.
Imported
gentiles, sought assimilation, built a shrine for Jupiter Capitolinus where old
Temple had been in Jerusalem, where Dome of the Rock is today. No Jew allowed into “Jerusalem,” under
penalty of death.
Tacitus: estimated 600,000 Jewish dead from the A.D.
70 revolt. Dio Cassius—580,000 Jews
killed in 2nd revolt. “All
of Judea became almost a desert.”
Vespasian (r. 69-79 A.D.) high priesthood and Sanhedrin abolished. Hadrian outlawed Sabbath observance—cause of
gentile Christians switching to Sunday.
Special tax put on Jews to pay for pagan temple in Jerusalem, replacement
for old Temple tax. Only Jews had to
pay it!
Lack
of tolerance problem, combined with zealousness, vs. pagans’ “Live and let
live” approach, mutually exclusive nature of truth idea passed on to Christians
and Muslims.
Pharisees,
Saduccees, Essenes—1st century A.D. sects of Judaism. Multiple “Judaisms.”
Talmud—allows
Judaism to adapt to new circumstances by creating a legal system open to
amendment.
Mishnah—oral
law written down c. 70-200 A.D, at Jamnia by Jonanan ben Zakkai. New seat of learning for students &
teachers of the Law. Canon clearly set
out to exclude NT and apocrypha.
Halakah
vs. Haggai: Freedom in exhortation,
interpretation of law in latter. Former
rigid, strict laws regulating behavior, not to change. Mishnah mostly made up of.
Talmud: “Learning.”
Midrash: “To seek, explore, or interpret”—commentary
on OT.