IST2003-1-FA13 - Intro to the Hebrew Bible

Course Description

This course introduces students to the Hebrew Bible. A number of topics will be covered in this course, including the historical development of the literature, Israelite religion, and the society and culture of ancient Israel

Course Goals and Objectives

The goal of this course is to introduce students to major aspects of the critical study of the Hebrew Bible. In order to accomplish this goal, we will:

1. introduce and familiarize students with the content of the Hebrew Bible, the types of literature it contains, and the historical and cultural contexts in which this literature was produced, through readings, lectures, and assessments;
2. increase students’ abilities to read the Hebrew Bible critically by examining a number of scholarly issues and approaches pertaining to its interpretation, through readings, lectures, class activities, and online discussions.

Texts

Required:

• New Revised Standard Version of the Bible with Apocrypha. If you need to purchase a NRSV Bible, we recommend The HarperCollins Study Bible, fully revised edition. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 2006.
• Kugel, James L. How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now. New York: Free Press, 2007. Abbreviated as HRB in schedule.
• Newsom, Carol, Sharon Ringe, Jacqueline Lapsley, eds. The Women’s Bible Commentary. 3^rd ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2012. Abbreviated as WBC in schedule.
• Petersen, David L. The Prophetic Literature: An Introduction. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002. Abbreviated as PL in schedule.

Additional Readings:

• Coogan, Michael David. Stories from Ancient Canaan. Louisville: Westminster, 1978. On reserve in Taylor Library.
• Dalley, Stephanie. Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh and Others. New York: Oxford, 1989. On reserve in Taylor Library.
• Hammond Atlas of the Bible Lands. New York: Hammond World Atlas Corporation, 2008. In reference section in Taylor Library.
• Patte, Daniel, ed. The Global Bible Commentary. Nashville: Abingdon, 2004. Hereafter GBC. In reference section in Taylor Library.
• Pritchard, James B., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament. 3^rd ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1978. Hereafter ANET³. In reference section in Taylor Library.

Additional Resources:

Oxford Biblical Studies Online: available through the Taylor Library Database offerings. You must log into the system to access this rich resource of materials. Please see the Reference Librarian, Ms. Laura Harris, for help using this resource.

Map of Canaan (“Maps,” in A Dictionary of the Bible, ed. by W. R. F. Browning; Oxford Biblical Studies Online):   http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com/article/opr/t94/e2201/images/0199543991.maps.1.gif.

IST General Expectations

Academic Integrity and Community Covenant: All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook, or the Joint PhD Statement on Academic Honesty, as published in the Joint PhD Student Handbook, as appropriate. All participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant.

Inclusive Language: It is expected that all course participants will use inclusive language in speaking and writing, and will use terms that do not create barriers to classroom community.

Writing Lab: Grammar, organization, and coherent argumentations are important for all written assignments. Additional help is available from the Iliff Writing Lab, which is available for students of any level who need help beginning an assignment, organizing thoughts, or reviewing a final draft. 

Grade Scale

A.....................94–100
A-....................91–93
B+...................88–90
B.....................83–87
B-....................80–82
C+...................78–79
C.....................73–77
C-....................70–72
D+...................68–69
D.....................60–67
F......................59 or below

Ancient Near East map template
Canaan map template

Oxford Biblical Studies Online: Maps from the Oxford Companion to the Bible

Comments and Suggestions for quizzes and examinations

1. For the maps, learn the relative location of sites with respect to geographic and topographic features such as lakes, rivers, and seas. Where a specific site shows up on the map may not be precisely where you located it, but it should be in the same relative position, thereby enabling you to identify the site.
2. For short answers, be sure to identify:
1. the biblical book in which a character appears. So, for example, if you are given "Melchizedek," you would want to write "Genesis" or "Psalms" (or "Genesis 14" or "Psalm 110") as part of your answer.
2. the historical dates for a person or event
3. the most important details of the person, place, event, etc. for the study of the Hebrew Bible
3. Scripture IDs will have something in them (usually more than one) that will help you identify the book from which the quotation comes. This could be the name of a character or location, characteristic words or phrases from a particular book, reference to an event particular to a book, and so on.
4. When writing out essays in a testing situation, you might want to look at the questions once you get the examination form (and after you write your name on the answer book and exam form!), then write out your outline for the question on the back of the form. Then do the rest of the exam, so your mind has time to reflect on your outline and perhaps fill in any gaps while you are working on other answers. Then use your outline for the essays when you are ready to write them.

Dead Sea Scrolls Manuscripts Online - Link

Bonus material

War in the Hebrew Bible - Albert McClure - Pt 1 (ca. 30 min.; 14.6 MB)
War in the Hebrew Bible - Albert McClure - Pt 2 (ca. 30 min.; 14.7 MB)

Please note: the syllabus is subject to change as necessary