Catalogue description: “Seminar dealing with particular themes, topics, or issues in biblical studies.”
Syllabus description: Violence, territory, and identity are ideas and themes that are pervasive in the Hebrew Bible. In many instances where they occur in the texts, they do so in some combination: violence and identity, territory and identity, territory and violence, etc. A particular confluence of these themes is found in the Book of Joshua. This course will use Joshua as a focal point and sustained textual conversation partner to examine and analyze violence, territory, and identity in the Hebrew Bible. Our work will include consideration of what these terms mean or suggest, what explanatory and comparative work they accomplish for biblical interpreters, and thus how they make possible what Jonathan Z. Smith describes as the scholarly task of “the redescription of the exempla” (“Bible and Religion”).
1) To develop students' understandings of how the themes of the course are represented in the Hebrew Bible and biblical scholarship, through primary and secondary readings, class discussions, and assignments. 2) To improve analytical and scholarly skills at employing theoretical constructs and models in the interpretation of biblical texts, through weekly readings, class discussions, and written assignments. 3) To develop research skills (writing, exegesis, analytical thinking, and so on), through class presentations and the final paper. 1) To develop students' understandings of how the themes of the course are represented in the Hebrew Bible and biblical scholarship, through primary and secondary readings, class discussions, and assignments. 2) To improve analytical and scholarly skills at employing theoretical constructs and models in the interpretation of biblical texts, through weekly readings, class discussions, and written assignments. 3) To develop research skills (writing, exegesis, analytical thinking, and so on), through class presentations and the final paper. 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. Participation......................................................................................... 10% Pass/Fail: All pass/fail requests must be submitted to the Professor by e-mail no later than Sunday, 15 September 2013. Responses either granting or denying a request will come via e-mail. Incompletes: Incompletes will be granted only in the rarest of instances and are at the discretion of the Professor. See the Master's Student Handbook for Policies and Procedures. Accommodations: Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs. Students are encouraged to contact their assigned advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations. The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303-765-1146. Course Goals and Objectives
Course Goals and Objectives
Texts - Note: subject to revision prior to class on 12 September
Required:
Additional:
Course Requirements
IST General Expectations
Grading
Canvas discussion............................................................................... 10%
Leading class discussion...................................................................... 20%
Final paper........................................................................................... 60%
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
Guidelines for Respondents (from Pam Eisenbaum)
Background Readings
Steven L. McKenzie, "
Deuteronomistic History
" from the
Anchor Bible
Dictionary, vol. 2
William G. Dever, " Archaeology and the Israelite 'Conquest' " from the Anchor Bible Dictionary , vol. 3:545-558
Oxford Biblical Studies Online: Map of Israel in Canaan (general regions of tribal allotments; thanks to Gia for this link; if on campus, you will go directly to map; if off campus, you must log into the Oxford site according to the directions provided by Taylor Library)
Oxford Biblicel Studies Online: Map of tribal regions as described in Joshua (a bit general, but it might be helpful in ways the other map is not; log in to Oxford as described above, depending on your location)
Please note: syllabus subject to revision at discretion of professor
Date | Day | Details | |
Sep 12, 2013 | Thu | Wk 1: Introduction | due by 02:30PM |
Sep 19, 2013 | Thu | Wk 2: Ghosts | due by 02:30PM |
Sep 26, 2013 | Thu | Wk 3: Memory and Memorials | due by 02:30PM |
Oct 03, 2013 | Thu | Wk 4: Conquest: Constructing Identity | due by 02:30PM |
Oct 10, 2013 | Thu | Wk 5: A Confluence of Factors | due by 02:30PM |
Oct 17, 2013 | Thu | Wk 6: Good Borders Make Good Neighbors (with apologies to R. Frost) | due by 02:30PM |
Oct 24, 2013 | Thu | Wk 7: Mapping Identity | due by 02:30PM |
Oct 31, 2013 | Thu | Wk 8: Student Papers and Responses | due by 02:30PM |
Nov 07, 2013 | Thu | Wk 9: Student Papers and Responses | due by 03:30PM |
Nov 14, 2013 | Thu | Wk 10: Student Papers and Responses | due by 03:30PM |