Details for Old Testament Poetry

This unit is the study of poetry and poetic techniques used in the Old Testament. It considers the role of poetry in the various socio-cultural world of the Old Testament, such as home and cultic contexts. This course provides opportunity for students to apply and evaluate a number of contemporary reading methods to Old Testament poetry. 

The unit Old Testament Poetry is part of the subject area Biblical Studies and is offered as a part of the following Awards: Master of Arts (Christian Studies) (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)).

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

At the successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of the various forms and uses of poetry in the Old Testament;
2. identify poetic techniques used in texts, such as imagery, parallelism and literary devices;
3. analyse the use of poetic texts in a diversity of contexts in the Old Testament, such as their use in the home and cult as well as their rhetorical use by the prophets;
4. demonstrate critical engagement with both primary and secondary texts;
5. evaluate the influence of Ancient Near Eastern poetry in the development of Hebrew poetry
6. critically analyse selected poetic texts 

Subject Content

1. Overview of Hebrew poetry
2. Poetics and poetic criticism 
3. Imagery and metaphor in Hebrew Poetry
4. Parallelism and literary techniques
5. Poetic Forms in the Psalter
6. The influence of Ancient Near Eastern poetry in the development of Hebrew poetry
7. Use of poetry by the prophets, including rhetorical functions
8. Where is poetry used in the OT? Social, religious and cultural background of poetic texts
9. Analysis of selected poetic texts in the Old Testament
10. Applying Hebrew poetry to contemporary Christianity 

Assessment Methods

Exegetical essay, Critical essay, Exam.

Prescribed Text

• Reading package provided

Representative References

Alter, R. The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary. New York: Norton, 2007.

Alter, R. The Art of Biblical Poetry. New York: Basic, 1985.

Anderson, B. W. Out of the Depths: the Psalms Speak for us Today, 3^rd Revised Edition. Louisville: John Knox Press, 2000.

Brueggemann, W.The Prophetic Imagination, 2^nd Edition. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001.

Burnett, J.S. “Forty-Two Songs for Elohim: An Ancient Near East Organising Principle in the Shaping of the Elohistic Psalter.” Journal for the Study of Old Testament 31, no. 1 (2006): 81-101.

Clifford, R. J. Wisdom Literature in Mesopotamia and Israel. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2007.