Northern Seminary OT 301 THE PENTATEUCH (SYN) Spring 2017 Jason Gile, Ph.D. Affiliate Professor of Old Testament jgile@faculty.seminary.edu COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will acquaint students with the history, theology, and critical study of the first five books of the Old Testament. The focus is the proper interpretation of its message to Israel and its abiding significance for the church. COURSE OBJECTIVES The student should leave the course able to: 1. understand the history and theology of the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 2. reflect on the Pentateuch as an ancient document and the implications for interpretation. 3. describe the problems associated with a single-authorship view of the Pentateuch, and to summarize and evaluate the traditional, critical theory of its composition the Documentary Hypothesis. 4. understand the goals and methods of ancient (Israelite) historiography and summarize the issues associated with writing a modern history of Israel. 5. explain the purpose of the Torah in the life and faith of Israel. 6. explain the role of the OT Law in the life and faith of the church. TEXTBOOKS The Bible in a modern translation, e.g., the NRSV, ESV, or NLT. Hamilton, Victor P. Handbook on the Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Baker, 2005. 480 pages. $36.99. ISBN 0801027160. Baker, David W. and T. Desmond Alexander, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. InterVarsity, 2003. 954 pages. $60.00. ISBN 0830817816. (Abbreviated DOTP)
Halton, Charles, ed. Genesis: History, Fiction, or Neither? Three Views on the Bible s Earliest Chapters. Zondervan, 2015. ISBN 0310514940. 176 pages. $16.99. Goheen, Michael W. A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story. Baker, 2011. 242 pages. $22.99. ISBN 0801031419. Block, Daniel I. For the Glory of God: Recovering a Biblical Theology of Worship. Baker, 2014. ISBN 0801026989. 432 pages. $36.99. Topical Readings (See below) Recommended: Longman, Tremper III. How to Read Genesis. InterVarsity, 2005. 192 pages. $16.00. ISBN 0877849439. COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Attendance: It is expected that students will attend each class session. There may be times when the student will miss class due to illness or other emergencies. In these cases please contact the professor by email as soon as possible, ideally before the class session if possible. Students should not miss more than one class, except for extreme circumstances. Arriving to class 3 times after the starting time will equal one class absence. 2. Class Preparation: Students are expected to prepare for each session by reading the assigned pages on time as indicated in the course schedule. This includes the biblical texts, for which prior reading does not substitute. 3. Quizzes: Students will have weekly take home quizzes consisting of multiple choice, fill in the blank, and short answer questions. You may not use course materials. 4. Participation: Students are expected to contribute to class discussions on a regular basis. 5. Papers: Students will write three short papers. (a) A 4-page paper on your view of the genre of Genesis 1 11 and how it relates to history. Papers must include summary and evaluation of the three authors in Halton, ed., Genesis: History, Fiction, or Neither? Due end of week 3. (b) A 4-page paper on the role and purpose of the Mosaic Law in the life and faith of Israel. What does the Old Testament itself say about the purpose of the law for Israel? How does it relate to God s purpose in electing Israel? Further instructions will be distributed in class. Due end of week 9. (c) A 3-page paper on the role and purpose of the Mosaic Law in the life and faith of the church. How does the New Testament understand the continuing relevance of the law? Due end of week 10. 2
Papers should be double-spaced with one-inch margins, using 12-point Times New Roman font. Students must follow the style guidelines found in Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (8th ed.; University of Chicago Press, 2013). Please contact me early in the course if you have questions about what is expected. STUDENT EVALUATION 15% Class Preparation and Participation 30% Weekly Quizzes 20% Paper #1: Genesis 1 11 Paper 20% Paper #2: Law in the OT 15% Paper #3: Law in the NT GRADING SCALE A = 100-95 A- = 94-90 B+ = 89-87 B = 86-83 B- = 82-80 C+ = 79-77 C = 76-73 C- = 72-70 D+ = 69-67 D = 66-63 D- = 62-60 F = 59 and below LATE ASSIGNMENTS All assignments must be completed on time. Assignments completed late will be accepted only on permission of the instructor and are subject to a penalty in grade. No assignments can be completed after the last day of the quarter without prior permission from the professor for an Incomplete. Such permission will not be granted unless the student can show good reason why he or she was prevented, beyond his or her control, from (unforeseeably) completing the assignment on time. Examples are serious illness or a death in the family. Difficulties such as being too busy, computer problems, and not anticipating the time required to manage job, family, and school responsibilities are not grounds for an Incomplete. COURSE OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE Optional Preliminary Reading Introduction to the Old Testament Optional: Boadt, Introducing the Old Testament, 11-25 (15 pp) Matthews & Moyer, Introduction, 9-43 (25 pp) Hill & Walton, Historical Overview of OT Times (21 pp) Introduction to the Pentateuch Optional: Hill & Walton, Introduction to the Pentateuch, 47-61 (15 pp) 3
Friedman, Torah (Pentateuch), 605-608 (4 pp) Week 1: The Composition of the Pentateuch Required: Bandstra, Survey of OT History, 10-21 (12 pp) Content Reading: LaSor, The Pentateuch (12 pp) DOTP, Source Criticism, 798-804 (7 pp) Friedman, Torah (Pentateuch), 608-622 (15 pp) Whybray, Making of the Pentateuch, skim 55-93 & 120 26 and read 129-31 (20 pp) = 54 pp Optional: Clines, New Directions in Pooh Studies [10] Optional: DOTP, Authorship of the Pentateuch, 61-71 (11 pp) Week 2: Genesis 1-11 Creation Bible Reading: Genesis 1-3 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 19-47 (29 pp) Topical Reading: Walton, Genesis 1 is Ancient Cosmology (8 pp) Longman, How to Read Genesis, 71-80 (10 pp) Selections from Enuma Elish Biologos.org, Can Scientific and Scriptural Truth Be Reconciled? (2 pp) The Primeval History Bible Reading: Genesis 4-11 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 57-77 (21 pp) Topical Reading: Longman, How to Read Genesis, 81-87 (7 pp) DOTP, Sons of God, Daughters of Man, 793-797 (5 pp) ZIBBCOT, Ancient Near Eastern Flood Accounts (2 pp) ZIBBCOT, Tower of Babel (6 pp) Felder, Race, Racism, 127 35 (9 pp) = 99 pages Optional: Walton, Mesopotamian Background of Tower of Babel (20 pp) Week 3: The Genre of Genesis 1 11 Topical Reading: Halton, Genesis: History, Fiction, or Neither? 13-163 = 151 pages Due Sunday midnight: Paper #1 on your view of how Genesis 1 11 relates to history Week 4: Genesis 12-50 The Ancestors of Israel 4
Bible Reading: Genesis 12-50 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 81-101, skim 108-18 & 121-29 (21 pp) Topical Reading: Women s Bible Commentary, 18-21, 29 (5 pp) Bailey, Black and Jewish Women Consider Hagar (8 pp) Optional: Longman, How to Read Genesis, 88-98 (10 pp) The Purpose of Election Bible Reading: Genesis 12 Content Reading: Goheen, Light to the Nations, 23 48 (26 pp) Wright, Mission of God PDF (10 pp) Ott et al., Encountering Theology of Mission, 3-24 (22 pp) = 103 pages Week 5: Exodus The Exodus from Egypt Bible Reading: Exodus 1-18 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 135-173 (34 pp) Topical Reading: LaRue, Exodus in African American Communities (10 pp) Mariottini, The Name of God: Jehovah (2 pp) Covenant & Torah Bible Reading: Exodus 19-24 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 184-209 (26 pp) Topical Reading: Walton, Covenants and Treaties (12 pp) C. Wright, Mission of God, 323-328 PDF (6 pp) = 84 pages Week 6: The Law The Role of the Law in the OT Bible Reading: Exodus 19; Deuteronomy 4-6 Content Reading: C. Wright, Preaching from the Law (17 pp) C. Wright, How to Preach, 137-41, 170-76 (PDF) (12 pp) Block, Preaching OT Law to NT Christians (17 pp) The Role of the Law in the NT Bible Reading: Matthew 5-6; Galatians 3; Romans 2-3, 5; 7; 9:30-10:8 Content Reading: IVP Dictionary of NT, Law (33 pp) The New Perspective on Paul in about 1000 Words (3 pp) Dunn, New Perspective on Paul: Paul and the Law (12 pp) = 94 pages *For your paper, consult the readings on law in the bibliography. Begin writing your paper on the purpose of the law. 5
Week 7: Leviticus Sin and Sacrifice Bible Reading: Leviticus 1-16 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 231 46 (16 pp) Topical Readings: Block, For the Glory of God, 247 70 (24 pp) Goldingay, What is the Meaning of Sacrifice? (15 pp) Video: 25-minute video on Leviticus Optional: DOTP, Sacrifices and Offerings, 706-722 (17 pp) Holiness & Purity Bible Reading: Leviticus 17-26 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 259 93 (35 pp) Topical Reading: Klawans, Concepts of Purity in the Bible (7 pp) DOTP, Holy and Holiness, 420-430 (11 pp) = 108 pages Week 8: The Old Testament & Worship Topical Reading: Block, For the Glory of God Ch. 1: pp. 1 19, 23 27 [24] Ch. 3: pp. 55 80 [26] Ch. 9: pp. 221 45 [25] Ch. 13: pp. 333 60 [28] = 103 pages Week 9: Numbers: In the Wilderness Bible Reading: Exodus 25-40; Numbers 1-36 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 214-226, 303-6, 326-29, 345 52 (29 pp) Topical Reading: DOTP, Sabbath, 695-99 (see Num 15:32-36) (5 pp) De ir Alla Inscription (cf. Numbers 22-24) Balaam in the Setting of the ANE, ZIBBCOT 380-381 (2) = 36 pages Optional: DOTP, Tabernacle, 807-15, 822-26 (14 pp) Due Sunday midnight: Paper #2 Week 10: Deuteronomy Remember the Past; Be Careful in the Future Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 1-11 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 367-383, 390-400 (27 pp) Topical Reading: DOTP, Deuteronomy, Book of, 182-192 (11 pp) DOTP, Covenant, section 3.7, pp. 152-54 (3 pp) 6
The Deuteronomic Torah Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 12-34 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 402-435, 444-461 (50 pp) = 91 pages Due Sunday midnight: Paper #3 TOTAL READING = 920 pages TOPICAL READINGS (Listed according to the Course Schedule) Boadt, Lawrence. Introducing the Old Testament. Pages 11-25 in Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction. Mahwah, N. J.: Paulist, 1984. [optional] Matthews, Victor H. and James C. Moyer. Introduction. Pages 19-43 in The Old Testament: Text and Context. Second edition. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 2005. [optional] Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. Historical Overview of Old Testament Times. Pages 145-65 in A Survey of the Old Testament. Second edition. Grand Rapids, Ill.: Zondervan, 2000. [optional] Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. Introduction to the Pentateuch. Pages 47-61 in A Survey of the Old Testament. Second edition. Grand Rapids, Ill.: Zondervan, 2000. Bandstra, Barry L. Pages 10-21 in Reading the Old Testament: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Fourth edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2009. LaSor, William Sanford, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic William Bush. The Pentateuch. Pages 3-14 in Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament. Second edition. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1996. Friedman, R. E. Torah (Pentateuch). Pages 605-622 in The Anchor Bible Dictionary: Volume 6. Ed. D. N. Freedman. New York: Doubleday, 1992. Whybray, R. N. The Making of the Pentateuch: A Methodological Study. JSOTSup 53. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1987. Clines, David J. New Directions in Pooh Studies: Überlieferungs- und Religionsgeschictliche Studien zum Pu-Buch. Pages 830 39 in On the Way to the Postmodern: Old Testament Essays, 1967-1988, vol. 2. JSOTS 293. Sheffield Academic Press, 1998. [optional] Walton, John H. Proposition 1: Genesis 1 is Ancient Cosmology. Pages 16-22 in The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2009. 7
Biologos.org, Can Scientific and Scriptural Truth Be Reconciled? Online: http://biologos.org/questions/scientific-and-scriptural-truth/ Ancient Near Eastern Flood Accounts. Pages 48-49 in volume 1 of Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament. Edited by John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2009. Tower of Babel. Pages 60-65 in volume 1 of Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament. Edited by John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2009. Felder, Cain Hope. Race, Racism, and the Biblical Narratives. Pages 127 35 in Stony the Road We Trod: African American Biblical Interpretation. Edited by Cain Hope Felder. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991. Walton, John H. The Mesopotamian Background of the Tower of Babel and Its Implications. Bulletin for Biblical Research 5 (1995) 155-175. Available online: http://www.ibr-bbr.org/ibr_bbr.aspx. [optional] Newsom, Carol A. and Sharon H. Ringe, eds. Women s Bible Commentary. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1998, pp. 18-28. Bailey, Wilma Ann. Black and Jewish Women Consider Hagar. Encounter 63 (2002): 37 44. Ott, Craig, and Stephen J. Strauss with Timothy C. Tennent. Pages 3 24 in Encountering Theology of Mission: Biblical Foundations, Historical Developments, and Contemporary Issues. Baker, 2010. LaRue, Cleophus J. The Exodus as Paradigmatic Text in the African American Community. Pages 119-28 in Reclaiming the Imagination: The Exodus as Paradigmatic Narrative for Preaching. Edited by David Fleer and Dave Bland. St. Louis: Chalice, 2009. Mariottini, Claude. The Name of God: Jehovah. Online: http://www.claudemariottini.com/blog/2010/02/name-of-god-jehovah.html. Walton, John H. Covenants and Treaties. Pages 95-107 in Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context: A Survey of Parallels Between Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Texts. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1989. Wright, Christopher J. H. Preaching from the Law. Pages 47-63 in Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching. Edited by Grenville J. R. Kent, Paul J. Kissling, and Laurence A. Turner. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2010. Block, Daniel I. Preaching Old Testament Law to New Testament Christians. Ministry (May 2006): 5-11; (July 2006): 12-16; (September 2006): 15-18. Available online: http://ministrymagazine.org/ 8
Law. Pages 674-706 in The IVP Dictionary of the New Testament. Edited by Daniel G. Reid. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2004. Dunn, James D. G. New Perspective on Paul: Paul and the Law. Pages 141 51 in The New Perspective on Paul. Rev. ed. Eerdmans, 2008. Dunn, James D. G. Paul and the Torah: The Role and Function of the Law in the Theology of Paul the Apostle. Pages 447 67 in The New Perspective on Paul. Rev. ed. Eerdmans, 2008. Goldingay, John. What is the Meaning of Sacrifice? Pages 135-49 in Key Questions about Christian Faith: Old Testament Answers. Baker, 2010. Klawans, Jonathan. Concepts of Purity in the Bible. Pages 2041-47 in The Jewish Study Bible. Edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. Balaam in the Setting of the Ancient Near East. Pages 380-81 in volume 1 of Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament. Edited by John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2009. SUPPLEMENTAL BIBLIOGRAPHY Introductory Texts Alexander, T. Desmond. From Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Pentateuch. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002. Blenkinsopp, Joseph. An Introduction to the First Five Books of the Bible. Anchor Bible Reference. New York: Doubleday, 1992. Provan, Iain, V. Philips Long, and Tremper Longman III. A Biblical History of Israel. Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox, 2003. Sailhamer, John H. The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Composition, and Interpretation. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2009. Vogt, Peter T. Interpreting the Pentateuch: An Exegetical Handbook. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2009. Thematic and Topical Brueggemann, Walter. The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in Biblical Faith. Second edition. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002. Clines, David J. A. The Theme of the Pentateuch. Second edition. London: Continuum, 1997. 9
Hoffmeier, James K. Israel in Egypt: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Exodus Tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. Commentaries Sailhamer, John H. The Pentateuch as Narrative: A Biblical-Theological Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1992. Walton, John H. ed. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament. Volume 1: Genesis-Deuteronomy. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2009. Hamilton, Victor P. Genesis. 2 vols. New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990, 1995. Walton, John H. Genesis. NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001. Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis. 2 vols. Word Biblical Commentary. Waco: Word, 1987, 1994. Childs, Brevard. Exodus. Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1974. Enns, Peter. Exodus. NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000. Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus. 3 vols. Anchor Bible. New York: Doubleday, 1998, 2000, 2001. Wenham, Gordon J. Leviticus. New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979. Milgrom, Jacob. Numbers. JPS Torah Commentary. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1990. Block, Daniel I. Deuteronomy. NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012. McConville, J. Gordon. Deuteronomy. Apollos. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2002. Tigay, Jeffrey. Deuteronomy. JPS Torah Commentary. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2003. PLAGIARISM Plagiarism is the act of passing off as one s own the words or ideas of someone else without providing proper acknowledgment or documentation. Plagiarism may include, but is not limited to, the following: Submitting as one s own material copied, borrowed, or purchased from some other source. This includes, but is not limited to, downloading term papers from the internet, 10
purchasing a paper from a term paper mill, reproducing parts or all of an article or book section, copying another student s paper, and so on. Copying verbatim or taking ideas from a source without providing documentation (i.e., footnote or quotation marks). Copying verbatim or taking ideas from a source and providing fraudulent or misleading documentation. Copying verbatim from a source without using quotation marks or a block quotation. When copied material is not properly identified with quotation marks, readers are led to believe that the material is the writer s own words, when in fact it is someone else s, which is the essence of plagiarism. Providing a footnote after copied material without using quotation marks is not adequate documentation and constitutes plagiarism. Paraphrasing material that is too close to the original, whether documented properly or not. A paraphrase is unacceptable if it merely changes a few words or transposes phrases or sentences in the original source, but retains the bulk of the text as it originally appeared. Since plagiarism is a form of claiming for ourselves what belongs to another, it constitutes an infringement on someone else s intellectual property and is a form of stealing. It is a very serious violation of Christian ethics and raises profound questions about fitness for Christian ministry. The seminary takes these matters extremely seriously and will take disciplinary action against those who engage in plagiarism. It is sometimes difficult to know whether or how to acknowledge and document certain kinds of material. When in doubt, consult Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8th ed., 2013, especially those sections dealing with using quotations and footnotes. Students are expected to know and follow the guidelines in Turabian. Ignorance of them is no excuse. POLICIES FOR ALL MASTERS CLASSES NOTE: All communications from the seminary will go to your seminary email account. Contact All Covered at (877) 224-8911 if you need help forwarding your seminary email address to your personal email address. As a seminary community we hold integrity/hospitality as core values. Individuals are able to do their best work and thinking when their peers are fully present and engaged. We expect each person to both participate in class and carefully listen to others with the belief that everyone s contribution is equally important. Therefore, the following policies have been established in order to provide clarity in regard to attendance expectations and relationships in the classroom. 11
Diploma/Certificate Student Course Requirements The amount of work required of Diploma/Certificate students will be at the discretion of the professor. Students will be responsible for contacting the professor about what assignments are required. Class Attendance Policy It is expected that students will attend and participate in all class sessions. Failure to attend at least 80% of class sessions is grounds for automatic failure. A professor may set other more strict attendance expectations for a given course. Students are always expected to communicate with a professor in advance if they will be absent. Attendance expectations are higher for online, intensive courses, and integrative seminar (see syllabus for specific requirements). Class Tardiness Policy The third time a student is late to the start of class, it will be counted as a class absence. It is also expected that students will return from a break by the time specified by the professor. Late Work Policy If a student cannot complete the work for a course by the due date listed on the syllabus, they must submit a Request for a Grade of Incomplete form to the Registrar by 4:30 of the last day of the term. The form must be signed by the instructor and Dean of Students. The professor may set stipulations and grade reductions. In the absence of a formal request form, the student will receive a grade based upon work completed by the last day of the term. Turabian Format All papers, including footnotes and bibliography, must be submitted in the correct format according to Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8 th ed., 2013. Plagiarism Plagiarism is the act of passing off as one s own the words or ideas of someone else without providing proper acknowledgement or documentation. See the Academic Honesty Policy in the Seminary Catalog for more information on plagiarism and how to avoid it. Electronic Format Unless otherwise specified by the professor, all work submitted electronically must be in a Word document format (.doc,.docx). Technology Use in the Classroom Unless it is directly tied to note-taking or research for the class, students are expected to refrain from using cell phones, laptops, or other electronic devices during class. Course Evaluation in Moodle Students must complete an online course evaluation using the seminary Moodle system at http://moodle.seminary.edu. The evaluation will be open at the end of the course. If you need assistance connecting to Moodle or accessing the evaluation, please send an email to moodlehelp@seminary.edu. 12