Northern Seminary OT 301B THE PENTATEUCH (ONLINE) Winter 2016 Jason Gile, Ph.D. Affiliate Professor of Old Testament jgile@faculty.seminary.edu COURSE DESCRIPTION Part B of this course will continue to 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 After the class, the student will be able to: 1. Understand the concept of covenant in the ancient Near East and its relation to the Torah. 2. Articulate the purpose of the Torah in the life and faith of Israel. 3. Articulate the role of the Law in the life and faith of the church. 4. Grasp the basic categories of sacrifice in ancient Israel and their purpose. 5. Understand the concepts of purity and sacred space reflected in the Torah. 6. Understand the theological contribution of Deuteronomy to the Hebrew Bible. REQUIRED READING Richter, Sandra. The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament. InterVarsity, 2008. (Also for use in the Former Prophets class.) Hamilton, Victor P. Handbook on the Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Baker, 2005. Baker, David W. and T. Desmond Alexander, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. InterVarsity, 2003. (Abbreviated DOTP in the course schedule) Longman, Tremper III. How to Read Genesis. InterVarsity, 2005.
Topical Readings (See below course schedule) COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Preparation & Reading: Students are expected to prepare for each week by reading the assigned pages on time as indicated in the course schedule, including: (a) the biblical texts in translation. Prior reading does not substitute. (b) the passages from Victor Hamilton s Handbook on the Pentateuch and all other assigned topical readings. These amount to the core instructional material for the online class. Students must also watch short videos when provided by the instructor. 2. Online Discussion: Students are required to participate weekly in the online forums. The professor posts starter questions online. Each student makes posts to the discussion forums, responding to questions by interacting with the readings, classmates, and any other materials provided by the instructor. The course requirement is one or two substantive posts each week, totaling 15 posts over the 10-week course. (See below for more guidelines.) The posts constitute 40% of the grade and are evaluated by critical engagement with the readings. 3. Quizzes: Students will take quizzes on the even weeks. Quizzes will consist of multiple choice, fill in the blank, and short answer questions. You may not use course materials. 4. Paper: Students will write two short papers: (1) Paper #1: A 5-page paper on the role and purpose of the Torah 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? Due the end of Week 7. (2) Paper #2: A 5-page paper on the role and purpose of the OT Law in the life and faith of the church. How does the New Testament understand the role of the law for the church? Due the end of Week 10. Further instructions for papers, including a list of sources, will be distributed in class. 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.
ONLINE FORUMS Students are required to make 15 substantial posts and 15 response posts over the 10-week class. The substantive posts amounting to somewhere between 350 and 450 words should be directed towards the starter questions provided by the instructor. These posts should draw from the assigned readings, which are the primary material for the course. Students are expected to demonstrate engagement with the readings by citing and evaluating them. Each substantial post should include a follow-up discussion question for further discussion. The response posts should be directed toward the follow-up discussion questions provided by your classmates. They may be brief and need not cite the readings. WEEKLY SCHEDULE The course will follow a set schedule during the week. The professor will post the discussion questions Monday morning and students must post their substantive posts no later than Thursday at midnight. Further discussion (i.e., response posts) may continue into the weekend. You must take the quiz between 10:00am Friday and 11:59pm Sunday. Discussion: Monday 10:00am Thursday 11:59pm Quiz: Friday 10:00am Sunday 11:59pm STUDENT EVALUATION 40% Class Participation (quality of online posts) 30% Quizzes Averaged 30% Paper 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 Week 1 Covenant Bible Reading: Exodus 19 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 184-187 (4 pp) Topical Reading: Richter, Epic of Eden, 69 91 (23 pp) Walton, Covenants and Treaties (12 pp) = 39 pages Week 2 Torah Bible Reading: Exodus 20-40 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 187-226 (43 pp) = 43 pages Quiz #1 Week 3 The Purpose of the Torah in the Old Testament Bible Reading: Exodus 19; Deuteronomy 4-6 Content Reading: Wright, Preaching from the Law (17 pp) Block, Preaching OT Law to NT Christians (17 pp) Block, The Grace of Torah (20 pp) Richter, Epic of Eden, 184 86, 225 29 (8 pp) = 62 pages Week 4 The Role of the Law in the New Testament 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 Dunn, New Perspective on Paul: Paul and the Law (12 pp) Dunn, Paul and the Torah (21 pp) = 66 pages *For your paper, consult the readings on law in the bibliography. Quiz #2 Week 5 Leviticus 1 16: Sin & Sacrifice Bible Reading: Leviticus 1-16 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 231 50 (20 pp) Topical Readings: DOTP, Sacrifices and Offerings, 706-732 (27 pp) = 47 pages
Week 6 Leviticus 17 26: 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) = 53 pages Quiz #3 Week 7 Numbers 1 20: In the Wilderness (Part 1) Bible Reading: Numbers 1-20 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 303-337 (35 pp) Topical Reading: DOTP, Sabbath, 695-705 (see Num 15:32-36) (11 pp) = 46 pages Paper #1 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 8 Numbers 20 36: In the Wilderness (Part 2) Bible Reading: Numbers 20-36 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 341-360 (20 pp) Topical Reading: DOTP, Tabernacle, 807-826 (20 pp) De ir Alla Inscription (cf. Numbers 22-24) Balaam in the Setting of the ANE, ZIBBCOT 380-381 (2) = 42 pages Quiz #4 Week 9 Deuteronomy 1 11 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, 139-154 (15 pp) = 53 pages Week 10 Deuteronomy 12 34: The Deuteronomic Torah Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 12-34 Content Reading: Hamilton, Handbook, 402-435, 444-461 (50 pp) = 50 pages Quiz #5 Paper #2 due Sunday at 11:59pm TOPICAL READINGS (Listed according to the Course Schedule) 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. 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. 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/ Block, Daniel I. The Grace of Torah: The Mosaic Prescription for Life (Deut. 4:1-8; 6:20-25). Bibliotheca Sacra 162 (2005): 3-22. Law. Pages 674-706 in The IVP Dictionary of the New Testament. Edited by Daniel G. Reid. 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. 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 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. Zondervan, 2009. POLICIES FOR ALL MASTERS CLASSES NOTE: All communications from the seminary will go to your seminary email account. Contact ithelpdesk@seminary.edu 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. 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 attendance expectations. Students are always expected to communicate with a professor in advance if they will be absent. Attendance expectations are higher for online and intensive courses (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.