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DR453P: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE STUDY OF THE HEBREW BIBLE (2023-2024)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 10:43


Course Overview

This course will engage and evaluate emerging developments within cutting edge research on the Hebrew Bible and its larger ancient eastern Mediterranean context(s). The course will focus on matters language, text, and material culture as they inform study and understanding of the biblical text.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term Second Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Nathaniel Greene

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course will evaluate recent and ongoing developments within cutting edge research on the Hebrew Bible and its larger ancient eastern Mediterranean context(s). These developments range from data driven analysis to the consideration of emergent theoretical models. It will look at topics which are currently of particular importance in this field: these topics include, but are not limited to, the history of ancient Israel and historical methods utilized to draw conclusions about that history; social scientific approaches to Old Testament research; and biblical interpretation in ancient Israel and Pentateuch Studies. Its chronological scope will range from ca. 1200 BCE – 70 CE while keeping matters of reception history during the first several centuries CE in view.


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Indicative assessment week: week 11 of teaching. Feedback in week 13

Word Count 3500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseDevelop transferrable critical reading and analytical skills by way of targeted studies on data from the ancient world
ConceptualApplyEngage a variety of critical methods—especially historical anthropological approaches—used in the study of ancient Israel and in biblical interpretation.
ConceptualEvaluateEvaluate the role played by archaeological endeavours and material culture remains in both contextually conditioned and theoretically envisioned capacities.
ConceptualUnderstandunderstand the role played by ideology in historical writing & contemporary scholarship, and how the growth of literacy and the role of writing in ancient Israel contributed to its culture & religion
ConceptualUnderstandBecome familiar with postmodern critiques of ancient Israelite historiography and develop critical perspectives on the historicity of the Bible
FactualUnderstandDevelop working knowledge of the sequence of principal events in ancient Israelite history—especially during the Iron Age [ca. 1200–586BCE]—and how archaeological research informs those conclusions

Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Online exam on MyAberdeen will be open for ONE WEEK with no finite time limit during that week.

Indicative assessment week: week 12 of teaching, with feedback in week 13

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseDevelop transferrable critical reading and analytical skills by way of targeted studies on data from the ancient world
ConceptualApplyEngage a variety of critical methods—especially historical anthropological approaches—used in the study of ancient Israel and in biblical interpretation.
ConceptualEvaluateEvaluate the role played by archaeological endeavours and material culture remains in both contextually conditioned and theoretically envisioned capacities.
ConceptualUnderstandBecome familiar with postmodern critiques of ancient Israelite historiography and develop critical perspectives on the historicity of the Bible
ConceptualUnderstandunderstand the role played by ideology in historical writing & contemporary scholarship, and how the growth of literacy and the role of writing in ancient Israel contributed to its culture & religion
FactualUnderstandDevelop working knowledge of the sequence of principal events in ancient Israelite history—especially during the Iron Age [ca. 1200–586BCE]—and how archaeological research informs those conclusions

Weekly discussion boards

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Online students will be required to engage weekly discussion boards in the online course environment (Blackboard) both by making substantive responses to weekly prompts and by responding to class colleagues in collegial, collaborative, and thoughtful discussion.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseDevelop transferrable critical reading and analytical skills by way of targeted studies on data from the ancient world
ConceptualApplyEngage a variety of critical methods—especially historical anthropological approaches—used in the study of ancient Israel and in biblical interpretation.
ConceptualEvaluateEvaluate the role played by archaeological endeavours and material culture remains in both contextually conditioned and theoretically envisioned capacities.
ConceptualUnderstandunderstand the role played by ideology in historical writing & contemporary scholarship, and how the growth of literacy and the role of writing in ancient Israel contributed to its culture & religion
ConceptualUnderstandBecome familiar with postmodern critiques of ancient Israelite historiography and develop critical perspectives on the historicity of the Bible
FactualUnderstandDevelop working knowledge of the sequence of principal events in ancient Israelite history—especially during the Iron Age [ca. 1200–586BCE]—and how archaeological research informs those conclusions

Formative Assessment

Annotated bibliography

Assessment Type Formative Weighting
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Students will prepare and submit an annotated bibliography of at least 10 scholarly resources that they will integrate into their essays. This formative assessment will be a component of the essay.

Assessment in week 4 of teaching; feedback in week 6.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseDevelop transferrable critical reading and analytical skills by way of targeted studies on data from the ancient world
ConceptualApplyEngage a variety of critical methods—especially historical anthropological approaches—used in the study of ancient Israel and in biblical interpretation.
ConceptualEvaluateEvaluate the role played by archaeological endeavours and material culture remains in both contextually conditioned and theoretically envisioned capacities.
ConceptualUnderstandunderstand the role played by ideology in historical writing & contemporary scholarship, and how the growth of literacy and the role of writing in ancient Israel contributed to its culture & religion
ConceptualUnderstandBecome familiar with postmodern critiques of ancient Israelite historiography and develop critical perspectives on the historicity of the Bible
FactualUnderstandDevelop working knowledge of the sequence of principal events in ancient Israelite history—especially during the Iron Age [ca. 1200–586BCE]—and how archaeological research informs those conclusions

Resit Assessments

Assessments chosen by Supervisors

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Individual supervisors may select from one of the following two options for assessment:
1.one 5,000 word essay (100%)
2.one 1,500 word essay (30%) and one 3,500 essay (70%)

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualUnderstandDevelop working knowledge of the sequence of principal events in ancient Israelite history—especially during the Iron Age [ca. 1200–586BCE]—and how archaeological research informs those conclusions
ConceptualApplyEngage a variety of critical methods—especially historical anthropological approaches—used in the study of ancient Israel and in biblical interpretation.
ConceptualUnderstandunderstand the role played by ideology in historical writing & contemporary scholarship, and how the growth of literacy and the role of writing in ancient Israel contributed to its culture & religion
ConceptualUnderstandBecome familiar with postmodern critiques of ancient Israelite historiography and develop critical perspectives on the historicity of the Bible
ConceptualEvaluateEvaluate the role played by archaeological endeavours and material culture remains in both contextually conditioned and theoretically envisioned capacities.
ConceptualAnalyseDevelop transferrable critical reading and analytical skills by way of targeted studies on data from the ancient world

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