Becoming the People of God: The Pentateuch in Context
BA2001Z / BA9001Z
This unit focuses on understanding the Pentateuch in the wider context of the Old Testament narrative of Israel becoming the People of God. The Pentateuch is significant in both Judaism and Christianity as the foundational sacred text that narrates creation and the establishment of God’s covenant with Israel. Due to its importance both canonically and theologically, it is critical that students gain a comprehensive understanding of the Pentateuch in its historical, textual, and interpretive contexts. Through this unit, students will develop skills in reading and interpreting biblical texts, and gain an understanding of the Pentateuch’s composition, literary forms, redaction, and perspectives. This unit will engage students with the fields of historical, literary, and ideological criticism.
Duration
One Semester
Availability
First semester
Core/Elective
Core
Delivery Mode
Mixed Mode - onsite or online
Prerequisites
Eight foundational units including the first year capstone to be completed prior to enrolment . For exemptions, please contact the Registrar.
Required Text/s
The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, with Deuterocanonical and Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament. This is available in Study Bible editions from various major publishers. Both the NRSV and the NRSV Updated Edition (NRSVue, 2021) are available as modules in the Accordance Bible app.
Anderson, Bradford A. An Introduction to the Study of the Pentateuch. T & T Clark Approaches to Biblical Studies. 2nd edition. London: Bloomsbury T & T Clark, 2017. (Digital editions: Kindle and Apple eBooks. UD Library eBook)
Recommended Text/s
Dozeman, Thomas. The Pentateuch: Introducing the Torah. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2017. (Digital edition: Kindle and UD Library eBook)
Eskenazi, Tamara C. & Andrea L. Weis (eds), The Torah: A Women’s Commentary. New York: WRJ Press, 2008. (Digital editions: Kindle and Apple eBooks)
Pattel-Gray Anne, Norman Habel and Australian First Nations, De-colonising the Biblical Narrative: 1. Genesis 1–11. 2. Genesis 12–25. 3. The colonial God YHWH: Progressive Revelation of the Character of YHWH in the Book of Exodus. Adelaide: ATF Press, 2022–23.
Plaut, W. Gunther & David E. S. Stein (eds), The Torah. A Modern Commentary. Revised edition. New York: Union for Reformed Judaism, 2005. (Digital edition: Accordance)
Ska, Jean-Louis, Introduction to Reading the Pentateuch. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2006. UD Library eBook
Prescribed Texts
Assessments
Scaffolded Exegesis Preparation: Weeks 2-7. Weighting 10%
Oral Presentation: Week 2-12. Weighting 20%
Exegesis: Week 8. Weighting 30%
Essay (Hermeneutical Reading): Week 12. Weighting 40%
TEACHING & LEARNING PLAN
This subject will involve:
One on-campus 2 hour lecture per week
One on-campus 1 hour tutorial per week
Online preparation & reading 2 hours per week
Learning Outcomes
Students completing this unit will:
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the compositional theories for the Pentateuch and the proposed socio-historical settings for the writing and collation of its component texts through engagement with history and archaeology.
Demonstrate developing skills in literary criticism, focusing on narrative criticism of the Pentateuch.
Demonstrate the ability to analyse the ideology and theology in the text by engaging contextual readings of the Pentateuch.