Participants will read and reflect on the Torah and Former Prophets (Genesis through 2 Kings) in the light of the sources, history, and development of the canonical collection, and in critical relation to their place in ancient Near Eastern culture and history. Attention will be given to issues such as textual origins, form and structure of individual books, reform movements, exile/deportation and return, focusing on key themes and aspects of the formation of the canonical collection over extended periods of time. Lectures and exegetical sessions will seek to assist participants with methodologies that will build their confidence and competence in engaging the texts in the context of the pastoral life of the church and in relation to contemporary culture and discourse, with a focus in this part of the course on the use of a range of types of commentaries ancient and modern.