Biblical Poetry in Translation (HEB 237)—Spring 2006

(cross-listed with Jewish Studies, Religious Studies, and Literature in Translation)

Instructor

Class

Tue/Th 9:30-10:45 B231 Van Vleck

Office/Office Hours

1352 Van Hise (13th floor) - hours to be determined

Course Description

This course will survey the poetry of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) in translation. When compared to the rest of the Hebrew Bible and Western poetry, biblical poetry is markedly different and thus deserves to be studied on its own. We will begin by examining the features of biblical poetry (parallelism, metaphor, simile, hyperbole, and others).

We will survey a full range of poetic texts (songs of victory and lament, liturgical texts, erotic love poetry, proverbial sayings, prophetic discourse, and philosophical discussions) in order to gain a richer understanding of the social settings behind each of these poetic texts.

Finally, this course will briefly survey the influence of the poetry of the Hebrew Bible on later religious literature. We will examine poems in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in the gospels of the New Testament.

Textbook

The New Oxford Annotated Bible- New Revised Standard Version

This version of the Bible will be used for all class discussions. You will be responsible for the readings from the introductions and notes of the assigned biblical passages. This book is on reserve at Helen C. White Library (BS191.5 A1 2001 N43) and is also available in the Reference Room (2^nd floor) of Memorial Library (BS191.5 A1 2001 N43). The NRSV text of this bible (without maps, notes, introductions) is available on the web at http://www.hope.edu/academic/region/bandstra/BIBLE/OT.HTM.

Course Packet- Available only at the Bob’s Copy Shop in Randall Towers (on Johnson Street by Camp Randall).

Honors Credit

Honors credit will require additional reading and a paper that analyzes a biblical poem not discussed in class. See separate syllabus.

Course Requirements

Attendance and Participation (5%)- Attendance is crucial because the assigned readings will not be sufficient in covering the lecture material. The bulk of the exams are based upon lecture. Please do not come to lecture late nor leave early. Disruptive behavior will negatively affect your grade.

Reading- There will be reading assignments for each class period. In order to maximize your class time, assignments need to be read for each indicated lecture.

Worksheets and Quizzes (30%)- A combination of approximately 10-15 worksheets and approximately 6 quizzes will be given throughout the semester for reinforcing lecture and reading material. Quizzes and worksheets have equal point value. Quizzes will be given in the first 10-15 mins of class, and consequently those who come late to class will not have the full-allotted time. Half of the quizzes will be announced and the other half will be unannounced.

I will drop your lowest quiz and assignment. Students who will miss class for special reasons (athletics, weddings, funerals, etc) must make special arrangements for quizzes or assignments at least one class session in advance. Late worksheets will not be accepted since we will go over them in class the day they are due. If you are sick and/or cannot make it to class, you may email the assignment.

Exams (65 %)- Midterm (30%) and Final (35%). Missed exams can only be made up in cases of a documented emergency (funeral, hospitalization, etc.). The final exam must be taken at the scheduled time (Tue, May 9, 2:45 pm).

Grading

A 94-100	C 70.0- 75.9
A/B 88.0- 93.9	D 60.0-69.9
B 82.0-87.9	F 0- 59.9
BC 76.0- 81.9

Office Hours

For those who are unable to make the regular office hours, please make appointments. Students needing special accommodations for disabilities should provide documentation from the McBurney Center at the beginning of the semester.

Course Schedule

****Note that this schedule may change as the semester progresses (with due notice).

Abbreviations

C- Course Packet

NRSV- The New Oxford Annotated Bible- New Revised Standard Version (be sure to read the accompanying notes at the bottom of each page)

Introduction to biblical poetry- Poetry in ancient Near Eastern societies. Prose and poetry in the Bible. Distinctive features of biblical poetry.

1/19 Read: C: Berlin “Parallelism,” 155-60

C: Alter, “Characteristics of Ancient Hebrew Poetry,” 611-24

Poetry within narrative

1/24 Quiz

Read: Exodus 14; 15:1-21 (closely)

Introduction to Exodus (NRSV 82-83 Hebrew Bible)

1/26 Read: Judges 4-5 (read closely 4:17-22 and 5:25-31)

Introduction to Judges (NRSV 353-54 Hebrew Bible);

“Cultural Contexts: The Ancient Near East and Ancient Israel to the Mid-first Millennium BCE (NRSV 507-14 Essays)

1/31 The Song of Hannah

Read: I Samuel 1-2

Intro to I Samuel (NRSV 398-99 Hebrew Bible)

2/2 The Lament of David over Saul and Jonathon

Read: I Samuel 27:1-28:2, 29:1-11, 31:1-13 and 2 Samuel 1:1-27 (closely 1:17-27)

Introduction to 2 Samuel (NRSV 446 Hebrew Bible)

Liturgical poetry- Psalms

2/7 Psalms in ancient Israelite religion; the formation of the Psalter; the forms of the psalms

Read: C: Gillingham, “The Psalter: Hymn-Book, Prayer-Book, Anthology,” 232- 51

Introduction to the Psalms (NRSV 775-77 Hebrew Bible)

2/9 Psalms of complaint

Read: Psalms 13, 17, 43, 54, 79, 88, 137

C: Barton, “Form Criticism,” 838-41

C: Crenshaw, “Classification by Types,” 80-86

2/14 Thanksgiving hymns

Read: Psalms 30, 116, 124, 138

2/16 Songs of praise

Read: Psalms 8, 29, 100, 113

C: Miller, “Enthroned on the Praises of Israel: Interpreting Biblical Hymns,” 64-78

2/21 Royals psalms and Zion Hymns

Read: Psalms 2, 45, 46, 48, 72, 99

C: Levenson, “Zion Tradition,” 1098-1102

The poetry of national mourning- Lamentations

2/23 Read: Lamentations

C: “The ABC’s of Grief,” 102-114 (translated by Timothy L. Wilt)

2/28 Lamentations cont’d

Poetry in prophetic discourse- The Prophets

3/2 Amos

Read: Amos 1-9

C: Hayes, “Form-Critical Study of the Prophets,” 143-49 and “The Forms of Prophetic Speech,” 273-77;

Introduction to Amos (NRSV 1302-03 Hebrew Bible)

3/7 Midterm- Only material up to Lamentations

3/9 Amos cont’d

3/14 Spring Break

3/16 Spring Break

3/21 Isaiah

Read: Isaiah 1 (closely 1:2-9), 40, 49 (closely 49:14-23), 55

Intro to Isaiah (NRSV 974-77 Hebrew Bible)

Poetry, pragmatics, and philosophy- Wisdom poetry

3/23 Proverbs

Read: Proverbs 1-10, 30-31

Intro to Proverbs (NRSV 904-905 Hebrew Bible)

C: Alter, “The Poetry of Wit,” 163-84

3/28 Proverbs cont’d

Read: C: “The Teachings of Ptah-Hotep,” 184-88

3/30 Job

Read: Job 1-6, 28, 38-42

Intro to Job (NRSV 726-27 Hebrew Bible)

“Satan” in Anchor Bible Dictionary (to be given in class)

4/4 Job cont’d

Read: C: Habel, “In Defense of God the Sage,” 21-38

4/6 Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes)

Read: Intro to Ecclesiastes (NRSV 944 Hebrew Bible)

C: “The Sufferer and the Soul,” 206-11

C: “Dialogue of Pessimism,” 495-96

Erotic poetry- Song of Songs

4/11 Read: Song of Songs (i.e. Song of Solomon)

Intro to Song of Solomon (NRSV 959-60)

C: “Egyptian Love Songs,” 227-31

4/13 Passover- no class

4/18 Song of Songs cont’d

Read: Gen 1-3

Biblical poetry re-interpreted in new settings

4/20 Psalms at Qumran (the Dead Sea Scrolls)

Read: C: Holladay, “Psalms at the Dead Sea,” 95-112

C: “Apocryphal Psalms,” 208-14

C: “Thanksgiving Hymns,” psalms 1-7 (=pp. 165-77)

4/25 Psalms at Qumran cont’d

4/27 Reflections of Hebrew Poetry in the New Testament

Read: C: The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)

C: Aphorisms (selections)

5/2 The Psalms in post-biblical liturgical settings

5/4 Review

5/9 Final Exam- Tue 2:45 PM

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Latest revision date: 1/5/2006 (cad)