Interpreting the Pentateuch : An Exegetical Handbook

by Vogt, Peter T.

• ISBN13: 9780825427626
• ISBN10: 0825427622
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-11-10
• Publisher: Kregel Pubns

Summary

In this latest addition to the Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis series, Peter T. Vogt continues the tradition of excellence established by previous volumes. Divided into three parts, Interpreting the Pentateuch first provides an overview of the major themes of the Pentateuch. In the second part, Vogt offers resources and strategies for interpreting and understanding the first five books of the Bible by exploring its genres-law and narrative. Finally, Vogt shows that, although the Pentateuch is a collection of ancient texts, it still has contemporary significance. Vogt also includes two samples-one from law and one from narrative-of exegesis, giving students a start-to-finish example of the techniques he has illustrated for effective exegesis.

Author Biography

Peter T. Vogt (Ph.D., University of Gloucestershire) is associate professor of Old Testament at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He is the author of Deuteronomic Theology and the Significance of Torah: A Reappraisal. David M. Howard Jr. (Ph.D., University of Michigan) is dean of the Center for Biblical and Theological Foundations and Professor of Old Testament at Bethel Seminary. He has published five books and numerous journal articles, book chapters, and essays.

Table of Contents

Series Preface	p. 15
Preface	p. 19
Abbreviations	p. 23
The Genres of the Pentateuch	p. 25
Law	p. 25
The Nature of Torah	p. 26
The Law After Moses	p. 30
Historical Approaches to the Law	p. 32
Patristic Interpretation of Law	p. 32
Medieval Interpretation of Law	p. 36
The Reformation and the Interpretation of Law	p. 37
Other Contemporary Approaches to the Interpretation of Law	p. 40
A Paradigmatic Approach to Law	p. 42
Problems with Traditional Approaches to Law	p. 42
An Alternative: A Paradigmatic Approach	p. 45
Narrative	p. 48
The Nature of Narrative	p. 48
Narratives Are a Selective Record of Events	p. 49
Narratives Have a Purpose	p. 50
Narratives Are Written in an Engaging Manner	p. 52
Features of Narrative	p. 52
Scene	p. 53
Plot	p. 53
Dialogue	p. 56
Point of View	p. 58
Major Themes of the Pentateuch	p. 61
The Sovereignty and Supremacy of Yahweh	p. 62
Genesis	p. 62
Exodus	p. 65
Leviticus	p. 67
Numbers	p. 68
Deuteronomy	p. 70
The Seriousness Of Sin	p. 71
Genesis	p. 72
Exodus	p. 74
Leviticus	p. 74
Numbers	p. 76
Deuteronomy	p. 78
The Grace of Yahweh	p. 79
Genesis	p. 79
Exodus	p. 80
Leviticus	p. 83
Numbers	p. 83
Deuteronomy	p. 85
Integrative Concept: "Restoration Project"	p. 85
Getting Started	p. 93
Text Criticism of the Pentateuch	p. 93
Principles of Text Criticism	p. 94
The MT Is Not Always the Original	p. 94
Rely on Internal Evidence	p. 94
The Reading That Explains the Others is Probably Original	p. 94
Text Criticism in Action	p. 95
Deuteronomy 32:8	p. 95
Exodus 20:17	p. 96
Text Criticism and Biblical Authority	p. 98
Ancient Near Eastern Parallels To Biblical Texts	p. 99
Overview of Ancient Near Eastern Worldview	p. 100
The Gods Were Very Real	p. 101
All of Life Had Religious Significance	p. 102
Corporate Identity Was Paramount	p. 102
Legal Texts	p. 103
Code of Hammurabi	p. 105
Middle Assyrian Laws	p. 106
Ancient Near Eastern Laws and Worldview	p. 107
Narrative Texts	p. 108
Atrahasis	p. 109
Enuma Elish	p. 110
Gilgamesh Epic	p. 111
Comparing Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Materials	p. 112
Bibliographical Helps and Tools For Interpretation	p. 117
Introductions and General Works	p. 117
Text Criticism	p. 118
Interpretation of Biblical Law	p. 119
Interpretation of Biblical Narratives	p. 120
Sociohistorical Background to the Pentateuch	p. 121
Primary Sources of Ancient Near Eastern Literature	p. 122
Individual Books	p. 123
Genesis	p. 123
Exodus	p. 124
Leviticus	p. 125
Numbers	p. 125
Deuteronomy	p. 126
Interpreting the Pentateuch	p. 129
Unity and Diversity in the Pentateuch	p. 129
The Documentary Hypothesis	p. 130
An Alternative Approach	p. 132
Interpreting Law	p. 136
Preliminary Considerations	p. 136
Guidelines for Interpretation	p. 137
Determine the Contexts of the Passage	p. 137
Identify the Kind of Law(s) Involved	p. 138
Determine the Nature of the Legal Requirement	p. 140
Describe the Purpose of the Law in Israel	p. 141
Identify Applicability of the Purpose in a Contemporary Context	p. 143
Interpreting Narrative	p. 146
Preliminary Considerations	p. 146
Guidelines for Interpretation	p. 147
Establish the Co-text of the Passage	p. 147
Identify and Label the Scenes in the Narrative	p. 148
Analyze the Plot	p. 148
Examine the Details of the Scenes	p. 149
Identify the Communicative Intention of the Author	p. 151
Recontextualize the Text for a Contemporary Setting	p. 153
Communicating the Genres of the Pentateuch	p. 157
Preliminary Considerations	p. 158
Attitudes Toward the Old Testament	p. 158
Ignorance of the Old Testament	p. 162
Lack of Awareness of the Old Testament's Coherence	p. 164
Communicating Law	p. 165
Strategies for Communication	p. 166
Address the Cultural Connotations of Law	p. 166
Note the Purpose of the Law in Its Original Setting	p. 167
Discuss the Implications of Jesus' Ministry for the Law's Relevance	p. 169
Address the Applicability of the Law in a Contemporary Setting	p. 170
Communicating Narrative	p. 172
Strategies for Communication	p. 172
Let the Story Speak for Itself	p. 172
Tie in Contemporary Parallels to the Biblical Story	p. 174
Communicate Literary Artistry	p. 175
Allow for Ambiguity	p. 176
Additional Resources	p. 178
Putting It All Together	p. 179
Interpreting and Communicating a Legal Text: Leviticus 19:28	p. 179
Interpreting the Text	p. 180
Determine the Contexts of the Passage	p. 180
Identify the Kind(s) of Law Involved	p. 182
Determine the Nature of the Legal Requirement	p. 183
Describe the Purpose of the Law in Israel	p. 186
Identify the Applicability of the Original Purpose in a Contemporary Context	p. 188
Communicating the Text	p. 190
Address the Cultural Connotations of Law	p. 190
Note the Purpose of the Law in Its Original Setting	p. 190
Discuss the Implications of Jesus' Ministry for the Law's Relevance	p. 191
Address the Applicability of the Law in a Contemporary Setting	p. 192
Interpreting and Communicating a Narrative Text: Genesis 39	p. 194
Interpreting the Text	p. 195
Establish the Co-text of the Passage	p. 195
Identify and Label the Scenes in the Narrative	p. 196
Analyze the Plot	p. 197
Examine the Details of the Scenes	p. 200
Identify the Communicative Intention of the Author	p. 202
Recontextualize the Text for a Contemporary Setting	p. 204
Communicating the Text	p. 204
Let the Story Speak for Itself	p. 205
Tie in Contemporary Parallels to the Biblical Story	p. 206
Communicate Literary Artistry	p. 208
Allow for Ambiguity	p. 208
Glossary	p. 211
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