Deck 9: In the Wilderness

Question 1

Describe the figure of Miriam. Explain her complicated, and at times contradictory, relationships with Aaron and Moses. How is she important to the overall Exodus and wilderness narratives?

Answer 1

no answer

Question 2

Describe the rebellions in the wilderness that punctuate the book of Numbers. What is their narrative function? What is their function in the larger biblical context?

Answer 2

no answer

Question 3

Are Israel's encounters with the inhabitants of the territories through which the Israelites passed en route to the Promised Land historical? What is the significance of the accounts of opposition that the Israelite's encountered along their journey?

Answer 3

no answer

Question 4

What roles do the different priests and priestly houses play in Numbers? Why are the repeated transgressions on the part of these priests important to the narrative as a whole and P in particular?

Question 5

The Israelites finally enter the Promised Land at the end of the book of Numbers.

Question 6

All of the laws included in Numbers are repetitions of laws found in Exodus and Leviticus.

Question 7

The Levites receive no tribal territory in the Promised Land.

Question 8

The census statistics in Numbers include all Israelite men, women, and children.

Question 9

All biblical sources make unequivocally clear that Miriam is the sister of Moses.

Question 10

Inheritance was patrilineal according to Israelite law.

Question 11

The Amalekites are never mentioned in a nonbiblical source.

Question 12

In Numbers the underworld is referred to as Sheol.

Question 13

The Deir Alla texts confirm almost all of the details of the biblical account of Balaam, the son of Beor.

Question 14

The arrangement of the Israelite camp in Numbers 2 strictly follows actual geography.

Question 15

According to _____________, the Israelites spent most of their forty-year sojourn in the wilderness at the site of Kadesh:

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

Question 16

Moses and Aaron are condemned by God following the events at:

A) Midian
B) Hebron
C) Meribah
D) Kadesh

Question 17

The Amalekites appear to have been herders of:

A) camels
B) sheep
C) goats
D) cattle

Question 18

Caleb was of _____________ descent.

A) Israelite
B) Kenizzite
C) Moabite
D) Egyptian

Question 19

The scouts return from the land of Canaan with all of the following except:

A) grapes
B) pomegranates
C) honey
D) figs

Question 20

The use of an ordeal to prove cases of adultery is found in both Numbers and:

A) Code of Hammurapi
B) Deir Alla texts
C) Lachish Letters
D) all of these

Question 21

The seraphim are:

A) serpents
B) peoples
C) quarrels
D) priests

Question 22

P alters the genealogy of Caleb to make him a member of the tribe of:

A) Judah
B) Benjamin
C) Ephraim
D) Levi

Question 23

The rebellions by the priests Dathan and Abiram provide an etiology for the decline of the tribe of ____________:

A) Levi
B) Reuben
C) Manasseh
D) Simeon

Question 24

The law that guaranteed the priests a share of the offerings was called the:

A) covenant of salt
B) covenant of peace
C) Covenant Code
D) eternal covenant

Question 25

The king of _____________ hired Balaam to curse the Israelites?

A) the Amalekites
B) Midian
C) Moab
D) Bashan

Question 26

The Israelites' last stop before entering the Promised Land was:

A) Kadesh
B) Shittim
C) Hebron
D) Sinai

Question 27

The episode of the scouts in Numbers 13-14 is reminiscent of the story of _______________?

A) the plagues
B) the revelation of the Ten Commandments
C) the golden calf
D) the Ritual Decalogue

Question 28

The national deity of the Moabites was:

A) Baal
B) Re
C) Chemosh
D) Ptah

Question 29

According to the case of the daughters of Zelophehad, the daughters could only
Keep their inheritance if they:

A) took a vow
B) married within the tribe
C) paid for it
D) were already married

Question 30

The bronze snake that was offered incense at the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem
Was called:

A) seraphim
B) Massa
C) Korah
D) Nehushtan

Question 31

A term used for the deified dead is:

A) bemidbar
B) Rephaim
C) shadday
D) nazirite

Question 32

He claimed that all of Israel was holy and therefore the leadership of Moses and
Aaron was unjustified:

A) Abiram
B) Og
C) Yahweh
D) Korah

Question 33

How many cities of refuge were given to the Levites?

A) two
B) Six
C) ten
D) forty-eight

Question 34

______________ dedicated themselves to the deity by abstaining from alcohol, leaving their hair uncut, and avoiding any contact with a corpse.

A) Nazirites
B) Priests
C) Midianites
D) Amalekites

Question 35

The two priests who reject Moses's leadership and want to return to Egypt are ______________ and ________________.

Question 36

A nonbiblical source that discusses Balaam son of Beor was found at _______________.

Question 37

The closest male relative who is legally responsible for his kin, usually relating to matters of death or property, is called the _________________.

Question 38

The Hebrew title for the book of Numbers refers to its setting in _______________.

Question 39

The site of Kadesh or Kadesh-barnea is often associated with the archaeological site of _________________________ in the northern Sinai.

Question 40

The prescribed purification for someone who came in contact with a corpse was the sacrifice of a(n) ________________.

Question 41

The two scouts who argued that Canaan should be invaded were _______________ and _____________.

Question 42

Yahweh commanded Moses to defeat the ___________________, a group with whom Moses and the Israelites had previously appeared to be friendly, during their journey to the Promised Land.

Question 43

______________ is afflicted with a skin disease as punishment for protesting Moses' marriage to a non-Israelite.

Question 44

The wife accused of adultery must drink the _________________.