Learning
Experiences
Please read through this entire
section thoroughly. It contains important information on assignments as well as
submission instructions. Please note: all learning experiences must be
completed before a final grade can be issued.
The student is required to read the
following materials in their entirety.These materials include the required
textbooks (see immediately below) as well as articles that are listed under
specific assignments.Articles are boldfaced where they are assigned. Again,
they can be obtained at a college or public library through either their own
holdings or on loan (ask the librarian).If you do not have access to ANY
library at all, please notify me as indicated above as soon as possible.It
is the student's responsibility to inform the instructor in regard to the
availability of materials.If you do not have library access, we can work
out alternative learning experiences.I will, however, ask you via email or
"snail-mail" to demonstrate your lack of access to ANY library at
all.For your convenience, I have posted a master list of the articles on my
website (www.professorheiser.com)
by publication and year so you can hand them to a librarian (if necessary) for
ordering.If you need to order articles via inter-library loan, do it as soon
as possible – and do them all at once.
Required
textbooks:
Walter Kaiser, A History of Israel:From the
Bronze Age to the Jewish Wars (Broadman & Holman); abbreviated as KAISER
below
Alfred Hoerth, Archaeology and the Old Testament
(Baker); abbreviated as AOT below
Recommended
Methodology for Learning Experiences:
As a way to assist you in
getting the most out of the learning experiences below, I suggest you do the
following:
1) Read the required textbook
reading first.Make a sincere effort at understanding the material – with
particular attention to material that relates to the questions.
2) Read through the questions in the
assignment.
3) Check my website (under the appropriate
class title) for any hints in regard to the questions."Hints" refers
to the notations I sometimes include that, in a sentence or two, give you the
gist of the article and or the point of the question(s) I have asked you to
read in conjunction with the required texts.If you do not have internet access,
let me know right away so I can provide a hard copy of any hints.
4)Read the articles and complete the
assignment.
NOTE:
*** If you are concurrently enrolled in
my class "Archaeology and the Old Testament," you MAY count readings
and answers to questions that overlapbetween the classes toward BOTH classes.
Assignment 1 – Read KAISER,
chs. 1-3,AOT ch. 1., as well as the articles below:
Mark Chavalas,
"Recent Trends In The Study of Israelite Historiography," Journal
of the Evangelical Theological Society 38:2 (1995):161-169.
In 4-7 pages, answer
the following questions:
1.What is
historiography?
2.List and summarize the viewpoints
of the various "schools" of Israel's history / historiography. What
are the primary reasons for the skepticism in certain schools?
3.Compare Kaiser and Chavalas –
how similar are their views on Israel's history and historiography? Are there
dissimilarities?
4.Since skepticism inevitably
derives (to some degree) over the disagreement of archaeological data, how
should those scholars and students who believe the Old Testament is God's word
use archaeology?
Assignment 2 – Read KAISER,
ch. 4, AOT chs. 2-5 and the articles below In the order they are
listed).
Donald J. Wiseman,
"Abraham In History And Tradition, Part I:Abraham The Hebrew," Bibliotheca
Sacra 134:534 (1977):123-130
Donald J. Wiseman, "Abraham
in History and Tradition, Part II: Abraham the Prince," Bibliotheca
Sacra 134:535 (1977):228-237.
"The Patriarchal Age: Myth or History?
By Kenneth Kitchen, Biblical Archaeology Review21:2 (1995):48-57, 88,
90, 92, 94-95.
“Finding Historical Memories,” by Ronald
Hendel Biblical Archaeology Review 21:4 (1995): 52-59 and 70-71
(his response to Kitchen above)
In 4-7 pages, summarize the
evidence for the historicity of Abraham, interacting with objections to those
evidences.
Assignment 3 – Read KAISER chs. 5-6,
AOT chs. 6-7, and the articles below (in the order given):
Nahum Sarna,
"Exploring Exodus:The Oppression,"Biblical Archaeologist 49
(1986):68-80.
"The Duration of the Egyptian
Bondage" by Harold W. Hoehner, Bibliotheca Sacra 126:504
(1969):306-316
"The Meaning of the Divine
Name YHWH," Charles R. Gianotti, Bibliotheca Sacra 142:565
(1985):38-51
Donald Redford,
"The Monotheism of the Heretic Pharaoh:Precursor of Mosaic Monotheism or
Egyptian Anomaly?"Biblical Archaeology Review 13:3 (1987):
16-32.
In 5-8 pages, answer
the following questions:
1)Explain the controversy involving Joseph's presence in
Egypt and the connection (or dis-connection) of the biblical account of his
life in Egypt and the Hyksos people of Egypt's Second Intermediate Period.What
contribution has archaeology made (if any) toward solving this issue?
2)Summarize the controversy concerning extra-biblical evidence for the
bondage/oppression in Egypt.
3)Summarize the confusion over exactly how long the Israelites were in
Egypt?What are the alternatives for sorting out the pertinent biblical verses?
4)Summarize the options for what the divine name YHWH means.Which view
do you find most persuasive?(feel free to use other sources)
5.What are the Redford's
conclusions regarding the monotheism of Akhenaten? How does he support them,
and would they have any impact on the biblical story of Moses?
Assignment 4 – Read KAISER chs.
7-8, AOT ch. 8, and the articles below. Answer the questions associated
with each article in a cumulative total of 5-10 pages.
"Divine Hardening
in the Old Testament," Robert B. Chisholm Jr., Bibliotheca Sacra
153:612 (1996):410-434
1.Why is the
hardening of pharaoh's heart controversial? What is Chisholm's solution?
2.Compare the two articles below
on the plagues in Egypt: James K. Hoffmeier, "Egypt, Plagues in,"
in The Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol. 2, pp. 374-378, Ed. By David Noel
Freedman (Doubleday, 1992); and Robert Steiglitz, "Ancient Records and the
Exodus Plagues, "Biblical Archaeology Review 13:6 (1987): 46-49.Do
you feel one is more accepting of the biblical account than the other? Why or
why not? Judging by the content of both articles, do you think they do an
adequate job of "validating" the biblical record of the plagues? What
do these articles demonstrate about the limits of archaeology for faith?
All the articles
below deal with the chronological problem of the exodus. Read your texts first to get a basic
idea of the debate.
"The Sphinx
Stele Of Thutmose IV And the Date Of The Exodus," by Charles F. Aling, Journal
of the Evangelical Theological Society22:2 (1979):97-101
"The Biblical City Of
Ramses," by Charles F. Aling, Journal of the Evangelical Theological
Society25:2 (1982):129-137
"Paul’s Use of “About 450
Years” in Acts 13:20," by Eugene H. Merrill, Bibliotheca Sacra 138:551
(1981):246-257
Charles Dyer, "The Date of
the Exodus Reexamined," Bibliotheca Sacra 140: 559 (1983):225-243
3.Summarize the
(biblical) textual problems with dating the exodus precisely.Which position or
resolution do you think is most workable and why?What do Aling's articles
contribute to the debate?
Bernard Batto, "Red Sea or
Reed Sea?"Biblical Archaeology Review 10:4 (1984):56-63
Charles Krahmalkov, "Exodus Itinerary
Confirmed by Egyptian Evidence," Biblical Archaeology Review 20:5(1994):54-62,
79
Michael S. Heiser, "Mount Sinai in
Arabia?A Reconsideration of Frank Moore Cross's Proposal" (available on my
website, www.professorheiser.com
- if the site is not up and running by the time you get to this assignment,
notify me by email for a hard copy).There is some dense textual discussion
here, but it isn't pertinent to the major thrust of the article (so don't worry
about it) – that the Sinai of Moses is NOT in the southern tip of what is today
the Sinai peninsula.
4.Generally, what is
your opinion of the article by Batto?Does his suggestion harm the authenticity
of the biblical story, or is it just a workable alternative?Why?
5.How secure do you think
Krahmalkov's contentions are about confirming the exodus itinerary?Do his
arguments answer all the questions?How? If not, which ones still stand?
6.What is the gist of my article
regarding Mount Sinai, esp. as it relates to Paul's statement in the book of
Galatians?
Assignment 5 – Read KAISER
chs. 9-13, AOT chs. 10-11, and the articles below:
Part I
In 5-8 pages, explain the
controversy over the dating and nature of the Israelite entrance into
Canaan.How has archaeology contributed to this debate (on either side)?
Read the following in connection
with this assignment:
Volkmar Fritz, "Conquest or Settlement?The Early Iron
Age in Palestine,"Biblical Archaeologist 50 (1987):84-100.
Adam Zertal, "Israel Enters Canaan:Following the
Pottery Trail," Biblical Archaeology Review 17:5 (1991):28-47
Eugene Merrill, "The Late Bronze/Early Iron Age
Transition and the Emergence of Israel," Bibliotheca Sacra 152:606
(1995):145-162.
Bryant Wood, "Did the Israelites Conquer
Jericho?"Biblical Archaeology Review 16:2 (1990):44-58
Piotr Bienkowski and Bryant Wood, "Battle over
Jericho Heats Up," Biblical Archaeology Review 16:5 (1990):45-49,
68-69 (this is Bienkowski's response to Woods earlier article above, and Wood's
rejoinder).
Part 2
With respect to the era of the Judges, CHOOSE 1 of the
following – give me your position on one of these matters in 1-3 pages:
a)How does knowing
the location and significance of Ophrah help explain the Gideon stories (from
beginning to his death)?Use a Bible dictionary for help, esp. a dictionary
relating to Bible places.
b)Explain how
Jephthah carried out his vow – did he sacrifice his daughter or not?
c)How could it be
morally right for God to call Samson because "he had something against the
Philistines"?
Assignment 6 -Read KAISER
chs. 14-19, AOT chs. 12-14, and the articles below.Answer the questions
in a cumulative total of 5-10 pages.
1)
Summarize the importance of the find at Tel Dan and the controversy surrounding
it.Evaluate the evidence for and against the authenticity of this fragmentary
reference to King David.
Read the following articles (in
this order) in conjunction with this assignment:
Hershel Shanks, " 'David' Found at Dan," Biblical
Archaeology Review20:2 (1994):26-39
Philip Davies, " 'House of David' Built on Sand:The
Sins of the Biblical Maximizers,"Biblical Archaeology Review 20:4
(1994):54-55
Anson Rainey, "The 'House of David' and the House of
the Deconstructionists," Biblical Archaeology Review 20:6 (1994):
47, 68, 70, 72
2)Read the following
articles on how the promise of the Land to Abraham may or may not have been
fulfilled during the monarchy of David and Solomon (whether you realize it or
not, this question determines whether or not you believe in a coming literal
millennium or not).
"Fulfillment of
the Land Promise in the Old Testament," Jeffrey L. Townsend, Bibliotheca
Sacra 142:568 (1985):320-333
"Covenant Conditionality And
A Future For Israel," Ronald W. Pierce, Journal of the Evangelical
Theological Society 37:1 (1994):27-38
Why would the issue
of whether Israel received the promised Land affect one's view of the
millennial kingdom (literal 1,000 years or spiritual fulfillment through the
Church)?Without letting your theological preconceptions dictate your answer,
who builds a better case?What are the main issues you'll want to think about
more?
3)Read "The
Case for Kingship in Deuteronomy and the Former Prophets," David M.
Howard, Jr., Westminster Theological Journal 52:1 (1990):101-115.Do
you think God approved of the institution of kingship?Why or why not?Are there
any conditions to be met?Why was Samuel so worried about it?
Assignment 7 -Read KAISER chs.
20-26,AOT chs. 15-17, and the articles below.Answer all the questions in a
total of 4-7 pages.
"The Polemic
against Baalism in Israel’s Early History and Literature," Robert B. Chisholm,
Jr., Bibliotheca Sacra 151:603 (1994):267-283
1.How did the
prophets preach and argue the superiority of Yahweh using pagan Canaanite
religious literature?
Ze'ev Meshel, "Did Yahweh
have a Consort?"Biblical Archaeology Review 5:2 (1979):24-35
Glen Taylor, "Was Yahweh
Worshipped as the Sun?" Biblical Archaeology Review 20:3
(1994):52-61, 90-91
Why would some believers be
troubled at the content of these last two articles (i.e., at the finds
mentioned in the articles); and (b) should such people be troubled?Why or why
not?(c)How could such finds be construed as being entirely consistent with the
biblical record?
Assignment 8 –an
introduction to I and II Chronicles in a study Bible of your choice, looking
for some comment regarding the historiographical differences in the
history recorded in I & II Samuel, I & II Kings and that of I & II
Chronicles.Then read the articles below:
"The Reign Of
Asa (2 Chronicles 14-16): An Example Of The Chronicler’s Theological
Method," Raymond Dillard, Journal of the Evangelical Theological
Society 23:3(1980):207-218
"Reward and
Punishment in Chronicles: The Theology of Immediate Retribution,"Raymond
B. Dillard, Westminster Theological Journal 46:1 (1984):164-172
In
4-7 pages, why is the chronicler selective in his use of material?Is there any
intent to deceive his readers?Are his chronicles still accurate history?Why or
why not?
Assignment 9 –Read KAISER chs.
27-31, AOT chs. 18-20, and the articles below.Answer the
questions below in a total of 4-7 pages.
"Modern
Rationalism and the Book of Daniel," Gleason L. Archer, Jr., Bibliotheca
Sacra 136:542 (1979):129-147
Alan Millard, "Daniel and Belshazzar in
History,"Biblical Archaeology Review 11:3 (1985):72-78
"Archaeological Backgrounds of the
Exilic and Postexilic Era Part I: The ArchaeologicalBackground of Daniel,"
Edwin M. Yamauchi, Bibliotheca Sacra 137:545 (1980):3-16
1.Summarize the problems
historians often have with the contents of the book of Daniel.Summarize as well
how evangelical scholars have responded to these problems.
"Archaeological Backgrounds
of the Exilic and Postexilic Era, Part 2: The Archaeological Background of
Esther," Edwin M. Yamauchi, Bibliotheca Sacra 137:546 (1980):99-117
2.Summarize
the problems historians often have with the contents of the book of
Esther.Summarize as well how evangelical scholars have responded to these
problems.