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Terms or Ideas to Learn  

Chapter 7 (The Writings) 208-214

  • With the loss of political influence in international politics, how did Judeans' understanding of their relationship with Yahweh change?
  • According to Table 7.1, when was the "final" version of the Torah (first five books) "promulgated" or read aloud?
  • What books begin and end the "Writings"? Why?
  • How are the Writings different in character from the rest of the bible?
  • [Box 7.1]: How and why does Ruth "recreate" Israel's past?
  • [Table 7.2] What is the Megillot or "whole Megilla"?
  • What are some of the "broad sprectrum of effects" achieved by Hebrew poetry?
  • Discuss a poetic text in The Writings that makes extensive use of simile or metaphor.
  • What are the three realms of total darkness celebrated by Job? Why?
  • Which book of The Writings uses Personification? How?

Harris on Job 223-232

  • Why do we attribute the writing of Job to the Babylonian exile?
  • How does the author of Job use folklore to question the theses of Deuteronomy and Ezekiel?
  • In which part of the text is God referred to by his personal name?
  • Why does Harris think the author makes Job a native of Uz?
  • On what elevated formation does the central action of Job take place? Why?
  • According to box 7.3, the Israelites' relationship with Yahweh "did not extend beyond the grave." When, and in what texts, does that first begin to change?
  • The central debate is between Job and his three friends. What attitude from what books do they embody?
  • What challenges does Job issue God in chapters 9 and 10?
  • According to Figure 7.3, where else in the bible and the Near East do we see the Leviathan?
  • What discovery has helped us understand the nature of Leviathan and Rahab?
  • Why, according to Harris, does Job abandon his attempts to find "moral logic" in the world?

[Box 7.2]

  • Which biblical work and non-biblical work first explicitly links "devil," "the satan," and the serpent?
  • According to biblical scholars, where did the negative qualities we now attribute to The Satan come from? Give an example of such a negative episode.
  • What episode in 2 Samuel is revised in Chronicles and blamed on The Satan? Why?
  • Who is Ahriman and what's his connection to The Satan?
  • In which postexile books are angels and demons first given personal names and "autonomy"?

Extra Credit: What do the names of Job's friends mean (See Interlinear bible)?