2012-2013 Academic Catalog

May 13, 2024

2012-2013 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

JS 118 - Introduction to the Hebrew Bible II: Prophecy and Poetry

Type of Course: Lecture, Discussion

A close reading (in English) of the poetic portions of the Hebrew Bible, from Isaiah through the Writings. The prophetic revolution in Israel is evaluated: its roots, as well as its impact on its own society and later social and cultural criticism in the West. The artistry of biblical poetry is analyzed, along with the thematics of piety, despair, resignation and eroticism that are found in such books as the Psalms and the Song of Songs. Finally, books of a more philosophical bent (Ecclesiastes, Job), which question the earlier assumptions of biblical faith, are read. As in JS 117, emphasis is placed in the influence of the Bible on later thinking in the West.