TIOT 419: What are ways in which Israel tried to define who "God's people" truly are? How would you define it today? (focus for Genesis Group)
TIOT 423: Ezekiel envisions a hierocracy. Haggai envisions a return of the monarchy. Zechariah envisions a shared role for a political and religious leader. What is the best form of government? (focus for Exodus Group)
TIOT 425: In the post-exilic period, we witness the rise of "Judaism." Some ways that the questions of identity were experienced and answered include: Does one have to live in Judah? What about assimilating elements from the non-Jewish culture? Is conversion to Judaism possible?
In what ways are these questions experienced today? (focus for Leviticus Group)
TIOT 426: "When God's people rebuilt the walls, they created honor for the city and for themselves." Do good walls make good Israelites? Good neighbors? Good Christians? (focus for Numbers Group)
TIOT observes
that both history (in the case of Chronicles) and the prophets (in the case of
Hosea, Amos, and 2 and 3 Isaiah) were being interpreted by post-exilic
authors. How can you talk about the appropriateness of such re-interpretation?
How do you deal with the former and later being set side by side in what is
now our one Scripture?
Psalms 121-134 all bear the heading, “A Song of Ascents.” What is this about? How will you find out?
Psalm 121: How do you understand verse 1? What hills, and are they a positive or negative image? Is the question real or rhetorical?
Psalm 123.2 and 131.2 include feminine images for God. How else can you appropriately use feminine images for God? What difference does it even make if you use masculine or feminine metaphors for God? (focus for Deuteronomy Group)
The book of Esther has a mixed reception in the history of Jewish interpretation. See if you can find any references to God, Temple, Sabbath, or Torah! Esther herself has a mixed reputation. (Why might a Jewish reader be critical of her?) List one reason why you think the book of Esther should and/or should not be in the Bible. (focus for Joshua Group)