Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1996 The Empirical Development of a Curriculum on the Issues Concerning the History of Ancient Israel Ruzica Gregor Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Curriculum and Instruction Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Gregor, Ruzica, "The Empirical Development of a Curriculum on the Issues Concerning the History of Ancient Israel" (1996). Dissertations. 409. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/409 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews University School of Education THE EMPIRICAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CURRICULUM ON THE ISSUES CONCERNING THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT ISRAEL A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Rufica Gregor June 1996 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 9630658 U M I Microform 9630658 Copyright 1996, by UM I Company. AO rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zecb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ©Copyright by Ru2ica Gregor 1996 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE EMPIRICAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CURRICULUM ON THE ISSUES CONCERNING THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT ISRAEL A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Ru2ica Gregor APPRO Vi BY THE COMMITTEE: Chair/Ri den Dir^d^orof^^^dliate Program Member: John Dean, School of Education Warren E. Minder Meijtbei^: Randal^c W. Younker 'VS'lpcfl -rfkj. ML Vernal Examiner: ~a?iDate approved 0ystein S. LaBianca Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT THE EMPIRICAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CURRICULUM ON THE ISSUES CONCERNING THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT ISRAEL by Ru2ica Gregor Chair: Roy C. Naden Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University School of Education Title: THE EMPIRICAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CURRICULUM ON THE ISSUES CONCERNING THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT ISRAEL Researcher: Rufica Gregor Name and degree of faculty chair: Roy C. Naden, Ed.D. Date completed: June 1996 Problem An understanding of Israel's history is crucial to a Christian view of history, including its morals and values, and is a foundation stone of most conservative Christians including Seventh-day Adventists and their religious educational philosophy. There is a vital need for a curriculum that provides reasonable answers to the most frequently asked questions about Israel1s early history and builds a solid base for the Christian/Adventist faith. The purpose of this study was to meet this need by empirically developing a curriculum for religion majors in Seventh-day Adventist colleges. Issues discussed include the Philosophical Background and Importance of History; the Role Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. of Biblical Hermeneutics; Archaeology and the Bible; the Patriarchal Period; Abraham and Middle Bronze Customs, the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Centuries Exodus Debate; and Israelite Conquest/Settlement. Method The instructional product development methods of Baker and Schutz and Naden were employed in this research. Instructional specifications were established through non- ambiguous behavioral objectives after the need for the product had been established. Criteria for the evaluation of these objectives were based on current literature related to the topic. Strategies for the positive modification of affect were included. The curriculum was prepared in the form of ten, 50- minute class periods. Mastery was set at 80/80 which means that at least 80 percent of the participants would score at least 80 percent on each of the twenty-three behavioral objectives. Religion majors were the designated subjects through which the empirical development was conducted. The product was first presented to small groups. The group size was increased as the product was modified and as the groups achieved higher levels of mastery. The curriculum was considered to be presentation ready when mastery was reached by a larger group (33), the results of which could be statistically analyzed. Modification of affect was measured by means of a Likert-scale instrument. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Results After developing the curriculum, the instruction was presented to thirty-three subjects. Mastery at the predetermined level was achieved on all of the behavioral objectives. Modification of affect suggested that students were significantly motivated by the instruction to further study the archaeologically based issues on the history of ancient Israel. Conclusion In academic circles, conflict continues over the historicity of the Bible in general and of Israel in particular. These questions carry over into general society and congregational life. Because SDA colleges lacked an empirically developed curriculum for teaching these issues related to the history of ancient Israel, this product could be utilized in a college instruction in religion/religious education classes. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF T A BLES ......................................... vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................ vii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ..................................... 1 Background of the Problem ................... 1 Statement of the Problem ................... 8 Purpose of the Study ........................ 9 Significance of the S t u d y ................... 10 Definition of T e r m s .......................... 11 Delimitations of the Study ................. 12 Outline of the Study ........................ 13 II. REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE ............... 14 Philosophical Study of Ancient Israel's History .......................... 15 The Role of Biblical Hermeneutics and the Understanding of Ancient Israel's History . 22 The Early and Medieval Periods ......... 22 The Reformation P e r i o d ................... 26 Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries . 29 The History of the Role of Archaeology in Understanding Ancient Israel's History . 33 The Relationship of Archaeology to Israelite History .................. 33 Methodological Approaches to the Bible . 44 The Three Case Studies on Reconstruction of Ancient Israel's History ................. 48 Case Study I .............................. 48 Patriarchal Period ................... 48 Schorarly views on the historicity of the Patriarchal Period ......... 49 Case Study II ............................ 60 The Exodus ............................ 60 Scholarly views on historicity of E x o d u s .............................. 61 The thirteenth century Exodus . 62 The fifteenth century Exodus . 79 iii