Old Testament Hagiographa

Old Testament Poets (OT 7121) ~ the Poetry of wisdom ~ Job – Ecclesiastes – Proverbs— Canticles – Psalms

Assignment-syllabus Faith Theological Seminary, 529 Walker Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21212 Professor: Stephen T. Hague, Tel 410-323-6211, email: [email protected] Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding. Prov 4:7

But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Job 28:12

Course Description: OT 7121 Poetical Books: Old Testament wisdom literature is a study of the five books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. The goal is to study the theology and artistry of these profoundly beautiful books, considering them in their role in the history of redemption. Poetics, the interpretation of wisdom poetry, and the role wisdom has in the life of believers and the church, is also explored.

Program: Master of Divinity Time/Dates: Mondays, 9:00-11:30am, Aug 31 - Dec 7 The General Program Learning Objectives of this Course (PLO): As part of the Faith Theological Seminary curriculum this course is designed to assist the student in achieving the following objectives of the curriculum: A. Verbalize a general knowledge of the Bible, including a systematic understanding of the major books. B. Demonstrate ability to do exegesis in the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible. C. Lead a local church or other group by means of biblical exposition, leadership skills, evangelism, and service. The Specific Student Learning Objectives of this Course (SLO): After successful completion of this course the student will: A. Have a sufficient knowledge of the Wisdom literature to both understand the various forms of Wisdom literature, the theology of the Wisdom literature, and to apply more fully the meaning of OT Wisdom to the varieties of modern unbelief and human folly. PLO A,B B. Be able to think critically and biblically through engaging with, and employing, the wisdom of revelation in the Wisdom literature. PLO A,B C. To be better enabled to proclaim the full truthfulness of the Word of God to challenge all forms of unbelief, including philosophical naturalism and determinism, postmodernist relativism, historicalcritical hermeneutics, and all such that undermine confidence in the inerrant Word of God. PLO C D. To interpret Wisdom adequately and faithfully, and to better apply wisdom critically and practically in addressing life issues and problems. PLO A, C Curriculum Objectives and Demonstration of Learning Course assignments Related Course Objectives 1. Readings Knowledge of contents and theology of OT wisdom literature towards understanding and interpreting wisdom – to gain wisdom. PLO A, B, C SLO A, B

Percent of Course Grade 50%

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2. Writings

3. Review-exam

Interaction with ANE materials and backgrounds, as well as contemporary interpretation, to develop in skills of exposition of OT wisdom literature – to apply wisdom. PLO A, B, C SLO A, B, C To remember, reflect, and apply the knowledge and skills gained during the course – to live wisdom. PLO A, B, C SLO A, B, C

25%

25%

Information Resources and Technology Needed for this Course:  Class syllabus-notes: students must have course notes before class begins and have them available on the first day of class (either digitally or in hard-copy). To receive the online link to the classsyllabus notes to print at home and/or to use in-class electronically, email me at the address above. Specify for which course you need the link. All of the reading assignments are online.  Information technology for use in this course: Logos Bible, Bible Works, or other equivalent Bible software program for doing research and exegesis.  FTS Library Policies and Procedures: 

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Excused absences (for deaths and illness) must be limited to a maximum of three and documented appropriately. Any absences for illness exceeding this maximum will result in dismissal from the course(s) with a Withdraw Passing (WP). All absences must be followed by completion of all missed in-class work (and assignments) in a timely fashion by consulting with the professor. Three times tardy (ten or more minutes) to class will equal one class absence. Four times tardy will equal two unexcused absences. Class participation will be expected. Non-participation is not acceptable. Cell phones and electronic devices will be turned off or silent. No in-class texting, web-surfing, gaming. Computer use for in-class work only. Late assignments are graded “F” unless a variance is granted for extenuating circumstance: illness/death.

Plagiarism policy: FTS Seminary Statement on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism: Plagiarism means representing any work (including “original” ideas and opinions) as your own that is not your own. All information, quotes, and paraphrasing from all sources must be properly documented. All work submitted for this course must be your own and written exclusively for this course. Academic dishonesty is defined as an intentional act of deception in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or effort of another person, or uses unauthorized material or fabricated information in any academic work. It includes, but is not limited to:  Cheating – giving or receiving answers on assigned material, using materials or aids forbidden by the instructor, alteration of academic records, unauthorized possession of examinations, the falsification of admissions, registration or other related college materials, or any other intentional use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information, or study aid.  Plagiarism – the offering of someone else’s work, words, or idea as one’s own or using material from another source without acknowledgement. Exclusive use of internet web sites for research content is discouraged. All references must be cited, NO paraphrased information. It is best to use the library databases/books for all research.  Interference – interfering without permission with the work of another student either by obtaining, changing or destroying the work of another student.  Buying or selling of term papers, homework, examinations, laboratory assignments, computer programs, etc.  Falsifying of one’s own or another’s records.  Knowingly assisting someone who engages in A-E above.

Committing plagiarism may result in the following consequences: 

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Faculty may impose the following disciplinary actions within the context of a course, o lowering of a grade or failure for a particular assignment. o lowering of a grade, failure and/or dismissal from the course. The Division Dean or Campus Administrator responsible for the student’s curriculum may impose harsher measures within the context of the seminary such as:

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disciplinary probation may include a limitation on credits, mandatory repeat of a course, etc. suspension from a curriculum.

For reflection: as part of your reading, please refer to the categories at the end of the Psalms syllabus-notes, “Possible applications from Psalms.” I would like you to think and reflect on what impact the wisdom books have on any of these areas suggested under this heading. Make note of any thoughts, ideas, and questions relevant to these categories provoked by your reading, especially the section “The modern world in search of ancient deceptions.” Tentative Class Schedule (also includes assignment due dates): Assignments are given here in the order of the lectures. I suggest that you read the wisdom books in the translation in the Expositors Bible Commentary, vol. 5. That way you will be able to see immediately any important issues noted in the subheadings, and have a ready reference at each step of the way. Date Topic to prepare for Reading & writing assignments Introduction Required reading: POETICS/POETRY  C.S. Lewis, “At the Fringe of Language,” Studies in Words. Cambridge: 1) Aug 31 Cambridge University Press, 1967, pp. 313-33.  L. Ryken, “Epilogue: The Poetics of Biblical Literature,” Words of Delight: A Literary Introduction to the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1987, pp. 353-358. Required reading: Job  The Book of Job  Hartley, John H. “Job: Theology of.” New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. Volume 4. Grand Rapids: Zondervan 2) Sept 14 Publishing House, 1997, pp. 780-796 .  Hengstenberg, E.W. “Interpreting the Book of Job,” Classical Evangelical Essays. Edited by Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1972, pp. 91-112.  Dorsey, Literary Structure, “Job,” pp. 167-172. 3) Sept 21

Required writing due: after reading Job  Compare briefly (3 pages [1 ½ spaced]) the Mesopotamian theodicies with Job: “I Will Praise the Lord,” “A Pessimistic Dialogue,” “A Dialogue about Human Misery” (ANET, pp. 434-440). Recommended reading:  See David J. Reimer, “(H7405) qd"x,; ” NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 744-769, esp. pp. 754-763.  Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context, pp. 169-186.  Estes, Steven and Joni Ericksen Tada. When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997, pp. 219-248.

Ecclesiastes

4) Sep 28

5) Oct 5

Required reading:  Ecclesiastes  Wright, J. Stafford. “The Interpretation of Ecclesiastes.” Classical Evangelical Essays in Old Testament Interpretation. pp. 133-150.  Dorsey, Literary Structure, “Ecclesiastes,” pp. 192-198. Writing required due:  After reading Ecclesiastes, do a short comparison/contrast (3 pages [1 ½ spaced]) of Ecclesiastes with the ANE text “A Dispute over Suicide,”

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ANET, 405-407. See also for reference “The Song of the Harper, ANET, p. 467. Recommended reading:  Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context, pp. 187-197.  Jonathan Edwards, “The Christian Pilgrim,” from Jonathan Edwards: Representative Selections. New York: Hill and Wang, 1969, pp. 130-136.

Proverbs Required reading:  The Book of Proverbs  John D. Currid, Ancient Egypt and the Old Testament, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1997, pp. 205-216.  D. Dorsey, The Literary Structure, pp. 187-191.

6) Oct 12

7) Oct 19

Writing required due:  Read “The Instruction of Amenemope”ANET, pp. 421-424 and briefly (3 pages [1 ½ spaced]) compare with Proverbs 22:17-25 (2 pages). See Currid reading assignment, pp. 205-216. Recommended reading:  Kitchen, K.A. “Proverbs and Wisdom Books of the Ancient Near East: The Factual History of a Literary Form.” The Tyndale Bulletin 28 (1977): 69-114.  Andrew K. Hembold, “The Relationship of Proverbs and Amenemope,” The Law and the Prophets: Old Testament Studies in Honor of Oswald T. Allis, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1974, pp. 348-359.  Parsons, Greg W. “Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Book of Proverbs.” Bibliotheca Sacra 150 (April-June, 1993): 151-170.  Blocher, Henri. “The Fear of the Lord as the ‘Principle’ of Wisdom.” Tyndale Bulletin, (1977): 3-28. The Tyndale Biblical Theology Lecture, 1977. Delivered at Tyndale House, Cambridge, July 8, 1977. Printed by Unwin Brothers Ltd., The Gresham Press, Old Woking, Surrey.  Murray, John. “The Dynamic of the Biblical Ethic.”Principles of Conduct. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1957, pp. 202-228.  Whybray, R.N. The Intellectual Tradition in the Old Testament. Berlin, New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1974, pp. 123-148.  Bricker, Daniel P. “The Doctrine of the ‘Two Ways’ in Proverbs.” JETS 38/4 (December, 1995): 501-517.  Salisbury, Murray. “Hebrew Proverbs and How to Translate Them.” Biblical Hebrew and Discourse Linguistics. Edited by Robert B. Bergen. Summer Institute of Linguistics. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, pp. 434-461.  Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context, pp. 192-197.

Canticles 8) Oct 26 9) Nov 2

Required reading:  The Song of Songs/Solomon (Canticles)  Godet, F. “The Interpretation of the Song of Solomon.” Classical Evangelical Essays, pp. 151-175.  Dorsey, Literary Structure, “Song of Songs,” pp. 199-213. Recommended reading:

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 Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context, pp. 189-192.  Callow, John. “Units and Flow in the Song of Songs 1-2:6.” Biblical Hebrew and Discourse Linguistics. Edited by Robert D. Bergen. Dallas: Eisenbrauns and the Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1994, pp. 462-488.

Psalms 10) Nov 9

11) Nov 16

Nov 21 Nov 23-28 12) Nov 30 13) Dec 7

Required reading:  The Book of Psalms (in Expositors Bible Commentary, if possible)  Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context, “Hymns, Prayers, and Incantations,” pp. 135-168 (reserve).  D. Dorsey, The Literary Structure, “Psalms,” pp. 173-186. Writing required due: summarize/compare/contrast briefly (3 pages [1 ½ spaced]) the ANE text “The Hymn to Aton” with Ps 104.

Recommended reading:  Jones, Ivor H. “Musical Instruments in the Bible, Part I.” Bible Translator. Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 101-116. (reserve)  -----. “Musical Instruments in the Bible, Part II.” Bible Translator. Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 129-143. (reserve)  Martin, Charles. “Imprecations in the Psalms.” Classical Evangelical Essays, pp. 113-132.  Wheeler, J. “Music of the Temple,” Archeology and Biblical Research 2, 1989: 12-20.  -----. “The Origin of the Music of the Temple.” Archeology and Biblical Research. Vol. 2, No. 4: 113-122.  Wendland, Ernst R. “Genre Criticism and the Psalms: What Discourse Typology Can Tell Us About the Text (with Special Reference to Psalm 31).” Biblical Hebrew and Discourse Linguistics. Edited by Robert D. Bergen. Dallas: Eisenbrauns and the Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1994, pp. 374-414.  Ljungberg, Bo-Krister. “Genre And Form Criticism in Old Testament Exegesis.” Biblical Hebrew and Discourse Linguistics. Edited by Robert D. Bergen. Dallas: Eisenbrauns and the Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1994, pp. 415-433. Fall Seminar: Marriage and Family (attendance required) Thanksgiving Fall Break (absence required)

Final/Review

Write: final-review due week of finals on Dec 7

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“When wisdom enters the heart, knowledge is pleasant to the soul.” Prov.2.10.

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Reading % Sheet for OT Poets (7121), 2015 Name is signature: without cramming the following percentages of:

honestly read

Poetics Required reading: %.  D.G. Kehl, “Have You Committed Verbacide Today?” Using Language, pp. 367-374.  C.S. Lewis, “At the Fringe of Language,” Studies in Words. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1967, pp. 313-33.  L. Ryken, “Epilogue: The Poetics of Biblical Literature,” Words of Delight: A Literary Introduction to the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1987, pp. 353-358. Job Required reading: %.  Job  Hartley, John H. “Job: Theology of.” New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. Volume 4. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997, pp. 780-796 .  Hengstenberg, E.W. “Interpreting the Book of Job,” Classical Evangelical Essays. Edited by Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1972, pp. 91-112.  Dorsey, Literary Structure, “Job,” pp. 167-172. Ecclesiastes Required reading: %.  Ecclesiastes  Wright, J. Stafford. “The Interpretation of Ecclesiastes.” Classical Evangelical Essays in Old Testament Interpretation. pp. 133-150.  Dorsey, Literary Structure, “Ecclesiastes,” pp. 192-198. Proverbs Required reading: %.  Proverbs  John D. Currid, Ancient Egypt and the Old Testament, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1997, pp. 205216.  D. Dorsey, The Literary Structure, “Proverbs,” pp. 187-191. Canticles Required reading: %.  Song of Songs/Solomon (Canticles)  Godet, F. “The Interpretation of the Song of Solomon.” Classical Evangelical Essays, pp. 151-175.  Dorsey, Literary Structure, “Song of Songs,” pp. 199-213. Psalms Required reading: : %.  Psalms  Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context, “Hymns, Prayers, and Incantations,” pp. 135168 (reserve).  D. Dorsey, The Literary Structure, “Psalms,” pp. 173-186.  Jones, Ivor H. “Musical Instruments in the Bible, Part I.” Bible Translator. Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 101-116. (reserve)  -----. “Musical Instruments in the Bible, Part II.” Bible Translator. Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 129-143. Total Readings’ Percentage Submit copy to Stephen T. Hague Faith Theological Seminary, 529 Walker Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21212

%.