This paper should be a serious examination of a topic of your choice (see below) in 4 pages.

CHOOSE TOPIC

Essay topics:
1. Choose three biblical narratives that involve women in Genesis through 2 Kings + Ruth,
preferably by three different authors. Compare and contrast how the women are portrayed
in each of the passages. Be sure to identify and introduce the author(s) of the texts.

2. Compare a specific law that appears in at least two of the ancient legal collections we
have studied (Hammurabi’s Laws, the Covenant Collection in Exodus, the Priestly laws
in Leviticus 1–16, the Holiness Legislation in Leviticus 17–26, and the Deuteronomic
Law Code in Deuteronomy 12–26). Explain the differences between the legislation in
each collection, how each law is representative of the larger collection in which it is
found, and whether any of the laws are dependent on one another.

3. Choose a 5 to 15 verse section in Genesis through 2 Kings + Ruth. Discuss its authorship,
genre, motifs, and date of composition. Interpret the passage and explain its significance.

4. You may write a paper on any (narrow) topic that the Bible deals with. E-mail me your
topic for approval by March 16.
Your research and writing will involve three parts:

1. Read the primary text(s) with major commentaries. The best academic commentaries on
the books of Genesis through Kings are by:
a. Genesis: Hermann Gunkel; E.A. Speiser (Anchor Bible=AB); Claus Westermann
(Continental Commentary=CC); Nahum M. Sarna (JPS Torah Commentary=JPS);
Gerhard von Rad (Old Testament Library=OTL)
b. Exodus: Nahum M. Sarna (JPS); William H. C. Propp (AB, 2 volumes); Thomas
B. Dozeman (Eerdmans)
c. Leviticus: Jacob Milgrom (AB, 3 volumes); Jacob Milgrom (CC); Baruch A.
Levine (JPS)
d. Numbers: Jacob Milgrom (JPS); Baruch A. Levine (AB, 2 volumes)
e. Deuteronomy: Moshe Weinfeld (AB, Deut 1-11); Gerhard von Rad (OTL),
Richard D. Nelson (OTL); Jeffrey H. Tigay (JPS); Jack R. Lundbom (Eerdmans)
f. Joshua: Richard D. Nelson (OTL); Robert G. Boling (AB)
g. Judges: Robert G. Boling (AB); J. Alberto Soggin (OTL); Susan Niditch (OTL)
h. Samuel: P. Kyle McCarter (AB, 2 volumes); A. Graeme Auld (OTL)
i. Kings: Mordechai Cogan & Hayim Tadmor (AB, 2 volumes); Marvin A.
Sweeney (OTL); Volkmar Fritz (CC)
j. Ruth: Campbell (AB); Schipper (AB); Frymer-Kensky (JPS); Nielsen (OTL)

The library has reference copies of most of these books. You might also find relevant
articles in the Anchor Bible Dictionary (in the library) or other major biblical
encyclopedias (search the library catalog).

2. Read recent research on your topic, found through searching the library catalog for books
and articles. You can also follow the citations in the biblical commentaries. The most
common reliable journals are:
 Biblica
 Catholic Biblical Quarterly
 Harvard Theological Review
 Journal for the Study of Old
Testament
 Journal of Biblical Literature
 Journal of Near Eastern Studies
 Journal of Semitic Studies
 Revue biblique
 Ugarit-Forschungen
 Vetus Testamentum
NOTE: Be skeptical of any information you find on the web; do not even trust
Wikipedia. Also, be wary of any texts that have an overtly theological bias. If you
are in doubt about a source, e-mail me.
3. You can structure your paper however you think is most effective. But, I recommend:
Begin your paper with a clear, concise summary of the problem or question you are
studying, followed by a thesis statement of your argument (first paragraph). You must
have a concrete argument that drives your paper. Then, present the factual information on
your topic and survey scholarly research on it. After this, describe the issues involved
with your topic and answer the questions that interest you. Compare different views on
the topic, evaluating the arguments and evidence of other scholars while presenting your
own reasoned interpretation. Conclude with a strong summary of your argument and
evidence (final paragraph).
Please use 12-point Times New Roman font for everything (including footnotes), double-space
your body text, and set your margins to 1″. Proper citation is always required, so use footnotes
and include a bibliography. For help with formatting footnotes, Google “MLA Style Footnotes”
or “Chicago Manual Citation.”
Before the paper is due, I will lead a discussion of common mistakes to avoid in academic
writing.
A printed and stapled copy of your paper is due at the beginning of class on Monday, April 4.
Each calendar day a paper is late will result in a 7-point grade deduction (e.g., 91% becomes