Old Testament: Key Concepts and Figures

• These flashcards cover key concepts and figures from the Old Testament, focusing on the Torah (Pentateuch) and the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.
• Terms, definitions, and key themes are presented.

Tower of Babel vs. Abraham

• The Tower of Babel story is the direct opposite of Abraham's beliefs.

Apocrypha

• The word "Apocrypha" means hidden.

Canon

• "Canon" originally meant "reed," but later signified a ruler or measuring stick.

Leningrad Codex

• The Leningrad Codex is the oldest complete manuscript of the Hebrew Bible.

Samaritan Pentateuch

• The Samaritan Pentateuch is the Samaritans' version of the Torah.

Septuagint

• The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.

Targumim

• Targumim are Aramaic paraphrases of the Old Testament.

Vulgate

• The Vulgate is a Latin translation originally done by Jerome.

Dead Sea Scrolls

• The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of written scrolls containing nearly all of the Old Testament.
• They were found in a cave near the Dead Sea in the late 1940s.

Masoretes

• Masoretes were Jewish scholars active between 500-1000 CE.
• They secured the text of the Hebrew Bible and added vowels to prevent later changes during copying.

The Fertile Crescent

• The Fertile Crescent is a geographical area of fertile land in the Middle East that stretches in a broad semicircle from the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates.

Covenant

• A covenant is a treaty or testament, representing a relationship established between God and His people.
• The word covenant refers to a treaty with God and His people that is unbreakable.
• It is an instrument God uses to reveal Himself.

Fixing of the Torah, Nevi'im, and Kethuvim

• The Torah was fixed by 400 BC.
• The Nevi'im was fixed by 200 BC.
• The Kethuvim was fixed by 100 AD.

Books in the Hebrew and Protestant Bibles

• The Hebrew Bible has 24 books in the Old Testament.
• The Protestant Bible has 39 books in the Old Testament.

Books in the Roman Catholic Bible

• The Roman Catholic Bible has 39 books in the Old Testament, plus the Apocrypha.

Three-Fold Division of the Hebrew Bible

• Torah: The law; material that Moses received and is considered authoritative.
• Nevi'im: The prophets (former and latter prophets).
• Kethuvim: The writings (emeth, magilloth, post-exile); council of Jamnia.

Language of the Old Testament

• The majority of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew.

Meaning of Torah

• "Torah" means "instruction" and is translated as "law" in English.

Pentateuch

• "Pentateuch" means "five scrolls."

Other Names for Torah

• Other names for the Torah include "book of the law" and "law of Moses."

Major Unifying Theme of the Torah

• The major unifying theme of the Torah, found in Genesis 12:1-3, is God's covenant promise to Abram.

Three-Fold Promise to Abraham

• God's promise to Abraham included a great nation (land and descendants), a great name, and blessings.

Division Within the Torah

• The Torah divides into two parts: Genesis 1-11 and Genesis 12-50.

Authorship of the Torah

• Moses is traditionally attributed with the authorship of the Torah.

Classic Documentary Hypothesis

• Classic Documentary Hypothesis was developed by Julius Wellhausen.
• It posits that four major sources (JEDP) were used to compose and edit the Torah over many years.

Genesis Titles

• English title: means "beginnings" and comes from the Septuagint.
• Jewish title: Also means "beginnings" and is derived from the first words of the Genesis text.

Enuma Elish

• Enuma Elish is the Babylonian account of creation.

Elohim

• Elohim is the Hebrew word for God as Creator.

Protevangelium

• The Protevangelium is the concept that enmity between the offspring of the serpent and the woman will eventually result in the death of the serpent.

Gilgamesh Epic

• The Gilgamesh Epic is a Babylonian flood account similar to the story of Noah.

Adam and Eve

• Adam and Eve were the first man and woman.
• Eve was created from a rib taken from Adam, and Adam was made out of dust, into whom God breathed life.

Abraham

• God willed Abraham to "leave" his homeland.

Isaac

• Isaac was the son of Abraham.

Jacob

• Jacob was the son of Isaac.

Joseph

• Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob.

Royal Land Grant Treaty

• A king guarantees land and offers blessings (tax relief) for obedience.
• It includes dynasty, where land stays in the family.

Circumcision

• Circumcision signified Abraham's covenant with God.

Basic Outline of Genesis

• Genesis 1-11 covers primeval history.
• Genesis 12-50 covers patriarchal history.

Purpose of Genesis

• The purpose of Genesis is to tell how the story of the Covenant began.

Understanding the Image of God

• An idol represented the God one worshipped.

Impact of the Fall

• The Fall of Adam and Eve directly affected image-bearing and the covenant by intensifying violence and rebellion against God.

Noah and the Flood

• Judgment: God undoing creation.
• Grace: God preserving His image through Noah.
• Result: covenant is reestablished.

Significance of Covenant Ceremony in Chapter 15

• To show Gods Authority.

Tower of Babel vs. Abrahamic Covenant in Chapter 12

• Babel: the self-willed attempt to make a great name.
• Abraham: the God-willed decision to make a great name.

Underlying Theme to Challenges to Convent

• God provides a way of the covenant to continue.

Climax to Challenges to the Covenant

• The climax was the sacrifice of Isaac.

Jacob Wrestling with God

• Name Change: Signified God's control of his promise.
• Wrestling with God: Signified that God reassures Jacob of the covenant blessing.

Significance of the Joseph Story

• To prove that God finds a way for the covenant to continue.

Exodus

• Exodus means "the way out."

Yahweh

• Yahweh means "I am who I am,"

Moses

• Moses was the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites from Egypt across the Red Sea on a journey known as the Exodus.

Mt. Sinai/Horeb

• This is where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

Passover

• Passover commemorates Yahweh's deliverance of his people from bondage in Egypt.

Feast of Unleavened Bread

• The Feast of Unleavened Bread accompanied the Passover.
• It served as a reminder of the great haste in which the Israelites departed Egypt.

Dedication of Firstborn to the Lord

• Dedication of firstborn accompanied the passover.
• It served as a reminder of Yahweh's mercy in sparing the Israelite firstborn during the original Passover.

The "Ten Words"

• This is a summary of law based on covenant.
• Law is how a person already in covenant with God should live.

Synonyms for the "Ten Words"

• The "Ten Words" are also known as the Ten Commandments or the Decalogue.

Covenant Code/Book of the Covenant

• The Covenant Code/Book of the Covenant refers to specific laws based on the "Ten Words."

Suzerain-Vassal Treaty

• The vassal (lesser king) had to obey stipulations to guarantee protection from the suzerain (greater king).

Tabernacle

• The Tabernacle was built at Lord's instruction from a pattern shown to Moses.
• It was built from offerings of people.
• It symbolized the localization of God's presence with Israel and a visual symbol that he was their God.

Possible Dates for the Exodus

• early date - 1450 BC.
• late date - 1250 BC.

Major Events in the Book of Exodus

• Major events includes, Deliverance of God's People, Covenant between God and Israel, and God's Presence with Israel.

Purpose of Exodus

• To explain how the Israelites became slaves in Egypt and how God delivered them from Egyptian oppression.

Traditional Route for the Exodus

• The Southern Route was the traditional route.

Theological Significance of the "Ten Plagues"

• The "Ten Plagues" demonstrate the battle between God and false gods.
• The concept of the "First Born" shows that justice being reiterated from Pharaoh killing the firstborn males of Israel.

Significance of the Sinai Convent

• The Sinai Covenant is the communion with God.

Significance of Covenant Ceremony in Ch 24

• The covenant ceremony lead to full communion with God and that God will dwell among his people.

Purpose of the Tabernacle

• Its served as the localization of God's presence with Israel and a visual symbol that He was their God.

Significant About the Golden Calf Incident (chs 32-34)

• Moses breaks the tablets to convey that the people had broken the covenant.
• Additionally, Moses restores order, re-ascends the mountain, and pleads again on behalf of the people.

Leviticus

• Leviticus pertains to the Levites.

Holiness Code

• The Holiness Code is the instruction on how to relate to the world as God's holy people.

Spatial and Sanctuary Gradation

• The Holiness of people and things is dependent on the relationship to Holiness of God.

Apodictic Law

• Apodictic Law is a direct command that is unconditional and universal.

Casuistic Law

• Casuistic law provides example cases that are conditional and specific as a guideline.

Kippur

• Kippur is the removal of sin (expiation).

Sabbath Day

• The Sabbath day is a weekly ordinance that reminded Israel that Yahweh was the Creator.
• It provided them with a day of rest and an opportunity to reflect on the holiness of God.

Sabbath Year

• Every 7th year, the land was to lie fallow, and the socially disadvantaged could glean from the land.

Jubilee Year

• Every 50th year, along with Sabbath year sanctions, property reverted back to the families of its original owners.

Purpose of Leviticus

• Leviticus instructs the sinful Hebrew community in holiness so that they might be able to live with & worship a holy God.
• goal : holiness.
• need : forgiveness.

How Holiness Impacted the Community?

• Holiness impacted the community through Gradation (sacrifices) and Fellowship (communion with God).

Overall Goal of the Sacrificial System

• The overall goal of the sacrificial system was full communion and worship of God.

Basic Sacrifices

• Basic sacrifices include: burnt offering, sin/guilt offering, grain offering, and fellowship offering.

Purpose of Priests

• Present the people in the presence of God by offering sacrifices.

Purpose of Clean and Unclean Law

• Prevent the unclean from coming in contact with and contaminating the clean and holy.

Purpose of Yom Kippur

• A day to commemorate the removal of sin and guilt as God gives forgiveness.

Purpose of the "Holiness Code"

• Reminded the Israelites of the importance of being Holy in every aspect of life.

Numbers

• Named after the 2 numberings in the book.

Priestly Blessing

• The blessing used by Priests.

Nazirite Vow

• No fruit of vine.
• No razor on head.
• Not to touch dead body.

Joshua and Caleb

• The two "spies" that showed faith in God by saying God will help them re-conquer the promised land.

Balaam

• A non-Israelite "seer".

Balak

• King of Moab.
• Intended to have Balaam pronounce a curse on Israel, but instead, he pronounces a curse on Moab.

Explore key concepts and figures from the Old Testament. Focus is on the Torah (Pentateuch) and the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. Review terms, definitions, and key themes.