Formation of The Pentateuch
An in-depth examination of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament, in their unity and discreetness, with a view to articulating the principal themes of the Pentateuch and the history of its composition.
Outcomes: A deep level of understanding and of critical thinking with respect to the subject matter of the course.
An in-depth examination of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament, in their unity and discreetness, with a view to articulating the principal themes of the Pentateuch and the history of its composition.
Outcomes: A deep level of understanding and of critical thinking with respect to the subject matter of the course.
Restricted to Graduate School students.
The Torah often known as the Pentateuch in the Christian tradition is the center around which
all the rest of Scripture turns. The books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy are the opening section of the Jewish and the Christian Scriptures, but these
books do much more than simply set the stage for the rest of the biblical traditions. Instead, the
Torah offers the central lens through which the reader is called to view God's relationship to the
created world and God's ongoing desire to restore all creation to its right order. Essential to this
work of restoration is God's covenantal partnership with the people Israel. The Torah embodies
the stories and practices that define the transforming encounter between God and Israel, an
encounter that in turn transforms the world. Through close reading and attention to historical
context, we will explore Torah together in this course, discovering its multiple voices and its
challenges to both religious and secular assumptions of our world and likewise discovering
that the God of the Torah is mysterious, emotional, and unyielding in his desire to restore all
things to their truest destiny.
Class Details
Class Availability
Combined Section Capacity
Combined Section