Old Testament Exegesis II (poetic literature)

Teacher(s)

Richelle Matthieu; SOMEBODY;

Language

French

Main themes

In order to achieve this end,
- some significant text from Old Testament poetic literature will be studied, with an explanation of the exegetical method and an illustration of the interest of exegetical basic tools;
- some scientific literature about the texts will be read;
- anthropological and theological aspects of the analysed texts will be developed, and their particular contribution in the context of biblical thought enlightened.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	- understand the main procedures of biblical exegesis and apply them on a poetic text of the Old Testament ;
2	- situate the anthropological and theological contribution of significant texts of the Old Testament poetic literature ;
3	- understand and criticise scientific works in Old Testament exegesis.

Content

This course will be devoted to the « Little Apocalypse » (Isaiah 24-27). It is a poetic text, like most prophetic texts in the Old Testament. The following aspects will be discussed :

• Translation and philological questions ;
• Literary structure ;
• Poetical features ;
• Intertextuality ;
• Historical setting ;
• Rhetorical function ;
• Reception history.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Continuous assessment :

• Activities in preparation for classes (to be uploaded on Moodle), and during classes (active participation active is required). [30% of final grade]
• Writing an exegetical essay about Isaiah 19. [70% of final grade]

Except for students who follow this course exclusively online, attendance at classes is obligatory and will count in the first evaluation (item 1 above). In case of three or more unjustified absences, the course will not be validated. (The sanitary restrictions related to covid 19 may entail justified absences.)
If a student misses or fails assessment, this will result in one of the two following situations:

• It is possible that the final grade, average of the three grades, still allows the student to validate the course ;
• If not, he will need to write an essay during Q3 (third quadrimester).

Other information

Prerequisite : course of introduction to the Old Testament ; ability to translate a text written in Biblical Hebrew.

Bibliography

Bibliographie indicative et provisoire en français :
Robert ALTER, L'art de la poésie biblique (Le livre et le rouleau 11), Bruxelles, Lessius, 2003.
Jean-Marie AUWERS, La composition littéraire du Psautier. Un état de la question (Cahiers de la Revue biblique 46), Paris, Gabalda, 2000 ;
Roland MEYNET, L'analyse rhétorique. Une nouvelle méthode pour comprendre la Bible (Initiations), Paris, Cerf, 1989.
Jacques TRUBLET & Jean-Noël ALETTI, Approche poétique et théologique des Psaumes. Analyses et méthodes (Initiations), Paris, Cerf, 1983.
Luis ALONSO SCHÖKEL, Manuel de poésie hébraïque (Le livre et le rouleau 41), Bruxelles, Lessius, 2103.

Faculty or entity

TEBI