RL 200, Introduction to the First Testament
Review for Second Unit Examination

Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D.
25 October 2005


This examination is designed to test the student's ability to meet the following course objectives:
1.Define the key terms relating to Hebrew Bible study and identify its significant personages.
2.Show familiarity with the dating for the significant persons, events and key writings of the HB.
3.Describe the basic outline of the Torah story.
4.Explain the key themes and characteristics of each of the pentateuchal sources (JEPD).
6.Discuss the relationship of the Judaism to the other Ancient Near Eastern religions and cultures.
7.Demonstrate command of the historical-critical method of HB interpretation.

With that in mind, the following are some specifics about what you might expect to find on the examination.

OBJECTIVE PART:

1. Define the Glossary terms relating to methods or phases of Biblical study:

audience criticism exegesis form criticism literary criticism
redaction history rhetorical criticism source criticism textual criticism

2. Recognize the covenant terms: emet, hesed, yada, yalak

3. Know other terms from the Review for the First Examination.

4. Identify the Important People in the First Testament Era, especially:

Aaron Adonai Eve Jacob Miriam Rameses II
Abraham Elohim Isaac Joseph Moses Sarah
Adam Hagar Ishmael Joshua Pharaoh Yahweh

7. Provide a relative chronology of the key "moments" in the primeval history (Gen 1-11) and the central events in Israelite history, e.g.:

8. Recognize the themes of the four sources of the Pentateuch, and identify which of these lie behind such stories as the ancestress of Israel in danger, the binding of Isaac, and the call of Moses.

9. Discuss the theology of grace in the Torah compared to its ANE context; include such examples as the various covenants (e.g., with Noah, Abraham, Moses) and the Exodus-Sinai complex, and the Golden Calf incident, and illustrate their significance for Israelite theology and history.