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UBBL310 (The Rise of the King: I & II Samuel): About the Assignment

This guide includes print and electronic resources and instruction that will aid students in the study of 1 and 2 Samuel. Rev. Sharon Ralston 7.2022

Exegetical Assignment

Each I/II Samuel class is supposed to require some sort of exegetical assignment, using a traditional methodology or, recently in some upper division courses such as this, doing a topical kind of exegetical paper. Some faculty break it up into parts so that it is done over time or to make it more manageable to grade -- I mean, for the student to work on it. Exegesis is the art /science of explaining the meaning of the text. Yes, it is part science, and that is what your professor is teaching you, but it is also an art, something that takes practice. Below is an outline of the exegetical process (in the middle column) as well as some books on how to do exegesis. In looking at those, you will see that there is variance even in the science of it.  For several years the SOT had many of the Bible courses follow the same exegetical method. Those four steps of a traditional approach for an exegetical paper are the four sub-tabs on "The Exegetical Process" under this "About this Assignment" tab.   Your instructor will likely provide his/her specific instructions for "doing an exegetical paper" for a particular class here at APU.  This LibGuide is meant as a complement to UBBL310, providing a curated collection of print and electronic resources and tools as well as instruction.  This is intended to help you discover suitable material to help you start and then also refine your research in interpreting the books of I/II Samuel.

Resources for How to Do an Exegetical Assignment

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Welcome to the Research Guide for The Rise of the King: I & II Samuel!

David the Prophet:  A miniature from the Georgian Psalter MSS copied at the behest of Kvarkvare and Mzechabuk Jaqeli in Samtskhe in 1494.

Douglas Stuart's Steps to Exegesis

1 - Confirm limits

2 - Translation

3 - Historical context

4 - Literary context

5 - Genre and form

6 - Analyze structure

7 - Analyze grammar

8 - Word studies

9 - Biblical context

10 - Theology

11 - Secondary literature

12 - Application 

From: Douglas K. Stuart.  Old Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors  (4th ed.; Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009).

Biblical Interpretation Resources

Also see the mini guide Modern/Postmodern Biblical Hermeneutics and Perspectives under the Biblical Studies tab on the Stamps Virtual Theological Library guide.  For more resources employing the application of such specialized and emerging interpretative ("hermeneutical") approaches brought to a particular book of the Bible, see the "Specialized Lens" commentaries on sub-tabbed pages for each book of the Bible on this guide under the Commentaries tab.

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