DESCRIPTION:

This course will provide a survey of the biblical wisdom literature, with particular attention to Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job, and selected Psalms. We will consider the origin, setting, and development of wisdom traditions within Israelite society, their relation to broader wisdom context of the Ancient Near East, their impact on the New Testament, and their contributions to biblical theology. Each week we will devote a session to the translation and careful exegetical examination of a representative passage.

The wisdom traditions offer unique resources for understanding and facing the diverse experiences of life in a less than perfect world. The insightful observation of the sages, along with their astute and honest questioning of "easy answers" to life's challenges mark out the necessary tensions of faith. We will trace the wisdom traditions from their varied Old Testament expressions through the intertestamental period and into the service of the preaching and teaching of the church.

The course will meet twice weekly for four-hour sessions for five weeks. Each session will be divided between presentation, discussion, and exegetical translation and discussion.

Brown, F.; S. R. Driver; and C. A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Hendrickson, 1996.

Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. 5th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1997.

Murphy, Roland E. The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 1996.

Selected articles.

See the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program" available in the SOT Academic Advising office.

Kidner, Derek. The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. InterVarsity Press, 1985.

Murphy, R. and E. Huwiler. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. New International Biblical Commentary. Hendrickson, 1999.

Whybray, Norman. Job. Readings: A New Biblical Commentary. Sheffield Academic Press, 1998.

1. Weekly preparation for translation and exegetical discussions.

2. The writing of an exegetical paper based upon the Hebrew text (approximately 12 pages, typed double-spaced, due August 20).

3. The use of lecture notes and syllabus readings to develop answers to study questions from which the final examination will be drawn.

LG502.

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

Yes.