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PREVIEW TO BOT/BCS 651
HISTORY OF ISRAEL: THE MONARCHY
0.0 ESSENTIAL FACTS
3 Credit Hours
Cincinnati Christian University
Fall Semester, 2010
Meets Tuesday evenings, 6:30-9:10
Mark Ziese, Professor of Old Testament
Office location: Study 5, Crouch Building (Library Basement)
Email:
Office: (513) 244-8190
1.0 TEXTBOOKS
Arnold, B. T. and H.G.M. Williamson
2005Dictionary of the Old Testament Historical Books. Downers Grove: IVP.
Berrigan, D.
2008The Kings and Their Gods: The Pathology of Power. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Kitchen, K. A.
2003On the Reliability of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
2.0 COURSE RATIONALE
The purpose of the HOI series is to acquaint learners with the warp and woof of Israelite history. Attention is given to specific problems in the reconstruction of that history by the close examination of biblical texts and extrabiblical materials. A modified annales approach is taken to the subject; the task is divided into three tiers as reflected in the outline of subject content below. Class meetings are lecture driven, although discussion is encouraged.
BOT 651 surveys the period of Israel’s history between the rise of Saul and the appearance of the Assyrian Shadow in the Levant (ca. 1200 – 745 BC). This 450-year period witnessed the blossoming of small nation-states in the Levant, a trend followed by the people of God with mixed results. Beyond the “uniting” reigns of David and Solomon, the experience of monarchy is viewed as a part of a larger political, social, and religious fragmentation (fermentation?). Understanding these trajectories, their local contexts,and the biblical texts that preserve, interpret, and challenge them is the goal of the course.
3.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
3.1The student who satisfactorily completes this course should be able to do the following:
3.11Articulate the annales approach to the challenge of historical inquiry.
3.12Outline in broad strokes the cultural and political history of the ANE generally and the trajectory of Israel specifically between ca. 1200 and 745 BC.
3.13Isolate and describe interpretive problems in the reconstruction of Israel’s story.
3.14Draw a map of the Near East at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC, identifying the geographical location of major cities, countries, districts, bodies of water, and peoples.
3.15Describe how the developing faith of Israel is preserved in the texts relevant to this period of study, including how variations of this expression created tension and collision.
3.16Understand the need for “prophetic” critique and hope in our own world.
4.0 MAJOR LEARNING EXPERIENCES
4.1For learners seeking personal satisfaction (and three hours of graduate credit), minimum expectations include:
4.11Regular class attendance and participation (5% of the final grade assignment). Attendance is expected; any missed sessions will compromise this 5% of the final grade.
4.12The completion of all assigned readings. These will be outlined on a series of “Reading Sheets” posted on CCU’s Moodle class website (35% of the final grade assignment).
4.121Accountability for assigned readings will be measured by exam content and by week-by-week responses posted on the Moodle class website.
4.13The successful completion of a final exam (20% of the final grade assignment). Questions for this exam will be drawn from course lectures and assigned reading. To assist the student in reading strategically, items of importance will be listed on the “Reading Sheet.”
4.14The production of four project papers (40% of the final grade assignment), succinctly written according to the guidelines set forth by the SBL (for details, see the Moodle class website).
4.141 Details concerning the four project papers are as follows:
4.142Project paper 1. Construct an annotated bibliography of one longue durée topic relevant to the period under study. Thesingle paragraph annotation for each book entry will objectively describe the author’s/editor’s goals, methods, and conclusions. This bibliography will be uptodate and should include no less than 20 entries from a variety of sources, i.e. books, journals, magazine articles, original source materials, reference works, etc. Due date for this work is Sept 14.
4.143Project paper 2. Review The Kings and Their Gods. Approximately half of the paper will objectively describe the authors’ purpose, method, and conclusions. The second half of the paper will consist of personal critique (believe me, you will have plenty to talk about!). This work will be 7 pages in length (about 2,000 words). Due date is Oct 5.
4.144Project paper 3. Select one king from the period of Israel’s monarchy and write a “biography” of his life. The paper will clearly distinguish between source materials and interpretation. The appearance of this king in extra-biblical materials will be researched, including archaeological contexts. This work will be 7 pages in length (about 2,000 words) and is due on Nov 9.
4.145Project paper 4. Write an essay of personal reflection that wrestles with the challenge of living out a faith-life in a society where kingship, realpolitik, and vox populi dominate the public mind. The project will begin (mentally, if not literally) with an example(s) drawn from the texts of Israel’s monarchy and will end with the challenge of disentangling the “American dream” from promises of gospel faith. Issues of personal spiritual formation/application are strongly encouraged here; use of 1st person is required. This work will be 7 pages in length (about 2,000 words) and is due on Dec 7.
4.2Submission of the project paper requires two steps. First, the paper must be submitted electronically using the appropriate upload point on the Moodle class website (on or before the posted deadline). Second, a “physical” paper copy of the project must be turned in at the beginning of class on the posted due date.
4.3The grading of these project papers will follow a rubric that roughly assumes a weight of 15% given to the mechanics of writing, 15% given to the ability to communicate crisply; 35% given to the fair use of a broad range of sources; and 35% given to rationale and original thinking.
5.0 SCHEDULE AND OUTLINE OF SUBJECT CONTENT
Part One: The United Monarchy (The 12th-10th Centuries)
IAla longue durée: Issues of Daily Life
IA1In the Midst of the Earth
IA2Iron and the Age of Iron
IBStructures
IB1Shepherds, Mothers, Judges, and Kings
IB2Highland Settlements
IB3Israel’s Iron Age Neighbors
ICPolitics and Personalities: Saul, David, Solomon
IC1Chronological Concerns
IC2The Nature of the Sources
IC3Interpreting the Sources
IIThe Divided Monarchy (The 9th-8th Centuries)
IIAla longue durée: Daily Life
IIA1Hygiene
IIA2Landuse
IIBStructures
IIB3Civic Planning
IIB1YHWH, Jerusalem, and Their Competitors
IIB2Biblical Prophetism
IICPolitics and Personalities: Jeroboam to the Assyrian Arrival
IIC1Chronological Concerns
IIC2The Nature of the Sources
IIC3Interpreting the Sources
6.0 DISCLAIMER
This syllabus represents the course as it is envisioned before the beginning of the semester. Changes to this plan may become necessary as time and circumstances demand.