REASONS FOR GENOCIDE

In the Old Testament, God would command his people (The Israelites) to destroy certain cities and everything within them. This act was basically genocide. There were two main reasons that He issued the command:

1. To avoid religious contamination
2. To avoid future political rebellion

The Canaanites in particular worshipped fertility gods which "specialized" in agriculture. They existed to promote the growth of crops, animals, and children.

Bael was depicted as a storm god who impregnates the earth mother (Ashteroth). In art, Bael's penis was very exaggerated, and Ashteroth had very large breasts and wide hips.

In worshipping a fertility god, the followers would practice sex rituals. At first this might have been in the form of sending the High Priestess to sleep with the High Priest to bring fertility to crops, but later to all of the priestesses sleeping with all of the priests. As one might imagine this practice was very popular and quickly got out of hand, making for a very sexually "loose" society. Nudity was accepted as well as lots of make-up, piercings, etc.

At this time Yahweh was thought of as more of a "sky" god who watched over the tribes while they wandered through the desert, he was also seen as a god of the past. The Israelites eventually settled into agricultural areas and many decided to worship "farming" gods that might apply more to their new situations.

Israel is seen as God's bride; therefore, if Israel worships another god it is essentially committing adultery. This is why inter-faith marriage is wrong (not inter-racial marriage).

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MIDTERM

The Computer Lab is in Building 13 in Room 108. ELEY.

Testing will be held between Wednesday the 16th and Wednesday the 23rd.
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JUDGES

The whole book of Judges progresses through a certain cycle over and over. This cycle is as follows:

1. Israel worships other gods and forgets Yahweh
2. Yahweh sends foreign oppressors
3. Israel repents
4. God sends a judge who delivers Israel
5. The judges rules for a time, then dies
(later, rinse, repeat)

There are reasons for this cycle, one being that Israel was a loose confederation of tribes, but mostly being the fact that there was no mechanism for succession. In other words, when a judge died there was nobody to replace him until God appointed a new one.

A judge was a political, religious but most importantly a military leader.

EHUD (one of the judges)

Ehud came into power when the Israelites were being oppressed by a king named Eglon (who had a weight problem). One day Ehud approached the king and convinced him he had a secret message for him. As soon as the king's servants had left he pretty much said "Here is your message" and plunged a sword into his gut. He then locked the doors and left so that the king's servants would think that he was relieving himself (going to the bathroom) and should not be disturbed.

SAMSON (another judge)

Samson took a Nazarite vow, which meant that he could never cut his hair, drink alcohol, or touch a corpse. As long as he upheld this vow he would have supernatural strength.

He fell in love with a woman of Timnah, who was a Philistine, and asked his parents to arrange his marriage to her. His parents did not like the idea of Samson marrying a Philistine but eventually submitted. God used this opportunity to inspire Samson's fury toward the Philistines and punish them.

Samson told a riddle at the wedding party and the guests threatened his bride until she told them the answer and betrayed him. He was furious at the guests and his bride and left. By the time he came back he was told that his bride had been given to the best man instead.

Later on, Samson met Delilah and fell in love with her. They never married. Some believe she was a prostitute. Each night she pleads with him to tell her the source of his strength, and each night he gives her a false answer to put her off. Each morning he wakes up with the Philistines upon him doing just the things he has told her will render him powerless (apparently Samson wasn't too bright). Eventually he tells her the secret and she cuts his hair.

At this point Samsons strength departs from him and he is taken to the temple of Dagon. He is tortures, his eyes gouged out, and prays to God one last time to give him back his strength for just a moment. God grants his wish and (as part of God's plan)Samson brings down the temple, killing more people with his death than he did while he was living.

SAMUEL (another judge)

Samuel was the last judge. He warned Israel against kings for these reasons:

1. Heavy taxation
2. Conscription/draft
~ military
~ palace servants
3. God is the king

Despite Samuel's warnings to the people, they still cry out for a king. Eventually God relents to their request and Samuel appoints Saul.

SAUL

Saul was the first king of Israel. He was tall, handsome, charismatic, and a good general. Unfortunately, he was very disobedient to God. This single flaw cost him his kingship.

Incidents leading to Saul losing his kingship:
1. He botched the Malachite genocide. He allowed men to take loot which was under the Ban, left the king alive, and didn't kill the cattle.
2. He tried to perform a sacrifice without waiting for a Levi priest. (Levi priests are the only ones allowed to perform sacrifices)
3. He consulted the medium Endor.

KINGS

Saul was the first king, sort of a false start. He died in disgrace by committing suicide.

DAVID

David was the second King. Despite his faults, he was the ideal King and basis for the Messiah. He was promised an everlasting dynasty, but it didn't happen exactly that way.

David committed adultery with Bethsheba. She was married to a man named Uriah who was at war. To cover up his sin, he made sure that Uriah was placed in the front lines of the military and killed...then he married Bethsheba.

He was punished for this act: their first son died, and Absalom's rebellion was prophesied. The prophecy said that Absalom would sleep with all of David's wives, which was a way of vengeance/insult against one's enemies at the time.

SOLOMON

Solomon was David's son and ruled until he died. He had two sons: Reheboam and Jereboam.

God told Solomon that he would grant him anything that he asked, and Solomon asked him for wisdom and discernment. God was very pleased with this request.

Solomon is traditionally believed to have written the books of Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Proverbs.

He built a temple which was destroyed in 70 A.D.. The destruction of the temple led to a stop in animal sacrifice.

THE SPLIT OF THE KINGDOM

Reheboam was in line for the crown, but he lost his chance by displaying cruelty to the people, who would not follow him. He ended up ruling the southern portion of Israel with a small following (one tribe). This part was called "Judah". It fell to Babylon in 586 B.C.

Jereboam nurtured the people's respect, and won over all the over tribes, ruling over the northern part. His portion was called "Israel". It fell to Assyria in 722 B.C.

538 B.C. - the kingdom of Judah was restored.
331 B.C. - the area was conquered by the Greeks (Alexander the Great), Greek-Syrian rule.

There was a brief period of freedom in the mid-2nd century due to the Maccabean revolt.

Later it was conquered again by the Romans. The Jews scattered after their revolt against the Romans in 70 A.D.

It wasn't until 1948 that Israel was restored as a complete, united nation.

Secular reasons for the split of the kingdom:
1. Reheboam threatened the Northern tribes with vast public works projects.
2. Jereboam rose through the ranks to rule by courting the Israelite's favor

Religious reasons for the split of the kingdom:
1. Solomon built temples to other gods for his wives

There were changes in Judaism under Babylonian Captivity:
1. Decreasing emphasis on the temple, animal sacrifice, and on the king/nation of Israel as a political entity
2. Increasing emphasis on the Scriptures, personal devotion to God, Sabbath worship

Rabbi - "Teacher" (of the Scriptures)
Synagogues - Houses for weekly worship

JOB

This book asks a very important question. Why do people suffer, or why do bad things happen to good people?

Satan goes to Yahweh and says that Job only serves for rewards. God says that Job will serve no matter what, so they make a bet.

God takes away everything Job has, and Job is daunted and questions God, but he does not sin. Satan suggests that if Gods takes his health too, he will fall away.

So God takes Job's health as well, and though Job questions God's actions and wishes he had never been born, he still does not sin.

At the end God appears in a whirlwind and tells Job that we should not question God because we cannot possibly understand his reasons or what is going on behind the scenes.

In this book we are shown that suffering is a test of faithfulness, not always due to sin. There is also no sense of group responsibility in it. The book of Job is very important to Jews when remembering the Holocaust.