A Literate Culture. Historical Utility of the Torah 3/14/2012. One of the few ancient states to preserve an account of its own origins Tanakh Torah

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Lecture 19 Ancient Israelites HIST 213 Spring 2012 A Literate Culture One of the few ancient states to preserve an account of its own origins Tanakh Torah first 5 books of the Bible Nevi im

1 Lecture 19 Ancient Israelites HIST 213 Spring 2012 A Literate Culture One of the few ancient states to preserve an account of its own origins Tanakh Torah first 5 books of the Bible Nevi im (Prophets) Ketuvim (Writings) Historical Utility of the Torah Problematic as an historical source numerous contradictions inconsistencies duplications differences in style and vocab sometimes in a single book Narratives were written long after the times they describe 1

Understanding the Bible as a literary source Open to textual criticism Whether historically accurate or not, still useful as a piece of literature to understand the cultures described by the bible

2 Understanding the Bible as a literary source Open to textual criticism Whether historically accurate or not, still useful as a piece of literature to understand the cultures described by the bible Understanding the Covenant in history Monotheism was a gradual process not completed until the 6 th C. BCE Most of the Mosaic Laws derive from after the Divided Monarchy Archaeology has turned up no proof of Exodus in Sinai Formation of the Israelite State Process similar to that of Urartu Assyrian expansion force disparate tribes to cohere into a political state pressure from expanding Philistine cities drove newly formed Israelite tribes to unite 2

3 Saul ( BCE) member of a small tribe of Benjamin selected to solve the problem we know nothing about him (except what s in the Bible) Biblical narrative calls Saul: nasi (prince) nagid (commander, crown prince) not malekh (king) failed to elimanate the Philistine threat dies in battle against them divergent traditions of his death in Samuel David ( BCE) ideal king during Israel s golden age first ruler to unite Israel starts as commander in Saul s army broke from Saul to become outlaw hired Philistine mercenaries to supplement his forces defeated other enemies was anointed king of Judah was Saul and his three sons die in battle Israel and Judah merge as one kingdom Israel Stories of David David could be ruthless in obtaining his objectives charismatic leader professional troops credited with capturing the independent town of Jerusalem small, unwalled town establishes a shrine to Yahweh built Israel into a state not just a chiefdom 3

Solomon (970-931 BCE) consolidated and developed the state started by David better bureaucratic organization 12 administrative districts major construction plan defense of trade routes

gates architecture Solomon and Foreign Affairs maintained good relations with Egypt entered into an alliance with King of Tyre may have supplied craftsmen for the temple of Yahweh in

4 Solomon ( BCE) consolidated and developed the state started by David better bureaucratic organization 12 administrative districts major construction plan defense of trade routes Archaeologists have found similarities in the 10 th C. gates architecture Solomon and Foreign Affairs maintained good relations with Egypt entered into an alliance with King of Tyre may have supplied craftsmen for the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem built fleet of ships for long-distance trade expeditions to Ophir and Africa Economic Ventures in Israel controlled all trade in vital geographical local rich agricultural land in Jezreel Valley taxes from conquered lands Israel s importance with Arabian spice trade folkloric account of Queen of Sheeba 4

End of the United Kingdom high taxes and corvee labor discontent in northern tribes with Solomon s religious practices foreign wives in a harem worship foreign gods in Jerusalem United Monarchy came

5 End of the United Kingdom high taxes and corvee labor discontent in northern tribes with Solomon s religious practices foreign wives in a harem worship foreign gods in Jerusalem United Monarchy came to an end with Solomon s death Kingdom of Israel representatives from the northern tribes demanded changes with new king Rehoboam refused 10 N. tribes refused to accept him territory took the name Israel chose Jeroboam as king only tribe of Benjamin remained loyal to Judah considered an idolater because of a golden bull in temples to Yahweh in Dan and Bethel Kingdom of Judah Jerusalem remained the capital of Judah relatively stable government under successor kings poorer of the two David s dynasty had deep religious backing 5

6 Political Apogee of Israel King Omri ( BCE) army commander that seized power during a time of civil war built a new fortified capital in Samaria recaptured the Transjordan rebuilt cities like Dan and Hathor marriage alliance his son Ahab daughter of King of Tyre Omri s son Ahab and Damascus allied against Assyria House of Omri Ahab continued to build Israel as one of the most powerful states in the region dedicated 2 nd most troops at the Battle of Qarqar largest # of chariots fought against Shalmaneser III at Qarqar (853 BCE) renewed prosperity new ashlar-built temples in the Phoenician style arch. evidence of Israelite aristocracy Yahweh or No Way Ahab remembered in the Bible as sacrilegious introduced foreign cults with its own temples, priests, prophets provoked a nationalistic response still worshipped Yahweh, however Prophet Elijah Yahweh alone movement from this clash grew the prophetic movement that would shape the Biblical narrative divine will could only be understood through intermediaries 6

Aramaean Domination Aramaean movement influenced entire region 796 BCE Assyria would conquer Damascus Aramaic becomes the lingua franca of the region disparity of wealth amoung rich and poor

Ramesses III defeated a group and settled them in mod.

7 Aramaean Domination Aramaean movement influenced entire region 796 BCE Assyria would conquer Damascus Aramaic becomes the lingua franca of the region disparity of wealth amoung rich and poor estate-owning aristocracy in Israel profited at the expense of individual farmers practice denounced by other Prophets The Philistines arrived on the scene as part of the Sea Peoples Peleset 1175 BCE Ramesses III defeated a group and settled them in mod. Israel-Palestine centered in Gaza, Ashkelon and Ashdod organized a confederation of cities until overthrown by David around 1000 BCE Philistine Society excellent craftsmen smiths made bronze and iron 12 th C. slag furnage expert in weaving and dying expert farmers olive oil and wine for export superb pottery Philistine bichrome anthropoid clay coffins mixture of cultural elements from Cyprus and Aegean 7

Philistine-Aegean Connection Religious Worship: originally

in Canaan Ba al or Ba al-zebub Dagon (male Canaanite god)

(Delphic associations) Aegean names found in graffito in

David Philistines retain control of coastal strip south of

Philistines major Philistine cities maintain their

part of the 8 th century Kingdom of Moab Small Transjordan

8 Philistine-Aegean Connection Religious Worship: originally a Aegean type goddess figure then a change with occupation in Canaan Ba al or Ba al-zebub Dagon (male Canaanite god) Asherat (Phoenician form of goddess Asherah) goddess Ptgyh (Delphic associations) Aegean names found in graffito in Gath Philistines post-david Even after being conquered by David Philistines retain control of coastal strip south of Joppa coastal rd in called way of the Land of the Philistines major Philistine cities maintain their independence until conquered by the Assyrians in the latter part of the 8 th century Kingdom of Moab Small Transjordan kingdom eastern side of Dead Sea on the main trade route from Gulf of Aqaba to Damascus 8

Victory Stele of Mesha King Mesha of Moab attributes his military

port of Kamish listed as one of many gods in the region by

take Nebo from Israel So I went by night and fought against it

I took from there the cult vessels of Yahweh and dragged them

9 Victory Stele of Mesha King Mesha of Moab attributes his military victories to Kemosh worshipped in Bronze Age city of Carchemish = port of Kamish listed as one of many gods in the region by Assyrians Victory Stele of Mesha The Kemosh said to me, Go and take Nebo from Israel So I went by night and fought against it till daybreak. I took from there the cult vessels of Yahweh and dragged them before Kemosh Now the king of Israel had fortified Jahaz but Kemosh took it away from him Captives from Israel cut beams for the Qarhoh Wall 9

Conquest and Settlement in Canaan

Mediterranean Jarmuth Lachish 3 Tyre Megiddo CANAAN PHOENICIA of Gilgal Ai Plains of Moab Juttah Eshtemoa 4 2 1 Kir-hareseth ARAM Conquest and Settlement in Canaan Conquest and Settlement in Canaan (1400-1375