REL 337: Biblical Topics - Exodus, Fall 1999.
SYLLABUS.
RJDKnauth
T/Th 1:00-2:50pm. Office D-320, tel: 321-4298, 326-3822 (h), email: knauth@lycoming.edu
This
is an upper-level seminar intended for students with REL 113 or the equivalent.
We will discuss the book of Exodus in depth, along with other related
Biblical and ANE texts, plus the various academic methodologies available for
such study, which then can be applied to a wide variety of other biblical texts.
Exodus is an extremely rich book, with a wide variety of types of text and
themes which were pivotal for the national identity of Israel.
Starting with the book of Exodus, we can come to a much deeper
understanding of the rest of the Old Testament.
Texts
(choose one): Brevard Childs, The
Book of Exodus
Nahum Sarna, Exodus
(JPS Torah Commentary)
The
use of a complete Bible (any version) will be required in class.
Other
useful reference books which you may find in the library:
Understanding the Old Testament, Anderson
Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture, Childs
The Anchor Bible Dictionary
Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible
These will point the reader to further useful bibliography.
Course Requirements:
1) Attendance and informed
participation (readings having been completed) at all class sessions will be
expected (worth 20% of the final grade). Included
in this participation grade will be short assignments, in-class presentations,
and regular discussion.
2) There will be two
take-home exams (each worth 15% of the final grade).
They will be open-book, limited-time (2 hours) essay exams (thematic,
issue-oriented), taken on the honor system.
Review sheets will be handed out in advance.
3) Two short (7 pg) papers
will be written (each worth 15% of the final grade), one of which will be chosen
to be revised and expanded (10 pgs) and then presented in class (the revision
and oral presentation, plus peer review, will be worth an additional 20% of the
final grade).
**HEBREW
221 (Prerequisite HEBR 102 or equivalent), offered in conjunction with REL
337. Any student with a minimum of 1 yr of Biblical Hebrew may
take this course for dual credit (number of credits earned will be negotiated
with the registrar) or may, at their own option, take it for the Hebrew alone
(requirements to be negotiated). Attendance
at all class sessions for the larger class will be required (in which larger
issues of exegesis, historical background, themes and methodology will be
discussed), and additional sessions just for reading Hebrew will be arranged.
Students taking the course for the Hebrew will have short translation
tests in addition to the take-home exams, and papers must incorporate some
substantive linguistic issues.
For
the Hebrew, students will need either: Biblia Hebraica or Sarna, Exodus.
Week
1: Introduction
Read Exod 1:1-2:10, Childs Intro and Sections I-II (pp. 1-26), Sarna pp.
3-10.
T (Aug. 31)- Introduction.
Exodus as THE formative Israelite experience.
Th (Sept. 2)- Oppression, remembering, links with Genesis.
Week
2: Moses
Read Exod 2:11-7:7, Childs III-VI (pp. 27-120), Sarna pp. 11-37.
T (Sept. 7)- Call of Moses,
charismatic leadership: compare Judges, David.
Th (Sept. 9)- Who was Moses?
Week
3: Plagues
Read Exod 7:8-11:10, Childs VII (pp. 121-177), Sarna pp. 37-53.
T (Sept. 14)- Dealing with
miracles: explain as natural phenomena or religious polemic?
Th (Sept. 16)- Theological intensions of the text. Adventurous bedtime
stories?
Week
4: Exodus
Read Exod 12:1-15:21, Childs VIII-X (pp. 178-253), Sarna pp. 53-83.
T (Sept. 21)- ANE imagery:
battling the Sea Dragon; the Exodus theme.
Th (Sept. 23)- Distinguishing sources: where is "History"?
Week
5: Wilderness Wanderings
Read Exod 15:22-18:27, Childs XI-XV (pp. 254-336), Sarna pp. 83-102.
T (Sept. 28)- Function of
complaining stories, links with Numbers.
Th (Sept. 30)- Moses, Aaron: rival priestly houses? **1st Paper Due.**Review handout.
Week
6: Review and Test
Review Readings: Exod 1-18, Childs I-XV, Sarna 1-102 plus Excurses.
T (Oct. 5)-
Review for Test. Come with
questions! *Hand out take-home
exams.*
Th (Oct. 7)- *Take-home
Exams due by end of class-time* (no class) on Exod. 1-18.
Week
7: Sinai
Read Exod 19:1-25, 20:18-21, Childs XVI (pp. 337-384), Sarna pp. 102-107,
115-117.
T (Oct. 12)- Sacred mountain
as "Axis Mundi" - connecting place of heaven and earth.
Th (Oct. 14)- Theophany - Who/what is God?
*1st Test returned, discuss.*
Week
8: Ten Commandments
Read Exod 20:1-17, Childs XVII (pp. 385-439), Sarna pp. 107-115.
T (Oct. 19)- What is the
Law? Types and origins. Reflections on the nature of God.
Th (Oct. 21)- The "Ten Words" - traditional unit, variant
versions. What do they tell us?
Week
9: Covenant Code
Read Exod 20:22-24:18, Childs XVIII-XIX (pp. 440-511), Sarna pp. 115-155.
T (Oct. 26)- Historical
precedents: Hammurabi, etc.; continuity and distinctiveness.
Th (Oct. 28)- A hunger for justice.
Week
10: The Tabernacle
Read Exod 25:1-31:18, Childs XX (pp. 512-552), Sarna pp. 155-202.
T (Nov. 2)-
Symbol of a holy God.
Th (Nov. 4)- Precursor of
the Jerusalem Temple.
Week
11: The Golden Calf
Read Exod 32:1-33:23, Childs XXI-XXII (pp. 553-600), Sarna pp. 202-215.
T (Nov.
9)- Idolatry or alternative throne iconography?
Th (Nov. 11)- Dedication of Levites. Presence of God. **2nd Paper Due.**
Week
12: Covenant Renewal, Blessing and
Dedication
Read Exod 34:1-40:38, Childs XXIII-XXIV (pp. 601-638), Sarna pp. 215-237.
T (Nov. 16)- New tablets of
covenant, covenant renewal.
Th (Nov. 18)- Blessing and dedication.
Week
13: Paper revisions, Thanksgiving Break
T (Nov. 23)- Discuss process
of paper revision, peer review.
***Turn in draft of final paper to be distributed to class.***
Th (Nov. 25)- *Thanksgiving, No Class.*
Week
14: ***Student Oral Presentations***
T (Nov. 30)- 1.
2.
Th (Dec. 2)- 3.
4. Self-critique, peer review.
*Exam Review Sheets
handed out.*
**Turn in Final Paper
Revisions.**
Week
15: Major Themes, Review for Exam on Exod 19-40, Childs
XVI-XXIV, Sarna 102-237.
T (Dec.
7)- Discuss major themes of book, review for exam. Hand out exam.
Th (Dec. 9)- **Take-home
exam due by end of class on Exod 19-40.**
***For
each student presentation, all students must turn in a written review or
self-critique (one copy to the author of the paper, and one copy to the
professor), and be prepared to discuss the paper in class at the time of the
oral presentation. These reviews
will be counted as part of the grade for the oral presentations.
**Papers
and Revisions will be due on Friday at midnight in the mailbox outside the
instructor's office door (D-320). Since
any papers delivered after 5:00 pm will not be received until the following
Monday morning, any papers found in the box on the Monday morning will be
considered to be on time. Please do
not ask for last-minute short extensions because of printing problems and the
like. Just get your papers in the box by first thing Monday
morning. Any papers received after
that, unless there is a serious excuse such as a major illness (with a note from
the doctor), family emergency (with a note from parents), or other serious
problem, will be penalized at the discretion of the instructor.