Sacrifice, praise and wisdom

This module will enable students to build upon and develop an existing awareness and understanding of the field of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament scholarship by means of a study of three core texts studied in English, namely:

• The Book of Leviticus
• The Psalms
• The Wisdom Literature of Job, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs.

Topics covered

Main topics of the module include:

• Method in biblical study

Leviticus

• The shape of the book of Leviticus: a meaningful organisation?
• The concept of ‘holiness’: Purity and Impurity in the book of Leviticus
• Understanding Ritual in the book of Leviticus and contemporary issues 

Psalms

• The poetry and shape of the canonical book of Psalms
• Psalms in worship

Wisdom

• Wisdom Literature in Israel and the Ancient Near East
• Proverbs: linking creation and moral order
• Job and the limits of theodicy
• Ecclesiastes: A Crisis of Wisdom?

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be expected to be able to: 

Knowledge and understanding 

• Gain critical insight into significant historical, literary and theological issues evoked by a study of this material;
• Recognise and engage with the variety of interpretations of the texts under scrutiny.       

Intellectual and cognitive skills 

• Critically evaluate a number of approaches to the interpretation of the texts under consideration;
• Undertake a critical exegesis of the set texts in English.

Practical and transferable skills  

• Select and organize material from a range of primary and secondary sources; 
• Show an ability to assimilate and evaluate competing arguments ;
• Produce clear, well-structured written work; 
• Manage their own learning, including taking part in discussion forums and working effectively to deadlines.

Assessment

A two thousand-word essay (40%) and a 1.5-hour unseen written examination (60%).