Reading Questions
W 13 Oct
Hebrew Bible II: Isaiah 1-39, Ecclesiastes
1) Isaiah 1-39
This is a very different sort
of reading. It will help you to
know that Isaiah is prophesying in the late 8c BCE in the Southern
Kingdom of Judah/Jerusalem while the Northern Kingdom of Israel is
being conquered by (and the Southern Kingdom is being threatened
by...see esp. cc. 36-38) the Assyrians. What is prophecy?
What is the role of the prophet? Who is his audience? Does
he have a consistent message? Does it differ from the message of
Exodus? What is his view of the end (telos)? Does he redefine the
extent of the "jurisdiction" of God that we discussed in talking about
Exodus?
2) Ecclesiastes
This may seem more familiar. It will help you to know that it was
composed in the 3c BCE (why is that helpful?). What is his
message? What is the connection between his world view and his
ethical precepts? What the @&$*# is this doing in the Hebrew
Bible? What do you make of the last two verses (12:13-14).