OLD TESTAMENT HISTORICAL BOOKS BT102A

Course Syllabus

Instructor: Don Taylor

Email: dtaylor@briercrest.ca
Winter 2007
3 Credit Hours

Course Description: A survey of the biblical books from Joshua to Esther—narratives

that record the history of ancient Israel as an independent nation. This course is
recommended as a prerequisite to BT 205 Hebrew Poetry and Wisdom and BT206
Introduction to the Prophets.

Textbooks:

Howard, David M. Jr. An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books. Chicago:
Moody, 1993.
Quick Reference Format Guide (2006-07). Briercrest College, 2006.
A standard translation of the Bible must be brought to every class.

Course Objectives:

A. Thinking Objectives.
1. You will know the structure of the Old Testament, including which books make
up each section.
2. You will be able to describe the main theme of each book from Joshua to Esther.
3. You will understand the relationship between Israel’s laws and covenants, and the
resulting direction and outcome of Israel’s history.
4. You will be able to trace Israel’s geography including topographical points of
interest, bodies of water, and main cities.
5. You will understand Israel’s political changes and the threats from surrounding
nations.
6. You will know why Israel waged war against various people groups and the ethics
of their war policy.
7. You will know the tribulations and consequences of choosing to abandon God and
pursue the idols of the day.

B. Value Objectives:
1. You will be grateful to God for His consistent love towards people even when
they are being disobedient.
2. You will appreciate the seriousness of sin and the terrible consequences that may
 result from disobedience.
3. You will be challenged to remain faithful to God, following the example of
Israel’s saints.
4. You will sense God’s power and sovereignty through His dealings with Israel.
5. You will accept the life situation in which God has placed you and realize the
potential that you have as a servant in God’s economy.

C. Living and Serving Objectives:

1. You will be able to use examples from the Old Testament to instruct and
encourage others in their faith.
2. Having studied events in Israel’s history, you will be able to reflect more
accurately on the complexities of life and take appropriate action in your daily life
so as not to offend God.
3. You will be able to apply the principles learned in the Old Testament to modern
day situations as you encounter them.
4. You will develop skills of thinking logically about exegetical issues and be able to
discuss your convictions with graciousness to believers who agree and disagree
with you.
5. You will be able to address ethical issues observed in the historical books and be
able to uphold both God’s justice and mercy.

Course Assignments:

1. Bible Reading: You must read Joshua to Esther according to the course schedule
and report the quantity and quality of your reading in class on the due date.
Value: 10%

2. Textbook Reading: You must read all of Howard and come to class prepared
to write quizzes as per the course outline. You should make thorough notes while you
read the textbook because you are allowed to consult these notes as you write your
quizzes. The quizzes will be directly from the textbook. The quizzes will be given at the
start of class with no extra time given for latecomers. Missed quizzes cannot be made up
unless there is a significant reason for absence. There are 10 chapters, therefore 10
quizzes, each worth 2%.
Value: 20%

3. Research Paper: Write a 5 page research paper on one of the following topics.
The paper should be fully documented with footnotes. Biblical citations should be in
brackets after the sentence they pertain to. There must be a title page, outline and thesis
page, six pages of text, and a reference list or bibliography. Make sure you do not just
repeat the information in the Bible, but complete a thorough examination of the issue you
are investigating. Carefully interact with opinions that differ from yours using the best
biblical and extra-biblical information. The topics below are quite general, and you are
invited to work on something more specific within the topic; just check with your
instructor to make sure it is a suitable thesis.
a) The use of music in the historical books
b) Nehemiah as a leader and organizer
c) The failures and triumphs of Saul or David or Solomon
d) The sovereignty of God in the book of Esther
e) The contribution of a particular woman to Israel’s history
f) The cycles of sin and grace in the book of Judges
g) The practice, theology, and ethics of Israelite warfare
h) The prerequisites for revival in Old Testament history
i) Prayer and spiritual formation in the historical books
j) The institution of kingship in Israel
k) The role of the non-writing prophets
l) A careful exegesis of a passage approved by the teacher
m) Any other topic approved by the teacher

Value 20% Due: Feb. 23

4. Reflection Paper.
In this 3 page paper you are to deeply consider the broader picture of the Old
Testament Historical Books and ponder the following questions, though not limited to
these: How is Israel doing in her walk with God? What are the general lessons found in
these books and what is their lasting influence on Christian living? How does this section
of the Old Testament serve as a precursor to the New Testament? How do you perceive
God’s interaction with Israel over the course of a millennium (ca. 1400 to 400 B.C.)?

Value: 10% Due: March 30

4. Midterm Exam: 20%

5. Final Exam: 20%

Course Outline

Date Class Content Bible Reading Textbook Quiz Assignment Due

Jan. 12 Intro./Joshua
Jan. 19 Joshua/Judges Joshua Ch. 1
Jan. 26 Judges/Ruth Judges/Ruth Ch. 2
Feb. 2 1 Samuel 1 Samuel Ch. 3
Feb. 9 1 Samuel Ch. 4
Feb. 16 2 Samuel 2 Samuel Ch. 5
Feb. 23 2 Samuel Ch. 6 Research Paper
Mar. 2 Midterm
Mar. 16 1 Kings 1 Kings Ch. 7
Mar. 23 2 Kings 2 Kings Ch. 8
Mar. 30 Chron./Ezra Ezra Ch. 9 Reflection Paper
Apr. 11 Neh./Esther Nehemiah/Esther Ch. 10
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

General Works

Anderson, Bernhard W. Understanding the Old Testament. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998.

Archer, Gleason. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. Chicago: Moody, 1994.

Brueggemann, Walter. Theology of the Old Testament: Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy.

Minneapolis: Fortress, 1997

Cate, Robert L. An Introduction to the Historical Books of the Old Testament. Nashville:
Broadman & Holman, 1994.

Childs, Brevard S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Philadelphia: Fortress,

1979.

Harrison, R. K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1969.

________. Old Testament Times. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1970.

Hill, Andrew E. & John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1991.

Hoerth, Alfred J., Gerald L. Mattingly, & Edwin M. Yamauchi, eds. Peoples of the Old
Testament World. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.

Howard, David M. Jr. An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books. Chicago:
Moody, 1993.

Isserlin, B.S.J. The Israelites. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998.

Mazar, Benjamin. Biblical Israel: State and People. Jerusalem: Magnes, 1992.

Merrill, Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987.

Shanks, Hershel. Ancient Israel. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1988.

Tullock, John H. The Old Testament Story. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice
Hall, 1997.

Wood, Leon. A Survey of Israel’s History. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970.

Joshua

Boice, James Montgomery. Joshua: We Will Serve the Lord. Old Tappan, NJ: Flemming
H. Revell, 1989.

Boling, Robert C. Joshua. New York: Doubleday, 1982.

Harris, J. Gordon, Cheryl A. Brown & Michael S. Moore. Joshua, Judges, Ruth.
Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2000.

Hess, Richard S. Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove:

InterVarsity, 1996.

Meyer, F.B. Joshua and the Land of Promise. Fort Washington, PA: Christian Literature
Crusade, 1977.

Nelson, Richard D. Joshua: A Commentary. Louisville: Westminster, 1997.

Woudstra, Marten H. The Book of Joshua. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981.

Judges and Ruth

Ackerman, Susan. Warrior, Dancer, Seductress, Queen: Women in Judges and Biblical
Israel. New York: Doubleday, 1998.

Campbell, Edward F. Ruth. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1975.

Cundall, Arthur E. & Leon Morris. Judges and Ruth: An Introduction and Commentary.
Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1968.

Hamlin, E. John. At Risk in the Promised Land: A Commentary on the Book of Judges.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.

________. Surely There is a Future: A Commentary of the Book of Ruth. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1996.

Hubbard, Robert. The Book of Ruth. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.

Soggin, J. Alberto. Judges: A Commentary. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1981.

Wood, Leon. Distressing Days in the Judges. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975.

Samuel and Kings

Anderson, A.A. 2 Samuel. Dallas: Word, 1989.

Baldwin, Joyce G. 1 & 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity, 1988.

Bergen, Robert D. 1, 2, Samuel. NAC. Vol. 7. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1996.

DeVries, Simon J. 1 Kings. Waco: Word, 1985.

Evans, Mary J. 1 and 2 Samuel. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2000.

Gordon, Robert P. I & II Samuel: A Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986.

House, Paul R. 1 & 2 Kings. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1995.

Klein, Ralph W. 1 Samuel. Waco: Word, 1983.

Wiseman, Donald J. 1 & 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove:

InterVarsity, 1993.

Chronicles

Braun, Roddy. 1 Chronicles. Waco: Word, 1985.

Dillard, Raymond B. 2 Chronicles. Waco: Word, 1987.

Sailhamer, John. First and Second Chronicles. Chicago: Moody, 1983.

Selman, Martin J. 1 Chronicles: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove:

InterVarsity, 1994.

Thompson, J. A. 1 & 2 Chronicles. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994.

Williamson, H.G.M. Israel in the Books of Chronicles. Cambridge University Press,

1977.

Ezra, Nehemiah & Esther

Baldwin, Joyce G. Esther: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove:

InterVarsity, 1984.

Berlin, Adele. Esther. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2001.

Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Ezra-Nehemiah: A Commentary. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1988.

Breneman, Mervin. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1993.
Fensham, F. Charles. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1982.

Fox, Michael V. Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2001.

Kidner, Derek. Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity, 1979.

Williamson, H.G.M. Ezra, Nehemiah. Waco: Word, 1985.