INTRODUCTION TO THE TORAH

Exegesis of the creation stories:  Genesis 1 – 3

STUDENT RESEARCH TOPICS

Cain and Abel:  Genesis 4:1-16

The Flood:  Genesis 6 – 9

God’s covenant with Abraham:  Genesis 15 – 18

Jacob and Esau:  Genesis 25:19-34, 27:1 – 28:9, 32:3 – 33:17

The call of Moses:  Exodus 3 – 4

The Passover:  Exodus 11:1 – 13:16

The covenant at Sinai:  Exodus 19:1 – 20:21

The Golden Calf:  Exodus 32 – 34

SELECTIONS FROM THE REST OF THE TORAH

Kosher food laws:  Leviticus 11

The Day of Atonement:  Leviticus 16

Balaam, the donkey, and the angel:  Numbers 22 – 24

The essence of the law:  Deuteronomy 6

 TEXTBOOKS

Friedman, Richard Elliott.  Commentary on the Torah.  San Francisco:  HarperCollins, 2003.

Towner, W. Sibley.  Genesis.  Westminster Bible Companion. 

            Louisville:  Westminster John Knox, 2001.

Meyers, Carol.  Exodus.  The New Cambridge Bible Commentary.

            New York:  Cambridge University Press, 2005.

A complete Bible – your preferred translation, with interpretive commentary and cross-references.  I recommend The HarperCollins Study Bible, The New Oxford Annotated Bible, or The New Interpreter’s Study Bible.

GOALS

You will gain an understanding of a wide variety of types of material in the Torah, with a special focus on stories and laws.

You will develop a familiarity with reference materials available in print and online for research in Genesis and Exodus.

You will learn the Hebrew alphabet well enough to be able to use reference sources which include key Hebrew words or phrases.

You will produce an exegesis paper on a passage from Genesis or Exodus, in accordance with standards expected for scholarly research.

You will share the results of your research with the rest of the class, further increasing your ability to express yourself orally with clarity and precision.

RESEARCH PROJECT

            Each person in the class will do special research on one set of passages in the outline above. You will work with me in choosing a section from the Torah which you would like to explore carefully.  I will give you guidelines for exegesis – scholarly interpretation of a biblical passage.  After you have done some initial research, you will meet again with me to discuss your key ideas and basic resources, so that I can help you in clarifying the focus and direction of your paper.  You will then continue to find sources in our library, electronic resources, and materials available on interlibrary loan. 

            Please choose your passage and reserve it with me as soon as possible.  If you have special interest in a passage from the Torah that is different from those listed, talk with me about your preference, and we'll see if the library has access to resources for adequate research on it.

            At an appropriate point in our course schedule, you'll give a class presentation, sharing the ideas that you have gained from your research so far.  You'll write an exegesis paper on the same passage(s) from the Torah.  This project will enable you to develop your skills in research and writing.  I'll give you a checklist responding to your first draft, and I’ll be happy to meet with you as you work on the final draft..

CLASS PARTICIPATION

            Attendance.  I value faithful attendance highly, as an indication of your commitment to the course goals.   Because this is an advanced course, building on what you have learned previously, Religion 431 will depend on your contributions to the class.  If you come to class faithfully and on time, taking careful notes on the sessions, you should learn the Torah well.  I’m counting on you to help us explore the rich meanings of the Torah passages that we’ll be studying through active discussion.  Please plan to respond to my exegetical sessions and to presentations by your fellow students on their research.   

            Extra credit.  If you really want to boost your class participation grade, here are several options.  You may attend some lyceum programs which will help you to understand more about the Torah.  You may lead a study of a topic or passage from the Torah in a youth group, Sunday School class, or other program.  You may watch a full-length video relevant to the Torah.  If you have been involved in a community service project this semester, you may reflect on how your service project relates to a specific story or teaching which you have studied in this course.  If you want me to consider awarding extra credit for any such activity, write a short paper of a paragraph or two, showing how it relates to Religion 431. 

EVALUATION

Here’s how I’ll calculate your course average: 

·        class presentation (1/3),

·        research paper (1/3), and

·        class participation (1/3). 

My grading scale is:  A = 90‑100; B = 80‑89; C = 70‑79; D = 60‑69; F = <60.  

          Your best evaluation will be how well you have come to terms with key ethical and religious concerns for which you find guidance in the Torah.  My hope is that in this class you will continue developing for yourself in this class the principles which will help you for the rest of your life!

                                                                                                Fred Kellogg

If you wish, you can send me e-mail: fkellogg@ehc.edu.

To look at one of my other review programs or syllabi, go to my Home Page.

If you prefer, you may return to the Emory & Henry College Home Page.

Last updated:  August 08, 2007