METRO ATLANTA SEMINARY NORTH CAMPUS EXEGESIS IN PROPHETIC TEXTS: MICAH Instructor: Benjamin Starr benjis@metroatlantaseminary.org 678.372.0952 Tuesdays, March 13-May 8, 5:20 PM-7:40 PM Course Description: This course is designed to be a continuation of Hebrew for Bible Study. It will introduce the student to the interpretation of prophetic texts in the Hebrew Bible. Some general material on the prophetic corpus as a whole will be discussed, but special focus will be given to Micah. In addition to learning about the content and context of the biblical material, the student should develop skills and strategies to approach prophetic texts for the purpose of interpretation and application. Goals: By the end of the course, the student should be able to approach Old Testament prophetic texts and, with the aid of exegetical tools, give a competent description of the primary grammatical, lexical, and syntactical elements of a passage with the eventual outcome of an interpretation and application of that passage. Specific skills in service of this goal are: Being able to identify and interpret key elements in Hebrew prophetic literature Develop a cogent, defensible interpretation of Hebrew prophetic texts and present evidence and construct arguments in favor of that interpretation Bridge the gap from interpretation to application according to ones current or intended ministry context Materials: O. Palmer Robertson, Christ of the Prophets, Abridged edition. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing. 2008. (Herafter CotP) Michael Williams, The Biblical Hebrew Companion for Software Users: Grammatical Terms Explained for Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI:Zondervan. 2015. Logos Bible Software Bronze Package 1 Note: This course is heavily dependent on technology. It is therefore assumed you have regular access to and competency using a computer installed with the Logos software. If able, please bring your computer with you to class as we will be doing exercises using the software. Recommended for Exegesis: Bruce K. Waltke, A Commentary on Micah. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. 2007. Waltke has written on of the best and most thorough single volume commentaries on the book of Micah. Though light on introduction, it gives very detailed analysis of the text. Other recommended commentaries can be found in the bibliography. 1 Over time, the packages and individual items offered by Logos software may vary. The basic elements needed for this class are 1) a tagged Hebrew Bible text (eg. Lexham Hebrew Bible, Anderson-Forbes Analyzed Text, Biblica Westmonasteriensis, etc.) and 2) a Hebrew lexicon (eg. BDB, CHALOT, etc.)
Schedule: Date Topic Assignment Due Mar 13 Introduction to Prophecy Mar 20 Micah 1-2 Outline of Micah Mar 27 Micah 3 Proposal for Alternate assignments April 3 April 10 Micah 4 Break April 17 Micah 5 OPR CotP Reading Assignment April 24 Micah 6 May 1 Micah 7 May 8 Application and Onward Graduating Senior Papers May 15 (no class) Final Papers Attendance: Per MAS policy, attendance at all class meetings is required. If a student is unable to attend a class due to to uncontrollable circumstances, they should notify the instructor as early as possible. An additional assignment may be required of the student if a class is missed. Tardies in excess of 15 minutes may be counted as half an absence. Absence does not absolve the student of any assignment turn-ins or assessments/activities in class that factor into grading. More than one absence may result in failure/withdrawal from the course. Assignments (Note due dates above): 10% Outline of Micah Read though Micah, and divide the book into separate sections You should have 15-25 total headings/subheadings Assign a summarizing title to each heading 30% Reading in CotP: 1-148, 329-378. Reading will be assessed in one of two ways: You may give me a copy of your reading notes outlining the basic points Robertson makes in roughly ½ page per chapter. (Hand written is fine if they are legible) An essay of 3-4 pages answering one of the following questions: What is the role and function of a prophet? Where did prophecy originate from? In what way is prophecy (not) active today? 60% Exegesis Paper: An exegesis paper on Micah 4:1-5 10-15 pages 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double spaced, 1 inch margins Hard-copy or digital submission accepted 8-10 good sources Footnoted in Turabian/Chicago/SBL style.
Alternate Final Evaluation: Alternatives to the final assignment will be considered. A proposal needs to be submitted to me by Mar 27 th for approval. It should include a brief description of your proposed project, how it informs/is informed by your ministry context, how its outcomes will aid you in your ministry, and specific guidelines for evaluation. The subject itself must be centered on the prophetic books of the OT, though you may extend beyond Micah alone if warranted. Grading Scale: A 90-100% Exceptional work, demonstrating mastery of material B 80-89% Satisfactory work, demonstrating competence of the material C 70-79% Passable work, demonstrating understanding, though not competence, of material F 69% and below Unsatisfactory work Late Assignment Policy: Due dates are noted above, and assignments are due by class time (5:20 PM) on that date. Extensions will not be granted except in the case of significant emergency. Work submitted after the deadline may be accepted at the instructors discretion. Assignments turned in up to one week late are subject to a 10% grade penalty; over one week up to two weeks late, a 20% penalty. Assignments over two weeks late will not be accepted. Other Policies: Please inform the instructor if any accommodations need to be made regarding disability or other specific need. All other policies of MAS including academic integrity, discipline, and student behavior apply. Please refer to the student handbook. Office Hours: The instructor is able and willing to meet prior to class up to 1 hour prior to the start, as well as being accessible by phone/skype/etc., during the week. Please do not hesitate to contact me to set up a time to meet. The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as the course progresses and as needs dictate. All changes will be distributed to the students in writing or via e-mail.
MICAH : AN ABBREVIATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Commentaries: Allen, Leslie C. The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans. 1976. Anderson, Frances L. and David Noel Freedman. Micah. Anchor Bible. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. 2000. Barker, Kenneth L and Waylon Bailey. Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah. New American Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman. 1998. Ben Zvi, Ehud. Micah. Forms of Old Testament Literature. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. 2000. Dempster, Stephen G. Micah. Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans. 2017. Hillers, Delbert R. Micah. Hermeneia. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press. 1984. Mays, James Luther. Micah. Old Testament Library. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press. 1976. McKeating, Henry. The Books of Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Cambridge Bible Commentary.Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. 1971. Smith, Ralph L. Micah-Malachi. Word Biblical Commentary. Waco, TX: Word. 1984 Smith-Christopher, Daniel L. Micah. Old Testament Library. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press. 2015. Waltke, Bruce K. Commentary on Micah. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans. 2007.. Micah. Pages 591-764 in, The Minor Prophets. Edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. 2009. Wolff, Hans Walter. Micah. Translated by Gary Stansell. Continental Commentary. Augsber Fortress. 1990.. Micah the Prophet. Translated by Ralph D. Gehrke. Philadelphia, PA. Fortress Press. 1981. Others (available on archive.org): Driver, S.R. The Minor Prophets. Century Bible. New York, NY: Henry Frowde. 1906.
Henderson, E. The Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets. London, UK: Hamilton, Adams, and Co. 1845. Smith, G.A. The Book of the Twelve Prophets, Vol 1. New York, NY: A.C. Armstrong and Son. 1906. Smith, J.M.P., W.H. Ward, J.A. Brewer. Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Obadiah, and Joel. International Critical Commentary. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1911. Cheyne, T.K. Micah, Cambridge Bible for Schools. Cambridge, UK: 1882. General Approaches to Prophecy: Carlson, Robert A. Preaching Like the Prophets: The Hebrew Prophets as Examples for the Practice of Pastoral Preaching. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock. 2017. Dictionary of Old Testament Prophets. Edited by Mark J. Boda and J. Gordon McConville. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic. 2012. Hays, J. Daniel. The Message of the Prophets: A Survey of the Prophetic and Apocalyptic Books of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 2010. Robertson, O. Palmer. Christ of the Prophets. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing. 2008. VanGemeren, Willem A. Interpreting the Prophetic Word. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 1990. Williams, Michael J. The Prophet and His Message: Reading Old Testament Prophecy Today. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing. 2003. Young, Edward J. My Servants the Prophets. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. 1952.