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)?
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