WISDOM IN ANCIENT ISRAEL (OT-2582)

This foundations course - a mixture of lecture and seminar formats - focuses on the wisdom literature of the Old Testament and two deuterononical wisdom books: the books of Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, the Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Ben Sira. Among the questions that we will address together are the following: 1) Is there a distinctive worldview that can be gleaned from biblical wisdom literature?; 2) How is this literature shaped by the historical context of its production?; 3) What does it mean for one to live “wisely” according to this literature? Students will read primary texts along with brief secondary readings prior to class meetings, and will be evaluated on the basis of attendance/participation, short reading responses, a midterm exam, a final exam, and an exegesis paper. [20 max enrollment]