Osnova sekce

  • The books of Ecclesiastes and Job are part of the wisdom literature because they are based on and evaluate everyday experience. However, they are specific in that they systematically focus on the question of human happiness and retribution for good or evil deeds. When reading these books, it is necessary to listen very carefully to their authors and perceive what they are saying. The authors of both books develop a logical argument and refer to their own life experiences and observations as well as to the reader's. This requires the reader to make a (sometimes considerably) mental effort to understand. This group of books also include the Wisdom of Solomon, which reflects the life of man, among others, in terms of the existence of the afterlife and retribution. There are two articles, both by A. Mackerle, offer an overview of Qohelet and Job trying to get to the point or central message of these texts (however, it must be kept in mind that these are taken only from one point of view). 


    Literature: 

    - Rendtorff, Rolf, The Old Testament, p. 250-255; 265-267 (Job and Ecclesiastes). 
    - ABD 6:120-127 (Wisdom of Solomon) 
    - Mackerle, Adam, Qohelet as an Expression of Old Testament “Pastoral Care” of the Rich. Caritas et Veritas 3/2013, pp. 37-49 (see http://caritasetveritas.cz/index-en.php?action=openfile&pkey=109)
    - Mackerle, Adam. Suffering as a way to knowing God: On the interpretation of the book of Job. Caritas et Veritas 1/2012, pp. 27-38. For the English version see the link below)


    Biblical texts for final exam: 

    The student is supposed to have read and to know all and entire Old Testament books; however, at the final exam (s)he will be confronted with one of these texts:

    Job 1-2 (prologue: Job's proofs)

    Job3,1-26 (first speech of Job)

    Job 16,1 - 17,16 (fifth speech of Job)

    Job19,1-29 (sixth speech of Job: the Redeemer)

    Job 28,1-28 (on Wisdom)

    Job 38,1 - 39,30 (first God's answer)

    Job40,1-14 (God's challenge)

    Job 42,7-16 (epilogue)

    Qoh 1,3-11 (prologue about the vanity)

    Qoh 3,1-8 (meditation on time)

    Qoh 12,1-7 (meditation on old age)

    Wis 2,12-20 (persecution of the righteous)  

    Wis 7,22 - 8,1 (the nature of wisdom)

    Wis 9,1-12 (Solomon's prayer for Wisdom)


    Verifying comprehension:

    1. What do the books of Job and Qohelet have in common? How do they differ? 
    2. What is the difference between the book of Qohelet and Job on one side, and the book of Ben Sira and Proverbs on the other? 
    3. What is exactly the point in God's answer to Job? 
    4. What is the solution to Qohelet's problem? 
    5. Describe the relation of the books of Qohelet and Job to extrabiblical, especially Mesopotamian, literature. 
    6. What is "wisdom" for the Wisdom of Solomon?