30
Lessons
30
Videos
21
QUIZZES
6 Weeks
Duration
English
Language
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines the ancient Israelites’ historical developments in the areas of socio-politico-cultural and religious spectrums. The early Israelites’ history covers around a thousand years (from the call of Abraham to the time of Judges). The early history of Israel could be framed as God calling and bringing out two men, namely Abraham and Moses, out of the two great civilizations of those days Mesopotamia and Egypt and building a holy nation before the rest of the nations. A thematic approach to study the developments that had taken place in Israel will cover major themes that we see in the pages of Genesis through Judges.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, students will be able to gain:
- Knowledge:
The students will learn the Ancient West Asian socio-politico-cultural and religious background in which the people of God who emerged and became a nation by looking at both biblical and extra-biblical evidence.
- Skills:
By the end of the course students will be familiar with the historical events and context behind the biblical text and will be able to interpret the text in the light of this context, by filling up thousands of years gap by garnering the everyday life of Israel.
- Attitude:
They will be challenged to live a holy life and to make sermons and bible study that would be relevant for the contemporary Christian congregation across the globe.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
TEXT
1. Monographs
John H. Walton, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament
Andrew E. Hill, John H. Walton, A Survey of the Old Testament https://www.perlego.com/book/560290/a-survey-of-the-old-testament-pdf
Christopher B. Hays, Hidden Riches https://www.perlego.com/book/2100960/hidden-riches-a-sourcebook-for-the-comparative-study-of-the-hebrew-bible-and-ancient-near-east-pdf?queryID=ffe975e0d458e9fbafa3548458ffd949&searchIndexType=books
Philip R. Davies, The History of Ancient Israel: A Guide for the Perplexed https://www.perlego.com/book/874688/the-history-of-ancient-israel-a-guide-for-the-perplexed-pdf
Kaltner, John, and Steven Linn McKenzie. The Old Testament. 2014. [Edition missing], Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2014. https://www.perlego.com/book/1724686/the-old-testament-its-background-growth-and-content-pdf?queryID=1ec60f4178bbbef901d5266e0217f9a8&searchIndexType=books
Matthews H. Victor, and James C. Moyer. The Old Testament: Text and Context. 2012. 3rd ed., Baker Publishing Group, 2012, https://www.perlego.com/book/2050924/the-old-testament-text-and-context-pdf.
OT Survey
Hill, Andrew, and John Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 2010. [Edition missing], Zondervan, 2010, https://www.perlego.com/book/560290/a-survey-of-the-old-testament. https://www.perlego.com/book/560290/a-survey-of-the-old-testament-pdf
Longman, Tremper. An Introduction to the Old Testament. 2009. [Edition missing], Zondervan, 2009, https://www.perlego.com/book/558448/an-introduction-to-the-old-testament-pdf.
Strawn, Brent. The Old Testament. 2019. 1st ed., Taylor and Francis, 2019, https://www.perlego.com/book/1621875/the-old-testament-pdf.
Dictionaries
Alexander, Desmond. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. 2010. [Edition missing], IVP Academic, 2010, https://www.perlego.com/book/971010/dictionary-of-the-old-testament-pentateuch-pdf.
Arnold, Bill. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. 2020. [Edition missing], IVP, 2020, https://www.perlego.com/book/1470250/dictionary-of-the-old-testament-historical-books-pdf.
Study Bibles
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
Course work
Weekly Discussions and Written Responses: 200 Words each (Total 42% weightage).
2. Quiz (weekly or daily quiz) 18%weightage: A self-assessment quiz that consists of multiple-choice, true/false questions, short answers, text with feedback. Note that quizzes are used for self-assessment and not formal exams – so formative. These quizzes are based on video lectures, reading assignments, multimedia content, etc.
Essay/Research Paper: (1200-1500 words) 40%weightage: Write a critical essay/ research paper on any one of the themes (e.g. significance of land, worship, Law, covenant, Neighborhood, Festivals, Monarchy, etc.). You should include what others have written on the given topic. Evaluation will be based on written clarity and organization, ability to follow assignment instructions, argumentation, degree of insight, and judicious use of secondary sources.
