1. Canaan Occupation + Ancient Israelite Traditions
RELS 3300: Early Christianity
Wednesday, January 18, 2017

2. Pagan traditions in the Levant/Ancient Near East
Overview:
Pagan traditions in the Levant/Ancient Near East
Israelite occupation of Canaan
Tribes of Israel/ Period of judges
Establishing the kingdom of Israel
Saul
David
Solomon
Israel and Judah

3. Polytheist OR not worshipping one “true” god Ancient pagans
Paganism in the Ancient Near East
Pagan: “a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the major world religions” (OED)
Term emerges in Europe during late antiquity period; means “not Christian” in a derogatory sense
Polytheist OR not worshipping one “true” god
Ancient pagans
Pantheons were based primarily on the observance of the natural world.
Perceived and portrayed as idol worship- problems with this?
Examples: Dagon, Haddu, Moloch

4. Ammonites, Moabites, Phoenicians Particular tribes Particular areas
Canaan + Canaanites
“Canaanite” is an ethnic identity for different peoples living in the same area- Levant
Area that encompassed Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and parts of Jordan and Syria
Ammonites, Moabites, Phoenicians
Particular tribes
Particular areas
Not Israelites
Discoveries from Ebla and Ugarit
: thousands of tablets unearthed, dating between 2500 BCE and 2250 BCE
First documented mention of Canaan

5. Non-Semitic peoples also living in the Levant
Philistines
Non-Semitic peoples also living in the Levant
Origin is unclear; evidence suggests the Philistines were actually Aegean in origin
2016: Philistine cemetery discovery
Identified in Biblical history as a major threat to the Israelites
Adopted much of the same Canaanite pantheon (polytheist)

6. After the exodus from Egypt (and the wandering) Approximately 1250 BCE
Israelite Invasion of Canaan
After the exodus from Egypt (and the wandering)
Approximately 1250 BCE
Biblical record of this in Joshua
Not a great period, politically- unrest, fighting
Period of judges

7. Named for the sons of Jacob (son of Abraham)
13 Tribes of Israel
Named for the sons of Jacob (son of Abraham)
Led by Moses, then by Joshua
Each tribe had their own area in Canaan, except the tribe of Levi
Elected their own leaders
Judges
Priests
Prophets
Tribe of Reuben
Tribe of Simeon
Tribe of Levi
Tribe of Judah
Tribe of Issachar
Tribe of Zebulun
Tribe of Dan
Tribe of Naphtali
Tribe of Gad
Tribe of Asher
Tribe of Ephraim (Joseph)
Tribe of Manasseh (Joseph)
Tribe of Benjamin

8. Military role/leadership Priests Male Tribe of Levi
Political Structure Among Israelite Tribes
Approx BCE
Judges
Male or female
Legal proceedings
Military role/leadership
Priests
Male
Tribe of Levi
Religious ceremonies, sacrifices
Prophets
Male or Female
Special role to play, given by Yahweh
Role varied: religious, political, revelatory

9. Collision of Religious Ideas
Canaanites and Philistines were polytheistic.
Explained through story/myth El
Supreme deity of the Canaanites
Male, patriarchal
Supreme god, ruled over the council of gods
Ba’al
Supreme deity of the Philistines
God of fertility and weather
Dagon
Supreme deity in some regions
God of fertility and agriculture
Israelites were monotheistic (or at least henotheistic).
Ark of the Covenant
Explained through his works in history, from the Torah

10. First king, chosen by Samuel
Kings-Saul
1046-ish BCE
First king, chosen by Samuel
Had falling out with Samuel, lost support of prophets and priests
Died in a battle against the Philistines (suicide) approx BCE

11. Leader in Saul’s military, beloved by the people (rival)
Kings- David
2nd king: BCE
Leader in Saul’s military, beloved by the people (rival)
Moved the capital from Hebron to Jerusalem
Appointed two chief priests, one in the north and one in the south
Created a standing, professional army
Conquered several surrounding lands, expanded the empire
Made Jerusalem religious center- Ark of the Covenant

12. 3rd king: Son of David and Bathsheba Portrayed as a wise king
Kings- Solomon and the Temple
BCE
3rd king: Son of David and Bathsheba
Portrayed as a wise king
Built the first Temple of Jerusalem
Holy and Holiest of Holies

13. When Solomon died, the northern tribes seceded.
Kings- Solomon and Political Unrest
Many of Solomon’s political and economic policies benefited the south, particularly the tribe of Judah.
Established 12 districts to provide food for court at Jerusalem; against already established tribal boundaries
Enacted the missim- mandatory month of work owed to the government every year
When Solomon died, the northern tribes seceded.

14. Israel and Judah
After Solomon’s death, two nations emerged: Israel and Judah (approx. 935BCE)
Israel was ruled by Jeroboam in the north
Judah ruled by Rehoboam in the south
The temple, Ark, and priests were in Jerusalem, so Jeroboam decided to establish new ways of worshiping Yahweh
Holidays
Centers- Dan and Beth-El
Priests
Symbols- golden calves

15. Transitioning from ancient Israelite religion to Judaism
Looking forward:
The fall of Israel
Transitioning from ancient Israelite religion to Judaism
Jewish societal, political, and religious structure
Jewish context for the emergence of Christianity