Summer 2015/Sacramento
OT567
Loepp
OT567: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: EXODUS-ENGLISH TEXT (4 Units: 160 hours). Dale Loepp.
DESCRIPTION: The book of Exodus constitutes what is perhaps the central event within Israelite historiography, an event seen as formative for Israelite self-identity, one that sets out the terms of the nation’s relationship with Yahweh and shapes a significant portion of other biblical texts. Likewise, Christians have viewed the Exodus event as a model for understanding a variety of theological constructs including ideas of covenant, justice, and God’s deliverance of the oppressed.This course will closely examine the book of Exodus and will consider its place within the canon of the Bible, within ancient Israelite culture, and as Christian scripture. During the course, we will also utilize Exodus as a target text for modeling different approaches for reading and interpreting the Bible—bringing to the surface themes such as political and religious power, history and memory, journey/pilgrimage, and what it means to be the people of God. This course will also explore examples of how the stories of Exodus have reverberated throughout the rest of the Bible as well as in other cultural/political contexts.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated their ability to (1) recount the general narrative trajectory of the book of Exodus; (2) describe the overall literary/source critical structure of the book of Exodus and of individual accounts within Exodus; (3) explain the differences in perspective and approach among literary (including folkloric), sociopolitical, feminist, and liberation-oriented readings of the Bible; (4) explain how the stories in Exodus can inform contemporary ministry contexts; (5) collaborate theologically with other course participants concerning theological issues presented in the book of Exodus; (6) demonstrate an understanding of biblical intertextuality and discuss how certain biblical texts are linked intertextually; and (7) demonstrate a facility with one or more specific approaches to reading the Bible by reflecting on these texts exegetically and theologically, using a participant-selected pericope.
COURSE FORMAT: This is a hybrid course, meaning that it is a ten-week course with eights weeks of online instruction and two weeks of classroom instruction during weeks 3-4 of the quarter. The weeks of classroom instruction will include four hours three days a week of lecture and discussion, for a total of 24 hours of classroom instruction. An additional 16 hours of online instruction will occur during the other eight weeks of the course, for a total of 40 instructional hours. This course will include a combination of live and recorded lectures, small-group text-based workshops/discussion, and participant presentations.
REQUIRED READING: 1191 total number of pages required.
Exodus—English Text [50 pp.].
Dozeman, Thomas B. Methods for Exodus. Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521710015, Pub. Price $28.99; (Introduction, chapters 1-2; 5-6) [152 pp.].
Fretheim, Terence E. Exodus. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Westminster John Knox Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0664236199, Pub. Price $40.00 [316 pp.].
Meyers, Carol. Exodus. New Cambridge Bible Commentary. Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0521002912, Pub. Price $30.99 [284 pp.].
Walzer, Michael. Exodus and Revolution. Basic Books, 1986. ISBN: 978-0465021635, Pub. Price $16.00 [149 pp.].
Material Available on E-Reserves:
Dundas, Alan. “The Hero Pattern in the Life of Jesus” (180-215). In Otto Rank, Lord
Raglan and Alan Dundas, “In Quest of the Hero.” Princeton University Press, 1990. [36 pp.].
Exum, J. Cheryl. “’You Shall Let Every Daughter Live,’: A Study of Exodus 1:8—2:10.” In Semeia 28 (1988) (pages 63-68) [6 pp.].
Pardes, Ilana. The Biography of Ancient Israel: National Narratives in the Bible. University of California Press, 2002 (pages 1-99) [100 pp.].
Zakovitch, Yair. “And You Shall Tell Your Son…”: The Concept of the Exodus in the Bible. Magnes Press, 1991 (Introduction, chapters 1 and 2) [98 pp.].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1191 total pages of reading [70 hours]
Viewing and posting responses (250 words) to five video lectures due between the beginning of the term and prior to formal class sessions (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1,3] [10 hours DLA.]
Two additional prepared prompt-driven reading responses (250 words) to be posted on-line and two prepared replies (250 words total) to reading responses posted on-line (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1,2,3]. [3 hours DLA].
Participate in an on-line discussion board on the topic of problematic theological issues presented by Exodus; minimum of three responses of 250 words each (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #4,5]. [3 hours DLA]
Prepare and present a 10-minute class presentation on a prompt-guided inner-biblical exegetical use of a portion of Exodus (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #6]. [10 hours].
Final exegetical essay on a participant selected pericope—3000 words (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3,4,7]. [30 hours].
Mid-term exam prepared outside of class (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1,3]. [5 hours]
Final exam prepared outside of class (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1,3]. [5 hours]
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Counts as a biblical elective for the 120 MDiv Program and the MATM and MAICS Programs (Winter 2010), and the OTBK requirement for the MAT Program (Winter 2010).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes, take-home exam.