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 Lamentations. 3.  Its probable authorship and date. 4.  Its theme and historical value. 5.  The condition of the Jews who were left in Palestine. 6.  The numbers of the Jews in Egypt. 7.  The life of the Jewish colony at Elephantine. 8.  The character and service of the temple of Jahu.

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 aramaeische 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 life. 4.  The prophecies of Ezekiel after the destruction of Jerusalem. 5.  Meaning of his description of the valley of dry bones in chapter 37. 6.  His conception of the way in which the scattered exiles were to be restored. 7.  His plan of the restored temple. 8.  The meaning and significance of this detailed plan.

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 activity. 3.  The Old Testament books that were written or re-edited during this period. 4.  The general character of the Holiness Code. 5.  The national hopes inspired by the liberation of Jehoiachin. 6.  The character of Nabonidus. 7.  The effects of his rule. 8.  The early conquests of Cyrus. 9.  His capture of Babylon. 10.  His policy toward conquered peoples.