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Professor: Dr. Lisa Davison

Johnnie Eargle Cadieux Professor of Hebrew Bible
Phone: 918/270-4607
E-mail: Lisa.Davison@ptstulsa.edu

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  This course examines biblical texts that reflect Israel's
developing understandings of God's role in human history. Critical elements of Israel's
political and religious history through the 2nd century BCE will receive attention.
Students will explore a variety of interpretive methods. Successful completion of the
course will satisfy one of the basic Bible requirements for the Master's degree
programs.



 None.

   This is a basic course in which foundational information is learned. Due to

the amount of material to be covered during the semester, most class sessions will be
lecture-based, with opportunities for discussion, as time allows. Class discussions will
be open, honest, and respectful; all opinions will be heard and derogatory language
toward another person will not be tolerated. [Behavior or attitudes that are
disrespectful of another person, professor or student, will result in significant lowering
of the offenderƞs grade.] All participants will covenant together to agree to disagree
without hostility.



  By the end of the course, students will:

` now the basic storyline of the Hebrew Bible and understand how it
relates to the archeology and broader context of the Ancient Near East.
` now the compositional history and canonization process behind the texts
of the Hebrew Bible and understand the different translation theories
behind modern biblical translations.
 ` Be fluent in the major themes of the Hebrew Bible and be able to relate
them to the life of faith in the 21st century.
` Be familiar with specific events and texts among the books studied and be
aware of various scholarly insights into their interpretation.
` Have a basic understanding of the various methods used for the critical
study of the Hebrew Bible.
` ëecognize the diversity of voices/perspectives in biblical studies and listen
for those that have been traditionally excluded.
` Be aware of their identity within the cultural reality of the 21st century and
how that identity influences the ways they read/interpret biblical texts.

ë

 ë All students are expected to purchase and read the
assigned materials for this course. If you have financial limitations that prevent you
from purchasing the books, please let me know right away. The reading assignments
are indicated in the course schedule using the abbreviations indicated with each text.

1. Gravett, Sandra L., Greifenhagen, F. F., Bohmbach, arla G. & Polaski,

Donald C. An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible: A Thematic
Approach. [WJ, 2008, ISBN 9780664230302] Abbreviated as Intro.
2. Harrelson, Walter, ed. The New Interpreterƞs Study Bible. [Abingdon,
2003, ISBN 9780687278329] Everyone is required to have a copy of
this version of the Bible with them in class each day. While you may
have other versions that you read outside of class, this is the only one
acceptable for class assignments and the one from which test/quiz
questions will be taken. Abbreviated as NISB. All biblical texts in the
reading assignments are from the NISB.
3. Patte, Daniel. Global Bible Commentary. [Abingdon, 2004, ISBN
9780687064038] Abbreviated as GBC.



 The requirements of the course are listed below, along
with their respective values for the final course grade. All students are expected to turn
in assignments and take tests on (or before) the dates they are due. Late assignments
will not be accepted, unless prior permission has been granted by the professor. Such
extensions will only be approved for emergency situations.

1. u 
 
 : Every student is expected to attend all
scheduled class sessions. Attendance implies more than just being
present during the class period. All students are expected to complete
reading assignments and to participate in class discussions.
Since this course will consist of primarily class lectures, not every
student will have the opportunity to speak in each class session. The
other aspect of ƠClass Participationơ will be required postings to the
course Blackboard Discussion Boards. Every student will be required
to make two (2) posts per week to the Discussion Board on the current

R
 thread (topic). More information on this assignment will be provided
in class. These posts, along with classroom presence, will count for
25% of the final course grade.
2. ¢: Two exams will be given: a midterm and a final. The dates
for these exams are on the Course Schedule. The midterm will be
administered online, and the final will be administered in class. Exams
will primarily focus on material covered in class lectures, along with
information from the readings (textbooks and biblical materials). A
Study Guide will 
be given for either exam. The average of the
exam grades will count for 40% of the final course grade.
3. > 
ë  : Every student will do two (2) written
assignments that show the intersection between current events and
the Hebrew Bible. More instructions for these papers will be given in
class. The average of the two paper grades will count for 35% of the
final course grade. This is the assignment to be added to your Student
Portfolio. Students will choose one of these 2 papers and place the
final graded copy of that assignment in their Student Portfolios.

ƒ r ease et me know right away if you are having difficu ties of any sort
(academic or otherwise) that are interfering with your work in c
. It i
much e
ier to work out difficu tie e
r y on th
n it i to de
with week
of fuzzy undert
nding,
ccumu
ted mied
ignment, mied c
e,
etc.

è Letter grades will be determined based on the following scale.

ƠAơ range = 90-100 A+ = 98-100 A = 94-97 A- = 90-93
ƠBơ range = 80-89 B+ = 87-89 B = 84-86 B- = 80-83
ƠCơ range = 70-79 C+ = 77-79 C = 74-76 C- = 70-73
ƠDơ range = 60-69 D+ = 67-69 D = 64-66 D- = 60-63
F = 59 and below

  
   
!

Phillips Theological Seminary is
committed to providing equal access to its programs of graduate professional education
for all qualified students with learning, physical, medical, and/or psychological
disabilities. The Seminary aims to provide reasonable accommodation for qualified
individuals with a disability (based on clinical documentation) to ensure their access and
participation in Seminary programs. For details, see ƠDisabilities Policies and
Proceduresơ in the 2009-2010 Student Handbook, pp 17-18. The Student Handbook is
located on the PTS website (www.ptstulsa.edu): go to Worship & Community tab in far
left column; select Student Handbook. Policy is found on PDF pages 22-23. Please
contact Belva Brown Jordan, the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Services,
for consultation.


O
" 
# Integrity is a basic principle of academic work. All students are
required to be familiar with the PTS policies regarding ƠAcademic Misconductơ.
Dishonesty in student work (including, but not limited to: cheating and plagiarism) will
not be tolerated in this course. Students who are found guilty of academic misconduct
will receive at least a grade of ƠFơ on the assignment in question and have a letter sent
to the Dean explaining the situation. Other, more serious consequences are possible as
described in the Student Handbook (www.ptstulsa.edu).

 ƠClass attendance and participation are important. Any student who

misses 20% or more of the class contact hours for a course, for any reason, cannot
pass or successfully audit that course. The intention of the policy is not to be punitive,
but to recognize that students should retake courses for credit if they miss a significant
number of the class contact hoursơ (PTS Student Handbook).


 : All written work should follow Turabian formatting. Assignments may
NOT be faxed to the seminary. Unless previously arranged with the professor, all
assignments (except online work) are to be turned-in to the professor at the beginning
of the class session in which they are due. Students are required to use ƠJust
Languageơ (as covered in class) for all written work. Out of respect for the class, all cell
phones must be turned-off during the session. In emergency situations, phones may
be left on vibrate, but students must notify the professor before class.


 

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 The professor reserves the right to alter this schedule if student
and time needs necessitate such a change. This includes, but is not limited to:
adding/deleting assignments, rearranging topics, and changing due dates for
assignments (only if it is to the studentsƞ benefit).

Date Topic Assignment

8/31 Introduction to the Course
Studying the Hebrew Bible
Hermeneutics

9/7 Orientation to the Hebrew Bible Intro, Chs 1-2; NISB, pp

2243-79; GBC, ƠIntroơ

9/14 Formative Stories: Beginnings Genesis 1-11; GBC, ƠGenơ

9/21 Formative Stories: Family Intro, Ch 4; Genesis 12-

50; Exodus 1-15; GBC
ƠExodơ

9/28 ƠIdentity & Ethnicityơ Intro, Chs 3 & 7; Exodus

16-40; Deuteronomy;
GBC, ƠNumơ &ƠDeutơ

10/5 ƠGender & Bodyơ Intro, Chs 5-6; Leviticus

(focus: Chs 11-15);
Judges (focus: Chs 11-16);
ëuth; Song of Songs;
GBC, ƠLevơ & ƠJudgơ &
Ơëuthơ & ƠSoSơ

10/12 & 19 CONCENTëATED COUëSE WEES ƛ NO CLASS


¢

%&'()%)*%)) 

10/26 ƠPower & Stateơ Intro, Chs 9-10; 1 & 2

Samuel; 1 & 2 ings;
GBC, Ơ1 & Samơ & Ơ1 & 2
gs
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> 
ë  +,-)

11/2 ƠClassơ Intro, Ch 8; Isaiah 1-39;

Amos; Micah; Hosea;
GBC, ƠIsa 1-39ơ & ƠAmosơ
& ƠMicahơ & ƠHoseaơ


11/9 ƠClassơ Isaiah 40-66; Jeremiah;
Ezekiel; GBC, ƠIsa 40-55ơ
& ƠIsa 56-66ơ & Ơ4th Isaơ &
ƠJerơ & ƠEzek 1-39ơ &
ƠEzek 40-48ơ

11/16 ƠIdeologyơ Intro, Chs 11-13; Psalms;

Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther;
Jonah; Daniel; GBC ƠPssơ
& ƠEzra-Nehơ & ƠEstherơ &
ƠJonahơ & ƠDanơ

11/23 THANSGIVING BëEA ƛ NO CLASS MEETING

11/30 ƠTest Case ƛ Jobơ Intro, Ch 14; Job;

Proverbs; Ecclesiastes;
GBC, ƠJobơ & ƠProvơ &
ƠEcclơ

12/7 ëeflections & Directions

 (> 
ë  +,-)

12/14 .¢+/u$$

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