Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:30
Prophets—the often enigmatic and ecstatic figures of biblical lore—continue to impact the way we read and understand the world. Who were they? Were they really capable of predicting future events days, weeks, or even years ahead of their time? This course will investigate the ancient Near Eastern origins of prophecy, the social and political aspects that contributed to its development, and the literature that enshrined this office alongside kings and queens in antiquity.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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What is “prophecy”? What is a “prophet”? For many, the idea of prophecy implies future prediction and divination. While Israelite prophets did occasionally do colorful or bizarre things, their lives and schools of thought were much more nuanced and complex than modern assumptions about prophecy might otherwise suggest. The Prophetic Traditions of the Hebrew Bible represent a vital third of the corpus of Hebrew scriptures. These texts have their origins in a socio-cultural phenomenon of prophetic activity much older than Israel itself, however. This course will examine the prophetic texts of the Hebrew Bible (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Book of the Twelve), their cultural roots in the larger ancient Near East (especially Mesopotamia), and the way in which they helped shape the evolution of religious thought in the Eastern Mediterranean—particularly the origins of Christianity and the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Oral and written feedback |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Reflection on literary and historical perceptions of ancient text corpora |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Understanding and analysis of the historical environment and context of ancient Near Eastern prophetic texts |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Reflection on Old Testament prophetic literature as a foundation for the New Testament |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Critically evaluate primary sources and critically apply different historical methodologies |
| Factual | Understand | Knowledge about and deepened understanding of prophetic literature of the ancient Near East |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Written feedback |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Understanding and analysis of the historical environment and context of ancient Near Eastern prophetic texts |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Reflection on literary and historical perceptions of ancient text corpora |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Critically evaluate primary sources and critically apply different historical methodologies |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Reflection on Old Testament prophetic literature as a foundation for the New Testament |
| Factual | Understand | Knowledge about and deepened understanding of prophetic literature of the ancient Near East |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Oral and written feedback |
Word Count | 2500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Understanding and analysis of the historical environment and context of ancient Near Eastern prophetic texts |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Reflection on literary and historical perceptions of ancient text corpora |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Critically evaluate primary sources and critically apply different historical methodologies |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Reflection on Old Testament prophetic literature as a foundation for the New Testament |
| Factual | Understand | Knowledge about and deepened understanding of prophetic literature of the ancient Near East |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Knowledge about and deepened understanding of prophetic literature of the ancient Near East |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Understanding and analysis of the historical environment and context of ancient Near Eastern prophetic texts |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Reflection on Old Testament prophetic literature as a foundation for the New Testament |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Reflection on literary and historical perceptions of ancient text corpora |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Critically evaluate primary sources and critically apply different historical methodologies |
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