Southwestern Sin and the Human Condition in the Old Testament Discussion

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.

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)

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