Exercise 1

The civilizations of the ancient Near East shared a tradition of wisdom literature.  One of the most important examples of this literature is, of course, the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible.  Take a look at some samples from Proverbs 1 .  When you finish, read these examples of Sumerian Proverbs and Akkadean Precepts.  How are these wisdom writings similar to and different from each other in their tone and style?  How might one account for these similarities and differences? What lessons do you think the audiences of each were supposed to draw?

Exercise 2

Exile and restoration are important themes in Hebrew history, experiences that have profoundly shaped Jewish identity.  One of the most important acts of restoration occurred when the Persian emperor, Cyrus the Great, ended the Babylonian Captivity by allowing the Hebrews to return to Palestine and rebuild their temple at Jerusalem.  Read Cyrus the Great's announcement of the restoration and the excerpt from the biblical Book of Ezra that appears beneath it.  Then read the passage from Isaiah that proclaims the end of the Captivity.  How do these documents present the end of the Captivity? How do they resemble and differ from each other in their tone and style? Who is the speaker of each, and from where does the authority or power to speak originate? What do the characteristics of these writings suggest to you about the relationship between Hebrew civilization and other ancient Near Eastern cultures?