RELG 301: Old Testament
Office Hours: MW: 8:30-9:30;
TTh 8:30-11:30; or by appointment
Course description:
This course is an introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament which pursues three interrelated goals:
- to read selected biblical texts closely in order to learn how to ask pertinent questions of historical, literary, social, or religious analysis;
- to introduce students to methods of biblical criticism; and
- to appreciate the importance of placing biblical texts in their historical and cultural contexts to aid the task of interpretation.
Both lecture and discussion formats will be used in the course. Students are expected to read the assigned readings before class and to come prepared to contribute to class discussions.
Requirements:
The grade for the course will be based on the following requirements:
Midterm exam
Final exam
Term paper
Class discussion |
30%
30%
30%
10% |
Term papers should be 8-10 pages in length, inclusive of footnotes/endnotes and bibliography. At least six sources should be cited. Topics are open for discussion between the student and the instructor. The paper should be written according to the conventions of any of the manuals of style used in the liberal arts disciplines. It is due on April 21.
All students will take mid-term and final exams, write a research paper, and participate in classroom and electronic discussions on the Blackboard web site. More than 3 absences may result in a grade penalty.
Texts:
Matthews and Moyer, The Old Testament: Text and Context (Hendrickson, 1997)
The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books (NRSV; Oxford, 1991)
Standard Reference Works
The following reference works are recommended. There are others, but these are especially good. Many of the articles include excellent bibliographies of the most important scholarship that's been done on Old Testament/Hebrew Bible topics.
- Anchor Bible Dictionary
- Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible
- Encyclopedia Judaica
Schedule:
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Jan
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11
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Introduction
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13
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Text, Context, and Methods of Biblical Study
M&M: 1-42
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18
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Genesis Creation Accounts
M&M: 43-48; Gen. 1-3
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20
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The Primeval History
M&M: 49-50; Gen. 4-11
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25
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Ancestral Narratives
M&M: 50-57; Gen. 12-15, 20, 22, 23, 25-32
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27
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Moses and the Exodus
M&M: 57-62; Exodus 1-15
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Feb.
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01
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The Law Codes
M&M: 62-67; Exodus 20-23; Deut. 5:6-21; Deut. 12-15; Lev. 17-19
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03
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Joshua and Judges
M&M: 68-92; Josh. 1-12; Judg. 1-2, 17-21
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08
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Early Monarchy: Saul and David
M&M: 93-107; 1 Sam. 8-10, 15; 2 Sam. 7
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10
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Solomon
M&M: 107-109; 1 Kgs 1-11
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| | . . . . |
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15
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Divided Monarchy
M&M: 110-112; 1 Kgs 12-16
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17
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Early Prophets
M&M: 113-130; 1 Kgs 17-19; 2 Kgs 4
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| | . . . . |
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22
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Late Monarchies
M&M: M&M: 130-136; 2 Kgs 22-23
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24
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Amos and Hosea
M&M 137-144; Amos 1-8; Hos. 1-14
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Mar.
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01
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Isaiah and Micah
M&M 144-158; Isa 1-11, 30-32; Mic 1-6
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03
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MID-TERM EXAM
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08
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Spring Break
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10
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Spring Break
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15
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Nahum, Zephaniah, Habbakuk
M&M: 158-165; Nahum 1-3; Zeph. 1-3; Hab. 1-3
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17
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Jeremiah
M&M: 165-176; Jer. 1-7, 31
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22
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Introduction to the Wisdom Literature
M&M: 177-182
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24
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Ecclesiastes; Eccl 1-12
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| | . . . . |
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29
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Job
M&M 182-188; Job 1-42
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31
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Ezekiel
M&M 195-205; Ezek 1-8; 18; 37
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April
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05
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Second Isaiah
M&M 206-211; Isa 40-55
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07
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Haggai, and Zechariah
M&M: 206-211; Isa 40-551
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| | . . . . |
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12
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Third Isaiah
Isa 56-66
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14
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Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah
M&M: 224-233; I Chron 17 (//2 Sam 7); 2 Chron 33 (//2 Kgs 21)
Ezra 1, 3-7, 9-10
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| | . . . . |
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19
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The Hellenistic Period; Daniel
M&M247-263; Dan 1-12
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21
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Post Biblical Developments
M&M: 264-277
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27
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Final Exam (Wed.), 2:00 p.m.
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