thoughts about the pentateuch (continued)

--old testament understanding--

concepts to note about the pentateuch (continued from previous post) including thoughts about culture and civilization during the periods prior to and during the history we are reading about:

• according to my textbook, a sophisticated culture existed in the river valleys of mesopotamia and egypt during the prehistoric period/history having been recorded in the proper sense, according to my text, beginning shortly after 3000 b.c. (in the ancient near east). agriculture was advanced, with drainage systems and irrigation. writing had been developed. there were two large kingdoms in egypt (northern and southern). there existed between egypt and mesopotamia significant cultural interactions/exchange. this period reflects history 1500 years before israel came onto the scene.
• then, in the third millennium (the 2000's b.c.)...the three civilized areas of significance were, again, mesopotamia and egypt...and syria-palestine. sumerians were the peoples of mesopotamia in this time period. they were organized into city-states and culture revolved around their temple. by the time abraham moved to ur of the chaldees, sumerian civilization had faded. then, in egypt during this period, the kingdoms had been united and existed as the old kingdom (from 2900-2200 b.c.)...this is the period known for the construction of the pyramids (interesting to note :) ). then, from 2200-2000 b.c., the first intermediate period defined a time of social chaos and economic ruin, according to my textbook. in syria-palestine, there is evidence of small, fortified cities with inhabitants known as canaanites. late in this period, every canaanite city went through vast destruction.

now...if you're like me, you just read over all of that really quickly and if i asked you to really explain it, you may mention well...it had something to do with the time before abraham and um, mesopotamia?...(sometimes with history facts, i have had this disinterest that i really don't know how to account for...but it's kind of awakening here lately, which is cool. you may be more history-savvy than i...so, i do not mean to make light of it all if that is you. :) ) anyway...i think it's so helpful to know what had happened in the millennium before abraham and just have an idea of the culture he lived in or what had been going on in the world just before he brought his family to ur. it's interesting that there really had been a whole 1000 years of civilization before this period that we read about abraham. back to history...

• during the patriarchal age, around 2000-1500 b.c., mesopotamia, egypt, and syria-palestine are still the main three civilizations to note... and...this will need to be continued again. (i may post this morning and then edit later to keep it all together...)

....................................................................................................................continued thoughts below........

• back to the patriarchal age...2000-1500 b.c....so, we were talking about these three main civilizations of abraham's day. i won't go into too much detail about the comings and goings of each of these centers of culture but will hit the high points. in mesopotamia, babylon became important under hammurabi gaining status as the greatest cultural center of the day. hammurabi wrote a law code that contains parallels to the hebrew law in the pentateuch. following hammurabi's reign, babylon declined. in egypt, the middle kingdom defined a period of about three hundred years. then, the hyksos peoples invaded ushering in the second intermediate period in egypt. there is very little written evidence to document the history of syria-palestine during this time, but we know that the amorite people were culturally significant in this area during this time. we also know that much of the patriarchal narratives took place within palestine.
• we know that abraham journeyed from haran (in mesopotamia) to canaan, and we know that this was during a peaceful and stable time. the roads on which he traveled were open between northwest mesopotamia and canaan. the nomadic lifestyle of the patriarchs fits into the context of common nomadic practices and culture of that day.
• it's important to note that biblical writers had to be selective in what was recorded regarding the history of the people and culture...and of course, this was divinely inspired. my reference text aptly states that their aim was largely theological and that they wrote to recount the interactions of God with His people that inspire faith.
• the theology of the narratives of genesis and the pentateuch is significant as it is defined by the patriarchs...and it is significant to us many, many centuries later. according to my text, "the salvation promised abraham will ultimately embrace all humankind."

and on that note...we will revisit theological concepts presented throughout the books of the law during our study of them. another significant quote from my textbook to conclude today's thoughts... "the beginning of redemptive history offers a word about its end...God has not dismissed the human family in wrath forever, but now acts to mend the breach that sin has placed between him and his world. this promise stands as a key to understanding all of scripture." praise the Lord.