REL 252: Study Guide 20

Harris: ch. 17

Amos

What's Amos's main beef? What's he complaining most about?

What's unusual about him (hints: where is he from? where does he prophesy? What tradition does he reflect?)

Remember also to review the details of the passage about Micaiah ben Imlah (1 Kgs 22) & see what you discover about Israelite prophecy & prophets.

Hosea

What metaphors does Hosea use in chs. 1–3  to depict the relationship between YHWH & Israel? What's up with Gomer & the kids?

What metaphors does Hosea use in ch. 11  to depict the relationship between YHWH & Israel? What tradition is reflected in the description of the relationship?

From whose perspective is Hos 11 written? Who's talking? To whom?

Pay special attention to YHWH's deliberation & final resolution.

What do we learn about YHWH in Hos 11? Is this new compared to what we have seen YHWH say & do so far? (hint: consider the depiction of YHWH's will & grace; What's different here in terms of portraying YHWH? What is the understanding or depiction of God in Hosea, esp in chap 11?)

What does Hos 11 or Hosea as a whole say about God's relationship to Israel & to Judah?
What do you think about the tension between God's will & grace?

Check Hosea 11.12 in other English versions, esp. NIV. What's going on? If you have another translation of the Bible besides the NRSV, please bring it to class, esp. NIV.

NB anti-monarchic material: 8.4; 9.15; 10.3, 9

Remember, as always, to bring your written Qs or Cs to class.