Champagne final
Megilloth
"Scrolls" Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations
Emeth
"Truth" Job, Psalms, Proverbs
How many psalms are found in the Hebrew OT vs. Greek OT?
150 Psalms in Hebrew and 151 in LXX
What are the basic characteristics of the "Proverbs of Solomon"?
375 short proverbs with little continuity from one to the next Considered to be the oldest proverbs in the book Based on life experiences & observations
Why did Jews and Christians have issues concerning the canonization of the book? Know that the LXX version has six additions making the book more "religious"
Absence of name of God and Jewish ritual Not found in Dead Sea Scrolls Not quoted in the New Testament
How is the book structured?
Acrostic structure
What is the purpose of the book and how is the book of Ruth similar to the book of Judges?
An apologetic for Davidic kingship. To illustrate covenant faithfulness in David's ancestors, Ruth and Boaz, as one means of legitimatizing his kingship
Author and purpose Job
Anonymous, 3rd person To explore the limits and proper use of human wisdom
Writings major focus
Arousing an emotional response to go by means of graphic images and figures of speech
Know the significance of banquet scenes for providing a framework for the story
Banquet Settings Provide Framework for Story - Important turns in the plot occur during banquet scenes
What is the word of caution regarding the interpretation of the book?
Be careful to not over exemplify Esther
Jobs oath of innocence
Calls for a curse, negative confession
Where was wisdom literature founded and in what setting was it developed?
Developed in Egypt and Mesopotamia long before entrance to Israel and set in a post-exilic phenomenon in israel
Disinterested piety
Devotion to God without expecting something in return
What is the difference between a dirge, lamentation, and lament?
Dirge - a song expressing grief and sorrow over death of a loved one Lamentation - a complaint or expression of grief over an irreversible catastrophe Lament - an appeal to God for merciful intervention in a desperate situation
Who is the book traditionally associated with?
Ezra the scribe
Post-Exilic
Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Daniel
What Jewish feast is associated with the book of Esther?
Feast of Purim
how many books are the psalms arranged? What is the number of books possibly based on?
Five "books" of psalms may be based on the five books of Torah
Know that there is more than one way to describe a fool in Proverbs
Fools- big head simple- Air head Mockers-Hot head Fools-Brick head Godless fool-Hard head
What are the other names for the book (Greek and Latin)?
Hebrew name = Song of Songs "highest of songs" Latin name = Canticles
What is an imprecatory psalm and an acrostic psalm?
Imprecatory Psalms - characterized by emotion of hate and longing for God's judgment on enemies Acrostic Psalms - use successive letters of Hebrew alphabet as mnemonic device
3 basic characteristics of OT wisdom literature
Internationally Applicable, highly individualistic, Yahweh focused
Who is the book traditionally associated with?
Jeremiah
Jobs friends were wrong
Job acknowledges his sin and god sovereignty
Job can not answer god when god speaks
Job is humbled
What are the two primary sources used by the author? How does the author tell the story differently from these two primary sources? (What is his perspective of history? How does he view the Davidic kings?)
Kings and Samuel
What is the best option when trying to classify the literary structure of the book?
Love Poem - A single poem or collection of poems about human love
When were the superscriptions added, and what type of information did they include
Most likely added after psalms collected and arranged
Job time period
Patriarchal period (2000-1700)
Turning point of book and theme Job
Poem of wisdom Wisdom found in god not the world
different classifications of psalms
Praise Psalms - focus on adoration of God Thanksgiving Psalms - focus on blessings from God Lament Psalms - focus on plea for deliverance by God
What is the problem with interpreting the Psalms?
Problem of not knowing original context
two primary types of OT wisdom
Proverbial-short, witty maxims (proverbs) Speculative-addresses problems in life (Job)
Are individual proverbs intended to be unconditional promises or general principles?
Proverbs designed as general principles not unconditional promises
What refrains does the author repeat to stress the conclusion that life is futile?
Qoheleth's conclusions about the futility of life on earth
Who are the main characters in the poem and what is the basic plot?
Shulammite Maiden, Shepherd Lover, King Solomon, Daughters of Jerusalem Plot - An exemplary Shulammite Maiden rejects the wooing of King Solomon out of her faithfulness to her Shepherd Lover
Who are the Proverbs traditionally associated with
Solomon
Who is the book songs of songs traditionally associated with?
Solomon
3 types of parallelism
Synonymous- second part of line repeats thought of first, Antithetical- second part of line contrasts thought of first, Synthetic- second part of line supplements thought of first
wisdom
The ability to make godly choices in life
What is the purpose of the book?
To call the people of God to repentance in response to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC
hesed means and how it was carried out by the main characters of the story
To do hesed is to go "beyond the call of duty" Ruth - went beyond expectations by returning with, and taking care of, her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi Naomi - went beyond expectations by persevering, returning home, and seeking a home for Ruth Boaz - went beyond expectations of the law with regard to generosity and care for relatives
What is the purpose of the book?
To instruct wisdom students on the power of love
What is the purpose of the book Ecclesiastes? What two phrases sum up the meaning of life for the author?
To show the wisdom of living faithfully and fearfully before a sovereign God "All is Vanity" "Fear God and Keep Commandments"
What is the purpose of Proverbs?
To teach successful ways of living in terms of Yahweh
Who is the book esther traditionally associated with? What does Qoheleth mean?
Traditionally associated with Solomon Qoheleth = "teacher" or "preacher"
Is there wisdom outside the OT canon?
Yes, there is much Jewish wisdom literature not in Bible
Elihu
Young, prophetic wisdom, god will not answer job
Where is meaning in life ultimately found according to the author?
in the lord
Writings/OT FEATURE
parallelism
What is significant about the proverb of the Virtuous Woman with regard to the overall purpose of the book?
picture perfect wife and mother
Purpose of Psalms
prayer book and hymns book of Israel
What historical event does is the book used to commemorate?
the mourning associated with the destruction of Solomon's temple