Winter 2014/Pasadena
OT506
Smoak
OT506: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: JOSHUA-JUDGES. Jeremy Smoak.
DESCRIPTION: This course is a study of the books of Joshua and Judges in Hebrew. Particular attention will be devoted to examining the ways in which these two books present the rise of Israel in Canaan. The course will give specific attention to the literary structure of the books, as well as how their relationship to the larger theological message of the Former Prophets. The course will devote considerable attention to considering how translation from the Hebrew aids an understanding of the theological message of the books of Joshua and Judges.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The development of exegetical skills allows ministers in the church to gain a deeper understanding of the theology of Joshua-Judges. This course will help students gain competence in the interpretation of these books so that the theology found therein may be applied to different ministries in the church.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who satisfactorily complete the course will have shown that they (1) have applied their earlier Hebrew language studies to selected passages from Joshua and Judges; (2) understand how the books of Joshua and Judges relate to the wider themes found in the Former Prophets; (3) can interpret the diverse literary forms contained in these books; (4) understand the diverse exegetical methods that may be applied to a study of these books; and (5) have gained an ability to apply the theological messages of these books to different aspects of ministry in the church.
COURSE FORMAT: This class is a ten-week course, meeting for two-hour sessions, twice a week. Class sessions will be devoted to a combination of lecture presentations, translation exercises, and class discussions.
REQUIRED READING:
Brenner, A. and G. Yee. Joshua and Judges. Fortress, 2013. ISBN: 978-0800699376, Pub. Price $49.00 [326 pp.].
Elliger, K. & W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. 5th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1997. ISBN: 978-3438052223, Pub. Price $39.99.
Nelson, R. Joshua: A Commentary (Old Testament Library). Westminster John Knox, 1997. ISBN 9780664226664 [332 pages] $36.50
Niditch, Susan. Judges: A Commentary. Westminster John Knox, 2008. ISBN: 978-0664238315, Pub. Price $37.40 [336 pp.].
Yee, Gale A., ed. Judges and Method: New Approaches to Biblical Studies. Fortress, 1995. ISBN: 978-0800638580, Pub. Price $27.00 [200 pp.].
Reading material posted on Moodle. See the following sampling:
Brettler, M. “The Book of Judges: Literature as Politics,” Journal of Biblical Literature 108/3 (1989) 395–418.
Day, P. “From the Child is Born a Woman: The Story of Jephthah’s Daughter,” in Gender and Difference in Ancient Israel (ed. P. Day; Fortress, 1989) 58–74.
Exum, C. “The Theological Dimension of the Samson Saga,” Vetus Testamentum 33 (1983) 30–45.
Niditch, S. “Samson as Culture Hero, Trickster, and Bandit: The Empowerment of the Weak,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 52 (1990) 608–624.
Schloen, D. “Caravans, Kenites, and Casus Belli: Enmity and Alliance in the Song of Deborah,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 55 (1993) 18–38.
See also the Biblical Division bibliography “Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program” available online and in the Academic Advising office.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Basic study of the text, including preparation of the Hebrew text, reading of commentaries, and other assigned readings. Students will submit their translation work on a weekly basis to the instructor (30%)
Exegetical Paper (30%)
Exams (midterm and final) (30%; 15% each)
Short Writing Assignment (10%)
PREREQUISITES: LG502.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "B" (OTBE) and MA program requirement for Old Testament book study (OTBK).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.