DESCRIPTION:

A study of the English text of the third portion of the Hebrew scriptures, which includes the Psalms, the Wisdom literature (Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes), the Festival books (Ruth, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and Esther), the apocalyptic book of Daniel, and the historical books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Attention will be given to surveying the content of this varied literature, to discerning its different literary forms, and to reflecting upon its distinctive theological contributions. Exegesis of representative passages.

Students completing this course will have demonstrated:

1. a basic competence in exegetical and hermeneutical skills;

2. an overview of this portion of the Hebrew canon and of the introductory issues pertaining to each portion of it;

3. an awareness of the variety of contemporary perspectives which may inform a Christian reading of this literature;

4. a grasp of several theological issues which characterize the later period of Israel's history: worship; wisdom and its diversity; competing understandings of the future hope.

The course will meet twice weekly, two hours per session. Class sessions will be devoted to a combination of lecture presentations and structured class discussions.

LaSor, W. S.; Hubbard, D. A.; and Bush, F. W. Old Testament Survey. 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.

Anderson, B. W. Out of the Depths. 3d ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2000.

Murphy, Roland E. The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature, 3d ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.

Readings from course syllabus.

Collins, John J. The Apocalyptic Imagination: an Introduction to Jewish Apocalyptic Literature, Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.

Gottwald, Norman K. The Hebrew Bible: A Socio-Literary Introduction. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985.

Gutiérrez, Gustavo. On Job: God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1987.

Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob. Just Wives?: Stories of Power and Survival in the Old Testament and Today. Louisville: Westminster/JohnKnox, 2003.

Supplemental bibliography will be distributed with the syllabus.

1. A paper consisting of two parts:
   a. a 5-6 page exegetical treatment of a selected passage;
   b. a 5-6 page exposition of a related theological issue.
   Materials for preparing this assignment will be provided on reserve.

2. A brief midterm examination.

3. A final examination.