II · The Makers and Teachers of Judaism

The Makers and Teachers of Judaism · Chapter 31II

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General Questions and Subjects for Special Research

The General Questions, as in the preceding volumes, follow the main divisions of the book, and are intended to guide the student in collecting and co-ordinating the more important facts presented in the biblical text or in the notes.

The Subjects for Special Research are intended to guide the reader to further study in related lines, and, by means of detailed references, to introduce him to the most helpful passages in the best English books of reference. In class-room work many of these topics may be profitably assigned for personal research and report. The references are to pages, unless otherwise indicated. Ordinarily, several parallel references are given that the student may be able to utilize the book at hand. More detailed classified bibliographies will be found in the appendices of Volumes II-VI of the author's Student's Old Testament.

The Exile and Revival of the Judean Community

Section XCI. The Jews in Palestine and Egypt. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. What did the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586 mean to the Jewish people? 2. Describe the structure and contents of the book of

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The literary history of the book of Lamentations. McFadyen, Introd., 294-7; Driver, Lit. of the O.T., 456-65. 2. History of Egypt from 600 to 560 B.C. Breasted, Hist, of the Ancient Egyptians, 404-18. 3. The discoveries at Elephantine. Sayce and Cowley, Aramaic Papyri Discovered at Assuan; Sachau, Drei aramäische Papyrururkunden aus Elephantine.

Section XCII. Ezekiel's Message to His Scattered Countrymen. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the situation of the Jewish colony in Babylon. 2. Their opportunities and occupations. 3. Their religious li

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Babylon under Nebuchadrezzar. Goodspeed, Hist. of Babs. and Assyrs., 336-50; En. Bib., III, 3369-71. 2. The religious institutions of the Babylonians. Goodspeed, Hist. of Babs. and Assyrs., 351-66; Jastrow, Relig. of Bab. and Assyr.; Johns, Bab. and Assyr. Laws, Letters, and Contracts, 208-17. 3. Influence of Babylonian institutions upon Ezekiel. Toy, Ezek. (Introd.).

Section XCIII. The Closing Years of the Babylonian Rule. GENERAL QUESTIONS. 1. Describe the different influences that transformed the Jews into a literary people. 2. The nature of their literary activ

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Contents and history of the Holiness Code. St. O.T., IV, 36-42; McFadyen, Introd. to O.T., 31-4. 2. The last decade of Babylonian history. Goodspeed, Hist. of Babs. and Assyrs., 367-76; Kent, Hist. J.P., 66-77. 3. Character and reign of Cyrus. Herodotus, I, 95, 108-30, 177-214; Hastings, D.B., I, 541-2; Rawlinson, Anc. Monarchies, IV, VII; Duncker, Hist. of Antiq., V.

Section XCIV. The Rebuilding of the Temple. GENERAL QUESTIONS: Describe the contents and literary history of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. 2. Their authorship. 3. The Chronicler's peculiar ideas reg

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The historical value of Ezra and Nehemiah. Torrey, Composition and Historical Value of Ezra and Nehemiah, or Ezra Studies, 62-251. 2. The first two decades of Persian history. Goodspeed, Hist. of Ancient World, 60-2; Ragozin, The Story of Media, II; Meyer, Anc. Hist., 88-93. 3. Evidence that there was no general return of the Jews in 536 B.C. Kent, Hist. J.P., 126-36; Torrey, Ezra Studies, 297-307.

Section XCV. Zechariah's Visions and Encouraging Addresses. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the evidence that Zechariah wrote from the point of view of a priest. 2. The structure and contents of his bo

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Origin of the apocalyptic type of prophecy. Jewish Encyc., I, 669-73; St. O.T., Ill, 42-3; Hastings, D. B., I, 109-10. 2. The popular messianic hopes of the period. St. O.T., III, 44-5, 472-86. 3. The establishment of Darius' authority. Herodotus, II, 67-86; Ragozin, Media, XIII; Hastings, D. B., I, 558.

Section XCVI. Israel's Training and Destiny. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the conditions in the Judean community during the seventy years following the rebuilding of the temple. 2. The forces that k

SUBJECTS FOE SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The organization of the Persian Empire under Darius. Goodspeed, Hist, of Anc. World, 62-3; Ragozin, Media, 384-91; Sayce, Anc. Empires, 247-50; En. Bib., I, 1016-7. 2. The Persian invasions of Europe. Goodspeed, Anc. Hist., 122-8; Herodotus, IV, 1-142; Ragozin, Media, 412-29; Bury, Hist. of Greece, 265-96; Botsford, Hist. of Greece, 127-36. 3. Contents and literary characteristics of Isaiah 40-48. St. O. T., Ill, 27-30; Cobb, in Jour, of Bib. Lit., XXVII, 48-64; Box, Isaiah, 179-237.

Section XCVII. Conditions and Problems in the Jewish Community. GENERAL QUESTIONS: I. What is the probable date of the book of Malachi? 2. Describe its teachings regarding the temple service. 3. The n

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Contemporary Greek history and literature. Goodspeed, Anc. Hist., 159-96; Bury, Hist. of Greece, 507-90; Jebb, Greek Lit., 109-20. 2. The earliest psalms. Briggs, Psalms, I, LXXXIX-XCII; Cobb, Bk. of Pss., XI-XIV; Driver, Lit. of the O.T., 371-2; McFadyen, Introd. to O.T., 238-50. 3. Psalm literature among contemporary peoples. Breasted, Hist. of Anc. Egyptians, 273-7; Jastrow, Relig. of Bab. and Assyr., 294-327.

Section XCVIII. The Problems and Teachings of the Book of Job. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the structure of the book of Job. 2. The different literary units which have entered into it. 3. The proba

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The Babylonian prototype of Job. Jastrow, in Jour. of Bib. Lit., XXV, Pt. II, 135-91. 2. Comparison of Job with other great skeptical dramas. Owen, The Five Great Skeptical Dramas of History. 3. The modern explanations of the problem of evil. Royce, Studies of Good and Evil.

Section XCIX. The Training and Mission of the True Servant of Jehovah. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the different characteristics of Jehovah's servant in Isaiah 49-53. 2. What was the prophet's purp

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The meaning and history of the different messianic titles. St. O.T., III, 39, 47; En. Bib., III, 3057-61. 2. Contents and unity of Isaiah 49-55. St. O.T., III, 28-30; Box, Isaiah, 238-83. 3. How far was Jesus influenced by the ideal of the suffering servant?

Section C. Nehemiah's Work in Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. What is the historical value of Nehemiah's memoirs? 2. In what way was he informed of conditions in Jerusalem? 3.

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Contemporary events in Greek history. Goodspeed, Anc. Hist., 141-72; Bury, Hist, of Greece, 336-75; Botsford, Hist, of Greece, 151-85. 2. The topography of Jerusalem. Kent, Sib. Geog. and Hist., 64-72; Smith, Jerusalem, I, I-249; Hastings, D.B., II, 591-6. 3. Recent excavations at Jerusalem. Jerusalem Vol. of P. E. F. Memoirs; Bliss and Dickey, Excavations at Jerusalem; Smith, Jerusalem, I.

Section CI. Nehemiah's Social and Religious Reforms. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the cruel oppression of the leaders of the Jewish community. 2. The effect upon the mass of the people. 3. The way i

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: I. In what respects was Nehemiah a worthy successor of the earlier Hebrew prophets? 2. The later Jewish laws regarding the Sabbath. St. O.T., IV, 263-4. 3. Regarding marriage with foreigners. St. O.T., IV, 54-5.

Section CII. Traditional Account of the Adoption of the Priestly Law. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the present literary form of the tradition regarding Ezra. 2. Its probable history. 3. Its historic

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The difficulties in accepting the Ezra narrative as strictly historical. Torrey, Ezra Studies, 208-78; Smith, O.T. Hist., 390-8. 2. History of the later priestly codes. St. O.T., IV, 43-8. 3. Income and duties of the priests and Levites according to the late priestly codes. St. O.T., IV, 187-92, 197-202.

Section CIII. The Jewish State during the Last Century of Persian Rule. GENERAL QUESTIONS: I. Describe the indications that the Judean community enjoyed unusual prosperity during the half-century foll

SUBJECTS FOB SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. History of the Persian Empire between 400 and 332 B.C. Cox, The Greeks and the Persians. 2. Contemporary events in Greek history. Goodspeed, Hist. of Anc. World, 173-204; Meyer, Anc. Hist., 244-74. 3. The history of the Samaritans. En. Bib., IV, 4256-64; Montgomery, The Samaritans.

The Greek and Maccabean Age

Section CIV. The Jews under Their Greek Rulers. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the character of the Jewish historian, Josephus. 2. The extent of his histories. 3. Their historical value. 4. Alexander'

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Josephus's rank as a historian. Hastings, D.B., extra Vol., 461-73. 2. Alexander the Great. Mahaffy, The Story of Alexander's Empire, 1-11; Hogarth, Philip and Alexander of Macedon; Wheeler, Alexander the Great. 3. Character of the Ptolemaic rulers. Bevan, Jerusalem under the High Priests, 21-30; Mahaffy, The Ptolemaic Dynasty, Vol. IV of Petrie's Hist. of Egypt.

Section CV. The Wise and Their Teachings. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the literary structure of the book of Proverbs. 2. The evidence that it is the work of many different wise men. 3. The probable

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The book of Proverbs. McFadyen, Introd. to O.T., 256-63; Driver, L. O.T., 392-407; Toy, Proverbs, Introd. 2. The sages of Egypt and Greece. The Wisdom of Ptah-hotep, in the Wisdom of the East Series; Symonds, Studies of the Greek Poets, I, 161-273; Jebb, Classical Greek Poetry. 3. The social teachings of the book of Proverbs. St. O. T., VI, in loco; Kent, The Wise Men of Ancient Israel and Their Proverbs, 100-14, 158-75; Root, The Profit of the Many, 17-126.

Section CVI. The Different Currents of Thought in Judaism during the Greek Period. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Why were there many different currents of thought in Judaism during this period? 2. Describe th

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The Chronicler's conception of the origin of Israel's institutions. Curtis, Chronicles, Introd.; Torrey, Ezra Studies, 208-38; St. O. T., II, 22-8. 2. Greek myths parallel to the story of Jonah. En. Bib., II, 2568-9; Taylor, Primitive Culture, I, 306. 3. A comparison of Koheleth's philosophy and teaching with those of the author of Omar Khayyam.

Section CVII. The Teachings of Jesus the Son of Sirach. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the evidence regarding the date of Jesus the son of Sirach. 2. The character of the man. 3. The history of his wr

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The Hebrew fragments of Ben Sira. Cowley and Neubauer, The Original Heb. of a Portion of Ecclus.; Schechter and Taylor, The Wisdom of Ben-Sira; Hastings, D.B., IV, 546-9; En. Bib., II, 1166-9. 2. The character of Ben Sira as revealed in his writings. Hastings, D.B., IV, 550; En. Bib., II, 1175-8; Bevan, Jerusalem under the High Priests, 49-51. 3. A comparison of the moral and social teachings of Ben Sira with those of the book of Proverbs. Bevan, Jerusalem under the High Priests, 52-68.

Section CVIII. The Causes of the Maccabean Struggle. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the general character of I Maccabees. 2. Its historical value. 3. II Maccabees. 4. The attractive and aggressive qua

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The characteristics of Greek religion. Gulick, Life of the Ancient Greeks, 262-83; Dyer, The Gods in Greece; Goodspeed, Hist. of Anc. World, 148-51; Hastings, D.B., extra Vol., 109-56. 2. The historical value of II Maccabees. Hastings, D.B., III, 189-92; En. Bib., III, 2869-79. 2. Contemporary portraits of Antiochus Epiphanes. Livy, XLI-XLV; Polybius, XXVI-XXXI; Appian, Syr., 45, 66; Justin, XXIV, 3.

Section CIX. The Effect of Persecution on the Jews. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the uprising led by Mattathias. 2. The methods adopted by the rebels. 3. The origin and political principles of the H

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The town of Modein. Kent, Bib. Geog. and Hist., 210-2; Smith, Hist. Geog. of Holy Land, 212. 2. Contents and literary history of the book of Daniel. McFadyen, Introd. to O.T., 316-31; Driver, L. O.T., 438-515; Hastings, D.B., I, 552-7.

Section CX. The Victories that Gave the Jews Religious Liberty. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the characteristics that fitted Judas to be a great political leader. 2. The odds against which he and th

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Greek military equipment and methods of warfare. Gulick, Life of the Anc. Greeks, 188-205. 2. The western headlands of Judah. Kent, Bib. Geog. and Hist., 40-2; Smith, Hist. Geog. of Holy Land, 286-320. 3. Comparison of Judas with other great military commanders. Conder, Judas Maccabaeus; Bevan, Jer. under the High Priests, 97-9; Smith, O.T. Hist., 465.

Section CXI. The Long Contest for Political Independence. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the attitude of the heathen nations toward the Jews. 2. The political problems that confronted them. 3. The Jew

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The history and value of the book of Esther. Paton, Esther; Hastings, D. B., I, 773-6; En. Bib., II, 1400-5. 2. The Syrian history of the period. Bevan, Jer. under the High Priests, 100-6; Smith, O.T. Hist., 465-9. 3. The scenes of Judas's east-Jordan campaign. Kent, Bib. Geog. and Hist., 214-7.

Section CXII. Peace and Prosperity under Simon. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the political intrigues which resulted in the death of Jonathan. 2. The character and rule of Simon. 3. His extension of

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Compare the characters of the three brothers, Judas, Jonathan, and Simon. 2. The guilds of temple singers. Hastings, D.B., IV, 92-3; Wellhausen, The Book of Psalms (in S.B. O.T.), 217-9. 3. The evidence that many of the psalms come from the Maccabean period. Hastings, D.B., IV, 152-3; Cheyne, Origin of the Psalter.

Section CXIII. The Rule of John Hyrcanus and Aristobulus. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the intrigue that resulted in the death of Simon. 2. The Syrian invasion under Antiochus Sidetes. 3. The charac

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Contemporary conditions in the Syrian kingdom. En. Bib., IV, 4356-60; Gardner, The Seleucid Kings of Syria. 2. The history of the Idumeans. Hastings, D.B., I, 644-6; En. Bib., II, 1181-8; Buhl, Edomites. 3. Compare the policy of John Hyrcanus with that of David.

Section CXIV. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. GENERAL QUESTIONS: I. Describe the influences that gave rise to the party of the Pharisees. 2. Of the Sadducees. 3. The characteristics and beliefs

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The party of the Pharisees. Hastings, D.B., III, 821-8; En. Bib., IV, 4321-9. 2. The Sadducees. Hastings, D.B., IV, 349-51; En. Bib., IV, 4234-40. 3. The points of contact between Essenism and Christianity. Hastings, D.B., I, 767-72; En. Bib., II, 1396-1400; Thomson, Books which Influenced Our Lord, 75-122; Cheyne, Origin of the Psalter, 418-21, 446-9.

Section CXV. The Life and Faith of the Jews of the Dispersion. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the life of the Jews in Antioch and Asia Minor. 2. The privileges granted them by the Syrian king. 3. The

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Characteristics and value of the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Hastings, D.B., IV, 864-6; Swete, Introd. to the Old Testament in Greek; En. Bib., IV, 5016-22. 2. The history and contents of the Wisdom of Solomon. Hastings, D.B., IV, 928-31; En. Bib., IV, 5336-49; Deane, The Book of Wisdom, 1-41; Gregg, The Wisd. of Sol.

Section CXVI. The Decline of the Maccabean Kingdom. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the character of Alexander Janneus. 2. His military policy. 3. His treatment of his subjects. 4. The extension of Jew

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Rome's policy and campaigns in the East. Goodspeed, Hist. of Anc. World, 311-9; Seignobos, Hist. of Rom. People, 126-30. 2. Rome's earlier relation to the Jewish kingdom. 3. The character and career of Pompey. Goodspeed, Hist. of Anc. World, 343-9; Botsford, Hist. of Rome, 175-80, 183-9; Morey, Outlines of Roman Hist., ch. 20.

The Rule of Rome

Section CXVII. The Rise of the Herodian House. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the repeated rebellions against Rome that were instigated and led by Aristobulus and his sons. 2. The reasons why the Jews

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The fortresses of Alexandrium and Macherus. Smith, Hist. Geog. of the Holy Land, 352-3, 569-71; Kent, Bib. Geog. and Hist., 229, 244-5; Schurer, H.J.P., I, i, 250-1. 2. The history of Rome from 60 to 40 B.C. Botsford, Hist. of Rome, 183-97; Fowler, Julius Caesar; Mahaffy, Gk. World under Roman Sway, ch. IV. 3. The Parthians. Hastings, D.B., III, 680-1.

Section CXVIII. Herod's Policy and Reign. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the strength and weakness of Herod's character. 2. The ways in which he won the favor of Augustus. 3. His building activity wit

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. Rome under Augustus. Botsford, Hist. of Rome, 204-22; Bury, Student's Rom. Emp., chs. I-XIV; Capes, Early Empire, chs. I-III, XII-XIX. 2. Herod's Caesarea. Smith, Hist. Geog. of the Holy Land, 138-41; En. Bib., I, 617-8; Kent, Bib. Geog. and Hist., 233. 3. The various sides of Herod's character. Hastings, D.B., II, 356-7; En. Bib., II, 2025-9; Bevan, Jer. under the High Priests, 148-51.

Section CXIX. Herod's Temple. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the motives that inspired Herod to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. 2. His preparations for the work. 3. The extension of the temple area.

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The detailed plan and dimensions of Herod's temple. Hastings, D.B., IV, 711-6; En Bib., IV, 4943-7; Warren, The Temple and the Tomb; Smith, Jerusalem, II, 499-520. 2. The administration of the temple finances. Hastings, D.B., IV, 92-7; En. Bib., IV, 4949-51; Smith, Jerusalem, I, 351-66. 3. The inscription forbidding foreigners to enter the inner courts. Hastings, D.B., IV, 713-4.

Section CXX. The Messianic Hopes and Religious Beliefs of Judaism. GENERAL QUESTIONS: 1. Describe the influences that determined the growth of Israel's messianic hopes. 2. The different forms which th

SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL RESEARCH: 1. The origin of Israel's messianic hopes. St. O. T., Ill, 39-48; Goodspeed, Israel's Messianic Hope; Oesterley, Evolution of the Messianic Idea. 2. The Sibylline Oracles. Deane, Pseudepigrapha; Hastings, D.B., extra vol., 66-8. 3. The Psalms of Solomon. Ryle and James, The Pss. of Sol.; Deane, Pseudepigrapha, 25-48.