BI 740

THE LAND OF ISRAEL:

GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY, & THEOLOGY

Wednesdays, 6-8 PM

Spring, 2018

Urbana Theological Seminary

Dr. Kenneth H. Cuffey

Urbana Theological Seminary

314 E. Daniel

Champaign, IL 61820

217-365-9005

The mission of Urbana Theological Seminary is
to provide graduate theological education
which prepares people for Christian ministry and leadership,
equipping them to love, know, and serve God.

Course Description: An introduction to the land of Israel, including a basic orientation to the geography, the flow of history in the land of Promise, archaeological excavations and sites, and a Biblical theology of the land—its significance for the Jewish people and for the church today.

Credit Hours:

Class + Trip to Israel: Three semester hours for graduate credit through Urbana Seminary.

Class alone: Two semester hours for graduate credit through Urbana Seminary.

Designed to prepare for, incorporate, and flow out of the experience of touring the land of Israel in March.

Endorsement for CEUs:

See separate description and requirements.

Course Goals:

1. To gain a basic sense of the geography of the land of Israel—the layout of the “playing field” for much of Biblical history.

2. To gain a sense for the different ancient historical periods in the land of Israel, the events, the movements, and peoples who interacted there.

3. To survey major significant archaeological sites in Israel, with an emphasis on those that are accessible today and will be included in the trip in March.

4. To examine the Biblical texts concerning the land in order to develop a Biblical theology of the land and its role in Israel's history and relation to the church of today.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Describe the geographical layout of the land—features of topography, geology, climate, and impact on ancient human settlement and activity.
2. Recount the major ancient historical periods in the land—what happened, settlement, nations, invasions and wars, occupations.

3. Describe the major archaeological sites in the land of Israel, including each site's significance for the history of Israel and the Jews in Old and New Testaments, as well as important finds.

4. Survey the sites to be visited in Israel with an appreciation of their setting in the context of geography and their significance for history.

5. Articulate a truly Biblical theology of the land of Israel as the land of Promise and Covenant, explaining the place and importance of the land in relation to periods when there has been no nation of Israel in the land, as well as for the current nation of Israel, the church, and the New Heavens and the New Earth of Revelation.

Student Assessment:

Assessment / Related
objectives / Percent
of grade
Readings / All / 5
Course participation / All / 5
“Lay of the Land” geography quiz / 1 / 20
Timeline of History of the Land / 1, 2 / 20
Archaeological Site Research Project / 1, 2, 3, 4 / 30
Summary position papers—
Theology of the Land of Promise / 5 / 20

Class Textbooks:

Beck, John. The Holy Land for Christian Travelers: An Illustrated Guide to Israel. Baker, 2017.

Bimson, J.; Kane, J.; Paterson, J.; Wiseman, D.; Wood, D. New Bible Atlas (InterVarsity, 1985).

Assigned readings about history, geography, archaeology, and theology.

Class Schedule:

Date / Topic / Assignment
January 17 / Introduction
Begin Geography, Archaeology, &
History
Begin Survey of Sites
January 24 / Geography, Archaeology, & History
Sites / Prepare for Geography Quiz
January 31 / Geography, Archaeology, & History
Sites
“Lay of the Land” Quiz—Geography
February 7 / Geography, Archaeology, & History
Sites
February 14 / Geography, Archaeology, & History
Sites / Complete Timeline of the Land
February 21 / Geography, Archaeology, & History
Sites
Timeline of the Land due
February 28 / Geography, Archaeology, & History
Sites
March 7 / Geography, Archaeology, & History
Sites
March 15-24 / Class Field Trip:
Travel to and through Israel
March 28 / No class—recovery time
April 4 / Trip recap
  • Sharing memories & experiences
  • Sharing pictures

April 11 / Geography, Archaeology, & History
Sites / Complete
Site Research Projects
April 18 / Presentation & discussion:
Archaeological Site Research
Projects
April 25 / Theology of the Land
May 2 / Theology of the Land / Complete
Position Paper:
Theology of the Land
May 9 / Presentation & discussion:
Summary position papers—
Theology of the Land of Promise
Reflection on Going to Israel

Course Topics:

Topics / Sites
Introduction to the Course
Geography
Geology
Archaeology and the Land
History and the Land/
History of the Land
Theology of the Land / Sites in Israel:
Geography, History, &
Archaeology
Caesarea Maritima
Nazareth
Mt. Carmel
Arbel
Tiberius
Sea of Galilee
Capernaum
Magdala
Ein Gev
Sower’s Cove
Mt. of Beatitudes/Tabgha
Hazor
Caesarea Philippi
Dan
Mt. Bental
Megiddo
Beth Shan
En Harod
Mt. Tabor
Lachish
Elah Valley
Beersheva
Qumran
Ein Gedi
Masada
Jerusalem

Course Expectations and Grading:

Course Expectations

Attendance at class is assumed. If the student can not be present on any particular evening, recording of the lecture is encouraged for the student’s personal use. The student is responsible to provide the equipment and arrange for someone to run it.

Participation in the Trip to Israel. (To receive 3 credit hours)

Participation and interaction are encouraged, whether in sharing what was learned in doing assignments, asking questions, or engaging the professor and other students in discussion outside of class.

All work is to be turned in on time and in hard copy (no e-mail submissions). In the event of significant unforeseen circumstances, particularly health or tragedy, the student is encouraged to make arrangements with the professor to have a different due date. Submission of work after the deadline may result in a lower grade.

All policies of Urbana Theological Seminary regarding extensions and grading are in effect. Consult the Student Handbook if there are questions about these matters.

Assignments

1. Assigned readings in the course textbooks and articles. Reported as percentage, due May 9. 5 % of grade

2. Participation in class. Points will be awarded for consistent preparation for class and participation in the discussions. 5 % of grade

3. “Lay of the Land” quiz on Geography. In class January 31

20 % of grade

4. Timeline of the Land. Represent the history of the land of Israel from the 2nd Millennium BC to the Roman period in a timeline with accompanying maps you have created for each period. Due on February 21. 20 % of grade

5. Archaeological Site Research Project. Research a site in Israel that has been excavated by archaeologists and that we will visit in March. Discuss the geographical setting of the site, the historical sequence that unfolded there and the significance of that place for history, the excavations (by whom, when, major periods—the sequence and stratigraphy, and significant or exciting finds). Incorporate your own photography at the site in your presentation.

  • Paper is to be double spaced, typed, in an acceptable standard format for a research paper. Include foot or end notes and a bibliography.
  • Text length 5-10 pages, not including bibliography, maps and illustrations, diagrams, and photography.
  • To be presented to the class on April 18.
  • Please prepare a one page (front and back) handout summarizing the site and its significance that you can distribute to all your classmates.
  • Your photography of and artifacts from the site can be incorporated into this presentation. Pictures might be part of the handout, or in a PowerPoint presentation.

30 % of grade

6. Summary Position Paper: Theology of the Land of Promise. Based primarily on the teaching of the whole Bible, along with your observations from being in the land and what you glean from class discussions and astute attention paid to political currents and developments of today, write a 3-5 page paper (double spaced, typed, in acceptable paper format) that summarizes what you believe the Bible teaches about the land of Israel and its significance in God's plans and working.

  • To be presented in class on May 9.
  • Prepare a half page abstract of your position and conclusions that you can duplicate and distribute to your classmates.

20 % of grade

Grading

Urbana Theological Seminary’s grading system shall be used for this course:

A / 4.00 / 92.5 - 100
A- / 3.67 / 89.5 – 92.4
B+ / 3.33 / 86.5 – 89.4
B / 3.00 / 82.5 – 86.4
B- / 2.67 / 79.5 – 82.4
C+ / 2.33 / 76.5 – 79.4
C / 2.00 / 72.5 – 76.4
C- / 1.70 / 69.5 – 72.4
D+ / 1.30 / 66.5 – 69.4
D / 1.00 / 62.5 – 66.4
D- / .70 / 59 .5 - 62.4
F / 0.00 / 0.0 - 59.4