Question 1

What are some of the common themes in the Jewish novellas? What was the purpose of these works?

Accepted Answer

These works provide imaginative and entertaining narrative content that make specific theological or social points. Common themes include the status of foreigners among the people of God, how to live faithfully in a foreign land, and YHWH's authority and sovereignty over all the nations.

Question 2

Put the book of Ruth in dialogue with Ezra/Nehemiah. How do the perspectives presented in each book differ? Are there areas in which they are agreed?

Accepted Answer

Ruth makes the argument that not only those who are blood descendants of Jacob can be members of the Israelite covenant. In contrast to Ezra/Nehemiah, which argue strongly against intermarriage, Ruth argues that intermarriage can sometimes work out quite well. The books do agree, however, on the need to follow the dictates of Torah and obey the covenant in other respects.

Question 3

The book of Jonah prominently features humor and irony throughout the story. Give a few examples of humorous or ironic elements in Jonah and discuss how they contribute to the basic message of the book of Jonah.

Accepted Answer

Students might bring up any of the following: (i) the double entendre of Jonah's message itself, which can either mean "Nineveh will be overthrown" or "Nineveh will repent"; (ii) the fact that the one time an Israelite prophet preaching a message of judgment is heeded is not by Israelites but by the hated Assyrians; (iii) the ridiculous idea of clothing all the Ninevite animals in sackcloth and those animals fasting; (iv) the humorous story of the worm; (v) the final line of the book, "and many cattle"; (vi) the idea that YHWH's concern extends even to the cattle of Nineveh, but because they are saved, Israel is doomed shortly afterwards.

Question 4

Discuss the role of women in the Jewish novellas. How are they depicted overall?

Accepted Answer

Women are featured protagonists in the b

Question 5

David is presented as a one-dimensional figure in Chronicles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

One of the main messages of Daniel 1-6 is that

Accepted Answer

A)  the main god of Babylon was actually just another way of referring to YHWH. 
B)  Jews could continue to remain faithful to YHWH even outside their homeland. 
C)  God was waiting on the Jews to become faithful before he would restore them. 
D)  the messiah would soon come to shatter the Babylonians. 
A)  the main god of Babylon was actually just another way of referring to YHWH. 
B)  Jews could continue to remain faithful to YHWH even outside their homeland. 
C)  God was waiting on the Jews to become faithful before he would restore them. 
D)  the messiah would soon come to shatter the Babylonians.

Question 7

The book of Ruth is an especially important voice on the subject of ____________ in the postexilic era.

Accepted Answer

A)  exogamy 
B)  monogamy 
C)  polygamy 
D)  adultery 
A)  exogamy 
B)  monogamy 
C)  polygamy 
D)  adultery

Question 8

The Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther are collectively known as the Five

Accepted Answer

A)  Scrolls. 
B)  Novellas. 
C)  Writings. 
D)  Lovers. 
A)  Scrolls. 
B)  Novellas. 
C)  Writings. 
D)  Lovers.

Question 9

In Jewish tradition, Chronicles is part of the

Accepted Answer

A)  Writings. 
B)  Pentateuch. 
C)  Minor Prophets. 
D)  Major Prophets. 
A)  Writings. 
B)  Pentateuch. 
C)  Minor Prophets. 
D)  Major Prophets.

Question 10

Ahijah and Iddo are

Accepted Answer

A)  prophets. 
B)  kings. 
C)  priests. 
D)  governors. 
A)  prophets. 
B)  kings. 
C)  priests. 
D)  governors.

Question 11

Esther becomes queen of Persia because

Accepted Answer

A)  the original queen dies in a plague. 
B)  the original queen refuses to appear before the king. 
C)  the original queen runs away with her children. 
D)  she was more beautiful than the original queen. 
A)  the original queen dies in a plague. 
B)  the original queen refuses to appear before the king. 
C)  the original queen runs away with her children. 
D)  she was more beautiful than the original queen.

Question 12

In Hebrew, the word "feet" sometimes refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  other especially smelly parts of the body. 
B)  genitals. 
C)  hands. 
D)  a person's trusted horse. 
A)  other especially smelly parts of the body. 
B)  genitals. 
C)  hands. 
D)  a person's trusted horse.

Question 13

The book of Esther can best be described as a secular rather than a religious work. Pick a side of this resolution and argue for it using as many specific examples from the text as possible. Keep in mind that the most persuasive arguments anticipate (and answer) counterarguments.

Accepted Answer

Students should address the fact that Go

Question 14

Discuss Chronicles' discussion of David. How does it differ from the representations of David in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings? What are the reasons for these differences?

Accepted Answer

Chronicles greatly sanitizes the story o

Question 15

Chronicles can be called a revisionist history.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The book of Ruth is usually categorized as a part of the Deuteronomistic History.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

What is Chronicles' relationship to Ezra and Nehemiah? Why have these three texts traditionally been linked? What is the conclusion of most modern scholars concerning this relationship?

Accepted Answer

Traditionally, Chronicles was regarded a

Question 18

Jonah so reluctant to preach to the Ninevites because he

Accepted Answer

A)  is worried they will repent and be spared. 
B)  expects they will mock and persecute him. 
C)  doesn't want to make the long and difficult journey. 
D)  is concerned about being labeled a false prophet if his prediction does not come true. 
A)  is worried they will repent and be spared. 
B)  expects they will mock and persecute him. 
C)  doesn't want to make the long and difficult journey. 
D)  is concerned about being labeled a false prophet if his prediction does not come true.

Question 19

The concluding verses of 2 Chronicles are the same as the beginning verses of

Accepted Answer

A)  Nehemiah. 
B)  Ezra. 
C)  1 Kings. 
D)  Proverbs. 
A)  Nehemiah. 
B)  Ezra. 
C)  1 Kings. 
D)  Proverbs.

Question 20

A less negative presentation of Manasseh than the one in Kings is provided by

Accepted Answer

A)  Psalms. 
B)  Zephaniah. 
C)  Isaiah. 
D)  Chronicles. 
A)  Psalms. 
B)  Zephaniah. 
C)  Isaiah. 
D)  Chronicles.

Exam 14: Storytellers in Ancient Israel

What are some of the common themes in the Jewish novellas? What was the purpose of these works?

Put the book of Ruth in dialogue with Ezra/Nehemiah. How do the perspectives presented in each book differ? Are there areas in which they are agreed?

The book of Jonah prominently features humor and irony throughout the story. Give a few examples of humorous or ironic elements in Jonah and discuss how they contribute to the basic message of the book of Jonah.

Discuss the role of women in the Jewish novellas. How are they depicted overall?

David is presented as a one-dimensional figure in Chronicles.

One of the main messages of Daniel 1-6 is that

The book of Ruth is an especially important voice on the subject of ____________ in the postexilic era.

The Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther are collectively known as the Five

In Jewish tradition, Chronicles is part of the

Ahijah and Iddo are

Esther becomes queen of Persia because

In Hebrew, the word "feet" sometimes refers to

The book of Esther can best be described as a secular rather than a religious work. Pick a side of this resolution and argue for it using as many specific examples from the text as possible. Keep in mind that the most persuasive arguments anticipate (and answer) counterarguments.

Discuss Chronicles' discussion of David. How does it differ from the representations of David in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings? What are the reasons for these differences?

Chronicles can be called a revisionist history.

The book of Ruth is usually categorized as a part of the Deuteronomistic History.

What is Chronicles' relationship to Ezra and Nehemiah? Why have these three texts traditionally been linked? What is the conclusion of most modern scholars concerning this relationship?

Jonah so reluctant to preach to the Ninevites because he

The concluding verses of 2 Chronicles are the same as the beginning verses of

A less negative presentation of Manasseh than the one in Kings is provided by

What Is the Bible

Why Is the Bible so Hard to Understand

The Book of Genesis

Who Wrote the Pentateuch

From Egypt to Mount Sinai: Exodus and Leviticus

From Mount Sinai to the Promised Land: Numbers and Deuteronomy

The Deuteronomistic History: Joshua and Judges

The Books of Samuel and Kings

The Early Israelite Prophets: Amos and Isaiah

Other Pre-Exilic Prophets: Hosea, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk

The Historians of Exile and Return: Ezra, Nehemiah, and Beyond

The Exilic and Post-Exilic Prophets

The Poets of Ancient Israel

The Wisdom Literature

Jewish Apocalyptic Literature and the Apocrypha

The World of Jesus and His Followers

The Synoptic Problem and the Gospel of Mark

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke

The Gospel of John and the Later Gospels

The Historical Jesus

The Life of the Apostle Paul

The Letters of Paul

The Acts of the Apostles

In the Wake of Paul: Deutero-Pauline Epistles

The General Epistles and the Book of Revelation

Appendix: the Canon and Text of the Bible

Filters