Advanced Old Testament

Dr. Kyle Fedler

Ashland University

REL 304 Advanced Old Testament

Ashland University

Spring 2005

Course Description:

A comprehensive study of the Old Testament which focuses on the theological and ethical visions of the writings of the Hebrew Scriptures, particularly as these are echoed in the New Testament teachings of Jesus. In addition to the Law and the proclamations of the Prophets, there is an examination of how the narratives of the Old Testament can be employed in formulating Jewish and Christian theology and ethics.

Course Objectives:

1. To gain a greater command of the characters, events, and types of literature that constitute the Old Testament.

2. To be able to integrate the sayings, stories, and commands of the Old Testament into the vision(s) of the ethical life portrayed in the New Testament.

3. To gain knowledge of the historical background of the Old Testament.

4. To develop careful and theologically sensitive reading skills.

5. To develop or improve writing skills based on interpretation and application of Biblical texts.

Restatement of Course Goals:

Hauer and Young talk about the “three worlds of the Bible” by which they mean:

-the historical world behind the text

-the narrative world within the text

-the contemporary application in front of the text

The goal of this course is to gain a better understanding of all three of these worlds.

• We will explore the historical context in which the stories of the Old Testament take place: the World Behind the Text.

• We will gain a mastery of the events, characters, and claims within the text itself, entering into the narrative worldview of the authors and audiences: the World Within the Text.

• We will develop the tools for seeing how these stories continue to shape Christians and Jews: the World In Front of the Text.

Format: As an advanced course, the format will consist of instructor presentations, student presentations, and discussion. Class discussion will make up the greatest part of class time.

Come prepared! It is absolutely essential that you have at least the primary source (i.e. Biblical) reading done before you come to class. Read carefully and thoroughly. This is a demanding class in terms of reading assignments. You should plan on spending 6-7 hours of reading time each week.

Seminar Focus:

The Hebrew Scriptures are called the TaNaK by many Jews because it is organized into three sections: Torah (teachings, instructions=Pentateuch); Nevi'im (prophets, which includes includes the eponymous prophetic books and also I Samuel—2 Kings; Kethuvim (writings.) This course will focus on the first two sections of the TaNaK, the Torah and Prophets.

Grading Criteria :

I. Participation, Preparation and Attendance 10%

II. Exegesis Journal 10%

III. Mid-term Examination (March 3 rd ) 20%

IV. Final Examination (May 5 th 10:30-12:30) 25%

V. Research Paper 35%

See paper guidelines.

Prospectus is due before spring break. Paper due at final exam.

Attendance/Preparation/Participation Grade will be calculated as follows:

Grade: A

Near perfect attendance, high level of preparation, participates actively without needing to be called upon. You cannot receive an A if you miss more than three classes without excuse, no matter how good your participation is. You will not receive an A just for attending or even for responding only when called upon. “A” work is reserved for those individuals who come to class well prepared, having done the reading and sought to absorb it. “A” students bring questions to class, engage their fellow students and not just the professor, and generally make a significant contribution to the success of the class.

Grade: B

Missed a reasonable number of classes (less than three), often did the readings but not always, participated at times. Came to class prepared on most days, but not all. Actively followed the class discussion even though they did not say as much as “A” work students.

Grade: C

Missed class often, seldom did readings, participated only when called upon. Note: you can get a C even if you attend every class, if you never participate.

Grade: F

Generally, this grade can only be “achieved” by working diligently to consistently miss class. If you miss more than 5-6 classes, you will receive an F.

I reserve the right to lower your grade, even to the point of course failure , for excessive absences. Repeated absence from class is simply unacceptable for my course! It shows disrespect for your fellow classmates and disrupts the overall ethos of the class.

*Determination of level of reading preparation may be partially determined by pop quizzes on the readings. These are not formally calculated into grade but will help me (at times) get a sense of who is doing the reading and at what level.

Exegesis Journal

Most weeks you must write 1-2 typewritten pages in your exegesis reflection journal in which you reflect upon the readings for the week. There are many ways to do this. You might ask questions that need clarification in class. You might talk about something you found interesting or compelling. You may wish to criticize the readings in some fashion. You may wish to relate the readings to your own experience. You might engage in some exegesis of a Biblical passage that relates to the readings. In some way, engage the readings.

You are responsible for 10 journal entries over the course of the semester. I will not accept multiple entries at the end of the semester. For each missing entry, your journal grade will be dropped 5 points. (In other words, each missing journal entry will reduce your overall grade for the class by one half point.) This is turned in each week on Tuesday and should cover the reading for that week (even if we are behind ). I will not grade them during the semester but I will give some very brief feedback, especially in the beginning. At the end of the semester you will turn in your journal for a grade. The grade will be based upon the amount of thought and effort that went into the entries, the quality of the writing, and the degree to which you read and engaged the readings.

Feel free to go back and expand on previous points, reflections, or ideas before you turn it in at the end of the semester. You must turn in the original journal entries, so keep them !

You are welcome to take a journal entry and expand it to make a paper. However, be clear that a paper is normally much more systematic, organized, and directive than a journal entry.

Examinations

The mid-term examination will also have a large section of just straightforward facts. It will include key dates, figures, and terms in the history of Egypt, Canaan/Israel, and Mesopotamia. It will include key dates and geographical locations in the history of Israel. Be prepared for some memorization.

The final examination will consist of essays and short (page length) answers that will focus on interpreting key ideas in the Bible and secondary readings.

Study guides and review sessions will be held for both exams.

Documented Learning Disabilities

Students with documented disabilities who require academic adjustment for this class are requested to contact me to discuss reasonable accommodations. While not require, it is in the best interest of the student have this conversation early in the semester. In order to receive academic adjustments, paperwork from Disability Services must be provided to document this need. Disability Services is located in 105 Amstutz, X 5953

Academic Integrity : I have a zero-tolerance policy for academic dishonesty. Depending upon the severity of the violation, you will either receive a zero for the assignment or fail the course all together. See my academic web page for specifications concerning plagiarism.

Professor Availability and Office Hours

Miller 35B X5208

M/W/F 11:00-12:00. I am almost always in my office T/Th from 9:30-10:50. Other hours available by appointment (or come by my office and see if I am in.)

Feel free to call me at home: 419-207-8517

E-mail: kfedler@ashland.edu

Textbooks :

1. Bible. I would prefer that you use one of the following: Revised Standard Version (RSV), New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), or New International Version (NIV). I will be working out of the NRSV. Other Bibles may be used with instructor permission, such as King James or New American Standard. Translations such as the Good News are not acceptable for our purposes. Always bring your Bible to class. Quotations on exams will be given in NRSV.

2. Bruce Birch, Let Justice Roll Down: The Old Testament, Ethics, and the Christian Life

3. Harris and Platzner, The Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible

4. Handouts and/or reserve readings.

5. For most weeks I note a “focus text.” This will be the central text for our discussion.

Reading Schedule

Week 1 January 11 th --January 13 th

Introduction: People and Lands of the OT

Harris, 1-7, 19-25, 31-38, 45-48, 51-58

Harris “Some Scholarly Methods Used in Analyzing the Biblical Text” 84-85

(Much of this reading is graphs and pictures that you should look at but are certainly not responsible for all of the graphs.)

Weeks 2 & 3 January 18 st –January 27th

Creation

Scripture Genesis 1-2; Job 38; Psalm 74:12-17

Birch, 71-92

Brueggemann, Selections from commentary on Genesis 24-36 (Handout)

Harris 106-110 “Genesis”

Harris, 86-91 “Documentary Hypothesis”

Richard Lowery, “Sabbath and Creation” from Sabbath and Jubilee (Handout)

Enuma Elish (Handout)

Week 4 February 1-3

Broken Creation

Scripture: Genesis 3-4, 7-10 Focus Text: Genesis 3

Birch, 92-97

Harris “Roles and Characteristics of the Biblical God” 68-75

Selections from A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament 53-65 (Handout)

Week 5 February 8-10

Patriarchs and Matriarchs I

Scripture: Genesis 12- 22

Focus Texts: Genesis 12, 15, 22

Birch, 105-111

Brueggemann, 109-114 of commentary on Genesis (handout)

Harris, 94-98, 113-118

Week 6 February 15-17

Patriarchs and Matriarchs II:

Scripture: Genesis 25, 27-28, 32, 37, 39-47

Jacob and Esau Genesis 25, 27-28

Jacob becomes “Israel” Genesis 32

Joseph Genesis 37, 39-45

Focus Texts 25: 19-34; 27; 32

Birch, 111-114

Harris 118-122

Week 7 February 22-24

Deliverance and Exodus

Scripture: Exodus 1-17, 32, 34

Focus Texts: Exodus 3, 11-12, 14

Birch, 114-145

Harris 125-134

Week 8 March 1-3

Tuesday: Catch-Up

Thursday March 3: Mid-term examination

Spring Break March 8-10

Week 9 March 15-17

Covenant, Sinai, and Torah

Scripture: Exodus 19-24, 32-33; Deuteronomy 5-8, 20-25; Leviticus 25

Broadt, “Ancient Covenant Forms” (Handout)

Birch, 145-182

Harris, 135-140

Week 10 March 22-24

Holiness in Israel

Scripture: Numbers 5:1-4 ; Leviticus. 11-12; 14:1-9; 15-16; 18-20, 25

Nelson, Selections from Raising Up a Faithful Priest (Handout)

Harris, 143-147

Week 12-13 March 29-April 7 Note: 2 week assignment

Earthly Kings for a Chosen People

Scripture:

1 Samuel 1-6, 8-11, 15-17, 31

Deuteronomy 17:14-20

2 Samuel 1-7:1-16; 11-15, 18-19

I Kings 1-3, 6, 9, 11-12

Birch, 198-230

Harris, 161, 186-187

Week 14 April 12, 14, 19

Pre-exilic Prophets

Scripture: 1 Kings 18-19; 21; Amos; Ezekiel 7, 18; Jeremiah1-4; Isaiah 5

Birch, 240-269

Harris 215-225

Week 15 April 21, 26, 28

Post-exilic Prophets (generally: Isaiah 9-11 is pre-exilic)

Scripture: Eschatological visionaries:

Isaiah 9-11, 52-53; 60-61, 65,

Ezekiel 34, 36-37

Daniel 7-12

Birch, 269-274, 311-313

Journals and Research Papers Due.