Bible Blitz Msgr Ed Thompson And Deacon Norm Kazyk With Technical Assistance Ray Hosler

Review for Lesson #5 The exile of 587 B.C. and some of its effects; Language (Greek) Customs (When in Rome, do as Romans do) Inter-Marriage

Cult (Religious Practices: –Temple, Food, Purification) Canon of the Hebrew Scriptures and the Apocrypha (Deutro- canonical) –Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, –Baruch, I & II Maccabees

Ezra Ezra and Nehemiah are a continuation of Chronicles. Ch 1-3 Resumes his history with return of Jews from exile and attempts to rebuild Temple.

Ch 1: 1-4 Proclamation of Cyrus, King of Persia Ch 4-6 Work halted – hostility of Samaritans – finally finished in 515 B.C.

Ch 6:19-22 Return to Israelite worship Ch 7-10 Mosaic law is strictly applied. Ch 10:10-11 Severe measures taken against Jews married to foreigners.

Nehemiah Except for Ch 8-10 is largely based on his memoirs: the only example of a person’s career written in the style of an autobiography in the Old Testament. Appointed by the Persian king to two terms as governor of Judah with the mission of rebuilding Jerusalem and reverse the dismal conditions there.

Ch 2 Decides to rebuild the walls and gates surrounding Jerusalem. Ch 3-4 The work begins but is opposed by various groups and even threatened with war. Who is in charge: “the people of the land” or the newly returning exiles?

Ch 6 The walls completed in 52 days. Ch The reforms of Nehemiah. –Defined membership in the Jewish community: Birth, loyalty to the Torah and faithful support of the Temple. Ch 13: Required giving up foreign wives.

Ch 9 & 10 The renewal of covenant faith. –A recounting of the history of God in the lives of His people, His gracious initiative and redemptive activity as contrasted to their unfaithfulness. Israel returns from exile not as a nation, but as a religious community.

Tobit Written in the early second century B.C. and named after the principle hero who is a pious Israelite and trusts completely in God. The setting is among the Israelites living among the captives in Nineveh after 721 B.C.

Written in the literary form of a religious novel it’s purpose for instruction and edification. Chapter 1-2: Tobit’s goodness and regard for the law gets him in trouble. (Ch 1:16-20). All his considerable wealth is confiscated and he is forced to leave the city. A change of political administration allows his return. (Written in first person). vs Tobit’s blindness.

(Ch 2) His wife works to support the family. Tobit questions a gift that she receives. (Ch 4) Sends his son, Tobias to retrieve money he had left in trust.

Ch. 3: (Written in third person). A young woman, Sarah is introduced who is tormented by a demon, Asmodeus, who has killed her previous seven husbands on their wedding night before they were intimate. Sara is verbally abused and prays for death.

Ch. 4: A father’s instruction including to marry someone who was part of the family group. Ch. 5: The Angel Raphael, in disguise becomes Tobia’s guide. Ch 6: Vs.2-9, The cure for demon possession and cataracts. Ch. 7 Sarah and Tobia meet and marry.

Ch.8-14: The demon is expelled; vs digging a grave. The money is recovered, Raphael’s identity is revealed, Tobit’s eyesight is restored, death of Tobit and Tobiah.

The Book of Judith Judith (and Esther) tell of the deliverance of God’s people through the hands of women from a destruction which humanly speaking seemed inevitable. Written in the second century B.C. (about events in the eighth century B.C.), it teaches that God will always come to the help of his people as long as they remain faithful to Him.

The story centers on an assault by the Assyrians against those vassals who refused to help the Assyrians in their war against the Medes. The immediate scene is at Bethulia which guards the access to Jerusalem.

The Assyrians are warned that the Jews cannot be conquered unless they sin. The water supply is cut off, and the exhausted defenders are desperate and ready to surrender.

The two heroines stand for the whole of Judaism putting all their beauty and intelligence in the hand of God to win the victory. Ch 1:11-12 Setting the stage. Ch 2: 4-6 The plan Ch 2:10-13 Further definition Ch 4: 1-3, 7, 9, 15 The defense Ch 7:10-32 Despair

Ch 8 Judith appears, chastises the Elders for their lack of trust in God. Ch 8:4-8 Judith is described. Ch 8:32-36 partially discloses her plan. Ch 10:11-17 Judith is captured. Ch 10:20-23 She meets Holofernes. Ch 11:17-18 She offers him a deal. Ch 11:20-21 It pays to be pretty & smart.

Ch 12: 2 Will not violate dietary laws. Ch 12:9 Remains purified. Ch 12:16-20 Holofernes lust & drunkenness. Ch 13: 2-3 Alone at last Ch 13:4-10 Loses his head. Ch 14: 1-4 Display of head leads to panic and victory for Israel.

The Book of Esther This book is associated with the feast of Purim, a celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from destruction through the hands of a woman. Does not contain a single explicit mention of God or the religious practices of Judaism.

It tells the story of a plot to destroy all the Jews living in the Persian Empire in a single day. (Chapter headings are indicated by numbers for the for the Hebrew text and letters for the Greek additions.)

Ch 1:10-12 The queen Vashti refuses to show off her beauty at a party. Ch 1:17 Not a good example. Ch 1:22 The queen is deposed and an order issued: The man is boss.

Ch 2 A beauty contest of virgins to replace Vashti. Esther, cousin of Mordecai who adopted her, wins hands down. “B” Jews seen as dangerous; Haman, an evil advisor to king gets a decree for their total extermination (vs 4,6)

Ch 3-8 Many intrigues. Esther prevails over Haman who is hanged in place of Mordecai. Ch 8:7-8 A problem: Can’t change a royal decree. Esther given power to issue new decree allowing Jews to defend themselves making the original without effect.

Ch 9 The Jews are victorious Ch 9:20-23 Purim defined.