1. Supplemental Books – The Exile, The Return, The Maccabean Revolt Notes January 28 th, 2016 Document#: TX004694

2. Notes – The Exile 722-540 B.C. Historical Book – 2 Kings Supplemental Books: Prophets – Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Daniel, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel Historical Novels – Tobit, Judith

3. Notes - Tobit Notes - This book tells the story of Tobit, a righteous Israelite of the Tribe of Naphtali living in Nineveh because he was deported with the northern tribes of Israel to Assyria in 721 BC.Tribe of NaphtaliNinevehIsrael Assyria Background - The first two and a half chapters are written in first person.

4. Notes - Tobit Although fictional, the book reflects the historical situation of the Israelites deported from Israel to Nineveh in 721 B.C. Author is unknown, written sometime in the second century B.C. Theme – In time, God will aid the faithful who suffer. God always rewards the faithful, even if it takes a while.

5. Background Tobit's paternal grandmother Deborah raises him. He remains loyal to the worship of God at the temple in Jerusalem, refusing the cult of the golden calves of Jeroboam, king of Northern Israel, set at Dan. Tobit is particularly noted for his diligence in attempting to provide proper burials for fallen Israelites whom Sennacherib has slain. For this behavior, the king seizes his property and exiles him. After Sennacherib's death, Tobit is allowed to return to Nineveh and buries a man who has been murdered on the street. That night, he sleeps in the open and is blinded by bird droppings that fall into his eyes. That injury strains his marriage; and ultimately, he prays for death.golden calvesJeroboamDan Sennacherib

6. Background Meanwhile, in faraway Media, a young woman named Sarah has prayed for death in despair. The demon of lust - Asmodeus: "the worst of demons", abducts and kills every man Sarah marries on their wedding night before the marriage can be consummated. God sends the Archangel Raphael, disguised as a human, to heal Tobit and to free Sarah from the demon.MediademonAsmodeusRaphael

7. Background The main narrative is dedicated to Tobit's son, Tobias whom his father sends to collect money that the elder has deposited in the distant Media. The Archangel Raphael presents himself as Tobit's kinsman Azariah and offers to aid and protect Tobias. Under Raphael's guidance, Tobias journeys to Media with his dog, and over the objection of Tobit's wife Hannah; whom Tobit's nagging has discouraged.

8. Background Along the way, while Tobias washes his feet in the river Tigris, a fish tries to swallow his foot. By the angel's order, he captures it and removed its heart, liver and gall bladder.Tigris

9. Background Upon arriving in Media, Raphael tells Tobias of the beautiful Sarah, whom Tobias has the right to marry. The angel instructs the young man to burn the fish's liver and heart to drive away the demon when he attacks on the wedding night.

10. Background The two marry, and the fumes of the burning organs drive the demon to Upper Egypt, where Raphael follows and binds him. Sarah's father has been digging a grave to secretly bury Tobias (whom he assumed would die). Surprised to find his son-in-law alive and well, he orders a double-length wedding feast and has the grave secretly filled. Since the feast prevents him from leaving, Tobias sends Raphael to recover his father's money.Upper Egypt

11. Background After the feast, Tobias and Sarah return to Nineveh. There, Raphael tells the youth to use the fish's gall to cure his father's blindness. Raphael then reveals his identity and returns to heaven, and Tobit sings a hymn of praise.

12. Background Tobit tells his son to leave Nineveh before God destroys it according to prophecy. After the prayer, Tobit dies at an advanced age. After burying his father and mother, Tobias returns to Media with Sarah and his family.

13. The Book of Judith - Notes A wisdom story Author is unknown Written at the end of the second century or beginning of the first century B.C. Theme – a woman of faith and courage and God’s saving power

14. Background The story revolves around Judith, a daring and beautiful widow, who is upset with her Jewish countrymen for not trusting God to deliver them from their foreign conquerors. She goes with her loyal maid to the camp of the enemy General, Holofernes, with whom she slowly becomes friends, promising him information on the Israelites. Gaining his trust, she is allowed access to his tent one night as he lies in a drunken stupor. She decapitates him, then takes his head back to her fearful countrymen. The Assyrians, having lost their leader, disperse, and Israel is saved. Though she is courted by many, Judith remains unmarried for the rest of her life.Holofernes

15. Notes – The Book of Daniel Period Covered – from the Babylonian Exile in the sixth century to the second century BC Author – unknown, written around 167-164 B.C., during the persecution of Israel by Antiochus Epiphanes Theme – to give hope to those experiencing oppression and persecution; God’s reign will ultimately triumph!

16. Background The Book of Daniel is an account of the activities and visions of Daniel, a noble Jew exiled at Babylon. In Christian Bibles it is grouped with the Major Prophets.DanielJewChristian BiblesMajor Prophets

17. Background The book divides into two parts, a set of six court tales in chapters 1–6 followed by four apocalyptic visions in chapters 7–12. The book contains three additional stories, the Song of the Three Holy Children, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon.Song of the Three Holy Children SusannaBel and the Dragon

18. Notes Daniel’s message is that just as the God of Israel saved Daniel and his friends from their enemies, so He would save all of Israel in their present oppression.God of Israel

19. The Return 538 B.C. – 167 B.C. - Notes Historical Books – Ezra / Nehemiah Supplemental Books: Prophets – Zechariah, Haggai, Malachi Historical Novel - Esther

20. The Book of Esther - Notes Setting – Persia after the Babylonian Exile Authors – unknown, written between 116 B.C. and 48 B.C. Themes – God’s love for the little ones, the origin of the feast of Purim.

21. Background The Book of Esther, is a book in the Christian Old Testament. It relates the story of a Jewish girl in Persia, born as Hadassah but known as Esther, who becomes Queen of Persia and stops a genocide of her people. The story forms the core of the Jewish festival of Purim, during which it is read aloud twice: once in the evening and again the following morning.Old TestamentJewishPersiaEsthergenocideJewish festivalPurim

22. The Maccabean Revolt 167 B.C. - 0 - Notes Historical Book – 1 Maccabees Supplemental Books – 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach

23. Notes – 1 and 2 Maccabees 1 Maccabees: covers from 175 to 134 B.C. Author: unknown, written around 100 B.C. Theme – God brings Israel to freedom through the family of Mattathias 2 Maccabees: covers from 180 to 161 B.C. Author – writer lived around 100 B.C. Theme – differing responses to persecution, the just and suffering, the glorification of God’s holy martyrs.