Spring 2017/Fuller Live!

Menlo Park and Pasadena

OT527

Lee

OT527: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: DEUTERONOMY, Hebrew Text (4 Units: 160 hours). Kyong-Jin Lee.

DESCRIPTION: A textual and contextual study of the book of Deuteronomy. A close reading of the Masoretic text will familiarize the student with the particular language and style of this pivotal book in the Hebrew Scripture. Development of exegetical skills will arise from a focused discussion on the theological, historical, and literary characteristics of the book. The class will explore the book’s role in the Church’s ongoing theological reflection as well as some of the most salient issues in current scholarly debate.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to interpret Deuteronomy within its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (2) to identify central issues in the critical study of Deuteronomy; (3) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of Deuteronomy; (4) to use Hebrew based language tools for interpreting the text; (5) to recognize hermeneutical issues arising from the diverse contexts of contemporary readers; and (6) to interpret this text for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1000-1200 pages required

NRSV, TNIV, or CEB Bible

BibleWorks 10 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 $389, or $289 with group discount; see www.bibleworks.com/IPP/. Currently the HALOT module is $159, the standard Greek lexicon (BDAG) is $150, and both together are $212.

Cook, Stephen L. Reading Deuteronomy: A Literary and Theological Commentary. Smyth & Helwys, 2015. ISBN: 978-1573127578, Pub. Price $32.00.

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

Nelson, Richard D. Deuteronomy: A Commentary. Westminster John Knox, 2004. ISBN: 978-0664229542, Pub. Price $55.00.

Seow, C. L. A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Rev. ed. Abingdon, 1995. ISBN: 978-1426789076, Pub. Price $40.00.

Additional mandatory reading material is posted on Moodle

RECOMMENDED READING:

Tigay, Jeffrey H. The JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy. Jewish Publication Society, 1996. ISBN: 978-0827603301, Pub. Price $75.00.

Waltke, Bruce K. and M. O’Connor. An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Eisenbrauns, 1990. ISBN: 978-0931464317, Pub. Price $69.50.

Weinfeld, Moshe. Deuteronomy 1-11: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 5. Anchor Bible, 1991. ISBN: 978-0385175937, Pub. Price $35.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Study of the text, regular use of Bible software, reading of commentaries, and other assigned readings. Weekly submission of the written translation and grammatical analysis of the Hebrew text. (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1-5]. [70 hours].

2. Weekly posting of answers, comments, and reflections on the instructor and other participants’ questions and writings (300-350 words). (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-6.] [20 hours posting and responding].

3. Final exam. The exam will test the student’s knowledge of the secondary material and translation of the Hebrew text of Deuteronomy from the second half of the term. The format of the exam will be short essays and translation passages. (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-6]. [15 hours preparation].

4. An exegesis paper on a selected passage from the book of Deuteronomy [2,500-3,000 words] (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1-6]. (40%) [25 hours preparation and writing].

PREREQUISITES: LG500, LG502, or LG502A/B or passing grade on a waiver exam; BI500 or NE502; OT500 or OT501 or OT502.

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. In class.