Northern Seminary OT 302 THE FORMER PROPHETS Summer 2017 Tuesday, July 11 – Saturday, July 15, 2017 Jason Gile, Ph.D. Affiliate Professor of Old Testament [email protected] WORK TO BE COMPLETED BY JULY 10 Students will submit a learning workbook for the first 10 “modules” listed in the course outline and the preaching assignment by July 10. See details below. WORK TO BE COMPLETED AFTER THE INTENSIVE WEEK Three 4-page papers are due July 24, July 31, and August 7. The learning workbook for the last five modules are due August 21. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will acquaint students with the history, theology, and critical study of the Former Prophets of the Hebrew Bible: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. The focus is the proper interpretation of its message to Israel and its abiding significance for the church. OBJECTIVES After this course students will be able to: 1. demonstrate a basic understanding of the history and theology of the Former Prophets of the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. 2. reflect on the Old Testament as an ancient document and its implications for interpretation. 3. understand the goals and methods of biblical historiography in its ancient context. 4. be familiar with the literary and artistic qualities of biblical narrative. 5. summarize the issues associated with writing a modern history of Israel. 6. understand how the exile and restoration of Israel serve as background for understanding the life and work of Jesus Christ. REQUIRED TEXTS 1. Goheen, Michael W. A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story. Baker, 2011. 242 pages. $22.99. ISBN 0801031419. 2. Leuchter, Mark A. and David T. Lamb, The Historical Writings: Introducing Israel’s Historical Literature. Fortress, 2016. 672 pages. $49.00. ISBN 0800699505. 3. Arnold, Bill T. and H. G. M. Williamson. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. InterVarsity, 2005. 1084 pages. $60.00. ISBN 0830817824. (Abbreviated DOTHB in the course schedule) 4. Dutcher-Walls, Patricia. Reading the Historical Books: A Student’s Guide to Engaging the Biblical Text. Baker, 2014. 172 pages. $21.99. ISBN 0801048656. 5. Routledge, Robin. Old Testament Theology: A Thematic Approach. InterVarsity, 2009. 384 pages. $32.00. ISBN 0830828966. 6. Wright, Christopher J. H. Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament. 2nd ed. InterVarsity, 2014. 288 pages. $18.00. ISBN 978-0830823598. 7. Wright, Christopher J. H. How to Preach and Teach the Old Testament for All Its Worth. Zondervan, 2016. 288 pages. $18.99. ISBN 0310524644. Topical Readings Provided by Professor (See below) COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Readings: Students are expected to prepare for each session by reading the assigned pages on time as indicated in the course schedule, including the biblical texts (prior reading does not substitute) and the secondary readings. 2. Learning Workbook: Students will write answers to learning questions for the 15 “modules” listed below in the course outline. 3. Preaching Assignment: Drawing from three sources provided by the professor, students will write a list of 6-10 “to-do’s” and “not-to-do’s” when preaching and teaching OT narratives. Each point should have a couple sentences of explanation. Assignment should be minimum 1 full page and maximum two pages (single spaced with one space between each item of the list). Due July 10. The three sources are: Christopher Wright, How to Preach, 119-36 [18] Carol Kaminski, “Preaching from the Historical Books” [9] PDF John and Kim Walton, Bible Story Handbook, [18] PDF 4. Papers: Students will write three 4-page papers. Further instructions including bibliography will be distributed in class. a. Describe the conventions of biblical history writing and their relevance for biblical interpretation. Due Monday July 24. b. Write a letter to someone wrestling with the ethical problem of the annihilation of the Canaanites. Guide them through the theological issues in a way that ultimately affirms Christian faith. Due Monday July 31. c. Describe the theology of Davidic kingship in the Old Testament. Due Monday Aug 7. Papers should be double-spaced with one-inch margins, using 12-point Times font. Use footnotes, not endnotes. Students must follow the style guidelines found in Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (8th ed.; University of Chicago Press, 2013). Please contact me early in the course if you have questions about what is expected. ATTENDANCE POLICY Due to the condensed nature of an intensive course, students may not miss more than a half day of class. STUDENT EVALUATION 15% Paper #1 15% Paper #2 15% Paper #3 10% Preaching Assignment 45% Learning Workbook GRADING SCALE A = 100-95 A- = 94-90 B+ = 89-87 B = 86-83 B- = 82-80 C+ = 79-77 C = 76-73 C- = 72-70 D+ = 69-67 D = 66-63 D- = 62-60 F = 59 and below COURSE OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE DAY 1 (TUESDAY): WRITING HISTORY Module 1: The Deuteronomistic History Optional Intro: PDF: Hill & Walton, “Intro to Historical Books,” 169–71 [3] Topical Reading: Leuchter & Lamb 10-23 [14] DOTHB, “Deuteronomistic History” [10] PDF: Noth, Deuteronomistic History, 20-30 [11] = 35 pp Module 2: Poetics of Biblical Narrative Topical Reading: PDF: Berlin, Poetics and Interpretation, 13–22, 135–41 [17] Dutcher-Walls, ch. 2 [32] = 49 pp FOR PAPER #1: Conventions of Ancient History Writing Optional Intro: PDF: Hill & Walton, “Intro to Historical Books” PDF 172–75 [4] Leuchter & Lamb 4-10 [7] Topical Reading: Dutcher-Walls, viii-xx, 1–7, 103-9, 133-61 [56] PDF: Walton, “Understanding the Past: Historiography” [21] = 68 pp DAY 2 (WEDNESDAY): JOSHUA & JUDGES Module 3: Book of Joshua: The Conquest of the Land Bible Reading: Joshua 1-24 Content Reading: Leuchter & Lamb 21-32, 43-54, 59-72, 88-91 [37] Topical Reading: Tamez, “Bible and the Five Hundred Years of Conquest” [14] = 51 pp Module 4: Historicity of the Conquest Topical Reading: Leuchter & Lamb 32-43 [21] Shanks, “The Biblical Minimalists” [11] = 32 pp For Paper #2: The Ethical Problem of the Canaanites Wright, “What about the Canaanites?” 86-108 [23] Leuchter & Lamb 55-58 [4] = 27 pp Module 5: Book of Judges Bible Reading: Judges 1–21 Content Reading: Leuchter & Lamb 93-132 (skip section 2.3) = 38 pp Module 6: Feminist Interpretation of Judges Bible Reading: Judges 11, 19 Topical Reading: Trible, “Feminist Hermeneutics” [6] Masenya, “Without a Voice,” [10] = 16 pp DAY 3 (THURSDAY): BOOK OF SAMUEL / KINGSHIP Module 7: The Desire for a King Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 1–15 Missional Story: Goheen 54-60 [7] Intro to the Book: Leuchter & Lamb 163-67, 184-881 [10] Kingship: Leuchter & Lamb 211-18 [8] Routledge 225-33 [8] PDF: Hamilton 230-43 (Pro and Anti-Monarchy) [14] = 47 pp Module 8: Saul and David Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 16–31, 2 Samuel 1–24 Topics: Characters of Saul & David, Rise of David, Jerusalem [videos], David’s Sin [5.6], Succession Narrative, Tel Dan Stela [3.1] Content Reading: Leuchter & Lamb 188-92, 218-48 [36] DOTHB, “Zion Traditions” 1019-1024 (skip 3.3) [6] = 42 pp For Paper #2: Theology of Kingship Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 7 Topical Reading: Routledge 233-37 [5] (Davidic Covenant) DOTHB, “Davidic Covenant” [6] PDF: Johnston, “God’s Covenant Promise to David” [17] PDF: Johnston, “Royal Psalms” (Ps 2,110,132), 75-83,91-105 [24] = 52 pp *Leuchter & Lamb on Davidic covenant = 232-34 [3] Module 9: King Solomon Bible Reading: 1 Kings 1-11 Topics: Book of Kings Intro, Solomon, Temple Content Reading: Leuchter & Lamb 251-60, 322-31 [20] Topical Reading: DOTHB, “Solomon’s Temple” [7] = 38 pp 1 Skip: §2.2-2.3 (168-84) on sources & redaction of Samuel DAY 4 (FRIDAY): BOOK OF KINGS / JUDGMENT Module 10: The Kings of Israel & Judah: History and Theology Bible Reading: 1 Kings 12-22, 2 Kings 1-17 History: Leuchter & Lamb, 260-71 (§2.1-2.3), 284-290 (§3.1-3.2), 295-308 (§3.4–3.6) [33] DOTHB, “Assyrian Period,” 462-69 (§2-5) [8] Theology: PDF: Cross, Canaanite Myth, 274-89 [16] = 57 pp Module 11: The Last Years of Judah: Judgment & Crisis Bible Reading: 2 Kings 18-25 Content Reading: Leuchter & Lamb 347-58 [13] Topical Reading: Goheen 60-66 [7] DOTHB, “Assyrian Period,” 469-76 (§6-8) [8] DOTHB, “Babylonian Period” 478–85 [8] DOTHB, “Zion Traditions” 1024-25 (§3.3) [2] Bateman on Psalm 89, pages 88-91 [4] = 42 pp Module 12: The “Ending” of the Old Testament: Restoration of Israel? Bible Reading: Ezra 1–3, 9; Nehemiah 1, 9, 13 Topical Reading: Goheen 66–73 [8] Routledge 261-76 [16] = 24 pp DAY 5 (SATURDAY): ISRAEL’S MESSIAH-KING Module 13: The Messiah in the Old Testament Routledge 276–98 [23] C. Wright, How to Preach, 26-33, 52-60 [17] PDF: Fitzmyer, The One Who Is to Come, 33-55 [23] = 63 pp Module 14: Jesus: Suffering Messiah? Topical Reading: C. Wright, Knowing Jesus, chapter 4 [42] PDF: N.T. Wright, “Crucified Messiah” [22] = 64 pp Module 15: Jesus & Israel’s Mission Topical Reading: C. Wright, Knowing Jesus, chapter 3 [31] C. Wright, How to Preach, 46-51 [6] Goheen 75-88, 191-99 [23] = 60 pp Pro Tip: Read the rest of Goheen’s Light to the Nations in your spare time TOPICAL READINGS (Listed according to the Course Schedule) Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. “Introduction to the Historical Books.” Pages 169-71 in A Survey of the Old Testament. 2nd edition. Zondervan, 2000. Noth, Martin. “The Central Theological Ideas.” Pages 20-30 in Reconsidering Israel and Judah: Recent Studies on the Deuteronomistic History.