christian scriptures 2

The Five Megilloth

Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther

ruth

shavout

lamentions

Tisha B'Av

Hebrew Poetry

no rhyming no meter

the features that distinguish Hebrew poetry from prose are

-economy of language

-parallelism

-density of words/wordplay

-density of metaphors/wordplay

-literary devices

-parallelism

Synonymous parallelism

Type of poetic parallelism where the second line of a poetic couplet repeats a thought very similar to that of the first line.

Antithetical Parallelism

the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, often in parallel structure

Synthetic Parallelism

causal, sequential, shared theme

parallelism

second or third line is often intensified by the first

psalter

collection of indvidual psalms gradually accumulated, grouped together to form smaller collections

arranged into 5 books

psalter

parallel to Torah

psalter

many psalms begin with

superscription

form criticism

classifies units of scripture according to identified literary patterns and seeks to identify social setting of the work

vast majority of psalms would have been used

temple worship

contemporary scholarship suggests what about the psalters

that there may be an overarching order

_____ psalms provide a thematic introduction and ______ psalms provide a fitting ending

1-2, Hallelujah

turning point in Psalter is located

between 3 and 4

wisdom literature

concerned w preserving culturally accumulated wisdom for future generations

focuses on issues of daily life especially how we relate to others

wisdom literature

concerned with morality and ethics

wisdom literature

ROOTED IN PIETY

wisdom literature

three books associated w wisdom tradition in Hebrew cannon

proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job

known from canonical and deuterocanical works as well as ANE parallels from Egypt

wisdom literature

Ecclesiastes and job each represent a distinct challenge to

wisdom tradition

what is a proverb

a short memorable saying about life converting some fundamental truth

although proverbs conveys wisdom it is not meant

to be eternal truths for all situations

in proverbs wisdom is characterized as a

woman

in proverbs folly is characterized as a

woman

the book of proverbs values

-self control

-piety

-justice

-piety

-justice

the concept of universal justice is

somewhat transactional

difference between masoretic text and septuagint significant

Daniel, Esther, Jeremiah

Jeremiah contains several types of literature

poetic oracles, narratives about the prophet, sermons with deuteronomistic emphasis

timeframe of jeremiah

Josiah to Zedekiah and beyond

call of jeremiah

-no vision unlike Isaiah

-rejects mission

-rejects mission like moses

Ezekiel timeframe

prophet among those who deported Jehoiachin in first Babyloniadeportation in 597 BCE

Ezekiel as a person

priest, elite member in jeruselumite society

structure ezekiel

classic tripartite structure:

-Judgement on Israel/judah

-judgement on nations

-restoration for Isreal/Judea

ezekiel

takes a priestly approach, warning Jerusalem of the coming destruction of the Temple, but also foretelling a day when the glory of the Lord will return to Israel and bring life to the broken land.

God chooses a man to speak for Him to Israel, to tell them the error of their ways and teach them

Nehimiah

Rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem to show that God has not forgotten his promises to his people

Esther

Shows God's providence and sovereignty over the people of Israel during their exile in Persia as He uses two individuals to spare the nation from genocide.

Job

-The righteousness and sovereignty of God in the face of suffering.

psalm

a poetic prayer designed to be sung or chanted to some kind of musical accompaniment

proverb

A popular saying that is meant to express something wise or true.

Ecclesiastes

A philosophical exploration of the meaning of life—with a surprisingly nihilistic tone for the Bible

song of solomon

A love song (or collection of love songs) celebrating love, desire, and marriage

Isaiah

God sends the prophet Isaiah to warn Israel of future judgment—but also to tell them about a coming king and servant who will "bear the sins of many."

Jerimiah

God sends a prophet to warn Israel about the coming Babylonian captivity, but the people don't take the news very well.

lamentions

A collection of dirges lamenting the fall of Jerusalem after the Babylonian attacks.

Daniel

one known for wisdom and accurate judgment; from a wise leader in the Old Testament who was able to read the handwriting on the wall

Daniel becomes a high-ranking wise man in the Babylonian and Persian empires, and has prophetic visions concerning Israel's future.

hosea

Hosea is told to marry a prostitute who leaves him, and he must bring her back: a picture of God's relationship with Israel.

joel

God sends a plague of locusts to Judge Israel, but his judgment on the surrounding nations is coming, too.

amos

A shepherd named Amos preaches against the injustice of the Northern Kingdom of Israel

obadiah

announces judgment on the nation of Edom for its sins against Judah and Jerusalem

nahum

Nahum foretells of God's judgment on Nineveh, the capital of Assyria

habakkuk

Habakkuk pleads with God to stop the injustice and violence in Judah, but is surprised to find that God will use the even more violent Babylonians to do so.

zephiniah

God warns that he will judge Israel and the surrounding nations with fire, but also that he will restore them in peace and justice.

Haggai

restoration of temple

zachariah

The prophet Zechariah calls Israel to return to God, and records prophetic visions that show what's happening behind the scenes.

malachi

God has been faithful to Israel, but they continue to live disconnected from him—so God sends Malachi to call them out.

Prophetic Literature

more poetic, less organized

Israelite prophetic literature

unique in ancient world

prophecies began as

short, isolated, spoken oracles

format prophesy

oracle, short, poetic

pre exilic prophets-pre Assyrian period

amos (north kingdom)

pre exilic prophets- Assyrian period

Hosea (North), Isaiah (South), Micah (South)

pre exilic prophets-post Assyrian period

Nahum(south) and Zephaniah (south)

northern kingdom at height of power

before assyrian

southern kingdom at height of power

after fall of Assyria

economy based on system

patrimonial land grants

children's names interesting

Hosea

concerned w worship of BAAL

hosea

Isaiah ch 1-39

Judah early Assyrian period

Isaiah Ch 40-66

Babylon at end of exile

Shepard of tekoa

amos

message amos preaches

all doomed, locus, fire, plumb line, fruit

oracles largely concern

northern kingdom

author of laminations

jerimiah according to LXX and Rabbinic tradition, Hebrew text has no author

Name of Lamentations

"Ekah" meaning how

Qinah meter

unbalanaced (loping)

acrostic poem

prophetic scrolls

4

books that skipped exile

Isaiah and book of 12

rooted in deutornomistic theology

Jeremiah

Israel failed to uphold covenant

Jeremiah

worship YHWH alone

Jeremiah

rooted in priestly theology

ezekiel

Israel failed to maintain the level of holiness necessary to commune with divine

ezekiel

YHWH forced to abandon temple-removing protective power

ezekiel