Spring 2014/Pasadena

OT567

Allen

OT567: LAMENTATIONS (English Text) (4 Units). Leslie C. Allen.

DESCRIPTION: Exegetical study of the book of Lamentations in English. Attention will also be paid to form, structure, and the canonical value of the book in Jewish and Christian settings.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated (1) an ability to interpret an Old Testament text, (2) an understanding of the book’s literary features and (3) of the historical and cultural settings that underlie it, and (4) a sense of how to use the book in their Christian ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets twice weekly for two-hour sessions for ten weeks, for lectures and discussion.

REQUIRED READING:

Allen, Leslie C. A Liturgy of Grief: A Pastoral Commentary on Lamentations. Baker Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0801039607, Pub. Price $22.00 [145 pp. assigned].

Berlin, Adele. Lamentations: A Commentary. Westminster John Knox, 2002. ISBN: 978-0664729740, Pub. Price $30.00 [79 pages assigned].

Garrett, Duane, and Paul R. House. Song of Songs, Lamentations. Nelson, 2004. ISBN: 978-0849908255, Pub. Price $49.99 [106 pp. assigned].

Matthews, Victor H., and James C. Moyer. The Old Testament: Text and Context. 3rd ed. Baker Academic, 2012. ISBN: 978-0801048357, Pub. Price $35.00 [6 pp. assigned on Moodle].

O’Connor, Kathleen. M. Lamentations and the Tears of the World. Orbis, 2002. ISBN: 978-1570753992, Pub. Price $24.00. [63 pp. assigned].

Parry, Robin. Lamentations. Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN: 978-0802827142, Pub. Price $22.00 [189 pp. assigned].

Parry, Robin A., and Heath A Thomas, editors. Great is Thy Faithfulness? Reading Lamentations as Sacred Scripture. Pickwick, 2011. ISBN: 978-1610974530, Pub. Price $27.20 [36 pp. assigned on Moodle]

Pham, Xuan H. T. Mourning in the Ancient Near East and the Hebrew Bible. Sheffield Academic Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-1841270296, Pub. Price $145.00 [23 pp. assigned on Moodle].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Brown, Robert M. Elie Wiesel: Messenger to All Humanity. University of Notre Dame, 1983. ISBN: 978-0268009205, Pub. Price $24.00.

Lee, Nancy C., and Carleen Madolfo, editors, Lamentations in Ancient and Contemporary Cultural Contexts. Society of Biblical Literature, 2008. ISBN: 978-1589833570, Pub. Price $34.95.

Lewis, Clive S. A Grief Observed. HarperOne, 1989. ISBN: 978-0060652388, Pub. Price $12.99.

Salters, Robert B. Lamentations: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary. T & T Clark, 2010. ISBN: 978-0567576514, Pub. Price $110.00.

Weems, Ann. Psalms of Lament. Westminster John Knox, 1995. ISBN: 978-0664258313, Pub. Price $17.00.

Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Lament for a Son. Eerdmans, 1987. ISBN: 987-0802802941, Pub. Price $12.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Attendance at classes [40 hours] and reading of the total of 697 pages of required reading [47 hours] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes ##1-4].

2. A one-hour midterm examination, based on 144 pages of the required reading (20%) [8 hours] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes ##1-3].

3. A term paper [3,500 words] on an assigned passage, based on 152 pages of the required reading (30%) [42 hours] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes ##1-4].

4. A two-hour final examination, based on 309 pages of the required reading (50%) [14 hours] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes ##1-4].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the MA program requirements for OT book study (OTBK).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes, in class.