Summer 2013/Pasadena

OT501

Smoak

OT501: PENTATEUCH. Jeremy D. Smoak.

DESCRIPTION: This course will survey the major themes, issues, and genres of the Pentateuch, comprised of the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Specific attention will be devoted to how critical reflection upon the historical, social, and literary background of certain passages in the Pentateuch aids interpretation of its theological message. The course will also reflect upon the literary development of the Pentateuch and seek to understand how this process aids an understanding of the nature of Scripture in ancient Israel and early Judaism.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: After completing this course, students should be able to (1) explain the major critical issues involved in the interpretation of the Pentateuch, (2) demonstrate an understanding of the basic structure of the books of the Pentateuch, (3) describe the different literary genres found in the Pentateuch, (4) demonstrate an increased ability to interact with some of the more important scholarly tools used in the study of the Old Testament, and (5) discuss how an understanding of the historical, social, and literary background of the Pentateuch aids an understanding of its message.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The Pentateuch forms the foundation for many of the central theologies found in Christian traditions, such as creation, law, cult, redemption, and interpretation. During the past two hundred years or so, some of the more important of these theologies have been neglected in Protestant traditions, especially those that relate to priestly ideologies in ancient Israel and early Judaism. As a result, this course attempts to recover some of the diversity of traditions and perspectives visible in the Pentateuch and ask how they can deepen our response to and understanding of God’s word.

COURSE FORMAT: This class is a five-week course, meeting for three-hour sessions, twice a week, as well as online in Moodle. Class sessions will be devoted to a combination of lecture presentation and structured class discussions. Students will be expected to complete weekly online Moodle forum posts during the five weeks of the course.

REQUIRED READING:

EITHERNew Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0195289602, Pub. Price $35.00 [2416 pp.]. ORThe Jewish Study Bible. Jewish Publication Society, 2004. ISBN: 978-0195297515, Pub. Price $45.00 [2208 pp.].

Balentine, Samuel B. The Torah’s Vision of Worship. Fortress, 1999. ISBN: 978-0800631550, Pub. Price $29.00 [284 pp.].

Blenkinsopp, J. The Pentateuch: An Introduction to the First Five Books of the Bible. Yale University Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0300140217, Pub. Price $30.00 [288 pp.].

Levenson, J.D. Sinai and Zion. HarperOne, 1987. ISBN: 978-0062548283, Pub. Price $16.99 [240 pp.].

Course Reader, E-Reserves including selected chapters from Trible, P. and Russell, L. Hagar, Sarah, and Their Children: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives. Westminster John Knox, 2006 and Meyers, C. Rediscovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context. Oxford University Press, 1991 (available on e-reserve).