Old Testament History

BOT 150 Old Testament History

Fall Semester, 2012 9:00-9:50 A.M. (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) Cincinnati Christian University (3 Credit Hours)

Instructor: Douglas Redford CCU phone: 244-8178; home phone: (513) 648-0793 Office: Presidents Hall (second floor) E-mail: [email protected]

CCU Mission Statement: 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.

1. DESCRIPTION (from catalog): A study of the history of Israel from Abraham through the Babylonian Captivity to the time of restoration under Ezra and Nehemiah. Required as prerequisite to all 200-399 Bible courses.

2. GOALS This course will seek to help the student achieve the following objectives: 1) Gain a grasp of the significant people, places, and events of Old Testament history. 2) Appreciate the contribution that the Old Testament makes to Christian faith (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11) and the valuable lessons Christians can learn from the study of it. 3) Appreciate what made Israel’s faith distinct from the religions of surrounding cultures. 4) Appreciate what Israel had in common with the religions of surrounding cultures. 5) Appreciate the theological underpinning of Old Testament history—i.e., that this is His story. Isaiah 14:26, 27 says, “This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” (NIV).

3. TEXTBOOKS Required: The Bible (New International Version is preferred. One with study notes, such as the NIV Study Bible or The Quest Study Bible may be helpful.) Baylis, Albert H. From Creation to the Cross. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996. It will be helpful if you bring both Baylis’s text and the Bible to each class session.

Recommended: Walton, John H. Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994 (2nd edition). Wood, Leon J. A Survey of Israel’s History. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970 (revised edition by David O’Brien, 1986). (These are on 3-day reserve in the CCU library.)

4. LESSON PROCEDURES AND ASSIGNMENTS Attendance and Attitude. It is important that each class member be committed to both regular attendance and to good study habits outside of class. In a class such as this one, each session links with what has preceded and what will follow. To miss any class is to disrupt the “flow” of events as they are covered in class. I will follow the College attendance policy, which states, “A student in a three-hour course that meets on 3 separate days [like this one] would have 6 absences before failing the class. On the seventh miss the student would receive the grade of FA (failure due to absences).” The policy also states, “Students who reach this level prior to the seventh week of the semester may withdraw from the class and receive a ‘W’ for the class.” In addition, the policy states, “Penalties for tardiness or leaving early will be determined by the individual faculty member.” In this class, 2 instances of either being tardy or leaving early will equal one absence. (If you have a valid reason for being tardy or leaving early, please let me

1 know.) Please feel free to come by my office any time (hours available are posted on my office door) or to call me about any questions or concerns.

Reading Assignments. Each student is expected to keep up with the reading assignments from Baylis’s text, as listed on the course agenda. There will also be readings from the Bible that go along with the topic being covered. Also, most weeks a key Bible verse (or two) will be given to the student to memorize. (I do not care which version you use; preferred are NIV, NASB, or KJV.) Periodic quizzes (also listed on the course agenda) will be given to encourage keeping up with the reading. Source material for these will be drawn from the Bible readings, from Baylis’s text, and from the memory passage(s). NOTE: If you miss a quiz, you must make it up within the next week or receive a zero. Any exceptions to this policy must be discussed with the professor.

Research Project. Each student will be responsible to prepare and submit the following projects: Project #1—Do one of the following projects: 1) Prepare a dramatic monologue by Esau (first person account: use of “I” and “me”), as he reflects on his relationship to his brother Jacob as described in the book of Genesis. Try to capture some of Esau’s emotions, including his anger toward his brother and also the joy of their eventual reunion. Consider the process that may have been involved in his moving from hatred toward the desire for reconciliation. This should be approximately four pages long (double-spaced). 2) Write a song, a poem, or a rap describing the life of Abraham or the life of Joseph. Be creative, but at the same time have a sense of order or direction in your work. Use approximately 1 ½ to 2 pages (single-spaced) for your work. 3) If you are artistically inclined (and only if you are so inclined), do a series of five drawings illustrating five significant events from the patriarchal period of Old Testament history. This must be original work. Do not simply trace something. Include a specific Scripture passage with each picture to highlight what you are illustrating (give both the contents and the reference). Also submit with this assignment a typewritten paragraph (double-spaced) for each event, explaining why this event is so important. The paragraph should be about a third to a half of a page long. The due date for this is Wednesday, September 19.

Project #2: Read Objection #4, “God Isn’t Worthy of Worship If He Kills Innocent Children” in The Case for Faith, by Lee Strobel (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000). A copy is on three-day reserve in the library (but this would be an excellent book to add to your personal library). Write approximately a five-page summary (double-spaced) of the material, including your observations and reactions. The due date for this assignment is Wednesday, October 24. Be sure to not only summarize the contents but to offer your feedback.

Project #3: Do a time line of Old Testament history, giving dates to what you consider to be the ten most important events in Old Testament history. Do not go any farther back than the time of Abraham, since specific dating becomes more difficult. Prepare this on an 8 1/2x14 or 11x16 paper, or on poster board (or any surface that gives you enough room to do the assignment). Also submit with this assignment a typewritten paragraph (double-spaced) for each event, explaining why this event is so important. The paragraph should be about a third to a half of a page long. The due date for this assignment is Wednesday, November 28.

Project #4. Prepare a two-page paper (typed, double-spaced) on the topic “Why a Christian Should be Familiar with Old Testament History.” Write a clear, well-organized response; do not just string a set of thoughts together at random. (I want to be able to see that you have given this assignment due consideration.) The due date for this assignment is Wednesday, December 5.

Any late work must be discussed with the professor. I am willing to work with you if a problem arises in turning work in on time, but you must let me know about this. Do not let a due date pass while turning in nothing and saying nothing to me. In addition, please be aware that the grade for your projects will take into consideration your writing style (including matters such as spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.).

Also be aware of the following: Students who require academic accommodations due to any documented physical, psychological or learning disability should request assistance from the Academic Support Director within the first two weeks of class. The Academic Support Office is located in the Lower Level of the Worship and Ministry Building (room 153). You may also contact the office by phone (244-8420).

2 ADDITIONAL WARNING: I have it from reliable sources that “Sneak Day” will occur at some point during the semester (who knows when?????????). When it does, we will rearrange the quiz schedule accordingly. For example, if Sneak Day falls on a Wednesday, instead of having the scheduled quiz on that Friday we would review for the quiz on Friday and have the quiz the following Monday.

Examinations. There will be a midterm examination on Friday, October 12. The final examination will be given during the week of December 10. The final will not be cumulative. Study guides will be provided for each exam.

5. GRADING Project #1 10% Project #2 15% Project #3 15% Project #4 10% Midterm exam 15% Quizzes 15% Final exam 20%

6. COURSE AGENDA (I will try to follow the agenda given below, but there may be occasional variations in the subject matter covered.) Try to read each week’s assignment by Wednesday of a given week.

Weeks of August 20 and 27 (note that our class’s first meeting will be on Monday, August 20) Topics: introduction to course; the importance of the study of history; why history is such an important part of the Bible Reading assignment: Baylis, chapters 1-3; Genesis 1-4 Memory work: Genesis 1:1

Week of September 3 Topic: Abraham Reading assignment: Baylis, chapter 4; Genesis 12-17, 22 There will be no class on Monday, September 3 (Labor Day). Memory work: Genesis 12:1-3; quiz on September 7

Week of September 10 Topic: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph Reading assignment: Genesis 24-27, 37, 39-45, 50 Memory work: Genesis 45:7; quiz on February 10

Week of September 17 Topics: Oppression in Egypt and Exodus Reading assignment: Baylis, chapter 5; Exodus 1-3, 7-12 Memory work: Exodus 12:12 Project #1 due on Wednesday, September 19; quiz on September 21

Week of September 24 Topic: Israel in the Wilderness Reading assignment: Baylis, chapters 6 and 7; Numbers 13, 14 Memory work: Numbers 14:34; quiz on September 28

Week of October 1 Topic: The Conquest Reading assignment: Baylis, chapter 8; Joshua 1-6, 23, 24 There will be no class on Friday, October 5 (fall break); quiz on Wednesday, October 3 Memory work: Joshua 1:8

Week of October 8 Topic: The Judges

3 Reading assignment: Judges 2, 13-16; Ruth 1-4 Memory work: Judges 21:25 Midterm exam on Friday, October 12; no quiz this week

Week of October 15 Topic: Saul Reading assignment: Baylis, chapter 9; 1 Samuel 1-3, 8-11, 15 Memory work: 1 Samuel 15:22 Quiz on October 19

Week of October 22 Topic: David Reading assignment: Baylis, chapter 11; 1 Samuel 16-19; 2 Samuel 2-7; 11, 12; 1 Kings 1 Memory work: 1 Samuel 16:7 Project #2 due on Wednesday, October 24; quiz on October 26

Week of October 29 Topic: Solomon Reading assignment: Baylis, chapter 12; 1 Kings 2, 3, 11 Memory work: 1 Kings 11:4; quiz on November 2

Weeks of November 5 and 12 Topic: The Northern Kingdom (Israel) Reading assignment: Baylis, chapter 10; 1 Kings 17-19; 2 Kings 15-17 Memory work: 2 Kings 17:18; quiz on November 16

NO CLASS the week of November 19 (Thanksgiving break)

Week of November 26 Topic: The Southern Kingdom (Judah) Reading assignment: 2 Kings 18-25; Jeremiah 40-43 Memory work: Lamentations 3:22, 23 Project #3 due on Wednesday, November 28; quiz on November 30

Week of December 3 Topic: Exile and Return Reading assignment: Baylis, chapters 15-17; Ezra 1, 3, 6; Nehemiah 1, 2 Memory work: Nehemiah 4:6; 6:15 Project #4 due on Wednesday, December 5; no quiz this week.

Week of December 10 Final exam