Musings for Old Testament Final

Learning Moments: 1. Discussion Post from August 26, 2013 After reading Chapter 1, I began to realize how each canon of the Old Testament attributed to the overall understanding and interpretation of the script itself. Each subdivision and verse in these lists of books narrows the field of information into singular, understandable sections, which provides a breakdown for the entire material. I can see how it's easier to interpret scripture this way, especially when different canonization techniques were used, such as Jewish or Christian ones. Chapter 2 helped me understand the significance of geography and history in the development of the Old Testament. I had a little trouble following this chapter because it wasn't easy to relate the information back to actual scripture. While I was reading, I felt like the climate, topography, and archaeology would be irrelevant to the actual stories of the Old Testament. I figured these factors were merely developing the scene for the first part of the Bible. Luckily, I realized these factors weren't irrelevant, but actually instrumental in providing most of the information in Genesis and the rest of the Torah. This was my very first post, so it served as an integral part of documenting my learning process. That being said, I learned what the term canon meant and how each section of the Bible was composed of various writings formatted into one, collective piece. The information that I read in order to write this post was also the first type of critical analysis of the Bible that Ive ever had to read. 2. Discussion Post from August 27, 2013 It definitely came as a shock that the books of the Old Testament weren't ordered chronologically. I've always thought they were too. Now it seems more evident that each denomination orders the books and stories in order of relevance. I think this method helps magnify each particular story for whatever faith is being focused on. Prior to learning that the Old Testament isnt chronologically ordered, I assumed that the entire Bible was essentially a timeline of events. Now I understand that the Bible, and especially the Old Testament, is a collection of works that has been accumulated over time, regardless of chronological order. 3. Discussion Post from September 17, 2013 The covenant that God made with His people featured rules and laws instructing them on how to conduct their lives. These rules, which included the Ten Commandments, were proposed to an entire nation, not just an individual. Unlike God's previous covenants with Abraham and Noah, this one involved an immense amount of people. Purity and selflessness were seriously encouraged when it came to following the covenant that God set forth for His people. Purely abiding by the law codes given by God was part of maintaining a righteous, moral value. For some reason, I always thought that the Ten Commandments were intended for one person, so that they could spread Gods commands throughout the word. I

learned that His covenant was proposed to an entire nation, which was one of the first times that God had done this. 4. Discussion Post from August 27, 2013 Learning that the Old Testament was an anthology was the most fascinating part of this reading assignment for me. I knew that there were different authors and prophets, but the thought of how long it must have taken to compose the Old Testament is captivating for some reason. As I mentioned before, it was interesting to learn that the Bible is a collection of works that have been compiled over time. I knew that it was separated into books, but I had no idea that even the books were made up of different works, as well. Enjoyable Moments* 1. Discussion Post from September 30, 2013 My favorite heroic story was about the lefthanded assassin, Ehud. Born into the tribe of Benjamin, Ehud's name literally meant son of the right hand, which is ironic because he was born left-handed. This subtle characteristic allowed Elud to cleverly trick King Eglon into letting his guard down, giving Elud an opportunity to assassinate him. I viewed Ehud's story as an example of making the most out of the traits and characteristics that God provides. 2. Discussion Post from October 25, 2013 As a king, Solomon held his kingdom to a higher standard with innovations in architecture brought about by the wisdom granted to him by God. He also maintained peace throughout his kingdom by forming alliances and treaties with surrounding areas. On the other hand, Solomon set a negative example for his people by surrounding himself with excessive amounts of money and women. He favored many indulgences and worldly affairs while neglecting the pursuit of God. 3. Discussion Post from October 14, 2013 Even though David committed adultry and murder, he was always quick to ask God for forgiveness, which is why David portrays such a religiously devout image. Samuel claimed that David was a man after God's own heart because David stayed true to God's plan for him, even when he faced diversity and hardships. Despite David's failures, he was always for God. *Each one of these moments were some of my favorite passages and stories to learn about because they all dealt with prominent figures in the Old Testament. Elud, Solomon, and David were integral parts of the Old Testament, and each one of them held different characteristics that made them extraordinary. I particularly enjoy reading about people who make an impact in history.