Class #3  

Monday,

September 3

Modernity and Historical Criticism
1. The intention of the author
2. Tradition History
3. Source Criticism
4. Form Criticism
5. Redaction Criticism
Reading for next class: Collins, pp. 47-65; handout on "Social Location"

Class #4 
Wednesday,
September 5

Postmodern Interpretation
1. Gender
2. Sexual Orientation
3. Race/Ethnicity
4. Faith
Reading for next class: Genesis 1-11; Collins, pp. 67-82

Class #5
Friday,
September 7  

The Text, Literary and Rhetorical Criticism
Reading for next class: Augustine's Commentary on Genesis, Book 1: "The Work of the First Day"

Class #6 
Monday,
September 10

Interpretation
Reading for next class: Genesis 12-36; Collins, pp. 83-105.
Questions for close reading: 
1.  The patriarchs were heads  of extended families or clans. 
      What does this mean? 
2.  Compare the covenant  accounts in Gen 13:14-17; 
      15:17 -21; and 17:1-21.  How are they alike and 
      how do they differ? 
3.  Genesis 14 is often said to be different from the other 
      Abraham narratives.  Read the chapter closely and see 
      if you can understand why such a statement would be made. 
4.  How did Abraham try to fulfill the promise of an 
      heir on his own? 
5.  How do you account for the similarities between 
      the stories about Sarah and Abimelech 
     (Gen 20:1-10) and Rebekah and Abimelech 
     (Gen 26:6-11)? 
6.  What do the Jacob stories say about the belief 
      among ancient peoples about the spoken word? 
7.  Why do you suppose the biblical storyteller glorifies Jacob’s 
      deceptive ways? 
8.  What effect, other than change of name, did Jacob’s experience  
      at the Jabbok River have upon him? 

Class #7   
Wednesday,
September 12

The Ancestor Storeis and their Interpretations
Reading for next class: Genesis 37-50
Questions for close reading:
1.  How do the stories about Joseph differ from 
     other patriarchal stories? 
2.  After reading Genesis 45, how does the 
     narrator interpret the purpose of Joseph’s experiences? 
3.  Briefly trace the covenantal theme as it appears 
     in the patriarchal narratives. 

Class #8
Friday,
September 14

Into Egypt, a Sustained Narrative;
Reading for next class: Exodus 1-15; Collins 107-120
Questions for close reading: 
1.  Evaluate the role that Moses played in the events of the Exodus. 
2.  For Israel , what role did the Lord play in  the events of the Exodus? 
3.  How does the biblical narrator interpret the meaning of the events in Moses’ life leading up to the Exodus? 
4.  What is the importance of Aaron in Exod 6:2  and 7:7 as compared with his place in the call of Moses in Exodus 3 and 4? How do you account for the differences? 
5.  If the plagues were largely natural events,  how could they be called miraculous? 
6.  Of what importance were the plagues for the  Exodus? 
7.  Of what importance was the experience of Moses  on Horeb (Exodus 3-4) to his later work? 
8.  Why is Moses called the "lawgiver"? 

Class #9

Monday,

September 17    

Moses and Liberation
Reading for next class: Exodus 16-48; Collins 121-138
A question for close reading: 
Why did Israel fail in its attempt to invade Canaan  
from the South?  (Numbers 13-14) 

Class #10 
Wednesday
September 19

Class #11
Friday,
September 21

The Sinai Covenant
Reading for next class: Leviticus and Numbers; Collins 139-158
                      

Be Holy for I am Holy; the Priestly Ordering and the Desert
Reading for next class: Deuteronomy; Collins, 159-179

Class #12 

Monday,

September 24 

Making/Renewing  the Covenant 
Small Group Discussion for first 10-15 minutes
about previous books; 
Quick 10-15 minute quiz covering high points of first five books
(people, places, things quiz) 
Reading for next class: Joshua; Collins, pp. 183-202
Questions for close reading: 
1.  How does the description of the fall of Jericho  
indicate the religious nature of the event? 
2.  How does the story of Aachan illustrate the 
principles of Holy War? 
3.  Why did the Israelites not attack the Gibeonites 
4.  What does the account of a covenant renewal 
ceremony in Joshua 23 and 24 tell us about the makeup of the people of Israel?
5.  What was the purpose of the covenant renewal  ceremonies? 

Class #13
Wednesday
September 26

A Land Promised    
Reading for next class: Judges;  Collins, pp. 203-216
The film, "Samson and Delilah" may be viewed
Questions for close reading: 
1.  Why does Judges 1 give a different view of how extensive the conquest was from that of the  book  of  Joshua? 
2.  What  is meant by the term "charismatic leaders"  when it is applied to Israel's judges?
3.  What role did women play in the defeat of the  army of Sisera? 
4.  How did Gideon use psychology to defeat the  army of the Midianites? 
5.  What was the meaning of Jotham’s fable?  (Jdgs 9:7-15)

Class #14  
Friday,
September 28

A Land Allotted
Reading for next class: 1 Samuel; Collins, pp. 217-230.

Class #15
Monday,
October 1