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First Temple Period
Fall 2006
Instructor: Douglas Hamp
e-mail:
doughamp@calvarychapel.com
Phone: 714-979-4422 Ext 3244
Home: 714-966-9322
Class Objective:
In 586 the southern kingdom of Judah fell at the hands of
the Babylonians and were led away captive. The objective of this class to
explore the historical and religious events that led up to God giving up His
people to being conquered and then briefly examine the 70 years following in
their captivity. We will focus primarily on the Southern Kingdom of Judah and
use 2 Chronicles as our timeline of events.
Required reading:
First Temple Timeline
READER 1: Hebrew Extra-Biblical Texts
READER 2: Canaanite Gods and Goddesses In The First Temple
Period
READER 3: Material Culture
and Daily Life
READER 4: Archeology City of David
READER 5: David
READER 6: The Temple
READER 7: Music
READER 8: Solomon’s Kingdom
READER 9: Hezekiah
READER 10: Deportation
READER 11: Lachish Letters
READER 12: Life in Exile
Recommended Sites for investigation:
http://www.bibleplaces.com (high quality pictures)
http://www.bible-history.com (history, charts, maps)
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org (on the Hebrew language and culture)
http://www.kchanson.com/ANCDOCS/westsem/westsem.html (Semitic texts)
Class Evaluation:
- 20% Attendance and participation in class discussion
- 80% Class research project(s) and presentation(s)
Class
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Topic
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Reading due
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1 |
Introduction to Period,
Time periods, Books of Bible, kings, from theocracy to monarchy to
destruction of Temple |
Timeline |
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2 |
Hebrew
Extra-Biblical Inscriptions:
Providing external evidence of the truth of the Bible |
READER 1 |
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3 |
Idolatry and Religious Syncretism:
in the North and South, decline from Yahwistic religion to eventual
paganism.
The roles of different gods in the
popular culture of Israel: Molech, Ashtoreth (origin of names), Baal,
Chemosh, etc. Kuntillet Ajrud |
READER 2 |
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4 |
Material Culture and Daily Life:
·
What was life
like for the average person in the First Temple period?
·
What was their
food like?
·
What activities
did they do on a daily basis? |
READER 3 |
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5 |
Establishment/capture of Jerusalem/city
of David
·
What was the
former capitol and why the need to establish a new capitol?
·
How did David and
his men conquer the city? What archeological evidence supports the
Biblical account? |
READER 4
I Chronicles 11:4-9 |
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6 |
From Tabernacle to Temple:
·
David’s role in
both
·
David as
theological leader/ type of Messiah
·
Archeological
support of life of David (Egyptian Inscription)
- Music in
Ancient Israel religion and life
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READER 5
I Chronicles 15-18;
21-29 |
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7 |
The Temple
Edifice
·
Why that
Location?
·
Description of
the Temple and Temple furniture
·
Centrality of
Temple in Daily Israelite Life
·
Archeological
evidence
·
Difference
between first and second Temples |
READER 6
READER 7 |
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8 |
Solomon’s
Kingdom: His Building Programs, and Trade Activities
- Life in
Solomon’s kingdom
- the extent of
his borders (fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham?)
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READER 8
2 Chronicles 1- 9
Ecclesiastes |
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9 |
House of Omri;
- Ahab & Jezebel
- Relation to the
Southern Kingdom
- Importance of
Mesha Stone
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1 Kings 16-22 |
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10 |
The Prophets Of
The First Temple and Their Calling:
- Nature of the
calling; types of prophets – what was a prophet?
- the prophets’
impact on political and social life
- Schools of
Prophets
- Denunciation of
Kings after Solomon
- How do they
relate to Isaiah?
- What kings
reigned during their ministry?
- Overview of
Northern and Southern prophets
- Their
message (1-2 sentences)
- When and
which kings
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2 Kings 1-13
Micah
Joel |
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11 |
Isaiah the
prophet:
- The chronology
of events (Bible Dictionary)
- The Kings in
the book: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah
- Major events:
Hezekiah’s tunnel and wall, Assyrian threat etc.
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Isaiah 1 - 39 |
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12 |
Religious reforms of Jehoshaphat,
Hezekiah, and Josiah:
·
Examine the cycle
of apostasy and repentance and its impact on Judah’s ultimate demise |
II Chronicles 17-36
II Kings 14-23:25
READER 9 Hezekiah |
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13 |
Messianic Expectation
During The First Temple:
·
Not what
composite do we find, but what did they understand?
·
What would some
one back then understand the messiah to be?
·
What did they
know from Scripture? |
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14 |
The Deportations
to Babylon
The Last Prophets of
the Fall: Jeremiah in Judah, Ezekiel in Babylon
- What is the big
message of each?
- The events of
each deportation
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READER 10
Deportation
Jeremiah Ezekiel
1-24
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15 |
The Fall of
Jerusalem
·
The events in the
final siege of Jerusalem
·
The destruction
of the temple |
Lamentations
READER 11 Lachish |
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16 |
Life in Captivity
- The Prophets of
Captivity: Ezekiel and Daniel
- What are
the implications of his vision of the Shechinah leaving the
Temple? When does it return?
- What was life
like in captivity?
- Housing
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Economically
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Linguistically
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Religiously
-
Vocationally
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READER 12 Exile
II Kings 23:26 - 25 |
Student Presentations
Instructions:
There is a lot of material and not everything can be
covered in the time that we have. Therefore, our objective is to give an
overview of the important people, events, ideologies, beliefs and customs of the
First Temple Period and what relation they had to the destruction of the
First Temple in 586. As you do your research, keep in mind: how does this
person event relate or in what way does he/she/it contribute to the destruction
of the Temple?
Preparing your lecture:
You have a lot of freedom in preparing your lecture. I
have listed below ideas in relation to what we will be reading. You are free to
incorporate more into your talk than what is listed below. Keep in mind that
you will need to leave a few minutes for questions and discussion.
- Research must be done in MS Word (or equivalent) and
shared electronically (memory stick)
- Topic should be well researched and in depth.
- If possible, show Scripture parallels or allusions
relevant to topic.
- Try to integrate your topic with the other issues that
we have already discussed
- You may “borrow” themes and research from previous
(or later) discussions if it is also applicable to your talk. It is ok
to have some overlap in the weekly talks.
Grading:
Since there is no other assignment
for this class, it is important that serious time and energy be invested in each
presentation.
Guidelines:
o
Outline of
topic(s)
o
Well
researched and clearly presented.
o
Able to
handle questions on topic
o
Have fun!
This is good stuff that we are studying.
Assuming the above are met, you
should get an A in this class. Don’t worry, I am not looking for “amazing
public speaking skills” – just communicate with us what you learned.
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