Ancient Israel Research Articles

The House of God as the House of Salvation for All People

This paper explores the existence of eunuchs in ancient Israel and the Israelites’ reception of them in the postexilic period. Using a postcolonial approach, this paper analyzes the ambiguity of the identities of foreigners and eunuchs, the liminal position they occupy in the Israelite community, the stereotypes they receive, and God’s actions to create a third space for them. The postcolonial reading of Isaiah 56:1-8 shows that there is an opportunity for foreigners and eunuchs who promise to keep the Sabbath and obey God’s covenant to live and become part of the Israelite community. Furthermore, Isaiah 56:1-8 also creates a third space for eunuchs where their dignity will be restored and their names will be immortalized forever. When connected to the Indonesian context, God’s initiative to bring marginalized and rejected eunuchs into the third space—a space of transformation that breaks down all oppressive binaries— becomes news of hope for sexual minority groups in Indonesia who have also experienced trauma and suffering. This interpretation calls for religious communities, including their leaders, to create a warm and loving home for others who are also part of God's family.

Motifs of Healing

This article delves into the unique role of music as a therapeutic tool in ancient Israel, with a focus on the biblical account of music therapy healing Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23). This study attempts to explore and question the relationship between music, healing, and religion. This study aims to: first, to interpret the text of 1 Samuel 16:14-23 which introduces the significance of music in the ancient Israelite tradition. Second, to emphasizes the function of music as healing therapy, where David uses the lyre to heal Saul. This text subtly demonstrates the prevalence of the healing practice of music in the biblical world. Third, it investigates narrative interpretive methods that discuss the extent to which Israel, through David, defines himself and how the superiority of music helps shape Israel’s self-perception as a musical community. Data was collected through literature studies/scientific literature related to the title of this study. The results of the data collection will then be processed and presented in the form of a description.

A study of bribery and corruption in Exodus 23: 8 and the Nigerian experience

Bribery and corruption are social global phenomena that have generated debates among scholars. They are problems of routine deviation from established standards and norms by public officers and parties with whom they interact. It is widely held that bribery and corruption are the bane of the development of many nations in the world today. Previous studies on bribery and corruption have situated its cause in human weakness with little or no attention paid to divine position on the issue. This study examined Yahweh’s instruction to ancient Israel on bribery and corruption. Exodus 23: 8 was chosen as the text of investigation to establish Yahweh’s position on bribery. As a corollary, the study explored how Nigerians are expected to handle the issue of bribery and corruption in our contemporary time. African Biblical Hermeneutics that makes the Bible relevant in any culture and nation was used for the study. It was discovered that the level of corruption in ancient Israel and Nigeria was very high. Findings revealed that some Nigerian judges and leaders collect bribes to pervert the course of justice. The poor and the less privileged in society suffer injustice of all sorts in the hands of leaders and judges who have received bribes. These corrupt practices are partly responsible for the unrest, banditry, underdevelopment, unemployment and insecurity that have bedevilled our nation today. For Nigeria to stand tall in the comity of Nations her citizens must make justice and equity their watchword. Nigerians who are involved in Bribery and Corruption be sanctioned.

How God Became a Lawgiver

The Torah is God’s law. This biblical concept is so prominent and is considered so self-evident that it has hardly been perceived as a historical problem until now. Traditionally, it was considered to be a basic element of the Bible within its historical context. But in fact, it represents an innovation in the ancient Near East, and for this very reason it should be investigated historically: In the ancient world, kings, not deities, were lawgivers. Only the legal tradition of ancient Israel developed the idea that God himself formulated laws and passed them on to his people. In the Torah, Moses plays a prominent role in this mediation. Divine laws then became a central element of religion in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but what historical circumstances and factors gave rise to them? The loss of kingship in Israel might have provided a major impact, but in addition to political and socio-historical developments, fundamental transformations in ancient Israel’s intellectual history must also be considered, which could have led to the formation of the idea of God as a lawgiver. Due to new insights into the historical emergence of the Torah, which research has developed in recent decades, but also due to new findings on the legal tradition of the ancient Near East, there is both the possibility and the need for reconstructing the historical forces and factors that made the Torah God’s law.

A HERMENEUTICAL STUDY OF LEVITICUS 19: 15 AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR JUDGES IN NIGERIAN DEMOCRATIC CONTEXT

Justice is one of the attributes of Yahweh. Judges were appointed in ancient Israel by Yahweh for the Israelites to live in peace and harmony with one another. However, it was observed that the Judges in ancient Israel did not live to expectation. Leviticus 19: 15 was chosen as a text of investigation to determine the response of Yahweh to the Judges and its implications for Judges in Nigerian democratic Context. Historical and Phenomenological methods were used for the research. It was discovered that one of the organs that is expected to play crucial roles in governance is the judiciary. The study revealed that Judges and leaders in ancient Israel failed Yahweh. Also, since the inception of Democracy in Nigeria, the Judiciary has played and is playing important roles to protect the system. One of the major roles of the Judiciary is justice and equity for all and sundry in all election petitions, disputes in political parties, removal and reinstatement of elected officer. It was observed that some members of the judiciary are not living to the expectation of the law and the people. Some of them compromise justice for pecuniary gains. Some Nigerians opined that Judiciary has been compromised and as such cannot be trusted in the events of manipulations of electoral process or results by the politicians and the electoral body that has the responsibility of conducting elections. In view of this, many Nigerians no longer have trust in the Judiciary and this has brought the vocation in to disrepute.

Framing of Hamas Attacks on Israel in Al-Jazeera and BBCCoverage

Abstract. Digital media provides the latest news on global issues, particularly in the realm of religion, attracting a broad audience. This research explores how international mass media outlets Al-Jazeera and BBC frame their coverage of Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive research method, the study aims to comprehensively depict the framing processes employed by Al-Jazeera and BBC in reporting on the Hamas-Israel conflict. Primary data includes Al-Jazeera's article "Why the Palestinian group Hamas launched an attack on Israel? All to know" and BBC News Indonesia's piece titled "What is Hamas and why is it fighting with Israel in Gaza?" Secondary data from relevant scholarly studies supports the research. Data collection involves reading and note-taking, while data analysis follows Miles and Huberman's model—data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. Findings reveal that Al-Jazeera defines Hamas' attack on Israel as a defensive measure, emphasizing its causes and making moral judgments by comparing Hamas' damage to Israel's actions. Al-Jazeera recommends characterizing Israel's actions against Palestine as genocide. On the other hand, BBC portrays Hamas' assault as sudden terrorism, neglecting Israel's criminal history. In its moral assessment, BBC focuses on Hamas' crimes to support a terrorist narrative. Treatment recommendations by BBC attempt to legitimize Israel's colonization efforts by highlighting that Palestine lacks recognition as an independent state by the UN. Differences in framing in the reporting of the Hamas-Israel conflict can affect diplomacy and peace efforts in the region as well as international support for one of the parties. International mass media are not always objective in reporting conflicts because they are influenced by political and ideological interests. This can lead to criticism of media objectivity and fairness and raises questions about the media's responsibility in shaping public opinion that can influence the development of conflicts.Keywords: Framing, Mass Media, Hamas Attack, Israel, Robert Entman

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.

The Sons of Esau and Lot: Reevaluating National States in Deuteronomy 2

Abstract In an attempt to trace the tradition of nationalism back to ancient Israel, public intellectual Yarom Hazony reads Deuteronomy 2 as a representation of ancient values of land-bounded autonomy and cultural homogeny. However, he overlooks two key aspects of the passage: 1) the familial and theological reasoning behind the divine protection of the other peoples, and 2) the messy aetiologies of how those peoples came to inhabit their lands. God calls the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites “brothers” and “sons of Esau” or “Lot,” suggesting that the prohibition against invasion is not based on respect for sovereignty but instead mythological family and relative social connection. Thus, using postcolonial theories of group identity from Gayatri Spivak, this article argues that Deut 2 does not represent an ancient (pre)conception of the nation-state but rather a (re)negotiation of group relations and social identities in connection to co-habitation of the Levant.

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.