Posted by Naama Baumgarten on January 22, 2008 under History | 
In approximately 930 B.C.E., the short-lived United Monarchy, which ruled over all the tribes of Israel, was divided into two kingdoms: Israel in the north, led by Jeroboam son of Nebat, and Judea in the South, led by Rehoboam the son of Solomon. The two kingdoms differed in cultural and religious aspects, the Judean faith’s main place of worship being in the Jerusalem temple, while Jeroboam established temples in Bethel and Dan in which he placed golden calves.
The Book of Kings presents us with the history of the two kingdoms, always separate and distinct. The northern kingdom is considered, in biblical terms, to be a sinful institution, while the southern kingdom is also generally not held in high moral regard, although some kings were considered worthy religious leaders. The two kingdoms were often involved in mutual conflicts such as the war raged by the Aramites against the Israelite king Baasha at the request of the Judean king Asa. However, there were also times of military treaties, as in the days of Jehoshaphat of Judea and Ahab of Israel, who fought together against the Aramites.
The Israelite kingdom was destroyed by Shalmaneser III king of Assyria, in 722 B.C.E. Following the fall of the kingdom, some refugees who escaped exile fled to Jerusalem, which was attacked by the Assyrians but withstood their attack some years later (701). The Judean kingdom was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.
Despite their differences and disputes, the two kingdoms were always considered sister kingdoms, sharing the same language (though there were two distinct dialects) and a variation of the same religion. The cultural connections between the two led to joint prophecy: Hosea, of the eighth century, who preached to both populations; Amos, who was from Judea but preached to the people of Samaria, and more.
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Posted by Naama Baumgarten on January 3, 2008 under Literature |
The Book of Psalms
The Psalms, traditionally attributed to King David, are a unique collection of 150 (or in the Septuagint, 151) different short poems, which vary in their genres and purposes. These include songs of praise and thanksgiving, laments, prayers, liturgies, reflections of wisdom concerning different aspects of life, and songs concerning the kingship of Israel and other national matters. There is evidence that some Psalms were used as prayers in the Jerusalem Temple, accompanied by musical instruments, and the varied works have been useful throughout the centuries as prayers expressing an abundance of situations which may come upon believers. The call “Praise the Lord! Give thanks to YHWH for he is good, for his mercy endures forever!” (Psalms 106:1) has probably been in constant use for over two millennia, and the entire Book of Psalms is central in the religious practices of the Bible-based religions: Judaism and Christianity.
In correspondence with the Pentateuch, the Psalms are divided into five books (Psalms 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150), thus equating the five books of Moses and their importance to the five books of David. The end of each book is marked by a praise of “Amen” or “Hallelujah.”
While reading the Psalms, we can learn much about the religious beliefs and poetic conventions that were current when they were written. In terms of beliefs, they present a happy man as one who delights on the study of Scripture and the Lord’s teachings, they glorify the God of Israel and the world He created, and mention the belief in a chosen Messiah. As for the characteristics of poetry, they teach us about the way a poetic line is built, the customary rhythm, and parallelism: an ancient convention which was popular throughout the Ancient Near East, as for example in Psalm 33:10: “YHWH dismisses the counsel of the nations // frustrates the thoughts of the peoples.”
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Tags: Ancient Near East, Christianity, Jerusalem temple, Judaism, King David, Messiah, praise, prayers, scripture, thanksgiving, The Book of Psalms, words of wisdom
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Posted by Naama Baumgarten on January 2, 2008 under History |
The patriarchal age is one of great importance for the people of Israel: it begins with Abraham’s journey, a daring voyage to a strange land led by faith in a then new, single God, who said unto him: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). At a late age of 100, 25 years after having arrived in Canaan, Abraham and Sarah give birth to their son, Isaac, and he and Rebecca then give birth to Esau and Jacob. Jacob, Rachel, Lea and their handmaids give birth to twelve sons. Jacob is renamed Israel, and the family started by Abraham and distinguished by the monotheistic faith starts to become a nation, comprised of twelve tribes. The land of Canaan, to which God led Abraham, becomes the land of the people of Israel.
Historically, the patriarchal age is believed to have begun some time between the 21st and the 15th century B.C.E., and to have lasted for a few hundred years. At this time, the patriarchs were foreigners in the land of Canaan, then inhabited by many small nations. Having originated in Mesopotamia (current Iraq; Abraham’s native city was in the southern part of this region), Mesopotamian traditions and practices, such as dedication of holy places when a revelation has taken place, are described in the Bible as part of the patriarchs’ every-day life. The patriarchs also distinguished themselves from Canaanite practices and social ties by their insistence that the sons of the family not marry local women, and marry only members of the extended family who resided in Haran (current south-east Turkey). This distinction from the Canaanite nations is later apparent in various biblical decrees against intermarriage.
The patriarchs are not only the genealogical fathers of the nation: they are also the first prophets and the founders of the covenant between God and the people of Israel.
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In approximately 930 B.C.E., the short-lived United Monarchy, which ruled over all the tribes of Israel, was divided into two kingdoms: Israel in the north, led by Jeroboam son of Nebat, and Judea in the South, led by Rehoboam the son of Solomon. The two kingdoms differed in cultural and religious aspects, the Judean faith’s main place of worship being in the Jerusalem temple, while Jeroboam established temples in Bethel and Dan in which he placed golden calves.
