PREVIEW TO BOT/BCS 651 HISTORY OF ISRAEL: THE MONARCHY Version ESSENTIAL FACTS

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1 1 PREVIEW TO BOT/BCS 651 HISTORY OF ISRAEL: THE MONARCHY Version ESSENTIAL FACTS Credit Hours Cincinnati Christian University Early Spring Semester, 2012 Meets January 2-6, Mark Ziese, Professor of Old Testament Office location: Study 5, Crouch Building (Library Basement) mark.ziese@ccuniversity.edu Office: (513) Since this seminar is scheduled to meet in a condensed format (Early Week), it is critical that all members attend all course meetings, and, in addition, have regular access to CCU s online electronic learning tool, Moodle. 0.4 Meetings will occupy significant portions of the five days listed above. On Jan 2, class will begin at 10:00 am. On all other days, class will begin at 9:00 am. A break will be taken at noon for lunch, and class will continue in the afternoon hours to approximately 4:30 pm (and hopefully we ll get out early on Friday!). Please protect this schedule. 0.5 This syllabus, along with other course information will be made available on Moodle. ( Paper upload points and download points will also be found here, as well as the course gradebook. It is important that this site be checked periodically for updates Realize that Moodle requires login with password access. To gain access or to deal with technical difficulties in this--contact CCU s helpdesk (tel or helpdesk@ccuniversity.edu). 1.0 CCU MISSION STATEMENT 1.1 The mission of Cincinnati Christian University is to teach men and women to live by Biblical principles and to equip and empower them with character, skills, insight, and vision to lead the church and to impact society for Christ ( CBS Catalogue, p. 3). 1.2 While not all learners in the course are pursuing a concentration in Biblical Studies, published objectives offer guidance to all Biblical Studies courses and are useful here Learners pursing a concentration in Biblical Studies will (1) translate and exegete selected Greek and Hebrew biblical texts; (2) describe and assess various perspectives on issues of biblical criticism and interpretation, both historical and contemporary; (3) describe and assess how the biblical text both reflects and

2 transcends its cultural setting; (4) articulate the central thrust of each book of the Old and New Testaments; (5) Explain the role that Biblical exegesis plays in personal Christian growth, the development of competent leadership within the church, and the church s ability to address the issues of the modern world ( CBS Catalogue, p. 21). 2.0 COURSE DESCRIPTION & RATIONALE 2.1 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. 2.2 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 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 3.1 The learner who satisfactorily completes this course will develop competencies on the level of understanding, attitude, and skill. These align with specific objectives listed in paragraph 1.21 (above) and are here referenced by numbers in parenthesis With respect to understanding, the learner will articulate an annales approach to the challenge of historical inquiry (2); outline in broad strokes the cultural and political history of the ANE generally and the trajectory of Israel specifically between ca and 745 BC (2, 3); isolate and describe interpretive problems in the reconstruction of Israel s story (2); describe how the developing faith of Israel is preserved in the texts relevant to this period of study, including how variations of this expression created both tension and collision (2, 3, 4) With respect to attitude, the learner will develop sensitivity to voicings of power, critique, and hope, common to the literature of the period (5) With respect to skill, the learner will engage sources from the period and be challenged to exercise judgement and faith in interpreting those sources for preachment (5); gain added exposure to expressions of Hebrew vocabulary and structure (1). 4.0 TEXTBOOKS Arnold, B. T. and H.G.M. Williamson 2005 Dictionary of the Old Testament Historical Books. Downers Grove: IVP. 2

3 3 Berrigan, D The Kings and Their Gods: The Pathology of Power. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. Kitchen, K. A On the Reliability of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 5.0 MAJOR LEARNING EXPERIENCES 5.1 For learners seeking personal satisfaction (and three hours of graduate credit), minimum expectations include: 5.11 Regular class attendance and participation (5% of the final grade assignment). Attendance is expected; any missed lectures will compromise this 5% of the final grade The 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) Accountability for assigned readings will be measured by exam content and by responses posted on the Moodle class website The 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 The 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) Details concerning the four project papers are as follows: Project paper 1. Construct an annotated bibliography of a topic relevant to the period under study. Instructor approval of topic is required. The single paragraph annotation for each book entry will objectively describe the author s/editor s goals, methods, and conclusions. This bibliography will be up to date 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 Jan Project 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 Feb Project 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

4 4 researched, including archaeological contexts. This work will be 7 pages in length (about 2,000 words) and is due on Mar Project 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 1 st person is required. This work will be 7 pages in length (about 2,000 words) and is due on Mar Submission of all four project papers will be facilitated by the Moodle class website (on or before the posted deadline). To ambush all formatting problems, please convert your paper to a pdf format before submission. 5.3 The 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. 6.0 SCHEDULE AND OUTLINE OF SUBJECT CONTENT (subject to adjustment) Introductory Matters Part One: The United Monarchy (The 12 th -10 th Centuries BC) IA IA1 IA2 IB IB1 IB2 IB3 IC IC1 IC2 IC3 la longue durée: Issues of Environmental History In the Midst of the Earth Iron & the Age of Iron la conjoncture: Issues of Social History Shepherds, Mothers, Judges, & Kings Highland Settlements Israel s Iron Age Neighbors l histoire événementielle: Issues of Personal(ity) History Chronological Concerns The Nature of the Texts The Story the Texts Tell Part Two: The Divided Monarchy (The 10 th -8 th Centuries BC) IIA IIA1 IIB IIB3 IIB1 IIB2 la longue durée: Issues of Environmental History Landuse in Canaan s Highlands la conjoncture: Issues of Social History Civic Layouts YHWH, Jerusalem, & Their Competitors Classical Prophetism

5 5 IIC IIC1 IIC2 IIC3 l histoire événementielle: Issues of Personal(ity) History Chronological Concerns The Nature of the Texts The Story the Texts Tell 7.0 DISCLAIMER AND OTHER YUCKY STUFF 7.1 Recognize that this preview presents the course as envisioned at some nebulous point before the beginning of the semester. The instructor reserves the right to make changes as needs dictate. Reasonable effort will be made, however, to announce such changes. 7.2 Recognize that all late work may be subject to penalty. 7.3 For all other academic policy matters, refer to the Student Handbook at