Thursday, June 11, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
religious but informative link on wisdom books
http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/bible4_e.htm
Upcoming posts:
I am waiting to post on Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs until we have discussed them. I will look for a good link on Hebrew poetics to help us with Psalms.
Beliefnet
Here is an article from beleifnet. for those interested in spiritual rather than literary/historical aspects of the Old testament, Beleifnet is a very respectable and respectful website dedicated to conversations from across the religious spectra.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2004/01/Long-Suffering-Job.aspx
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2004/01/Long-Suffering-Job.aspx
From http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-1-Samuel.html
The Book of 1 Kings starts with Solomon and ends with Elijah. The difference between the two gives you an idea as to what lies between. Solomon was born after a palace scandal between David and Bathsheba. Like his father, he had a weakness for women that would bring him down. Solomon did well at first, praying for wisdom and building a temple to God that took seven years. But then he spent 13 years building a palace for himself. His accumulation of many wives led him to worship their idols and led him away from God. After Solomon’s death, Israel was ruled by a series of kings, most of whom were evil and idolatrous. This, in turn, led the nation away from God and even the preaching of Elijah could not bring them back. Among the most evil kings was Ahab and his queen, Jezebel, who brought the worship of Baal new heights in Israel. Elijah tried to turn the Israelites back to the worship of Jehovah, even to challenging the idolatrous priests of Baal to a showdown with God on Mount Carmel. Of course God won. This made Queen Jezebel angry (to say the least). She ordered Elijah's death so he ran away and hid in the wilderness. Depressed and exhausted, he said; "Let me die." But God sent food and encouragement to the prophet and whispered to him in a "quiet gentle sound," and in the process saved his life for further work.
From http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-1-Samuel.html
The book of 2 Samuel can be divided into two main sections—David’s triumphs (chapters 1-10) and David’s troubles (chapters 11-20). The last part of the book (chapters 21-24) is a non-chronological appendix which contains further details of David’s reign.
The book begins with David receiving news of the death of Saul and his sons. He proclaims a time of mourning. Soon afterward, David is crowned king over Judah, while Ish-bosheth, one of Saul’s surviving sons, is crowned king over Israel (chapter 2). A civil war follows, but Ish-bosheth is murdered, and the Israelites ask David to reign over them as well (chapters 4-5).
David moves the country’s capital from Hebron to Jerusalem and later moves the Ark of the Covenant (chapters 5-6). David’s plan to build a temple in Jerusalem is vetoed by God, who then promises David the following things: 1) David would have a son to rule after him; 2) David’s son would build the temple; 3) the throne occupied by David’s lineage would be established forever; and 4) God would never take His mercy from David’s house (2 Samuel 7:4-16).
David leads Israel to victory over many of the enemy nations which surrounded them. He also shows kindness to the family of Jonathan by taking in Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crippled son (chapters 8-10).
Then David falls. He lusts for a beautiful woman named Bathsheba, commits adultery with her, and then has her husband murdered (chapter 11). When Nathan the prophet confronts David with his sin, David confesses, and God graciously forgives. However, the Lord tells David that trouble would arise from within his own household.
Trouble does come when David’s firstborn son, Amnon, rapes his half-sister, Tamar. In retaliation, Tamar’s brother Absalom kills Amnon. Absalom then flees Jerusalem rather than face his father’s anger. Later, Absalom leads a revolt against David, and some of David’s former associates join the rebellion (chapters 15-16). David is forced out of Jerusalem, and Absalom sets himself up as king for a short time. The usurper is overthrown, however, and—against David’s wishes—is killed. David mourns his fallen son.
A general feeling of unrest plagues the remainder of David’s reign. The men of Israel threaten to split from Judah, and David must suppress another uprising (chapter 20).
The book’s appendix includes information concerning a three-year famine in the land (chapter 21), a song of David (chapter 22), a record of the exploits of David’s bravest warriors (chapter 23), and David’s sinful census and the ensuing plague (chapter 24).
The book begins with David receiving news of the death of Saul and his sons. He proclaims a time of mourning. Soon afterward, David is crowned king over Judah, while Ish-bosheth, one of Saul’s surviving sons, is crowned king over Israel (chapter 2). A civil war follows, but Ish-bosheth is murdered, and the Israelites ask David to reign over them as well (chapters 4-5).
David moves the country’s capital from Hebron to Jerusalem and later moves the Ark of the Covenant (chapters 5-6). David’s plan to build a temple in Jerusalem is vetoed by God, who then promises David the following things: 1) David would have a son to rule after him; 2) David’s son would build the temple; 3) the throne occupied by David’s lineage would be established forever; and 4) God would never take His mercy from David’s house (2 Samuel 7:4-16).
David leads Israel to victory over many of the enemy nations which surrounded them. He also shows kindness to the family of Jonathan by taking in Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crippled son (chapters 8-10).
Then David falls. He lusts for a beautiful woman named Bathsheba, commits adultery with her, and then has her husband murdered (chapter 11). When Nathan the prophet confronts David with his sin, David confesses, and God graciously forgives. However, the Lord tells David that trouble would arise from within his own household.
Trouble does come when David’s firstborn son, Amnon, rapes his half-sister, Tamar. In retaliation, Tamar’s brother Absalom kills Amnon. Absalom then flees Jerusalem rather than face his father’s anger. Later, Absalom leads a revolt against David, and some of David’s former associates join the rebellion (chapters 15-16). David is forced out of Jerusalem, and Absalom sets himself up as king for a short time. The usurper is overthrown, however, and—against David’s wishes—is killed. David mourns his fallen son.
A general feeling of unrest plagues the remainder of David’s reign. The men of Israel threaten to split from Judah, and David must suppress another uprising (chapter 20).
The book’s appendix includes information concerning a three-year famine in the land (chapter 21), a song of David (chapter 22), a record of the exploits of David’s bravest warriors (chapter 23), and David’s sinful census and the ensuing plague (chapter 24).
From http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-1-Samuel.html
Brief Summary: The book of 1 Samuel can be neatly divided into two sections: the life of Samuel (chapters 1-12) and the life of Saul (chapters 13-31).
The book starts with the miraculous birth of Samuel in answer to his mother’s earnest prayer. As a child, Samuel lived and served in the temple. God singled him out as a prophet (3:19-21), and the child’s first prophecy was one of judgment on the corrupt priests.
The Israelites go to war with their perennial enemies, the Philistines. The Philistines capture the ark of the covenant and are in temporary possession of it, but when the Lord sends judgment, the Philistines return the ark. Samuel calls Israel to repentance (7:3-6) and then to victory over the Philistines.
The people of Israel, wanting to be like other nations, desire a king. Samuel is displeased by their demands, but the Lord tells him that it is not Samuel’s leadership they are rejecting, but His own. After warning the people of what having a king would mean, Samuel anoints a Benjamite named Saul, who is crowned in Mizpah (10:17-25).
Saul enjoys initial success, defeating the Ammonites in battle (chapter 11). But then he makes a series of missteps: he presumptuously offers a sacrifice (chapter 13), he makes a foolish vow at the expense of his son Jonathan (chapter 14), and he disobeys the Lord’s direct command (chapter 15). As a result of Saul’s rebellion, God chooses another to take Saul’s place. Meanwhile, God removes His blessing from Saul, and an evil spirit begins goading Saul toward madness (16:14).
Samuel travels to Bethlehem to anoint a youth named David as the next king (chapter 16). Later, David has his famous confrontation with Goliath the Philistine and becomes a national hero (chapter 17). David serves in Saul’s court, marries Saul’s daughter, and is befriended by Saul’s son. Saul himself grows jealous of David’s success and popularity, and he attempts to kill David. David flees, and so begins an extraordinary period of adventure, intrigue, and romance. With supernatural aid, David narrowly but consistently eludes the bloodthirsty Saul (chapters 19-26). Through it all, David maintains his integrity and his friendship with Jonathan.
Near the end of the book, Samuel has died, and Saul is a lost man. On the eve of a battle with Philistia, Saul seeks for answers. Having rejected God, he finds no help from heaven, and he seeks counsel from a medium instead. During the seance, Samuel’s spirit rises from the dead to give one last prophecy: Saul would die in battle the next day. The prophecy is fulfilled; Saul’s three sons, including Jonathan, fall in battle, and Saul commits suicide.
The book starts with the miraculous birth of Samuel in answer to his mother’s earnest prayer. As a child, Samuel lived and served in the temple. God singled him out as a prophet (3:19-21), and the child’s first prophecy was one of judgment on the corrupt priests.
The Israelites go to war with their perennial enemies, the Philistines. The Philistines capture the ark of the covenant and are in temporary possession of it, but when the Lord sends judgment, the Philistines return the ark. Samuel calls Israel to repentance (7:3-6) and then to victory over the Philistines.
The people of Israel, wanting to be like other nations, desire a king. Samuel is displeased by their demands, but the Lord tells him that it is not Samuel’s leadership they are rejecting, but His own. After warning the people of what having a king would mean, Samuel anoints a Benjamite named Saul, who is crowned in Mizpah (10:17-25).
Saul enjoys initial success, defeating the Ammonites in battle (chapter 11). But then he makes a series of missteps: he presumptuously offers a sacrifice (chapter 13), he makes a foolish vow at the expense of his son Jonathan (chapter 14), and he disobeys the Lord’s direct command (chapter 15). As a result of Saul’s rebellion, God chooses another to take Saul’s place. Meanwhile, God removes His blessing from Saul, and an evil spirit begins goading Saul toward madness (16:14).
Samuel travels to Bethlehem to anoint a youth named David as the next king (chapter 16). Later, David has his famous confrontation with Goliath the Philistine and becomes a national hero (chapter 17). David serves in Saul’s court, marries Saul’s daughter, and is befriended by Saul’s son. Saul himself grows jealous of David’s success and popularity, and he attempts to kill David. David flees, and so begins an extraordinary period of adventure, intrigue, and romance. With supernatural aid, David narrowly but consistently eludes the bloodthirsty Saul (chapters 19-26). Through it all, David maintains his integrity and his friendship with Jonathan.
Near the end of the book, Samuel has died, and Saul is a lost man. On the eve of a battle with Philistia, Saul seeks for answers. Having rejected God, he finds no help from heaven, and he seeks counsel from a medium instead. During the seance, Samuel’s spirit rises from the dead to give one last prophecy: Saul would die in battle the next day. The prophecy is fulfilled; Saul’s three sons, including Jonathan, fall in battle, and Saul commits suicide.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Leonard cohen song/rufus wainright recording
This is a take on the David/Bathsheba story. Humanizes it and addresses passion and transgression in an interesting way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcM02aV39xc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcM02aV39xc
David And Goliath
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Movies tell us what they wish exodus said.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GbI2Tlt55w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts5qlnKkKrM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt0quE2Fcrc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWSZB2VecLA&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHHs7qyiLmU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5tgHwo5tRI&feature=PlayList&p=0F9097F388C193D0&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE19ZsqAoLA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts5qlnKkKrM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt0quE2Fcrc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWSZB2VecLA&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHHs7qyiLmU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5tgHwo5tRI&feature=PlayList&p=0F9097F388C193D0&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE19ZsqAoLA
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Some links
All apologies, i can't seem to make the links work, but if you just cut and paste them, you should go straight to the pages...
The Bible in Lego:
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesis/index.html
The amazon entry for the Book I mentioned in class:
http://www.amazon.com/Origin-Satan-Christians-Demonized-Heretics/dp/0679731180
Interesting Jewish interpretations
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Rabbinics/Midrash.shtml
Info about Bill Moyers' genesis broadcast:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/genesis/
I looked for a good, scholarly text on Islam and Genesis and their relationship, but found only anti-Islamic propaganda or anti-Judeo-christian propaganda. I'm sure there are good resources out there, i just didn't come across them.
If for any reason you have an interest in the hate group i mentioned in class, they have a sight called godhatesfags.com I think most people visit the site just to see if anything this vile really exists. it does and it isn't pretty and i recommend staying clear of it; it's not as amusing as even the most cynical might hope, not anywhere close to sane by even the most conservative of standards. but I thought I'd let you know where it was, just in case you needed proof i didn't make it up...
The Bible in Lego:
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesis/index.html
The amazon entry for the Book I mentioned in class:
http://www.amazon.com/Origin-Satan-Christians-Demonized-Heretics/dp/0679731180
Interesting Jewish interpretations
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Rabbinics/Midrash.shtml
Info about Bill Moyers' genesis broadcast:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/genesis/
I looked for a good, scholarly text on Islam and Genesis and their relationship, but found only anti-Islamic propaganda or anti-Judeo-christian propaganda. I'm sure there are good resources out there, i just didn't come across them.
If for any reason you have an interest in the hate group i mentioned in class, they have a sight called godhatesfags.com I think most people visit the site just to see if anything this vile really exists. it does and it isn't pretty and i recommend staying clear of it; it's not as amusing as even the most cynical might hope, not anywhere close to sane by even the most conservative of standards. but I thought I'd let you know where it was, just in case you needed proof i didn't make it up...
Course outline
Week 1:
Reading— All of Genesis.
Topics— Myth and History, ways of looking at texts, covenant and sacrifice, big surprises.
Week 2:
Reading— Exodus 1-25, Leviticus 20-21, Deuteronomy 29-34, All of Ruth.
Topics— God’s will, the all-powerful, Women, The Law
Week 3:
Reading— I&II Samuel, I Kings,
Topics— History and folk-history, reading between the lines, Divine right of Kings
Week 4:
Reading— Selected Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Selected Proverbs, Job
Topics— Hebrew Poetics, Existentialism and the Bible, Eroticism and the Bible, Humanism and Divine justice. The Devil.
Week 5:
Reading— Jonah, Daniel, Isaiah
Topics— Prophetic language, literalism and interpretation, Apocalypse, Humor, Finishing up.
Reading— All of Genesis.
Topics— Myth and History, ways of looking at texts, covenant and sacrifice, big surprises.
Week 2:
Reading— Exodus 1-25, Leviticus 20-21, Deuteronomy 29-34, All of Ruth.
Topics— God’s will, the all-powerful, Women, The Law
Week 3:
Reading— I&II Samuel, I Kings,
Topics— History and folk-history, reading between the lines, Divine right of Kings
Week 4:
Reading— Selected Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Selected Proverbs, Job
Topics— Hebrew Poetics, Existentialism and the Bible, Eroticism and the Bible, Humanism and Divine justice. The Devil.
Week 5:
Reading— Jonah, Daniel, Isaiah
Topics— Prophetic language, literalism and interpretation, Apocalypse, Humor, Finishing up.
Bible class
Some notes on the Bible, Genesis
Scholars tend to think that the first 5 books of the Old Testament (also known as the Pentateuch or the Torah) come from 4 main sources. They are: J or yahwist sources, often discernible by the use of the word God (Yahweh) to refer to Jehovah. E or elohist sources, often using the term The Lord (Elohim) to refer to Jehovah. P or priestly sources, which reinforce priestly powers and duties, and Deuteronomist sources which reinterpret law in light of later reforms, often more insular and nationalistic than earlier interpretations.
There are many ways to look at the Old Testament, divisible chiefly into secular and religious approaches, and ranging from those seeking spiritual guidance to those who are trying to “disprove” scripture, from the most sympathetic and easily convinced of readers to the most skeptical and hostile. Our readings will mostly be with two points of view: as scholars trying to recreate what the original writers were up to and how those intentions and perspectives changed over time, and as textual critics, reading between the lines from a linguistic point of view to see what the text yields above and beyond literal readings.
We began our examination of the text by looking at what appear to be two distinct creation stories, one in the first and one in the second chapter of Genesis. We talked about the introduction of sibling strife as a theme in the story of Cain and Abel, a theme that will recur throughout the books of the Old Testament. The story of Noah and the flood introduced the first of the three main Covenants of the Old Testament: God’s promise to all living things that he will not flood the earth again. The mark of this covenant is the rainbow.
Abram’s name changes when he encounters God, and he becomes Abraham and soon enters into the second covenant. His part is to worship Jehovah and only Jehovah. God’s part is to cause the children of Abraham to multiply beyond all reckoning. The mark of this covenant is circumcision. Exclusive worship and fertility as a gift from God become recurring themes in the Old Testament, too.
In the book, we see the repudiation and disappearance of a few old themes that are never explicitly approved of in the Bible: one is polytheism, the other is human sacrifice. We see in the story of Isaac and Abraham that God is capable of asking for Human sacrifice, but chooses not to follow through. Never again does he ask for such sacrifice. And early on God speaks in the plural and also there is mention of the children of the gods, but tolerance of multiple gods quickly disappears and by the end of the Pentateuch we will see that even the existence of other gods has been repudiated.
A theme that is stronger in Genesis than anywhere else in the Bible is the idea that God is concerned that man might grasp some of His power, as when Adam and Eve eat from the first forbidden tree and when the people of the earth build the tower of Babel.
By the end of the book, we see the Hebrew people happily settled into the land of Goshen in eastern Egypt, a place convenient for the Egyptians since it forms a buffer zone against foreign invaders, and good for the Jews since it provides rich grazing lands.
The books ends with a prophecy for each of the tribes of Israel. This prophecy makes it so that each of the major sorts of biblical writing have been included: Myth, prophecy, law, genealogy, wisdom/poetry, history, and prophecy.
Scholars tend to think that the first 5 books of the Old Testament (also known as the Pentateuch or the Torah) come from 4 main sources. They are: J or yahwist sources, often discernible by the use of the word God (Yahweh) to refer to Jehovah. E or elohist sources, often using the term The Lord (Elohim) to refer to Jehovah. P or priestly sources, which reinforce priestly powers and duties, and Deuteronomist sources which reinterpret law in light of later reforms, often more insular and nationalistic than earlier interpretations.
There are many ways to look at the Old Testament, divisible chiefly into secular and religious approaches, and ranging from those seeking spiritual guidance to those who are trying to “disprove” scripture, from the most sympathetic and easily convinced of readers to the most skeptical and hostile. Our readings will mostly be with two points of view: as scholars trying to recreate what the original writers were up to and how those intentions and perspectives changed over time, and as textual critics, reading between the lines from a linguistic point of view to see what the text yields above and beyond literal readings.
We began our examination of the text by looking at what appear to be two distinct creation stories, one in the first and one in the second chapter of Genesis. We talked about the introduction of sibling strife as a theme in the story of Cain and Abel, a theme that will recur throughout the books of the Old Testament. The story of Noah and the flood introduced the first of the three main Covenants of the Old Testament: God’s promise to all living things that he will not flood the earth again. The mark of this covenant is the rainbow.
Abram’s name changes when he encounters God, and he becomes Abraham and soon enters into the second covenant. His part is to worship Jehovah and only Jehovah. God’s part is to cause the children of Abraham to multiply beyond all reckoning. The mark of this covenant is circumcision. Exclusive worship and fertility as a gift from God become recurring themes in the Old Testament, too.
In the book, we see the repudiation and disappearance of a few old themes that are never explicitly approved of in the Bible: one is polytheism, the other is human sacrifice. We see in the story of Isaac and Abraham that God is capable of asking for Human sacrifice, but chooses not to follow through. Never again does he ask for such sacrifice. And early on God speaks in the plural and also there is mention of the children of the gods, but tolerance of multiple gods quickly disappears and by the end of the Pentateuch we will see that even the existence of other gods has been repudiated.
A theme that is stronger in Genesis than anywhere else in the Bible is the idea that God is concerned that man might grasp some of His power, as when Adam and Eve eat from the first forbidden tree and when the people of the earth build the tower of Babel.
By the end of the book, we see the Hebrew people happily settled into the land of Goshen in eastern Egypt, a place convenient for the Egyptians since it forms a buffer zone against foreign invaders, and good for the Jews since it provides rich grazing lands.
The books ends with a prophecy for each of the tribes of Israel. This prophecy makes it so that each of the major sorts of biblical writing have been included: Myth, prophecy, law, genealogy, wisdom/poetry, history, and prophecy.
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