DESCRIPTION:

A study of the Book of Psalms with particular reference to a cross-section of Psalms: 6, 30, 42, 51, 72, 88, 89, 95, 100, 104, and 139. The whole of each psalm will be studied, but about ten verses each week will be designated for study in Hebrew.

By the end of the course students should have 1) gained insight into a range of approaches to the study of the Psalms which can enable the Psalms to illumine and develop our relationship with God as the church and as individuals; and 2) discovered the value of studying the Psalms in Hebrew and been inspired to continue using Hebrew in the study of the Old Testament.

The course meets for two ninety-minute blocks each week. The first block will consider general approaches to different types of psalms and will look at the psalm for the week as a whole. The second will focus on its Hebrew text.

Brown, F., S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. London/New York: Oxford University Press, 1953. [or one of the more recent multi-volume lexica]

Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph. Biblia hebraica stuttgartensia. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1976.

Martin, J. D. Davidson's Introductory Hebrew Grammar. Edinburgh: Clark, 1993. [or another modern Hebrew grammar]

Williams, R. J. Hebrew Syntax. Toronto/Buffalo/London: University of Toronto, 1967; 2nd ed., 1976. [or another Hebrew syntax]

Würthwein, E. The Text of the Old Testament.. London: SCM, 1979. [or another introduction to textual criticism]

There are more helpful works on the Psalms than can be listed here. An annotated list will be issued to students and they will be expected to sample these during the course (see below).

Each week students will be expected to study about ten verses of a psalm in Hebrew, to consider its translation in three English translations, to identify textual and exegetical issues it raises, and to see what illumination on these is gained from two recommended commentaries. At the end of the course they will be expected to submit a file of preparatory notes, annotated as they wish in the light of lectures and discussion. They will be expected to submit a 15-page paper reflecting on what they have learned from the course as a whole. And they will be expected to submit a 10-page exegetical study of a passage from a psalm other than those studied in class.

LG502.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Old Testament "c" (OTCE).

No.