Esegesi AT: PentateucoRA0113

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the reading of the Pentateuch and to investigate its over-arching narrative content in order to uncover major theological themes contained therein and to explore the development of those themes taking into account the historical context of the Torah.

1. Introduction to the Pentateuch. 2. A review of its content and structure. 3. The formation of the Pentateuch (documentary hypothesis and recent developments). 4. Exegetical and theological reading of selected texts with respect to both its ancient Near Eastern and canonical contexts: a) The Prehistory: the universal “history” of the world (Genesis 1–11), b) The promises to the patriarchs (Genesis 12–50), c) From Egypt to the gates of the Promised Land – formation of Israel and its institutions (Exodus – Leviticus – Numbers – Deuteronomy).

Alexander, T. Desmond. From Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Pentateuch. 3rd Edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015; Blenkinsopp, Joseph. The Pentateuch: An Introduction to the First Five Books of the Bible. New Haven: Yale University Press 2007 [1962];