Deck 25: Heroes in Foreign Lands: Postexilic Literature and Diasporic Identity

Question 1

Discuss the value of the book of Ruth. Why is it unique? What can it tell us about ancient Israel that other books do not?

Answer 1

no answer

Question 2

What is the central message of the book of Jonah? Why is there no clear consensus on the book's meaning?

Answer 2

no answer

Question 3

Describe the genre of historical romance in the biblical literature. How does it compare to it original model in Genesis? How does it change over time? How does it vary from example to example?

Answer 3

no answer

Question 4

How are chapters 7-12 of the book of Daniel different from chapters 1-6? How does Daniel's character change? What is the message of each section?

Question 5

The expression "son of man" emphasizes mortality.

Question 6

The Moabite language is closely related to Hebrew.

Question 7

Daniel is probably the same as Danel known from Ezekiel and the Ugaritic epic.

Question 8

We can begin to refer to the Judean people as Jews in the Roman period.

Question 9

The book of Daniel is probably the latest in date among all of the books in the Jewish canon.

Question 10

The Zoroastrian worldview provided imagery found in many Jewish and Christian apocalyptic writings.

Question 11

The book of Daniel may be an etiology explaining the origins of Purim.

Question 12

The book of Jonah gives an accurate chronological account of events in the eighth century bce.

Question 13

Ruth was a Moabite.

Question 14

The book of Daniel provides the longest apocalypse in the Old Testament.

Question 15

Naomi is a(n):

A) Ammonite
B) Moabite
C) Judean
D) Edomite

Question 16

In Daniel 5, Daniel decodes the writing that mysteriously appears on a wall at King Belshazzar's banquet as predicting the division of Belshazzar's kingdom between:

A) the Greeks and the Persians
B) the Persians and the Medes
C) the Greeks and the Romans
D) the Babylonians and the Egyptians

Question 17

David had an ancestor who was of ___________ descent.

A) Moabite
B) Edomite
C) Philistine
D) Egyptian

Question 18

In the Christian canon, Ruth comes between:

A) Judges and 1 Samuel
B) 2 Samuel and 1 Kings
C) Ecclesiastes and Esther
D) Song of Solomon and Lamentations

Question 19

Esther's husband was:

A) Ahasuerus
B) Mordecai
C) Sennacherib
D) Haman

Question 20

Ruth's son was named:

A) Boaz
B) Mahlon
C) Obed
D) Jesse

Question 21

The book of Ruth is traditionally attributed to:

A) Joshua
B) Samuel
C) David
D) Solomon

Question 22

The book of ________________ ends in an unanswered question:

A) Ruth
B) Jonah
C) Esther
D) Daniel

Question 23

The purpose of the book of Ruth may be:

A) to denounce the Moabites
B) to explain David's ancestry
C) to promote levirate marriage
D) to support the book of Judges

Question 24

The "Ancient of Days" appears in the book of Daniel as a title for:

A) Daniel
B) God
C) Nebuchadnezzar
D) Alexander

Question 25

God commands Jonah to deliver an oracle against:

A) Greece
B) Assyria
C) Babylon
D) Syria

Question 26

The English word "angel" comes from a Greek word meaning:

A) divine
B) messenger
C) prophet
D) wings

Question 27

The book of _____________ never mentions God:

A) Ruth
B) Jonah
C) Esther
D) Daniel

Question 28

In the Jewish canon, the book of Daniel is found among the:

A) Writings
B) wisdom books
C) historical books
D) prophets

Question 29

Daniel and his friends subsist on a diet of only _______________ for ten days:

A) manna
B) dairy products
C) vegetables and water
D) vegetables and manna

Question 30

In the apocalyptic sections of the book of Daniel, God's general is identified as:

A) Moses
B) Daniel
C) Michael
D) Gabriel

Question 31

The book of ______________ suggests that Yahweh has concern for the cattle of Nineveh.

A) Esther
B) Jonah
C) Ruth
D) Daniel

Question 32

The etymology of Purim relates to:

A) the casting of lots
B) the defeat of enemies
C) a celebratory festival
D) feasting

Question 33

Daniel was celebrated for his skills as a:

A) scribe
B) dream interpreter
C) poet
D) priest

Question 34

According the book of Kings, Jonah was a prophet during the reign of:

A) Hezekiah
B) Josiah
C) Jeroboam II
D) Ahab

Question 35

The legal tradition that required a redeemer to assume the position of male protector when the primary head of household had died is ________________.

Question 36

The book of Esther explains the foundation of the Jewish holiday ____________.

Question 37

The conception of angels and demons requires an implicit dualism that is heavily influenced by the ancient Persian religious tradition of __________________.

Question 38

Ruth's mother-in-law was _____________.

Question 39

In Daniel, one "like a ____________ coming with the clouds of heaven" was presented to the Ancient of Days and given universal rule.

Question 40

Finite beings created by God, but immortal and thus superior to humans, are known as ____________________ .

Question 41

God's principle messenger in the book of Daniel is named _________________.

Question 42

Ahasuerus is also known as ____________.

Question 43

Esther's cousin ____________ was a Jewish exile from Judea.

Question 44

The mercy shown to the people of Nineveh in the book of Jonah contrasts with the oracle against them in the book of _______________.