The Prophetic Element in Biblical Traditon (REL265A)
Tentative Course Schedule (MWF)
Fall 2004
Updated November 14, 2004
 

All Reading assignments must be completed before the class meeting for which they are assigned.

Items in colors other than black are links to online resources. Click on them to view the assigned reading. If an assignment is displayed in black, it refers to one of the required textbooks.

Go to Exam One
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Date
Topic
Assigned Readings
Wed Aug 16
Introduction to the Course
None
Fri Aug 18
Moses and the Story of the Exodus
Exodus 1-18
Mon Aug 23
The Alternative Community of Moses
Brueggeman, 1-19
Wed Aug 25
The Nature of Israelite Prophecy
Bandstra, pp. 203-215: Prologue to the Prophets
Fri Aug 27
Joshua's Story of the War of Conquest
Bandstra, pp. 216-227 (Chapter 6, Introduction and section 1)
NRSV, Joshua 1-12.
Mon Aug 30
Joshua's account of the Tribal Territories and the Covenant Renewal

Bandstra, pp. 227-235 (Chapter 6, sections 2-4)
NRSV, Joshua 13-24
Wed Sept 1
Judges' account of the Hebrew Occupation of Canaan
----------
Joshua, Judges, and the Historical Puzzle of the Hebrew Occupation of Canaan
Bandstra, pp. 236-243 (Chapter 7, Introduction and Section 1)
NRSV, Judges 1-2
Fri Sept 3
Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, and Abimelech
Bandstra, pp. 243-247 (Chapter 7, Section 2 to the end of the chapter.)
NRSV, Judges 2:16-chapter 9
Mon Sept 6
Labor Day
No Class
Wed Sept 8
Discussion: The Daughter of Jephthah
----------
The story of Samson
NRSV, Judges 10-16
Trible, 93-116
Fri Sept 10
Discussion: The Levite's Concubine and the War against Benjamin
NRSV, Judges 17-21
Trible, 65-91
Mon Sept 13
Introduction to the Books of Samuel
----------
The Samuel Cycle
Bandstra, pp. 251-262 (Chapter 8, Introduction and section 1)
NRSV, First Samuel 1-12
Wed Sept 15
The Saul Cycle
Bandstra, pp. 262-267 (Chapter 8, section 2)
NRSV, First Samuel 13-31
Fri Sept 17
Exam One
Mon Sept 20
The David Cycle I: David's Rise to Power
Bandstra, pp. 267-269 (Chapter 8, section 3A)
NRSV, Second Samuel 1-8
Wed Sept 22
The David Cycle II: The Succession Narrative
Bandstra, pp. 269-274 (Chapter 8, section 3B to the end)
NRSV, Second Samuel 9-12
Fri Sept 24
Discussion: The Rape of Tamar
NRSV, Second Samuel 13-24
Trible, 37-63
Mon Sept 27
Introduction to the Books of Kings
Bandstra, pp. 275-278 (Chapter 9, Introduction)
Wed Sept 29
Solomon and the Unified Monarchy
Bandstra, pp. 278-283 (Chapter 9, section 1)
NRSV, First Kings 1-11
Fri Oct 1
Royal Conciousness and the Reign of Solomon
Bruggemann, 21-37
Mon Oct 4
Division of the Kingdom
----------
The Elijah Cycle (First Kings 17-Second Kings 2)
----------
The Elisha Cycle (Second Kings 3-10)
Bandstra, pp. 284-291 (Chapter 9, section 2A-C)
NRSV, First Kings 12-16
Wed Oct 6
The Assyrian Crisis (2 Kings 11-17)
----------
Hezekiah and Isaiah (2 Kings 18-20)
Bandstra, pp. 291-293 (Chapter 9, sections 2D-3A)
Fri Oct 8
Autumn Recess--No Class
Mon Oct 11
Josiah's Reform (2 Kings 21-23)
----------
The Babylonian Crisis (2 Kings 24-25)

Bandstra, pp. 293-298 (Chapter 9, sections 3B to the end)
Wed Oct 13
The Book of Isaiah
----------
First Isaiah (Isaiah of Jerusalem)
----------
The Syro-Ephraimite War
----------
Sennacherib’s Invasion

Bandstra, pp. 299-309 (Chapter 10, Introduction and section 1)
Fri Oct 15
Second Isaiah and the Babylonian Exile

Bandstra, pp. 309-314 (Chapter 10, section 2)
Mon Oct 18
Exam Two
Wed Oct 20
Third Isaiah
----------
Isaiah as a Whole

Bandstra, pp. 315-317 (Chapter 10, section 3 to the end)

Fri Oct 22
Jeremiah: Before the First Exile (598 BCE)

Bandstra, pp. 318-326 (Chapter 11, Introduction and sections 1-2)
NRSV, Jeremiah 7 and 36
Mon Oct 25
Jeremiah: After the First Exile (598 BCE)
--------
Prophetic Criticizing and Pathos

Bandstra, pp. 326-333 (Chapter 11, section 3 to the end)
NRSV, Jeremiah 29-31
Brueggemann, 39-57
Guiding Questions on the Readings from Brueggemann
Wed Oct 27
Ezekiel Part One: 
Warnings (1-24)

Bandstra, pp. 335-342 (Chapter 12, Introduction and section 1)
NRSV, Ezekiel 1-5 and 16
Fri Oct 29
Ezekiel Part Two: 
Hope and Restoration (25-48)

Bandstra, pp. 342-348 (Chapter 12, section 2 to the end)
NRSV, Ezekiel 18 and 37.
Mon Nov 1 The Book of the Twelve
----------
The Assyrian Period
-----------
Amos
Bandstra, pp. 349-362 (Chapter 13, Introduction and section 1A-B)
NRSV, Amos 1-2 and 7-8
Wed Nov 3 Hosea
----------
Discussion: The Metaphor of Attraction
Weems, 1-34 (Notice that this reading assignment is long. Get an early start.) 
NRSV, Hosea 1-3
Optional Extra Credit Assignment Due: The Voice of Gomer
Fri Nov 5 Discussion: Prophets, their Audiences, and Expectations
Weems, 35-67
NRSV, Hosea 11-12
Mon Nov 8
Discussion: The Metaphor of Attraction and the Nature of Israel's God

Weems: 68-83 
Wed Nov 10   Discussion: What does this mean for today's readers?
Weems: 84-119 (Notice the length of this assignment. Get an early start.) 
Fri Nov 12  

Mon Nov 15   Review: Hosea and Amos
NRSV, Amos 1-2 and 7-8
NRSV, Hosea 1-3 and 11-12
If you do not remember the historical contexts of Amos and Hosea clearly, review Bandstra, chapter 13, sections 1A and 1B. The Timeline for the Latter Prophets will also be helpful.
Wed Nov 17 Micah
----------
The Babylonian Period
Zephaniah
Habakkuk
Obadiah
Bandstra, pp. 362-368 (Chapter 13, sections 1C-2D)

NRSV, Micah 6-7
Fri Nov 19 The Persian Period
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Joel
Jonah
Bandstra, pp. 368-380 (Chapter 13, section 3 to the end)
Optional Extra Credit Assignment Due: In the Gymnasium
Mon Nov 22 Amazement

Complete the "Guiding Questions" assignment listed in the column to the right and bring it to class with you on Friday.
Brueggemann, 59-79
Guiding Questions on the Readings
The "Guiding Questions" assignment is due today. See the assignment column for October 25 and November 17. 
Wed Nov 24 and Fri Nov 26 Thanksgiving Break
No Class
Mon Nov 29 Jesus of Nazareth:
Criticism and Pathos,
Energizing and Amazement

No reading assignment today, but you might want to get an early start on the readings for Wednesday.
Optional Extra Credit Assignment Due: King of the Jews
Wed Dec 1
Prophetic Perspective and the Practice of Ministry

Brueggemann, 115-125 (Notice that this reading spans two short chapters.)
Tues, Dec. 7 1:00-4:00
Final Examination