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 the character and aims of the ritualists. 3.  Of the legalists. 4.  Of those who laid especial emphasis upon the teaching of the earlier prophets. 5.  The evidence regarding the date of the book of Jonah. 6.  The meaning of the story. 7.  Its teaching. 8.  The history of the book of Ecclesiastes. 9.  Its point of view. 10.  Its philosophy of life.

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 writings. 4.  The nature of the Greek translation. 5.  The recovery of the Hebrew original. 6.  Its picture of the Jewish life of the period. 7.  Its description of the wise men and scribes. 8.  Its social teachings. 9.  Its religious teachings.

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 qualities in the contemporary Hellenic culture. 5.  Its superiority to the teachings of Judaism. 6.  The elements in which Judaism was superior. 7.  The conquest of Hellenism in the ranks of Judaism. 8.  The influence of the apostate Jewish high priests. 9.  The history and character of Antiochus Epiphanes. 10.  Reasons why he attempted to hellenize the Jews. 11.  The measures which he adopted.

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.