Ots 550 L00.A Old Testament Backgrounds

OTS 550 L00.A –OLD TESTAMENT BACKGROUNDS

Fall 2015

Kevin Warstler and Kirk Spencer

Warstler Office: E316 Spencer Office E312

Warstler Office Hours: Spencer Office Hours:

Mon. 4:30-6:30/Tues. 4:30-6:30/Thurs. 4:30-6:30 Mon.1-3/Tues.1-4/Wed. 8-12, 1-3/Thurs.1-3

I.Course Description

An advanced intensive study of the historical, social, and literary contexts of the Old Testament.

II.Objectives/Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course you should be able to:

1. Know the major people, civilizations, dates, and events of the ancient Near East, especially those that relate to Old Testament history and literature;
2. Interact with the content of ancient texts in order to understand the concepts and world views that are represented in those texts;
3. Evaluate supposed parallels between ancient texts and the Old Testament and articulate your thoughts on the nature and significance of the parallelisms;
4. Discuss the significance of modern scholarship in the study of ancient Israelite religion and the various proposed theories on the reconstruction of Israel’s religious development;
5. Summarize and evaluate a book that provides helpful discussion on any topic related to Old Testament backgrounds; and
6. Examine and evaluate an ancient Near Eastern text and explain how it relates either directly or indirectly to the Bible.
7. Research and write a paper on how specific extrabiblical texts can be used to enhance our understanding of an Old Testament concept or text.

III.Textbooks

A.Pritchard, James B., ed. The Ancient Near East: A New Anthology of Texts and Pictures. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010. (978-0691147260)

B.Spencer, Kirk. “Ancient of Days: an Orientation in the Ancient World,” 2004. Unpublished notes prepared for the Criswell College course, HUM 101 ANCIENT WORLD.

C.Walton, John H. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006. (978-0801027505)

IV.Requirements

A.Walton Reading

You are responsible to read John Walton, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament in its entirety by Thursday, December 4. Any late reading will only receive 50% credit. As you read through and study the textbook, mark-up the text in whatever system you want (underlining, drawing boxes, stars, brackets etc.) and also annotate the text by writing notes, ideas and comments in the margins. Marking up and annotating a text will document that you have read all of the material. At the end of the semester, your manuscript will be collected to determine how thoroughly you have read the material based upon your mark-up and annotations. Be sure to write your name and box number on the outside of the front page of the manuscript to make it easier to return.

B.Weekly Reading

Study guides will be distributed in class every week and will include the reading assignments for the following week. The readings will include readings from the manuscript by Professor Spencer, excerpts from ancient texts (most of which are included in Pritchard’s The Ancient Near East: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures), and journal articles and excerpts from books that include discussions of the ancient texts and their significance. These readings will form the basis of our class discussions.Each week you should complete the quiz on blackboard over the material in the reading. The lowest two quiz grades will be dropped in determining the final quiz average score. These quizzes should be completed before the beginning of the class period in which these texts will be discussed.

C.Maps and Timeline

Three map and one timeline project will be given during the semester. You should learn these maps and timeline and take the tests on blackboard according to the class schedule. Unlike the quizzes, the student will be allowed to take these tests more than one time.

D.Book Review

You will select one book that is directly related to Old Testament backgrounds. This includes but is not limited to histories, discussions of ancient texts, archaeological discoveries, ancient world views, or religious developments in the ancient world. It cannot be a book of only ancient texts without discussion (such as Pritchard). The paper is to be no more than 7 double-spaced pages. It should be about half summary and half evaluation. Please consult the professor for approval of your selection prior to completion. The book review is due Thursday, November 6.

E.Old Testament Backgrounds Research Paper

You will select one Old Testament concept or text and research the extrabiblical backgrounds that enhance our understanding of it. You should focus primarily on ancient texts that are available in English translation but you may also include other archaeological evidence in your discussion. You wlll also interact with the latest scholarly research and discussion on these materials and present your own ideas with regard to the merit of these discussions and the various theories that have been proposed on the relationship between these extrabiblical sources and the Old Testament. The paper is to be no more than 20 double-spaced pages and must conform to the Criswell College Manual of Writing Style (available online at under “Academics” and “Student Resources”).

You will also present the paper in summary form and answer questions that the professor and students have regarding your study and conclusions. The paper is due Monday, December 1 on the week of the presentation. This would mean no later than 1:30 on the Monday before the presentation is to be made. Copies of the paper will be distributed to the students in the class period of the presentation. You are not responsible for making the copies but you are responsible for getting the paper either in hard copy or electronic form to the professor the day before the presentation. The presentation is 30% of the grade for the paper so it is important that you have the paper in on time. Late papers will not be accepted, which means that this portion of the course grade will be forfeited if the paper is not completed on time. The schedule and duration for the presentations will be determined early in the semester.

F.Comprehensive Final Exam

There will be a comprehensive final exam which will be taken from questions presented on the weekly quizzes. As with the quizzes, the final exam will be taken on blackboard.

G.Class Participation

It is expected that each student will be ready to participate in discussion during class. As such each student should come to class with at least one question to initiate discussion or one important insight they would like to share with the class.

V.Grading

A.Relative Weight of Grades

Participation10%

Walton Reading10%

Map Tests10%

Time Line Test10%

Reading Quizzes10%

Book Review20%

Final Exam (From Quizzes)10%

OT Backgrounds Paper/Presentation20%

B.Grading Scale

A97-1004.0 grade points per semester hour

A-93-963.7 grade points per semester hour

B+91-923.3 grade points per semester hour

B88-903.0 grade points per semester hour

B-86-872.7 grade points per semester hour

C+83-852.3 grade points per semester hour

C80-822.0 grade points per semester hour

C-78-791.7 grade points per semester hour

D+75-771.3 grade points per semester hour

D72-741.0 grade point per semester hour

D-70-710.7 grade point per semester hour

F0-690.0 grade points per semester hour

C.Incomplete Grades

Students requesting a grade of Incomplete (I) must understand that incomplete grades may be given only upon approval of the faculty member involved. An “I” may be assigned only when

a student is currently passing a course and in situations involving extended illness, serious injury, death in the family, or employment or government reassignment, not student neglect.

Students are responsible for contacting their professors prior to the end of the semester, plusfiling the appropriate completed and approved academic request form with the Registrar’s Office. The “I” must be removed (by completing the remaining course requirements) no later than 60 calendar days after the grade was assigned, or the “I” will become an “F.”

VI.Attendance in Class

A.Absences: Since class participation is vital to learning, absences should be taken only when absolutely necessary. More than seven (7) absences for two-day-per week classes, and more than three (3) absences for block classes will result in a grade of “F” for the courses.

The professor and the Vice President of Academic Affairs must approve all exceptions to this policy. Proportionate absences apply to all other terms (J-Term, summer classes, language term, etc.). Students are responsible for all absences due to illness or any other reason. Granting of excused absences is permitted at the discretion of the professor.

B.Tardiness: Missing more than fifteen (15) minutes at the beginning or end of a class period is considered one absence. Three instances of tardiness of fifteen minutes or less equals one absence. Thetardy student is responsible for notifying the professor of his/her presence in writing at the endof class. Students who wish to depart early should clear it with the professor.

VII.Institutional Policies

A.Academic Honesty

Absolute truth is an essential belief and basis of behavior for those who believe in a God who cannot lie and forbids falsehood. Academic honesty is the application of the principle of truth in the classroom setting. Academic honesty includes the basic premise that all work submitted by students must be their own and any ideas derived or copied from elsewhere must be carefully documented.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

a.cheating of any kind,submitting, without proper approval, work originally prepared by the student for another course,

b.plagiarism, which is the submitting of work prepared by someone else as if it were his own, and

c.failing to credit sources properly in written work.

B.Learning Disabilities

In order to ensure full class participation, any student with a disabling condition requiring special accommodations (e.g., tape recorders, special adaptive equipment, special note-taking or test-taking needs) is strongly encouraged to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course or if a student has a learning disability, please inform the professor so assistance can be provided.

C.Auditing and Sit-In Students

Any student may enroll in a course as an Auditor or Sit-in as long as the class is below capacity. A student’s permanent transcript will reflect which courses have been completed as audits. Sit-in students are not given grades by professors and their transcripts will not reflect enrollment in the course. Taking tests and participation in course activities are afforded to credit students in the syllabus and is at the discretion of the professor.

VIII.Course Schedule

Weekly SessionAssignment

Week 1(August 18-22)

Introduction

ArcheologyLearn City and Nation Map

______

______MESOPOTAMIA______

Week 2(August 25-29)

Southern Mesopotamia: Sumerian

Creation Texts, Part 1

Study Mesopotamia (AofD pp.31-79)

Study TimeMap (Timeline)

Nation & City Map Test

Reading Quiz

______

Week 3(September 1-5)

Central Mesopotamia: Babylonian

Creation Texts, Part 2

Study Mesopotamia (AofD pp.31-79)

Study TimeMap (Timeline)

Reading Quiz

______

Week 4(September 8-12)

Northern Mesopotamia: Assyrian

The Fall of Man and Flood Stories

Study Mesopotamia (AofD pp.31-79)

Timeline Test

Reading Quiz

______

______EGYPT______

Week 5(September 15-19)

Egypt: Delta (Old Kingdom)

Patriarchal Backgrounds

Study Egypt (AofD pp.80-95)

Reading Quiz

______

Week 6(September 22-26)

Lower Egypt: Middle Kingdom

Exodus and Conquest Backgrounds

Study Egypt (AofD pp.80-95)

Reading Quiz

______

Week 7(September 29-October 3)

Upper Egypt: New Kingdom

Legal Texts

Study Egypt (AofD pp.80-95)

Learn Israel Map

Reading Quiz

______

Week 8(October 6-10)

Sinai Peninsula: The Exodus

Cultic and Ritual Texts, Part 1

Study Exodus (AofD pp.96-115)

Learn Israel Map

Reading Quiz

______

______ISRAEL______

Week 9(October 13-17)

Northern Israel: Hermon to Galilee

Cultic and Ritual Texts, Part 2

Study Canaan (AofD pp.70-79)

Study PromisedLand (AofD pp.117-133)

Israel Map

Reading Quiz

______

Week 10(October 20-24)

Northern Israel: Galilee to the Dead Sea

Assyrian Historical Texts

Study PromisedLand (AofD pp.117-133)

Reading Quiz

______

Week 11(October 27-31)

Southern Israel: The Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aquaba

Babylonian Historical Texts

Study Monarchy (AofD pp.134-151)

Reading Quiz

______

JERUSALEM

Week 12(November 3 - 7)

Jerusalem

Wisdom Literature

Study Exile (AofD pp.152-195)

Book Review Due

Reading Quiz

______

Week 13 (November 10 - 14)

Jerusalem: Old City Wall & Temple Mount

Prophetic Texts

Reading Quiz

______

Week 14 (November 17 - 21)

Jerusalem: Mt Zion

Exilic and Postexilic Backgrounds

Reading Quiz

______

(November 24 - 28)

Fall Break & Thanksgiving Holiday

Finish taking all test

Prepare for Final

______

______

Week 15(December 1 - 5)

Grad Student Presentations

Prepare for Final

Walton Reading Due

______

Week 16(December 8 - 12)

Final

IX.Recommended Bibliography

The following is a list of the most important sources to be used for this course. For a more exhaustive list of resources on Old Testament backgrounds, please refer to the supplemental selected bibliography (to be distributed in class).

Arnold, Bill T., and Bryan Beyer. Readings from the Ancient Near East: Primary Sources for Old Testament Study. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002.

Chavalas, Mark W., ed. Ancient Near East: Historical Sources in Translation. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2006.

Hallo, William W., and K. Lawson Younger. The Context of Scripture. 3 vols. Leiden: Brill, 2001-2003.

Hallo, William W., and William Kelly Simpson. The Ancient Near East: A History. 2nd ed.

Hess, Richard S. Israelite Religions: An Archaeological and Biblical Survey. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.

Hill, Andrew E., and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.

Kitchen, K. A. On the Reliability of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.

Kuhrt, Amélie. The Ancient Near East, c. 3000–330 B.C. 2 vols. New ed. New York: Routledge, 1997.

Lichteim, Miriam Ancient Egyptian Literature. 3 vols. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2006.

Matthews, Victor H., and Don C. Benjamin. Old Testament Parallels: Laws and Stories from the Ancient Near East. Third revised expanded ed.Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2007.

Pritchard, James B., ed. The Ancient Near East: A New Anthology of Texts and Pictures. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010.

Sasson, Jack M., ed. Civilizations of the Ancient Near East. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2001.

SBL Writings from the Ancient World Series. 26 vols. Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 2003–2007.

Smelick, Klaas A. D. Writings from Ancient Israel: A Handbook of Historical and Religious Documents. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1991.

Snell, Daniel C. Life in the Ancient Near East, 3100–332 B.C.E. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998.

Sparks, Kenton L. Ancient Texts for the Study of the Hebrew Bible: A Guide to Background Literature. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005.

Spencer, Kirk. “Ancient of Days: An Orientation in the Ancient World.” Unpublished notes, Criswell College, 2004.

Van der Mieroop, Marc. A History of the Ancient Near East, 3100–323 BC. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2003.

Von Soden, Wolfram. The Ancient Orient: An Introduction to the Study of the Ancient Near East. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994.

Walton, John H. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006.

_____, ed.The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2000.

_____, ed.Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament. 4 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.

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