Fall 2015/Pasadena

OT527

Smoak

OT527: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: EXODUS, Hebrew Text (4 Units: 160 Hours). Jeremy D. Smoak.

DESCRIPTION: The primary goal of this course is to develop exegetical skills through study of the Hebrew text of the book of Exodus. Towards this goal, the Hebrew text of the book will be analyzed using various methodological principles. Specific attention will be given to applying exegetical tools and skills to a study of the book in order discern its theological message and continued relevance for ministry in the church.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to interpret Exodus within its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (2) to identify central issues in the critical study of Exodus; (3) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of Exodus; (4) to use Hebrew based language tools for interpreting the text; and (5) to interpret this text for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet twice weekly in two-hour sessions for lectures and discussions for a total of 40 hours of in-class instructional time. Students will also use Moodle as a part of the course.

REQUIRED READING: 500 total number of pages required

Brown, F., S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon: Coded with Strong’s Concordance Numbers. Hendrickson, 1996 [original date, 1906].** ISBN: 978-1565632066, Pub. Price $34.95

Childs, Brevard. The Book of Exodus (OTL). Westminster/John Knox, 1974. ISBN: 978-0664229689. Price: $55.00 [250 pp. assigned].

Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Hendrickson, 2006. ISBN: 978-1598561630, Pub. Price $69.95.

Meyers, Carol. Exodus (New Cambridge Bible Commentary). Cambridge, 2005. ISBN: 978-0521002912. Price: $30.99 [150 pp. assigned].

Other required readings in e-reserves including, Phyllis Trible, “Bringing Miriam Out of the Shadows,” Bible Review 5/1 (1989), 13-25, 34; Rene Bloch, “Leaving Home: Philo of Alexandria on the Exodus,” in Israel’s Exodus in Transdisciplinary Perspective (ed. T.E. Levy; New York: Springer, 2013), 357–364; Jacqueline Lapsley, “Saving Women: Transgressive Values of Deliverance in Exodus 1-4,” in Whispering the Word: Hearing Women’s Stories in the Old Testament (Westminster/John Knox, 2005), 69-88.

BibleWorks 9 software, which includes the following components: an exhaustive Hebrew concordance, the text of the Hebrew Bible, Brown, F. with S.R. Driver & C.A. Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew English Lexicon. Hendrickson, 1996. Gesenius, W., E.F. Kautzsch, et al. Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. Dover Publications, 2006. OR Joüon, P. - T. Muraoka. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew, Parts 1, 2 & 3. Biblical Institute Press, 2006. Koehler, L. and W. Baumgartner. Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 Volumes. Brill, 2002. BibleWorks is priced at $359, or $259 with group discount; see www.bibleworks.com/IPP//.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Weekly preparation and participation is essential for successful completion of this course. This preparation will include reading assignments, translation, and exegetical analysis of assigned passages. When announced, exegetical analysis will be submitted as demonstration of students’ application of exegetical methods, use of tools, and understanding of the book of Exodus. The final grade will be based on:

  1. Attendance and Participation in classroom exegetical activities (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [40 hours].

  2. Exegetical preparation and analysis of assigned passages from Exodus. This includes weekly reading, translations, and library work. (40%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [50 hours].

  3. 500 pages of assigned reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [30 hours].

  4. Midterm Exam (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [5 hours].

  5. Final Exam (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [5 hours].

  6. An exegetical project (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [30 hours].

**Bring BDB and BHS to the first class meeting. These may be in electronic form or the version already used in prerequisite courses.

PREREQUISITES: LG500, LG502, or LG502A/B or passing grade on a waiver exam; BI500 or NE502; OT500.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the Biblical Language Exegesis requirement in the 120 MDiv program. Meets the OTBE or OTCE in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.