Module: Jewish Scriptures: The Torah

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Jewish Scriptures: The Torah
Module Code	RET1033 (ITS: TP211)
Faculty	Theology, Philosophy & Music	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The purpose of this module is to help students reflect critically on key themes and issues related to the first five books of the Jewish Scriptures, the Torah (also known as the Pentateuch). In this module students develop knowledge of key issues related to the background and formation of the Torah, explore key themes and figures found within these books (Genesis-Deuteronomy), and analyse the reception, use and impact of these writings. In the course of this module students will also develop skills that will enable them to engage with these texts from a variety of perspectives and methodologies used in the academic study of the Bible. Students are expected to attend and contribute to lectures, and to engage with the primary texts in a reflective and analytical manner as they progress through the module.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe how the Torah is used and understood in different religious traditions, notably Judaism and Christianity;
2. Communicate a critical understanding of historical issues related to the background and formation of the Torah;
3. Demonstrate critical awareness of key themes and figures in the books of Genesis-Deuteronomy;
4. Identify and analyse how these texts have been used and taken up in commentary, culture and society;
5. Reflect critically on methods and approaches used in the academic study of the Hebrew Scriptures.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lectures
Independent Study	24	Weekly Readings
Independent Study	36	Independent Learning / CA preparation
Independent Study	41	Exam preparation
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11520	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale		Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category		Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Bradford Anderson	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Research essay	20%	n/a
In Class Test	Class wiki	10%	n/a
Formal Examination	Formal exam	70%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Alter, Robert: 1981, The Art of Biblical Narrative, Basic Books, New York,
Barton, John: 1996, Reading the Old Testament: Methods in Biblical Study, Westminster John Knox, Louisville:,
Blenkinsopp, Joseph: 1992, The Pentateuch: An Introduction to the First Five Books of the Bible, Doubleday, New York,
Boadt, L. .: 2012, Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction, 2nd ed., Paulist Press, New York,
Brettler, Marc Zvi: 200, How to Read the Jewish Bible, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Carr, David, and Colleen Conway.: 2010, An Introduction to the Bible: Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts, Wiley-Blackwell, Malden,
Collins, John J.: 2004, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, Fortress, Minneapolis,
Coogan, Michael: 2008, The Old Testament: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Fretheim, Terence E.: 1996, The Pentateuch, Abingdon, Nashville,
Gooder, Paula: 2002, The Pentateuch: A Story of Beginnings, Continuum, London,
Gorman, Michael J: 2005, Scripture: An Ecumenical Introduction to the Bible and Its Interpretation, Hendrickson, Peabody,
Hayes, Christine .: 2012, Introduction to the Bible, New Haven, Yale,
Kaminsky, Joel S., Joel N. Lohr, and Mark Reasoner: 2014, . The Abingdon Introduction to the Bible: Understanding Jewish and Christian Scriptures, Abingdon, Nashville,
Kaminsky, Joel S., and Joel N. Lohr.: 2011, The Torah: A Beginner's Guide, Oneworld, Oxford,
Margurant, Daniel, and Yvan Bourquin: 1999, How to Read Bible Stories, SCM, London,
Moyise, Steve: 2013, Introduction to Biblical Studies, 3, Bloomsbury, London,
Perdue, Leo G.: 2001, the Blackwell Companion to the Hebrew Bible, Blackwell, Oxford,
Rogerson, J. W., and Judith M. Lieu.: 2006, (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Studies, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Sarna, Nahum M.: 1966, Understanding Genesis: The World of the Bible in the Light of History, Schocken, New York,
Sarna, Nahum M.: 1986, Exploring Exodus: The Origins of Biblical Israel, Schocken, New York,
Schüssler Fiorenza, Elisabeth.: 1990, Bread Not Stone: The Challenge of Feminist Biblical Interpretation, T&T Clark, Edinburgh,
Sugirtharajah, R.S.: 2006, The Postcolonial Biblical Reader, Blackwell, Oxford,
Stanley, Christopher.: 2010, The Hebrew Bible: A Comparative Approach., Fortress, Minneapolis,
Trible, Phylis: 1984, Texts of Terror: Literary-Feminist Readings of Biblical Narratives, Fortress, Minneapolis,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

Website: Bibledex, University of Nottingham, http://www.bibledex.com/