Tag Archives: Israel

Amos Inductive Study

Posted by on January 31, 2012 No comments

Chris Evangelista
Dr. Marion Taylor
WYB1008HF
24 January 2012

Inductive Study on the Book of Amos

Part 1: Table of Contents

Verses

 Caption

Amos 1:1 to 2:3

 Judgement Against Surrounding Nations

Amos 2:4 to 2:16

 Judgement Against Judah and Israel

Amos 3:1 to 4:13

 More Warnings of Judgement

Amos 5:1 to 5:15

 How Can You Be Saved?

Amos 5:16 to 6:14

 More Warnings of Judgement

Amos 7:1 to 7:17

 Amos Attempts to Intercede Yet They Turn on Him

Amos 8:1 to 9:10

 The End is Near

Amos 9:11 to 9:15

 But there is Hope: A Remnant Shall Remain

Part 2: Analysis of the Book’s Structure
The majority of the book contains prophecy written in the form of Hebrew Poetry. This is shown by the poetic device graded numbers in the initial proclamation of judgement against the Judah, Israel, and its surrounding in the first two chapters: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment” (Amos 1:3, ESV). Furthermore, this is seen in the numerous uses of the various forms of parallelism throughout the whole book. The content of these prophecies, as well as whom they are addressed to helps to distinguish the major sections of the book. Also, the various narrative interludes that the author includes help to frame the prophecies, and also aid in distinguishing the section.

The first major section of the prophecy contains judgements against the nations surrounding Judah and Israel. After an introductory note, judgement is proclaimed against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, the Ammonites, and Moab. These judgements follow a particular pattern, opening with the graded numbers poetic device “For three transgressions of… and for four, I will not revoke the punishment”, followed by the transgression of the offending nation, and closing with the judgement that will be sent against it.

While Amos 1:3 to 2:3 contained judgements against surrounding nations, Amos 2:4 turns the attention to Judah and Israel. These two judgements (verses 4-5 for Judah and 6-16 for Israel) follow the same poetic patterns of the earlier judgements against the surrounding nations. And so, they really ought to have been included in the previous division. However, as the shift is made to these two nations consisting of the people of God, I felt it deserved its own category. Nonetheless, what is clearly being shown in the first two chapters of Amos is that that there is no distinction between Judah, Israel, and its surrounding nations. They have succumbed to sin just as much as the evil nations surrounding them, and are just as deserving of punishment. This is reminiscent of a theme that was seen in the Book of Judges, the “Canaanization of Israel”. Although the people of Israel were supposed to transform the land of promise, they actually were themselves transformed by the land as a result of their apostasy from Yahweh. Read more »

Judges Inductive Study

Posted by on November 9, 2011 No comments

My fourth paper of 2011-2012 (Haven’t gotten my third paper back yet) … Grade received: A-

Chris Evangelista
Dr. Marion Taylor
WYB1008HF
1 November 2011

Inductive Study on the Book of Judges

Part 1: Table of Contents

Verses Caption
Judges 1:1 to 3:6 Opening: Introducing the Cycle of Israel’s Apostasy
Judges 3:7 to 3:11 The First Cycle: Othniel
Judges 3:12 to 3:31 The Second Cycle: Ehud and Shamgar
Judges 4:1 to 5:31 The Third Cycle: Deborah and Barak
Judges 6:1 to 10:5 The Fourth Cycle: Gideon (and Abimelech)
Judges 10:6 to 12:15 The Fifth Cycle: Jephthah
Judges 13:1 to 16:31 The Sixth Cycle: Samson, and the Turning Point
Judges 17:1 to 21:25 Ending: Israel’s Apostasy is Complete

Part 2: Analysis of the Book’s Structure

The book of Judges can be neatly divided into three major section, an opening section which contains two introductions to the book, a middle section containing six degrading cycles of apostasy, and an ending which contains stories that illustrate Israel’s apostasy. This structure can be seen in the clever use of two phrases “And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” and “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes”. These two phrases mark are introduced at turning points in first two sections of the story, and then go on to serve as a dividing points for the proceeding section.

The opening section can be further divided to two parts: Judges 1:1 to 2:4, and Judges 2:5 to 3:6. Both of these parts begin with the death of Joshua and both serve as introductions to the cycle of apostasy that will follow in the middle section. The first part seems to be a point-by-point presentation of the events following the death of Joshua. It shows the Israelites at first succeeding in conquering the land, but slowly falling into sin and compromise and ultimately failing in the conquest. The second part serves as a commentary of the first, introducing the key phrase which will dominate the middle section: “And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (2:11). The basic plot structure of the book is further introduced as the author explains that the Lord both gives Israel over to plunderers, but also raises up judges, or saviours, to deliver them from oppression.

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