Friday, October 31, 2008

Life in Seminary

The following shows a slice of my life. We have an assignment due at 8:10am this morning. I took this list off of our online submission site. If I had waited until right before class (when I will be IN class in a place with no internet), you would see submissions up to the minute that it was due. The part that surprises me, though, are the ones at 4am. I stayed up until 1am, but then got sleep, woke up, ate breakfast, reread the assignment, then submitted it.

I spend more time in this class than any 2-3 others that I am involved in (some as a student, some as an instructor). At the bottom is the text of the assignment that we were working on, interspersed with my answers. Be sure to note the chapters that we would need to read to do the assignment. Be aware that these are above and beyond our regular readings for today's class and that we also were 'encouraged' to respond to a reading forum online about our readings for this week. ('Encouraged' means that participation is graded and we are expected to participate at least 10 times throughout the semester.) I wrote 4 pages of outlining to keep track of all of the interesting characters in these passages and how they were similar. While writing 100 words may seem easy, it's much harder than you may think. You ONLY get 100 words. Try saying something substantive with 100 words. It's a real trick.

Assignments submitted:
30 Oct, 22:03
B.
Chronicler Worksheet
30 Oct, 22:23
J.
Chronicler Worksheet
30 Oct, 22:58
P.
Chronicler Worksheet
30 Oct, 23:33
H.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 00:01
A.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 00:24
E.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 00:28
V.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 00:40
C.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 01:41
M.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 03:00
K.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 04:06
E. D.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 04:24
S.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 06:14
A. W.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 06:36
H. L.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 07:08
A. F.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 07:15
[updated after class]
K. S.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 07:43
N.
Chronicler Worksheet
31 Oct, 08:02
C. L.
Chronicler Worksheet

In order to appreciate the distinctiveness of the Chronicler's work, it is best to compare it with its closest source document the Deuteronomistic History. One area of difference between the two histories lies in the portrayal of the monarchy and specific kings. Read the following passages that deal with the various portrayals of David, Solomon and Manesseh in the respective histories.

For each king write a short biography representing the views of both the Deuteronomistic History and the Chronicler, i.e. a total of 6 biographies. Each biography should be no more than 100 words. Remember the biographies do more than state facts, so repeating the details from the text is not necessary. Biographies convey opinions, strong ones at times, and provide critical views on the life of the individual not so much as a product of his/her times but for the readers of later generations to appreciate those individuals. Be sure, therefore, to capture the thrust of the historians view of the particular kings in your biographies.

David
• DH -2Sam 6-23 (scan 9-10; 16-19; 22-23 more focused reading on other chapters but pay attention to major contours of these chapters)

King David of Israel was unusually blessed. He had God’s repeated promise that his kingdom would last forever and God’s steadfast love would never be turned from him. He was a righteous king, moving the ark into Jerusalem. He subdued many kingdoms, but only his son would be allowed to make a house for the ark. David and his sons were promiscuous, causing death and strife. The Gibeonites were awarded seven of Saul’s descendents in exchange for peace, but not Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s lame son, who was restored all of Saul’s lands. David was the best king Israel could have.

• Chronicler - 1Chron 16-28 (scan 16-18; 23-28, more focused reading on other chapters)

David was an outstanding king, nearly perfect, except Satan tempted him to count the Israelites, when no one had that right. David was blessed with God’s promise for a never-ending line of Israel’s kings. He wanted to make a house for the ark, so he bought the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite and drew up plans for its creation, arranging for the materials and the laborers, for when young Solomon would be able to build it. David even gathered an assembly of Israel to prepare the way for Solomon’s reign, to make sure that there was a smooth transition.

Solomon
• DH - 1Kings 1-11 (you need not read 3-7, 9-10 in great detail but the other chapters require much sharper focus)

Solomon, David’s second son by Bathsheba, widow of Uriah the Hittite, became king through the intervention of his mother and Nathan, the prophet. He had his brother Adonijah, David’s second-born son, and Joab, David’s general, killed to secure the throne. His wisdom was world renowned and he had Hiram from Tyre build the magnificent temple in which to worship God. God promised that David’s line would continue as Israel’s kings forever, so long as the Israelites worshiped only God. Solomon had many foreign wives, though, who were eventually his undoing, encouraging him and others to worship their gods.

• Chronicler - 1Chron 22:2-16; 28 2Chron 1-9 (scan 2-5 but more focused reading on the other chapters)

Solomon was an unusually wise king, following David’s plan to build the temple on Ornan’s threshing floor. He made sacrifices and prayers for God to hear those from far and near, foreign and Israelite alike, who prayed to God towards the temple. God showed pleasure by sending down fire to consume the sacrifices. Huram from Tyre, who supplied temple building materials, gave extravagant tributes to Solomon and sought out his wisdom, as did all other kings. Solomon sent away Pharoah’s daughter, his wife, to live in her own house, because the places where the ark had been were holy.

Manasseh
• DH - 2Kings 21:1-18

Manasseh, son of Hezekiah and Hephzibah, was not yet a man, only 12, when he began his 55-year reign. While Hezekiah had effected important reforms, Manasseh, unfortunately, seemed to have learned nothing from him. Manasseh defiled the temple by putting altars and statues to abominable gods worshiped by the foreigners who God had righteously thrown out of the kingdom of Israel. He single-handedly brought idol worship back into Israel, which his father had eradicated in his righteous reign. Manasseh had a reign of terror where many innocent lives were lost. Understandably, all of Israel was punished for these wicked deeds.

• Chronicler - 2Chron 33:1-20

Manasseh, Hezekiah’s 12-year old son, began his reign inauspiciously, bringing idol worship into the temple and the high places. He even made his son pass through fire and consulted with wizards. God’s wrath came down upon Manasseh and Assyrians took him captive. Manasseh prayed, repentant, and was allowed to return to Israel. He then re-enacted the reforms that his father had done: tearing down the high places and breaking down altars to idols, making sacrifices to God of thanksgiving. By the end of his 55-year reign, Israelites still worshiped God from the high places, but there was no more idolatry.