St. Bernard’s School of Theology and MinistryPRIVATE
FALL 2006 - SPRING 2007
D. N. PREMNATH
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A general introduction to the social history, literature and theology of the Hebrew Bible.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The course would aim at enabling the student to gain familiarity with the content of the books of the Hebrew Bible in their socio-historical background. Attention to theological themes and contemporary relevance. An elementary knowledge of the tools and methods of study would be provided.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: The student will be able to
Ø gain an overview of the history of the growth and content of the Hebrew Bible in its literary and sociological contexts (demonstrated through the quizzes);
Ø Identify and summarize the literary content, history and theological themes of the books of the Hebrew Bible (demonstrated through the quizzes);
Ø Exegete biblical texts using critical tools of study; (demonstrated through the final paper) and
Ø Find concrete ways of relating biblical texts to contemporary situations and issues (demonstrated through quizzes and reflection paper).
FORMAT/TEACHING METHOD: Lecture.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
v Take-home quizzes and reflection paper 50%
Short quizzes due each session covering lectures & readings
v Final exegetical paper 50%
An exegesis of a text from the Hebrew Bible. 12-15 pages double-spaced. Hard copy only. NO e-mail attachments. Due on April 21, 2007. Format and style to follow Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations. 6th ed. .
A one-page type written proposal listing the parameters of the text chosen for study; a brief tentative outline of what you are going to include in your paper and a bibliography listing key resources. Due Dec 2, 2006.
Prior consultation with and clearance from the instructor is mandatory.
TEXTS:
Required – John. J. Collins, Introduction to The Hebrew Bible. Fortress, 2004.
Michael Gorman, Elements of Biblical Exegesis, Henrickson, 2001.
Recommended - Hayes and Miller, A History of Israel and Judah.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Sept. 16 Introduction; Geography; Growth of the O.T.
Biblical Criticism
Readings: IHB, 1-46; EBE
Oct. 21 Mini workshop on Exegesis
Nov. 4 Pentateuchal Strands; Exodus; Law & Covenant; Deuteronomy
And Deuteronomistic History
Readings: VOTT, 41-82; IHB, 47-215;
Read Genesis - Kings.
Dec. 2 Social History of Ancient Israel
Readings: IHB, 217-279;
Paper proposals due
Jan. 27 Prophecy: Pre-exilic
Readings: IHB, 283-329; HPI, 86-137
Read Amos, Hosea, Isaiah 1-12 and Micah
Feb. 10 Prophecy: Exilic
Readings: IHB, 331-424; HPI, 138-76; 193-224;
Read Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah 40-55
Feb. 24 Prophecy: Exilic Contd.
March 17 Psalms
Readings: IHB, 461-486;
Brueggemann, Message of Psalms.
Read Psalms 104, 136, 22, 74, 96, 46, 127
March 31 Wisdom Literature
Readings: IHB, 487-528;
Read Proverbs, Job & Ecclesiastes
April 21 Festival Scrolls, Chronicler's History,
Ezra and Nehemiah
Readings: IHB, 427-460; 529-580
Read Ruth, Esther, Lamentations, Song of Songs, Chronicles I & II, Ezra and Nehemiah
Final paper due
(IHB - Introduction to The Hebrew Bible: A Socio-Literary Introduction.
EBE - Elements of Biblical Exegesis.
VOTT - Vitality of the Old Testament Traditions.
PT - Palestine in Transition.
HPI - History of Prophecy in Israel)
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHYPRIVATE
Aharoni, Y. 1979 The Land of the Bible.
Aharoni, Y and Avi-Yonah 1977 The Macmillan Bible Atlas.
Anderson, B.W. 1975 Understanding the Old Testament. 3rd.ed.
Avi-Yonah and Stern. E. 1977 Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land. 4 vols.
Blenkinsopp, J. 1983 A History of Prophecy in Ancient Israel.
Brenner, A. (ed.) 1995 A Feminist Companion to the Latter Prophets.
Brenner, A. & Fontaine, C. (eds.) 1998 Wisdom and Psalms.
Bright, J. 1980 A History of Israel. 3rd.ed.
Brueggemann, W. 1978 The Prophetic Imagination.
1982 The Vitality of the O.T. Traditions
Crenshaw, J. 1981 Old Testament Wisdom.
Cross, F.M. 1973 Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic.
Felder, C.H. 1989 Troubling Biblical Waters.
1991(ed.)Stony the Road We Trod.
Gottwald, N. 1979 The Tribes of Yahweh.
Freedman, D. and Graf, D. eds. 1985 Palestine in Transition.
Habel, N. 1971 Literary Criticism of the O.T.
Hayes, J. .H. 1974 Old Testament Form Criticism.
Jobling, D., Day, P. and Sheppard, G. eds. 1991 The Bible and the Politics of Exegesis.
Klein, R. 1979 Israel in Exile. A Theological Interpretation.
Knight, D. and Tucker, G. eds. 1985 The Hebrew Bible and its Modern Interpreters.
Laffey, A. 1988 An Introduction to the O.T. A Feminist Perspective.
Lance, D. 1981 The Old Testament and the Archaeologist.
McCann, C. 1993 A Theological Introduction to the Book of Psalms.
Pritchard, J.B. 1969 Ancient Near Eastern Texts relating to Old Testament.
Rast, W. 1972 Tradition History and the O.T.
Sanders, J. 1984 Canon and Community.
Trible, P. 1978 God and the Rhetoric of Sexuality.
1985 Texts of Terror.
Westermann, C. 1989 The Living Psalms.
Westermann, C 1994. Basic Forms of Prophetic Speech. Rev. ed.
Wilson, R. 1984 Sociological Approaches to the O.T.
D. N. Premnath
(585) 271-3657 x 291
dnprem@stbernards.edu