Deck 21: Return From Exile

Question 1

What are the major themes found in Second Isaiah? How do these themes reflect the realities or expectations of exilic Israel?

Answer 1

no answer

Question 2

How did the Priestly and Deuteronomistic writers interpret the exile? What was God's role in these events according to these sources?

Answer 2

no answer

Question 3

What is canonical criticism? How did it develop? How has it been used to shed light on the book of Isaiah?

Answer 3

no answer

Question 4

Trace the development of monotheism from Israel's earliest texts through Second Isaiah. What historical factors played a role in its development?

Question 5

After succeeding his father Labashi-Marduk to the throne, Nabonidus became the last king of Babylon.

Question 6

The Persians controlled Judah for over two centuries.

Question 7

Zerubbabel was a descendant of David.

Question 8

The "Cyrus Cylinder" portrays Cyrus as chosen by Marduk to conquer and rule Babylon.

Question 9

The P source interprets the Babylonian exile as justified punishment for Israel's disobedience.

Question 10

Second Isaiah describes the return from Babylon as a "new Exodus."

Question 11

The D source shows an understanding of Babylonian myths and makes extensive use of them in its texts.

Question 12

For the exiles, P's message was one of hope and optimism.

Question 13

In the book of Ezra, Cyrus is commanded by God to release Israel and to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

Question 14

Second Isaiah's references to other gods are more likely to be literary convention than an expression of polytheistic belief.

Question 15

Nebuchadrezzar's son, ______________, released King Jehoiachin from prison in the first year of his reign.

A) Amel-Marduk
B) Nergal-sharezer
C) Nabonidus
D) Labashi-Marduk

Question 16

_____________ is presented as the opposite of the pharaoh of the Exodus story:

A) Ezra
B) Nabonidus
C) Cyrus
D) Zerubbabel

Question 17

Under the Persian empire, Judah was known as the province of:

A) Kedar
B) Yehud b. Yehud
C) Israel
D) Palestine

Question 18

The census in Ezra may be intended to parallel the census in the book of:

A) Exodus
B) Numbers
C) Joshua
D) Judges

Question 19

During the exilic period, the _____ sources underwent a major development.

A) P and D
B) J and E
C) J and D
D) J and P

Question 20

The primary source that recounts the return of Israel from Babylon is:

A) Second Isaiah
B) Nehemiah
C) Ezra
D) Daniel

Question 21

In 561 bce _________ was released from a Babylonian prison, possibly reviving hopes in the restoration of the Davidic dynasty.

A) Josiah
B) Jehoiachin
C) Zedekiah
D) Zerubbabel

Question 22

The "Cyrus Cylinder" describes Cyrus in all the following ways, except:

A) lover of Babylon
B) firstborn son of Marduk
C) worshipper of Marduk
D) chosen by Marduk to rule Babylon

Question 23

All of the following are factors that demonstrate that Second Isaiah is later than First Isaiah except:

A) the appearance of Cyrus
B) the use of an anonymous speaker
C) the narrative takes place in Israel
D) the Temple is destroyed

Question 24

The earliest text in the Bible to make a clear statement on monotheism is:

A) First Isaiah
B) Second Isaiah
C) Ezra
D) Ezekiel

Question 25

In Second Isaiah, the author imagines that the procession out of exile will be led
By:

A) God
B) "the servant"
C) Ezra
D) the prophet himself

Question 26

The decree in Ezra that permitted the exiles to return home and worship Yahweh has echoes in (the) ___________________.

A) Enuma Elish
B) Rassam Cylinder
C) Cyrus Cylinder
D)Lachish letters

Question 27

All are major themes in Second Isaiah except:

A) explicit monotheism
B) the servant of Yahweh
C) exile as "new Exodus"
D) construction of the new Temple

Question 28

In Second Isaiah, Marduk is often referred to by the title:

A) Nebu
B) Bel b. Bel
C) El
D) Baal

Question 29

Second Isaiah can probably be dated to the ________ century bce.

A) early sixth
B) mid-sixth
C) late sixth
D) early fifth

Question 30

P suggests the observance of all as a means to preserving religious identity in a foreign land except:

A) sabbath
B) circumcision
C) purity laws
D) dietary laws

Question 31

The methodology that prioritizes the Bible as a whole-the received text-is known as:

A) reception history
B) textual criticism
C) canonical criticism
D) none of the above

Question 32

The image of Yahweh as a mother or midwife appears in all of the following except:

A) Ezra
B) Second Isaiah
C) Third Isaiah
D) Psalms

Question 33

All are possible identifications of the servant in Second Isaiah except:

A) an individual
B) a group within Israel
C) Israel
D) the high priest

Question 34

The period from 586 to 539 bce is known as the _______________ period.

Question 35

The Persians were a major concern to the Greek historian _______________.

Question 36

The ______________, "The Lord our God, the Lord is one," is a monotheistic declaration that is characteristic of Judaism.

Question 37

The "book of the law of Moses" that was brought to Judah by Ezra was probably the _______________.

Question 38

Isaiah 40-55 are known as ____________________.

Question 39

The _______ source explains the disasters of 722 and 586 bce as an act of theodicy or divine justice.

Question 40

The Persian period lasted until the conquests of ______________ in 332 bce.

Question 41

The return from exile of _______________, a grandson of King Jehoiachin and descendant of David, gave hope to some returnees for a restoration of the Davidic dynasty.

Question 42

_________________ is the belief in only one god.

Question 43

The German scholar Bernhard Durm first identified the ____________________ in Second Isaiah.