Old Testament exegesis I

The aim of this course is to illustrate the process of interpretation of the Old Testament by concrete examples. During this process, the problems involved will be highlighted and commented upon. The course will help the student to take a critical stance towards texts and their interpretations. The course will further allow a thorough look at a concrete biblical text, namely Isaiah 7:1-9:6. This pericope is of central importance for Christian theology. Moreover, in view of its compositinal history and genre, this is a complex subsection of Isaiah's prophecy, which provides an excellent case study for visualising the complexities of Hebrew textual analysis.

Competences

Specific competences

The course aims to develop the following competences:
  • the student is able to translate any text of the Hebrew Bible with the help of dictionaries, and interpret it with the help of the known exegetical methods;
  • the student is aware of the compositional history of Isaiah 7:1-9:6;
  • understands the problems related to the history of composition, as well as their relevance for its interpretation;
  • the student is able to visually outline the logical structure of a complex biblical text;
  • is able to define the main line of thought and interpret the inner relationship of the sentences;
  • perceives the importance of genre and rhetorical features for the interpretation of a biblical text;
  • the student is able to localise the theological message of a particular pericope in the wider context of the Old Testament and the Bible.

General competences

In a more general sense, the course will contribute to develop the students ability:
  • to interpret a complex text;
  • to define the main line of thought of a text;
  • to identify the rhetorical features used by an author to convey a certain message;
  • to recognise factors playing a role in the history of the biblical text;
  • to take a critical stance towards texts, as well as its ancient or modern interpretations.

Course structure

  1. Isaiah's Memoir (Denkschrift)

    Reading:

    • Budde, Karl: Jesajas Erleben. Eine gemeinverständliche Auslegung der Denkschrift des Propheten (Kap. 6, 1-9,6)
    • Barthel, Jörg: Prophetenwort und Geschichte. Die Jesaja-überlieferung in Jes 6-8 und 28-31, 37-65 (29)
    • Wagner, Thomas: Gottes Herrschaft. Eine Analyse der Denkschrift (Jes 6, 1-9, 6), 18-39 (22)
  2. Isaiah 7:1-9

    Reading:

    • Rózsa Huba: Üdvösségközvetítők az Ószövetségben, 112-116 (5)
    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 124-133 (10)
    • Martony Elek: Ézsaiás 7,1-17, 194-204 (11)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 78-85 (8)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 182-201 (20)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 192-202 (11)
  3. Isaiah 7:10-14

    Reading:

    • Rózsa Huba: Üdvösségközvetítők az Ószövetségben, 100-112 (13) 116-125 (10)
    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 133-144 (12)
    • Martony Elek: Ézsaiás 7,1-17, 104-204 (101)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 85-15 (-69)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 201-205 (5)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 202-213 (12)
  4. Isaiah 7:15-18

    Reading:

    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 133-147 (15)
    • Martony Elek: Ézsaiás 7,1-17, 194-204 (11)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 88-90 (3)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 206-207 (2)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 213-216 (4)
  5. Isaiah 7:19-25

    Reading:

    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 147-148 (2)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 90-93 (4)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 207-211 (5)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 216-219 (4)
    • Williamson, Hugh G. M.: Poetic Vision in Isaiah 7:18-25, 77-90 (14)
  6. Isaiah 8:1-2

    Reading:

    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 149-150 (2)
    • Csaba Balogh: Historicising Interpolations in the Isaiah-Memoir, 534-537 (4)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 93-95 (3)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 211-220 (10)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 219-222 (4)
    • Williamson, Hugh G. M.: The Practicalities of Prophetic Writing in Isaiah 8:1, 357-370 (14)
  7. Isaiah 8:3-4

    Reading:

    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 150-151 (2)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 95-96 (2)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 220-221 (2)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 222-224 (3)
  8. Isaiah 8:5-10

    Reading:

    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 151-156 (6)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 96-98 (3)
    • Karasszon István: Ézsaiás és a Könyv, 23-30 (8)
    • Csaba Balogh: Historicising Interpolations in the Isaiah-Memoir, 524-529 (6)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 221-228 (8)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 224-229 (6)
  9. Isaiah 8:11-15

    Reading:

    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 156-159 (4)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 98-100 (3)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 228-230 (3)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 229-235 (7)
  10. Isaiah 8:16-18

    Reading:

    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 159-161 (3)
    • Csaba Balogh: Tanítványság az Ószövetségben, különös tekintettel Ézsaiás 8,16-ra, 16-36 (21)
    • Zsengellér József: Ézsaiás és az "intő jelek", 270-277 (8)
    • Csaba Balogh: Isaiah’s Prophetic Instruction and the Disciples in Isaiah 8:16, 1-18 (18)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 100-101 (2)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 230-232 (3)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 235-236 (2)
  11. Isaiah 8:19-22a

    Reading:

    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 161-162 (2)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 101-103 (3)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 233-244 (12)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 236-239 (4)
  12. Isaiah 8:22b-9:6 (1)

    Reading:

    • Rózsa Huba: Üdvösségközvetítők az Ószövetségben, 126-144 (19)
    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 162-171 (10)
    • Csaba Balogh: Ézsaiás 8,23−9,6 – Az alagút vége, 645-656 (12)
    • Csaba Balogh: Historicising Interpolations in the Isaiah-Memoir, 529-534 (6)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 103-109 (7)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 244-257 (14)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 239-248 (10)
  13. Isaiah 8:22b-9:6 (2)

    Reading:

    • Rózsa Huba: Üdvösségközvetítők az Ószövetségben, 126-144 (19)
    • Czanik Péter: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata. 1-12 fejezet, 162-171 (10)
    • Clements, Ronald E.: Isaiah 1-39, 103-109 (7)
    • Beuken, Willem A. M.: Jesaja 1-12, 244-257 (14)
    • Oswalt, John N.: The Book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39, 239-248 (10)
  14. Evaluation

    Reading:

    • Krausz Sámuel: Jezsájás-kommentár
    • Karasszon Dezső: Ézsaiás könyvének magyarázata, 701-703 (3)
    • Ravasz László: Ószövetségi magyarázatok, 276-285 (10)
    • Duhm, Bernhard: Das Buch Jesaia, 70-92 (23)
    • Kaiser, Otto: Der Prophet Jesaja. Kapitel 1-12, 136-209 (74)
    • Wildberger, Hans: Jesaja. Kapitel 1-12, 262-389 (128)
    • Williamson, Hugh G. M.: The Book Called Isaiah. Deutero-Isaiah's Role in Composition and Redaction

Total estimated time

Classroom study

  • 2 hours/week (Course: 2 | Seminar: 0 | Practice: 0)
  • 28 hours/semester (Course: 28 | Seminar: 0 | Practice: 0)

Individual study

  • Time for studying course notes and bibliography: 40 hours/semester.
  • Time for further documentation in libraries, electronic platforms, or on the field: 35 hours/semester.
  • Time for preparing essays, papers, or documentation: 10 hours/semester.
  • Time for personal tutoring: 0 hours/semester.
  • Total individual study: 85 hours/semester.
  • Total estimated time: 113 hours/semester.

Examination

The student is required to prepare and analyse the grammar and semantics of the Hebrew text of the pericope to be discussed during the courses (preparation). At the end of the course a final exam will be taken. The final mark is composed by regular preparatory activity (20%) and the final exam (80%).