Old Testament 2
Section outline
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The student must first meet the primary requirements; when he has done this, he can be admitted to the second part of the exam. The primary requirements verify his/her general knowledge of the whole OT literature that is covered by this course; the second and final part of the exam verifies his/her detailed knowledge of selected topics and themes, as dealt by the below mentioned literature.
1) Primary requirements
The student must prove his/her knowledge both of the content of the OT books, and the basic information about these books, their historical background and literary features and characteristics.
It is highly recommended to read the entire OT books covered by this course. However, the student will be asked about those paragraphs and section of these books that are listed below. The student is expected to recognize the book the text is taken from, (s)he must know the place of the paragraph within the book and must be able to explain the meaning of the text in the context of the whole book and its message.
Moreover, the students is expected to prove his/her acquaintance with all the basic aspects of the individual OT books, i.e. with their content, structure, language, authorship, theological message and occasionally with other aspects, depending on the specific characteristics of individual books.
The basic orientation of the book can be found in a lot of introductory literature. We recommend especially the book Rendtorff, Rolf. The Old Testament. An Introduction. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1991. In each section of this course, we will provide the number of pages of this book that regard the topic. Moreover, some other literature will be added. Unfortunately, Rendtorff's book does not cover the deuterocanonical books of the OT, thus another introductory book is needed. We recommend to consult the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, (in 6 volumes, indicated from now on as ABD with the number of volume and pages ) and the respective voices (titles and pages are indicated in due time throughout this course).
2) Second part of the exam
The student has to study all the literature signed as obligatory in the sections below. It will provide the student with detailed insight into various aspects of selected topics and themes regarding the content of the present course. -
A good audio version of the King James Bible, unfortunately without deuterocanonical books.
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An excellent tool for any student of the Bible. It offers a lot of versions in different languages including the original ones, with morphology analysis etc
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A list of OT books according to their literary genera. It represents also an outline of this course, since the books will be treated from the point of view of their respective literary genre.
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Old Testament books of history can be divided into two groups. The first tries to present events and interpret them; they have the character of textbooks of history, of chronicles or annalistic works. The second group contains stories whose main meaning lies in the point of the story, not in their historical credibility, although they usually take place against the background of specific historical events.
This lesson is devoted to the first group of books. The books of the Former Prophets, i.e. the Deuteronomistic Historiography, were the subject of the first semester. Now it is the turn of the so-called Chronicler, i.e. the books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, and the books of Maccabees. While studying these books, pay special attention to the article by A. R. Guenther, which describes the differences in the conception of history among the Deuteronomists and the Chronicler.
Literature:
- Rendtorff, Rolf, The Old Testament, p. 277-288 (Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah).
- ABD 4:439-450 (First and Second Maccabees) .
- Guenther, Allen R. „Kings and Chronicles. Interpreting Historical Interpretations“. In Direction, April 1982, Vol. 11 No. 2, s. 4–15. (see the link below)Biblical text 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:
2Chr 11:5-17 (Levites in Judah)
2Chr 33:1-20 (Menashe)
Neh 8:1-18 (the reading of the Law)
Neh 9:1-37 (confession of sins)
2Macc 7:1-41 (martyrdom of seven brothers)
Verifying comprehension:
- What are the main differences between the ways how the Deuteronomistic historiography and Chronicler deal with the same events and figures?
- The 2Mac contains some important theological assertions, like belief in bodily resurrection and prayer for the dead. What do the book say exactly regarding these topics?
- Describe and explain the problem of dating the activity of Ezra and of Nehemiah.
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This lesson is devoted to the second group of books of history, in which the point of the story plays a major role. They are usually very legibly written, and present a fluent plot and well-drawn characters. Three of these books are protocanonical (Ruth, Esther, and Jonah), two deuterocanonical (Judith and Tobit). The article by V. Ber offers a good example of a possible way of reading such a novel: to consider the text in its entirety, as one complex and consistent voice.
- Rendtorff, Rolf, The Old Testament, p. 259-261; 270-272 (Ruth, Esther, and Jonah).
- ABD 2:626-633 (Additions to Esther)`; 3:1117-1125 (Judith); 6:585-594 (Tobit).
- Ber, Viktor. The World according to Boaz: Wealth, Power, and Justice in the Book of Ruth. Caritas et Veritas 10 (3/2013), pp. 17-23. (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:
Ruth 1-4 (the entire book)
Est 9:20-32 (establishing the Feast of Purim)
Jonah 1-4 (the entire book)
Jdt 5 (Achior's speech)
Tob 6:1-9 (catching the fish)
Verifying comprehension:- What are the main differences between the Greek and the Hebrew version of the Book of Esther?
- What are the main traits that point to the fictional character of the book of Judith?
- Compare Ruth and Jonah with the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Is there something they sharply disagree about?
- What does the Book of Tobit say about the diaspora Judaism of its time?
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The prophetic phenomenon as such, i.e. the ubiquitous presence or prophets, was nothing which would belong specifically to Israel. The specificity of Israel is rather the existence of many prophetic books. It is good to stop here for a while, because the way of how we perceive the difference between the prophetic phenomenon and the prophetic books will affect our interpretation of these books. Therefore, before we leave this topic, let us answer what a prophetic book is, what it contains, and what the reader can (not) expect from it.
Literature:
Rendtorff, Rolf, The Old Testament, p. 112-124; 188-190; 215-216; 243-245.
Goldingay, John. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Exploring text, approaches and issues. Inter Varsity Press 2015. Read the section 3.29 (pp. 198-199) entitled "The latter prophets".
Edelman, Diana. "From Prophets to Prophetic Books: The Fixing of the Divine Word". In Ben Zvi, Ehud - Edelman, Diana. The Production of Prophecy. Constructing Prophecy and Prophets in Yehud. Equinox 2009, pp. 29-54.
Ben Zvi, Ehud. "The Concept of Prophetic Books and Its Historical Setting". In Ben Zvi, Ehud - Edelman, Diana. The Production of Prophecy. Constructing Prophecy and Prophets in Yehud. Equinox 2009, pp. 73-95.Verifying comprehension:
- Describe the various images of prophecy in the Hebrew Bible and how they relate to each other.
- Name the most important examples of extrabiblical prophecy.
- What do you understand under the term "war prophecy"?
- Name some examples of the various stages of growth of a prophetic book.
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Prophetic books "with date" are specific in that they explicitly state the date when the oracles they claim to contain were uttered. That is, they attach an interpretation key to the statements; they provide the reader with a background against which the statements should be interpreted. They thus become, in a sense, "comments" on the history of Israel, resp. probes into the life of Israel commented on by the voice of God. These are the books (chronologically): Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Baruch, Ezekiel, Haggai and Zechariah.Literature:- Rendtorff, Rolf, The Old Testament, p.190-214; 216-218; 220-223; 228-230; 234-232.
- ABD 1:618-620 (Baruch)
- Mackerle, Adam. The Dynamics of Violence in Micah. In BER, Viktor (ed.) Nomos and Violence: Dimensions in Bible and Theology, Wien; Zürich; Münster: LIT Verlag, 2019, pp. 107–121.- Goldingay, John. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Exploring text, approaches and issues. Inter Varsity Press 2015. Read the sections 3.44-3.49 (pp. 228-239) devoted to Jeremiah.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:
Hos 1,1-9 (the life of the prophet as a message)
Hos 2,1-25 (infidelity and conversion)
Hos 11,1-11 (God's love for Israel)
Am 1,3-2,16 (oracles against nations)
Am 3,3-8 (Prophet and God's word)
Am 5,18-20 (the day of the Lord)
Am 7-8 (the third and fourth vision)
Isa 2,1-5 (nations journey toward Jerusalem)
Isa 5,1-7 (vineyard song)
Isa 6,1-13 (vocation of Isaiah)
Isa 7,10-25 (prophecy of Emanuel)
Isa 14,3-23 (the end of the king of Babylon)
Isa 25,6-9 (banquet of nations)
Isa 40,1-11 (comfort my people!)
Isa 42,1-9 (the servant)
Isa 49,1-6 (the servant)
Isa 50,4-11 (the servant)
Isa 52,13 - 53,12 (the servant)
Isa 61,1-11 (prophet's mission)
Mi 3,1-12 (oracles against misuse of power and greedy prophets)
Mi 5,1-5 (Messiah)
Mi 6,1-8 (God's trial with his people)
Zeph 3 (sin and conversion of Israel)
Jer 1,4-10 (vocation of Jeremiah)
Jer 2,1-13 (trial with Israel)
Jer 7,1-15 (oracle against the Temple)
Jer 12,1-13; 20,1-13 (Jeremiah's confessions)
Jer 23,1-8 (the true shepherd of Israel)
Jer 30-31 (renewal of Israel)
Jer 36 (Baruch's scroll)
Bar 6 (Jeremiah's letter)
Ez 1,1-28 (Ezechiel's vision)
Ez 28,1-19 (oracle against the king of Tyre)
Ez 34,1-31 (shepherds of Israel)
Ez 36-37 (renewed Israel)
Ez 47,1-12 (temple spring)
Hag 1,3-15 (building the God's house)
Zec 9,9-10 (the humble Messiah)
Zec 14,1-21 (the last judgment)
Verifying comprehension:
- What books talk about a "new covenant", or "new heart"? In what context?
- If does it mean if we say that the main theme of the book of Ezechiel is the Glory of the Lord?
- What are the common traits and themes of the preexilic prophetic books?
- What binds together the book of Jeremiah and the book of Baruch?
- What is the diachronical situation of the book of Isaiah?
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Unlike the prophetic books, with date, these books are devoid of explicit historical references. Thus, although it is sometimes possible to infer the historical context of their origin, their text is formulated in a rather abstract way, as if disconnected from specific events. These are the books of Joel, Obadiah, Nahum, Abakkuk, and Malachi.
Literature:
Rendtorff, Rolf, The Old Testament, p. 218-220; 224-225; 230-234; 242-243.
Linville, James R. The Day of Yahweh and the Mourning of the Priests in Joel. In Lester L. Grabbe and Alice Ogden Bellis (ed.), The Priests in the Prophets The Portrayal of Priests, Prophets and Other Religious Specialists in the Latter Prophets, T&T Clark 2004, s. 98-114.
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:
Joel 3,1-5 (effusion of the Spirit)
Obad 1 (whole book)
Na 3 (fall of Ninveh)
Ab 1,12 - 2,4 (the righteous will live from his faith)
Ma 3 (the problematic presence and bright future)
Verifying comprehension:
- The main theme of the book of Joel is the "Day of the Lord". What aspects of this "Day" are being described here?
- The book of Obadiah is a nice example of an oracle against the nations. In which other prophetic books can we find such genre? What is typical for it? And what place occupies the book of Obadiah within this genre?
- The books of Nahum and Habakkuk are often presented together. Why?
- What "mood" lays behind the book of Malachi? What is the main problem the book deals with?
- Why is the book considered to be a kind of introduction to the New Testament?
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Wisdom literature is a separate group of Old Testament texts. It contains a minimum of allusions to Israel and the main events associated with its history (exodus from Egypt, conquest of the land) and focuses on the daily life experience of the individual and teaches what it means to lead a good life. In the Old Testament, this group is represented by the Book of Proverbs and the Wisdom of Ben Sira. These books treat a lot of themes under various points of view; the article by Lemmelijn offers a survey of one of the most important themes.
Literature:
- Rendtorff, Rolf, The Old Testament, p. 255-258 (Proverbs).
- ABD 6:931-945 (Wisdom of Ben-Sira)
- Lemmelijn, Bénédicte, Wisdom of life as way of life: The Wisdom of Jesus Sirach as a case in point. Old Testament essay 27 (2/2014), pp. 444-471 (see http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/ote/v27n2/08.pdf or http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1010-99192014000200008)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:
Prov 8,12-36 (poem on Wisdom)
Prov 9,1-6 (a banquet prepared by Wisdom)
Prov 25-26 (the second Solomon's colection of proverbs)
Prov 31,10-31 (a woman of honor)
Sir 24,1-34 (praise of Wisdom; Wisdom and Law)
Sir 34,18 - 35,24 (sacrifices, piety, and justice)
Sir 44-50 (praise of the Ancestors)
Verifying comprehension
- What collections are contained in the Book of Proverbs?
- What do have the books of Ben Sira and of Proverbs in common? How do they differ?
- How do these books talk about "wisdom", how do they present "her"?
- Describe the textual situation of Ben Sira.
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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:- What do the books of Job and Qohelet have in common? How do they differ?
- 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?
- What is exactly the point in God's answer to Job?
- What is the solution to Qohelet's problem?
- Describe the relation of the books of Qohelet and Job to extrabiblical, especially Mesopotamian, literature.
- What is "wisdom" for the Wisdom of Solomon?
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The poetic books in the Old Testament are Psalms, Lamentations, and the Song of Solomon. Perhaps the most important and most used of the books discussed here is the book of Psalms. However, all three books are supremely poetic and their poetry reflects various life situations: national tragedy (Lamentations), personal everyday and religious life (Psalms) or love experience (Song of Songs).
Literature:
Rendtorff, Rolf. The Old Testament, pp. 246-250; 261-264`; 267-270.
Lewis Hall, Elizabeth M. Suffering in God's presence: the role of lament in transformation. Journal of spiritual formation and soul care 9 (2/2016), pp. 219-232 (see here).
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:
Psalms (according to masoretic numbering): 1 - 2 - 8 -16 - 22 - 23 - 31 - 36 - 40 - 42 - 43 - 45 - 49 - 50 - 51 - 62 - 72 - 73 - 89
- 91 - 100 - 103 - 104 - 110 - 114 - 118 - 121 - 122 - 126 - 127 - 130 - 136 - 137 - 139 - 150
Song 1,1-17 (let him embrace me!)
Song 2,8-17 (spring)
Song 3,1-4 (search for the beloved)
Song 8,5-7 (love is as strong as death)
Lam 1 (first lamentation)
Verifying comprehension:
- Who are traditionally considered to be the authors of these books (i.e. Psalms, Song of Songs, and Lamentations)? Why?
- What historical event is depicted in Lamentations?
- How is the book of Psalms structured?
- What information is conveyed by the superscription of some psalms?
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Daniel is a very specific book of the Old Testament, as it contains several genres: court stories and apocalyptic visions, connected by the theme of kingdom and royal power. It is the pinnacle of Old Testament apocalyptic literature (it can be found, for example, also in Isaiah, Zechariah, etc.). Apocalyptic flourished especially outside the Old Testament literature; however, this genre penetrated into it, especially in the book of Daniel. It is also the only book that contains all three biblical languages.
Literature:
- Rendtorff, Rolf. The Old Testament, pp. 273-277.
- ABD 2:18-37.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:
Da 2,1-49 (the statue)
Da 3,1-23 (three friends in the fiery oven)
Da 6,2-29 (Daniel in lion's den)
Da 7,1-28 (Daniel's vision and the 'Son of man')
Da 12,1-4 (resurrection)
Da 13 (Daniel and Susanna)
Verifying comprehension:
- Describe the structure and textual situation of the book of Daniel.
- What is the influence of Daniel on the New Testament?
- What are the deuterocanonical parts of Daniel?
- What is an apocapyptic book?
- What is the main theme of the whole book of Daniel?