Ancient Israel Research Articles

Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel 7/1 2018

<b>Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel 7/1 2018</b>

Some historical and legal aspects of bringing to legal responsibility for issuing and executing criminal orders and orders

From the analysis of historical and legal sources, it can be seen that the legal responsibility for issuing and executing criminal orders and orders went through certain stages of formation, which are directly related to the processes of emergence and development depending on the historical type of the state and its legal instruments. It is noted that the first states that at the legislative level established legal responsibility, that is, punishment, including for giving and executing criminal orders and orders, were the states of the Ancient East, in particular, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Babylon and Ancient India, where at the legislative level legal responsibility was introduced not only for ordinary people, but also for representatives of the authorities for criminal actions against the state that encroached on the established state order. In most cases, the punishment for such acts was the death penalty. It is argued that the idea of legal responsibility for issuing and executing criminal orders and orders dates back to biblical times, where it is inextricably linked to the doctrine of the origin and separation of powers. Therefore, in view of the significant influence of Christianity on the formation of the Western legal tradition, in particular the texts of the Bible, which in fact became the civilization foundation on which the legal norms designed to regulate social relations between people and government institutions were based and will continue to be based, including the scope revealed which is assigned to man for his dominion and the limits where such dominion ends. And in the event that not only representatives of the authorities, but also anyone violates the commandments established by the Creator, including not only by issuing, but also by executing orders or orders, then such actions are subject to condemnation, and the person himself is subject to punishment.

Hamas-Israel War: A Brief Analysis of First Two Phases of War

At the end of 2023, the Middle East experienced some new challenges. Among these new challenges, one of the most important of them all is the Hamas-Israel war. After almost four months of war and no end in sight, there are now growing questions about whether Israel will be able to accomplish its stated goals in Gaza. The brutality of the Hamas’s attack on October 7, the extent of the cruel massacre, shocked both the Israeli society and foreign public opinion. To better understand the factors of Hamas's operational success, the strategic surprise attack on Israel from Gaza, on October 7, 2023, needs a thorough analysis to understand all its political, intelligence, and operational failures aspects. It goes without saying that many elements of Hamas's brutal but largely successful attack are still unknown. Taking this into account, this paper focuses on only three elements of the ongoing war. Firstly, based on the qualitative methodology of research, this study evaluates and highlights the political background of the bloodiest attack in modern Israel's history which happened on October 7, 2023. Secondly, using the research methodology of data collection and analysis, this paper seeks to answer the still open-ended question, how was Hamas able to attack a country which operates one of the best intelligence organizations in the world by an extreme surprise? Finally, by using the narrative and historical models of qualitative research and the available data, this paper focuses on assessing the first and second phases of the war. Furthermore, the study formulates conclusions regarding the expected directions of change in the Israeli security system and some aspects of regional security implications of the ongoing Hamas-Israeli conflict. The potential result of the current paper is to present the reasons for the ongoing Gaza conflict based on the historical background. In addition, it provides a primary analysis, based on currently available information, of the first two phases of the obviously protracted Hamas-Israel conflict for the benefit of the community of researchers, scholars, and academics.

Material culture in the Old Testament: Conflict and propaganda with Missionary Christianity

Cultural materiality as evident in the Old Testament (OT) was borne out of personal and corporate experiences of ancient Israelites with YHWH (Ex 16:32–34; 25–36; Nm 16–17, Jos 3–4). At the dawn of Christian Missions, certain indigenous religious objects became ‘idolatrous’, but across the Atlantic Ocean, they were works of art kept in museums and art galleries. This negatively impacted biblical reception by the locals. This work investigates select OT icons and wades into their ontological and existential significance in relation to the conflict and propaganda of Missionary Christianity towards indigenous icons. The narrative criticism and the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) including Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were engaged in the study while the Symbolic Interactionism was the theoretical framework. The objects preserved by ancient Israel were to serve as relics for future generations who were to have an existential knowledge of YHWH’s dealings with their forebears. Western missionaries claimed to have transmitted biblical messages to Africa, yet their approach led to conflicts in biblical reception by the indigenous people who struggled between being detached from their existential realities, and accepting the gospel with its Eurocentric biases. The Western missionaries’ inability to transmit the biblical understanding of cultural materiality in their dealings with Africans invites suspicion in the missionaries’ efforts with a pretentious display of ignorance of the ontological significance of indigenous materiality.Contribution: This article offers insight into the conflict and propaganda inherent in the Western missionaries’ approach in transmitting biblical messages of cultural materiality, and challenges of biblical reception among indigenous people in Nigeria.

Histories of Ancient Israel: Present State and Future Potential

Abstract This review considers the state of historical studies of ancient Israel in light of the publication of two recent books on the subject. While this recent scholarship nuances and advances our understanding of the history of the southern Levant, it also reveals ongoing methodological tensions due to the field’s long-running commitments to post-Enlightenment, European (especially German) approaches to the historical analysis of biblical texts. Simultaneously, these two histories point towards some productive ways in which we might move forward in the study of the history of ancient Israel. These productive potentials include reevaluating our historical methods across specialties and approaches and seeking alternative approaches to history writing that make space for fragmentation, multiplicity, and irresolution.

Die by Fire (Isaiah 66: 16): A Study of Divine Justice in Old Testament and in African Yoruba Context

This study attempts to reread Isaiah 66: 16 in the light of divine justice in African Yoruba culture in Nigeria. The study survey various uses of fire in ancient Israel and in the African Yoruba tradition. In the event of justice, a parallel is sought between Yahweh and a Yoruba deified divinity called Sango whose presence is marked by fire, thunder and lightning. The parallel is with the view to establish the significance of fire on justice in African Yoruba Christianity. African Biblical Hermeneutics was used for the study. It was discovered that fire was used as medium of divine justice and mercy in African Yoruba tradition. Fire marked divine presence, manifestation of the glory of God, revelation of God’s power, cleansing of human and vessels for holy use, and use for domestic purposes especially cooking. The African Yoruba Christians in Nigeria see fire as a weapon of divine justice. Therefore, in their prayers to God they call down fire to kill their spiritual and physical enemies. They are fond of using the words: ‘die by fire’. In this way, the Bible becomes a sure and reliable weapon in the battles of life and thus makes the biblical text relevant in any context, condition and generation.

The Hunt for Ancient Israel: Essays in Honour of Diana V. Edelman ed. by Cynthia Shafer-Elliot et al (review)

The Hunt for Ancient Israel: Essays in Honour of Diana V. Edelman ed. by Cynthia Shafer-Elliot et al (review)

Diffusionism and the Hebrew Bible

The Diffusionist model has been used to explain cultural similarities in many fields of the humanities including anthropology, archaeology and ancient history. Diffusionism has often formed the presuppositions of those who have attempted to explain the similarities between certain elements of the Hebrew Bible and texts from other cultures of the Ancient Near East. This paper questions the appropriateness of Diffusionism as an explanation for common features found in ancient Israel and the Near East. Four particular cases of similarity are examined to test the merits of Diffusionism: accounts of the Flood, laws concerning the ‘goring ox’, biblical covenants and Near Eastern treaties, and creation accounts.

Penyelidikan Motif Penulis dan Pesan Teologis Melalui Analisis Komposisi Narasi Kitab Hakim-Hakim 6-8

This research presents a combination of two approaches, historical criticism and narrative criticism, in analyzing the motifs of the author of the book of Judges through the narrative of Israel's deliverance by Gideon. The debate among Old Testament scholars regarding historicity and theological historiography has divided opinions into two camps that are difficult to reconcile. Although each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses, the combination of both can enrich an approach to the analysis of a narrative text. Judges 6-8 are rarely interpreted using both of these approaches. For historical critical interpreters, emphasis on historicity and the documentary sources forming the narrative is crucial. However, they often overlook the literary devices that bind these historical fragments. On the other hand, narrative criticism, which focuses on literary devices, tends to trap interpreters in the subjectivity of interpretation. Some interpretations with ethical, moral, and practical theological nuances have also made leaps too far without considering the author's motifs. Through the combination of historical criticism and narrative criticism, this research has identified the author's motifs as fundamental theological values that can serve as a foundation for developing theology. This research has found that the author of the book encourages the generations of Israel to maintain their identity through theological messages about God's interaction in Israel's history during the era of Gideon.

Hamas-Izrael War, Short Analysis of First Two Phases of War

At the end of 2023, Middle East faced new challenges. Among these new challenges, one of most important is the Hamas-Israel war. To understand the factors of Hamas operational success, and the strategic surprise attack on Israel from Gaza, on October 7, 2023, needs a thorough analysis to understand all its political, intelligence and operational failures aspects. In this article three issues related to new Gaza war will be addressed. Firstly, this article highlights the political background of the bloodiest attack in modern Israel's history happened on October 7, 2023. Secondly, this article seeks to answer the question, how was Hamas able to attack a country with operates one of the best intelligence organizations in the world by an extreme surprise? Finally, based upon the available data, this article analyzes the first and second phases of war.

The Divine right of the Tsar and the "unity of Heaven and the Emperor" — the concept of the "Holy Sovereign" in Russian and Chinese political cultures

The image of the sovereign reflects the attitude of the people towards the ruler of the country, which is an important aspect of the study of political culture. This article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the sanctity of the image of the ruler in Russian and Chinese political cultures. The analysis of the origin and specificity of the holy image of the sovereign in the mentalities of both peoples is carried out. The main differences in the process of consecration of the ruler in Russian and Chinese stories are highlighted. In the autocratic Russian and Chinese states, a common understanding of the indisputable authority of the sovereign was at the center of ideology. To ensure the legitimacy and competence of his rights, the Russian tsar turned to Orthodox Christianity for support, and the Chinese emperor turned to Heaven. As a result, since the history of Russia, the power of the sovereign from the very beginning to the end has been limited by the powers of the deity and the authority of the Orthodox Church. In ancient China, the sovereign had "absolute power", since there had never been a so-called "official religion" in Chinese history. Although the monarchical period in both countries has already ended, its duration and stability indicate that the concept of "holy sovereign" as one of the main features of the Russian and Chinese mentality can regulate relations between social groups in the countries. Although the monarchical period in both countries has already ended, its duration and stability indicate that the concept of "holy sovereign" as one of the main features of the Russian and Chinese mentality can regulate relations between social groups in the countries. Such power is of great importance in the modern era.

“Ikwekwe yinja1 (a Boy is a Dog)”

In contemporary society, the status of children as fully human is often contested and/or not accepted. The idea that children are not fully human has resulted in a plethora of abuses, including the denial of children’s rights, voices, and agency both in biblical texts and in contemporary society. Notwithstanding, scholars like Marcia Bunge acknowledge that in the Judeo-Christian bible “infants and children are also whole and complete human beings made in the image of God” (2012:65). Many times, the ways in which children are treated in biblical texts (in so far as adults make decisions without their (children) approval, e.g., Abraham’s decision to sacrifice Isaac, Jephthah’s decision to kill her daughter in honour of his agreement with Yahweh, the killing of the boy children during the time of Pharoah and King Herod exhibit the idea that children are not fully human. Since Christians rely on the Bible for inspiration and conduct in both private and public life, it is necessary to study the ways in which children were treated in biblical times. Until recently, biblical scholars did not have much of a deliberate focus on studying children and how they are treated in the Bible.

Integrating the six C's of disaster response: Lessons from the mega terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.

On October 7, 2023, over 2,500 Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel from Gaza and killed over 1,400 people and injured 2,800, resulting in the largest terrorist attack in Israel's history. Several models describe the principles of managing a mass casualty event. One of them is an Australian construct known as the six C's. While command, control, and coordination are familiar concepts, the six C's emphasize the importance of communication and community (consequences and community connection). We describe how two emergency departments in Israel-Assuta Ashdod and the Hadassah Medical Center-Ein Kerem-responded to this disaster in the context of the six C's.

“A War Could be Going on Outside, and You Wouldn’t Even Know”

This article is based on four months that I spent working as a chef at an Israeli restaurant in London. I first explore how restaurants craft nationalist narratives through food and then interrogate the political consequences of those narratives. My argument unfolds over the course of a meal, in which each dish comes to represent different aspects of Israeli identity. Each section begins with the “script” that chefs and waiters recite as they present dishes to diners. This article explores the curiosities and silences embedded in the restaurant’s de-politicized version of Israeli identity based on a fantasy of the country that erases war and the occupation of the Palestinian people from the narrative. I argue that there is a harm by omission to this recasting of Israeli history and current reality on the ground, and expose how food, specifically in highly stylized restaurants, can be used to create national narratives, particularly in diaspora.

Lot's Daughters and Naomi and Ruth: Of “Moral Love” and National Myths

ABSTRACTThis essay argues that the book of Ruth's reopening of Israel's history and national mythology functions in such a way as to redeem, as it were, the plight of the subaltern Moabite—a plight begun with the daughters of Lot in Genesis 19. A parallel is then drawn with the 1619 Project, the recent journalistic project which posits the entire historical sweep of African slavery in North America since 1619 as the defining arc of the United States' founding. As theoretical frames, the essay draws on the work of literary critic Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (including her concept of “moral love”) and political philosopher Arash Abizadeh. In so doing, the essay illustrates how a “functionalist” approach to biblical ethics that balances the content of the biblical narrative with attention to how the text functions in its broader context can provide guidance for contemporary ethical application.

Recent Advances and Updates in Rhabdomyolysis: A Comprehensive Review

Rhabdomyolysis (RML) is a complex clinical syndrome marked by the breakdown of skeletal muscle cells, with historical recognition dating back to biblical times and modern understanding evolving since World War II. This comprehensive review explores the diverse landscape of RML, encompassing its epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. As a result of trauma or non-traumatic muscle injuries, pathogenesis involves the release of intracellular components into the bloodstream. Epidemiologically, RML exhibits demographic nuances, emphasizing the importance of recognizing risk factors for prevention. Clinical manifestations range from the classic triad of muscle pain, weakness, and dark urine to diverse presentations. Diagnosis involves evaluating elevated creatine kinase levels and myoglobinuria, with management strategies focusing on fluid balance, AKI prevention, and addressing underlying causes. The prognosis is diverse, influenced by complications such as AKI, with various scoring systems aiding risk assessment. Prevention and treatment strategies include a multifaceted approach, integrating tailored warm-ups, mindful exercise, education, and dietary modifications. Overall, the prognosis for RML remains favorable, underscoring the significance of meticulous management. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of RML, bridging historical insights with contemporary medical strategies and guiding ongoing research and advancements in patient care for this intricate condition. RML serves as a paradigm for integrating nuanced historical perspectives and modern medical approaches, highlighting the intricate balance required for effective management in clinical practice.

Recent Advances and Updates in Rhabdomyolysis: A Comprehensive Review

Rhabdomyolysis (RML) is a complex clinical syndrome marked by the breakdown of skeletal muscle cells, with historical recognition dating back to biblical times and modern understanding evolving since World War II. This comprehensive review explores the diverse landscape of RML, encompassing its epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. As a result of trauma or non-traumatic muscle injuries, pathogenesis involves the release of intracellular components into the bloodstream. Epidemiologically, RML exhibits demographic nuances, emphasizing the importance of recognizing risk factors for prevention. Clinical manifestations range from the classic triad of muscle pain, weakness, and dark urine to diverse presentations. Diagnosis involves evaluating elevated creatine kinase levels and myoglobinuria, with management strategies focusing on fluid balance, AKI prevention, and addressing underlying causes. The prognosis is diverse, influenced by complications such as AKI, with various scoring systems aiding risk assessment. Prevention and treatment strategies include a multifaceted approach, integrating tailored warm-ups, mindful exercise, education, and dietary modifications. Overall, the prognosis for RML remains favorable, underscoring the significance of meticulous management. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of RML, bridging historical insights with contemporary medical strategies and guiding ongoing research and advancements in patient care for this intricate condition. RML serves as a paradigm for integrating nuanced historical perspectives and modern medical approaches, highlighting the intricate balance required for effective management in clinical practice

The ethnocratic shikun: housing discourse in support of nation-building

ABSTRACT This research critically analyses the Israeli housing block (‘shikun’) discourse, as presented in cultural representations during 1948–1961, and its contribution to the evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The study argues that the discursive exclusion of the shikun from Israel's socio-political history of planning and development is a central part of Israel's ethnocracy and has an essential role in exacerbating the conflict. It maintains that the shikun's exclusion is a reduction of its consequences, namely the Mizrahi population's dispersion through the shikun, which stands as one of the main foundations of the Israeli ethnocratic regime. Subsequently, I identify the shikun anew as the ‘ethnocratic shikun’, and suggest that it can be a better conceptualisation to reveal how ethnic oppression, by discursive and architectural means, affects national land regimes, and thereby exacerbating regional violent conflicts. This research has two main goals. First, achieving a better understanding of Israeli society and politics by delving into a crucial component of human existence – housing, and analysing its ‘disappearance’ from public debates regarding the Middle-Eastern geopolitics. Second, the research aspires to make a methodological contribution that goes beyond Israeli housing discourse, by adding another novel layer to the Cultural Approach to Critical Discourse Analysis.

The Case of the Missing Fish: Perception, Thought, and the Zoological/Physical Structure of the World in Ancient Israel

ABSTRACT Israelite authors who mentioned land, aerial, and aquatic animals in texts mentally organized the world into three realms: the water and its animals, the land and its animals, and the air and its animals. Israelite authors who mentioned only land and aerial animals in texts mentally organized the world into two realms: the water and its animals, and the terrestrial realm (the land/air complex) and its animals. For some authors, this bipartite way of mentally organizing the world placed terrestrial animals (i.e., land and aerial animals) in the foreground of their minds and aquatic animals in the background, leading them to mention the former but not the latter. For other authors, this bipartite way of mentally organizing the world highlighted certain differences between terrestrial animals and aquatic animals, leading them to mention the former but not the latter.

Biblical Gilgal: A Common Place Name or a Cult Site near Jericho?

An analysis of the biblical references mentioning the place name Gilgal indicates that they all denote a single site—namely, the cult site located east of Jericho. References to Gilgal that seemingly allude to other sites resulted either from scribal errors or from scholarly misinterpretation of the biblical text. Moreover, gilgal as a noun for a kind of settlement never appears in the Bible. Hence, the plural form gilgals sometimes used by archaeologists to designate elliptical or round sites enclosed by a massive or narrow stone wall are misleading and should best be abandoned. On the contrary, Gilgal was the exclusive name of a major Israelite cult centre located near the main road that passed from Jericho to Transjordan. The cult site operated in the pre-monarchical and monarchical periods, but ceased to function in the late monarchical period, possibly during the reign of King Josiah.