2011 unit archive

Units timetabled for 2013 and 2014 are provisional only, and details of semester and time will change. The official timetable for each year is released on 1 September of the prior year.

Archived unit descriptions for 2011 are available here.

Ruth

in
Unit Code: 
AL/BH210
RTI: 
United Faculty of Theology
Unit Value: 
15 points

This unit is designed primarily as a continuation unit in biblical Hebrew, although it will also cover exegetical issues. Apart from work in grammar and textual criticism, we will also look at issues of translation and the date of Ruth from a linguistic perspective. The examination will reflect the emphases of the chosen Field – A or B.

Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

  1. Translate and exegete selected passages from the book of Ruth
  2. Discuss text-critical issues in the book of Ruth
  3. Demonstrate a sound knowledge of Hebrew grammar and syntax
  4. Discuss the linguistic evidence for the date of writing of the book of Ruth.
Timetabling
Semester: 
Semester 2
Day: 
Tuesday
Time: 
2:15 - 5:15
Location: 
Whitley College
Unit Frequency: 
Annual
Years Offered: 
2010
Years Offered: 
2011
Years Offered: 
2012
Years Offered: 
2013
Years Offered: 
2014
Notes: 

This unit will be held at Whitley College from 2pm to 5pm on Tuesdays.

Unit Fields
Courses: 
Bachelor of Theology
Field: 
Field A Humanities
Field: 
Field B Biblical Studies
Disciplines: 
Biblical Studies
Disciplines: 
Old Testament
Department Name: 
Department of Biblical Studies
Unit Level
Undergraduate Level: 
2
Prerequisites: 

AL111 Biblical Hebrew

Mode of Teaching: 
Semester
Teaching Methods: 

A three-hour weekly class for twelve weeks

Workload
Number of timetabled hours per week: 
3
Expected personal study hours per week: 
6
Total workload hours per week: 
9
Total workload hours for unit: 
108
Assessment
Assessment TypeWeightingLearning Outcomes Assessed
Assessment Type: 

Weekly translation exercises

Weighting: 
30%
Assessment Type: 

1 x 1000 word exegetical paper

Weighting: 
30%
Assessment Type: 

1 x 2 hour written examination

Weighting: 
40%
Recommended reading: 

* = set texts recommended for purchase

Alter, R. The Art of Biblical Narrative. New York: Basic Books, 1981.

Beattie, D. R. G. Jewish Exegesis of the Book of Ruth. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1977.

Brotzman, E. Old Testament Textual Criticism. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999.

Brown, F., S. T. Driver and C. A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1906.

Bush, F.  Ruth/Esther.  Dallas: Word, 1996.

Campbell, E. F. Ruth. Garden City: Doubleday, 1975.

Clines, D. J. A. (ed.) The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew. 2 vols. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Pres, 1993 and 1995.

Holladay, W. L. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1971; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972.

Hubbard, R. L. The Book of Ruth. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.

LaCocque, A. The Feminine Unconventional. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990.

Sakenfeld, K. D. Ruth. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1999.

Sasson, J. M. Ruth. A New Translation with a Philological Commentary and a Formalist – Folklorist Interpretation. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979.

Seow, C. L.  A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Rev. ed. Nashville: Abingdon, 1995.

© United Faculty of Theology, 2008-2012.