Summer 2005/Pasadena
Five-week Intensive: July 25-August 26
OT506
Gorospe
OT506: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: JUDGES. Athena Evelyn Gorospe.
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.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- 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.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet twice weekly, four hours per session, for
five weeks.
REQUIRED READING:
- 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.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- 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.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- (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.
PREREQUISITES: LG502.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "b"
(OTBE).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.