Assessment

Continuous Assessment 25% + Supervised Project 75%

Module Aims

This module aims to introduce learners to diverse readings of the Book of Exodus. Within both Judaism and Christianity, the Book of Exodus has been one of the most influential texts. The narrative provides the exemplary story of liberation within both religious traditions, while the legal sections (especially the Decalogue) have influenced ethical discussions right until the present, and theologies of Passover and covenant have impacted Jewish and Christian life. Through story and teaching the book offers insight into the character of God, who is revealed yet mysterious. To understand a rich text like Exodus, the reader can benefit from many diverse reading strategies, some of which will be explored in this module. This module will include a narrative reading of selected sections, noting aspects such as characterization, plot, settings, rhetoric, and viewpoint.

BACKGROUND: Within both Judaism and Christianity, the Book of Exodus has been one of the most influential texts. The narrative provides the exemplary story of liberation within both religious traditions, while the legal sections (especially the Decalogue) have influenced ethical discussions right until the present, and theologies of Passover and covenant have marked Jewish and Christian life. Through story and teaching the book offers insight into the character of God, who is revealed yet mysterious. To understand a rich text like Exodus, the reader needs many diverse reading strategies, some of which will be explored in this module.

INDICATIVE LIST OF TOPICS

• Introductory survey of methods of biblical interpretation according to the Pontifical Biblical Commission’s 1993 document The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church.

• Historical-Critical Method (Sources & Forms); Literary Analysis (Rhetorical, Narrative); Approaches Based on Tradition (Canonical Approach, Recourse to Jewish Traditions, History of the Influence of the Text); Approaches from the Human Sciences (Sociological, Cultural-Anthropological, Psychological); Contextual Approaches (Liberationist, Feminist).

• Stories of the revelation of God as Israel’s mysterious liberator.

• Passover and exodus from Egypt.

• Law and ethics in the Decalogue.

• Female characters: Miriam, Zipporah and the Hebrew midwives.

• Moses typology in the New Testament.

WEEKLY SESSIONS:

For each session, each student is asked to prepare a one-page handout summarizing one assigned reading on the allocated Exodus text, noting the main insights and also raising questions.

Learning Outcomes

• — LO1 (Knowledge): Assess the major literary and theological elements within key parts of the Book of Exodus and analyse how Jewish and Christian tradition has interpreted various well-known texts.
• — LO2 (Comprehension): Articulate major narrative and theological features of the Exodus story, as well as historical questions concerning the relevant biblical sources.
• — LO3 (Application): Apply narrative, literary and historical approaches to selected episodes in the Exodus story.
• — LO4 (Analysis): Express insightful perspectives on the biblical text gained from a close reading of the biblical text and judicious use of secondary sources.
• — LO5 (Synthesis): Provide a concise summary of research readings and present the results clearly, both orally and in writing.
• — LO6 (Evaluation): Demonstrate an informed critical judgment regarding diverse secondary studies of the Bible, as well as a judicious discernment regarding problematic ethical and social issues within the biblical text.

Bibliography

• — Alexander, T. D., Exodus. London: Apollos, 2017. [222.1206 ALE]
• — Alter, R., The Art of Biblical Narrative. New York: Basic Books, 1981. [221.66 ALT]
• — Bar-Efrat, Shimon. Narrative Art in the Bible. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1989. [221.66 BAR]
• — Bodner, Keith, An Ark on the Nile: Beginning of the Book of Exodus. Oxford: OUP, 2016. [222.1206 BOD]
• — Davies, G. I., A critical and exegetical commentary on Exodus 1-18. ICC. London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2020. [222.1207 GRA]
• — Dozeman, T. B., Exodus. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009. [222.1207 DOZ]
• — Dozeman, T. B., C. A. Evans, and J. N. Lohr, eds., The Book of Exodus: Composition, Reception, and Interpretation. VTSup 164. Leiden: Brill, 2014. [Ebook]
• — Gowan, D. E., Theology in Exodus. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1994. [222.1207 GOW]
• — Greenberg, M., ed. J. H. Tigay, Understanding Exodus: A Holistic Commentary on Exodus 1-11. 2nd ed. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2013. [222.12 GRE]
• — Hawkins, R. K., Discovering Exodus: content, interpretation, reception. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2021. [222.1207 HAW]
• — Johnstone, W., Exodus. 2 vols. Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys, 2014. [222.1207 JOH]
• — Kugel, James L., Traditions of the Bible. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1998. [Ebook]
• — Kürle, Stefan, The Appeal of Exodus: The Characters God, Moses and Israel in the Rhetoric of the Book of Exodus. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2013. [Ebook]
• — Langston, Scott M., Exodus through the Centuries. London: Blackwell, 2006. [Ebook]
• — Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church. Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1993. [Vatican website]
• — Propp, W. H. C., Exodus. Anchor Bible 2, 2A. New York: Doubleday, 1999, 2006. [220.52 ANC 2A]
• — Sarna, Nahum M., Exploring Exodus. New York: Schocken, 1987. [222.1206 SAR]
• — Scarlata, Mark, The Abiding Presence: A Theological Commentary on Exodus. London: SCM, 2018. [222.1207]
• — Ska, J. L., Introduction to Reading the Pentateuch. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2006. [222.1061 SKA]
• — Sternberg, Meir, The Poetics of Biblical Narrative. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University, 1985. [809.935 STE]
• — White, T. J., Exodus. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2016. [220.7 BTC 5]