MMW 11 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Book Of Deuteronomy, Facing Reality, Israelites
3 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Key points from last lecture: for ancient israelites, their history and destiny shaped by ethical accountability of the people, trans-generational consequences inherited from the virtues and vices of their forefathers. Key focus today: challenge to the deuteronomist notion of divine justice. Fell to assyrians (1) judah now a pawn caught between superpowers. Small states relied on alliances with superpowers (taxes/compromises but safe: warnings of isaiah during precarious 8th century. Warned against alliances & encouraged faith in god (1) return to righteous conduct and social justice (2) believe that god is behind all historical developments: inspired urgent religious reform under hezekiah (715-687) First after the split to implement reforms (one of the only hebrew kings to defend. Ii) the integrity of faith after exile: prophet jeremiah myth of invincibility and false hope, realism vs. myth of invincibility (1) rebuke of assumption this is yahweh"s city! (2) jeremiah"s letter to exiles in babylon. Realism: stop dreaming about coming home-live life in present.
