Course of Study School
Claremont School of Theology
1325 N. College Avenue, CA
91711
Year Two
COS 211 – Hebrew Bible I
Instructor: Siliveinusi Moala Tiueti
Emails: siliveinusi.tiueti@cgu.edu or siliveinusi-moala.tiueti@theologie.uni-goettingen.de
Hebrew Bible I focuses on an interpretation of the developing institutions and traditions of Israel and examination of the different ways in which the Hebrew people understood critical events of their history as acts of God. Attention is given to the earliest covenants, to the Exodus, rise of the monarchy, and other events leading up to the eighth-century prophets.
Course Objectives:
1. Formation of historical overview of the life and faith of ancient Israel.
2. Exegesis of selected passages that illustrate crucial turning points in the history of Israel.
3. Correlation of exegesis with its utilization in preaching and other pastoral functions.
4. Reflection upon ways in which God has been in work in the lives of people in these biblical
materials.
5. Ongoing development of an exegetical methodology.
6. Application of these studies to the concerns and issues of the present day.
Textbooks:
- Required
NRSV Study Bible, either Harper Collins Study Bible, or New Oxford Annotated Bible.
John J. Collins. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004.
Terence E. Fretheim. The Pentateuch. Nashville: Abingdon, 1996.
- Optional
James L. Mays., editor. Harper’s Bible
Commentary. Revised edition. San Francisco: Harper, 2000.
Course Requirements:
- Pre-Class Assignment. Two short papers to be due at Session 1.
- Read Fretheim pages 19-38. Describe in your own words how Fretheim talks about author-centered, text-centered, and reader-centered approaches to the Bible. What does each focus on? What does Fretheim find uniquely promising about each of these three approaches? What does he see as their respective limitations? (2-3 pages, doublespaced).
- Read Collins pages 183-279. What is the Deuteronomistic History? What is the historical context of its composition? What are its characteristic features, in terms of its literary genre and in terms of its theological claims about God and God’s ways with people Israel? (2-3 pages, doublespaced).
- Attendance and participation at every Session.
- Assigned readings to be done beforehand.
- 8-10 page, doublespaced, exegetical paper to be due at Session 7. This should be a historical or literary analysis and interpretation of an Old Testament text chosen in consultation with the Instructor.
- Take-home Final Exam will be due one week after the final Session.
Grading:
- Pre-class Assignment (two short papers) 20%
- Class Attendance and Participation 20%
- 8-10 page Exegetical Paper 30%
- Take-home Final Exam 30%
Course Schedule:
Session 1:
General Introduction; Definition of Approaches and Methods; Canon and Text Issues; Overview of Ancient Near Eastern History; Overview of the Pentateuch/Torah; Source Criticism (Documentary Hypothesis); Genesis
Readings: Collins 1-105; Fretheim 19-38, 67-100.
Genesis; Pre-Class Assignment due.
Session 2:
Pentateuch/Torah: Exodus/Leviticus.
Readings: Collins 107-152; Fretheim 101-136.
Exodus;
Leviticus.
Session 3:
Pentateuch/Torah: Numbers/Deuteronomy
Readings: Collins 153-179; Fretheim 137-170.
Numbers; Deuteronomy.
Session 4:
The Deuteronomistic History: Joshua/ Judges
Readings: Collins 183-215.
Joshua; Judges.
Session 5:
The Deuteronomistic History: 1-2 Samuel/1-2 Kings
Readings: Collins 217-279.
1-2 Samuel; 1-2 Kings.
Session 6:
Prophecy: Overview of Prophecy in the Ancient Near East and in Israel; Amos/Hosea
Readings: Collins 283-306.
Amos; Hosea.
Session 7:
Prophecy: Isaiah/Micah/Nahum/Zephaniah
Readings: Collins 307- 329.
Isaiah; Micah; Nahum; Zephaniah
Exegetical Paper
due; Hand out of the Take-home Final Exam.