DESCRIPTION:

The Book of Judges is a puzzle to many because of its strange stories. The course will explore these puzzles and look at possible responses through the resources of narrative criticism and other exegetical methods. Attention will be given to Hebrew grammar and syntax within the overall framework of a narrative, theological, and ethical understanding of the book.

By the end of the course, students should grow in the following areas:

• basic skills in reading and analyzing a biblical narrative;

• competency in translating and interpreting Hebrew prose;

• understanding the main themes and theological emphases of the book of Judges;

• appropriating the narratives of the Old Testament, particularly the stories in the book of Judges, for personal and corporate life.

Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph, eds. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. American Bible Society, 1977.

Brown, F., S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford University Press, 1952.

Either Joüon, P. and T. Muraoka. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblio, 1991.

Or Gesenius, W.; E. F. Kautzsch, et al. Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. 2d ed. Clarendon, 1963 [1910].

Access to a Hebrew concordance (Even-Shoshan or an electronic concordance).

Course Reader containing articles to be assigned in preparation for each class session.

See the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program" available in the SOT Academic Advising office.

Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. Basic Books, 1981.

Bal, Mieke. Death and Dysymmetry: The Politics of Coherence in the Book of Judges. University of Chicago Press, 1988.

Boling, Robert. Judges. AB. Doubleday, 1975.

Block, Daniel. Judges, Ruth. The New American Commentary. Broadman & Holman, 1999.

Klein, Lilian. The Triumph of Irony in the Book of Judges. Sheffield: Almond, 1989.

McCann, J. Clinton. Judges. IBC. John Knox, 2002.

Webb, Barry. The Book of Judges: An Integrated Reading. Sheffield Academic Press, 1987.

A list of other commentaries and articles for specific narrative cycles will be provided in class.

(1) Every class session, students will translate 12-15 verses of Hebrew text, identify textual and exegetical issues, and interact with two commentaries. Notes due every week. Articles on specific narratives will also be assigned (40%). (2) Submit a 3-5 page study of a passage using one aspect of narrative analysis. Due the last day of class (15%). (3) Submit a 12-15 page exegetical paper at the end of summer quarter. The paper will incorporate work done in #1 and #2, and include a theological/personal reflection section. Due Sept. 16 (45%). Two hours of outside study for every hour of class are expected.