Analysing Biblical Text

Activity 0.1
Using the links listed below, complete the following tasks about the life and times of the
people and places of ancient Israel.
http://cambridge.edu.au/redirect/?id=5928 (Women in the Bible)
http://cambridge.edu.au/redirect/?id=5929 (Daily Life in Ancient Israel)
http://cambridge.edu.au/redirect/?id=5930 (The Land of the Hebrews)
http://cambridge.edu.au/redirect/?id=5931 (Timeline for the History of Judaism).
1 Imagine a young girl who is preparing for marriage in ancient Israel. Your task is to create
a profile of this young girl for her Ancientbook page. Include details relating to her family
status; the roles and responsibilities assigned to her; where she lives and what is
interesting about her location; and who the important people are in her region, including
who has power and who are her enemies.
My name is liv, I come from a family of 5 and I am the
oldest daughter. I am 12 years old. We are all Jewish and I
usually do the cooking with my mother. I live in Jordan and I
think the place we live in has beautiful scenery. I believe Jesus
is a very important person because of all the miracles he
performed and the people he helped, and we make sure to
never trust Satan or other religions.

2 Using the website relating to women, identify the four types of family groups that were
common. In the table below, identify their main characteristics:

Jewish: Families who are made up of Jewish: Belief that god is our savior and are
Jewish people extremely loyal and humble
Christian: Families who are made up of Christian: Belief that god is our savior and
Non-religious: Families who are made up usually follow the 10 commandments

Cambridge University Press 1 © Goldburg 2016

Analysing Biblical Text

of non-religious people Non Religious: Usually very typical Israel

double-career families, in which the family
husband and wife are financially free Double career: Usually a stressful lifestyle

3 Using the Venn diagram below, compare and contrast the different roles and
responsibilities attributed to men and women. Next, explain why women may not have
featured in some ancient stories involving battles and land rights. What conclusions can
you draw about the roles of men and women?

Realm of women Realm of men

Usually cook Similarities Usually go out to

work
Usually get Pray
forced into Morgen
marriage Often share
religious beleifs
maiden

Cambridge University Press 2 © Goldburg 2016

Analysing Biblical Text

4 Imagine you are catering for a wedding feast between two prominent families. Create a
menu for the feast and keep in mind what might be used on special occasions. Create
another menu for the week before the event. How do they differ and why?
For a wedding you would likely have Latkes, Brisket, Bourekas, Blintz and
Kugel. For a casual meal say a week before you marry, it would be good to
eat popular and widely liked foods like Hummus, Shakshouka and Sabich

5 Using both geographical and historical information, create a pamphlet that showcases the
‘real estate’ of Abraham. Where does he come from, travel to and finally settle, and what
are the main features of each place?
The land of Abraham is a beautiful desert land. Abram’s name was
named Avram, left Ur to find a new nation because of god calling to him
and finished his journey in canaan

6 Complete the following table related to the world behind the text.

Cambridge University Press 3 © Goldburg 2016

Analysing Biblical Text

Bible Who might Where and Are there any Who might What
reference have written when does significant have been customs,
this text? this story places that receiving practices or
Was it by an occur? Who link to other this? rituals can be
eyewitness or and what are events? Why Who is the identified?
is it a mentioned? are these intended Does it refer
recollection? mentioned? audience? to another
What is its time frame?
purpose?
Genesis It was a In the The earth The intended The creation
1:1– 2:4 recollection beginning audience is of earth
catholics and
christians

Exodus It was written The time is No The intended No ritual is

15:1–21 by mosses never audience is identified, but
himself explicitly catholics and they are all
stated but the christians singing about
people god
involved are
mosses and
the israelites
Luke 5:17–26 This was a This story This event The intended The ritual is
recollection takes place in links to other audience is Jesus healing
Israel miracles like catholics and the paralyzed
jesus feeding christians man
the poor and
turning water
into wine
John 2:1–11 This was a This story This event The intended Jesus turning
recollection takes place in links to other audience is water into
galilee miracles like catholics and wine
healing a christians
paralyzed man
Jesus feeding
the poor

Cambridge University Press 4 © Goldburg 2016