History 4263: Ancient Israel
University of North Texas, Spring Semester 2012
Department of History
Instructor: Dr. Walter Roberts
Office: Wooten Hall 227
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 3-5 PM; or by appointment
Office Phone: 940-565-2489
E-Mail:
Grader: Jonathan Abel
Office: Wooten Hall 333
Office Hours: By appointment
E-Mail:
Course Description and Objectives
This course is a survey of the history of the Hebrew people’s attempts at early state formation from their earliest known origins to the beginning of the Diaspora (ca. 3000 BCE-ca. 135 CE). Particular attention will be paid to the creation of the earliest incarnations of the state of Israel in the context of its geography as a border territory. Thematically, this course will examine the interplay between Jewish monotheism and assimilation with the neighboring polytheistic cultures and how this interrelationship informed Jewish notions of leadership and community. In addition, students will be introduced to the notions and problems of state formation in the tradition of "Western" thought. This course will be heavily based on reading primary sources and some of the more influential secondary scholarship on Hebrew culture and ancient Israel and its neigbors. We will also explore the use of archaeology and other non-literary sources in an attempt to address the basic issues of the course.
Student Learning Outcomes
1) Show an understanding of the basic developments in ancient Israel from ca. 3000 BCE-ca. 135 BCE.
2) Place ancient Israel in a wider historical context; that is, how do the developments in ancient Israel inform our understanding of modern notions of topics such as state formation and cultural identity.
3) Identify primary and secondary historical sources concerning ancient Israel.
4) Be able to formulate an analytical argument about historical issues concerning ancient Israel using analysis of primary and secondary sources.
5) Be able to assess critically primary sources on ancient Israel.
Required Texts
The following are available at any of the bookstores affiliated with the University of North Texas:
The Access Bible, updated edition (Oxford, 2011)
Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman. David and Solomon: In Search of the Bible’s Sacred Kings and the Roots of the Western Tradition (Free Press, 2007)
Lester L. Grabbe. Ancient Israel, revised edition (T&T Clark International, 2008)
Josephus. The Jewish War, revised edition (Penguin, 1984)
Samuel Rocco. The Forts of Judaea 168 BC-AD 73: From the Maccabees to the Fall of Masada (Osprey, 2008)
Hershel Shanks, ed. Ancient Israel: From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple, revised edition (Prentice Hall, 1999)
Grading and Evaluation
My overall evaluation of each student in this course will be broken down as follows:
Two Examinations: 30% each (60% total)
3 Book Reviews: 10% each (30% total)
Reading Quizzes: 10%
The value for all grades in this course will be based on a standard collegiate scale: A=90-100%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F=59% or lower
Examinations
The 2 exams will be in-class green book exams consisting of identifications and essay questions. Each of these exams will be worth 30% of your final grade.
Book Reviews
You will be asked to write 3 short papers reviewing the Finkelstein/Silberman, Grabbe, and Rocco books. At the dates noted under the class schedule, each student will turn in a 3-5 page typed, single or double-spaced essay in Courier or Times New Roman 10 or 12 point font on the relevant book. Further details on these writing assignments are available on the course website. Each paper will be worth 10% of your grade, so the 3 papers combined will be 30% of your total grade.
All book reviews are to be done on an individual basis with no group collaboration, and must be completed/turned in on the appropriate due date. In addition, all students are required to send an attached file via e-mail containing their written work in Microsoft Word format along with a hard copy of their paper.
Reading Quizzes
On the dates noted at the end of the syllabus, there will be an in-class reading quiz. These quizzes will be multiple choice and short answer and will test your knowledge on the assigned readings for a particular section of the course. Each quiz is worth 20 points. There are 7 quizzes, and I will drop your lowest 2 scores. Your highest 5 quiz scores will be added up and constitute 10% of your final course grade. There are no make-ups allowed on the reading quizzes!
Attendance and Classroom Etiquette Policies
There is no formal attendance requirement, but much of the information on the exams comes from class lecture and discussion. There are no make-ups for the reading quizzes (see above). In addition, there will normally be no allowance for missing an exam. If missing an exam is unavoidable due to extenuating circumstances (as decided by myself and the TA, not you!), the student must give reasonable prior notification and documentation for the reason they are missing the exam to either myself or the TA. In such cases the student must then arrange with the TA to make up the exam in question within 2 weeks of the original date of the exam. Make-up exams may be a different format. I am a stickler on issues of classroom etiquette. Students that are habitually tardy, regularly exit class early, or who otherwise disrupt class will be subject to being administratively dropped from the course. The assumption is that you are all adults and know how to behave accordingly in a classroom setting. The list of disruptive behaviors that will not be tolerated by me includes, but is certainly not limited to: sleeping; cell phone use or cell phone ringer going off; texting; chatting with your peers while I’m lecturing or another of your peers has the floor; surfing the web; doing other coursework. I reserve the right to ask you to leave the class if I deem such disruptive behavior to be especially egregious. In short, I will treat you as adults as long as you show me and your peers the same courtesy.
University of North Texas Code of Student Conduct
This code is in effect for all aspects of this course. Cheating, including plagiarism, will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with according to University policy. If you are unclear about the Code of Student Conduct, please refer to section 18.11 of the University Policy Manual found on the University’s website or come see me.
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The University of North Texas is committed to giving equal access to its programs, services, and activities to students with disabilities. If you need accommodations in this class due to a disability, you must register with the Office of Disability Accommodation and request that they send me official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible, and you can then meet with me in private to make arrangements for accommodating your disability. If you have any questions regarding the University’s policy on this issue please refer to the ODA web page, which can be accessed through the University’s main website, or come see me.
Course Web Page
This course has its own Web page on the Blackboard site. This web page will contain the syllabus, assignment guidelines, and other supplemental course materials. It is important that you check the Web page on a regular basis to get your assignments and access material that will make this course more manageable.
Class Schedule (Order of topics and assignments subject to change)
January 19
Basic Issues and Evidence for Ancient Israel
January 24-February 2
The Patriarchal Age
Readings: Shanks, Chapter 1; Access Bible, pages 4-46 and the Book of Genesis
February 7-February 16
Israel in Egypt and the Exodus
Readings: Shanks, Chapter 2; Book of Exodus (Access Bible)
February 21-March 1
The Settlement in Canaan
Readings: Shanks, Chapter 3; Book of Judges (Access Bible)
March 6-March 13
The United Monarchy
Readings: Shanks, Chapter 4; 1 and 2 Samuel (Access Bible)
March 27-April 5
The Divided Monarchy
Readings: Shanks, Chapter 5; 1 and 2 Kings (Access Bible)
April 10-17
The Babylonian Exile and Restoration of the Temple
Readings: Shanks, Chapter 6; 1 and 2 Chronicles and Isaiah (Access Bible)
April 19-26
The Hellenistic Period
Readings: Shanks, Chapter 7; 1 and 2 Maccabees (Access Bible)
May 1-May 3
The Roman Period
Readings: Shanks, Chapter 8; Josephus
MID-TERM EXAM: Thursday, March 15 at regular time in our regular classroom
FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, May 8 from 8-10 AM in our regular classroom
READING QUIZ DATES: Feb. 2 and 16; March 13; April 5, 17, and 26; May 3
BOOK REVIEW DUE DATES: Grabbe due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, February 21; Finkelstein/Silberman due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, April 10; Rocco due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, May 1.
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