Baruch

 

1.   Background

·       Historically somewhat confusing: fifth year (Baruch) or fifth month (2 Kings)?  Baruch never known to be in Babylon; cult continuing when temple destroyed?

·       Perhaps dates to a time of crisis like the Maccabean period (VanderKam suggests post-160 B.C.).

·       Mention of Israel sacrificing to demons could reflect the Maccabean period (4:7).

 

2.   Perspective on God

·       God is enthroned forever (3:3).

·       God is righteous (e.g. 2:18), just in all He commands Israel to do (2:9).

·       God has wrath on sin (e.g. 2:20).

·       Other gods are demons? (4:7)

 

3.   Perspective on Israel/Law

·       God makes an everlasting covenant with the remnant of Israel and promises he will never remove them from the land again once they return (2:35).

·       Law of Moses central to Israel’s obligation to God (e.g. 2:2).

·       Accepts the legitimacy of Jerusalem (e.g. 4:30), its high priest and sacrifices (e.g. 1:7-8, 10), as well as the temple (which is called by God’s name—2:26).

·       Israel is currently in exile (3:7), but its people will return some day from east and west (5:5).

 

 

4.   Perspective on sin/salvation

·       Sin is violation of God’s commands in the law (1:17-18).

·       Sin brings God’s wrath (1:13, 17).

·       Repentance brings deliverance (4:21).  God is savior (4:22).  Salvation relates to Israel’s freedom from foreign oppression (4:24).

 

5.   Cosmology/Eschatology

·       Earth created for all time (3:32)—no sense of messiah or final judgment, although a return from the Diaspora is expected (5:5).

·       No sense of a conscious afterlife—the spirits of the dead have been removed from their bodies (2:17) and vanished (3:19).

 

6.   Ethics

·       Importance to keep God’s commands in the law (e.g. 4:1).

·       Importance of prayer and fasting as a part of repentance (1:5). 

 

7.   Special Features

·       The high priest prays and intercedes for the people (1:13).

·       Praise of wisdom in 3:9-4:4, which is ultimately equated with the book of the law (4:1).

 

 

Letter of Jeremiah

 

1.   Background

·       In the Vulgate and KJV, the 6th chapter of Baruch; the LXX had it separate, with Lamentations between.

·       Hard to date; may come from Persian period.  Israel in Babylon for seven generations? (280 years?)

·       An invective against idol worship.

 

2.   Perspective on God

·       Strict monotheism: other gods are nothing (16, 23, 28, 40, 44, 49, 52, 56, 64-65, 69).

·       God controls the sun, moon, stars, weather, etc… (60-62).

 

3.   Perspective on Israel/Law

·       Sin is presumably violation of law (2).

·       Implies the importance of holiness/purity codes (e.g. 29).

 

4.   Perspective on sin/salvation

·       Exile is a punishment for sin (2).

 

5.   Cosmology/Eschatology

·       Perhaps no conception of conscious afterlife (71).

·       Israel perhaps still in exile (3).

 

6.   Ethics

·       Idolatry strictly forbidden.

·       Implied that law is standard (e.g. 29).

 

7.   Special Features

·       Angel of God is with the exiles to watch over them (7).

·       Mention of temple prostitution (42-43).