PROVISIONAL SYLLABUS.
12.17.2006
Professor M. V. Fox
Heb 653:
and
Heb 514: Biblical Texts: Poetry
Spring 2007
Hebrew 653 is
the second half of a year-long course in Wisdom Literature. Hebrew 514 is
basically the same course but giving greater emphasis to the texts as poetry
and defining standards appropriate to the level of the student. In 514, focus
will be on the nature of parallelism. The following requirements may be
modified for undergraduates.
The subject
is didactic Wisdom Literature, which includes Qohelet but not Job.
1. Goals:
*To discover
the meaning of the text and the ideas of the books.
*To learn the
methodology of critical exegesis (including text criticism) by practicing it.
*To become
acquainted with the ideologies and literary forms of WL.
* To
understand the mechanics and techniques of Hebrew poetry.
UNDERGRADUATES
who do not wish to study text criticism can be exempted from session #3 but
should see the professor about alternative assignments.
514 students do not have to read the readings
marked “653 only.” Instead they do the readings marked “514.”
2.
Schedule
First few
weeks: Hebrew and Greek combined.
Then:
Sessions 1,
2: Tues and Thur at
Session 3:
Thur 9:55: Text critiicsm: Greek and other ancient versions as appropriate. See
below.
Prerequisite:
Participation in this course, whether as a regular student or an aduitor,
requires the successful completion of Hebrew 513 or 654 (which in 2006-07
precedes Hebrew 653).
Requirements
3.
Hebrew readings
Proverbs 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 16, 22, 23,
26, 27, 30, 31
Psalms 1, 37, 119:1-40
The
wisdom psalms with affinities to Proverbs are 1, 19B, 34, 37, (111-112, and
119. Psalms with affinities to Job are 37, 49, 73, and 139. In reading Pss 37
and 73, ask how they deal with the problem of injustice and theodicy.
Qohelet 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 12
Ben Sira 3:8-31; 9, 10, 36(33):1-26;
44
Sira:
Vocalize correctly. Observe textual variants and ask how they came about. Note: In session 3 this week we will
read part of chap. 24 in Greek. Read the entirety of this important chapter in
English.
Wisdom of Solomon 1-11 (Greek or
English)
Pirqey Avot 1, 2
Numerous translations are available. The
Danby translation of the Mishnah, in VH 1334, has it after the tractate
Nezikin.
These are all to be read regardless of
how much we do in class. Be prepared to translate every verse but the
hopelessly obscure. Read with help of the commentaries.
4.
Texts prepared for class: Everyone reads each unit in advance of the class in
which it is studied. Read with help of at least one commentary (see below).
In the case
of Sira, compare the different MSS for variants.
5.
Service as CEO. Sessions 1 and 2
each week. One person, in rotation, will be a special resource for the
class, to reduce the amount of preparation for the group. The CEO reads three
commentaries or articles on the unit and informs the others of the various
interpretations as we go along. You need not be limited to the commentaries
listed below. You can substitute an article or book relevant to the passage.
6.
Oral reading (at end of session). Read poetry as
poetry, not a grocery list. Long units may be shortened.
7.
Literary issues
(1)
Structure: What is the scope of the unit and its subsections? (Remember,
however, that your unit may a section in a larger unit.)
(2)
Literary history: Are there signs of revisions or additions?
(3)
Message: what is the main point the persona is trying to convey? How
does this message fit in with what he says elsewhere? Is the author trying to
communicate something different through the person or behind the persona's
back?
(4)
Poetics and rhetoric: What techniques does the speaker use to convey and
impress his message on his audience? How does the author communicate with his
audience? Are there poetic values beyond the rhetorical? (ie
beyond those directed at persuasion).
Note that it
is impossible to do these things completely in 50 minutes. Selectivity‑-showing
a sense for what should be selected‑-is essential.
7. The versions. Session #3 each week
Hebrew
653 students: twenty verses a week.
Hebrew
514 students: ten verses a week.
Unless
stated otherwise, the first 10 verses each week will be read together in class.
These will be the first 10 verses read on Tuesday, unless you are notified
otherwise. (It’s a good idea to ask me in advance.) “10/20 verses” does not
include title-verses (“Proverbs of Solomon”) or the like.
Steps
in studying a version:
(1) translate,
(2) note
differences with MT, and
(3) explain
them.
When we get to Sira, we will read chap.
24 in session 3. When we read Pirqey Avot, we will read Wis Sol 6:11-21 (short
verses)in the corresponding session 3.
9. Essay. Ten pages maximum.
Due on the penultimate Thursday of the semester. Grade
lowered one step for each day overdue
For 514, either A or B.
For 653: only B
A.
“A Literary Study of [Passage x]”.
This should
be a multi‑levelled literary analysis of one of a
poetic units not assigned for the class. You choose the length, but make
sure that it constitutes a meaningful poetic unit and is long enough to provide
sufficient material for analysis. Approx. 7-10 verses would be
appropriate.Apply what you have learned from your readings to analyize the
parallelism, structure, paronomasic, imagery, and thematic development.
This essay
must include a translation and description of the relations between the stichs
("versets") of five verses, using Alter's typographical system with
additions; see below. The object is to show graphically the structural network
of interconnections. Then you should discuss the significance of this
structure, the function of other poetic features, such as metaphors and
allusions, and the overall meaning of the unit.
You may
define others as necessary. Color coding can be very effective.
B.
"[Theme X] in Wisdom Literature, with Special Attention to [book
Y]"
The
cult
Social
justice
"Life"
and "death"
The
fear of God
Kingship
and its duties
The
innocent sufferer
God's
word and command
The
concept of folly
The
individual's relationship with God
God
in Proverbs and Amenemope
Existence
after Death
The
Status and Role of Kingship
Fate
and Determinism
The
meaning of “Life” and “Death” in WL
The
Image of God in Amenemope and Proverbs
Freedom
of Will and Action
The
Poor Man in WL
The
Power of Speech
The
Wisdom of Solomon as an Expression of the Middle Stoa
Concepts
of Pedagogy
The
Problem of Divine Injustice and its Solutions
The
Limitation of Human Knowledge: What are they really?
Social
Justice and its Motivations
The
Relation between Wickedness and Folly
Τhe Relation between
Rightness and Wisdom
The Wisdom Psalms as an expression of Wisdom
The Sapiential Texts from
The Wisdom Book from the
8.
Final Fix Up:
Once you
receive your paper back (no later than during the final exam), correct all
errors of style, grammar, punctuation, word-choice and spelling indicated by
wavy line, circling, or groans and turn the paper back to me for final
check-in. The assignment is incomplete until this is done. For help with
writing skills and punctuation, go to
Commentaries. Read at least one commentary on every passage.
Proverbs
M. V. Fox,
(Anchor Bible). Vol I (chaps. 1-9).
M. V. Fox
(Anchor Bible). Vol II (chaps. 10-31)
Not yet published. I will leave
a printout of the draft in the GRR. I would appreciate corrections and
comments, via remarks on the MS, notes, or in person.
Richard
Clifford (OTL, 1999). WJK Press
Roland E.
Murphy (Word, 1998). Word press.
Supplementary
Wm. McKane (OTL, 1965). SCM Press.
C. C. Toy (ICC, 1899). Very solid. In GRR.
Franz Delitzsch (1874).
Qohelet
Choon-Leong
Seow, Ecclesiastes (AB)
Michael
Fox, Tearing Down and Building Up. Eerdmans 1999.
Roland E.
Murphy, Ecclesiastes (Word Bible Comm.) 1992.
James
Crenshaw, Ecclesiastes. OTL. 1987.
Ben Sira (Ecclesiasticus)
Hebrew
Text in Reader at Bob’s Copy Shop,
P. M. Skehan
and A. di Lella, The Wisdom of Ben Sira (AB)
Pirqey Avot
Hebrew
Text in Reader at Bob’s Copy Shop,
R. Travers
Other
Amenemope, in
AEL, 2.146-61.
Ptahhotep,
AEL 1.62-76.Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature (AEL
Wisdom
of Solomon chaps 1-10, in English or Greek. Translation and commentary: David
Winston (Anchor Bible). Other translations in NRSV Apocrypha,
etc.
9. Midterm (Thursday of 8th wk, third
hour)
*Includes translation of the chapters in
Proverbs and Qohelet listed above. (Units done in class receive special
attention, and fuller philological discussion is expected).Grad students will
be expected to use the LXX and (if appropriate) the Targum in commenting on a
Hebrew passage. Greek dictionary will be available.
*Question on
readings in Crenshaw's Introduction and AEL.
*Discussion
of a broader thematic issue.
*English
readings: to be decided.
10.
Final (at scheduled day and time, but in VH 1351)
11.
Grading is based on (1) Midterm (30%) (3) Final (40%) (4) Paper (30%). The
percentages are subject to some variation.
Books
available at
University
Book Store
Eisenbrauns
(219) 269-2011
Dove (800)
318-4537