WESTERN SEMINARY

Portland, Oregon

OTS 510 Hebrew Exegesis: Acquiring Interpretive Skills

Summer 2004

Jan Verbruggen, Ph.D.

 Syllabus

Course Description

This is the crowning achievement of the Hebrew language sequence.  In this class, you bring all your knowledge to bear on the text, to get to the meaning of the text.  You will explore the varied literature and genres of Hebrew Scripture.  Your understanding of Hebrew Syntax will be strengthened.  Through a multi-layered interpretive system, the student will be able to bring out the original meaning of the text.  You will produce exegetical sound and expositional attractive products, useful for theology, teaching, preaching and your own spiritual growth. 

Course Goals and Methodology

            Goal 1: Know the fullprocess of exegesis pertinent to biblical Hebrew

Method: going through several exegetical passages together, while demonstrating every step of the way

Goal 2: Be able to apply this full exegetical method to the texts of various Old Testament genre with a view to preparing expository messages and lessons

Method: students will develop exegetical studies from all the main genres found in the Hebrew Text.

Goal 3: Be able to develop and deliver expository sermons and lessons from various biblical genre

Method: The student will develop one of his exegetical studies into a sermon

Method:  The student will secure a preaching or teaching opportunity where the sermon/study will be presented to an audience.

Goal 4: To review the essentials of the grammar of Biblical Hebrew

Method: spend some time each week reviewing the grammar, by working through different passages

Method: parse all verbs and identify all non-verb forms in the text

Method: review the paradigms of the strong and weak verbs

Goal 5: To review the rudiments of Hebrew syntax

Method: note the syntactical structure of the text

Method: read relevant sections on syntax in Hebrew grammars

Goal 6: To acquire a greater appreciation of the stylistic artistry of the text

Method: pay attention to the finer points of grammar and syntax

Method: consult advanced grammars and syntax manuals (WOC)

Method: pay attention to the instructor’s references to the numerous finer points of grammar and syntax

Method: recognize the rhetorical and expressive value of structure and the utility of structural analysis in the interpretive process

Method: prepare syntactical analyses of the assigned passages

Goal 7: To develop a working knowledge of the higher text critical method

Method: utilize the critical apparatus of the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia for the identification and analysis of text critical problems

Method: learn to use the standard rules for text critical evaluation as spelled out in standard textual criticism handbooks

Method: give careful attention to the kinds of text critical decisions made by the more recent English versions

Goal 8: To cultivate sensitivity to the biblical text that will manifest itself in a responsible and accurate handling of the biblical text

Method: conscientiously prepare the assigned texts

Method: pay attention to all the translation techniques and exegetical procedures acquired during this course

Method: prepare for class distribution a thoughtfully composed translation, offering not only philological and text critical comments but also an interpretative reading of the text

Method: participate in class discussions

Goal 9: To become aware of the research tools that are available

Method: use the instruments mentioned by the instructor in class

Method: locate various research tools in our library

Goal 10: To develop an appreciation for biblical Hebrew as an indispensable tool for gaining an accurate and divinely intended understanding of the Old Testament Scriptures

Method: pay particular attention to those homiletical and practical insights given in Robert Chisholm’s From Exegesis to Exposition

Method: prayerfully ask our sovereign Lord who purposefully chose Hebrew as the medium for communicating and preserving His effective and authoritative Word, to help you as you continue in your study of this language, and to give you discernment of its place and value in the ministry to which God has called you

Course Textbooks

Required

Either

·        Bibleworks 6.0 with the Waltke and O’Connor module

·        Chisholm, R.B. From Exegesis to Exposition, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998) (FETE)

Or

·        Chisholm, R.B. From Exegesis to Exposition, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998) (FETE)

·        Joüon – Muraoka.  A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew.  2 vols.  (Rome: Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico, 1996) (JM)

·        Waltke, B.K. and O’Connor, M.  An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax.  (Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1990) (WOC)

Recommended

·        Bible Works 6.0

·        Stuart, Douglas.  Old Testament Exegesis.  (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1984)

·        Kaiser, Walter C. Toward an Exegetical Theology. (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1981)

·        Kaiser, Walter C. Toward an Old Testament Theology. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978)

·        Williams, R.J. Hebrew Syntax: An Outline, (Toronto: University of Toronto, 1976) (HS)

Course requirements

  1. Assigned Readings (15 hours)

The following pages have been selected for required course reading because they provide a rich and necessary supplement to what we will be doing in class.  This reading is of fundamental importance to our exegetical study.  Although no final exam is given for this class, it is of extreme importance that students read this material carefully and master it.  Students will be expected to apply the information contained in these books on the exegetical studies, which they have to hand in.

Chisholm, R.B. From Exegesis to Exposition, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998), pp. 13-28, 33-54, 187-278

  1. Class translation and exegetical studies (85 hours)

For each class period, the student will prepare the appropriate section that is being dealt with in class.  The instructor will first explain his method of exegesis.  The student will then attempt his own exegesis of passages, following the teacher’s instruction.  Deviating from the instruction or not doing the preparation will result in a lower grade.  The instructor will attempt to return the papers within 1 week of the due date.  The student will also be asked to hand in exegetical studies.  The times for the studies are listed on the course schedule.

  1. Sermon (18 hours)

The student is asked to develop an exegetical study into a full-fledged sermon.  Directions will be given on how to do this.

  1. Sermon presentation (2 hours)

The student is asked to secure a preaching or teaching platform where the developed sermon can be presented.  Have the pastor or an elder (preferably somebody with seminary training) evaluate your sermon.  The stress here is on giving the student teaching and preaching experience.

  1. Class participation and interaction

Class participation (through the discussion of the prepared texts) is crucial in acquiring the exegetical skills.  Every student is expected to come to class prepared to interact with the philological and interpretative dimensions of the text.  Each student will be expected to make a significant contribution to the class discussion.  The student will be expected to respond when called upon and to offer, as a result of personal study in the text, pertinent observations and proposals on the relevant questions in textual study.  A grade will be assigned each time the student is called upon and a composite grade for the semester will be determined on the basis of the individual contributions over the course of the quarter. 

  1. No final exam will be given in this class since this class is focused on acquiring a skill rather than acquiring data.

Course Calendar (this is an approximation, schedule might change as needed)

Class

Date

Lecture/text[1]
Assignment / Reading

1

9/8

Introduction to the course  -- explanation of course procedures and expectations; Explanation of the method – Textual criticism

Read FETE: pp. 7-28,

2

9/15

Textual criticism (continued)

Habakkuk: an example of an exegetical paper

Grammatical +Syntactical notes on Isa 52:12 - 53:3;  Read FETE pp. 57-117

3

9/22

First passage: Isa 52:13-53:3

Working with BibleWorks

Read FETE pp. 119-147;Have your study questions ready on this passage; 

Grammatical +Syntactical notes on Isa 53:4-12

4

9/29

Isa 52:13-53:3 (continued) ;Isa 53:4-12

 

Read FETE pp. 149-184;  Have the study questions on Isa 53:4-12 ready; Syntax notes

5

10/6

Isa 53:4-12 (continued)

 

Read FETE pp. 31-54; 

6

10/13

Semantics: Word studies

 

Commentary sections Read pp. 187-278 (FETE)

7

10/20

Commentary section

 

Wordstudies

8

10/27

Narrative literature: Gen. 22:1-14

 

Word study

9

11/3

Gen. 22:1-14 (continued) Narrative literature

 

Guided study of Gen 22:1-14

10

11/10

Isa 8:23-9:5

 

Guided study of Isa 8:23-9:5

11

11/17

Isa 8:23-9:5 (cont.) Moving from text to sermon

ETS meeting.  Class will be taught by my teaching assistant

12

11/24

Legal material: Deut 19:15

 

 

13

12/1

Moving from text to sermon; Amos 7:1-9

 

 

14

12/8

Amos 7:1-9;  Legal Material

 

Hand in ex. study Amos 7:1-9

15

12/15

Poetic literature; Psalm 1

Hand in Sermon! ex. study Psalm 1

Point Distribution and Grading Scale

Reading

10 %

Participation in class

10 %

Exegetical Papers

30 %

Grammatical and Syntactical studies

10 %

Word studies

10 %

exegesis sections

10 %

Research in commentaries

5 %

Sermon

10 %

Sermon Presentation

5 %

 

A+

A

A-  

B+

B

B-

C+

C

C-

D+

D

D-

99-100  

95-98%  

94-93%

92-91%

90-88%

87-86%

85-84%

83-81% 

80-79%

78-77% 

76-74% 

73-70%

 


[1] Text references are all according Hebrew numeration.