421 Bible IV: Prophets, Psalms, and Wisdom Literature (Hebrew Bible II 411) Martha Myre

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1 421 Bible IV: Prophets, Psalms, and Wisdom Literature (Hebrew Bible II 411) Martha Myre Pre-Class Assignments Due on June 26, 2019 This course examines God s Word as expressed through Israel s prophets, selected Psalms, and selected passages from Wisdom literature. Students will be able to: 1. Understand the origin, history, and use of these forms of biblical literature among God s people. 2. Exegete these forms of biblical literature. 3. Apply exegesis to preaching, other pastoral responsibilities, and issues of the present day. Required Texts: (*indicates book is available electronically) Bernard Anderson, Out of the Depths: The Psalms Speak for Us Today, 3 rd. Edition, (Minneapolis, Fortress Press, 2000) *John H. Walton, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible *Bill T. Arnold, Introduction to the Old Testament *Richard Clifford. Wisdom Literature. Recommended Texts: One of the following Bible Dictionaries: *Harper Collins Bible Dictionary by Mark Allan Powell *A Dictionary of the Bible: Oxford Quick Reference by W. R. F. Browning Nelson s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: New and Enhanced Edition Edited by Ronald F. Youngblood *Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary III Edition by J. D. Douglas & Merrill C. Tenney, rvsd Moises Silva Eerdman s Dictionary of the Bible, ed. by David Noel Freedman I also recommend that you use as a study bible one of these translations: New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Common English Bible (CEB), TANAK (the English translation of the Hebrew text published by the Jewish Publication Society) Please see the Rubric for Grading to understand what my expectations are. If you have any questions, please me at mvmyre@gmail.com. Or my phone number is Walton Read all of Walton before coming to class, but focus on the following: A. In the section on Comparative Studies read carefully and answer the following: a. What does Walton mean when he speaks of cognitive environment and what is its significance for the study of the Old Testament? (1-2 paragraphs) b. What are at least three ways that comparative study challenges critical scholarship? (2-3 paragraphs) 2. Read Arnold Chapter 17 and Chapters 1-3 of Clifford. A. In Chapter 17, Arnold addresses the relationship between Israelite wisdom and monotheism. Write a short 1-2 page essay on that relationship as you understand it. B. How does Clifford understand the relationship between Biblical Wisdom and other Ancient Near Eastern sources of Wisdom? Compare/contrast his view with that of Walton. (2-3 paragraphs) C. How do you understand the underlying Proverbs that are addressed by Clifford? (2 paragraphs) Martha Myre Hebrew 421, 2019, rvsd 1

2 3. In the chapter on prophecy, Walton addresses the relationship of Israelite prophecy to omens, magic, divination and prophecy in other Ancient Near Eastern civilizations. Arnold talks about the nature of Israelite prophecy as well. Using both as sources, write a 2-3 page essay giving your Israelite prophecy and how it compared/contrasted with magic, omens, divination, and other forms of prophecy. How does an Israelite prophecy help you to address the current world situation? 4. Other reading to prepare for class: Read through as much of Anderson as you can and chapters 16 and 18 of Arnold. 5. Terms to Know: Definition and significance You will be tested on these terms at the beginning of class. My suggestion is to make flash cards for the listed items. You will have to read the textbooks to find the definitions/significance of these terms. Then use the cards in the following way: use them to test yourself frequently once a day if possible. This should not take a long time. When you get the answer right, don t take the card out of rotation immediately, but wait until you have gotten it right several times. Then put them aside into a pile that you will look at once a month until class. For some of these you might have to scan through the first few chapters of Arnold to find the definitions Acrostic Synthesizing parallelism Antithetical parallelism Synonymous parallelism Standard wisdom Speculative wisdom The concept of wisdom (Hokma in Hebrew) Ma at Theodicy Retribution theology Marduk Leviathan The Instruction of Amenemope Types of Psalms: Hymns Community lament Individual lament Thanksgiving songs Royal Psalms Form criticism Sitz im leben Tanak (or Tanakh) YWHW Henotheism, Monolatry, Monotheism Torah Pentateuch Deuteronomistic History Nevi im Ketuvim Septuagint Apocrypha Masoretic Text Divisions of the Psalms Redaction Criticism Martha Myre Hebrew 421, 2019, rvsd 2

3 Tradition criticism Rhetorical criticism Canonical criticism Hermann Gunkel Divination Prophecy 3 types of prophetic speech: Prophecies, utterances, narratives Announcements of judgment Announcements of salvation Dates: BCE 722 BCE 586 BCE 539 BCE Syro-Ephraimite War Pay attention to the Sidebar 20.4 on page 333 of Arnold entitled The Sequence of Events Defining the Exile, as well as Sidebar 21.1 on page 343 entitled, Sequence of Events Defining the Post-exilic period. Be able to outline this sequence. Categories of Divination: Inspired Official prophecy Informal prophecy Dreams Terminology of words relating to the future (Walton): Plan Prediction Forecast Prognosis Vision cast Inductive Divination Deductive Divination Categories of prophetic oracles in Ancient Near Eastern cultures (Walton): Indictment History Support Warning Categories of prophetic oracles in Israelite Culture (Walton): Indictment Judgment Instruction Aftermath Omens: Extispicy, lots, celestial, terrestrial, physiognomic Martha Myre Hebrew 421, 2019, rvsd 3

4 Grading Rubric Criteria 1.A.a. Understanding of Cognitive environment A measure of how well the student has grasped the meaning and significance of cognitive environment. Student that she/he has fully grasped Walton's point about cognitive environment and explained its significance for OT study using her/his own words and examples. Range Student that he/she has a grasp of the meaning of cognitive environment and has given examples of its significance. The student has briefly recounted what Walton has said about cognitive environment but has not reflected on its significance in a way that engagement with the concept. answered or has answered incorrectly. 1.A.b. Ways that comparative study challenges critical scholarship. written about at least 3 ways in a way that serious engagement with the material. 9.0 pts found 3 shows why Walton believes comparative study challenges critical scholarship. listed 3 ways, simply quoting Walton. acceptable listed fewer than 3 ways. answered or has answered incorrectly. 3. A. The relationship between Israelite Wisdom and monotheism. Student writes at least 300 words of an organized and developed essay that the student has understood Arnold's argument and has engaged intellectually with that argument. 9.0 pts Very Student writes at least 300 words of an organized essay that the student has understood Arnold's argument and has engaged intellectually with that argument. The student writes at least 300 words of an essay that both a grasp of Arnold's points and some reflection upon those points. 7.0 pts Student is able to quote relevant passages from Arnold that show the student understands that such a relationship exists. The student shows some comprehension of the relationship but is not able to fully articulate that relationship. Student fails to answer the 3.B. Relationship between biblical and ANE Wisdom 3.C. Assumptions and Concepts Student fully and show how it relates to. Student and has some concept of how it relates to 7.0 pts Student mostly, but is not clear how it relates to Student not fully able to articulate and is not clear how it relates to answered or answered incorrectly Martha Myre Hebrew 421, 2019, rvsd 4

5 underlying Proverbs 4. Relationship of ANE prophecy. Length and organization of essay. mentioned all the underlying written 2-3 pages and has a wellorganized format for the essay that includes a thesis statement and supporting paragraphs. mentioned most of the underlying written 2-3 pages with some degree of written fewer than 2 pages or lacks mentioned only a few of the underlying 1.0 pts attempted at least a page and some form of answered or answered incorrectly written less than a page or has no discernable 4. Relationship of ANE prophecy. Content made a cogent argument comparing and contrasting Israelite prophecy with magic, omens, divination, and other forms of prophecy in the Ancient Near East. 6.0 pts compared and contrasted ANE prophecy. talked about both ANE prophecy in the essay with some the differences and similarities. mentioned both ANE prophecy but does not demonstrate full the similarities and differences between them. mentioned both ANE prophecy 4. Relationship of ANE prophecy. Use of Israelite prophecy in addressing the current world situation, reflected on the last question and given both an answer and reasons for that answer. reflected some upon the last question in a way that shows engagement with the issue. reflected some upon the last reflected on the last Timeliness Full Marks completed the assignment on time. Late. Assignment is late but before class begins. Very late Assignment is handed in the first day of class. No Marks Assignment handed in after the first day of class. Martha Myre Hebrew 421, 2019, rvsd 5