Covenant and the Law

 

I. Israelites are Mesopotamians with a Difference

     A. Exodus (c. 1200 BCE)
                1. Moses

                2. The Ark of the Covenant
                3. The Covenant and Laws
                               --Book of Exodus compared with Hammurabi's Code

 

     B. The Tribes of Israel in Canaan

 

II. The Kingdom of Israel (c. 1030 BCE)

      A. Conflict with the Philistines
                1. Samuel chooses a king (Saul)

 

      B. King David  (c. 1000 BCE)
                1.
Victory and expansion
                2.
Jerusalem founded 

      C. King Solomon (c. 970)
                1. Temple built
                2. Following the Mesopotamian norm (too much)

 

III.  Division and Defeat (c. 930-560 BCE)
      A. Israel and Judah

                1. Age of the Prophets
                2. the scriptures begin to take shape

                               a. laws, prophets and history

 

     B. Defeat

                1. Destruction of Israel (721 BCE) by the Assyrians
                2. Defeat of Judah and the Babylonian Exile (586 BCE)
                               a.
People of the Book--Bible comes into being
                               b. hope that divine history not yet complete
                3. Jerusalem is restored (541 BCE) under the Persians

                                               [and destroyed again by the Romans (71 CE)]