Syllabus Pentateuch

PENTATEUCH

COURSE SYLLABUS

Zion Bible College

OT1321-01

Fall 2010

Tuesdays, 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM Classroom Building 108

Thursdays, 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM & 9:00 AM – 9:50 AM Classroom Building 108

Rev. Paul Conway, Associate Professor, MDiv., DMin. Candidate, 2013

Office: Classroom Building 110

Office phone: (978) 478-3457

E-mail: [email protected]

Office Hours

Tuesdays, 1:45 PM – 2:35 PM

Thursdays 1:45 PM – 2:25 PM

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course gives attention to the major theological themes of the Pentateuch such as: creation,

theocracy, the Exodus, the covenants, the Law, the Tabernacle and the Promised Land.

Consideration is given to original language, archaeology, geography and comparative studies.

The importance of the Torah to the identity of the Jewish people and its relevance to the New

Testament is explored.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. The student will demonstrate a general knowledge of the Pentateuch through test

performance.

2. The student will be able to dialog on many of the major themes contained in first five

books of the Old Testament.

3. The student will recognize the literary structures of the Pentateuch such as chiasms,

ancient near eastern narratives, patriarchal cycles, casuistic and apodictic law and

covenants.

4. The student will be able to identify and dialog on the elements of the Pentateuch that find

their context in the ancient near east such as creation and flood epics, covenants, law

codes, patriarchal life etc.

5. The student will be able to calculate the mathematics of the Exodus dating from the high

and low dating theories.

6. The student will be able to define and dialog the theories of Israel’s origins in

contemporary scholarship.

7. The student will enhance the power of observation measured by reflection.

8. The Student will interact with the text measured by class discussion.

9. The student will improve communication skills measured by class discussions.

10. The student will be able to follow the geographic itinerary of the Israelites from Ur with

Abraham to the plains of Moab prior to the conquest.

mailto:[email protected]

OT1321-01 2 P. Conway

Spring 2011

11. The student will understand the moral and spiritual lessons for faith and practice through

the lives on the main characters of the Pentateuch narrative.

12. The student will be inspired for graduate level studies in exegesis.

13. The student will develop the discipline of summarizing the point of any given pericope,

(passage) in the Pentateuch for homiletic and hermeneutic purposes.

TEXTBOOKS:

The Holy Bible: ESV preferred but other versions acceptable.

Hamilton,Victor P. Handbook on the Pentateuch 2nd

Ed. Grand Rapids, MI.:

Baker Academics, 2005.

REQUIREMENTS FOR OPTION A

1. Tests

There will be three scheduled tests covering the preceding lectures. All reading, lectures and

discussion board postings serve to prepare students for the texts and content needing

comprehension for essays on the exams. The professor will seek to review prior to tests so

students are aptly prepared. However, he is not obligated to do so if time constraints forbid

it. No rescheduling of test’s will be permitted without a note from the academic Dean.

NOTE: The final test will contain new material but will also have comprehensive

questions of previous tests to ensure students have studied for retention rather than

cramming for convenience.

2. Quiz’s There will be six quiz’s throughout the semester. Students will only be quized on

prior lectures or homework. If a student was absent for preceeding classes, it will be their

responsibility to review the previous course material and come to class prepared regardless of

their absence. No rescheduling of Quiz’s will be permitted without a note from the academic

Dean.

3. Written Work: Will consist of reflective essays, in class assignments that deal with lecture

material, reading assignments and journal entries. They will be submitted in note book

format.

4. Reading

Students are required to complete all assigned reading detailed in the Schedule and Due

Dates below. A reading verification will be taken on each test. All prior material from

lectures will be what is verified in the form of a question.

GRADING PROCEDURES:

Test: All tests will be administered on the Zion Grading scale (See student handbook for grade

divisions). Tests will be administered at the beginning of class on the scheduled date and must

be completed in the class time allotted. All tests will be based on a 1-100% grading scale with

numeric value assigned to each section according to the teacher’s assessment.


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Quiz’s All Quiz’s will be based on prior lectures and assignments on a scale of 0% - 100% with

the Zion grading system.

Written Work: Will be collected twice throughout the semester and graded on the quality of

content and the students reasoning process. Missing assignments will result in a grade penalty.

Reading: Each test will be accompanied by a reading verification. The professor will

emphasize which sections to read since your assignments will be based on selected texts.

GRADING PROCEDURE:

Grading Scale

Exam#1………..…………………….20%

Exam#2……….……………………..20%

Exam#3……….……………………..20%

Quizzes………………………….…..15%

Written Work……………………......15%

Reading……………………….……..10%

Total………………………………..100%

DISCLAIMER:

Any aspect of this syllabus is subject to change at the professor’s discretion. However, this

syllabus offers an aim and desired goal but is by no means meant to lock the subjects or format.

SHEDULE & DUE DATES:

Week Lecture Reading

1

Introduction

Genesis 1-3

Textbook: Pg. 19-27

2

Genesis

Quiz #1 Thursday, Jan 27th

Cain & Abel: Gen. 4:1-26;

The Flood: Gen. 6:1-22; 7:11-12;

8:1-5, 15-22; 9:1-17;

Textbook: 61-72

Tower of Babel Gen. 11:1-9

Abraham: Gen. 11:27-32; 12:1-9;

15:1-19; 22:1-19

Textbook: 99-101


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3

Genesis

Isaac: Gen. 21:1-21;

Jacob: Gen. 25:19-34; 27:1-46;

28:10-22; 31:1-18, 25-37; 32:1-12,

22-32

Joseph: Gen. 37:1-36; 39:1-41:57;

45:1-28; 50:15-26

4

Genesis

Quiz #2 Thursday, Feb. 10th

Intro. To the Exodus: Ex. 1:1-22

5

Exam #1 February 17

th

6

Exodus

Birth and Call of Moses Ex. 2:1-10;

3:1-4:17

Serpent Confrontation: 7:8-13

Plagues: Ex. 7:14-11:10

Textbook: 157-167

7

Exodus

Quiz #3 Thursday, March 3rd

Written Work Due March 3rd

Passover: Ex. 12:1-30

Textbook: 167-169

Date of Exodus: Ex 20:40; 1 Ki. 6:1

Theology of Exodus.: Ex. 13:17-

14:31

Wandering before Sinai: Ex. 15:22-

17:7

Textbook: 177-183

8

Spring Break

Friday, March 4th

– Sunday, March 13th


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9

Exodus

Leviticus

Covenant at Sinai: Ex. 21:1-21;

24:1-18

Textbook: 191-207

Textbook: 216-222

Sacrifices: Lev. 1:1-7:38

Textbook: 231-246

Aaron and Sons: Lev. 8:1-36; 10:1-

20

Festivals: Lev. 16; 23:1-44; 25:1-55

Textbook: 271-279

10

Numbers

Quiz #4 Thursday, March 24th

Nazarite Vow: Num. 6:1-21

Priestly Blessing: 6:22-27

Cloud/Fire: Num:9:15-23

Fire from the Lord: Num. 11:1-3

Quail: 11:4-35

Miriam’s Opposition: 12:1-16

10

Exam #2 Thursday, March 31

st

11

Numbers

Spying out the Land: Num. 13-14

Korah’s Rebellion: 16:1-50

Aarons Rod: Num. 17:1-12

Textbook: 322-334

12

Numbers

Water from the Rock: Num. 20:1-13

Bronze Serpent: Num. 21:4-20

Balaam: Num. 22:1-25:18

Textbook: 345-352


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13

Deuteronomy

Quiz #5 Thursday, April, 14th

Written Work April 14th

Deut. 1:1-5; 3:27-29

Passing on the Faith: Deut. 4:1-14

Idolatry: Deut. 4:15-31

Shema: 6:1-14

Don’t Forget the Lord: Deut. 8:1-20

One place to worship: Deut. 12:1-32

14

Deuteronomy

Deut. 16:1-17

Textbook:414-416

Textbook: 390-395

Detestable Practices: Deut. 18:1-14

The Prophet: Deut. 18:15-22

First Fruits/Tithes: Deut. 26:1-15

Life/Death: Deut. 30:11-20

Joshua’s Succession: 31:1-8

Moses’ Death: 32:48-52; 34:1-12

Textbook: 418-419

15

Thursday,

April 21st

Easter Break

16th

Remaining Lectures

Exam Review

Quiz #6 Thursday, April 28th

17th

Finals Week

POLICIES

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all class periods. Please be aware that absences are

granted for illness, personal matters, or for emergencies. It is important for students to keep

track of their own absences and late arrivals carefully. Please see the Student Handbook for the

Absence Policy. There will be a very short break mid-class, students are expected to remain in

class at other times except for medical reasons.


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If a student arrives late to class it is their responsibility to inform the teacher after class that they

are present. Otherwise they may be marked absent for the class. It is a good idea to date your

notes each class in case attendance discrepancies should arise.

In order to be considered present in class, students must present themselves in an appropriate

manner, following the guidelines of the Student Handbook.

Assignments: All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. All others will

be considered late. Assignments should be written in Turabian format.

All late assignments are to be turned into the instructor’s office, not placed in campus mail.

There are no exceptions to this policy unless mandated by the office of the Academic Dean.

Examinations: Any missed exam may be made up if the exam was missed due to illness or other

excused absence (see Student Handbook). A make-up exam will also be allowed if the

circumstances are urgent and approved by the instructor prior to the exam.

Extensions and Late Papers: Extensions will only be granted for the following four reasons: 1)

hospitalization for illness. A doctor’s note confirming such is required; 2) extended serious

illness that prevents a student from attending class. This requires a doctor’s note and signature

of verification from the student’s Resident Director; 3) funerals or family emergencies granted

as an approved absence by the Academic Dean and Dean of Students; 4) school-approved

activities. If the student meets one of these exceptions, a ―Request for Extension Form‖ must be

filled out. The form can be obtained from the Office of Admissions or the Office of the

Academic Dean. If your paper is turned in after attendance is taken on the due date, you will

receive an automatic point deduction of five (5) points. For each twenty-four hour period (this

includes Saturday’s, Sunday’s and school breaks) the paper is not turned in, there will be a

forfeiture of five (5) points from the total points. If the paper is not turned in within five twenty-

four hour periods after the due date and time, an automatic score of zero (0) will be entered for

the grade with no chance of making up the paper/grade. If a hard copy cannot be presented by

the specified time and hour, an email copy may be presented for verification of completion with

a hard copy following

Plagiarism: A student who submits written material as his/her own work which has been copied

in whole or in part from another person’s work without acknowledgement is guilty of plagiarism.

Material, whether published or unpublished, copied from another

writer, must be identified by the use of quotation marks and documentation with specific citation

of the source. Paraphrased material must likewise be attributed to the origin author.

Copying another student’s paper, with or without permission, or using his/her ideas with only

minimal reworking, is plagiarism, as is the copying from printed books and magazines without

giving credit to the original source. Any student who submits a plagiarized paper or who permits

another person to

copy his/her work is subject to any of the following actions: a grade of ―zero‖ or ―F‖ for the

work, failure in or expulsion from the class, being reported for further disciplinary action.


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Cheating: A student who engages in dishonest behavior such as: using unauthorized notes or

material when taking an examination, copying answers to examination questions, or engaging in

securing unauthorized copies of examination questions (including aiding another person in doing

so), is subject to the action or penalty indicated above. Copying another person’s class work

and/or homework and submitting it as one’s own, or having another person perform an

assignment and submitting it as having originated from themselves personally is guilty of

plagiarism—which is cheating. Such students will therefore be subject to the above discipline.

Faculty members are to submit all such cases on the appropriate ―Plagiarism Form‖ to the Office

of the Dean of Academics.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alexander, Desmond T. Rosner, Brian S., Carson, D.A., Goldsworthy, Graeme. New Dictionary

of Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 2000.

Arnold, Bill T & Beyer, Bryan E. Encountering the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker

Book House, 1999.

Ashley, T. R. The Book of Numbers. NICOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Pub., Co., 1993.

Benjamin, Don C and Matthews, Victor H.. Old Testament Parallels. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist

Press, 1997.

Bercot, David W. A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Pub.,

1998.

Bromiley, Geoffrey. W. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 1-4. Grand

Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1982.

Craigie, P.C. The Book of Deuteronomy, NICOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Pub., House,

1976.

Christensen, Duane L. WBC, Deuteronomy 1-11. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers,

1991.

Currid, John D. Ancient Egypt and the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House,

1997.

Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology 2nd

Ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Backer Book

House, 2001.

Gaebelein, Frank E. ad. et. The Expositors Bible Commentary Vol. 2-3. Grand Rapids, MI:

Zondervan Pub. Co., 1990.

Garrett, Duane. Rethinking Genesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Focus Publications, 2000.


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Grundem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. Co., 2000.

Hamilton, Victor. Handbook on the Pentateuch 1st and 2

n.d ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book

House, 1982.

_____________. The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17 NICOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans

Pub., House, 1990.

Hartley, John, E. New International Biblical Commentary Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Pub.,

2000.

Hoereth, Alfred. Archaeology and the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House,

1998.

Hoffmeir, James K. Israel in Egypt. Oxford, London: Oxford University Press, 1996.

______________. The Book of Genesis: Chapters 18-50 NICOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans

Pub. House, 1995.

Lasor William Sanford, ad. et. Old Testament Survey 2nd

Ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdman’s

Pub., Co., 1996.

Levine, Baruch A. Anchor Bible Commentary, Numbers 1-20, NY, NY: Doubleday Press, 1993.

______________. Anchor Bible Commentary, Numbers 21-36. NY, NY: Doubleday Press,

2000.

Matthews, Victor H. Manors and Customs in the Bible. Peabody MA: Hendrickson Pub, Co.,

1991.

Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 1-16. Anchor Bible Commentary. NY NY: Doubleday Press, 1991.

_____________. Leviticus 17-22. Anchor Bible Commentary NY NY: Doubleday Press, 2000.

_____________. Leviticus 23-27. Anchor Bible Commentary NY NY: Doubleday Press, 2000.

Propp, William H. Exodus 1-18. Anchor Bible Commentary NY NY: Doubleday Press, 1998.

Sailhamer, John H. The Pentateuch as Narrative. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing Co.,

1999.

Sasson, Jack M. Civilizations of the Ancient Near East Vol. III & IV. Peabody, MA:

Hendrickson Publishers, 2000.

Stuart, Douglas. The New American Commentary Vol. 2 Exodus Nashville, TN: Broadman and

Holman pub., 2006.


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VanGemeren, Willem A. New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and

Exegesis, Vol. 1-5. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. Co., 1997.

Wenham, Gordon J., ad. Et. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove, Il: Inter Varsity Press,

2004.

___________. Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 1. Genesis 1-15 Nashville, TN: Thomas

Nelson Publishers, 1987.

________________. Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 1. Genesis 16-50 Nashville, TN: Thomas

Nelson Publishers, 1987.

Wenham, G.J. The Book of Leviticus, NICOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Pub., Co., 1979.

W.H. Bellinger Jr. New International Biblical Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Pub.,

2001.

Syllabus Pentateuch

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Transcript of Syllabus Pentateuch