TC 363
Phone: 626-2608
Office Hours:
MWF 1:30--2:50
TuTh 11-12
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TC 363 Phone: 626-2608 Office Hours: MWF 1:30--2:50 TuTh 11-12 |
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INTRODUCTION:
The Hebrews left no great works of art or architecture. They made virtually no contributions to astronomy, medicine, physics, or biology. They created no mighty empire. And yet the Hebrews are probably the most important of all ancient civilizations in terms of their impact on subsequent civilization. As more than one modern scholar has noted, no member of Western civilization can consider himself fully educated if he is not familiar with the Hebrews and their one contribution to subsequent civilization, the Bible.
This course will provide the familiarity with the Hebrews necessary
to a good understanding of Western civilization. It will include
a survey of Hebrew history from the time of the Patriarchs to the time
of the Great Diaspora (1900 BC--AD 70). It will also include
extensive
readings from the Old Testament and the Deuterocanonicals.
ON-LINE:
My e-mail address is marmorsa@northern.edu.
You will eventually find on-line help for this class www.northern.edu. There is also an
official blog (web log) for this course: “Torah, Torah, Torah” (http://2008history413.blogspot.com),
REQUIRED TEXTS:
• Old Testament Introduction (Gleason Archer)
• The Bible (I prefer you use the KJV, RSV, NRSV,
NKJV or NAS)
The main text for this class, Archer’s Old Testament
Introduction, will give you a different perspective on the figures and
events discussed in class and serve as an excellent supplement to your
lecture notes as you prepare for your midterm and final exams. You will
probably find the maps, time lines, and archaeological information in
the Archer book particularly helpful. You do not need to bring the
Archer book to class, and it doesn't really matter whether you do the
Archer readings before or after the associated lecture.
The other readings must be done before class on the day assigned. We
will be discussing these works in class, and you will be lost and
confused if you haven't done the reading. Please make sure you look
over the study questions on each reading assignment (posted on my Web
site). These questions will let you know what to look for and
will make your reading much easier.
You will probably find it helpful to have a “study Bible” for this
course, a Bible with maps, cross-references, and a concordance. Klein's
and Anchors of Faith both carry study Bibles, and Wal-Mart sometimes
has a pretty good KJV Study Bible for $10.00! You can get a wider
selection (and possibly better prices) by ordering online.
Christian Book Distributors (www.christianbooks.com) has a good
selection of Bibles.
If you are buying a new Bible, I strongly recommend you get an accurate
translation: the New American Standard, King James, New King James,
Rheims-Douay, American Standard, Revised Standard, and New Revised
Standard versions are all good. I do not recommend the New
International Version.
You might also find a Bible handbook useful for this class.
Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and other online distributors have
excellent Bible reference books available (e.g., Halley's Bible
Handbook).
NSU DISABILITY POLICY:
Northern State University recognizes its responsibility for
creating an institutional climate in which students with disabilities
can thrive. If you have any type of disability for which you
require accommodations, please contact Karen Gerety at the NSU Office
of Disability Services (626-2371, Student Center 217) as soon as
possible to discuss your particular needs.
BOARD OF REGENTS ACADEMIC FREEDOM POLICY:
Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic
performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on
opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards.
Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views
offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of
opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any
course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that
an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration
of student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should
contact the academic dean administratively in charge of the class to
initiate a review of the evaluation.
NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY DIVERSITY STATEMENT:
Northern State University strives to build an academic community
of people from diverse backgrounds and experiences who are committed to
sharing diverse ideas in a mutually respectful environment. We value
open discourse and consideration of multiple perspectives on issues of
regional, national, and international importance, in which individuals
are free to express their points of view. Our goal is a diverse
learning community with equal opportunity for all.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND READINGS:
1/17 Introduction:
Survey of Hebrew History
1/22 A
Very Good Place to Start (Genesis 1-11)
1/24 Torah, Torah, Torah (Genesis
12-36)
1/28 To Begin the
Beginning (Genesis 37-50)
1/30 Yes, Jean-Paul, There is an Exit (Exodus 1-20)
2/5 As Moses Said
in His Last Exciting Lecture (Deuteronomy 1-15)
2/7 Choose Life (Deuteronomy 16-33)
2/12 *** Midterm I ***
2/14 Warts with Heroes (Judges 1-21)
2/19 The Tragical History of Eli (I Samuel 1-14)
2/21 The Tragical History of Saul (I Samuel 15—31)
2/26 The Tragical History of David (II Samuel 1-24)
2/28 The Tragical History of Israel and Judah, Part I (I
Kings 1-22)
3/4 TTHOIAJ, Part II (II Kings 1-17)
3/6 TTHOIAJ, Part III (II Kings 18-25)
3/11 *** Midterm II
Exam***
3/13 The Prophet’s Lot is Not a Happy One (Amos 1-9)
3/17-24 *** Spring/Easter Break: No Class ***
3/25 A Burden Worth Bearing (Isaiah 1-42)
3/27 The Gospel—A Few Hundred Years Early! (Isaiah
43-66)
4/1 Cry me a River (Jeremiah 1-30)
4/3 I Cried a River Over You (Jeremiah
31-52)
4/8 Dem Bones Gonna Rise Again (Ezekiel 1-32)
4/10 It’s Not Where You Are, It’s What You See
(Ezekiel 33-48)
4/15 To Everything, There is a Season (Ecclesiastes
1-11)
4/17 The Words of the Wise (Proverbs 1-3 carefully,
skim the rest)
4/22 The Problem of Evil I (Job 1-5, 19, 37-42)
4/24 The Problem of Evil II (Habakkuk, Daniel)
4/29 Temple to Temple
(Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Malachi)
5/1 The Exciting Conclusion to this Course!
*** FINAL EXAM: Monday, May 5,
2:15-4:15 ***
GRADING:
There will be three major exams for this course (two “midterms” and a
final), each of which will count approximately 25% when I determine
your final grade. The remaining 25% of your grade will be based on your
blog entries, attendance and participation.
My grading policy allows for improvement, and I frequently have
students who fail the first exam who nevertheless end up earning "A" or
"B" grades in the course. Note, however, that I factor
"improvement" into your course grade *only* if you demonstrate your
commitment to the course through good attendance and other evidence of
hard work, e.g., solid blog entries.
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:
As much as possible, I want this course to be a
seminar and not a lecture class. Because of this, it is extremely
important to have done the assigned reading before each class and be
prepared to discuss those readings. Each student should have in mind at
least three good questions based on that day's reading. These
questions will be an important part of many class sessions.
BLOG:
For each day scheduled for a discussion of primary sources (almost
every day the class meets!), I would like you to add an entry to the
class blog (http://2008history413.blogspot.com).
In general, what I want you to do is pick out a key verse/passage from
the assigned reading and either:
If earlier posters have argued for
different verses as either key, best, or hardest, explain why you think
your line is a better choice.
Since part of the goal of the blogs is to make sure you are prepared
for class discussion, late blog entries will not be accepted. Be sure
to keep up with the blogs!
EXAM FORMAT:
Midterm and Final exams--8 ID's, 1 essay
ID's will be selected from the terms put on
the board at the beginning of each lecture. You will be asked,
not only to identify the terms, but also to explain their historical
significance. I am impressed when students can include plenty of
detailed information, but I am even more impressed when students can
show how the ID terms relate to important themes discussed in this
class.
Potential essay questions for each exam are
listed below. Those of you who have taken other classes from me
should note that preparing and organizing your answers to these
questions will take some extra time and thought.
A student who studies hard and does the
required reading should have plenty to write in response both to the
ID's and the essay prompts. You will be given 75 minutes for the
midterm and two hours for the final exam. Most students will need
the full time to do a good job.
What is a good job? I tell students over
and over again that a good essay consists of a series of good
generalizations based on the exam question and backed up with specific
support from the lectures, discussions, and readings. I am
particularly impressed when students include in their essays references
to primary source material.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING EXAMS:
1. Bring a blue book. Make sure there are no pages torn out.
2. Use pen.
3. Don't sit by anyone with whom you studied.
4. Plan on spending the full time writing your exam.
5. Do the ID terms first.
PLEASE NOTE: Any student caught cheating in this class at any
time (even on a one point "sign your name" quiz) will receive a failing
grade for the course. Cheating includes the use of any notes
during midterm or final exams. Please place no marks of any kind
on or in your blue book before I give the signal to begin taking the
exams.
It is not cheating to study with another student or to prepare essays
or ID's together.
