REL/JSP 215 Hebrew Bible
Exodus Focus Section
Instructions for Short Essays

Write a short research essay (3-5 pages) on one of the following topics, using and at least one other BOOK on Exodus (see the attached bibliography; WWW resources may be used in addition to, but not in place of a book on Exodus).

FORMAT: The paper must be properly documented using either in-text references in parentheses or footnotes, and must include a bibliography citing all works consulted. ALL quotations must appear inside quotation marks and be followed by citation of the source. ALL ideas gathered from other sources and presented in your own words (i.e. "paraphrased") must also cite their sources. The papers must be typed and carefully proof-read for spelling and grammatical errors.

TOPICS:

(1) Compare the role of Miriam, Moses' sister, in Exodus 2 and 15 and evaluate their significance for understanding the roles of women as religious leaders in ancient Israel and contemporary society.

(2) Interpret the Reed Sea story and hymn in Exodus 14-15 and evaluate its literary and compositional relationship to the plague stories of chaps. 7-11.

(3) Interpret the laws of Exodus 23:1-13 from legal, moral and religious perspectives (be sure to consider all three).

(4) Examine the literary role and historical and religious significance (be sure to consider all three) of the instructions for building the ark of the covenant in Exodus 25:1-22.

Bibliography. The following books are ON RESERVE in Bird Library:

• Women's Bible commentary, ed. Carol A. Newsom & Sharon H. Ringe. 1992.
• Cassuto, Umberto. Commentary on the book of Exodus. 1967.
• Childs, Brevard S. Book of Exodus. Westminster, 1974.
• Durham, John. Exodus. Word, 1987.
• Hourtman, Cornelis. Exodus. Peeters, 1993 (3 volumes)
• Propp, William H. Exodus 1-18. Doubleday, 1999.
• Sarna, Nahum M. Exodus = Shemot. Jewish Publication Society, 1991.

The following books are in the REFERENCE section of Bird Library:

• Anchor Bible Dictionary (REF BS 440 .A54 1992)
• Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (REF BS 440 .I61 SUPPL; some volumes in stacks)
• Interpreter's Bible (REF BS 491 .I61; also in stacks)

Other volumes may be found on the library shelves. WWW resources may be found through http://web.syr.edu/*jwwatts/UsefulLinks.htm. They may be used in addition to, but not in place of a book on Exodus.