Study Guide for the First Test (March 22)

Re 40 "The Prophets"

Short answer (30 points): I will pick one essay from the following list

1. Briefly describe what we can know about the social location and historical setting of the prophet Elijah. Briefly describe his prophecies, and how does a knowledge of his social location help us understand his prophecies better.
2. Briefly describe what we can know about the social location and historical setting of the prophet Amos. Briefly describe his prophecies, and how does a knowledge of his social location help us understand his prophecies better.
3. Briefly describe what we can know about the social location and historical setting of the prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem. Briefly describe his prophecies, and how does a knowledge of his social location help us understand his prophecies better.
4. Briefly describe what we can know about the social location and historical setting of the prophet Micah. Briefly describe his prophecies, and how does a knowledge of his social location help us understand his prophecies better.

Short Essays (30 points): I will list two essays from the following list on the test, and you must answer one of them

1. Briefly identify the following terms: a) hozeh "seer, visionary"; b) ro'eh "seer"; c) 'ish elohim "man of God"; and d) nabi' "prophet". How are these four "types" of prophets similar or different from each other. How are these typologies helpful in discussing Israelite prophecy? (hint: as you prepare for this essay, look esp. at the Peterson article in the Prophecy book and pp. 27-30 of Blenkinsopp.
2. It is commonly asserted that Israelite intermediaries did not use omens, necromancy, or signs like the intermediaries from the surrounding nations while making their prophecies (see the Harris textbook for one such claim). This claim is definitely true for some later Israelite and Judean prophets such as Isaiah of Jerusalem (cf. Isa 8:19-22). However, there is also evidence that during the earlier periods Israelite prophets did use "means" like the other nations to rely the divine will to humanity. Using examples from the Mari texts and the Hebrew Bible (especially the texts we discussed in class), briefly describe several instances where Israelite intermediaries who are described as devout Yahwists use these types of means to rely the divine word to the human realm. What is the significance of this phenomenon?
3. A concept of the divine council in important for any interpretation of the significance of the prophecies contained in 1 Kings 22 (Micaiah) or in Isaiah 6 (Isaiah of Jerusalem). This understanding is also helpful for understanding the validity of the prophets words. Using the following biblical references (Gen 1:26; Gen 11:7; Job 1:6ff; Ps 82; 1 Kng 22:19ff; Isa 6:1-13), briefly discuss how the motif of the divine council is used in the Hebrew Bible. How is this usage similar and different from other sacred writings in the ancient Near East? How is this understanding of the divine council helpful for us to understand the prophets' words and the validity of the prophets' words.
4. Part 1: Briefly describe what is meant by "social location?" Part 2: With regard to Israelite and Judean prophets, little is given in terms of their "social location." Sometime we are told that a particular prophet comes from a certain town and makes a living as a shepherd, etc., but we are not told specifically much about their professional background or setting. Using at least two of the following prophets as examples, describe how we can reconstruct the "social location" of these prophets and discuss how this information is helpful for understanding their prophecies.
5. Briefly describe the content and historical setting of the prophecies in Isaiah concerning Shear-jashub, Immanuel, and Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Why do we think that these prophecies originally took place several year apart and how do they each relate to the Syro-Ephramatic War?
6. Matthew (and other NT writers) reappropriates prophecies from Isaiah and change the original significance of the oracles. Using the prophecies of Immanuel (Isa 7:10-17) and the Wonderful Counselor (Isa 9:1-7) as examples, discuss how NT writers appropriate historically conditioned prophecies. Is this appropriation deceptive if the original meaning and significance of the passage is changed? Why or why not?

Required Essay (40 points)

The Mosaic and the Davidic Covenants have a major influence on Israel and Judah's prophets.

Part 1 (10 points): briefly describe the Davidic and Mosaic covenants.

Part 2 (30 points): Using the prophecies of Amos and Isaiah of Jerusalem as case studies, compare and contrast how these two prophets use or do not use these covenants. Make sure to include the following elements in your answer (but you do not need to separate these elements into sections nor necessarily treat them in this order):