S INAI AND P RIESTLY T HEOLOGY BS103b — Introduction to the Old Testament, Rev. Aaron Decker Semenari Theoloji Malaysia, Second Semester 2019 S CHOLARLY D ISAGREEMENT Azazel: The demon in the desert who must be fed our sins Laws on slavery are similar to ANE context Rituals require belief in order to work Sexual laws are mostly about procreation and propriety Offering firstborn to God is about first fruits Azazel: ’az (where) + ‘azel (going) = To go who-knows- where Laws are very different from other nations Rituals inspire belief that they work Sexual laws are, like the rest of Leviticus, about purity, not sin Offering firstborn to God is about Exodus John J. Collins Aaron Decker T EN P LAGUES Locating in natural phenomena not useful God did it! Hardening Pharaoh’s Heart is Problematic Death of firstborn Redemption of firstborn Use in Revelation HASIDICS ON THE R ED S EA Jewish Hasidic Movement is well-known for its story- telling How can I celebrate when my children are dying? T HEOPHANY AT S INAI Cloud, thunder, lightning Moves to the tabernacle Shine, Moses, Shine More up and down than an elevator (lift) You do it for us, Moses! Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp! I wish all God’s people would prophecy! T YPES OF L AW Apodictic — Do this! Don’t do this! Axiomatic, Based on general principles Casuistic — If this happens, then do this. Case Law, Based on past decisions 2019 07 16 Priestly Theology.key - July 16, 2019
Transcript
SINAI AND PRIESTLY THEOLOGYBS103b — Introduction to the Old Testament, Rev. Aaron Decker
Semenari Theoloji Malaysia, Second Semester 2019
SCHOLARLY DISAGREEMENT
Azazel: The demon in the desert who must be fed our sins Laws on slavery are similar to ANE context Rituals require belief in order to work Sexual laws are mostly about procreation and propriety Offering firstborn to God is about first fruits
Azazel: ’az (where) + ‘azel (going) = To go who-knows-where
Laws are very different from other nations Rituals inspire belief that they work
Sexual laws are, like the rest of Leviticus, about purity, not sin Offering firstborn to God is about Exodus
John J. Collins Aaron Decker
TEN PLAGUES
Locating in natural phenomena not useful
God did it!
Hardening Pharaoh’s Heart is Problematic
Death of firstborn Redemption of firstborn
Use in Revelation
HASIDICS ON THE RED SEA
Jewish Hasidic Movement is well-known for its story-telling How can I celebrate when my children are dying?
THEOPHANY AT SINAI
Cloud, thunder, lightning Moves to the tabernacle Shine, Moses, Shine
More up and down than an elevator (lift) You do it for us, Moses! Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!
I wish all God’s people would prophecy!
TYPES OF LAW
Apodictic — Do this! Don’t do this!
Axiomatic, Based on general principles
Casuistic — If this happens, then do this.
Case Law, Based on past decisions
2019 07 16 Priestly Theology.key - July 16, 2019
RITUAL LAW
Priestly Author Very Specific (Except When it Isn’t) Sacrifice of animals (primarily) or grain
Incense is imported later from Israel’s neighbors, or possibly Babylonian exile
For sin/impurity as well as for giving thanks
HOLINESS CODE
Accidental sins must be addressed Odd collection of laws about various things
Ritual and morality together?
NOT about sin — about purity and holiness
HOLINESS CODE
How much did it apply in antiquity?
Possibly just to the priests Possibly to all, but only in ritual situations
After exile, a movement to extend the laws to everyone (later becomes Pharisaisim) Modern Judaism: Retains sense of holiness and God’s presence You have put on Christ in whom you have been baptized. Alleluia!
2019 07 16 Priestly Theology.key - July 16, 2019
THEORY: FORM AND TRADITION-HISTORY CRIT.REV. AARON DECKER
PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
WHAT IS THIS?
Berlin, 16.7.2019
Sehr Geheerte Frau Otto-Bäumer:
Ich hoffe, das Sie einen herrlichen Sommer verbracht haben. Ich schriebe um zu danken für deine Brief. Obwohl habe ich nicht die gelesen, ich habe mich sehr darüber gefreut.
Mit Freundliche Grüßen
Ulrich von Schmerzkopf
PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
WHAT IS THIS?
SEMENARI THEOLOJI MALAYSIA
WHEREAS we cannot seem to start class on time because chapel always seems to run long, and students and lecturer are always slow to get here, and
WHEREAS being in class this early in the morning is really no fun at all anyway,
THEREFORE I hereby declare today to be National Ice Cream Day.
PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
WHAT IS THIS?
El sacerdote dirige la oración.
Oremos. Padre mío, me abandono a Tí, haz de mi lo que quieras. Lo que hagas de mí te lo agradezco. Estoy dispuesto a todo, lo acepto todo, con tal que Tu Voluntad se haga en mí y en todas Tus criaturas. No deseo nada más, Dios mío. Pongo mi alma en tus manos. Te la doy, Dios mío, con todo el amor de mi corazón, porque Te amo y porque para mí amarte es darme entregarme en tus manos sin medida, con infinita confianza, porque Tú eres mi Padre. Amén.
PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
A LETTER FROM UGARIT
To the king of the land of Ugarit, my lord, speak. A message of Taguchli, your servant. To the feet of my lord, from afar, I fall to the ground seven times, and twice. Now, with the king and with me, all is well. There, with the king, my Lord, is everything well? Let them return a word to me. I have heard that you have received a shipment of lapis lazuli from my merchants that may have been counterfeit. I am extremely horrified that this may have taken place. Far be it for your servant to try to deceive my lord by sending false goods! I will send a new shipment of…
GreetingSender
Deference Small Talk
Body of the LetterPROJECT
DATE CLIENT
A DIVORCE LAWSUIT
Sue! (ריב) She is not my wife, and I am not her husband. Therefore (לכן): I will divorce her forever.
From Hosea… Therefore (לכן)… I will take you for my wife forever. I will take you for my wife in righteousness and justice. I will take you for my wife in faithfulness. And you shall “know” the Lord.
Theory Form Tradition.key - July 16, 2019
PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
A CALL TO WORSHIP
Come to Bethel and worship! Come to Gilgal and praise God! Bring your sacrifices and burnt offerings, For God loves for you to do so!
From Amos: Come to Bethel and sin! Come to Gilgal and commit many sins! Bring your sacrifices and burnt offerings, This is what YOU love to do, O Israel!
PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
A CREATION STORY
Enuma Elish: When the sky above had no name, and the name of the earth below was unspoken,
Then Apsu, the ancient one, the begetter, and Tiamat, the maker, the one who gave birth to everything,
mixed their waters together.
PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
A CREATION STORY
Genesis 2: When Yhwh made the earth and the heavens and no plant of the field was in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet grown, because Yhwh God had not caused rain on the earth, and there was no one to till the ground, and a stream rose up from the earth and watered the ground, Then Yhwh God formed a human from the dust of the ground, and breathed into its nostrils the breath of life, and the human became alive.
PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
A CREATION STORY
Genesis 1: When Yhwh was beginning to make the heaves and earth and earth was a desolate wasteland, and it was dark on the face of the endless sea, and a whirlwind from God hung over the waters, like a mother eagle, ready to give birth,
Then God said, “Let light be.”
and light was.
Tradition HistoryTradition Historical Criticism is both simple and confusing.The culture has ideas that everyone shares.
IntellectualTheologicalReligiousHistorical, etc.
And the authors of the Bible had them in mind.PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
WHAT’S WITH THE BLOOD?
The bull shall be slaughtered before Yhwh, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall offer the blood, dashing the blood against all sides of the altar. (Lev. 1:5)
The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is in the tent of meeting before Yhwh, and the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour at the base of the altar of burnt offering. (Lev. 4:7)
Blood contains the “life force.” ∴ The life belongs to God. ∴ Blood can make things “God-ly.” ∴ Sprinkling restores holiness.
