Activity 1

As you have read, history is especially important in the Hebrew tradition. Rather than a collection of moments meaningless in themselves, history is composed of events that confirm God's on-going engagement with his chosen people; history is a progression that will culminate with the golden age of God's reign on earth. One of the most important events in Hebrew history is the conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land, that followed the Exodus from Egypt. Two accounts of this conquest appear in the Bible, in the books of Joshua and Judges. Read these accounts in Joshua 1-12 and Judges 1-2. What events do both accounts relate? What events take place in one but not the other? What do you think is the significance of these differences? The version in Joshua is called the "aggressive account" and the version in Judges is known as the "peaceful account." To what do these labels refer? Do you think this is an accurate distinction? Why or why not?

Activity 2

One of the central themes in the Bible is that of exile, an experience that has profoundly shaped Jewish identity. Consider the words of the prophet Isaiah in response to the Assyrian conquest of Judah. Now take a look at Psalm 137 that addresses the Babylonian Captivity. How do these writings present the experience of exile: what causes are given for it? what is its emotional and spiritual cost? What do you think Hebrew audiences took from these words? An equally important Biblical theme is release from exile or homecoming. One of the most important acts of release occurred when the Persian emperor, Cyrus the Great, ended the Babylonian Captivity. With the emperor's permission, the Hebrews returned to Palestine and rebuild their temple at Jerusalem. Read Cyrus the Great's announcement of the release and the excerpt from the biblical Book of Ezra that appears beneath it. Then read the passage from Isaiah that proclaims the end of the Captivity. How do these documents present the end of the Captivity? How do they resemble and differ from each other in their tone and style? Who is the speaker of each, and from where does the authority or power to speak originate? What do the characteristics of these writings suggest to you about the relationship between Hebrew civilization and other ancient Near Eastern cultures?