REL 1311, History and Literature of Old Testament

STUDENT SYLLABUS

Office: C-164, Office Hours: generally 8:00-11:00 a.m., M-F, and at other times by appointment, Telephone: 313-5408, or ext. 35408, Email: HeckYes@aol.com or heckj@concordia.edu.

REL 1311, HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
A literary-historical interpretation of the Old Testament with special emphasis on its religious significance.

COGNITIVE OBJECTIVES
As a result of taking this course, students will:
1.    Learn the history of Israel;
2.    Become familiar with the literature of the Old Testament;
3.    Learn the religious themes of the Old Testament;
4.    Gain an ability to perceive the Christian message from reading the Old Testament;
5.    Understand the importance and uniqueness of Messianic prophecy;
6.    Learn some leadership models from the Old Testament saints.

AFFECTIVE OBJECTIVES
As a result of taking this course, students will:
1.    Grow in their appreciation of the Word of God;
2.    Identify with many of the characters of the Old Testament;
3.    Grow in love for God.

PSYCHOMOTOR OBJECTIVES
As a result of taking this course, students will:
1.    Make greater use of the Old Testament for personal devotions and Bible reading;
2.    Integrate the leadership qualities and other qualities of Old Testament saints into their lives;
3.    Turn to the Old Testament for help in making decisions.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1.    Class lectures and discussion
2.    Small group discussion
3.    Readings in the Old Testament and the course textbook, completion of study questions on the textbook
4.    Completion of four maps: The Ancient Near East, The Route of the Exodus, The Twelve Tribes under David, and Eighth Century Israel and Judah in the Days of Jeroboam II and Uzziah
5.    Memorization of the books of the Old Testament in sequence
6.    Memorization of key thoughts for each of the Old Testament books covered in this course
7.    Three Unit Exams and one comprehensive Final Exam
8.    Spelling: The following words must be spelled correctly on all tests: altar, anoint, Ark, campaign, Canaan, Isaac, Israel, plague, sacrifice, Samson, and Sinai.

TEXTBOOKS
The Bible (Any version, but the NIV or God’s Word is preferable).
A Bible Atlas.

EVALUATION PROCEDURES
Unit I Exam                                                20%
Unit II Exam                                               20%
Unit III Exam                                        20%
Final Exam                                                30%
Quiz on OT Books and spelling words    5%
Maps                                                        5%

ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance at every class session is expected of every student, except when necessity demands otherwise. Every absence, whether excused or unexcused, must be explained to the instructor in writing by the next period in which the student returns to class. If the absence is not explained in the next period, it is recorded as an unexcused absence. An unexcused absence on the day of a test will result in a failing grade. For every three unexcused absences, the student’s grade will be lowered one level (e.g., from B to B-).

TENTATIVE ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

Read the assigned material, listed in parentheses, prior to the class period for which it is listed. The schedule below is listed as such, independent of any particular calendar. It is set up for three 50-minute periods a week, but it can be adjusted to meet the requirements for a class that meets only once or twice a week. For example, a class meeting once a week would cover three days worth of material each time it meets. HW refers to Hill and Walton. If no recommended chapters are listed, then the entire book is recommended for your reading.

Day 1 Introduction to the Course and the Syllabus
Day 2 Formation of the Old Testament, Historical Overview (HW Approaching the Old Testament, pp. 19-25; Formation of the Old Testament Scriptures, pp. 383-397)
Day 3 Geography, Archaeology (HW Geography of the Old Testament, pp. 28-42; Archaeology and the Old Testament, pp. 290-302)
Day 4 No Class, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Day 5 The Pentateuch, Genesis (Genesis 1-11, HW 1, Appendix A, pp. 571-575, Appendix B, pp. 576-585)
Day 6 Genesis (Genesis 12-36, HW 2, Map 1 due)
Day 7 Genesis, Character Sketch: Jacob (Genesis 37-50, HW Historical Overview of Old Testament Times, pp. 146-164)
Day 8 Exodus (Exodus 1-12, HW 3)
Day 9 Exodus (Exodus 13-20)
Day 10 Exodus, Character Sketch: Moses (Exodus 31-32, 40)
Day 11 Leviticus (Leviticus 1, 8, 10, 16-17, 23-25, HW 4)
Day 12 Chapter Analysis: Leviticus 16, Numbers (Map 2 due)
Day 13 Numbers (Numbers 6, 11-14, 16-17, 20-25, 27, 32, 35-36, HW 5)
Day 14 UNIT I EXAM
Day 15 Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 1-11, 18-19, 27-28, 31-34, HW 6)
Day 16 Joshua (HW 7, 8)
Day 17 Judges (HW 9)
Day 18 No Class, Instructor’s Absence
Day 19 Ruth (HW 10)
Day 20 1 Samuel, Character Sketch: Abigail (HW 11)
Day 21 2 Samuel, Character Sketch: David (2 Samuel 1-19, 24)
Day 22 1 & 2 Kings (HW 12)
Day 23 Character Sketch: Ahab and Jezebel, 1 & 2 Chronicles (HW 13)
Day 24 UNIT II EXAM
Day 25 The Prophets, Jonah (HW 22, 32)
Day 26 Hosea (HW 28)
Day 27 Amos (HW 30, Quiz on books of the Old Testament and spelling words)
Day 28 Isaiah, Chapter Analysis: Isaiah 6 (Isaiah 1-12, 36-40, 52-53, HW 23)
Day 29 Micah (HW 33)
Day 30 Jeremiah, Lamentations (Jeremiah 1-4, 31, 36-41, 52, HW 24, 25)
Day 31 Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1-5, 34, 37, HW 26)
Day 32 Obadiah, Nahum (HW 31, 34)
Day 33 Habakkuk, Zephaniah (HW 35, 36, Map 3 due)
Day 34 Haggai, Zechariah (HW 37, 38)
Day 35 Joel, Malachi (HW 29, 39)
Day 36 UNIT III EXAM
Day 37 Poetic and Wisdom Literature (HW 16)
Day 38 Job, Song of Songs (HW 17, 21)
Day 39 Psalms (Psalms 6, 16, 22-24, 46, 51, 95, 98, 100, 110, 119, 121, 122, 150, HW 18)
Day 40 Proverbs, Ecclesiastes (Proverbs 1-9, 31, HW 19, 20)
Day 41 Ezra-Nehemiah (HW 14, Map 4 due)
Day 42 Esther (HW 15)
Day 43 Daniel (HW 27, 40, 41)
Final Exams

Link to Study Questions

Link to Map Requirements