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The Hebrew Scriptures NationsUniversity® 1 | The Hebrew Scriptures Factual content of the Old Testament Enrichment Version The Enrichment Version is designed for those who wish to explore biblical content of the Old Testament without the intention of pursuing either a certificate or a degree. This syllabus is identical to the one used by credit and degree-track students, except it is void of Internet articles, videos, listings of secondary resources, exams, and writing assignments. There is nothing to submit for professorial review or grading. Therefore, the Enrichment syllabus is available for downloading without cost. Interested parties may glean a substantial knowledge, comprehension, and understanding of the Old Testament through this guide. The course introduces the people, places, and events found within the Old Testament, including a minimum of 100 personalities, major geographical sites, stories, events, and prophetic discourses. Moreover, an introduction to the different types of literary genres contained in the Old Testament will be given. The course is organized in five modules: (1) The Torah, (2) The Former Prophets, (3) The Latter Prophets, (4) The Writings: History, and (5) The Writings: Wisdom and Worship. The course emphasizes self-discovery with a view toward achieving competency in biblical content. Until the student becomes acquainted with the content of the biblical text, there is little justification for moving forward with theology or application. Furthermore, critical thinking skills begin with an open mind, not with predetermined conclusions. Ignorance and hearsay only block the opportunity to draw sound conclusions. The study concentrates on primary sources, not secondary ones. Consequently, course objectives point toward achieving a high level of literacy regarding the biblical text. Critical issues and background studies are reserved for later courses. Objectives 1. Relate people to geographical locations, events, and institutions listed in the Old Testament 2. Compare and contrast the different types of literary genre contained in the Old Testament 3. Arrange important Old Testament events in chronological order Course Learning Outcomes At the end of the course, the student will be able to 1. Identify and evaluate the significance of Old Testament characters and sites. 2. Relate events surrounding Old Testament characters and sites. 1 | The Hebrew Scriptures Page 1 3. Read the Old Testament with a sense of continuity and integration. A Letter of Introduction This course, “The Hebrew Scriptures” will provide an overview of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the larger part of the Bible and precedes the New Testament in time. An understanding of the content of the Old Testament is essential to comprehending the New Testament. So, that is why we begin with the “Old” Testament. As you begin reading the Old Testament, you will encounter a myriad of unfamiliar names and places. You will hear stories you have never heard before. Or, if you have some acquaintance with the Old Testament already, you will find new and interesting details. At first, you may feel you are drowning in facts about people you never knew or even though were worthy of your attention. But the more you read, the grander the stories become and the more meaning they will pack into your Old Testament portfolio. I hope you will take the study seriously, for the rewards are great. You will do well to be persistent. Set aside some time out of every day (if your other responsibilities do not prohibit it) to read and study. This will keep the material fresh in your mind and help you carry the story forward. Procedure The course has five modules. The modules follow the divisions of the Hebrew Bible according to ancient Jewish practice. While, for the most part, the biblical books follow an historical sequence, they reflect the threefold division of Torah, Prophets, and Writings. This syllabus is not intended to replace the Bible but to guide you in your engagement with the Biblical text. Each module will culminate with an examination. Although the exams may include some site material, they are primarily over the content of the Bible. 1. First, review the content of the entire course. 2. Read the Introductory section for a quick introduction to the Bible. Then, read carefully the material in Module 1. 3. Read the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) to get the flow of the material. 4. After a first reading, you may wish to read the biblical books again. This time, make notes on the outstanding persons. Note their relation to one another and the story that surrounds them. Be aware of the geographical environment--important place names. 5. It may be helpful to read selections a third time, stopping only when you need to make sure you have the people and events firmly in mind. Use the list of names, places, and events noted in the "Things to Know" below as a study guide. 6. Once you have completed Module 1, move on to the other modules. 1 | The Hebrew Scriptures Page 2 Things to Know Module 1. The Torah 1. In preparing for examination over The Torah, you should know important facts about the following personalities: Aaron, Abel, Abimelech, Abraham, Adam, Ammon, Aram, Asher, Asshur, Baal, Balaam, Balak, Benjamin, Bethuel, Bilhah, Cain, Caleb, Canaan, Chemosh, Cush, Dan, Dathan, Dinah, Edom, Eleazar, Eliezer, Enoch, Ephraim, Esau, Eve, Gad, Hagar, Ham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Japheth, Jethro, Joseph, Joshua, Judah, Kedorlaomer, Korah, Laban, Lamech, Leah, Levi, Lot, Manasseh, Melchizedek, Midian, Miriam, Mizraim, Moab, Moses, Nahor, Naphtali, Noah, Og, Pharaoh, Potiphar, Potiphar's wife, Rachel, Rebekah, Reuben, Sarai/Sarah, Seth, Shechem, Shem, Sihon, Simeon, Tamar, Terah, Zebulun, Zilpah, Zipporah. 2. You should be able to identify these major geographical sites: Ammon, Arabia, Aram, Asshur, Babylon, Bashan, Bethel, Canaan, Damascus, Desert of Paran, Edom, Egypt, Euphrates River, Gilead, Goshen, Haran, Hebron, Heshbon, Jordan River, Kadesh-Barnea, Moab, Nebo, Philistia, Red Sea, Salem, Sinai, Sodom, Ur. 3. You should have a general acquaintance with the stories, events, and content of the first five books of the Old Testament and be able to identify the book in which these occur. 4. Know unique items like the Flood, the Exodus, the Ten Words (Commandments), and the tabernacle. Be able to identify key feasts and special times: the Day of Atonement, Harvest, Ingathering, Jubilee, Passover, Sabbath, and Sabbatical Year. Know the general function of the priests and the purpose, type, and occasion of the various sacrifices. Know the significance of the cities of refuge. Module 2. The Former Prophets 1. From Joshua, know Achan, Adoni-Zedek, Jabin, Joshua, and Rahab. From Judges, know Abimelech, Barak, Deborah, Delilah, Eglon, Ehud, Gideon, Jael, Jephthah, Micah, Othniel, Samson, and Sisera. From Samuel, be acquainted with Abigail, Abishai, Abiathar, Abner, Absalom, Agag, Ahithophel, Amnon, Asahel, Bathsheba, Dagon, David, Eli, Goliath, Hannah, Ish-Bosheth, Joab, Jonathan, Mephibosheth, Nabal, Nathan, Samuel, Saul, Tamar, Uriah, and Zadok. From Kings, you should know the identity of Adonijah, Ahab, Ahaz, Ahijah, Asa, Athaliah, Baasha, Ben-Hadad, Elijah, Elisha, Gedaliah, Hazael, Hezekiah, Hiram, Hoshea, Jehoiada, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Jehu, Jehoshaphat, Jeroboam, Jezebel, Joash, Josiah, Manasseh, Micaiah, Naaman, Naboth, Nebuchadnezzar, Obadiah, Omri, Pekah, the Queen of Sheba, Rehoboam, Sargon, Sennacherib, Shalmaneser, Shishak/Sheshonk, So, Solomon, Shunemmite woman, Zedekiah. 2. Know major tribal areas of Canaan--Judah, Ephraim, Benjamin, and Dan; places like Ai, Babylon, Bethlehem, Carmel, Damascus, Gibeah of Benjamin, Gibeon, Gilgal, Hazor, Jabesh, Jebus/Jerusalem, Jericho, Jezreel, Moab, Mount Ebal, the Philistine cities, Samaria, Shiloh, and Ziklag. 3. From Joshua, be acquainted with the conquest of Jericho, the battle of Ai, the reading of the blessings and curses at Gerizim and Ebal, the confederated kings of the south and the battle at Gibeon, the confederacy of the king of Hazor, and the covenant renewals at Shechem. From Judges, be familiar with the victory over the Canaanites during the judgeship of Deborah, Gideon's encounter with the Midianites, Abimelech's attempt to gain power, the story of Jephthah, the story of Samson, the account of Micah and the move of the Danites, and the events centering on a Levite from Ephraim. From Samuel, know the story of Samuel's birth, the events surrounding the taking of the ark of the covenant and its return to Israel, the kingship of Saul, and the life and rule of David. From Kings, be acquainted with the rule of Solomon and the building of the temple, the events touching on the lives of Rehoboam and Jeroboam, Ahab, Elijah and Elisha, Jehu, Athaliah and Joash, Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Josiah. 1 | The Hebrew Scriptures Page 3 Module 3. The Latter Prophets 1. Fifteen books make up this unit: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The focus of Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah is on both Israel and Judah before Israel's captivity. Joel, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah are preoccupied with Judah; Habakkuk is concerned with Judah and Babylon. Obadiah prophesies against Edom, who gloats over the demise of Judah. Jonah and Nahum center on Nineveh and the Assyrians. Ezekiel addresses the exiles of Judah in Babylon; Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi concentrate on the restored community. 2. Some of the books belong to the eighth century (latter part of the 700s)--perhaps Jonah and definitely Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah. Know the general focus and content of each. 3. Significant places include Ammon and its cities of Heshbon and Rabbah; Assyria and its capital of Nineveh; Babylon; Bashan; Edom; Egypt; Judah and its capital of Jerusalem or Zion; places in Israel-- Bethel, Samaria, and Jezreel; Moab; Philistine cities of Ashdod, Askkelon, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza; Syria and Damascus, its capital; Phoenician cities of Sidon and Tyre. 4. People to know, in addition to the prophets themselves, include Ahaz, Gomer, Hezekiah, Jezreel, Lo- Ruhamah, Lo-Ammi, Nebuchadnezzar, and the "Cows of Bashan." 5.
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