A Survey of the Old Testament - Monergism Books · work harder to receive the message clearly. ... 24 A SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT approaching the old testament can reveal himself

A Survey of the Old TestamentCopyright © 1991, 2000, 2009 by Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan Publishing HouseGrand Rapids, MI 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication DataHill, Andrew E. A survey of the Old Testament / Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton. p. cm. Third ed. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN13: 978-0 – 310 – 28095-8 ISBN 10: 0-310-28095-8 1. Bible. O.T. — Introductions. I. Walton, John H., 1952 – II. Title.BS1140.2.H54 2000221.6’1 — dc21 00 – 020057

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (North American Edition). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmit-ted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other — except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Maps by International Mapping

Interior design by Matthew Van Zomeren

Printed in the United States of America

09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 • 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

SOT_p1-201.indd 4SOT_p1-201.indd 4 9/30/08 7:29:10 AM9/30/08 7:29:10 AM


7

CONTENTSAbbreviations 9Preface 11Image Sources 14Acknowledgments 15Using This Book 17

Part I: Introduction 1. Approaching the Old Testament JHW 20 2. Geography of the Old Testament AEH 34

Part II: The Pentateuch 3. Introduction to the Pentateuch AEH 56 4. Genesis JHW 76 5. Exodus AEH 100 6. Leviticus AEH 124 7. Numbers AEH 142 8. Deuteronomy JHW 162 9. Historical Overview of Old Testament Times JHW 180

Part III: The Historical Books 10. Introduction to the Historical Books JHW 204 11. Joshua JHW 216 12. Judges JHW 234 13. Ruth JHW 248 14. 1 – 2 Sam uel JHW 256 15. 1 – 2 Kings AEH 278 16. 1 – 2 Chron icles AEH 308 17. Ezra – Nehemiah AEH 328 18. Esther JHW 346 19. Archaeology and the Old Testament 356

Part IV: The Poetic Books 20. Hebrew Poetic and Wisdom Literature AEH 374 21. Job JHW 400 22. Psalms JHW 418 23. Proverbs AEH 440 24. Ecclesiastes JHW 454 25. Song of Songs AEH 466 26. Formation of the Old Testament Scriptures 480

Todd Bolen/www.BiblePlaces.com

SOT_p1-201.indd 7SOT_p1-201.indd 7 11/3/08 1:53:10 PM11/3/08 1:53:10 PM

8

Part V: The Prophets 27. Introduction to Prophetic Literature JHW 502 28. Isaiah JHW 518 29. Jeremiah JHW 532 30. Lamentations AEH 542 31. Ezekiel AEH 552 32. Daniel JHW 566 33. Hosea AEH 580 34. Joel JHW 594 35. Amos AEH 604 36. Obadiah AEH 618 37. Jonah JHW 628 38. Micah JHW 640 39. Nahum JHW 650 40. Habakkuk JHW 658 41. Zephaniah JHW 668 42. Haggai AEH 676 43. Zechariah AEH 686 44. Malachi AEH 700

Part VI: Epilogue 45. What We Have Learned JHW 714 46. Responding to God AEH 728 47. The Journey to Jesus AEH 742

Appendix A: Critical Methodologies 753Appendix B: The Composition of the Pentateuch 761Glossary 770Index 775


CHAPTER

1

TTThTTThThThThThTThThThhThThThThThhhThThTThThhTTT eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee papapapapappapppppapapaapappppppppppppppppppp thththtththththhthttthththttth uuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuu uuuppppppppp p pppppppppppppppppppppppp MtMtMttttMttMttMtMtMMtttMtMtMtMtttt.... . . SiSiSiSiSiSiiiiiSiSiSiSiS nanananaanananaii.i.i.iiii.i.ii CopCopCopCooCopCopC pC ppppppyriyriyriyriiiiyriyyriyririyyyyyyy ghtghghhththththththththththththththththththththtthghtghtghhhghtthttthtthtgggggggg 1919191911999919191919191991919199191 11199 19 1999 111119 1999 959595-95-9595-95959595-959595--9959595959555959595 200200200200000020022000220002 00220020020000000009 P9 P9 PPP9 P99 P9999 P9 P999 9 PPP PPPhhhhoehhhoehoeoeehoehhoeehhoehhhhh eh eeh ehhh ehhoehhhhhoeoeehhoooeeeenixnixnixiinixnixnixixnnnninixnixnixnixnixnniniinnininixinnnnixnixnixnixnnixixxxxxx DaDaaDaDaDaDDaaDaDaDDaDDaa DaDDaDatttttataaaaatattattatttatattaaa tttat SysSysSysssSyssS sSSysSySysyssyyyyyyyyy temtememtememmmmtemmmetetemtememetemmtememteetememt msssssssssssssssssssssss


21

APPROACHING THE OLD TESTAMENT

Studying the Old Testament is a monumental task, but proper preparation can help the student to reap a rich harvest. The sovereign God who created the universe, who controls his-

tory, and who will accomplish his plan in his time has chosen to speak. That in itself is an act of grace, and we should feel compelled to listen. However, listening may be hindered by many complicat-ing factors. First, God’s revelation did not come in the English language or through Western culture. As a result, we may have to work harder to receive the message clearly. The more familiar stu-dents can become with ancient Near Eastern culture, particularly that of Israel during the Old Testament period, the more barriers they can eliminate.

A second complicating factor is that even when we are listen-ing, we have a tendency either to be selective about what we hear or to try to make the message conform to what we want to hear. The solution to this is to allow the Bible to speak for itself. We all have assumptions about the Bible. These need to be constantly evaluated and refined lest they distort the teaching of the Bible. The objectives of the biblical authors must not be subordinated to our own objectives, however worthy the latter may be. There are many valuable things to be learned from the Old Testament, but not all are things that the Old Testament is trying to teach. If stu-dents desire to reap authoritative teaching from the text, they must learn to discern what the text is teaching rather than superimpos-ing their own ideas on it. When the Bible is allowed to speak from its own vantage point and with its own agenda, the reader can be more open to learn what it is intending to teach.

Self-RevelationAs God’s self-revelation, the objective of the Old Testament is that the reader comes to know God better. This process, however, is not intended to be merely cognitive. In addition, knowing God is accomplished by experiencing his attributes. Being able to list God’s attributes is but a first step. What must be achieved is that his attributes become the framework of our worldview. By this we mean that our perspective on ourselves, our society, our world,


22 A SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT approaching the old testament

our history, our conduct, our decisions — everything — should be knit together by an informed and integrated view of God. The Old Testa-ment’s objective is not transformed lives, though knowing God should transform one’s life. The Old Testament’s objective is not the adoption of a value system, though a value system would certainly be one outcome of knowing God in a real way. The Old Testament is not a repository of historical role models, dusty hymns, and obscure prophetic sayings, but God’s invitation to hear his story.

This story of God begins with creation. The emphasis, however, is not on how the world began, but on how the plan began. Everything was just right for the execution of God’s plan. In that sense, creation is simply the introduction to history. God’s sovereignty is initially assured by the fact that he created. While this cannot help but deny any claim to sovereignty by other deities, its intention is not to provide polemic against the pagan polytheism of the day. Rather than taking a negative approach that denounces and refutes other deities, the Old Testament takes the positive approach of telling what the one true God is like and what he has done.

As history begins, it will be observed that the Old Testament is concerned with political or social aspects of history only in a second-ary way. The primary interest of this history is how God has revealed himself to people in the past. One reflection of this can be found in

the names of God that permeate the pages of Scripture. These names portray him as a God who is holy, almighty, most high, and the one who has caused everything to be. Yet he is also a God who hears, sees, and provides. The habitual rebellion and fee-blemindedness of humankind shows him by contrast a God of patience and grace.

Just as creation flows into history, so history flows into prophecy. God’s plan was initiated in the beginning, was worked out through history, and will continue until all is accomplished. By seeing God’s plan worked out in the past (the Pentateuch and the historical books) and projected into the future (prophetic literature), we can begin to appreciate the unfathomable wisdom of God, who is worthy of praise and worship (Psalms and wisdom literature). The Old Testament, then, should be viewed as a pre-sentation of God’s attributes in action. We can know who God is and what he is like

oGtYpbb

hitawtfutoG(Tsc

“There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in

flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that

though the bush was on fire it did not burn up” (Exod. 3:2). This was a

significant step in God’s program of revelation. The

picture is found in the Golden Hagada, an

illustrated Hebrew Bible manuscript from Spain

dating to AD 1320.

Z. Radovan/www.BibleLandPictures.com


A PPROA CHING THE OLD TESTA MENT A SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT 23

by hearing what he has done and intends to do. Once we know who he is and what he is like, the appropriate responses are worship, commit-ment, and ser vice.

The Plan: God with UsWhat is this plan that spans the scope of creation, history, and proph-ecy? We find it communicated throughout the pages of the Bible. God’s plan from the beginning was to create a people among whom he could dwell and with whom he could be in relationship. We should not suppose that he needed either a place to live or that he had some psychological need for companionship. His plan emerges naturally as an initiative that expresses his character as a creative, relational, and gracious being.

This plan is reflected in the initial setting of Eden, where God’s presence existed in what we might call a cosmic temple, and people were placed in the garden to be near him and to have the opportu-nity to come to know him. The plan was upset by the disobedience that we call the fall, by which sin entered the picture. Consequently, relationship with God was disrupted and the privilege of being in the presence of God was forfeited as the first couple was driven out of the garden.

The rest of the Bible is the account of God’s program to restore his presence to his people and provide means for them to be able to be in relationship with him again. We can offer a brief overview by identify-ing the seven stages of God’s presence.

Stages of God’s Presence

1. Eden 2. Covenant 3. Exodus (Bush/Sinai) 4. Tabernacle/Temple 5. Incarnation (Immanuel) 6. Pentecost 7. New Creation

In the account of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1 – 9) we find the people undertaking a project that endeavored to reestablish God’s presence on earth. The tower was provided as a means for God to come down and take up his residence in their city and be worshiped. Unfortunately, their concept of God was flawed and when God came down, he was not pleased with the underlying premise of this initia-tive. His own initiative is introduced in the next chapter of Genesis as he begins to form a covenant with Abram as a means by which he


24 A SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT approaching the old testament

can reveal himself to the world (explained in the next section). He chooses one family with whom he develops a relationship and among whom he will come to dwell. This second stage is the first step of the reclamation project.

God’s presence reaches a new level as he appears in the burning bush to Moses and reveals his name (= his character/nature) and the next step of his plan. His presence is made known through the plagues, evident temporarily in the pillar of cloud and fire, and settles on the top of Mt. Sinai, where he reveals how his people can be in relationship with him (the law) and how they can preserve his presence (the rituals and other instructions regarding the tabernacle).

In the next stage God actually initiates a means by which his pres-ence can be established on earth. The Tabernacle is a place of God’s dwelling, and by keeping the law and observing rules of purity, the people can enjoy relationship with the God who has come among them. This stage of God’s presence is extended eventually into the Temple built by Solomon and lasts through the remainder of the Old Testa-ment. A serious setback is suffered when the rebellion of the Israel-ites finally causes God’s presence to leave the temple allowing it to be destroyed (in Jeremiah and Ezekiel). The covenant benefits are lost as the Israelites are exiled from the promised land and their relationship with God hangs in the balance.

Though they return to the land and the temple is rebuilt, the next stage of God’s presence comes in the pages of the New Testament as God sends his Son, Jesus, to be present in human flesh (the incarna-tion) and take up his residence with us (Immanuel, God with us) as sort of a human tabernacle (John 1:14). It is through Christ that God’s presence thus becomes available in a whole new way and also through him that relationship is made available at a whole new level, with the penalty of sin being paid, and a permanent mechanism for relationship being made available.

Though Christ ascended to heaven after the resurrection, he had promised that his presence would not be taken from us, but that a Comforter would be sent. Thus the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pen-tecost marks the beginning of yet another stage in the availability of God’s presence, now within his people, and a relationship based on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Consequently God’s people become the location of God’s presence both individually (1 Cor. 6:19) and corpo-rately (1 Cor. 3:16). The veil is torn that restricted access to God’s pres-ence (Eph. 2) and relationship is available to all who seek it.

The final stage is yet to come. It is described in Revelation 21:3, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”


A PPROA CHING THE OLD TESTA MENT A SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT 25

The CovenantAt the core of this self-revelation, delineating the plan of God, is the covenant. Even the English designation “Old Testament” indicates that the covenant is the core concept of this collection of books (testament = covenant). Through the covenant God both reveals what he is like and obliges himself to a par-ticular course of action. His loyalty (Heb. h.esed ) to the covenant frequently leads him to acts of grace and mercy, but justice is also built into the cov-enant to ensure account-ability by his people.

Since the covenant is the instrument used by God to effect self-revela-tion, the Old Testament often appears to be the history of the covenant, or of aspects of it, more than a history of Israel. So Genesis 12 – 50 is a history of the establishment of the Abrahamic covenant. Exodus – Deuteron-omy is a history of the establishment of the Mosaic covenant at Sinai. Joshua is a record of God’s faithfulness to the covenant, while Judges is a record of Israel’s unfaithfulness to the covenant. The books of Samuel and Kings are a history of the covenant of kingship (the Davidic cov-enant). It is the covenant as God’s plan that is more in focus than the people who are involved generation after generation.

Several different approaches to the Old Testament are distinguished from one another by the way each understands the covenant idea and the relationship of the covenants to one another. Are there many differ-ent covenants that independently govern periods of history, or are there just one or two governing covenants that have other sub-covenants to offer expansion and explanation? Is there a single unconditional cov-enant that contains conditional covenants within it, or is the whole a conditional covenant?

These are the questions that, answered different ways by different scholars, define the theological controversies about the Old Testament, its relationship to the New Testament, and its relevance to us today.

“Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground” (Exod. 14:16). Israel always looked back on this event as one in which God revealed himself through his actions of deliverance. The crossing of the Red Sea is depicted in this illustration from the Sarajevo Hagada, an illustrated Hebrew Bible manuscript from Spain in the 14th century AD.

“Raise your staff andZ. Radovan/www.BibleLandPictures.com


Documents

A Survey of the Old Testament - Monergism Books · work harder to receive the message clearly. ... 24 A SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT approaching the old testament can reveal himself