OT102: Syllabus page 2
OT102M: Mod P1 Syllabus Dr. George Kenworthy
August 18 – Sept. 22, 2003 Bethel Theological Seminary
Mondays, 5:30-9:45 p.m. Office: 763-473-9463
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003
OT102: 1 Samuel to Song of Solomon
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An investigation into the literature and culture of the Israelite monarchy, with special emphasis on the human and divine dimensions of the Kingdom of God. In addition to the nature and agendas of the historiographic writings associated with this period (relevant sections in Samuel and Kings), students will be introduced to the poetic and wisdom writings of the Old Testament. The biblical books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs represent Israelite literary culture in full bloom.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (for the study of the historical books):
1. Understand the content of the books listed above
2. Be familiar with contemporary approaches to the study of the Samuel-Kings
3. Appreciate the literary qualities of Hebrew historiography and the literary artistry of the narrator.
4. Demonstrate exegetical skill in the interpretation of Hebrew historiography
5. Be inspired in their personal spiritual lives by their new insights into biblical literature.
6. Affirm the authority and relevance of the message of the Old Testament for themselves, the church, and the world at the end to the twentieth century.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
The Bible. Any modern version is acceptable.
David M. Howard, Jr., An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books. Chicago: Moody, 1993.
C. Hassell Bullock, An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books. 2nd ed. Chicago: Moody, 1988.
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
G. Wilson, "The Shape of the Book of Psalms," Interpretation 46 (1992), 129-42.
S. Carney, "God Damn God: A Reflection on Expressing Anger in Prayer," Biblical Theology Bulletin (Oct 1983), 116-20.
"A Man and His God" (ANET, 589-91); "The Babylonian Theodicy" (ANET, 601-4)
REQUIREMENTS:
1. Students are expected to read carefully all the biblical material covered in this course.
2. Quizzes &Final Exam: On three occasions, you will take tests. The first two are objective quizzes on Samuel and Kings. The two quizzes will be assigned for the second and fifth weeks of the course. These quizzes are designed to test the students' grasp of the content of the biblical writings. They will consist largely of multiple-choice questions, though there may be some brief completion questions. For assistance in determining which of the plethora of names etc. are important, work sheets for students' notes are provided. Students are encouraged to make concise notes on the significance of these entries in the space provided. The final exam will be all essays. You will be NOT permitted to use notes, the discussion folders, or your books on any of the tests. You will receive the quizzes in sealed envelopes. Please ask a friend or relative to sign on the quizzes as a monitor.
3. Research Project: Each of you will submit a 2500 - 3500 word research paper on an individual Psalm. If your paper was or will be submitted in any other course, it is not acceptable for this class. Here are minimum requirements:
In this paper you will reflect deeply on some aspect of a Psalm. You should defend some thesis on your subject. As you go along, you will want to defend your claims with specific citations from a variety of sources. Your paper should be grammatically correct, well organized, concise, and readable. I expect that you will write several drafts and revise before submitting. If your paper is too weak in these areas, I may return it for correction before I assign a grade. You should use at least ten sources. You can use journal articles and books. In addition, the Internet posts much information about the Bible, and you are welcomed to use this resource. However, be discerning about the quality of any sources you cite. Some are better than others. You should have sources supporting both sides of whatever issue you discuss, not just your side. Number your notes consecutively and place them at the end of the paper.
Sample format for citing various types of sources:
Books: John Wisdom, Finding God (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988), 17.
Journals: Bill Knowling, "Faith and Integrity," Journal of Theology 17 (1995): 64.
Magazines: Sandra Wilson, "The People of God," Christianity Today (7 June 1994), 3.
Internet: Mary Smith, "Truth"; http://amber.arizona.edu/homepage.html [accessed 16 Mar 1995].
After the first time you cite a source, use a shortened form: Knowling, "Faith," 66. Or: Wisdom, Finding God, 49.
Place biblical citations right in your text like this: (Ps. 113:3).
Please use gender inclusive language: “persons" not "men"; "humanity" not mankind"; "humanity's" not "man's"; etc., unless you mean specifically men instead of women. To avoid using "he" all the time, pluralize pronouns and/or alternate genders (one paragraph "she," the next "he," and so on).
Criteria for Grading: (l) quality of research; (2) completeness and validity of argumentation; (3) insightfulness of discussion and complexity of topic; (4) organization and outlining; (5) English grammar and style. Note: Agreeing or disagreeing with the professor's view will not affect your grade.
EVALUATION FACTORS:
20% quizzes (2 x 10%)
40% paper
40% final exam
OT102mP1_Aug03-kenworthy.doc : 7/17/2003 2:51 PM
OT102: Syllabus page 2
DAILY SCHEDULE:
DATE
/TOPIC
/ASSIGNMENT
Aug. / 18 / A Call for CommitmentThe Secret of Triumph
Don’t Worry Be Happy / I Sam
II Sam
I Kings
25 / Where Is The Man of God
Up With Worship
How to Promote a Revival / II Kings
I Chronicles
II Chronicles, Quiz #1 due
Sept. / 8 / Psalms / Psalms
13 / Moving the Hand of God
Under Construction
Is Life a Roll of the Dice
/ Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther, Quiz #2 due
15 / The Problem of Suffering
Wise Guys / Job
Proverbs
22 / A Map for the Maze
A Song for Lovers / Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs, final paper due
Final Exam
OT102mP1_Aug03-kenworthy.doc : 7/17/2003 2:51 PM
OT102: Syllabus page 2
Quiz Work Sheets
Note: Students should be able to identify and recognize the significance of these entries in the narratives we are reading in this course. Identify does not mean classify. To illustrate the difference observe the following:
Abigail A wife of David.
Abigail The former wife of Nabal of Carmel, who demonstrates special honor toward David, and who becomes one of his wives."
The former answer does not identify; it classifies, hence is incorrect. Since David had several wives, this answer could be true of more than one person. But the second answer does identify, because this comment cannot apply to anyone else.
Work Sheet on Persons, Peoples, and Places in 1 Samuel
Place Names in 1 Samuel:
Aphek
Ashdod
Beth-Shemesh
Bethel
Bethlehem
Carmel
Ekron
Endor
Engedi
Gath
Gibeah
Gilgal
Michmash
Mizpah
Mount Gilboah
Ramah
Shiloh
Ziklag
Personal/Ethnic/Divine Names in 1 Samuel:
Abiathar
Abigail
Abishai
Abner
Achish
Agag
Ahimelech
Amalekites
Ammonites
Ashtaroth
Baal
Dagon
David
Doeg
Eli
Elkanah
Goliath
Hannah
Hophni
Ichabod
Jesse
Joab
Jonathan
Kish
Michal
Nabal
Nahash
Philistines
Phinehas
Samuel
Saul
Woman of Endor
Work Sheet on Persons, Peoples, and Places in 2 Samuel
Personal/Ethnic/Divine Names in 2 Samuel:
Abishai
Abner
Absalom
Ahimelech
Ahithophel
Ammonites
Amnon
Araunah
Asahel
Barzillai
Bathsheba
David
Gibeonites
Hadadezer
Hanun
Hiram
Hushai
Ish-bosheth/Ishbaal
Jebusites
Joab
Jonathan
Mephibosheth/Merib-baal
Michal
Nathan
Obed-edom
Philistines
Saul
Sheba
Shimei
Solomon
Syrians/Aramaeans
Tamar
Toi
Uriah
Uzzah
Woman of Tekoa
Zadok
Zeruaiah
Zibah
Place Names in 2 Samuel:
Damascus
Edom
Geshur
Hamath
Hebron
Jabesh-gilead
Jerusalem
Moab
Rabbah
Ziklag
Zion
Zobah
Work Sheet on Persons, Peoples, and Places in 1 Kings
Dates to Remember:
1000 B.C. Reign of David
931 B.C. Division of the Kingdom
722 B.C. Fall of Samaria
586 B.C. Fall of Jerusalem
Place Names in 1 Kings:
Aphek
Bethel
Carmel
City of David
Edom
Egypt
Gibeon
Horeb
Jerusalem
Jezreel
Ophir
Samaria
Sheba
Shiloh
Tyre
Zarephath
Zion
Personal/Ethnic/Divine Names in 1 Kings:
Abiathar
Abijah
Abishag
Adonijah
Ahab
Ahijah
Aramaeans/Syrians
Asa
Asherah
Ashtoreth
Baal
Baasha
Bathsheba
Ben-Hadad
Benaiah
Chemosh
David
Elijah
Elisha
Hadad
Hadadezer
Hiram the craftsman
Hiram the king
Jehoshaphat
Jehu ben Hanani
Jehu ben Nimshi
Jeroboam ben Nebat
Jezebel
Joab
Josiah
Micaiah ben Imlah
Milkom
Naboth
Nathan
Obadiah
Omri
Queen of Sheba
Rehoboam
Shemaiah
Shimei
Shishak
Solomon
Two unnamed prostitutes
Zadok
Zedekiah
Zimri
Work Sheet on Persons, Peoples, and Places in 2 Kings
Personal/Ethnic/Divine Names in 2 Kings:
Ahaz
Ahaziah
Amaziah
Aramaeans/Syrians
Asherah
Athaliah
Azariah (= Uzziah of Chronicles)
Baal
Baal-zebub
Ben-Hadad
Berodach-Baladin (Merodach-Baladin)
Elijah
Elisha
Gehazi
Hazael
Hezekiah
Hoshea ben Elah
Isaiah
Jehoahaz
Jehoiada
Jehoram/Joram of Israel
Jehoshaphat
Jehu
Jeroboam ben Nebat
Jeroboam II
Jezebel
Joash/Jehoash
Manasseh
Menahem
Mesha
Naaman
Pekah ben Remaliah
Pul (= Tiglath-Pileser III)
Rabshakeh
Rezin
Sennacherib
Shalmaneser V
Shunamite woman
Urijah
Zedekiah
Place Names in 2 Kings:
Assyria
Babylon
Damascus
Edom
Gilgal
Jezreel
Jordan
Moab
Ramoth-Gilead
Samaria
A Selected Annotated Bibliography of Psalms
Commentaries that are especially good on the meaning of the text:
Delitzsch, F. Commentary On the Old Testament in Ten Volumes: Psalms. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, n d. This is the classic Hebrew commentary on the text. It does assume a working knowledge of Hebrew.
Hengstenberg, E. W. Commentary on the Psalms. Cherry Hill, NJ: Mack Publishing Company, n.d. This is an outstanding older commentary on Psalms.
Leupold, H. C. Exposition of the Psalms. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1959. This is considered to be one of the finest English commentaries on Psalms.
Commentaries that are especially good on the background of the text:
Briggs, Charles Augustus and Briggs, Emile Grace. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on The Book of Psalms. Edinburgh:T & T Clark, 1969. Briggs is especially helpful in identifying elements of poetry in the psalms.
Dahood, Mitchell. Psalms I-III United States: Doubleday & Company Inc., 1966. Dahood draws many parallels with Ugaritic words that were commonly used among the Canaanites.
Weiser, Arthur. The Psalms. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1959. Weiser is especially helpful in identifying the "sitz im lebem" of the Psalms. He also offers many insightful comments on the meaning of the text.
Commentaries that are especially good on the application of the text:
Briscoe, Stuart. What Works When Life Doesn’t? Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1980. Briscoe is brief but helpful.
Spurgeon, C.H. The Treasury of David Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1974. This set is perhaps Spurgeon’s best work. It includes a good commentary and many helpful outlines as well as preaching hints.
Stedman, Ray C. Folk Psalms of Faith. Glendale California: G/L Publications, 1974. Stedman covers selected psalms from the perspective of a preacher.
Swindoll, Charles R. Living Beyond the Daily Grind. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1988. This is the most helpful practical commentary on selected psalms.
Word study tools:
Brown, Francis; Driver, S. R.; and Briggs, Charles. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1907. This is the standard Hebrew dictionary of the Old Testament. It is a gold mine of information.
Einspahr, Bruce. Index to Brown, Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon. Chicago:Moody, 1977. Einspahr offers the student who does not know any Hebrew a way to access "Brown, Driver & Briggs".
OT102mP1_Aug03-kenworthy.doc : 7/17/2003 2:51 PM