The Pentateuch (BA9600T)

Content

This unit seeks to explore the rich variety of theological perspectives that are found in the various traditions and levels of text of which the Pentateuch is composed. We will delve into the theology of the sources, the Priestly and non-Priestly material, and analyse in some depth selected texts within the ancestral material in Genesis 12-50 and texts that occur at key points in Exodus and Numbers. A particular focus will be the Exodus material. In exploring these texts we will use the historical critical approach (source criticism, form criticism, traditio-historical criticism, redaction criticism) but we will also at times use newer literary approaches by way of comparison and contrast.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

An introductory BA unit

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars and tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

• Boorer, Suzanne., The Vision of the Priestly Narrative: its Genre and Hermeneutics of Time, Atlanta: SBL, 2016.
• Campbell, Antony F., and Mark A. O’Brien. Sources of the Pentateuch: Texts, Introductions, Annotations, Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1993.
• Childs, Brevard S., Exodus: A Commentary. Old Testament Library, London: SCM, 1974
• Dozeman, Thomas B. (ed.) Methods for Exodus, Cambridge: Cambridge University, 2012
• Fretheim, Terrence E., Exodus, Louisville: John Knox, 1991
• Gorman, Frank., The Ideology of Ritual: Space, Time and Status in the Priestly Theology, JSOTSup91; Sheffield: JSOT, 1990
• Knierim, Rolf P. and Coats, George W., Numbers, FOTL 4; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005.
• Lohfink, Norbert, “The Priestly Narrative and History,” in Theology of the Pentateuch: Themes of the Priestly Narrative and Deuteronomy, Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994, pp. 149-172
• Moberly, R. W. L., At the Mountain of God: Story and Theology in Exodus 32-34, JSOTSup 22; Sheffield: JSOT, 1983.
• Trible, Phyllis, Texts of Terror: Literary Feminist Readings of Biblical Narratives. Overtures to Biblical Theology, Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984

Assessment