Old Testament Quiz 5 (Major Prophets) exam questions fully solved(latest update)

Describe the historical and spiritual circumstances that led to the rise of classical prophecy. Why were the prophets an essential part of God's plan for His people? The Israelites had been led out of Egypt, wandered through the wilderness, come into the land they had been promised, and had several kings. They constantly strayed from God's law and were often morally corrupt. God personally chose them to proclaim his message to a people who desperately needed to hear it. What are some characteristics that all prophets shared? The prophets had hearts devoted to God. The prophets had a strong sense of calling. The prophets were messengers. The prophets were forthtellers. The prophets were foretellers. The prophets were creative people who used a variety of literary and oral techniques to communicate their messages. What parallels to Biblical prophecy did other nations have? How is Biblical prophecy unique? 1) Mari Prophecy: One of the basic categories of evidence regarding the existence of prophecy in other civilizations of the biblical world and its relationship to the biblical prophets. There were similarities but more so there were sharp contrasts. 2) Akkadian Prophecies: Akkadian texts from the first millennium B.C that simply list various political events of a particular historical period; their intention is somewhat vague. It seems like the writers wrote these texts to make them look like prophecy, although some scholars have suggested the texts are more closely related to apocalyptic literature or are examples of prophecy written after the event. 3) Omen Texts: Texts compiled during Babylonian period(200-1595B.C.) that reflected the belief that the whole world was a complex web of cause-and-affect relationships with a supernatural intention often lying behind an event. So the Omen Texts, saved and recorded certain events and if those events reoccurred that meant the gods were about to repeat their prior actions. What three major empires formed the historical backdrop for the classical prophets? 1) Assyria (powerful but spiritually corrupt) 2) Babylon (powerful but unstable) 3) Persia (powerful and better to the Israelites) Key Names and Terms: Assyrians, Babylonians, Mari prophecy, omen texts, Persians, vaticinum ex eventu 1) Assyrians: God's tool for punishing the Northern Kingdom, Israel 2) Babylonians: God's tool for punishing Judah 3) What do we know about Isaiah from the details in his book? What themes were most important to him? Lived in Jeru in 8th century BC. Married to a prophetess. Had two sons mentioned by name in Isaiah. received call from God when Uzziah died. Died during the reign of either Hezekiah or Manasseh. Preached God's righteousness, warned of the judgment on sin, and comforted his people with the knowledge of God's love, forgiveness, and the glory in store for those who were faithful to Him. The remnant was an important theme. 3 Major themes: 1) Judah under thee monarchy 2) Exile to Babylon 3) Return to Jeru and restoration after exile If you only had Isaiah 1-12, what could you learn about God's Messiah? He is King over all. He is beautiful in majesty and holiness. Against which nations did Isaiah pronounce judgment in chs. 13-23? Why did he take the time to deal with each one? Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia/Cush, Egypt, Sudan, and Tyre. Because God is Lord over all, the whole world is His and HIs concern is not limited to His own people. Identify the main details of chs. 36-39. What function do these chapters serve in the Book of Isaiah? They are a straightforward historical account. Provides a transition from the threat on Israel from Assyria to the time of Babylon domination. Note that Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, fell in 722 B.C. (the ZHB is inconsistent on the date) to Shalmaneser V, king of Assyria. Describe the content and major themes of Isaiah 40-66. Isaiah 40-55 addresses the exiles in Babylon, declaring that God still loves them and they must trust them. There is hope and comfort. Called "the Book of the Consolation of Israel." Also focuses on the coming "servant" who will carry out God's purposes (Jesus). God's salvation. What are the arguments some interpreters have given to support the multiple-author view of the Book of Isaiah? What evidence have others used to support the single-author view? 1) The proponents of the multiple authors view of Isaiah give as support 1. the time span of the material in Isaiah 2. the differences in subject matter and vocabulary in 1-39 and 40-66 3. different style and vocab 4. and the mention of King cyrus by name. 2) Proponents of the one author view 1. site Jewish and Christian tradition 2. the possibility of predictive prophecy 3. the use of Isaiah in the new testament Note that in 701 B.C. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invaded Judah including besieging the city of Lachish and shutting up Hezekiah, king of Judah, in Jerusalem "like a bird." How do the concepts of chs. 40 and 41 lay a foundation for the rest of the book? What key ideas occur there? told of God's coming glory and contrasted it with the people's helplessness. It encouraged the dishearten can God do all he says. How does Isaiah 40-66 develop the motif of the Lord's servant? What characteristics best describe the servant? The servant is God's instrument, fully yielded to his purpose. Comforter. Key Names and Terms: Deutero-Isaiah, Immanuel, Maher-shalal hash-baz, Merodach-baladan II, Remnant, Sennacherib, Shear-jashub, Tiglath-Pileser III, Trito-Isaiah 1) Deuteron-Isaiah: second Isaiah. Deutero is the view that believes Isaiah wrote 1-39 and an unnamed author wrote. 40-66. 2) Immanuel: name for the Messiah comes from Isaiah's prophecies, means "God with us." 3) Maher-shalal hash-baz: Isaiah's son, the child's birth is a sign of deliverance 4) Merodach-baladan II: king of Babylon 721-710; attempts to assert Babylonian independence from Assyria by sending delegation to Hezekiah. 5) Remnant: Theme in Isaiah, God will bring a remnant back to Israel. A reminder. A group of God's people that remain faithful to the Lord and with whom the Lord determines to continue his redemptive purposes. 6) Sennacherib: Threatened Jerusalem under king Hezekiah after conquering Lachish and other southern cities. But did not capture Jerusalem. 701. 7) Shear-jashub: name that means "a remnant shall return" 8) Tiglath-Pileser III: Came to power in 745-727 bc. Marked a great expansion for the Assyrians. 9) Trito-Isaiah: third Isaiah. Trito views Isaiah wrote 1-39 and 56-66, an unnamed prophet wrote 40-55. What does the Book of Jeremiah reveal about the prophet Jeremiah himself? Born in Anathoth, son of a priest. He loved the natural worlds, birds, trees, cycles of nature. These became more than natural things bc of his prophetic sight. At first he was a reluctant prophet. Discussed the trials of his office with God. Could not marry, sensitive person, had exceptional capacity for affection. This is a path of pain. Lonely prophet. Isolated and hated for his prophecies. Do you think Jeremiah had a right to complain to God so much? How do you think God used Jeremiah's complaints in the prophet's life? Yes. God used them. He understood what it was like to be shunned and ill-treated, but knew that God was always with him. Now, when all the leaders are taken into exile, Jer can speak with conviction of the God who will never forget them. What lessons did Jeremiah learn from the potter's house? Israel is like clay in the hand of the potter. God can do whatever He wants with them. He gets to choose to destroy or create. How did the people defend their actions during Judah's last days? Why did Jeremiah have such a hard time convincing them of their sin? They say they have not sinned (2:35). They thought they were invincible. They did not take their sins seriously. They are fools, have no understanding. They "dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. Peace, Peace, they say, when there is no peace." They are not ashamed of their detestable conduct. They thought that God would always protect Jeru as He had done in 701 bc His temple was there. Identify Judah's last five kings, and give a brief appraisal of each one's reign. 1) Josiah - Temple reformation, started passover again, good king. 2) Jehoahaz - Reigned 3 months (609 BC). Taken prisoner to Egypt by Pharaoh Neco 3) Jehoiakim - Reigned 11 years (609-598 BC). Died in Jerusalem 4) Johoiachin - Reigned 3 months (598 - 597 BC). Taken prisoner to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (with Ezekiel). Was later released from prison and ate at the king's table. 5) Zedekiah - Reigned 11 years (597--586 BC) as puppet king for Bab. Taken prisoner to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. He rebelled against Babylon. Fled when Nebi broke into Jeru, but was still captured and his eyes were gorged out and he was taken to Babylon. Note that in 612 B.C., Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, fell to the Babylonians and Medes. Note that in 587 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem, destroyed Yahweh's Temple, and exiled most of the people of Judah (the third exile and the exile being referenced whenever one speaks of "the exile"). The "new covenant" is considered Jeremiah's greatest contribution to theology. How does it differ from the older covenant (Abrahamic and Davidic)? The new covenant is one where God will take the initiative, toughing every human heart directly. It is a vision of the era of the spirit. Sealed eventually by Jesus' blood.