JOSHUA ONLINE HB 5460 Second Semester, 2014-15 Matthew R. Akers, Ph.D. E-mail: makers@mabts.edu Office Phone at MABTS: 901.751.3053 Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary I. COURSE DESCRIPTION Hebrew Intensives: Studies in individual books of the Old Testament, involving translation and exegesis of the Hebrew text of the book being studied. Consultation of the best critical and exegetical literature is included. HB 5401-5402 are prerequisites for these courses. The selection of individual books varies from year to year. The purpose of this intensive course is to promote a thorough grasp of the Hebrew text of Joshua. This course will give attention to historical background, authorship, the date of composition, and a verse-by-verse exposition of the biblical text. II. TEXTBOOKS The Holy Bible. Each student is required to read The Book of Joshua in order to receive course credit. The New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition will be used by the professor in lectures. Reading should be current with material covered in course lectures. Howard, David M. Joshua: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture. Vol. 5 in The New American Commentary. Edited by E. Ray Clendenen, Kenneth A. Matthews, and David S. Dockery. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1998. 464 pages. Available in Logos. LOGOS Scholar's Library (www.logos.com). This digital collection of texts and tools for Bible study is required for all MABTS courses. Logos Silver required. Contact Dave Jones [dave@logos.com; (800) 878-4191 ext. 2347] for information on special discounts available to Mid-America students. Students will make use of the following resources: The Hebrew Old Testament; a Hebrew lexicon.
2 III. OBJECTIVES 1. The student will become aware of introductory issues that are pertinent to the study of The Book of Joshua. 2. The student will be able to articulate the key themes that are found in The Book of Joshua. 3. The student will become familiar with the historiography of The Book of Joshua. 4. The student will become familiar with the key archaeological discoveries that relate to The Book of Joshua. 5. The student will gain a deeper understanding of Ancient Near Eastern culture and customs as they are expressed in The Book of Joshua. 6. The student will gain an appreciation for the importance of learning the biblical languages through his/her interactions with The Book of Joshua. 7. The student will be able to apply the teachings of The Book of Joshua to his/her personal life as well as to communicate them to others. 8. The student will become familiar with the Hebrew of the Pre-Monarchic era of Joshua. IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS Late Work: All work is due at on the day stated. The penalty for late work is 3 points per calendar day. No late work will be accepted after three school days. Syllabus The student must read the syllabus in its entirety and report to the professor that reading has been completed via the course website. This affirmation must be submitted to the professor Thursday, January 22 in order to avoid a loss of 2% from the final grade. Daily Work Regular assignments include, but are not necessarily limited to: 1) Reading; 2) Quizzes. Daily Participation Every student is expected to participate regularly in forums and chats. A percentage of the daily grad will be determined by one s daily participation. Quizzes Quizzes will be given throughout the course of the semester A student will not be able to make up any quiz after its expiration date.
3 Examinations There will be a total four examinations during the course of the semester. Paper The student will write a twelve page (complete pages) double-spaced paper related to the Hebrew text of The Book of Joshua. This paper will be typed and written according to Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8th edition (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2013). The composition should include at least ten citations of books, articles, or essays, and include at least two journal references. Nine pages will be at best 90%. You may choose to write from the following topics: o An exegesis of a passage in The Book of Joshua o A key theological doctrine addressed in The Book of Joshua o The authorship or date of The Book of Joshua o The historical reliability of The Book of Joshua o Messianic images in The Book of Joshua o Archaeology of the era of The Book of Joshua o A topic may be proposed, but the instructor must approve it. Translation The student will translate 100 verses from Joshua as we as parse each verbal in the selected sentences. V. GRADING Exam #1: 15% Paper: 15% Exam #2: 15% Translation: 15% Exam #3: 15% Reading 10% Quizzes: 15%
4 Grade point averages are determined on a 12-point grading system. The grade point value of each letter grade is: A 97-100 4.0 quality points per semester hour A- 95-96 3.8 quality points per semester hour B+ 93-94 3.5 quality points per semester hour B 90-92 3.0 quality points per semester hour B- 87-89 2.7 quality points per semester hour C+ 84-86 2.3 quality points per semester hour C 81-83 2.0 quality points per semester hour C- 77-80 1.7 quality points per semester hour D+ 75-76 1.3 quality points per semester hour D 72-74 1.0 quality points per semester hour D- 70-71 0.7 quality points per semester hour F 69 and below 0.0 quality points per semester hour VI. CLASS POLICIES A. Please be familiar with the MABTS attendance policies regarding absences in online courses. B. Exams missed due to an un-excused absence cannot be made up. It is your responsibility to make arrangements with the professor to make up exams missed because of an excused absence. C. The student must earn the full percentage of points for each grade. A score or average of 94.7 points is 94%, therefore, a B. D. All assignments must be completed if you are to pass the course. E. Make sure that you put your name on your work. This rule applies to all work done in this course. VII. MEETINGS WITH THE PROFESSOR For appointments, please see the professor or his assistant in the Doctor of Ministry office or email makers@mabts.edu.
5 CLASS SCHEDULE Week 1 (Jan. 20-22): Course Intro; Intro to Joshua (Howard, 25-68) Week 2 (Jan. 27-29): Amarna Letters; Joshua 1:1-18 (Howard, 69-96) Week 3 (Feb. 3-5): Joshua 2:1-4:24 (Howard, 96-144) Week 4 (Feb. 10-12): The Habiru; Joshua 5:1-15 (Howard 144-67) Week 5 (Feb. 17-19): Joshua 6:1-27 (Howard 167-87); Exam #1; 25 translation verses due Week 6 (Feb. 24-26): Joshua 7:1-8:35 (Howard, 187-217) Week 7 (Mar. 3-5): Joshua 9:1-10:28 (Howard, 218-56) Spring Break: March 6-23 Week 8 (Mar. 24-26): Joshua 10:29-11:1-23 (Howard, 256-76); 25 translation verses due Week 9 (Mar. 31 April 2): Merneptah Stele; Josh. 12:1-24 (pp. 277-95) Week 10 (Apr. 7-9): Joshua 13:1-33 (Howard, 295-323); Exam #2 Week 11 (Apr. 14-16): Joshua 14:1-15:63 (Howard, 323-45) Week 12 (Apr. 21-23): Joshua 16:1-17:18 (Howard, 345-58); 25 translation verses due Week 13 (Apr. 28-30): Joshua 18:1-19:51 (Howard, 358-79) Week 14 (May 5-7): Joshua 20:1-22:34 (Howard, 379-416) Week 15 (May 12-14): Joshua 23:1-24:33 (Howard, 416-47); Paper Due Final Examination (Exam #3): May 20; 25 translation verses due
The professor reserves the right to adjust this syllabus and /or schedule as he sees fit. 6
7 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Auld, A. Graeme. Joshua: Jesus Son of Nauē in Codex Vaticanus. In the Septuagint Commentary Series. Edited by Stanley E. Porter, Richard S. H. Hess, and John Jarick. Boston: Brill, 2005. Joshua Retold: Synoptic Perspectives. In Old Testament Studies. Edited by David J. Reimer. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1998. Butler, Trent C. Joshua. Vol. 7 in the Word Biblical Commentary. Edited by David A. Hubbard, Glenn W. Barker, John D. W. Watts, and Ralph P. Martin. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1983. Campbell, Antony F. Joshua to Chronicles: An Introduction. Louisville: John Knox Press, 2004. Creach, Jerome F. D. Joshua. In Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Edited by James Luther Mays, Patrick D. Miller, and Paul J. Achtemeier. Louisville: John Knox Press, 2003. Gray, John. Joshua, Judges, Ruth. In The New Century Bible Commentary. Edited by Ronald E. Clements and Matthew Black. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986. Greenspoon, Leonard J. Textual Studies in the Book of Joshua. Volume 28 in Harvard Semitic Monographs. Edited by Frank Moore Cross. Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1983. Hamlin, E. John. Joshua: Inheriting the Land. In the International Theological Commentary. Edited by George A. F. Knight and Fredrick Carlson Holmgren. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983. Harris, J. Gordon, Cheryl A. Brown, and Michael S. Moore. Joshua, Judges, Ruth. In Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Edited by W. Ward Gasque, Robert L. Hawk, L. Daniel. Joshua. In Berit Olam: Studies in Hebrew Narrative and Poetry. Edited by David W. Cotter, Jerome T. Walsh, and Chris Franke. Collegeville: MN, Liturgical Press, 2000. Hess, Richard S. Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary. In The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Edited by D. J. Wiseman. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996. Howard, Jr., David M. Vol. 5 in The New American Commentary. Edited by E. Ray Clendenen, Kenneth A. Matthews, and David S. Dockery. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1998.
8 Hubbard Jr., and Robert K. Johnston. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012. Kaufmann, Yehezkel. The Biblical Account of the Conquest of Canaan. With a Preface by Moshe Greenberg. Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1985. Koopmans, William T. Joshua 24 as Poetic Narrative. Vol. 93 in the Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series. Edited by David J. A. Clines and Philip R. Davies. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1990. Meyers, Patrick D. Miller. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993. Nelson, Richard D. Joshua: A Commentary. In The Old Testament Library. Edited by James L. Mays, Carol A. Newsom, and David L. Petersen. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1997. Miller, J. Maxwell, and Gene M. Tucker. The Book of Joshua. In The Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible. Edited by P. R. Ackroyd, A. R. C. Leaney, and J. W. Packer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1974. Mills, Mary E. Joshua to Kings: History, Story, Theology. In the T&T Clark Approaches to Biblical Studies Series. London: T&T Clark International, 2006. Mitchell, Gordon. Together in the Land: A Reading of the Book of Joshua. Vol. 134 in the Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series. Edited by David J. A. Clines, Philip R. Davies, Richard J. Coggins, Alan Cooper, Tamara C. Eskenazi, J. Cheryl Exum, Robert P. Gordon, Norman K. Gottwald, Andrew D. H. Mayes, Carol Pressler, Carolyn. Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. In the Westminster Bible Companion. Edited by Patrick D. Miller and David L. Bartlett. Louisville: John Knox Press, 2002. Rowlett, Lori L. Joshua and the Rhetoric of Violence: A New Historical Analysis. Vol. 226 in the Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series. Edited by David J. A. Clines, Philip R. Davies, John Jarick, Robert P. Carroll, Richard J. Coggins, Alan Cooper, J. Cheryl Exum, John Goldingay, Robert P. Gordon, Norman K. Gottwald, Andrew D. H. Mayes, Carol Meyers, and Patrick D. Miller. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996. van der Meer, Michaël N. Formation and Reformation: The Redaction of the Book of Joshua in the Light of the Oldest Textual Witnesses. Vol. 102 in Supplements to Vetus Testamentum. Edited by H. M. Barstad, Phyllis A. Bird, R. P. Gordon, A. Hurvitz, A. van der Kooij, A. Lemaire, R. Smend, J. Trebolle Barrera, J. C. Vanderkam, and H. G. M. Williamson. Boston: Brill, 2004. Woudstra, Marten H. The Book of Joshua. In The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Edited by R. K. Harrison. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981.