Winter 2015/Pasadena
OT581
Hays
OT581: THE HISTORY AND HISTORIOGRAPHY OF ANCIENT ISRAEL (4 Units: 160 Hours). Christopher B. Hays.
DESCRIPTION: This seminar is intended to ground advanced graduate students in the scholarly conversation about the history of Israel, which is the foundation for every other critical method in Old Testament scholarship. The course begins with a consideration of the sources of data for writing the history of Israel, and continues with reflections on methodology. The final weeks are case studies on specific historical periods and moments, as well as special topics such as social history, and philosophies of historiography.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing this course will have demonstrated that they have (1) attained a familiarity with the most significant primary textual and archaeological data relating to Israel’s history; (2) attained a familiarity with scholarly reconstructions of Israel’s history; (3) gained an ability to reason through historiographical decisions in keeping with critical methods; (4) become familiar with the work of major scholars writing about Israelite history; and (5) achieved at least intermediate expertise in classical Hebrew.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for four-hour sessions for a total of 40 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion. Class sessions will involve weekly student presentations and guided discussions on various topics. Weekly Hebrew translations set the scene for each topic.
REQUIRED READING: 1,350 total pp.
Miller, J. Maxwell, and John H. Hayes. A History of Ancient Israel and Judah. Westminster John Knox Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0664223588, Pub. Price $39.95 [450 pp.].
Course Reader [900 pp.].
RECOMMENDED READING: Students are strongly encouraged to contact the professor in advance for the lengthy list of recommended texts
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
The final grade will consist of the following components:
1,350 pp. of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [90 hours].
Class Participation: This includes presentations, readings, and participation in discussions (50%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [30 hours].
Final paper due on the last day of finals week (20 pages) (50%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [40 hours].
PREREQUISITES: Permission of the instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the Biblical Elective requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None. Feel free to change if necessary.