| Dr. Darrell Pursiful | KNT 304 |
| 757-0564 x250 (office) | Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:15-1:30 pm |
| djpursiful [at] gmail [dot] com | http://pursiful.com/classroom/ |
CHR 101 is a course designed to explore the literature of the Old Testament with emphasis on the history, literature, and faith associated with ancient Israel.
COURSE AIMS
Students who have successfully completed CHR 101 should demonstrate the following competencies:
- An understanding of the various writings of the Old Testament in terms of their respective literary genres, historical contexts and theological themes.
- Familiarity with biblical scholarship dealing with the literary and historical study of the Old Testament.
- Familiarity with the major periods in Israel’s ancient history.
- Familiarity with the major Old Testament characters.
- An understanding of the development of Israel’s faith.
- An understanding of the development of the canon of the Old Testament.
- An appreciation for the role of the Old Testament in the development of the Judeo-Christian tradition and its impact on western civilization.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, 3rd ed. (NRSV), college ed. (Oxford University Press, 2001).
Watson E. Mills, et al., Mercer Dictionary of the Bible (Mercer University Press, 1990).
GRADING CRITERIA:
Course grades will be assessed based on the following assignments:
Quizzes (100 points). At least thirteen daily quizzes will be given during the semester. They will not be announced in advance. Daily quizzes will be drawn from the assigned readings for the day and/or the previous day’s lecture and discussion. The student’s ten highest scores will be computed in the final grade. No make-up quizzes will be administered under any circumstances.
Group Activity (150). Students who do not choose to write the optional paper (see below) will participate in one of three group activities. Students will sign up for one of the following activities in the first two weeks of class:
(1) Fishbowl 1 (September 13). Students will take part in an unscripted conversation on the topic of Women in the Patriarchal Narratives, which the rest of the class can “overhear.” This will require participants to read the assigned biblical text as well as all assigned MDOB articles and to come prepared with their questions and observations.
(2) Fishbowl 2 (October 20). Students will take part in an unscripted conversation on the topic of the Prophet Elijah, which the rest of the class can “overhear.” Format and expectations are the same as for the first fishbowl.
(3) Purim Play (November 22). Students will write and perform a Purim play during the first 20–30 minutes of class. This will involve research into the history of Purim plays and the book of Esther. The professor will point students to some examples from which to draw inspiration.
Optional Paper (150 points). Students may choose to write a “characterization” paper instead of participating in a group activity. This paper should be a character study based on a character from the Old Testament (such as Ruth or Ezekiel). If you choose this option, you must inform the professor of your intention no later than the end of class on September 1. Papers are due on November 22. Topics are to be negotiated with the professor in person or via email on or before September 29. Papers should be three to five pages long (single spaced, double space between paragraphs) and employ at least three additional sources besides MDOB. (See Better Writing Requires FOCUS for help with writing better papers for this and every other class at Mercer University!)
Exams (2 x 200 points). Two exams will be administered on the dates listed in the course schedule. The professor is under no obligation to arrange a make-up exam for any student who misses a scheduled exam, although a make-up exam (a type and format decided by the professor) may be possible in cases of dire family emergency or other catastrophic events. Exams will be drawn from readings, lectures, and fishbowl discussions and will consist of a variety of objective, short answer, and essay type questions. Essays are to be written on paper provided by the student.
Final Exam (350 points). The Final Exam will be a comprehensive exam in the same general format of the two periodic exams. It will be administered on Friday, December 16, from 2:00-5:00 pm, as scheduled by the Registrar. There will be no provision for a make-up exam.
The grading scale for this course is:
| A | 910-1000 |
| B+ | 860-909 |
| B | 810-859 |
| C+ | 760-809 |
| C | 710-759 |
| D | 660-709 |
| F | 0-659 |
Any student who receives failing grades during the course is urged to arrange to meet with the professor to discuss such work.
CONDUCT
The College’s academic misconduct policy (Honor Code) will be followed.
ATTENDANCE
Each student is required and expected to be present for each scheduled class session. Since class lectures and discussions are the foundation for quizzes and examinations, attendance is crucial. Students absent from 25% or more of the scheduled class sessions will not receive credit for the course.
CLASS POLICY ON CELL PHONES AND PAGERS
Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering the classroom. Students who have legitimate reasons to have phones or pagers activated during class should set them to silent or vibrate settings. If a necessary call or page is received, students should quietly exit the class and not return for the remainder of the class period.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STATEMENT
Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting or as soon as possible. If you are not registered with Disability Services, the instructor will refer you to the Student Support Services for consultation regarding documentation of your disability and eligibility for accommodations under the ADA/504. In order to receive accommodations, eligible students must provide each instructor with a Faculty Accommodation Form from Disability Services. Students must return the completed and signed form to the Disability Services office on the third floor of the Connell Student Center. Students with a documented disability who do not wish to use accommodations are strongly encouraged to register with Disability Services and complete a Faculty Accommodation Form each semester. For further information please contact Disability Services at 301-2778 or visit the website.
SCHEDULE OF READINGS, ASSIGNMENTS, AND EXAMS
Each class session will have a particular focus. In preparation for lectures and discussions students should read the assigned biblical texts and articles from the MDOB. Optional MDOB articles are noted in [brackets].
Aug 23 A Bird’s Eye View of the Old Testament
Aug 25 Biblical Criticism
Primary Sources:none
MDOB: Bible; Interpretation, History of; Old Testament; Oral Tradition; Sociology of the Old Testament; Source Criticism; Sources of the Pentateuch
[Last Day for Late Registration and Drop/Add is Aug 26]
Aug 30 Genesis 1-11: Creation, Fall, and Grace
Primary Sources: Genesis 1-4; 6-9; 11; Enuma Elish; Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet XI
MDOB: Creation; Flood; Genesis, Book of
Sep 1 Genesis 12-25: The Patriarchal Narratives: Abraham and Isaac
Primary Sources: Genesis 12-15; 17-19; 21-22; 24
MDOB: Abraham; Circumcision; Covenant; Hebrew/Habiru/Apiru; Patriarch
Sep 6 Genesis 26-36: The Patriarchal Narratives: Jacob
Primary Sources: Genesis 26-35
MDOB: Birthright; Esau; Jacob; Laban; Leah; Rachel
Sep 8 Genesis 37–50: The Patriarchal Narratives: Joseph
Primary Sources: Genesis 37; 39-45; 49-50
MDOB: Egypt, Joseph
Sep 13 Fishbowl: Women in the Patriarchal Narratives
Primary Sources: Genesis 16-18; 21
MDOB: Feminist Hermeneutics; Hagar; Sarah; Women in the Old Testament
Sep 15 The Exodus
Primary Sources: Exodus 1-4; 11-12; 14; 19-20; 32
MDOB: Exodus; Exodus, Book of; Moses; Sinai; Tabernacle [Passover; Signs and Wonders]
Sep 20 Approaches to Israelite Law
Primary Sources: Exodus 20-23; Leviticus 11-12; 17-18; 23; 25-26; The Code of Hammurabi (just read the laws, not the commentary, and please disregard the erroneous “2500 BC” date!); Treaty between Mursilis and Duppi-Teshub of Amurru
MDOB: Covenant; Ethics in the Old Testament; Law in the Old Testament; Leviticus, Book of; Torah
Sep 22 Numbers: The Wilderness Generation
Primary Sources: Numbers 13-17; 20-24; 33
MDOB: Balaam; Desert; Kadesh-barnea; Korah; Numbers, Book of; Spies [Aaron; Levi/Levites; Tent of Meeting]
Sep 27 Deuteronomy
Primary Sources: Deuteronomy 1; 5-6; 12; 27-34
MDOB: Deuteronomy, Book of; Shema
Sep 29 FIRST EXAM (Covering the Torah)
Oct 4 Joshua, Judges, and the Settlement of Canaan
Primary Sources: Joshua 1, 6, 24; Judges 3-5; 13-16
MDOB: Conquest of Canaan; Deuteronomist/Deuteronomistic Historian; Holy War; Joshua, Book of; Judges, Book of [Amphictyony, Confederacy]
Oct 6 1 Samuel: Saul and the Rise of David
Primary Sources: 1 Samuel 9-12; 15-18; 24; 26-27; 31
MDOB: Samuel; Samuel, Books of First and Second; Saul
Oct 11 2 Samuel: David’s Reign
Primary Sources: 2 Samuel 1-3; 5-7; 11-12; 24
MDOB: David; Jerusalem; Samuel, Books of First and Second; United Monarchy
Oct 13 FALL BREAK
Oct 18 1-2 Kings: Solomon and the Divided Kingdom
Primary Sources: 1 Kings 1-3; 6; 10-12; 2 Kings 21-25
MDOB: Israel, Kingdom of; Judah, Kingdom of; Kings, Books of First and Second; Solomon
Oct 20 FISHBOWL 2: THE PROPHET ELIJAH
Primary Sources: 1 Kings 16:29–7:7; 18:1-2, 17-46; 19:1-18
MDOB: Ahab; Baal; Elijah; Idolatry; Jezebel
Oct 25 The Prophetic Tradition
Primary Sources: Amos 1-4; 5:18-24; Hosea 1-3; 9-12
MDOB: Amos; Amos, Book of; Hosea; Hosea, Book of; Prophet
Oct 27 The Book of Isaiah
Primary Sources: Isaiah 1:1-2:5; 5-11; 35; 40; 52:13-53:12; 65-66
MDOB: Isaiah; Isaiah, Book of [Suffering in the Old Testament]
[Last Day for Course Withdrawal is Oct 28]
Nov 1 The Book of Jeremiah
Primary Sources: Jeremiah 1-2; 6-7; 18-20; 26-28; 31-32
MDOB: Jeremiah; Jeremiah, Book of
Nov 3 The Exile
Primary Sources: 2 Kings 24-25; Psalm 137; Jeremiah 27-29; Lamentations 1; Obadiah
MDOB: Babylonian Empire; Exile
Nov 8 Post-exilic Prophets
Primary Sources: Haggai 1-2; Zechariah 1; 3-4; 6; 9; Malachi 1-4
MDOB: Haggai; Book of; Zechariah; Book of; Zephaniah, Book of
Nov 10 SECOND EXAM (Covering the Former and Latter Prophets)
Nov 15 The Psalms
Primary Sources: Psalms 1; 8; 19; 23-24; 27; 42; 46; 51; 61; 73; 90; 100; 104; 121; 148
MDOB: Asaph; Hallelujah; Poetry; Psalms, Book of; Worship in the Old Testament [Music/Musical Instruments]
Nov 17 The Wisdom Tradition
Primary Sources: Job 1-3; 9-10; 19; 28; 32-33; 38-39; 42; Proverbs 1; 8-10; 25
MDOB: Job; Job, Book of; Proverbs, Book of; Wisdom in the Old Testament; Wisdom Literature
Nov 22 The Festival Scrolls: Esther, Song of Songs, and Ruth
Primary Sources: Esther 1-7; Song 1-3; Ruth 1-4
MDOB: Esther, Book of; Ruth, Book of; Song of Songs
PURIM PLAY
OPTIONAL PAPERS DUE
Nov 24 THANKSGIVING
Nov 29 The Festival Scrolls: Lamentations and Ecclesiastes
Primary Sources: Lamentations 1-5; Ecclesiastes 1; 3-4; 7; 12
MDOB: Ecclesiastes, Book of; Lamentations, Book of
Dec 1 The Book of Daniel and the Apocalyptic Tradition
Primary Sources: Daniel 1-3; 5-7; 9-12
MDOB: Apocalyptic Literature; Daniel, Book of
Dec 6 The Apocrypha: The Rest of the Story
Primary Sources: Additions to Daniel (Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Jews, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon); 1 Maccabees 1–2; Psalm 151; Prayer of Manasseh
MDOB: Apocalyptic Literature; Canon; Maccabees; Septuagint; Susanna [Dedication, Feast of; Maccabees, First; Maccabees, Second]
Dec 8 The Apocrypha: Later Wisdom Literature
Primary Sources: Wisdom 1–5; Sirach 1, 32–33; 38; 44–46
MDOB: Alexander; Hellenistic World; Sirach; Wisdom Literature
Dec 16 FINAL EXAM 2:00-5:00 (Comprehensive)
